按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
and swim across your pond with you sitting so near。 I can see now
it was framed up on me from the start。 For when I was swimming
back I saw them run to where I'd left my clothes； and then I
heard them crank up； and when I got to the hedge the car was
gone！〃
Keep smiled encouragingly。 〃The car！〃 he assented。 〃So you've
been riding around in the moonlight？〃
The other nodded； and was about to speak when there burst in upon
them the roaring scream of the siren。 The note now was of deeper
rage； and came in greater volume。 Between his clinched teeth the
naked one cursed fiercely； and then； as though to avoid further
questions； burst into a fit of coughing。 Trembling and shaking；
he drew the canvas cloak closer to him。 But at no time did his
anxious； prying eyes leave the eyes of Keep。
〃Youyou couldn't lend me a suit of clothes could you？〃 he
stuttered。 〃Just for to…night？ I'll send them back。 It's all
right；〃 he added； reassuringly。 〃I live near here。〃
With a start Keep raised his eyes； and distressed by his look；
the young man continued less confidently。
〃I don't blame you if you don't believe it；〃 he stammered；
〃seeing me like this； but I DO live right near here。 Everybody
around here knows me； and I guess you've read about me in the
papers； too。 I'mthat is； my name〃 like one about to take a
plunge he drew a short breath； and the rat…like eyes regarded
Keep watchfully〃my name is Van Warden。 I'm the one you read
aboutHarryI'm Harry Van Warden！〃
After a pause； slowly and reprovingly Fred shook his head； but
his smile was kindly even regretful； as though he were sorry he
could not longer enjoy the stranger's confidences。
〃My boy！〃 he exclaimed； 〃you're MORE than Van Warden！ You're a
genius！〃 He rose and made a peremptory gesture。 〃Sorry；〃 he said；
〃but this isn't safe for either of us。 Follow me； and I'll dress
you up and send you where you want to go。〃 He turned and
whispered over his shoulder： 〃Some day let me hear from you。 A
man with your nerve〃
In alarm the naked one with a gesture commanded silence。
The library led to the front hall。 In this was the coat…room。
First making sure the library and hall were free of servants；
Fred tiptoed to the coat…room and； opening the door； switched： on
the electric light。 The naked man； leaving in his wake a trail of
damp footprints； followed at his heels。
Fred pointed at golf…capes； sweaters； greatcoats hanging from
hooks； and on the floor at boots and overshoes。
〃Put on that motor…coat and the galoshes；〃 he commanded。 〃They'll
cover you in case you have to run for it。 I'm going to leave you
here while I get you some clothes。 If any of the servants butt
in； don't lose your head。 Just say you're waiting to see meMr。
Keep。 I won't be long。 Wait。〃
〃Wait！〃 snorted the stranger。 〃You BET I'll wait！'
As Fred closed the door upon him； the naked one was rubbing
himself violently with Mrs。 Keep's yellow golf…jacket。
In his own room Fred collected a suit of blue serge； a tennis
shirt； boots； even a tie。 Underclothes he found ready laid out
for him； and he snatched them from the bed。 From a roll of money
in his bureau drawer he counted out a hundred dollars。 Tactfully
he slipped the money in the trousers pocket of the serge suit and
with the bundle of clothes in his arms raced downstairs and
shoved them into the coat…room。
〃Don't come out until I knock；〃 he commanded。 〃And；〃 he added in
a vehement whisper； 〃don't come out at all unless you have
clothes on！〃
The stranger grunted。
Fred rang for Gridley and told him to have his car brought around
to the door。 He wanted it to start at once within two minutes。
When the butler had departed； Fred； by an inch； again opened the
coat…room door。 The stranger had draped himself in the
underclothes and the shirt； and at the moment was carefully
arranging the tie。
〃Hurry！〃 commanded Keep。 〃The car'll be here in a minute。 Where
shall I tell him to take you？〃
The stranger chuckled excitedly； his confidence seemed to be
returning。 〃New York；〃 he whispered； 〃fast as he can get there！
Look here；〃 he added doubtfully； 〃there's a roll of bills in
these clothes。〃
〃They're yours；〃 said Fred。
The stranger exclaimed vigorously。 〃You're all right！〃 he
whispered。 〃I won't forget this； or you either。 I'll send the
money back same time I send the clothes。〃
〃Exactly！〃 said Fred。
The wheels of the touring…car crunched on the gravel drive； and
Fred slammed to the door； and like a sentry on guard paced before
it。 After a period which seemed to stretch over many minutes
there came from the inside a cautious knocking。 With equal
caution Fred opened the door of the width of a finger； and put
his ear to the crack。
〃You couldn't find me a button…hook； could you？〃 whispered the
stranger。
Indignantly Fred shut the door and； walking to the veranda；
hailed the chauffeur。 James； the chauffeur； was a Keepsburg boy；
and when Keep had gone to Cambridge James had accompanied him。
Keep knew the boy could be trusted。
〃You're to take a man to New York；〃 he said； 〃or wherever he
wants to go。 Don't talk to him。 Don't ask any questions。 So； if
YOU'RE questioned； you can say you know nothing。 That's for your
own good！〃
The chauffeur mechanically touched his cap and started down the
steps。 As he did so； the prison whistle； still unsatisfied； still
demanding its prey； shattered the silence。 As though it had hit
him a physical blow； the youth jumped。 He turned and lifted
startled； inquiring eyes to where Keep stood above him。
〃I told you；〃 said Keep； 〃to ask no questions。
As Fred re…entered the hall； Winnie Keep was coming down the
stairs toward him。 She had changed to one of the prettiest
evening gowns of her trousseau； and so outrageously lovely was
the combination of herself and the gown that her husband's
excitement and anxiety fell from him； and he was lost in
admiration。 But he was not for long lost。 To his horror； the door
of the coat…closet opened toward his wife and out of the closet
the stranger emerged。 Winnie； not accustomed to seeing young men
suddenly appear from among the dust…coats； uttered a sharp
shriek。
With what he considered great presence of mind； Fred swung upon
the visitor
〃Did you fix it？〃 he demanded。
The visitor did not heed him。 In amazement in abject admiration；
his eyes were fastened upon the beautiful and radiant vision
presented by Winnie Keep。 But he also still preserved sufficient
presence of mind to nod his head dully。
〃Come；〃 commanded Fred。 〃The car is waiting。〃
Still the stranger did not move。 As though he had never before
seen a woman； as though her dazzling loveliness held him in a
trance； he stood still； gazing； gaping； devouring Winnie with his
eyes。 In her turn； Winnie beheld a strange youth who looked like
a groom out of livery； so overcome by her mere presence as to be
struck motionless and inarticulate。 For protection she moved in
some alarm toward her husband。
The stranger gave a sudden jerk of his body that might have been
intended for a bow。 Before Keep could interrupt him； like a
parrot reciting its lesson； he exclaimed explosively：
〃My name's Van Warden。 I'm Harry Van Warden。〃
He seemed as little convinced of the truth of his statement as
though he had announced that he was the Czar of Russia。 It was as
though a stage…manager had drilled him in the lines。
But upon Winnie； as her husband saw to his dismay； the words
produced an instant and appalling effect。 She fairly radiated
excitement and delight。 How her husband had succeeded in
capturing the social prize of Scarboro she could not imagine；
but； for doing so； she flashed toward him a glance of deep and
grateful devotion。
Then she beamed upon the stranger。 〃Won't Mr。 Van Warden stay to
dinner？〃 she asked。
Her husband emitted a howl。 〃He will NOT！〃 he cried。 〃He's not
that kind of a Van Warden。 He's a plumber。 He's the man that
fixes the telephone！〃
He seized the visitor by the sleeve of the long motor…coat and
dragged him down the steps。 Reluctantly； almost resistingly； the
visitor stumbled after him； casting backward amazed glances at
the beautiful lady。 Fred thrust him into the seat beside