by A. Stone
CHAPTER XXIV
Don had an armful of dailies for me that had accumulated and a singlewireless, which was laconic enough--
"Come to wireless station."
It's frequently the short order that gives one a long jump, it beingan all-night job to the station and back. Howard had received a letterfrom little Jim. He was pleased but puzzled, laboring with itstranslation. Little Jim had received her total education from him sofar and had had little practice in letter writing.
"She arrived there all right," he volunteered, continuing to read.
"She had a reliable escort. Father Woburn is just as sure as he ismild and gentlemanly," I ventured, absorbing his delight.
"I think she does fine for one who has never tried to write, but sheis a little hard to make out. Read it to me, perhaps you can betterunderstand just what she means," said he, handing me a letter ofseveral pages as we sat on the deck facing the setting sun, with ourfeet on the rail. I first glanced over it, then began to read:
"DEAR DADDY:
"We got here all right or I would not be able to write. At first I was scared but Mr. Woburn was so nice that I soon began to like it, I mean the cars and the towns we went through. In the evening we got to Jacksonville and then after eating supper I had to go to bed. It seemed so funny to sleep in that little place while the train runs so fast. My new clothes were so much bother, I wished I had my regular clothes--they are so much quicker--but I suppose it will be a long time before I get them again.
"The next morning we were at Richmond--Mr. Woburn told me these names--then Washington, so much more beautiful than anything you ever told me about, then Baltimore and Philadelphia. We did not go to New York, but I am going there to-morrow with one of my teachers to get the clothes and things I need for school. It does not begin for two weeks, and I and another girl are the only ones here now ahead of time. It is in a great big woods, a beautiful place. Mr. Woburn came clear up here with me and talked with the principal. He said that because I knew Mr. Wood we would get along fine, but I must never go out alone. A teacher who I like and plays music I can listen to all day will go with me. She says I can write to you every day and I will. Tell Mr. Wood if he is there yet that I love him almost as much as I do you, Daddy. I hope you don't miss me as I do you. Tell Don his cooking is the best, but maybe I will get used to the kind we have here. I must go to bed now. My room is a great, big long one and my teacher uses the other end of it, and tells me everything I want to know. She knows so much about everything.
"She says that nobody knows what our first name is here but the registrar, and you must get used to me signing my name,
"MISS CANBY, "With lots of love."
When I stopped reading Howard laughed outright, arose and rubbed hishands, then slapped me on the back.
"That sounds to me just as though little Jim were talking. Now I feelsure and am satisfied. I can fight wild cats, a buzz-saw, or all theHuns." Then, sobering some, he sauntered down the deck and returned towhere I sat, still holding little Jim's letter, said soberly, "Wood,again I am indebted to you. I don't believe I could ever haveaccomplished it, so well and quickly. Somehow, now that she is awayand in safe hands, I am greatly relieved."
"You give me undue credit. I am glad little Jim is safe, but a doublepurpose robs me of credit. The way things now stand we could notprove our case without little Jim's testimony. My unsupported evidencewould be strained to prove the Hun boat fired through your boat whileyou were diving. For that reason they may be interested in getting herout of the way. That's why Father Woburn was sent. Even if they dolearn where she is they have a better chance at heaven--and you knowthat is nil--than to get her now."
"I don't care how many purposes you have," replied Byng. "I know thatyour main one is patriotic or humanitarian. I have benefited so often,I know. I would indeed be selfish if not willing to render service inreturn. With little Jim safe, you can use my body, my life for anypurpose."
"Well, it may come to that. We all must take big chances; in a way,literally play tag with death. The best elements of the world mustprevail. A hundred and fifty years ago a great man predicted that thehope of the world lay in the western hemisphere. We are face to facenow with fulfilling the Will of God and the wonderful prophecy whichanyone can understand now. Our men and millions are being used torestore national conscience, simple normal regard for contracts andwomen. The flat poison head of morganatic marriages and degeneracymust go under the heel of justice. You and I will win here. You willthen be rich in money. And when it is over I may make another requestthat will stretch our friendship."
"Wood, it can't be done. I can't conceive of you asking a favor Iwould not grant. It isn't in you."
"Howard, you overestimate me. I do believe mistakes normal and believein everyone alike whose intentions are good. You and I have had threeor four days of unpleasant work and we are now on a floating morguefilled by your resourcefulness and boldness. It takes daring courage,and disregard of life to go down among the sharks to get dead Huns.Before we get away from here greater valor will be required, for ourpurpose is indeed ambitious; but I don't believe you can possiblyexhibit more greatness than you did that night on Alligator Island along time ago--our first real adventure."
Howard stopped in his tracks as though transfixed, staring at me asthough suddenly passing into delirium. Undaunted, I went ahead.
"Howard, I believed in that little girl you carried out that morningin your arms, then no bigger or older than little Jim, and I believein her yet. I believe at that time she began to trust you, and Ibelieve she still trusts you."
He stood still near me, his face twitched and again there gathered inhis eyes that fierceness of the Georgia Cracker when enraged, hishands seemed in readiness to tear me to pieces. I arose and faced him.Notwithstanding his powerful physique, I towered above, determined tobreak silence on that subject again, feeling he would be better forit.
It was a silent battle of man against man, where neither flinched. Ittook time, but finally he hung his head and moved slowly away.Turning toward me, he said in a voice so hollow and strained it mighthave come from the grave, "Wood--you--you don't seem to know I--Isaw--I--I heard. There is no mistake----" Then with a slight trace ofa plea, he added, "I know."
"Howard, no man ever lived in whom I believe more sincerely. On theother hand, by virtue of my occupation, I have to know. My superiorsare not much impressed with 'will-o'-the-wisps' or 'matters _ignisfatuus_.' I must rationally and sanely know things and I feel sostrong on this matter that I request, almost demand that you, after weare through here, make some effort to find her in order to confirmwhat you so sincerely believe true. Fifteen years often changes us. Ithink it has changed you. You owe it to yourself--and little Jim. Itwill not be so difficult, for Ramund is obtainable now."
"It is unnecessary, Wood--I know I am right. But I am--I was glad whenyou told me you thought she was a--good woman now. I hate to think oflittle Jim's mother being bad," he added so faintly I could hardlyhear. It was a great struggle. Such a man as Fighting Byng bendsslowly, but how wonderful that they bend at all. I thought it best todrop the subject for the present.
"Howard, I must go to the wireless station to get in touch withWashington. It will likely take all night. Do you feel safe herewithout me?"
"I don't see why not. The little Scotch gunner and I can changewatches during the night. Did you get any news?"
"Being called to the wireless is significant of something new."
"What's the war news?" struggling to recover himself.
"The general situation appears dark just now."
"How is that--just what do you mean?" he inquired anxiously.
"To make it short, the Hun has Europe whipped to a standstill, withRussia delivered to the enemy by a Judas Iscariot. The Boche does notbelieve we will ever take the place of the Russian Army. He doesn'tthink we can or will really
fight, and, of course, is making his lastcolossal mistake. But just now his chest is away out. He is bold andimpudent and a little more irrational than usual. For that reason Iwould not be surprised to see some such thing reflected in these partsunless we are unusually lucky. I feel like advising extremecaution--but I will know more when I get back from the wirelessstation," I added, watching Howard closely.
"Wood--I can only repeat what I have said--now I believe little Jim issafe from harm, besides I have placed her beyond want. I will fightwith you as long as there's an ounce of Georgia blood left in me."