UNDERGROUND WIRES
Armitage was not obliged to wait, however. A tall, well-built young
woman, heavily veiled, came down the winding path as he shut off power.
When he leaned around to open the door of the tonneau, she threw back her
veil and he caught sight of a full, dark, handsome face and eyes filled
with a curious light. He slammed the door and turned quickly to the
wheel.
"What is your name, my man?" The deep alto voice contained a note of
mirth.
"McCall," replied Armitage gruffly, jerking his head a bit side-wise and
then jerking it quickly back again.
"You are--not a very good driver," came the voice. "But I should like to
employ you. . . . Would you consider leaving Miss Wellington?"
Armitage shook his head grouchily.
"For a consideration? Come, I won't use you as a chauffeur. I want you
for a statue in my Japanese garden. I--"
Armitage suddenly pointed the car toward the ocean and stopped. Then he
turned in his seat.
"Look here, Sara," he said, "if you don't let up, I 'll run you into the
ocean."
Mrs. Van Valkenberg was rocking with laughter.
"Oh, Jack! Jack!" she cried. "This is too rich. What on earth are you
up to?"
Armitage, who had not seen her since they had attended school together in
Louisville, paid no attention to her question.
"I had no idea you were in Newport."
"I suppose I should expect more of one of my very oldest and best
friends," she said.
"I was in the Philippines when you married; faint rumors of the event
penetrated even there. I was too prostrated to write; besides, I didn't
receive any cards." He paused a moment. "Van Valkenberg--that's so; I
remember now. He--"
"I am a widow," said Sara soberly.
"Oh," he was silent, not knowing what to say.
She hastened to relieve his embarrassment, smiling brightly.
"I was to go to see Anne later in the week, but when I saw you, I simply
could n't wait another minute. I wanted a front seat at this little
comedy. You see," she raised her eyes knowingly, "I have n't asked you
why you are here in the Wellington livery and driving the Wellington car
because--because I rather imagine I can guess the reason."
She glanced at Armitage, who did not reply.
"Fancy my missing this romance," she went on, laughing musically. "Jack,
it's perfectly delightful. It's more than delightful, it's sublimely
rich. You, _you_ of all men! Come, won't you confide in me? Ah, go
on." Her eyes were brimming with laughter.
Armitage frowned.
"Look here, Sara, you're on the wrong tack."
"Oh, is it possible! All right, you need n't confide in me if you don't
wish to. All I ask is permission to view events--and you can't withhold
that, you know. But seriously, Jack, can I be of any assistance? I
approve, don't you know, awfully. And--she's worth every bit of it. But
how are you going to win her in the guise of a chauffeur? I always knew
you possessed a large amount of self-confidence, but allow me to inform
you, sir, there are some things your natural qualifications can't
overshadow. Come, Jack, do strip off your motley and court her as a
naval officer--you see I, at least, have kept track of _you_--and a
gentleman should; I don't like this way."
"I tell you, you are wrong. I can't say anything now. But wait--then
you 'll know. And, Sara, please; not a word as to whom I am; promise me
you 'll keep still until I give you the word."
She smiled enigmatically.
"Don't you admire Anne Wellington?"
"Come, Sara, promise; this is a serious matter with me."
"Don't you?" she persisted.
"Of course I do," he snapped. "She's a corker. Now promise."
"I promise nothing. I shall act as I think best for you."
Armitage gazed at her thoughtfully for a moment.
"You may trust me, Jack. I may be able to help you. I feel sure I
shall. I want to help you--and Anne."
Armitage raised his hand warningly.
"Don't, Sara, please!"
"Very well." She smiled sweetly. "You may proceed to The Crags, McCall."
Anne met her at the doorway and Armitage took the car to the garage.
"Say," said Ryan, "there 's some one been calling you up for the past
hour."
Armitage looked at the man excitedly.
"Who was it? Did he give his name?"
"No, would n't give it. He said he 'd call up again, though. He--there
goes the bell now."
Armitage took up the receiver.
"Is this you, Jack?" came the voice. "This is Thornton. Say, they 've
got Yeasky."
"Where?" Jack's voice was husky.
"In Boston."
"Did they find anything?"
"No; they went through everything. He had n't a thing except a note
signed 'Vassili' something, and some Austrian army data."
"The family name of the man we 're gunning for," said Armitage. "Has he
said anything?"
"Nothing. They have not told him what he was captured for either,
although I guess he knows. They want your orders."
"All right," said Armitage. "Tell them to let him go, provided he leaves
Boston by the first boat."
"What!"
"Turn him loose. Get shed of him. It 'll simplify matters. I 'm
getting this thing in hand now. Push the thing through for me, will you,
Joe? I'm busy as a pup here. Get Bill Rawlins on the long distance at
the Boston Navy Yard, explain things to him, and get him to help. There
's nothing to do. Just have him seen on board the boat. That note was
all I wanted. Have that sent to me. Now do it all nicely for me, won't
you, old chap,--and a day or two will see the finish of the whole thing.
Oh, say,--have them hold those papers."
"All right," said Thornton. "By the way, we are going to torpedo the
Atlantic fleet tonight. The battleships are on their way down from
Provincetown at last."
"Pshaw! The one thing I wanted to be in on!"
"Can't you get off and come along on the _D'Estang_? We shan't leave
until eight o'clock. We 're going to try and do up the fleet off Point
Jude. Come on, like a good chap."
"I 'd like to. I will if I can, you bet. I think I can work it. Now
s'long and don't forget to have that Pole shunted out of the country on
the jump."
"I won't. Don't worry; see you later then."
"Right-o, good-bye."
As Armitage hung up the receiver the bell of the house 'phone jingled and
Armitage was summoned to bring out the car in a hurry. When he arrived
under the _porte cochère_, Prince Koltsoff was still talking to Anne in a
corner of the library.
"It is very necessary," he was saying. "The summons is important. It is
even possible I shall not return all night." His agitation seemed
momentarily increasing.
"But, Prince Koltsoff," said Anne, "is it so very important? I hardly
know what to do. I have arranged a box party for the vaudeville at
Freebody to-night--it's distressing."
Koltsoff bowed.
"And I! You cannot suppose I view lightly being away from you to-night!"
He shrugged his shoulders. "The rose-strewn paths are not always for
diplomats. You will know that better in good time, perhaps. But they
are for that all the sweeter while we tread them." He moved very close
to her and she, taking fire from his mood, did not step backward, looking
him in the eyes, pulling slightly at the front of her skirt. In the very
web of a mood which she felt bordered on surrender to the masculine
personality of the man before her, she admitted a thrill, which she never
before had recognized. The blood mounted swiftly to her temples and she
straightened and threw her head back with lips parted and hot. His face
came so close to hers that she felt his hot breath.
"Are you sorry for this afternoon?" he asked caressingly.
"Yes," her voice was a half whisper.
His arms were raising to take her, when the voice of Sara Van Valkenberg
came to their ears, with an effect very much like a cold stream upon a
bar of white hot steel.
"Anne, oh, Anne dearie, did you know the car was waiting for Prince
Koltsoff?" She appeared in the doorway to find Anne turning over a
magazine and the Prince adjusting his coat. "I beg pardon, but you said
Prince Koltsoff was in a hurry. I thought you did n't know the car had
arrived."
"We--I didn't," Anne smiled thinly. "Thank you."
They moved to the veranda, where Anne and Sara stood with arms
intertwined.
"I am sorry, _so_ sorry," cried Koltsoff, as he climbed into the car.
"As I say, I shall possibly not return all night. At all events, _au
revoir_." He turned to Anne and half raised his arm. "The trust," he
said. She nodded and smiled.
"Have no fear, Prince Koltsoff," she said.
"Good!" He glared toward Armitage. "To town--and fast," he said.
As Armitage nodded, Anne, whose mood was past praying for, called
mischievously:
"McCall, always touch your hat when you receive an order. And come right
back, please; I shall want to go to town."
This time Armitage made a faultless salute.
When they had gone, Anne walked to a settee, drawing Mrs. Van Valkenberg
by the arm, and flung herself down, laughing hysterically.
"Why, what _is_ the matter, Anne?" Sara gazed at her in amazement. "Has
anything--" she paused significantly--"happened?"
Anne drew her handkerchief across her eyes.
"No," she said, "not yet. But oh, Sara, if you had n't--" She stopped
and gazed at her friend wide-eyed. "Sara," she said, "is it possible I
love Prince Koltsoff?"
"No, it is not," replied Sara, decidedly. "Anne, don't be a goose. What
is it, tell me?"
"I cannot; but yes, I think it is--it must be. Oh, I wonder!"
"Anne!"
"Sara, for goodness' sake, let me alone a moment. Come," she added,
throwing her arm about the young matron's waist, "let's talk about other
things now. Come with me while I telephone and call off that stupid
theatre party. Then we 'll go to town, exchange the tickets, and
then--Sara, let's have a regular bat--alone. You know--one of our old
ones. I dare you."
"Done," said Mrs. Van Valkenberg, thankful to change the girl's mood.
While Anne was telephoning and offering various explanations to various
persons, Sara sat thinking. It had not taken her ten minutes to decide
that she detested Koltsoff and that Anne was under a spell not easily to
be broken. If Armitage had tried to break it, if he were there for that
purpose, he had failed a long way of success. He had chosen, in any
event, a poor method of campaigning. If he did not know what was good
for him, so much the worse. She did and accordingly when Anne had
finished with the last of her list of prospective guests, she said:
"Anne, I have fallen quite in love with your new chauffeur."
"I don't blame you one bit," said Anne carelessly. "He's a stunner. But
I don't believe he 's a chauffeur by profession."
"I happen to know he is n't."
"You--know--he is n't! How do you know? Tell me what he is then. I
don't believe I 'll ever have any more curiosity about anything; I 've
used it all on him."
"He 's a naval officer and a very promising one, I believe. He is John
Armitage and his father is United States Senator Armitage from
Kentucky--they 're really a very fine family--one of the best in the
State."
"How did--? oh, of course, you were a Kentuckian. You don't mean to say
you know him!"
"I know all his family very well. Why, I 've known Jack Armitage all my
life," she raised her eyebrows. "But, Anne, promise you won't let on."
The full significance of the information imparted by her friend gradually
rose to supremacy in Anne's mind. Her eyes turned slowly to Sara's face.
"Well, of all idiots I am the worst! Why, I even placed him at Annapolis
and then let him turn me off! And mother, too! That's a good one on
her. Well! What's his play? I confess I am stumped."
"His play?" Sara regarded her with a significant smile. "I wonder!"
Anne gazed at her a moment and then buried her face in her hands with a
mock groan.
"Saints and ministers of grace, defend us!" she exclaimed.
Then girl-like, they clung to each other and laughed and laughed.
"Aren't you flattered?" asked Sara at length.
"Flattered? Oh, you mean about--" she grimaced. "Sara! It's perfectly
ridiculous! And it is n't true. The very idea! The audacity! Don't
tell me, Sara; there 's something else." But Sara caught the tentative
note.
"Oh, naturally," she interposed, "you are far from being sufficiently
attractive to draw an ardent young man into a romantic situation,
especially--as you told me--after you had written him a note virtually
inviting him to try his luck."
"Sara, you are beastly!"
"Forgive me, dear, but why not face facts?"
"Well!" Anne smiled resignedly. "Mother must n't know."
"Not until the play is over," said Sara.
Anne gazed moodily at her friend.
"It soon will be, I fear," she said.
As for the unsuspecting Armitage, he burned the road, smiling to think
that underground wires were working for him, as well as the Prince. He
had no fear that if Koltsoff had the control with him--which Armitage did
not for a moment believe--the vigilance of the express companies and of
the postal authorities would be found wanting. Koltsoff spent half an
hour in the telegraph office and then alighting from the car in Touro
Park, bade Armitage return to The Crags.
"Shall I call anywhere for you?" asked Armitage pleasantly.
"No," replied Koltsoff, who stood on the sidewalk, watching until the car
disappeared.