CHAPTER VII
THE CARVED PANEL
We will leave the Boy Scouts puzzling over the tremendous problem ofgetting in touch with headquarters and releasing Professor Morris andthe others, while we visit a magnificent home far up in the residentialpart of the city, where the beautiful parks, wide streets and finebuildings all told of great wealth.
Many of the places lay in ruins, but here and there arose a dazzlingwhite marble building that had happily escaped the destruction of theiron rain that had poured over the ill-fated city. Many of these wereoccupied by the officers and men of the invading army. Destruction ofthe worst sort went with them, and the unhappy owners had, wheneverpossible, secreted the most valuable of their belongings. Pictures,jewels, silver, furs and even rugs were hidden in secret vaults orburied in gardens and cellars. For the people of Warsaw, as well astheir fair city, were ruined, although sooner or later the scraps savedcould be converted into money. Rich and poor fared alike; for thepresent, at least, everyone needed food and safe shelter.
In the dining-room of one of the finest places saved from the destroyingshells sat a group of officers. They were big, blonde men, and theytalked roughly and rapidly in their native German. It was plain to seethat they were quarreling. One of them, rising from the great carvedchair in which he had been lounging, kicked it from his path and walkednervously up and down the room. He was scowling ferociously while withhis saber point he jabbed little holes in the Russian leather coveringthe back of the chair opposite him.
He shook his head as the man who was walking up and down neared hischair.
"I tell you, Otto, you can't do it," he said. "You can't burry thingsso. Those people are Americans. You can't execute that old man on a baresuspicion. What if his notes are a code? We have them, at all events;and we have him; and we must wait until the General returns."
"That's not my idea at all!" scowled the other man. "This is war. I amin command, my friend, and if I think I have a spy, and see that it ismy duty to stand this man up against a wall, then what? Bang! Bang! Itis all over. What can be said?"
"What is your idea exactly?" asked the man at the table. "What is theuse of hurrying things so? It sounds like murder to me. I think the oldman is perfectly harmless. He is probably just what he claims, aprofessor in one of the American Universities. I've heard of thisPrinceton. It is a place of some size and standing."
"That is just it, Gustav!" cried the other.
"That is one reason for suspecting him. He is too glib with hisPrinceton. Himmel! Did you ever hear a man talk so fast and so much anduse such words? I can speak as good English as any man my age, but therewere words, dozens of them, that I had never dreamed of."
"Is that the real reason why you are going to shoot him as a spy?" askedGustav, coming back to the main point once more.
"I don't suppose I shall shoot him at all," answered Otto grimly. "Iwant to, that's all, but I can't do it unless I have sufficient cause,no matter how much I would like to remove him. He is in the way."
Gustav stared, and laid down his saber. "I see!" he said, nodding hishead slowly. "The girl?"
"Yes! The girl!" said Otto. He frowned and continued to walk up anddown, while the other laughed.
"What would you?" he demanded. "You would get yourself into all sorts oftrouble. There is no kidnapping of young women in this campaign,remember!"
"I would like to marry her," said Otto coolly. "She is so pretty andsweet."
"So are the German girls," declared Gustav, loyally.
"What a romantic episode!" sighed Otto, rolling his eyes in asentimental manner. "I discover this beautiful American here in Warsaw,in the heart of the war; I love her; I marry her. It is wonderful!"
"It certainly is," said Gustav. "Wonderful indeed! And in order to bringher to a proper idea of your goodness and charm, you shoot her fatherand brother-do you shoot her brother, by the way?"
Otto scowled. "You are coarse, my friend," he said. "I do not shootanyone. Germany merely destroys a spy. As for the brother, he is small,I think he disappears."
"Does the German army cause that too?" asked Gustav.
"Don't jest," said Otto. "I am in earnest."
"In truth, so am I!" answered Gustav. "You are crazy, just plain crazy.The man is no more a spy than I am, I'll be bound!"
Otto shrugged his broad shoulders. "You don't know whereof you speak,"he said. "You have not heard him talk, have you?"
"No, I'll grant that," Gustav acknowledged. "Have him brought in and letme hear him."
"Very well," said Otto, "but speak English to him. His German is so badthat he ought to be shot for that if for nothing else."
He turned and summoned an orderly. The two men sat in silence. At anearby table two lieutenants were busy writing. They did not speak butlooked eagerly as the door opened, and the prisoners entered. Thelieutenants shifted in their chairs and smiled at each other inanticipation. Gustav caught their fleeting grins and dismissed them fromthe room with a curt command, then turned his attention to the groupstanding just within the door.
Professor Morris stood with a protecting arm around each of hischildren. He looked broken and old, and wore the air of a man who hasbeen rudely wakened from a secure and comfortable sleep to view someunimagined horror. The War, the bombardment and the fall of Warsaw, hadat last become something more than a spectacle to be transferred to thepages of his book. It was a frightful fact, a living reality in whichmen died by thousands, and little children perished, where women'shearts broke with their anguish and despair.
He found that War recognizes but few laws, and even fewer obligations.It seemed that his standing as a man of learning, his claim as a citizenof the United States, availed him nothing. Standing there, a prisoner,with a helpless child on either side, the ivy-covered walls of hisbeloved Princeton seemed far away indeed. As he closed his tired eyesfor an instant he could see a clear and lovely picture of the velvetgreen campus and the great iron gates opening on the smooth and levelstreets shaded by lofty trees. He heard the chimes, the laughter ofhappy young fellows passing to and fro. There were rows and rows ofpeaceful homes, stately mansions and simple cottages. On level,perfectly kept tennis courts, here and there, men and girls all in whiteplayed tennis. He saw his friends--
But opening his weary eyes, he saw a gorgeous, tumbled room whoseprincely draperies were torn and full of saber cuts, a sideboard wherepriceless glass had been a target for the rough play by rougher men.Before him were the two hard, blonde German faces, and there he stood, aprisoner, with his two children clinging to him. Warren and Elinor weregone, he knew not where.
Captain Handel stood motionless, but Captain Schmitt rose civilly andbowed when he saw Evelyn. He could not help it. The girl was so noble,so lovely, and hid her fright so gallantly, that he was compelled to payher the slight courtesy that he did.
"Captain Handel tells me that this notebook is yours, Professor Morris,"Gustav commenced in almost perfect English.
"It is," said the Professor. He eyed it hungrily, and reached a hand outwithout thinking what he did.
Gustav drew the book back.
"It has a suspicious look," he said. "So many plans and measurements andspecifications. Will you not explain?"
The Professor reddened. He shut his mouth stubbornly.
"Those are private notes," he said. "I was sent over here to make whatdiscoveries I could along certain lines."
"What, did I tell you, Gustav?" broke in Otto, turning to his brotherofficer and speaking in a low tone. "There is the whole thing! He was aspy sent to make discoveries along 'certain lines.' He confesses that.He has succeeded in doing so. The book tells us that."
"Wait, wait!" begged Gustav. "Professor Morris, do you understand thatyou are here facing a most serious charge?"
"It is a silly, trumped up charge," declared the Professor, irritably."Silly trumped up charge! I absolutely will not answer your questions.Wait until you hear from the American Consul."
"We won't hear from him," said
Gustav gently. "You are in our hands,bearing suspicious documents, and you refuse to answer our questions. Doyou realize the seriousness of this affair?"
"Certainly not!" declared the Professor, "and let me tell you, my youngfriend, I shall write this thing up in the papers when I return toAmerica. I shall make public your personal attitude in the matter. Atthe present all I demand is release and that manuscript on the tablebeside you. Also my notebook." He bowed slightly and stood waiting asthough he fully expected the officers to do his bidding, as indeed hedid.
"Will you explain your notes?" asked Gustav quietly.
Otto was nervously biting his small moustache, his eyes fixed onEvelyn's lovely face.
"No! No!" cried the Professor loudly, "a thousand times no! I refuse toshare with you the results of my researches. What, and have you get thecredit of all my labor? Never!" He clenched his hands.
"Father--" began Evelyn pleadingly.
"Be silent, Evelyn!" commanded her father sternly. "I know what I amabout! I refuse to say anything, whatever happens."
"You had better think this over, Professor," said Gustav. "We will leaveyou here alone for half an hour. Talk it over with your children anddecide if you wish to give up your life for the sake of these notes.Explain them to us, and we will promise you safe conduct out of thecountry. The girl and boy will have to remain as guarantee of your goodfaith. They will not be harmed. In case you will not do as we suggest--"He tapped his saber, and started to the door.
Otto spoke abruptly.
"The windows are barred," he said. "Two men guard the door. You cannotescape. Decide!"
He looked longingly at Evelyn and followed Gustav from the room. Theheavy door shut silently behind them but not before they had a glimpseof the two soldiers standing at attention in the hallway.
While they stood looking at it, it opened and Otto entered, closing itafter him.
"I may as well tell you," he said. "You will shoot as a spy if you donot explain your charts and figures and leave the country."
Then as though he could not conceal his triumph, he added, "In any case,you know your daughter remains here."
"Remains here?" cried the Professor. "How is that? What do you mean?"
Otto shrugged his shoulders.
"I like her," he said coolly. "I might marry her. You are very lovely,"he added, turning his bold, cold eyes on Evelyn.
She hid her face against her father's shoulder.
Otto laughed.
Jack sprang at him with a shrill cry. The big man caught the boy, andflung him contemptuously to the floor.
"Be careful, little sparrow!" he said. "A second time and I will crushyou! I'm going now," he said, turning to the Professor. "In half an hourwe will come and you will tell us which you prefer--death or safeconduct." He bowed. "Good-bye for a little, Mees Evelyn, he said andclosed the door behind him."
Evelyn threw herself on her father's shoulder and burst into sobs. "Oh,father, father, what shall we do?" she cried.
The Professor was silent, then he said, "Well, my dear, I actuallybelieve that young man meant what he said."
"Of course he did!" sobbed Evelyn.
"In that ease," said the Professor firmly, "I would as lief be dead asto have the work of a lifetime destroyed by those rascals."
He hastened to the table and took up the portfolio enclosing his book."It's all here," he said after a glance.
"But father, whatever they do to you, they are going to keep me here.What will I do? What will I do?"
She ran to the windows and looked out. It was just as they had beentold. The casements were heavily barred and there was but one door, theone through which the officers had passed. The walls were paneled halfway up with old oak. The room was solid as a dungeon. There was not achance for escape. In a few minutes the soldiers would return and tearher father from her.
Her father was speaking. She listened.
"All here," he said, "every page! That is fortunate indeed."
He looked searchingly at Evelyn. "I have a plan, my," he said. "This isa very dreadful affair, but on second thought a scheme occurs to me. Iwill explain somewhat of my notes, but not enough so they could amplifythem. Then, with my safe conduct, I will go over to Germany, explain thewhole affair, and demand your release. You will doubtless be absolutelysafe here, absolutely safe. This young Handel seems rather arattle-brained youth, but Captain Schmitt looked conservative and sane.I will place you in his Charge. John is with you, and you will beperfectly safe, I am positive."
Evelyn grew deathly pale. She kissed her father's cheek, then listlesslyapproached the table. A revolver was lying there.
"Yes, I know that I will be safe," she said firmly. She took the weaponin her hand and looked up.
As she raised her eyes, she looked straight into the face of a girlabout her own age, who stood motionless against the wall, one handoutstretched its though to call her. Evelyn stared in unbelief. Aninstant before they had been alone in the room! Were her senses leavingher? She looked at her father and brother. They, too, were staring,speechless and wild-eyed. So she did not imagine the graceful figure andlovely face with its dark troubled eyes.
The stranger pressed a finger on her lips in a gesture of silence, thenshe beckoned, and as they approached, tiptoeing over the thick rug, sheturned and pressed a finger on a carved rosette in the oak panel.Without a sound it slid open, and they found themselves in a narrow,stone passage. Once more the strange girl motioned for silence. Then sheslid an iron grating across the secret door through which they had come,and turning ran lightly down the passage. Without a moment's hesitation,Evelyn started after, her hand still clasping the revolver which she hadtaken from the table. The Professor, clutching his recovered manuscript,followed, while Jack brought up the rear.
As they turned a corner, a faint shout reached them. The officers hadreturned to the empty room!
The way was long, with many sharp turns. It seemed to be a space betweenrooms. Once or twice shouts and laughter were faintly heard, as theyseemed to pass near a room full of soldiers. It was dark. The girl aheadfelt in her pocket, and brought out a tiny flashlight. They came finallyto a steep flight of stairs.
Now for the first time the girl spoke. In a cautious whisper she said,"Be careful!" and holding the flash behind her for their guidance, wentswiftly and lightly down, with the manner of one who is familiar withevery inch of the way. The stairs were wide and shallow. There were agreat many of them and they seemed to go down a long way. Evelynwondered if the place was built on a hillside, making it a long way tothe underground regions she suspected beyond or below. She afterwardsfound out that this was correct. A door barred with iron was at the footof the stairs. Indeed, they ended right against it. The girl pushed thedoor open, and when they had entered, closed it behind them and droppeda massive bar across it. They were in a large, stone chamber, empty savefor a few scraps of furniture.
Their guide swiftly crossed the room and opened another forbiddinglooking door. The second room was like the first, but was filled withcasks and huge barrels. Beyond this again they entered a narrow passage,so very narrow that their garments brushed the walls at either side. Thestones underfoot were rough and uneven.
Professor Morris walked carefully, picking his steps by the aid of theflashlight. Evelyn and Jack, more careless, stumbled frequently, butstill the girl, light as a feather, flitted on, swift and sure footed.
Once more the flash revealed a wall ahead. As she approached it the girlturned and smiled. Evelyn stared. There was no sign of any opening inthe rough wall and the great stones seemed fast in their cement, but thegirl, stooping, pressed a corner of one of the paving stones. To theiramazement it slid from its place, revealing another very narrow flightof steps. The girl descended, and when they were all down, pressedanother spring, and the stone slid in place. Another flight of stepsexactly like the ones they had just descended rose against the flooring;and when the girl had led the way, they one by one stepped into a largeand brightly lighted room
.
Professor Morris blinked; Jack turned red; Evelyn gasped with surprise.