The Best of Mary Roberts Rinehart

by Mary Roberts Rinehart

  I know this, because we have this evening made up a list of Passwords for the next week, using a magazine to get them out of, and taking advertisements, such as Cocoa, Razers, Suspenders and so on. Not these actualy but others like them.

  We then learned them off by heart and burned the paper, as one cannot be to carefull with a Spy in the house, even if not credited as such by my Parents.

  Have forgotten the Emblem. Must take it in.

  APRIL 17TH. In camp.

  Henry brought me out in the big car, as mine has a broken spring owing to going across the field with it.

  He says he has decided to help me, and that I need not watch the safe, etcetera, at night. I therfore gave him a key to the side door, and now feel much better. He also said not to have any of the Corps detailed to watch William in the daytime, as he can do so, because the Familey is now spending all day at the Red Cross.

  He thinks the Password idea fine, as otherwise almost anybody could steal a medal and get into the mill.

  William seems to know that I know something, and this morning, while opening the door for me, he said:

  "I beg pardon, Miss Bab, but I see Henry is driving you today."

  "It is not hard to see," I replied, in a hauty manner. It is not the Butler's business who is driving me, and anyhow I had no intention of any unecessary conversation with a Spy.

  "Your own car being out of order, miss?"

  "It is," I retorted. "As you will probably be going to the Garage, although against orders, while Henry is out, you can see it yourself."

  I then went out and sat in front in order to converce with Henry, as the back is lonely. I looked up at the door and William was standing there, with a very queer look on his face.

  3 P. M. Mr. Schmidt is late and the Corps is practising, having now got to K.

  Luncheon was a great surprize, as at 12:45 a car apeared on the sky line and was reported by our Sentry as aproaching rapidly.

  When it came near it was seen to be driven by Carter Brooks, and to contain several baskets, etcetera. He then dismounted and saluted and said:

  "The Commiseriat has sent me forward with the day's rations, sir."

  "Very good," I returned, in an official manner. "Corps will line up and count. Odd numbers to unpack and evens to set the table."

  This of course was figurative, as we have no table, but eat upon the ground.

  He then carried over the baskets and a freezer of ice cream. He had brought a fruit salid, cold chicken, potatoe Chips, cake and ice-cream. It was a delightful Repast, and not soon to be forgotten by the Corps.

  Mademoiselle got out of the Adams's car and came over, although she had her own lunch as usual. She then had the Chauffeur carry over a seat cushion, and to see her one would beleive she was always pleasant. I have no use for those who are only pleasant in the presence of Food or Strangers.

  Carter Brooks sat beside me, and observed:

  "You see, Bab, although a Slacker myself, I cannot bear that such brave spirits as those of the Girls' Aviation Corps should go hungry."

  I then gave him a talking-to, saying that he had been a great disapointment, as I thought one should rise to the Country's Call and not wait until actualy needed, even when an only son.

  He made no defence, but said in a serious tone:

  "You see, it's like this. I am not sure of myself, Bab. I don't want to enlist because others of the Male Sex, as you would say, are enlisting and I'm ashamed not to. And I don't want to enlist just to wear a Unaform and get away from business. I don't take it as lightly as all that."

  "Have you no Patriotism?" I demanded. "Can you repeat unmoved the celabrated lines:

  "Lives there a man with Soul so dead, He (or who) never to himself hath said: This is my own, my Native Land."

  I then choked up, although being Captain I felt that tears were a femanine weakness and a bad Example.

  Mademoiselle had at that moment felt an ant somewhere and was not looking. Therfore she did not perceive when he reached over and put his hand on my foot, which happened to be nearest to him. He then pated my foot, and said:

  "What a nice kid you are!"

  It is strange, now that he and the baskets, etcetera, have gone away, that I continue to think about his pating my foot. Because I have known him for years, and he is nothing to me but a good friend and not sentamental in any way.

  I feel this way. Suppose he enlists and goes away to die for his Country, as a result of my Speach. Can I endure to think of it? No. I did not feel this way about Tom Gray, who has gone to Florida to learn to fly, although at one time thinking the Sun rose and set on him. It is very queer.

  The Sentry reports Mr. Schmidt and the dogs coming over the fense.

  EVENING. Doctor Connor is here again. He is taking Sis to a meeting where he is to make a Speach. I ofered to go along, but they did not apear to hear me, and perhaps it is as well, for I must watch William, as Henry is taking them in the car. I am therfore writing on the stairs, as I can then hear him washing Silver in the pantrey.

  Mother has been very sweet to me this evening. I cannot record how I feel about the change. I used to feel that she loved me when she had time to do so, but that she had not much time, being busy with Bridge, Dinners, taking Leila out and Housekeeping, and so on. But now she has more time. Tonight she said:

  "Bab, suppose we have a little talk. I have been thinking all day what I would do if you were a boy, and took it into that Patriotic head of yours to enlist. I couldn't bear it, that's all."

  I was moved to tears by this afection on the part of my dear Parent, but I remembered being Captain of the Corps, and so did not weep. She then said that she would buy us an Emblem for the Camp, and have a luncheon packed each day. She also ofered me a wrist watch.

  I cannot but think what changes War can make, bringing people together because of worry and danger, and causing gifts, such as flags and watches, and ofering to come out and see us in a day or so.

  It is now 9 P. M. and the mention of the flag has reminded me that our own Emblem still fluters beneath the Starry Sky.

  LATER: William is now in the Garage. I am watching from the window of the sowing room.

  The terrable thought comes--has he a wireless concealed there, by which he sends out clandestine messages, perhaps to Germany?

  This I know. He cannot get into Henry's room, as the padlock is now on.

  LATER: He has returned, foiled!

  APRIL 18TH. Nothing new. Working hard at signaling. Mr. Schmidt says I am doing well and if he was an Officer he would give me a job.

  APRIL 19TH. Nothing new. But Doctor Connor had told Leila that my father looks sick or at least not well. When I went to him, being frightened, as he is my only Male Parent and very dear to me, he only laughed and said:

  "Nonsense! We're rushed at the Mill, that's all. You see, Bab, War is more than Unaforms and saluting. It is a nasty Business. And of course, between your forgetting The Emblem until midnight, when I am in my first sleep, and putting it out at Dawn, I am not getting all the rest I really need."

  He then took my hand and said:

  "Bab, you haven't by any chance been in my Dispach Case for anything, have you?"

  "Why? Is something missing?" I said in I startled tone.

  "No. But sometimes I think--however, never mind about that. I think I'll take the Case upstairs and lock my door hereafter, and if the Emblem is an hour or to late, we will have to stand for it. Eight o'clock is early enough for any Flag, especialy if it has been out late the night before."

  "Father" I said, in a tence voice. "I have before this warned you, but you would not listen, considering me imature and not knowing a Spy when I see one."

  I then told him what I knew about William, but he only said:

  "Well, the only thing that matters is the Password, and that cannot be stolen. As for William, I have had his record looked up by the Police, and it is fine. Now go to bed, and send in the Spy. I want a Scotch and Soda."

  APRIL 20
TH. Henry and I have searched the Garage, but there is no Wireless, unless in a Chimney. Henry says this is often done, by Spies, who raise a Mast out of the chimney by night.

  To night I shall watch the Chimney, as there is an ark light near it, so that it is as bright as Day.

  The cook has given notice, as she and William cannot get along, and as he can only make to salids and those not cared for by the other servants.

  APRIL 27TH. After eight days I am at last alowed this Log or Journal, being supported with pillows while writing as Doctor Connor says it will not hurt me.

  He has just gone, and I am sure kissed Leila in the hall while Hannah and the nurse were getting pen, ink, etcetera. Perhaps after all Romanse has at last come to my beloved sister, who will now get married. If so, I can come out in November, which is the best time, as December is busy with Xmas and so on.

  How shall I tell the tradgic story of that night? How can I put, by means of a pen, my Experiences on paper? There are some things which may not be written, but only felt, and that mostly afterwards, as during the time one is to excited to feel.

  On April 21st, Saturday, I had a bad cold and was not allowed to go to camp. I therfore slept most of the day, being one to sleep easily in daytime, except for Hannah coming in to feel if I was feverish.

  My father did not come home to dinner, and later on telephoned that he was not to be looked for until he arived, owing to somthing very important at the Mill and a night shift going on for the first time.

  We ate Dinner without him, and mother was very nervous and kept saying that with foremen and so on she did not see why father should have to kill himself.

  Ye gods! Had we but realised the Signifacance of that remark! But we did not, but went to living in a Fool's Paradice, and complaining because William had put to much vinigar in the French Dressing.

  William locked up the house and we retired to our Chambers. But as I had slept most of the day I could not compose myself to Slumber, but sat up in my robe de nuit and reflected about Carter Brooks, and that perhaps it would be better for him not to enlist as there is plenty to be done here at home, where one is safe from bullets, machine guns and so on. Because, although not Sentamental about him or silly in any way, I felt that he should not wish to go into danger if his mother objected. And after all one must consider mothers and other Parents.

  I put a dressing gown over my ROBE DE NUIT, and having then remembered about the Wireless, I put out my light and sat in the window seat. But there was no Mast to be seen, and nothing but the ark light swinging.

  I then saw some one come in the drive and go back to the Garage, but as Henry has a friend who has been out of work and sleeps with him, although not told to the Familey, as probably objecting,--although why I could not see, since he used half of Henry's bed and therfore cost nothing--I considered that it was he.

  It was not, however, as I shall now record in this Log or Journal.

  I had perhaps gone to sleep in my place of watching, when I heard a rapping at my Chamber door. "Only this and nothing more." Poe--The Raven.

  I at once opened the door, and it was the cook. She said that Henry had returned from the mill with a pain in his ear, and had telephoned to her by the house 'phone to bring over a hot water bottle, as father was driving himself home when ready.

  She then said that if I would go over with her to the Garage and drop some laudinum into his ear, she being to nervous, and also taking my hot water bottle, she would be grateful.

  Although not fond of her, owing to her giving notice and also being very fussy about cake taken from the pantrey, I am one to go always where needed. I also felt that a member of the Corps should not shirk Duty, even a Chauffeur's ear. I therfore got my hot water bottle and some slippers, etcetera, and we went to the Garage.

  I went up the stairs to Henry's room, but what was my surprize to find him not there, but only his friend. I then said:

  "Where is Henry?"

  The cook was behind me, and she said:

  "He is coming. He has to walk around because it aches so."

  Then Henry's friend said, in a queer voice:

  "Now, Miss Bab, there is nothing to be afraid of, unless you make a noise. If you do there will be trouble and that at once. We three are going to have a little talk."

  Ye gods! I tremble even to remember his words, for he said:

  "What we want is simple enough. We want tonight's Password at the Mill. DON'T SCREAM."

  I dropped the hot water bottle, because there is no use pretending one is not scared at such a time. One is. But of course I would not tell them the Password, and the cook said:

  "Be careful, Miss Bab. We are not playing. We are in terrable ernest."

  She did not sound like a cook at all, and she looked diferent, being very white and with to red spots on her cheeks.

  "So am I," I responded, although with shaking teeth. "And just wait until the Police hear of this and see what happens. You will all be arested. If I scream----"

  "If you scream," said Henry's friend in an awful voice, "you will never scream again."

  There was now a loud report from below, which the neighbors afterwards said they heard, but considered gas in a muffler, which happens often and sounds like a shot. There was then a sort of low growl and somebody fell with a thump. Then the cook said to Henry's friend:

  "Jump out of the window. They've got him!"

  But he did not jump, but listened, and we then heard Henry saying:

  "Come down here, quick."

  Henry's friend then went downstairs very rapidly, and I ran to the window thinking to jump out. But it was closed and locked, and anyhow the cook caught me and said, in a hissing manner:

  "None of that, you little fool."

  I had never been so spoken to, especially by a cook, and it made me very angry. I then threw the bottle of laudinum at her, and broke a front tooth, also cutting her lip, although I did not know this until later, as I then fainted.

  When I came to I was on the floor and William, whom I had considered a Spy, was on the bed with his hands and feet tied. Henry was standing by the door, with a revolver, and he said:

  "I'm sorry, Miss Bab, because you are all right and have helped me a lot, especially with that on the bed. If it hadn't been for you our Goose would have been cooked."

  He then picked me up and put me in a chair, and looked at his watch.

  "Now," he said, "we'll have that Password, because time is going and there are things to be done, quite a few of them."

  I could see William then, and I saw his eyes were partly shut, and that he had been shot, because of blood, etcetera. I was about to faint again, as the sight of blood makes me sick at the stomache, but Henry held a bottle of amonia under my nose and said in a brutal way:

  "Here, none of that."

  I then said that I would not tell the Password, although killed for it, and he said if I kept up that attitude I would be, because they were desperate and would stop at nothing.

  "There is no use being stubborn," he said, "because we are going to get that Password, and the right one to, because if the wrong one you, to, will be finished off in short order."

  As I was now desperate myself I decided to shriek, happen what may. But I had merely opened my mouth to when he sprang at me and put his hand over my mouth. He then said he would be obliged to gag me, and that when I made up my mind to tell the Password, if I would nod my Head he would then remove the gag. As I grew pale at these words he threw up a window, because air prevents fainting.

  He then tied a towel around my mouth and lips, putting part of it between my teeth, and tied it in a hard knot behind. He also tied my hands behind me, although I kicked as hard as possable, and can do so very well, owing to skating and so on.

  How awfull were my sensations as I thus sat facing Death, and remembering that I had often been excused from Chapel when not necesary, and had been confirmed while pretending to know the Creed while not doing so. Also not always going to Sunday School as
I should, and being inclined to skip my Prayers when very tired.

  We sat there for a long time, which seemed Eternities, Henry making dreadful threats, and holding a revolver. But I would not tell the Password, and at last he went out, locking the door behind him, to consult with the other Spies.

  I then heard a whisper, and saw that William was not dead. He said:

  "Here, quick. I'll unloose your hands and you can drop out the window."

  He did so, but just in time, as Henry returned, looking fierce and saying that I had but fifteen minutes more. I was again in my chair, and he did not percieve that my hands were now untied.

  I must stop here, as my hands tremble to much to hold my trusty pen.

  APRIL 28TH. Leila has just been in. She kissed me in a fraternal manner, and I then saw that she wore an engagement ring. Well, such is Life. We only get realy acquainted with our Families when they die, or get married.

  Doctor Connor came in a moment later and kissed me to, calling me his brave little Sister.

  How pleasant it is to lie thus, having wine jelatine and squab and so on, and wearing a wrist watch with twenty-seven diamonds, and mother using the vibrator on my back to make me sleepy, etcetera. Also, to know that when one's father returns he will say:

  "Well, how is the Patriot today?" and not smile while saying it.

  I have recorded in this journal up to where I had got my hands loose, and Henry was going to shoot me in fifteen minutes.

  We have thus come to Mr. Schmidt.

  Suddenly Henry swore in an angry manner. This was because my father had brought the machine home and was but then coming along the drive. Had he come alone it would have been the end of him and the Mill, for Henry and his friend would have caught him, and my father is like me--he would die before giving the Password and blowing up all the men and so on in the Mill. But he brought the manager with him, as he lives out of town and there is no train after midnight.

  My father said:

  "Henry!"

  So Henry replied:

  "Coming, sir" and went out, but again locked the door.

  Before he went out he said:

  "Now mind, any noise up here and we will finish you and your father also. DON'T YOU OVERTURN A CHAIR BY MISTAKE, YOUNG LADY."