CHAPTER IX LETTERS
Captain William Farnsworth sat in his room, opening his morning mail. Orrather, his morning mail was waiting to be opened, while he eagerlyperused a letter from Miss Patricia Fairfield.
“For the love of pickled peppers!” he exclaimed, in a self-addressedmurmur, “she _didn’t_! she _couldn’t_!”
For the letter said,—in part:
“I am _so_ glad you’re thinking of coming to New York in February!That’s soon here! Which day? What hour? Oh, my Little Billee, how can I_wait_ to see you! I want to look in those dear, big, loving blue eyes,and have them answer the questions I want to ask. You know what thequestions are! Oh, well, suppose I do know the answers,—I guess a littlePatty Blossom can ask over again if her big Sir Galahad loves her,—andwhy,—and how much,—and a few such things,—that are important, if true!And there is nothing in this whole round world truer than our love,—isthere, dear? I just _live_ in it,—when I am alone, I thing of nothingbut US, and, I’m afraid I am absent-minded, even when other people areabout. Do come home soon,—come to your own Patty Posy. Tell me quick_when_ to look for you! Why didn’t you tell me sooner there was hope ofseeing you soon? My own dear big man, my own, my owner, my ownest, I’mnow and forever “Your “Patty Blossom.”
Farnsworth frowned,—he looked puzzled, amazed, hurt.
Again he resorted to expletives. “Great jumping kangaroos!” he said tohimself, “I can’t see it! Patty never did such a thing! never! But ifnot, how did she know? I believe the very walls have not only ears buttongues and pens in their hands, and a whole wireless outfit beside! I_can’t_ suspect Patty,—and yet,—all women are curious,—and, of course,this doesn’t matter so much,—but if I can’t trust her in everything howcan I trust her at all?”
With a sigh, he laid the letter aside, and turned to his businesscorrespondence.
Farnsworth’s position was a responsible one, and it contained andinvolved many secrets that must be carefully guarded. Among these wasthe fact and date of his next trip to New York. It was on a matter ofmoment, and it was not desirable that his absence from Washington shouldbe known. He had written Patty about it, but he had enclosed the messagein a sealed envelope, with directions not to open it until he wired herto do so. Thus, he planned, she would know it in time, but theinformation could not leak out. And now it had leaked out. Patty knewand made no secret of the knowledge that he was expected in New York.Had she told others? And,—worst of all,—had she opened the sealed letterbefore he told her to? This was incredible,—yet, what other solution ortheory was possible? And there was to be considered a grouchy oldColonel, who would make all sorts of trouble for Captain Farnsworth ifit became known that he was careless with his personal correspondence.
Because of his well-trained mind, and his power of concentration,Farnsworth forced himself to attend to matters in hand, but ever andagain flashed across his preoccupied brain the fact that Patty haddisregarded his instructions.
He lived with a pleasant family in the Capital, and his quarters werethe whole of the second floor of the small house. This gave him agood-sized sitting room, which was his private office, and here hetransacted all business that didn’t require his presence at the morepublic buildings.
He kept doggedly at work, determined not to let the disturbing episodeinterfere with his efficiency. And he succeeded, but only by dint ofperseverance in his resolve not to think of Patty at all.
This was difficult, for every glance of his eye fell on somethingremindful of her. A photograph on his desk; other little snapshotslurking among his papers; a paper-cutter she had given him; indeed, thepen he wrote with was her parting gift; and all spoke eloquently of thegirl he had so reluctantly left behind him.
“Busy, Captain?” called a gay voice, and a merry face peeped in at thedoor.
“Always busy,” he returned, cheerily, “but never too busy to say goodmorning.”
“Oh, I know what that means! That I must say good morning, and nothingmore! But I do want just half a dozen more words.”
The piquant face smiled coaxingly, as Lena Richards danced in. She wasthe daughter of the house, a dark-haired, olive-skinned little gipsy,who, being quite spoiled by her doting parents, assumed the right tohave her own way with every one else.
Farnsworth liked her as no one could help doing, but he was oftenobliged to speak more curtly than he liked to, or she would intrude toooften on his time.
She wore a smock of pink linen and her curly hair was bundled into alittle Dutch cap. She came in, with the venturesome air of a mischievouschild, and perched saucily on the corner of the big desk.
“You see,” she began, “I’m in an awful scrape—well, that is, _I’m_ not,but somebody else is——”
“Who isn’t?” said Farnsworth, smiling at the roguish little face thatwore such a troubled frown.
“Yes, I s’pose everybody is, more or less, from the President down. Andwhen you think of that, my little brother does seem small, but—you see,to me——”
“It’s a national calamity?”
“Personal rather than national,—yet it may be said to be international.”
“Many of our troubles are. Your story interests me strangely,—myche-ild,—but truly, Lena, I can’t take time now to hear the yarn. Isuppose your fudge was lumpy, or your new ribbons don’t match yourfrock,—is that it?”
“You always talk as if I were a child!” and the scarlet lips poutedpetulantly.
“Of course! I always think of you as a kiddy in a middy.”
“This isn’t a middy, it’s a smock, and a very grown up one at that.”
“Do smocks grow up? Thought they only grew old. Well, anyway, whateveryour age, I’ve no time to waste on you this morning. My country needsme!”
“You’re always so unkind to me,——” and two crystal drops formed in thebig, brown eyes.
Now, William Farnsworth was the sort of man who can’t stand seeing awoman in distress. And though he knew that this sixteen-year-old chitcould have no real or deep trouble, he yet could not bring himself tospeak sternly to her, and tell her to leave the room.
Against his will, he obeyed the dictates of his kind heart, and takingout his watch, said:
“I’ll give you ten minutes. Spill your story in Papa’s ear!”
The dark little face lighted with gladness, and Lena murmured, “How goodyou are! Listen, then! You know my friend, Gracie Hadley?”
“Haven’t the pleasure. Who’s she in America?”
“Well, she’s just Gracie, that’s all. And—sh!”—Lena looked cautiouslyabout, “don’t breathe it, but she’s in love with an English chap who’sover here. And her mother doesn’t approve——”
“Why? Who’s the Britisher?”
“I don’t want to tell you, ’cause it’s Gracie’s secret——”
“All right; I don’t want to know anyway. But where do I come in? I hateto hurry you, but I’m assuming I play a part in this tragedy, and I wantmy cue, for honest to goodness, Lena, I’ve troubles of my own!”
“Yes, I know, Captain, and I won’t be but a minute explaining. Well,Gracie has been corresponding with this man,——”
“Oh, naughty! naughty!”
“Hush! It’s all right; only of course, she doesn’t want her mother toknow. Well, she tears up his letters, but—_what_ do you think!”
“Censor?”
“No! but the man has given her her letters to him——”
“Returned them!”
“No; I mean yes,—but for this reason—you fluster me so,—with yoursnapping up!”
“Well, well, go and tell it in your own way. But, for Heaven’s sake,hurry up!”
“All right. You see he gave her these letters to save for him just whilehe’s away somewhere, and he wants them when he comes back.”
“Can’t she write some more?”
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“Oh! You’re so unfeeling! So—why, you’re _stupid_!”
“Pardon,—sorry! Fire away.”
“Never mind details,—Gracie can’t keep them at home, for fear her motherwill find them—she snoops awfully! And—_I_ can’t keep them here,——”
“For a similar reason?”
“Yes; exactly! So,—Captain Farnsworth,—nice, dear Captain Farnsworth,won’t you let me hid them in here,—among your things?”
“Goodness! Little One, is that all you want? Sure! Hide them whereveryou like in my domain. Your eagle-eyed mother won’t find them in here!But, hold on! Nothing that wouldn’t get by the Censor, is there?”
“Oh, goodness, no! Nothing like that!”
“Guess I’ll have to have a glimpse of ’em, though. Not to pry into thelovers’ confidences, of course, but because I can’t harbour papersunless I’m satisfied of their contents.”
“All right,—that goes! I’ll get them now;” and running from the room,Lena returned with a small packet of letters tied with blue ribbon.
Farnsworth examined the envelopes, and glanced here and there at thewritten pages.
“All right,” he said, re-tying the packet, “internal evidence provesconclusively to _my_ mind that these documents are just what youdescribe them to be. Say we put them in the top drawer of my chiffonier;how’s that?”
“Fine! Mother would never dream of looking in your room!”
“I should hope not! And now may I, without undue haste, bid you a verygood morning?”
“S’pose I’ve _got_ to go, if you put it like that. I did want to tellyou more about Gracie; and there’s something I want to ask you.”
“Not now, not now, my child. I am busy—see? B-U-S-Y! My Flag comesbefore my friends! Thus, you see my friends follow the Flag!”
“You are so witty! And so kind. Thank you lots, Captain, and when you’renot so busy, may I talk to you again?”
“If that time ever comes! But it never will unless you clear out! Scootnow!” Farnsworth held the door persuadingly open, and Lena didn’t scoot,but she went slowly and reluctantly out.
“The pretty little nuisance!” muttered the Captain, as he closed andlocked his door.
Without further interruption, Bill put in the morning on his war work,and at last was free to consider the case against Patty Fairfield.
“She’s true blue,” he thought, “far too true to do anything she deemedwrong or even indiscreet. But I suppose she didn’t realise howdefinite,—how imperative my instructions were,—maybe I didn’t tell herdistinctly enough,—maybe she forgot,—or was really overcome with adesire to know what was in that sealed note. Oh, well, I must warn herfurther. I hate to hurt her,—I can’t let her think I distrust her,—andLord knows I _don’t_! How I wish I had more time! But I’ve thatappointment at two—and—whew! I’ll have to scribble to Patty pretty fast,whatever I say!”
The result, after one or two torn-up attempts, was this:
“My Own Patty Blossom,—my Posy Face,—my Best Beloved: I’ve only a minuteto write this time, and so I must come to the point at once. DearHeart,—_did_ you open the sealed note before I told you to? Oh, well,—Iknow you did so never mind about that,—but, my precious little girl,don’t, _please_ don’t ever do it again. You see, I send you notes thus,so that you can open them in haste when I wire you that you may. Now, ifyou open them sooner, I never know where we stand. In this matter,darling, please consider my wishes—and, especially because I meant tosend a really valuable paper to you, in order that you might hand it tome when I do come to New York, and I won’t have to carry it with me ortrust it to the general mail. I can’t explain all these matters, as youknow, dear, but I do want to feel that in the government work that isentrusted to _me_, I can as implicitly trust _you_ to be my aid andhelper. Can’t I, Sweetheart? Of course, I know I can, and I know youreager haste to learn my plans led you to open that letter before time.So, don’t do it again, and all will be well. Now, I’ve not anotherminute, but I _must_ take time to say once again that I love you, andyou’re all the world to me, my dear, _dear_ little Posy Patty. “And I’m your faithful and devoted “Little Billee.”
When Patty received this letter she read it and sat aghast. What couldhe mean? She had never opened a letter until he told her to! Many timesshe had received permission by mail or by wire, and then she had openedthe sealed notes so frequently enclosed in Bill’s letters to her. Butnever before she got the word! Never,—never!
Again she read the pages from Washington. Had Farnsworth imagined it orwhat had made him dream that she had done such a thing?
She? Not to be trusted! When every thought she had, every deed she didwas with the one trust and hope that she might help her Captain,—even inthe smallest way!
She went to her writing desk and from a locked drawer she took Bill’ssealed note, that had come with a recent letter.
It was still sealed. Why would he think she had opened it? Oh, well, shethought, something has made him think so. I must write him at once thatI didn’t. He’ll believe me, of course. I know his faith and trust, andthey are not misplaced, that’s certain!
So, a letter was quickly written and despatched telling the Captain thathis aid and helper in New York had not been false to her trust in theminutest particular.
But Patty was still puzzled and gave much thought to the matter.
When Van Reypen came to say good-bye on the eve of his departure forcamp, he found a quiet and worried little girl, who received him withbut a slight smile.
“Well, my Lady Fair, you look as if you’d lost your last friend,—or,perhaps, as if you were about to lose him! May I take this general airof gloom as a tribute to my regrettable absence? Is it just ’causeyou’re going to lose your little old friend that you look sodisconsolate?”
“No, sir! it isn’t! In the first place, I don’t look sad, and in thesecond place, if I do, it isn’t because I’m doing any ‘Leah, theforsaken,’ act! I shall miss you, of course, but in these days we mustlearn to miss people!”
“That’s true, Patty, and have you any idea,—any faint glimmering of anotion, how I shall miss you?”
“Phil, I know all grades of missing! I’m no novice at it. Since this warcalled them, I’ve missed acquaintances, casual friends, old friends,relatives, and, of course, most of all, my own Little Billee. Now, Ishall miss you,—and I know you’ll miss me,—but, you’ll soon get sointerested in your work—in the great game,—that you’ll—oh, not forgetme, I’m sure,—but my memory will become, let us say, a little blurred.”
“Indeed it won’t! But, hold on here, if it isn’t my departure, what isit that has made your countenance sicklied o’er with a pale castof—something or other?”
“Rice powder, probably! Does it really make me look sickly? Goodgracious!” Patty scrubbed at her cheeks with her handkerchief, untilthey were rosy indeed.
“Nope; you can’t rub it off! It’s ingrained. Come now, what’s up?”
“Well, I am bothered. Philip, how do war secrets leak out?”
“How do they keep from it, you mean! Why, Patty, the end and aim of amajority of our citizens seems to be to chatter and make troublethereby. What’s exploded now?”
“Nothing that I can tell you,—only,—well,—never mind.”
“You transparent little goose! Have you been and went and told somethingFarnsworth told you not to?”
“No, I haven’t! But he thought I did, so it’s just as bad!”
“No; not _just_ as bad,—but, bad. What was it?”
“Never mind, but he thought I opened a sealed envelope and it’s stillsealed.”
“Has it been out of your possession?”
“Not for a minute!”
“Good! and locked away when you are asleep?”
“Always; locked in a secret drawer.”
“Good, again. Then, you’re all right. But let me warn you, Patty, to bemost exceedingly cau
tious. Farnsworth’s work is of the highestimportance, and his plans must not be known in advance. I know this evenbetter than you do, and I beg of you to be even over-careful of anyorders he may give you.”
“Oh, I am! I do! But you see, this matter must have leaked out someother way, and he thought it was because of my knowledge of it.”
“Patty!” Philip spoke suddenly; “did you have that letter with you thatday at the Timothy Grass Club?”
“Yes; I had just received it that morning.”
“Where did you carry it?”
“In my fur stole; there’s a buttoned pocket in the end of it, and it’s asafe place.”
“And that Munson,—that masquerader,—wore your stole!”
“So he did!” and Patty looked frightened. “But, no! that’s all right,Phil. The enclosed note was still sealed when I reached home, and it issealed yet!”
“Very well; but don’t take any chances. Leave your letters at home andcarefully locked up, if they contain anything outside your entirelypersonal affairs. I speak whereof I know, Patty, and you _must_ becareful!”
“I will, Philip, oh, truly I will,” and Patty gave the promise in allsincerity.
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