GRACE MEETS A DISTINGUISHED CHARACTER
June had come, bringing with it the trials and tribulations of final
examinations. The days grew long and sunny. Roses nodded from every bush,
but the pupils of Oakdale's two High Schools were far too busy to think
about the beauty of the weather. Golf, tennis, baseball and other outdoor
sports were sternly put aside, and the usual season of "cramming" set in.
Young faces wore an almost tragic expression, and back lessons were
reviewed with desperate zeal.
Grace Harlowe had crammed as assiduously as the rest, for a day or two.
She was particularly shaky on her geometry. She went over her theorems
until she came to triangles, then she threw the book down in disgust.
"What's the use of cramming?" she said to herself. "If I keep on I won't
even be able to remember that 'the hypotenuse of a right-angled triangle
is equal to the sum of the squares of the other two sides.' I'm in a
muddle over these triangles now. I'll find the girls and get them to go to
the woods with me. I really ought to collect a few more botany
specimens."
Grace's specimens were a source of keen delight to her girlish heart. She
didn't care so much about pressing and mounting them. It was the joy she
experienced in being in the woods that, to her, made botany the most
fascinating of studies. She poked into secluded spots unearthing rare
specimens. Her collection was already overflowing; still she could never
resist adding just a few more.
She was doomed to disappointment as far as Nora and Jessica were
concerned. Both girls mournfully shook their heads when invited to
specimen-hunting, declaring regretfully they were obliged to study. Anne
was at Mrs. Gray's attending to the old lady's correspondence. This had
been her regular task since the beginning of the freshman year, and she
never failed to perform it.
"Oh, dear, I wish examinations and school were over," Grace sighed
impatiently. "I can't go to the woods alone, and I can't get any one to go
with me. I suppose I'll have to give it up and go home. No, I won't,
either. I'll go as far as the old Omnibus House. There are lots of wild
plants in the orchard surrounding it, and I may get some new specimens."
With her basket on her arm, Grace turned her steps in the direction of the
old house. She had not been there since the day of their reunion. She
smiled to herself as she recalled the absurdities of that occasion.
After traversing the orchard several times and finding nothing startling
in the way of specimens, Grace concluded that she might as well have
stayed at home.
She walked slowly over to the steps and sat down, placing the basket
beside her. "How lonely it seems here to-day," she thought. "I wonder
where old Jean is? I haven't seen him for an age." Then she fell to musing
over the school year so nearly ended. Everything that had happened passed
through her mind like a panorama. It had been a stormy year, full of
quarrels and bickerings, but it was about to end gloriously. Anne and
Miriam had become the best of friends, while she and Julia Crosby were
daily finding out each other's good qualities There was nothing left to be
desired.
Grace started from her dream and looked at her watch. It was after six
o'clock. She had better be getting back.
She rose and reached for her basket.
Suddenly a figure loomed up before her. Grace started in surprise, to find
herself facing a tall, thin man with wild, dark eyes. He stood with folded
arms, regarding her fixedly.
[Illustration: Grace Found Herself Facing a Tall, Thin Man.]
"Why, where----" but she got no further, for the curious new-comer
interrupted her.
"Ah, Josephine," he said, "so I have found you at last."
"My name isn't Josephine at all. It's Grace Harlowe, and you have made a
mistake," said Grace, endeavoring to pass him. But he barred her way,
saying sadly:
"What, do you, too, pretend? Do you think I do not know you? I, your royal
husband, Napoleon Bonaparte."
"Good gracious," gasped Grace. "He's crazy as can be. How ever shall I get
away from him?"
The man heard the word "crazy" and exclaimed angrily: "How dare you call
me crazy! You, of all people, should know I am sane. I have just returned
from Isle of St. Helena to claim my empire. For years I have been an
exile, but now I am free, free." He waved his arms wildly.
"Yes, of course I know you, now," said Grace, thinking to mollify him.
"How strange that I didn't recognize you before."
Then she remembered reading in the paper of the preceding night of the
escape of a dangerous lunatic from the state asylum, that was situated a
few miles from Oakdale. This must be the man. Grace decided that he
answered the description the paper had given. She realized that she would
have to be careful not to anger him. It would require strategy to get
clear of him.
"It's time you remembered me," returned Napoleon Bonaparte, petulantly.
"They told me that you had died years ago, but I knew better. Now that I
have found you, we'd better start for France at once. Have you your court
robes with you? And what have you done with your crown? You are dressed
like a peasant." He was disdainfully eyeing her brown, linen gown.
In spite of her danger, Grace could scarcely repress a laugh. It all
seemed so ludicrous. Then a sudden thought seized her.
"You see, I have nothing fit to travel in," she said. "Suppose you wait
here for me while I go back to town and get my things? then I can appear
properly at court."
"No you don't," said Napoleon promptly, a cunning expression stealing into
his face. "If you go you'll never come back. I need your influence at the
royal court, and I can't afford to lose you. I am about to conquer the
world. I should have done it long ago, if those villains hadn't exiled me,
and locked me up."
He walked back and forth, muttering to himself still keeping his eye on
Grace for fear that she might escape.
"Oh, what shall I do?" thought the terrified girl. "Goodness knows what
he'll think of next. He may keep me here until dark, and I shall die if I
have to stay here until then, I must get away."
Grace knew that it would be sheer folly to try to run. Her captor would
overtake her before she had gone six yards, not to mention the fit of rage
her attempted flight would be likely to throw him into.
She anxiously scanned the neighboring fields in the hope of seeing old
Jean, the hunter. He was usually not far away. But look as she might, she
could discover no sign of him. There was only one thing in her favor. It
would be light for some time yet. Being June, the darkness would not
descend for two hours. She must escape, but how was she to do it!
She racked her brain for some means of deliverance, but received no
inspiration. Again she drew out her watch. Then her eye rested for a
second on the little key that hung on her watch chain. It was the key to
the lean-to in which David kept his aëroplane. Like a flash the way was
revealed to her. But would she be able to carry out the daring design that
had sprung into her mind? She would try, at any rate. With an unconcern
that she was far from feeling, Grace walked carelessly toward the door of
the lean-to.
The demented man was beside her in a twinkling He clutched Grace by the
arm with a force that made her catch her breath.
"What are you trying to do!" he exclaimed, glaring at her savagely.
"Didn't I tell you that you couldn't go away!"
He held her at arm's length with one hand, and threateningly shook his
finger at her.
"Remember, once and for all, that I am your emperor and must be obeyed.
Disregard my commands and you shall pay the penalty with your life. What
is the life of one like you to me, when I hold the fate of nations in my
hands? Perhaps it would be better to put an end to you now. Women are ever
given over to intriguing and deception. You might betray me to my enemies.
Yet, I believed you loyal in the past. I----"
"Indeed I have always been loyal, my emperor," interrupted Grace eagerly.
"How can you doubt me?"
Her situation was becoming more precarious with every minute. She must
persuade this terrible individual that she was necessary to his plans, if
she wished to get away with her life.
"I have your welfare constantly at heart," she continued. "Have you ever
thought of flying to our beloved France? In the shed behind me is a
strange ship that flies through the air. Its sails are like the wings of
a bird, and it flies with the speed of the wind. It waits to carry us
across the sea. It is called an aëroplane."
"I have heard of such things," said Napoleon. "When I was in exile, a fool
who came to visit me showed me a picture of one. He told me it could fly
like a bird, but he lied. I believe you are lying, too," he added, looking
at her suspiciously.
"Let me prove to you that I am not," Grace answered, trying to appear
calm, though ready to collapse under the terrible strain of the part she
was being forced to play. "Do you see this key? It unlocks the door that
leads to the flying ship. Would you not like to look at it?" she said
coaxingly.
"Very well, but be quick about it I have already wasted too much time with
you. I must be off before my enemies find me."
"You must release my arm, or I cannot unlock the door," Grace said.
"Oh, yes, you can," rejoined Napoleon, not relaxing his grip for an
instant. "Do you think I am going to run any risk of losing you?"
As she turned the key he swung her to one side, and, opening the door,
peered cautiously in. For a moment he stood like a statue staring in
wonder at David's aëroplane, then with a loud cry that froze the blood in
Grace's veins, he threw up his arms and rushed madly into the shed,
shouting, "We shall fly, fly, fly!"
With a sob of terror Grace slammed the door and turned the key. She was
not an instant too soon. Napoleon Bonaparte reached it with a bound and
threw himself against it, uttering blood-curdling shrieks. The frightful
sounds came to Grace's ears as she tore across the field in the direction
of Oakdale. Terror lent wings to her feet. Every second was precious. She
did not know how long the door would stand against the frantic assaults of
the maniac.
She had reached the road, when, to her joy and relief, she beheld half a
dozen men approaching. Stumbling blindly toward them, she panted out: "The
crazy man--I--locked--him--in--the Omnibus House. Here--is--the key." She
gave a long, shuddering sigh, and for the first time in her life sturdy
Grace Harlowe fainted.
The men picked her up tenderly.
"Here, Hampton," said one of them, "take this child over to the nearest
house. She is all in. By George, I wonder whether she has locked that
lunatic up? Something has certainly upset her. We'd better get over there
right away and see what we can find out."
The man addressed as Hampton picked Grace up as though she had been a
baby and carried her to a house a little further up the road.
Meanwhile the men hurried on, arriving at the Omnibus House just as
Napoleon succeeded in breaking down the door. Before he could elude them,
he was seized by five pairs of stalwart arms. He fought like a tiger,
making it difficult to bind him. This was finally accomplished though they
were obliged to carry him, for he had to be tied up like a papoose to keep
him from doing damage. He raved continually over the duplicity of
Josephine, threatening dire vengeance when he should find her.
When Grace came to herself she looked about her in wonder. She was lying
on a comfortable couch in a big, cheerful sitting room. A kindly faced
woman was bathing her temples, while a young girl chafed her hands.
"Where am I?" said Grace feebly. "Did Napoleon get out?"
"Lie still and rest, my dear," said Mrs. Forrest, "Don't try to exert
yourself."
Grace sat up and looked about her. "Oh, I know what happened. I fainted.
How silly of me. I never did that in my life before. I had a terrible
scare, but I'm all right now."
The man who had carried her to the house came forward.
"My name is Hampton, miss. I am a guard over at the asylum. Those other
men you saw are employed there, too. We were looking for one of our people
who escaped night before last. He nearly killed his keeper. He's the worst
patient we have out there. Thinks he's Napoleon. Judging from your fright,
I guess you must have met him. Did you really lock him in that old house?"
"Indeed I did," answered Grace, who was rapidly recovering from the
effects of her fright. "He took me for the Empress Josephine." She related
all that had happened, ending with the way she locked his emperorship in.
"Well, all I've got to say is that you're the pluckiest girl I ever came
across," said the man admiringly, when Grace had finished.
But she shook her head.
"I never was so frightened in my life before. I shall never forget his
screams."
It was after eight o'clock when Grace Harlowe arrived at her own door. The
man Hampton had insisted on calling a carriage, so Grace rode home in
state. As she neared the house she saw that the lawn and porch were full
of people.
"What on earth is the matter!" she asked herself. As she alighted from the
carriage her mother rushed forward and took her in her arms.
"My darling child," she sobbed. "What a narrow escape you have had. You
must never, never wander off alone again."
"Why, mother, how did you know anything about it?"
"When you didn't come home to supper I felt worried, for you had not told
me that you were invited anywhere. Then Nora came down to see you, and
seemed surprised not to find you at home. She said you had gone on a
specimen hunt after school. I became frightened and sent your father out
at once to look for you. He met the keepers with that dreadful man," said
Mrs. Harlowe, shuddering, "and they described you, telling him where you
were and how they had met you. Your father went straight out to the
Forrests. I suppose you just missed him."
Grace hugged her mother tenderly. "Don't worry, mother. I'm all right.
What are all these people standing around for?"
"They came to see you, of course. The news is all over town. Everyone is
devoured with curiosity to hear your story."
"It looks as though I had become a celebrity at last," laughed Grace.
She was obliged to tell the story of her adventure over and over again
that night to her eager listeners. Her chums hung about her adoringly.
Hippy, Reddy and David were fairly beside themselves.
"Oh, you lunatic snatcher," cried Hippy, throwing up his hat to express
his feelings.
"You never dreamed that the little key you gave me would prove my
salvation," said Grace to David, as her friends bade her good night. "It
surely must have been fate."