登陆注册
5157800000064

第64章 BOY WHO CRIED WOLF(6)

"I brought you inside," he said, "because I didn't want your servants to hear; and because I don't want to hurt that boy's feelings.He's a fine boy; and he's a damned clever scout.I knew he was following me and I threw him off twice, but to-day he caught me fair.If I really had been a German spy, I couldn't have got away from him.And I want him to think he has captured a German spy.Because he deserves just as much credit as though he had, and because it's best he shouldn't know whom he DIDcapture."

Van Vorst pointed to the map."My bet is," he said, "that you're an officer of the State militia, taking notes for the fall manoeuvres.Am I right?"The stranger smiled in approval, but shook his head.

"You're warm," he said, "but it's more serious than manoeuvres.

It's the Real Thing." From his pocketbook he took a visiting card and laid it on the table."I'm 'Sherry' McCoy," he said, "Captain of Artillery in the United States Army." He nodded to the hand telephone on the table.

"You can call up Governor's Island and get General Wood or his aide, Captain Dorey, on the phone.They sent me here.Ask THEM.

I'm not picking out gun sites for the Germans; I'm picking out positions of defense for Americans when the Germans come!"Van Vorst laughed derisively.

"My word!" he exclaimed."You're as bad as Jimmie!"Captain McCoy regarded him with disfavor.

"And you, sir," he retorted, "are as bad as ninety million other Americans.You WON'T believe! When the Germans are shelling this hill, when they're taking your hunters to pull their cook-wagons, maybe, you'll believe THEN.""Are you serious?" demanded Van Vorst."And you an army officer?""That's why I am serious," returned McCoy."WE know.But when we try to prepare for what is coming, we must do it secretly--in underhand ways, for fear the newspapers will get hold of it and ridicule us, and accuse us of trying to drag the country into war.That's why we have to prepare under cover.That's why I've had to skulk around these hills like a chicken thief.And," he added sharply, "that's why that boy must not know who I am.If he does, the General Staff will get a calling down at Washington, and I'll have my ears boxed."Van Vorst moved to the door.

"He will never learn the truth from me," he said."For I will tell him you are to be shot at sunrise.""Good!" laughed the Captain."And tell me his name.If ever we fight over Westchester County, I want that lad for my chief of scouts.And give him this.Tell him to buy a new scout uniform.

Tell him it comes from you."

But no money could reconcile Jimmie to the sentence imposed upon his captive.He received the news with a howl of anguish."You mustn't," he begged; "I never knowed you'd shoot him! I wouldn't have caught him, if I'd knowed that.I couldn't sleep if Ithought he was going to be shot at sunrise." At the prospect of unending nightmares Jimmie's voice shook with terror."Make it for twenty years," he begged."Make it for ten," he coaxed, "but, please, promise you won't shoot him."When Van Vorst returned to Captain McCoy, he was smiling, and the butler who followed, bearing a tray and tinkling glasses, was trying not to smile.

"I gave Jimmie your ten dollars," said Van Vorst, "and made it twenty, and he has gone home.You will be glad to hear that he begged me to spare your life, and that your sentence has been commuted to twenty years in a fortress.I drink to your good fortune.""No!" protested Captain McCoy, "We will drink to Jimmie!"When Captain McCoy had driven away, and his own car and the golf clubs had again been brought to the steps, Judge Van Vorst once more attempted to depart; but he was again delayed.

Other visitors were arriving.

Up the driveway a touring-car approached, and though it limped on a flat tire, it approached at reckless speed.The two men in the front seat were white with dust; their faces, masked by automobile glasses, were indistinguishable.As though preparing for an immediate exit, the car swung in a circle until its nose pointed down the driveway up which it had just come.Raising his silk mask the one beside the driver shouted at Judge Van Vorst.

His throat was parched, his voice was hoarse and hot with anger.

"A gray touring-car," he shouted."It stopped here.We saw it from that hill.Then the damn tire burst, and we lost our way.

Where did he go?"

"Who?" demanded Van Vorst, stiffly, "Captain McCoy?"The man exploded with an oath.The driver with a shove of his elbow, silenced him.

"Yes, Captain McCoy," assented the driver eagerly."Which way did he go?""To New York," said Van Vorst.

The driver shrieked at his companion.

"Then, he's doubled back," he cried."He's gone to New Haven." He stooped and threw in the clutch.The car lurched forward.

A cold terror swept young Van Vorst.

"What do you want with him?" he called "Who are you?"Over one shoulder the masked face glared at him.Above the roar of the car the words of the driver were flung back."We're Secret Service from Washington," he shouted."He's from their embassy.

He's a German spy!"

Leaping and throbbing at sixty miles an hour, the car vanished in a curtain of white, whirling dust.

同类推荐
  • 佛说摩诃迦叶度贫母经

    佛说摩诃迦叶度贫母经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 中峰文选

    中峰文选

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 肉攫部

    肉攫部

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 罗湖野录

    罗湖野录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 太上混元真录

    太上混元真录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 博弈:关于策略的63个有趣话题

    博弈:关于策略的63个有趣话题

    生活艺术的表现需要把握细节,细节虽小,却构成了生活的全部,关注细节就是关注生活,讲究细节就是讲究生活的质量和品位,生活中总是有无数的烦恼困扰着你吗?你的他好像不如过去那样爱你了;工作了几年,升职却老也轮不到你;打拼这么久,小金库依然不见壮大;疲劳法力终日相伴,体重也随着年龄一同增长;揽镜自照,皱纹不知何时悄悄爬了了你的眼角……不要担心,现代女性应该注意的100个生活细节为你带来贴心的指导,替你的生活排忧解难。
  • Life's Little Ironies and a Few Crusted Charac

    Life's Little Ironies and a Few Crusted Charac

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 降低血脂必吃的30种食物

    降低血脂必吃的30种食物

    《美食天下(第1辑):降低血脂必吃的30种食物》包括五香花生;香菜拌花生米;蜜汁花生;花生炒秋葵;花生炖猪蹄;牛奶炖花生;花生桂圆红枣汤;玉米;泡鲜玉米段;什锦玉米;桂花窝头;燕麦;燕麦韭菜鸡蛋饼;虾皮香芹燕麦粥等内容。
  • 邪王宠妃:废材小姐要逆天

    邪王宠妃:废材小姐要逆天

    她是冷艳无情的女杀手。一朝穿越,成了南宫家人人欺辱的废材小姐。生死间,被天地奇兵封天塔认主。从此,丹药随我吃,天材任我用。渣男让我抽,绿婊由我杀。小小萌兽,黏上我。魔尊美人,宠着我。踏征途,修长生,俾睨天下横着走!
  • 华尔街规则:培养具有金钱思维和赚钱能力的孩子

    华尔街规则:培养具有金钱思维和赚钱能力的孩子

    在经济高度发展的社会,商业发达,物质丰富。生活在这样的社会中,孩子们从小就有很多向往,他们想拥有钢琴,想拥有画板,想报特长班,想出去旅游……然而,生活是很实际的。这些向往的实现都离不开钱。在孩子小的时候,作为家长,我们可以想尽办法,甚至省吃俭用满足孩子的愿望。那么,等孩子大了呢?他能靠自己的劳动满足自己日益增长的欲望吗?给孩子金钱,不如培养孩子赚钱的思维和能力。培养孩子的金钱思维并不是教给孩子具体的赚钱技能,而要重视综合素质的培养,比如学习能力、个性品质、创新思维和理财能力等等。本书揭示了华尔街精英的成功秘诀,帮父母共同打造高财商、了不起的孩子。
  • 永远的艾琳娜

    永远的艾琳娜

    是不是,在多雨的夜晚,心中常常会浮现那个女孩的身影呢?六千英里外,太平洋的彼端,有一座小小的酒吧,散发神秘魔幻的微光,在那儿,已经逐次凝聚青春谜题的答案。
  • 包法利夫人

    包法利夫人

    《包法利夫人》是法国作家福楼拜的成名作、代表作,也是法国文学史上里程碑式的作品。艾玛是农庄主的女儿,一心追求浪漫优雅的生活。她嫁给乡村医生夏尔·包法利以后,发现生活远非她所愿。于是她不安于现状,红杏出墙。可她的第一个情人是个道德败坏的乡绅,第二个情人是个自私怯懦的实习生。她的偷情不仅没有给她带来幸福,反倒给投机商人以可趁之机,迫使她成为高利贷者盘剥的对象。她债台高筑,走投无路,最后只好服毒自尽。
  • 契约365:季少,余生请多指教

    契约365:季少,余生请多指教

    “签了!”看着眼前的协议,上一秒还摆明了拒绝的态度,下一秒便干脆利落地签上了大名。前世父母意外离世,公司落入旁人之手,唯一的弟弟也落了个不得善终的下场,最后她也落得被炸死的下场。今生,她看着眼前的俊美绝伦的男人,思忖片刻,嗯~送到嘴边的肉,岂有不吃之理。至于那些曾经欺辱她之人,连本带利换回来吧!
  • 把困难留给谁

    把困难留给谁

    美国著名将军乔治.巴顿说:“困难像弹簧,你弱它就强。”逃避困难的人,永远是弱者;用微笑去面对困难、战胜困难的人,将永远是强者。回顾新中国的建立,其实就是一部与困难抗争的历史,红军及其后继者一次次穿过重重困难的荆棘才摘取了胜利的果实。在敌人无情屠杀镇压的生死存亡的关头下,敢打敢拼的人民军队毅然决然地举起起义的大旗,打响了反抗的第一枪,从而缔造了伟大的红军;在面对百万敌军四面“围剿”的万分危急中……
  • 文化掂量:王蒙最新演讲录

    文化掂量:王蒙最新演讲录

    王蒙是一位擅长演讲的大师,他演讲不用讲稿,普通话标准,语调抑扬顿挫、时疾时缓,掌控得当。他的演讲生动、幽默,透出修养和智慧,让人额手称庆、交口赞好。王蒙作为当代著名作家,对中国文化始终进行着深入的思考,本书收录了王蒙先生近十年关于文化的演讲。在这本书中,他对“传统文化”“文学与时代精神”“文学与人生”“文化自信”“文化梦”等,进行了充满王蒙特色的思考与分享。