Don had an armful of dailies for me that had accumulated and a single
wireless, which was laconic enough--
"Come to wireless station."
It's frequently the short order that gives one a long jump, it being
an all-night job to the station and back. Howard had received a letter
from little Jim. He was pleased but puzzled, laboring with its
translation. Little Jim had received her total education from him so
far 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 is
mild and gentlemanly," I ventured, absorbing his delight.
"I think she does fine for one who has never tried to write, but she
is a little hard to make out. Read it to me, perhaps you can better
understand just what she means," said he, handing me a letter of
several pages as we sat on the deck facing the setting sun, with our
feet 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 his
hands, then slapped me on the back.
"That sounds to me just as though little Jim were talking. Now I feel
sure and am satisfied. I can fight wild cats, a buzz-saw, or all the
Huns." Then, sobering some, he sauntered down the deck and returned to
where I sat, still holding little Jim's letter, said soberly, "Wood,
again I am indebted to you. I don't believe I could ever have
accomplished it, so well and quickly. Somehow, now that she is away
and in safe hands, I am greatly relieved."
"You give me undue credit. I am glad little Jim is safe, but a double
purpose robs me of credit. The way things now stand we could not
prove our case without little Jim's testimony. My unsupported evidence
would be strained to prove the Hun boat fired through your boat while
you were diving. For that reason they may be interested in getting her
out of the way. That's why Father Woburn was sent. Even if they do
learn where she is they have a better chance at heaven--and you know
that is nil--than to get her now."
"I don't care how many purposes you have," replied Byng. "I know that
your main one is patriotic or humanitarian. I have benefited so often,
I know. I would indeed be selfish if not willing to render service in
return. With little Jim safe, you can use my body, my life for any
purpose."
"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 must
prevail. A hundred and fifty years ago a great man predicted that the
hope of the world lay in the western hemisphere. We are face to face
now with fulfilling the Will of God and the wonderful prophecy which
anyone can understand now. Our men and millions are being used to
restore national conscience, simple normal regard for contracts and
women. The flat poison head of morganatic marriages and degeneracy
must go under the heel of justice. You and I will win here. You will
then be rich in money. And when it is over I may make another request
that will stretch our friendship."
"Wood, it can't be done. I can't conceive of you asking a favor I
would not grant. It isn't in you."
"Howard, you overestimate me. I do believe mistakes normal and believe
in everyone alike whose intentions are good. You and I have had three
or four days of unpleasant work and we are now on a floating morgue
filled 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 our
purpose is indeed ambitious; but I don't believe you can possibly
exhibit more greatness than you did that night on Alligator Island a
long time ago--our first real adventure."
Howard stopped in his tracks as though transfixed, staring at me as
though suddenly passing into delirium. Undaunted, I went ahead.
"Howard, I believed in that little girl you carried out that morning
in your arms, then no bigger or older than little Jim, and I believe
in her yet. I believe at that time she began to trust you, and I
believe she still trusts you."
He stood still near me, his face twitched and again there gathered in
his eyes that fierceness of the Georgia Cracker when enraged, his
hands seemed in readiness to tear me to pieces. I arose and faced him.
Notwithstanding his powerful physique, I towered above, determined to
break silence on that subject again, feeling he would be better for
it.
It was a silent battle of man against man, where neither flinched. It
took time, but finally he hung his head and moved slowly away.
Turning toward me, he said in a voice so hollow and strained it might
have come from the grave, "Wood--you--you don't seem to know I--I
saw--I--I heard. There is no mistake----" Then with a slight trace of
a plea, he added, "I know."
"Howard, no man ever lived in whom I believe more sincerely. On the
other hand, by virtue of my occupation, I have to know. My superiors
are not much impressed with 'will-o'-the-wisps' or 'matters _ignis
fatuus_.' I must rationally and sanely know things and I feel so
strong on this matter that I request, almost demand that you, after we
are through here, make some effort to find her in order to confirm
what you so sincerely believe true. Fifteen years often changes us. I
think it has changed you. You owe it to yourself--and little Jim. It
will not be so difficult, for Ramund is obtainable now."
"It is unnecessary, Wood--I know I am right. But I am--I was glad when
you told me you thought she was a--good woman now. I hate to think of
little Jim's mother being bad," he added so faintly I could hardly
hear. It was a great struggle. Such a man as Fighting Byng bends
slowly, but how wonderful that they bend at all. I thought it best to
drop the subject for the present.
"Howard, I must go to the wireless station to get in touch with
Washington. It will likely take all night. Do you feel safe here
without me?"
"I don't see why not. The little Scotch gunner and I can change
watches 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, with
Russia delivered to the enemy by a Judas Iscariot. The Boche does not
believe we will ever take the place of the Russian Army. He doesn't
think we can or will really fight, and, of course, is making his last
colossal mistake. But just now his chest is away out. He is bold and
impudent and a little more irrational than usual. For that reason I
would not be surprised to see some such thing reflected in these parts
unless we are unusually lucky. I feel like advising extreme
caution--but I will know more when I get back from the wireless
station," I added, watching Howard closely.
"Wood--I can only repeat what I have said--now I believe little Jim is
safe from harm, besides I have placed her beyond want. I will fight
with you as long as there's an ounce of Georgia blood left in me."