Once Upon A Time

ur adventures, of this one I knew I could not even speak to him. I wanted to be alone, where I could delight in it, where I could go over what she had said;

rk was so in keeping with my own thoughts that with sudden unhappy doubt I wondered i

ained, "I came here to get my pipe. The window was open. The lattice was only partly closed. Outside was that young man from Harvard who tried to make my acquaintance, and the young Englishman who came on board with that blonde." Kinney suddenly in

speaking. He was very excited and angry. 'I tell you,' he said, 'every boat and railroad station is watched. You won't be safe till w

dramatically

asked, "wh

. He exclaimed aloud w

s. Why, it's plain as print. They are criminals

vely lady, but I asked: "You me

lse I would have at once resented it, but to be angry with Kinney is difficult. I could not help but remember that he is the slave of his own imagination. It plays tricks and runs away with him. And if it

iminals. I talked to that Irishman, and

hether the railroad is watched or not? Do you care? Do I care? And did you

hat Stumps had said to the lovely lady: "He told

med he had overheard. But not wishing to enco

wanted, probably, only as a witness. It might be a

ook his h

e initials H.P.A. The state-room is number twenty-four, but when I examined the purser's list, pretending I wished to find out if a friend of mine was on board, I found that the man in twenty-four had given his name as James Preston. Now," he demanded, "why should one of them hide under an alias and the other be afraid to show himself until we leave the wharf?" He did not wait for my an

lady, and I felt mysel

"you had no right! You may invo

we reach New Bedford you can slip on shore and wait for me at t

I exclaimed. "What do

ey sternly, "as soon as t

t do it!"

ified the chief of police at New Bedford," he declared proudly, "

t me at wharf on arrival steamer Patience. Two well-known criminals on board esc

inted out to Kinney that his conduct was outrageous, that in making such

in the leas

portantly, "that you do not

ed. "You've no right to annoy that young lad

y message I did not mention her. If you want an adventure of your

mplice' to that young lady. And suppose they are crim

s flashed wi

dlines. "'A Clever Haul!'" he quoted. "'Noted band of crooks elude New York police, but are capture

nt weakness. In his case it takes the form of thinking that people who have certain things he does not possess are better than himself; and that, therefore, they must be worth knowing, and he tries to make their acquaintance. But he does not think that he

an awful lot of trouble, and though I am not in

ear ours, we saw the lovely lady and Stumps and the American. She a

ere was no doubt. He glared both at Kinney and m

t, to "lead him on" to commit himself. I feared Kinney was much more likely to commit himself t

nd gathered there Stumps, his American friend, the night watchman of the boat, and the purser. As though inviting

he said; "I want to kn

I like being summoned to the purser's

" I a

mes. As one of them belongs to this gentleman"-he poin

and genial smile that was habitual to him, but on be

said; "and," I added pleasantly, "if I were

fairly

" he cried indignantly.

this, and I was surprised. I stared at the m

far from pleasant, continued: "So you see," he sneered, "when you chos

gry, and I demanded with patience: "But

and to-morrow you can explain to the police! Your pal," he taunted, "has told every one on this boa

nney I must not, as I felt inclined, use my fists, but my head

jokes on me." I turned to Aldrich. "My friend has been playing a joke on you, too," I said. "He

ut a piece of paper. "This," he cried, shaking it at me, "is a copy of

oat representing themselves to be Lord Ivy, my future brother-in-law, and his secretary. Lor

est almost anybody, and that his choice would certainly fall on Kinney and myself. It was ridiculous, but it also was likely to prove extremely humiliating. So I said, speaking to Lord Ivy

"with a steward guarding the door and wind

dignantly up

a prisoner in his state-room

he purser sulkily. "When he found the stewar

d if I catch any of your stewards fol

I could not escape, they seemed pleased

llow groan. His expression was one of utter misery. As though

like that was the Earl of Ivy? And that that tall blonde girl," he added

ppened?"

hat. He took it off and

Unfortunately he was on last year's crew! That's what made him suspect me, and after dinner he put me through a third degree. I must have given the wrong answers, for suddenly he jumped up and called me a swindler and an impostor. I got back by telling him he was a crook and that I was

ell him I was t

rs through his hair

nd you happened to pass, and I happened to remember Mrs. Shaw saying you looked like a British peer, so I said: 'That is my friend Lord Ivy.' I said I was your secretary, and he seemed greatly i

ink; what would my old friends there think; and, what was of even greater importance, how would Joyce & Carboy act? What chance was there left me, after I had been arrested as an impostor, to become a stenographer in the law courts-in time, a member of the bar? But I found that what, for the moment, distressed me most was that the lovely lady would c

swim?"

with us, and they'd find out who we are. If we could only steal a boat!" he exclaimed eagerly-"one of those on the dav

persons, and without waking the entire ship's company we co

tly. He was rapidly recovering his spirits. T

oat before she reaches New Bedford. We must! We must not be arrested! It

re-alarm! The crew will run to quarters. The boats will be

in. First, from the water of the Sound, that was lapping pleasantly against the side, I heard the voice of a man raised in terror. Then came a rush of feet, oaths, and

space enough to wrench the door open, and grabbing Kinney, who was still on his knees,

my hat?"

, and many human beings were screaming and shrieking like animals. My first intelligent thought was of the lovely lady. I shook Kinney by the arm. The up

re ajar, and as I looked into each I saw that the beds had not been touched, and that the cabins were em

the oil lamps, the ship was in darkness. Many of the passengers had already gone to bed. These now burst from the state-rooms in strange garments, carrying life-preservers, hand-bags, their arms full of clothing. One man i

t of a schooner. She had rammed us fair amidships, and in her bows was a hole through which you could have rowed a boat. Into this the water was rushing and sucking her down. She was already settling at the stern. By the light of a swinging lantern I saw three of her crew lift a yawl from her deck and lower it into the water. Int

at, with safety, the yawl could hold a third person, and as to

here!"

d for the safety of the other passengers. So each was fighting, as he thought, for his life and for the lives of his wife and children. At the edge of the scrimmage I dragged out two women who had been knocked off their feet and who were in danger of being trampled. But neither was the wo

, "look out for yourself then!" I hit him on the

an office." I turned and saw the lovely lady. I tossed the immigrant girl her life-belt, and as th

nxiety of which I had not been conscious had been lifted. I found I was still holdin

But she made no comment. "I m

. Kinney to the lower deck. I will bring that r

e my brother!"

ck amidships cast out Stumps and hurled him toward us. His sister gave a little cry of re

rkness I could not see his face, but I was sure he was still vaguely smiling

pointed t

boat here and take us away in it," she

s cheerfully. "How about P

yards from us a peevish

ed, "you must find L

al American accent yelled in a

oya ch

k!" I commanded. "I a

rail I heard Lord Ivy say:

he water. Two strokes brought me to the yawl, and, scrambling into her and casting her off, I paddled back

hat he believed to be a sinking ship, Kinney could not forget his manners. But Mr. Aldr

of Lady Mo

upon the rail. "Steady below there!" her voice called, and the next moment,

again raised in anger. "I

nded with unex

he water is warm and

ump, he fell in a

" I shouted. "

he next instant hit my shoulders an

ead!" shouted

ery one profusely. Lady

l," she called, "are yo

not!" he shouted. "I think you

position was a difficult one, and, no

Lady Moya briskly, "I can't see

nner Lord Ivy shouted suddenl

" commande

ch than for myself. Certainly it was effective, for on the instant there

imed, "he pref

out of the water, and, while we bal

ng, "I am here under protest. I am here to protect y

u row?"

?" he demanded savagely; "h

walk! Take the oars," she commanded, "and be civil!" Lady Moya, with the tiller in her hand, sat in the stern;

t shore," I said, and pulled fro

Bridgeport and Newport, were making toward her. But the margin of safety, which to my thinking was broad enough for all the other passengers, for the lovely lady was in no way sufficient. That mob-swept deck was no place for her. I was happy that, on her account, I had not waited for a possible rescue. In the yawl she was safe. The water was smooth, and the Connecticut shore was, I judged, not more than three miles distant. In an hour, unless the fog confused us, I felt sure the lovely lady would again walk safely upon dry land

se to trust themselves with persons who ought to be in jail, I can't desert them. It's all the more reason why I shouldn't desert them.

nviction that we were lost, police stations did not immediately concern us. So no one spoke, and in the fog the words died away and were drowned. But I was glad he had spoken. At least I was forewarned. I now knew that I had not escap

nney insisted on taking a turn at the oars, and Lady Moya moved to the bow. We gave her our coats, and, making cushions of these, she announced that she was going to sleep. Whether she slept or not, I do not know, but she remained silent. For three more dreary hours we took turns at the oars or dozed at the bottom of the boat while we continued aimlessly to drift upon the face of the waters. It was now five o'clock, and the fog had so far lightened that we could see each other and a stretch of open water. At intervals the fog-horns of vessels passing us, but hidden from us, tormented Aldrich to a sta

me, not because they were afraid of being drowned. If they've nothing to be afraid of, why are they so a

exploded

y're afraid of you, why did

because they thought they could square themselves with you. But they didn't want me!"

"we are willing and anxious to explain ourselves to Lord Ivy, or even to you, but we don't want to explain to th

orted cont

ried. "No wonder you don't wa

exclamation, and Lady

picked her way across the thwart to

row together," she said;

at her eyes looked directly into mine. Drawing

commanded, "tell

ched aside, the fog flew apart, and the sun, dripping, crimson, and gorgeous, sprang from the waters. Fr

more we would have bumped ourselves into the State of Connecticut. The cottage stood on one horn of a tiny harbor. Beyond it, weather-beaten shingled houses, sail-lofts, and wharfs stretched cosily in a half-circle. Back of them rose splendid elms and the delicate spire of a church, and from the unruffled surface of the harbor the masts of many fishing-boats. Acros

aced toward the wharf. The others

though he beheld a mermaid. He was an old man, but straight and tall, and the oysterman's boots stretching to his hips made him appear even taller than he was. He had

chorus we answered that we were, and Ivy pul

d and, making a megaphone of his

e folks from the wreck. Get coffee a

him!" exclaimed th

er, pulled out a roll of bil

e demanded; "then chase yourself to

wore, Kinney in despair uttered a dismal

had hidden me from the fisherman. Now I stood up and he saw me. I

to the lovely lady. "Lady Moya," I said, "I want to introdu

wn. "That," I told her, "is the village of Fairport. M

MANO

, and met at his feet. Above his head an aged sign-post pointed impartially

time. He considered the better strategy would be to wait where he was, where the three roads met, and allow the enemy himself to disclose his position. To the scout this course was most distasteful. He assured himself that this was so because, while it were the safer course, it wasted time and lacked initiative. But in his heart he knew that was not the reason, and to his heart his head answered that when one's country is at war, when fields and firesides are trampled by the iron heels of the invader, a scout should act not according to the dictates of his heart, but in the service of his native land. In the case of this particular patriot, the man and scout were at odds. As one of the Bicycle Squad of the Boston Corps of Cadets, the scout k

g at Carver Centre, I'll advance upon Carver Centre. Should

shot against me, an

nd Palm Beach he had waited for other wheels to determine his fortune, he w

Again he spun the wheel. Again the spokes flashed in the

, "it's a warning that there is trouble ahead

nd of galloping hoofs broke sharply on the silence. The scout threw himself and his bi

n a white wagon, on which was painted, "Pies and Pastry. E

hat at me!" sh

ome from?" dema

," said

any one conceale

nothing but fresh-baked bread. To the trained nostrils of the scout this already was evident. Before sunrise he had breakfasted on hard

ou going?" h

Centre," sa

t the decision. He believ

over the stone wall,

our cart for a screen. I'll creep

boy frowne

gued, "they see you fi

ved his hand

rse," h

baker, "my hors

n, and Boston to fall? Are they to be captured because you're afraid of your own h

oy flushed wi

protested; "but my hor

over his shoulder and

warned, in parting, "they'll

d just as they were paying me the battle begun, and this hors

ed the road many times, and as always his goal had been the home of Miss Beatrice Farrar, he had covered it at a speed unrecognized

ers, dressed as though for a holiday. When they saw th

ade coming?

ny of the Reds?"

And we been waiting all morni

" said Lathrop, sev

ambush, Lathrop dismounted and advanced on foot. Up to this moment the road had been empty, but now, in front of the Farrar cottage, it was blocked by a touring-car and a station wagon. In the occupants of the car he recognized all the members of the Farrar family, except Miss Farrar. In the station wagon were all of the Farrar servants. Miss Farrar herself was leaning upon the gate and waving them a farewell. The touring-car moved of

the girl, "you woul

is bicycle, peered an

l," he said. "I'm on duty

occupied. The ungraciousness of his reception

one full of guile, adroit in tricks, fertile in expedients. He was one who could not take "No" for an ans

woo," he was constantly explaining

at she, also, should not have time to find out. Again and again she had agreed to see him only on the condition that he would not make love to her. He had promised again and again, and had failed to keep that promise. Only a week before he had been banished from her presence, to remain an exile

p!" she beg

d and surprised to find that it was to him she had addressed herself, he regarded her with deep repro

his hea

Bold,' because I am bold to love you; but never 'Mr. Lathrop,' unless," he went on b

r back on him, and was wa

called. "I am c

turned and placed both h

n't even respect you? How do you think I could ever care, when you offend me so? You jest

n interrupte

o serious that I am utterly and completely wretched. You say my love offends you, bores you! I am sorry, but wha

hands open at his sides, as though invitin

ith a healthy tan. His uniform, made by the same tailor that fitted him with polo breeches, clung to him like a jersey. The specta

e," he beg

was entirely

well-and you know it." She gave a gasp of comprehension. "

rded himself

wear it. If you don't mind," he added, "I think I'll accept your

eyes flashed

but if you'll only promise to go away at on

there's only one thing that I desire, and I want th

regarded h

e me away from my own

d his wheel o

ll come back when you h

arrar stamped her

up my mind!"

op, "I'll come back wh

hts," he said, "it isn't right for me to leave you. The woods are full of tramps and hangers-on of the army. You'

is bicycle against the fence, and, as though pr

annoying me. I have spent fifteen summers in Massachusetts,

jewels, and your mother's jewels. Think of yourself in a house filled with jew

ng and gazing intently into the shadow of the woods, across the road. When she felt his eyes upon her she

ssly-"I wish," she repeated, "th

here?" ask

"You should be ashamed to talk to me w

nemy," explained Lathro

ed vindictively.

ot wait lon

throp warning. As though from the branches of the trees opposite two soldiers fell into the

ne. "You're my prison

sed his hands, but his e

know?"

she said, "creeping up on y

two soldiers, and ma

twenty men up the road, and behind them a reg

a sergeant, answered: "That won't do! We been a mile up the ro

position, and that, through his failure for ten minutes to regard it seriously, he had been made a prisoner, mortified him keenly. That his humiliation had taken place in the presence of Beatrice Farrar did not lessen

ily scrutinized the i

k me?" h

," exclaimed

ook me; and you probably don't know it, but your collar ornaments a

be taken prisoner, without being taken by ra

ly: "Mebbe we ain't strong on uniforms, beau," he snarled, "but you've got nothing

ong, hard mouth and chin, on which latter sprouted a three days' iron-gray beard. "

incredulously, "don't you know-" He stopped, a

?" demanded the old

p. "I-I must not give i

ood irresolute. Then the older nodded the other to the

hed, and Lathrop

I made a strategic mistake. I should not have tried

by men like that! Aren't they funny?" she whispered, "and East Side and Tenderloin! It made me homesick to hear

'New York,'" assented L

rrar, "those from New York wit

be captured by a hall-room boy as by a mere millionaire! I can't insist

greed that they could not agree, for they ceased

e we are in wrong. We see we made a mistake in taking you prisoner.

. "It's too late. You should

r, neither. If we take you, you'll have to tramp all the way to our army, and all the way back. But, if you're dead, how different! You ain't no bother to anybody. You got a half holiday all to yourself, and you

athrop, "but it's against the ru

mation. "To hell with the rules!" he cried.

which he addressed him was cold, menacing, sinister. His wor

nning this

s eyes cast furtive glances up and down the road. As though anxious to wipe out the effect

ed to waste time taking prisoners. So, we'll set you free." He wa

athrop, instead of accepting h

captain ordered me to stay in front

d at such duplicit

-he's hungry. I wouldn't have let you take him prisoner, if I had not thought you would t

rned sharply up

what the lady wa

wants," returned Lathrop, "and he put

th on his chin. "There's nothing to it," he exclaimed, "but for to take him wi

to be a prisoner. As you say, I am better dead. You can't shoot a prisoner, but if he tries to escape you can. I'll try to escape. You shoot me. Th

tion. In his anxiety to rid himself of his prisoner, he l

heartily. "You can make your

cy Miss Farrar refu

his promise? He may not go back to his own army. H

k his head a

ng man? These are really my last words, and I wish I could think of someth

d give them all to-'" he hesitated, and smiled mournfully on Miss Farrar. Seeing her flush

l slowly down the path, h

raised their rifles, and the calm of the Indian summer was shattered by two shar

is body over the handle-bar, and they watched h

r sighed w

very much

woman he would shoot any number of p

em amateur soldiers, as soon as they get into uniform, are too fresh. He took advantage of you because your

ar protes

laimed; "I need n

durate. He motioned hi

ome back or send some of the Blues to take

, smiled approvingly. Seating himself on the grass outside the fence, he leane

been," he asked, "before we

that bicycle scout was talking to me. I saw

t appeared

dn't you le

r laughed

," she said. "Perhaps I wanted to see

rance of the smaller soldier. On his rat-

see him. Where did he go? Did he double back through the woods

nt strangely. He sprang to his feet, his under jaw

snarled. "Do wh

nintelligible. The little rat-like man nodded, and ran from the

bey orders. You see," he ran on glibly, "I'm a reg'lar; served three years i

toward the house. The sergeant

Philippines, Miss?" he call

ar politeness required of her to entertain unshaven militiamen,

is manner there was nothing at which she could take offence. He appeared only amiably vain that he had seen much of the world, and anxious to impress that fact upon another. Miss Farrar was bored, but the man gave her no opportunity to escape. In consequence she was relieved when the noisy approach

ey're Blues in that car! Don't

uld remain a party to it; and, lest the men in the car might involve her still further, she retreated hastily toward the house. As she opened the door the ca

rther end of which was her bedroom. The hall was uncarpeted, but the tennis shoe

s and figure of the rat-like soldier. His back was toward her. With one hand he swept the dressing-table. The other, hanging at his side, held a revolver. In a moment the panic into which Miss Farrar had been thrown passed. Her breath and blood returned, and, intent only on flight

presence of the man in her room, and that any one should dare to threaten her was what filled her with repugnance. As the w

n the room, leaving the

here," she

d stamped the floor. He sh

ed. "Do you want me to blow your f

d Miss Farrar. "I

the house was full of jewels. We heard him.

athrop's jest, and that it had been made while the

e backed swiftly toward the open window that lo

or scream," whispered the

rom the doorway, shook Miss Farrar

scream," sa

w the bulky form of the se

man with the gun cursed breathlessly at the ot

the gate," explained the sergeant

er. "Nothing! She won'

e, but it carried with it the weight of a threat, and the threat, although unspoken, filled M

he fingers working and making clutches in the

he said slowly, "I'll

he wall. She saw no chance of escape. The way to the door was barred, and should she drop to the garden below, from the window, bef

her eyes. He raised his voice to a harsh, bellowing roar. "I'm goin

and a burst of smoke, and through it Miss Farrar saw Lathrop hurl himself. He dived at the rat-like one, and as on the foot-ball field he had been taught to stop a runner, flung his arms around the other's knees. The legs of the man shot from under him, his body cut a half circle through the air, and the part of his anatomy to first touch

now!" he shouted ch

slowly, as if he were

r help," he said. "

"He did not help me! He said h

window. He stepped toward the man gingerly, on the balls of his feet, like one walking on ice. The man

Lathrop. "You coward! Y

rd, his arms swinging limply in front of him. With his eyes, he

he taunted. "I should have killed y

tly, but each move of his arm seemed only to open up some vulnerable spot. Blows beat upon his chin, upon his nose, his eyes; blows jabbed him in the r

athrop. "Stand up

t. Howling with pain, he scrambled toward t

oad came limping to the gate, and a half-dozen men in uniform sprang out of it.

of the Reds, disguised as soldiers. I knew they weren't even amateur soldiers by the mistakes in their make-up, and I made that bluff of riding away so as to give them time to show what

irl was not listening, that she was very pale,

added, "that the other o

strength insta

ure on the floor, she sprang toward Lathrop,

commanded. "You will

rst of tears she threw herself into his arms. "I'm afraid!" she sobbed

ed him, as he felt the touch of her body in his arms, and her warm, wet cheek against hi

peace came to all the wo

said. "You can bet