CHAPTER XVI THE FLAG AND THE GIRL BACK HOME
Then a rousing Hip-Hoo-ray! For our Soldier Boys, and pluck will win the day for our Soldier Boys.
Patty at the piano, sang out the stirring words of the refrain and thenbegan on the second verse:
Our Soldier Boy is a tip-top sort, And wherever he may roam, His colours are unfurled for the freedom of the world And the smile of a girl back home. When it’s “Forward, March!” he is on the job With his cheek aglow and his heart athrob; When it’s “Ready, Fire!” with a Hip-hooray! He’ll fight ’em to a finish for the U. S. A.
Then a rousing Hip-hooray for our Soldier Boys And pluck will win the day for our Soldier Boys, Off they go to smash the foe, And that’s just the surest thing you know! Then sing out a brave “March On!” to our Soldier Boys, The war will yet be won by our Soldier Boys, Colours flying for Victory! For the Flag and the Girl back home!
Patty wound up with a grand flourish of voice and piano keys, just asHelen came in.
“Oh, Patty,” she cried, “is it all right?”
“Yes, I think so,—I hope so,—but what did happen, Bumble? Who isSergeant Colton, and what do you mean by your telephone message?”
Half hysterical, Helen told the whole story of her experiences of thenight before. She confessed fully and frankly that she had babbledunthinkingly, and that Mrs. Lummis had made use of her revelations.
“Did anybody come here?” she asked, eagerly.
“I should say yes!” Patty returned, but Helen’s fear and misery were sopoignant, Patty’s kind heart wouldn’t let her scold the culprit.
“You saved the day by telephoning, Bumble, if you hadn’t, there wouldhave been very grave trouble. Now, don’t think any more about it; butI’m not going to let you know things after this. You were terriblythoughtless, but I know you must have suffered from remorse and regret,so let’s not talk any more about it. The papers are safe, so far. I’msorry it is known that I have them,—but even that isn’t positivelyknown. Your Mrs. Lummis is a spy, or, at least, conniving with spies. Itwas strange you should drift into her house in that way, but spies areeverywhere now. Run upstairs, dear, and get your things off, and getcalmed down. Don’t worry over what you’ve done, and—listen, Helen, don’ttell anybody, not even Nan, about it. You _must_ learn to keep yourmouth shut. Now, I forgive you, and I’ll forget what has happened, ifyou’ll promise never to talk to any one, not even to me, about secretservice matters or papers or anything pertaining to Captain Farnsworth’sor my connection with affairs of state.”
“I will promise, Patty, and you’re awful good to me. I was careless andthoughtless, but that woman was so kind and wheedlesome, she got it outof me before I knew it.”
“I see just how it was. You don’t appreciate or realise the deepresponsibility of these secret matters. I do, and so, remember, even youand I must never mention them again.”
Helen went off to her room, and Patty turned back to the piano.
It was a habit of hers to sing when perturbed or anxious, and this newsong was a favourite with her, and she sang it with a clear, vibrantenergy that made the house ring with melody.
“Colours flying for Victory, For the Flag and the Girl back home!”
“That’s a great little old song!” said a voice behind her, and Pattylooked up to see Phil Van Reypen coming into the room.
“Yes, isn’t it? I like it best of all the new war songs. There’s a fineswing to the music, and a stunning accompaniment. When did you come upfrom the South? At break of day?”
“Just about. And I’m here only for a few minutes, but I have a warningfor you. Be very careful, Patty,” Phil drew nearer and lowered hisvoice, “of anything Farnsworth may trust to you. You remember Herron?”
“Oh, yes.”
“He is a spy, or rather, a tool of a spy. In our uniform, among oursoldiers, he has been suspected of selling our secrets. That wholeperformance at the Country Club was a cooked-up job. Munson was theplotter, and he was trying to get from your pocket the letter that hehoped was another and a more important paper. Since then, they haveworked silently toward the same end. Beware of Herron, Patty, but don’tlet him know you suspect him. It is only suspicion so far, nothing hasbeen proved, but he is under strict surveillance.”
“Phil,” and Patty’s heart beat fast, “I would defend Bill’s confidentialmatters with my very life. Something has happened,—but I feel it’sbetter not to tell you the details. Tell me this, though. Supposing someone came to me, purporting to be sent by Captain Farnsworth and using asa token of faith a word dear and familiar to Bill and myself. Could thathave been learned by an outsider and used, or, would you think it reallymeant a message from Bill?”
“Distrust it, Patty. These people have almost incredible powers ofgetting hold of just such arguments or persuasions. Distrust always,—isthe best rule toward any stranger. Farnsworth, if he sends you a messageat all, by a man who is a stranger to you, will make it so that you canhave no possible doubt of its truth.”
Patty drew a sigh of relief. “Just what I thought,” she said. “But I’mfrightened, Philip. I feel so weak, so inexperienced, to defend thesesecrets. It is a terrible responsibility.”
“It is, Patty, of course. But, look at it this way. Whatever Farnsworthasks of you, he feels you are capable of accomplishing. So, makegood,—justify his faith in you, by bravely accepting the responsibility,and succeeding in the task.”
“I can do anything when I feel I’m helping him,” said Patty, softly.“Anything to help him along, with
Colours flying for Victory, For the Flag and the Girl back home!”
“Of course you can.”
Van Reypen’s heart contracted as he looked at Patty’s lovely face, aglowwith love and patriotism. He was slowly but very surely coming round tothe opinion that he could never win her heart away from Farnsworth. Hehad hoped to do this, not in any dishonourable way, but only inconfidence of his own devotion, and a hope that Patty’s affection forFarnsworth was but a temporary infatuation.
But it was becoming more and more clear to him, that Patty’s heart wasgiven once and for all time to his rival, and though deeplydisappointed, Phil was man enough not to whine.
Besides, his motto was, “the game’s never out till it’s played out,” andhe had not yet abandoned all hope. Also, he was absolutely fair, andnever by word or implication said anything to Farnsworth’s disparagementor obtruded himself unduly.
“That’s what I sing every time I go up in my airplane,” he said. “Forthe Flag and the Girl back home!”
“I know your Flag,—but who’s your girl?”
“You are.”
“Nixy!” Patty laughed in her gay, sweet fashion. Secure in hersingle-hearted devotion to Bill, she felt no fear of Philip, and treatedhim with a serene un-self-consciousness, that went far to convince himof the hopelessness of his suit.
“Oh, yes, you’re my girl, even if you aren’t My Girl!”
“You mean even if I’m not your only girl. Would you be surprised,Philip, my child, to learn that I know more about Your Girl than youdo?”
“Meaning you know more about yourself than I can possibly know aboutyou?”
“No; that isn’t what I mean a little bit! But I won’t tell you now, onlysome time, I will tell you the meaning of my cryptic utterance!”
“Glad to be informed, at your convenience, ma’am.”
And then Helen came into the room, and leaving her to entertain VanReypen, Patty ran away to look after some of her own affairs.
It was that same afternoon that Lieutenant Herron called.
Patty was inclined to refuse to see him, and then thought better ofthat, for, she argued to herself, perhaps she could learn something fromhim.
She went down to greet him, with a pleasant smile and a courteousmanner.
To her surprise, she found him in a perturbed and nervous state,fidgeting
about the room as he awaited her appearance.
“Sit down, won’t you?” she invited, but he shook his head.
“I’m here only for a minute, I had to come. Patty,” he grasped her twohands in his own, and glanced wildly about, “I’m frantic because of lovefor you——”
“Lieutenant Herron!” Patty cried, startled by his strange demeanour andtrying to release her hands from his burning grasp.
“Don’t! don’t repulse me! Patty, you little darling, I’m crazy Iknow,—but I can’t help it! I’ve loved you from the first minute I laideyes on you! That my case is hopeless, I can’t—I won’t believe! Oh, havepity on me,——”
The man quite broke down, and raising Patty’s hands to his lips hecovered them with burning kisses.
Patty was not frightened. Often in her life she had experienced thesensation of a sudden and unexpected outbreak such as this, and she wasentirely mistress of the situation.
But she was conscious of a strong desire to ask this suspected man a fewleading questions as to certain matters, yet it seemed a mean thing, totake advantage of his protestations of affection for her.
But, she reflected, all’s fair in love and war, and if she could findout something that her Little Billee wanted to know, it surely could notbe wrong.
“Please, Lieutenant Herron,” she said, at last drawing away her hands;“I know I have only to remind you that you are talking to the affiancedwife of another man to make you realise what you are doing. As a soldierand a gentleman you will not, I am sure, continue such avowals. Please,don’t, and I will promise to forget what you have just said. Did youcome on an errand?”
“Only this. My only errand is to tell you of my love and beg for a rayof hope.”
It was not going to be so easy, after all, Patty discovered, but shesaid, gently, “There is no ray of hope for you, Mr. Herron, and I amsure it is the kindest thing to tell you so at once. I am appreciativeof your regard, but I am also exceedingly surprised. I cannot feel thatI have given you any encouragement or any reason to think I have anespecial interest in you.”
“No,—you haven’t given me what could be called encouragement, I know,and I suppose I ought to have known better than to fall over head andears in love with your exquisite face and winning personality. But wecannot rule our hearts always, and the moment I saw you I knew it wasall up with me.”
The frank, boyish face was pathetic in its utter woe, and Patty felttruly sorry for him.
“I think,” she said, smiling, “the best thing to do is to drop thissubject right here and now. Indeed I must insist on your doing so if Icontinue to talk to you. Where are you stationed now?”
“I don’t know,—I’m on the jump. I say, Miss Fairfield, I’m all brokenup. I guess I’ll go away.”
“Very well, Mr. Herron. Make up your mind to forget this little episodeand I will do the same. By the way, do you think you played quite fairthe day we were at the Country Club?”
“Oh, that. No, I don’t. But I was so anxious to be with you, that I tookany opportunity that offered.”
“Still, you didn’t have to lend yourself to—to underhanded proceedings.”
“Just what do you mean?”
Herron, Patty saw, was on his guard at once. But so was she. No word,she determined, should be spoken by her that might be misused.
“If you don’t know, I don’t either,” she parried.
“Then we neither of us know, and that’s best after all,” he returned,gravely. “Now, Miss Fairfield, I’m going—out of your life forever. I’vetold you my sorry story,—but I hope I’m man enough to accept yourdismissal properly. No matter what I’ve been or done, I’m going to dosomething for you now. At least, for the man you love,—and that’s foryou,—isn’t it?”
“Yes,” breathed Patty, wondering what was coming.
“Well, it’s just this. When you see Captain Farnsworth,—don’t on anyaccount trust this to writing,—when you see him, alone, tell him towatch out for a certain wire-puller in Washington. Tell him that he’strying to sidetrack him into the Searchlight gang,——”
“Who is the man?”
“I can’t speak his name. But tell Captain Farnsworth that it begins withS and ends with s. He’ll know.”
“If this is straight goods, I’m much obliged to you, Mr. Herron.”
“It is. It’s gospel truth, and Farnsworth will be glad to know it.Moreover, he’ll be greatly surprised. But it will be to him valuableinformation. When shall you see him?”
“I don’t know. I doubt if it is soon.”
“Can you telephone—no, don’t do that. Do you have a cipher code?”
“No, we don’t. But wouldn’t a sealed and registered letter do?”
“No; it’s unsafe. Try to see him as soon as you can. Now I must go. Isuppose I mayn’t ask you for anything for a—a keepsake——”
Patty’s gentle heart was touched by the sadness in the poor chap’s face,and she looked about. On the table lay a little book of verses that shewas fond of and had often read.
“Take this,” she said, kindly. “It’s so tiny you can put it in yourpocket.”
Gratefully he accepted the souvenir, and as he bowed himself out, Pattycouldn’t help admiring his big manly figure and his military bearing.
She wandered to the piano, and absent-mindedly ran over the chorus of
“Colours flying for Victory, For the Flag and the Girl back home.”
The ringing of the telephone bell brought her to her feet.
“Yes,” said a well-loved voice, “it’s Your Own. I’ll be with you inabout twenty minutes. Good-bye.”
“My gracious goodness!” exclaimed Patty to herself. “What a sudden onehe is, to be sure! He fairly takes my breath away!”
She ran to spread the good news.
“Little Billee’s coming!” she cried to Nan and Helen, who were in thesitting-room, waiting to hear the account of Lieutenant Herron’s call.But this new information quite eclipsed their interest in Herron.
“Really!” cried Nan. “When? How long will he stay?”
“Dunno. Didn’t get any details, only he’ll be here in twenty minutes andthank goodness, that other person has departed.”
“Herron? What’d he come for, anyway?”
“On an errand,” and Patty smiled to think of the ridiculous boy daringto make love to her. “He had a bee in his bonnet,—a most foolish bee,and I had to get it out for him. Oh, my Little Billee’s coming! I’m soglad!”
She danced about the room, scarce able to control her impatience for thenecessary twenty minutes.
“How can I wait?” she frowned, “seems’s if I’d just perfectly fly!”
“Go and sing that favourite song of yours,” advised Nan. “That alwayskeeps you contented.”
“I do like it, but I’m too happy to sing. I want to dance or fly!”
Patty executed some most intricate and marvellous dancing steps and likea fairy girl indeed, she looked, as with waving arms and gracefulgestures, she pirouetted round the room.
“Daughter of the Regiment,” she announced, as she fell into martial stepand to the accompaniment of the Soldier Boy song, she marched downstairs.
Helen followed.
“Nixy, Bumble, my pet,” Patty said; “sorry, but I’ve just got to see myown Little Billee all alone. So, you’ll forgive me if I drop a gentlehint that you’re not invited.”
“I know that, Patsy; but listen a minute. I just want to say this. Ifyou think better to tell Bill about what I did, you tell him. I’d hateto have him know it, I admit, but if it’s right, why, tell him, and I’lltake the blame.”
“That’s a goody girl, Bumble, dear, but I don’t believe it will benecessary. Anyway, I’ll know that I have your permission to tell andI’ll see if I think it’s best to do so. Probably I’ll think it’s betternot to tell him, for no real harm was done, you know,—and yet, it may bethat I’ll think he ought to know all.”
“What did Lieutenant Herron want, Patty?
”
“Me.”
“What _do_ you mean?”
“What I say. He actually had the nerve to tell me he admired me. Ithought of sending for you and offering you as a substitute. But truly,Bumble, honey, he isn’t a reliable citizen. He’s—well, we won’t say itout loud,—but he isn’t our sort.”
“I know it. I know a lot about him. But did he really dare lift his eyesto you, Patty?”
“He really did. You see a soldier is of necessity a brave man, and itseems Lieutenant Herron is one of the bravest.”
“Brave! He’s a blind bat, if he thinks you’d look at him twice!”
“Or once even. You see my heart and hands are full with the one man inthe world for me, and Mr. Herron’s sentiments are not even interestingto me. And now, my dearest cousin, if you’ll take your departure, I’llcompose myself to await my visitor. Sit still, my fluttering heart!”