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+ <head>
+ <title>
+ Peace Manoeuvres, by Richard Harding Davis
+ </title>
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+ .toc { margin-left: 10%; margin-bottom: .75em;}
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+
+The Project Gutenberg EBook of Peace Manoeuvres, by Richard Harding Davis
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: Peace Manoeuvres
+
+Author: Richard Harding Davis
+
+Release Date: May 12, 2006 [EBook #1824]
+Last Updated: September 26, 2016
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: UTF-8
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PEACE MANOEUVRES ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Don Lainson; David Widger
+
+
+
+
+
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <br /> <br />
+ </p>
+ <h1>
+ PEACE MANOEUVRES
+ </h1>
+ <p>
+ <br />
+ </p>
+ <h2>
+ By Richard Harding Davis
+ </h2>
+ <p>
+ <br /> <br /> <br />
+ </p>
+ <hr />
+ <p>
+ <br /> <br />
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ The scout stood where three roads cut three green tunnels in the pine
+ woods, and met at his feet. Above his head an aged sign-post pointed
+ impartially to East Carver, South Carver, and Carver Centre, and left the
+ choice to him.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ The scout scowled and bit nervously at his gauntlet. The choice was
+ difficult, and there was no one with whom he could take counsel. The three
+ sun-shot roads lay empty, and the other scouts, who, with him, had left
+ the main column at sunrise, he had ordered back. They were to report that
+ on the right flank, so far, at least, as Middleboro, there was no sign of
+ the enemy. What lay beyond, it now was his duty to discover. The three
+ empty roads spread before him like a picture puzzle, smiling at his
+ predicament. Whichever one he followed left two unguarded. Should he creep
+ upon for choice Carver Centre, the enemy, masked by a mile of fir trees,
+ might advance from Carver or South Carver, and obviously he could not
+ follow three roads at the same time. He considered the better strategy
+ would be to wait where he was, where the three roads met, and allow the
+ enemy himself to disclose his position. To the scout this course was most
+ distasteful. He assured himself that this was so because, while it were
+ the safer course, it wasted time and lacked initiative. But in his heart
+ he knew that was not the reason, and to his heart his head answered that
+ when one&rsquo;s country is at war, when fields and fire-sides are trampled by
+ the iron heels of the invader, a scout should act not according to the
+ dictates of his heart, but in the service of his native land. In the case
+ of this particular patriot, the man and scout were at odds. As one of the
+ Bicycle Squad of the Boston Corps of Cadets, the scout knew what, at this
+ momentous crisis in her history, the commonwealth of Massachusetts
+ demanded of him. It was that he sit tight and wait for the hated
+ foreigners from New York City, New Jersey, and Connecticut to show
+ themselves. But the man knew, and had known for several years, that on the
+ road to Carver was the summer home of one Beatrice Farrar. As Private
+ Lathrop it was no part of his duty to know that. As a man and a lover, and
+ a rejected lover at that, he could not think of anything else. Struggling
+ between love and duty the scout basely decided to leave the momentous
+ question to chance. In the front tire of his bicycle was a puncture,
+ temporarily effaced by a plug. Laying the bicycle on the ground, Lathrop
+ spun the front wheel swiftly.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ &ldquo;If,&rdquo; he decided, &ldquo;the wheel stops with the puncture pointing at Carver
+ Centre, I&rsquo;ll advance upon Carver Centre. Should it point to either of the
+ two other villages, I&rsquo;ll stop here.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ &ldquo;It&rsquo;s a two to one shot against me, any way,&rdquo; he growled.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Kneeling in the road he spun the wheel, and as intently as at Monte Carlo
+ and Palm Beach he had waited for other wheels to determine his fortune, he
+ watched it come to rest. It stopped with the plug pointing back to
+ Middleboro.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ The scout told himself he was entitled to another trial. Again he spun the
+ wheel. Again the spokes flashed in the sun. Again the puncture rested on
+ the road to Middleboro.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ &ldquo;If it does that once more,&rdquo; thought the scout, &ldquo;it&rsquo;s a warning that there
+ is trouble ahead for me at Carver, and all the little Carvers.&rdquo;
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ For the third time the wheel flashed, but as he waited for the impetus to
+ die, the sound of galloping hoofs broke sharply on the silence. The scout
+ threw himself and his bicycle over the nearest stone wall, and,
+ unlimbering his rifle, pointed it down the road.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ He saw approaching a small boy, in a white apron, seated in a white wagon,
+ on which was painted, &ldquo;Pies and Pastry. East Wareham.&rdquo; The boy dragged his
+ horse to an abrupt halt.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ &ldquo;Don&rsquo;t point that at me!&rdquo; shouted the boy.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ &ldquo;Where do you come from?&rdquo; demanded the scout.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ &ldquo;Wareham,&rdquo; said the baker.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ &ldquo;Are you carrying any one concealed in that wagon?&rdquo;
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ As though to make sure the baker&rsquo;s boy glanced apprehensively into the
+ depths of his cart, and then answered that in the wagon he carried nothing
+ but fresh-baked bread. To the trained nostrils of the scout this already
+ was evident. Before sunrise he had breakfasted on hard tack and muddy
+ coffee, and the odor of crullers and mince pie, still warm, assailed him
+ cruelly. He assumed a fierce and terrible aspect.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ &ldquo;Where are you going?&rdquo; he challenged.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ &ldquo;To Carver Centre,&rdquo; said the boy.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ To chance Lathrop had left the decision. He believed the fates had
+ answered.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Dragging his bicycle over the stone wall, he fell into the road.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ &ldquo;Go on,&rdquo; he commanded. &ldquo;I&rsquo;ll use your cart for a screen. I&rsquo;ll creep behind
+ the enemy before he sees me.&rdquo;
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ The baker&rsquo;s boy frowned unhappily.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ &ldquo;But supposing,&rdquo; he argued, &ldquo;they see you first, will they shoot?&rdquo;
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ The scout waved his hand carelessly.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ &ldquo;Of course,&rdquo; he cried.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ &ldquo;Then,&rdquo; said the baker, &ldquo;my horse will run away!&rdquo;
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ &ldquo;What of it?&rdquo; demanded the scout. &ldquo;Are Middleboro, South Middleboro, Rock,
+ Brockton, and Boston to fall? Are they to be captured because you&rsquo;re
+ afraid of your own horse? They won&rsquo;t shoot REAL bullets! This is not a
+ real war. Don&rsquo;t you know that?&rdquo;
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ The baker&rsquo;s boy flushed with indignation.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ &ldquo;Sure, I know that,&rdquo; he protested; &ldquo;but my horse&mdash;HE don&rsquo;t know
+ that!&rdquo;
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Lathrop slung his rifle over his shoulder and his leg over his bicycle.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ &ldquo;If the Reds catch you,&rdquo; he warned, in parting, &ldquo;they&rsquo;ll take everything
+ you&rsquo;ve got.&rdquo;
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ &ldquo;The Blues have took most of it already,&rdquo; wailed the boy. &ldquo;And just as
+ they were paying me the battle begun, and this horse run away, and I
+ couldn&rsquo;t get him to come back for my money.&rdquo;
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ &ldquo;War,&rdquo; exclaimed Lathrop morosely, &ldquo;is always cruel to the innocent.&rdquo; He
+ sped toward Carver Centre. In his motor car, he had travelled the road
+ many times, and as always his goal had been the home of Miss Beatrice
+ Farrar, he had covered it at a speed unrecognized by law. But now he
+ advanced with stealth and caution. In every clump of bushes he saw an
+ ambush. Behind each rock he beheld the enemy.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ In a clearing was a group of Portuguese cranberry pickers, dressed as
+ though for a holiday. When they saw the man in uniform, one of the women
+ hailed him anxiously.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ &ldquo;Is the parade coming?&rdquo; she called.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ &ldquo;Have you seen any of the Reds?&rdquo; Lathrop returned.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ &ldquo;No,&rdquo; complained the woman. &ldquo;And we been waiting all morning. When will
+ the parade come?&rdquo;
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ &ldquo;It&rsquo;s not a parade,&rdquo; said Lathrop, severely. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s a war!&rdquo;
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ The summer home of Miss Farrar stood close to the road. It had been so
+ placed by the farmer who built it, in order that the women folk might sit
+ at the window and watch the passing of the stage-coach and the peddler.
+ Great elms hung over it, and a white fence separated the road from the
+ narrow lawn. At a distance of a hundred yards a turn brought the house
+ into view, and at this turn, as had been his manoeuvre at every other
+ possible ambush, Lathrop dismounted and advanced on foot. Up to this
+ moment the road had been empty, but now, in front of the Farrar cottage,
+ it was blocked by a touring-car and a station wagon. In the occupants of
+ the car he recognized all the members of the Farrar family, except Miss
+ Farrar. In the station wagon were all of the Farrar servants. Miss Farrar
+ herself was leaning upon the gate and waving them a farewell. The
+ touring-car moved off down the road; the station wagon followed; Miss
+ Farrar was alone. Lathrop scorched toward her, and when he was opposite
+ the gate, dug his toes in the dust and halted. When he lifted his
+ broad-brimmed campaign hat, Miss Farrar exclaimed both with surprise and
+ displeasure. Drawing back from the gate she held herself erect. Her
+ attitude was that of one prepared for instant retreat. When she spoke it
+ was in tones of extreme disapproval.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ &ldquo;You promised,&rdquo; said the girl, &ldquo;you would not come to see me.&rdquo;
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Lathrop, straddling his bicycle, peered anxiously down the road.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ &ldquo;This is not a social call,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m on duty. Have you seen the
+ Reds?&rdquo;
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ His tone was brisk and alert, his manner preoccupied. The ungraciousness
+ of his reception did not seem in the least to disconcert him.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ But Miss Farrar was not deceived. She knew him, not only as a persistent
+ and irrepressible lover, but as one full of guile, adroit in tricks,
+ fertile in expedients. He was one who could not take &ldquo;No&rdquo; for an answer&mdash;at
+ least not from her. When she repulsed him she seemed to grow in his eyes
+ only the more attractive.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ &ldquo;It is not the lover who comes to woo,&rdquo; he was constantly explaining, &ldquo;but
+ the lover&rsquo;s WAY of wooing.&rdquo;
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Miss Farrar had assured him she did not like his way. She objected to
+ being regarded and treated as a castle that could be taken only by
+ assault. Whether she wished time to consider, or whether he and his
+ proposal were really obnoxious to her, he could not find out. His policy
+ of campaign was that she, also, should not have time to find out. Again
+ and again she had agreed to see him only on the condition that he would
+ not make love to her. He had promised again and again, and had failed to
+ keep that promise. Only a week before he had been banished from her
+ presence, to remain an exile until she gave him permission to see her at
+ her home in New York. It was not her purpose to return there for two
+ weeks, and yet here he was, a beggar at her gate. It might be that he was
+ there, as he said, &ldquo;on duty,&rdquo; but her knowledge of him and of the doctrine
+ of chances caused her to doubt it.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ &ldquo;Mr. Lathrop!&rdquo; she began, severely.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ As though to see to whom she had spoken Lathrop glanced anxiously over his
+ shoulder. Apparently pained and surprised to find that it was to him she
+ had addressed herself, he regarded her with deep reproach. His eyes were
+ very beautiful. It was a fact which had often caused Miss Farrar extreme
+ annoyance.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ He shook his head sadly.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ &ldquo;&lsquo;Mr. Lathrop?&rsquo;&rdquo; he protested. &ldquo;You know that to you I am always &lsquo;Charles&mdash;Charles
+ the Bold,&rsquo; because I am bold to love you; but never &lsquo;Mr. Lathrop,&rsquo;
+ unless,&rdquo; he went on briskly, &ldquo;you are referring to a future state, when,
+ as Mrs. Lathrop, you will make me&mdash;&rdquo;
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Miss Farrar had turned her back on him, and was walking rapidly up the
+ path.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ &ldquo;Beatrice,&rdquo; he called. &ldquo;I am coming after you!&rdquo;
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Miss Farrar instantly returned and placed both hands firmly upon the gate.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ &ldquo;I cannot understand you!&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;Don&rsquo;t you see that when you act as
+ you do now, I can&rsquo;t even respect you? How do you think I could ever care,
+ when you offend me so? You jest at what you pretend is the most serious
+ thing in your life. You play with it&mdash;laugh at it!&rdquo;
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ The young man interrupted her sharply.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ &ldquo;It&rsquo;s like this,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;When I am with you I am so happy I can&rsquo;t be
+ serious. When I am NOT with you, it is SO serious that I am utterly and
+ completely wretched. You say my love offends you, bores you! I am sorry,
+ but what, in heaven&rsquo;s name, do you think your NOT loving me is doing to
+ ME? I am a wreck! I am a skeleton! Look at me!&rdquo;
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ He let his bicycle fall, and stood with his hands open at his sides, as
+ though inviting her to gaze upon the ruin she had caused.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Four days of sun and rain, astride of a bicycle, without food or sleep,
+ had drawn his face into fine, hard lines, had bronzed it with a healthy
+ tan. His uniform, made by the same tailor that fitted him with polo
+ breeches, clung to him like a jersey. The spectacle he presented was that
+ of an extremely picturesque, handsome, manly youth, and of that fact no
+ one was better aware than himself.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ &ldquo;Look at me,&rdquo; he begged, sadly.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Miss Farrar was entirely unimpressed.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ &ldquo;I am!&rdquo; she returned, coldly. &ldquo;I never saw you looking so well&mdash;and
+ you know it.&rdquo; She gave a gasp of comprehension. &ldquo;You came here because you
+ knew your uniform was becoming!&rdquo;
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Lathrop regarded himself complacently.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ &ldquo;Yes, isn&rsquo;t it?&rdquo; he assented. &ldquo;I brought on this war in order to wear it.
+ If you don&rsquo;t mind,&rdquo; he added, &ldquo;I think I&rsquo;ll accept your invitation and
+ come inside. I&rsquo;ve had nothing to eat in four days.&rdquo;
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Miss Farrar&rsquo;s eyes flashed indignantly.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ &ldquo;You&rsquo;re NOT coming inside,&rdquo; she declared; &ldquo;but if you&rsquo;ll only promise to
+ go away at once, I&rsquo;ll bring you everything in the house.&rdquo;
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ &ldquo;In that house,&rdquo; exclaimed Lathrop, dramatically, &ldquo;there&rsquo;s only one thing
+ that I desire, and I want that so badly that &lsquo;life holds no charm without
+ you.&rsquo;&rdquo;
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Miss Farrar regarded him steadily.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ &ldquo;Do you intend to drive me away from my own door, or will you go?&rdquo;
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Lathrop picked his wheel out of the dust.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ &ldquo;Good-by,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;I&rsquo;ll come back when you have made up your mind.&rdquo;
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ In vexation Miss Farrar stamped her foot upon the path.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ &ldquo;I HAVE made up my mind!&rdquo; she protested.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ &ldquo;Then,&rdquo; returned Lathrop, &ldquo;I&rsquo;ll come back when you have changed it.&rdquo;
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ He made a movement as though to ride away, but much to Miss Farrar&rsquo;s
+ dismay, hastily dismounted. &ldquo;On second thoughts,&rdquo; he said, &ldquo;it isn&rsquo;t right
+ for me to leave you. The woods are full of tramps and hangers-on of the
+ army. You&rsquo;re not safe. I can watch this road from here as well as from
+ anywhere else, and at the same time I can guard you.&rdquo;
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ To the consternation of Miss Farrar he placed his bicycle against the
+ fence, and, as though preparing for a visit, leaned his elbows upon it.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ &ldquo;I do not wish to be rude,&rdquo; said Miss Farrar, &ldquo;but you are annoying me. I
+ have spent fifteen summers in Massachusetts, and I have never seen a
+ tramp. I need no one to guard me.&rdquo;
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ &ldquo;If not you,&rdquo; said Lathrop easily, &ldquo;then the family silver. And think of
+ your jewels, and your mother&rsquo;s jewels. Think of yourself in a house filled
+ with jewels, and entirely surrounded by hostile armies! My duty is to
+ remain with you.&rdquo;
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Miss Farrar was so long in answering, that Lathrop lifted his head and
+ turned to look. He found her frowning and gazing intently into the shadow
+ of the woods, across the road. When she felt his eyes upon her she turned
+ her own guiltily upon him. Her cheeks were flushed and her face glowed
+ with some unusual excitement.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ &ldquo;I wish,&rdquo; she exclaimed breathlessly&mdash;&ldquo;I wish,&rdquo; she repeated, &ldquo;the
+ Reds would take you prisoner!&rdquo;
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ &ldquo;Take me where?&rdquo; asked Lathrop.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ &ldquo;Take you anywhere!&rdquo; cried Miss Farrar. &ldquo;You should be ashamed to talk to
+ me when you should be looking for the enemy!&rdquo;
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ &ldquo;I am WAITING for the enemy,&rdquo; explained Lathrop. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s the same thing.&rdquo;
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Miss Farrar smiled vindictively. Her eyes shone. &ldquo;You need not wait long,&rdquo;
+ she said. There was a crash of a falling stone wall, and of parting
+ bushes, but not in time to give Lathrop warning. As though from the
+ branches of the trees opposite two soldiers fell into the road; around his
+ hat each wore the red band of the invader; each pointed his rifle at
+ Lathrop.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ &ldquo;Hands up!&rdquo; shouted one. &ldquo;You&rsquo;re my prisoner!&rdquo; cried the other.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Mechanically Lathrop raised his hands, but his eyes turned to Miss Farrar.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ &ldquo;Did you know?&rdquo; he asked.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ &ldquo;I have been watching them,&rdquo; she said, &ldquo;creeping up on you for the last
+ ten minutes.&rdquo;
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Lathrop turned to the two soldiers, and made an effort to smile.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ &ldquo;That was very clever,&rdquo; he said, &ldquo;but I have twenty men up the road, and
+ behind them a regiment. You had better get away while you can.&rdquo;
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ The two Reds laughed derisively. One, who wore the stripes of a sergeant,
+ answered: &ldquo;That won&rsquo;t do! We been a mile up the road, and you and us are
+ the only soldiers on it. Gimme the gun!&rdquo;
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Lathrop knew he had no right to refuse. He had been fairly surprised, but
+ he hesitated. When Miss Farrar was not in his mind his amateur soldiering
+ was to him a most serious proposition. The war game was a serious
+ proposition, and that, through his failure for ten minutes to regard it
+ seriously, he had been made a prisoner, mortified him keenly. That his
+ humiliation had taken place in the presence of Beatrice Farrar did not
+ lessen his discomfort, nor did the explanation he must later make to his
+ captain afford him any satisfaction. Already he saw himself playing the
+ star part in a court-martial. He shrugged his shoulders and surrendered
+ his gun.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ As he did so he gloomily scrutinized the insignia of his captors.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ &ldquo;Who took me?&rdquo; he asked.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ &ldquo;WE took you,&rdquo; exclaimed the sergeant.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ &ldquo;What regiment?&rdquo; demanded Lathrop, sharply. &ldquo;I have to report who took me;
+ and you probably don&rsquo;t know it, but your collar ornaments are upside
+ down.&rdquo; With genuine exasperation he turned to Miss Farrar.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ &ldquo;Lord!&rdquo; he exclaimed, &ldquo;isn&rsquo;t it bad enough to be taken prisoner, without
+ being taken by raw recruits that can&rsquo;t put on their uniforms?&rdquo;
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ The Reds flushed, and the younger, a sandy-haired, rat-faced youth,
+ retorted angrily: &ldquo;Mebbe we ain&rsquo;t strong on uniforms, beau,&rdquo; he snarled,
+ &ldquo;but you&rsquo;ve got nothing on us yet, that I can see. You look pretty with
+ your hands in the air, don&rsquo;t you?&rdquo;
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ &ldquo;Shut up,&rdquo; commanded the other Red. He was the older man, heavily built,
+ with a strong, hard mouth and chin, on which latter sprouted a three days&rsquo;
+ iron-gray beard. &ldquo;Don&rsquo;t you see he&rsquo;s an officer? Officers don&rsquo;t like being
+ took by two-spot privates.&rdquo;
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Lathrop gave a sudden start. &ldquo;Why,&rdquo; he laughed, incredulously, &ldquo;don&rsquo;t you
+ know&mdash;&rdquo; He stopped, and his eyes glanced quickly up and down the
+ road.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ &ldquo;Don&rsquo;t we know what?&rdquo; demanded the older Red, suspiciously.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ &ldquo;I forgot,&rdquo; said Lathrop. &ldquo;I&mdash;I must not give information to the
+ enemy&mdash;&rdquo;
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ For an instant there was a pause, while the two Reds stood irresolute.
+ Then the older nodded the other to the side of the road, and in whispers
+ they consulted eagerly.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Miss Farrar laughed, and Lathrop moved toward her.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ &ldquo;I deserve worse than being laughed at,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;I made a strategic
+ mistake. I should not have tried to capture you and an army corps at the
+ same time.&rdquo;
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ &ldquo;You,&rdquo; she taunted, &ldquo;who were always so keen on soldiering, to be taken
+ prisoner,&rdquo; she lowered her voice, &ldquo;and by men like that! Aren&rsquo;t they
+ funny?&rdquo; she whispered, &ldquo;and East Side and Tenderloin! It made me homesick
+ to hear them! I think when not in uniform the little one drives a taxicab,
+ and the big one is a guard on the elevated.&rdquo;
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ &ldquo;They certainly are very &lsquo;New York,&rsquo;&rdquo; assented Lathrop, &ldquo;and very tough.&rdquo;
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ &ldquo;I thought,&rdquo; whispered Miss Farrar, &ldquo;those from New York with the Red Army
+ were picked men.&rdquo;
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ &ldquo;What does it matter?&rdquo; exclaimed Lathrop. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s just as humiliating to be
+ captured by a ballroom boy as by a mere millionaire! I can&rsquo;t insist on the
+ invading army being entirely recruited from Harvard graduates.&rdquo;
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ The two Reds either had reached a decision, or agreed that they could not
+ agree, for they ceased whispering, and crossed to where Lathrop stood.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ &ldquo;We been talking over your case,&rdquo; explained the sergeant, &ldquo;and we see we
+ are in wrong. We see we made a mistake in taking you prisoner. We had
+ ought to shot you dead. So now we&rsquo;re going to shoot you dead.&rdquo;
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ &ldquo;You can&rsquo;t!&rdquo; objected Lathrop. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s too late. You should have thought of
+ that sooner.&rdquo;
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ &ldquo;I know,&rdquo; admitted the sergeant, &ldquo;but a prisoner is a hell of a nuisance.
+ If you got a prisoner to look after you can&rsquo;t do your own work; you got to
+ keep tabs on him. And there ain&rsquo;t nothing in it for the prisoner, neither.
+ If we take you, you&rsquo;ll have to tramp all the way to our army, and all the
+ way back. But, if you&rsquo;re dead, how different! You ain&rsquo;t no bother to
+ anybody. You got a half holiday all to yourself, and you can loaf around
+ the camp, so dead that they can&rsquo;t make you work, but not so dead you can&rsquo;t
+ smoke or eat.&rdquo; The sergeant smiled ingratiatingly. In a tempting manner he
+ exhibited his rifle. &ldquo;Better be dead,&rdquo; he urged.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ &ldquo;I&rsquo;d like to oblige you,&rdquo; said Lathrop, &ldquo;but it&rsquo;s against the rules. You
+ CAN&rsquo;T shoot a prisoner.&rdquo;
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ The rat-faced soldier uttered an angry exclamation. &ldquo;To hell with the
+ rules!&rdquo; he cried. &ldquo;We can&rsquo;t waste time on him. Turn him loose!&rdquo;
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ The older man rounded on the little one savagely. The tone in which he
+ addressed him was cold, menacing, sinister. His words were simple, but his
+ eyes and face were heavy with warning.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ &ldquo;Who is running this?&rdquo; he asked.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ The little soldier muttered, and shuffled away. From under the brim of his
+ campaign hat, his eyes cast furtive glances up and down the road. As
+ though anxious to wipe out the effect of his comrade&rsquo;s words, the sergeant
+ addressed Lathrop suavely and in a tone of conciliation.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ &ldquo;You see,&rdquo; he explained, &ldquo;him and me are scouts. We&rsquo;re not supposed to
+ waste time taking prisoners. So, we&rsquo;ll set you free.&rdquo; He waved his hand
+ invitingly toward the bicycle. &ldquo;You can go!&rdquo; he said.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ To Miss Farrar&rsquo;s indignation Lathrop, instead of accepting his freedom,
+ remained motionless.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ &ldquo;I can&rsquo;t!&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m on post. My captain ordered me to stay in front
+ of this house until I was relieved.&rdquo;
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Miss Farrar, amazed at such duplicity, exclaimed aloud:
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ &ldquo;He is NOT on post!&rdquo; she protested. &ldquo;He&rsquo;s a scout! He wants to stop here,
+ because&mdash;because&mdash;he&rsquo;s hungry. I wouldn&rsquo;t have let you take him
+ prisoner, if I had not thought you would take him away with you.&rdquo; She
+ appealed to the sergeant. &ldquo;PLEASE take him away,&rdquo; she begged.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ The sergeant turned sharply upon his prisoner.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ &ldquo;Why don&rsquo;t you do what the lady wants?&rdquo; he demanded.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ &ldquo;Because I&rsquo;ve got to do what my captain wants,&rdquo; returned Lathrop, &ldquo;and he
+ put me on sentry-go, in front of this house.&rdquo;
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ With the back of his hand, the sergeant fretfully scraped the three days&rsquo;
+ growth on his chin. &ldquo;There&rsquo;s nothing to it,&rdquo; he exclaimed, &ldquo;but for to
+ take him with us. When we meet some more Reds we&rsquo;ll turn him over. Fall
+ in!&rdquo; he commanded.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ &ldquo;No!&rdquo; protested Lathrop. &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t want to be turned over. I&rsquo;ve got a much
+ better plan. YOU don&rsquo;t want to be bothered with a prisoner. I don&rsquo;t want
+ to be a prisoner. As you say, I am better dead. You can&rsquo;t shoot a
+ prisoner, but if he tries to escape you can. I&rsquo;ll try to escape. You shoot
+ me. Then I return to my own army, and report myself dead. That ends your
+ difficulty and saves me from a court-martial. They can&rsquo;t court-martial a
+ corpse.&rdquo;
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ The face of the sergeant flashed with relief and satisfaction. In his
+ anxiety to rid himself of his prisoner, he lifted the bicycle into the
+ road and held it in readiness.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ &ldquo;You&rsquo;re all right!&rdquo; he said, heartily. &ldquo;You can make your getaway as quick
+ as you like.&rdquo;
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ But to the conspiracy Miss Farrar refused to lend herself.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ &ldquo;How do you know,&rdquo; she demanded, &ldquo;that he will keep his promise? He may
+ not go back to his own army. He can be just as dead on my lawn as anywhere
+ else!&rdquo;
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Lathrop shook his head at her sadly.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ &ldquo;How you wrong me!&rdquo; he protested. &ldquo;How dare you doubt the promise of a
+ dying man? These are really my last words, and I wish I could think of
+ something to say suited to the occasion, but the presence of strangers
+ prevents.&rdquo;
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ He mounted his bicycle. &ldquo;&lsquo;If I had a thousand lives to give,&rsquo;&rdquo; he quoted
+ with fervor, &ldquo;&lsquo;I&rsquo;d give them all to&mdash;&lsquo;&rdquo; he hesitated, and smiled
+ mournfully on Miss Farrar. Seeing her flushed and indignant countenance,
+ he added, with haste, &ldquo;to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts!&rdquo;
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ As he started on his wheel slowly down the path, he turned to the
+ sergeant.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ &ldquo;I&rsquo;m escaping,&rdquo; he explained. The Reds, with an enthusiasm undoubtedly
+ genuine, raised their rifles, and the calm of the Indian summer was
+ shattered by two sharp reports. Lathrop, looking back over his shoulder,
+ waved one hand reassuringly.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ &ldquo;Death was instantaneous,&rdquo; he called. He bent his body over the
+ handle-bar, and they watched him disappear rapidly around the turn in the
+ road.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Miss Farrar sighed with relief.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ &ldquo;Thank you very much,&rdquo; she said.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ As though signifying that to oblige a woman he would shoot any number of
+ prisoners, the sergeant raised his hat.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ &ldquo;Don&rsquo;t mention it, lady,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;I seen he was annoying you, and that&rsquo;s
+ why I got rid of him. Some of them amateur soldiers, as soon as they get
+ into uniform, are too fresh. He took advantage of you because your folks
+ were away from home. But don&rsquo;t you worry about that. I&rsquo;ll guard this house
+ until your folks get back.&rdquo;
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Miss Farrar protested warmly.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ &ldquo;Really!&rdquo; she exclaimed; &ldquo;I need no one to guard me.&rdquo;
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ But the soldier was obdurate. He motioned his comrade down the road.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ &ldquo;Watch at the turn,&rdquo; he ordered; &ldquo;he may come back or send some of the
+ Blues to take us. I&rsquo;ll stay here and protect the lady.&rdquo;
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Again Miss Farrar protested, but the sergeant, in a benign and fatherly
+ manner, smiled approvingly. Seating himself on the grass outside the
+ fence, he leaned his back against the gatepost, apparently settling
+ himself for conversation.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ &ldquo;Now, how long might it have been,&rdquo; he asked, &ldquo;before we showed up, that
+ you seen us?&rdquo;
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ &ldquo;I saw you,&rdquo; Miss Farrar said, &ldquo;when Mr.&mdash;when that bicycle scout was
+ talking to me. I saw the red bands on your hats among the bushes.&rdquo;
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ The sergeant appeared interested.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ &ldquo;But why didn&rsquo;t you let on to him?&rdquo;
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Miss Farrar laughed evasively.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ &ldquo;Maybe because I am from New York, too,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;Perhaps I wanted to
+ see soldiers from my city take a prisoner.&rdquo;
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ They were interrupted by the sudden appearance of the smaller soldier. On
+ his rat-like countenance was written deep concern.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ &ldquo;When I got to the turn,&rdquo; he began, breathlessly, &ldquo;I couldn&rsquo;t see him.
+ Where did he go? Did he double back through the woods, or did he have time
+ to ride out of sight before I got there?&rdquo;
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ The reappearance of his comrade affected the sergeant strangely. He sprang
+ to his feet, his under jaw protruding truculently, his eyes flashing with
+ anger.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ &ldquo;Get back,&rdquo; he snarled. &ldquo;Do what I told you!&rdquo;
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Under his breath he muttered words that, to Miss Farrar, were
+ unintelligible. The little rat-like man nodded, and ran from them down the
+ road. The sergeant made an awkward gesture of apology.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ &ldquo;Excuse me, lady,&rdquo; he begged, &ldquo;but it makes me hot when them rookies won&rsquo;t
+ obey orders. You see,&rdquo; he ran on glibly, &ldquo;I&rsquo;m a reg&rsquo;lar; served three
+ years in the Philippines, and I can&rsquo;t get used to not having my men do
+ what I say.&rdquo;
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Miss Farrar nodded, and started toward the house. The sergeant sprang
+ quickly across the road.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ &ldquo;Have you ever been in the Philippines, Miss?&rdquo; he called. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s a great
+ country.&rdquo;
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Miss Farrar halted and shook her head. She was considering how far
+ politeness required of her to entertain unshaven militiamen, who insisted
+ on making sentries of themselves at her front gate.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ The sergeant had plunged garrulously into a confusing description of the
+ Far East. He was clasping the pickets of the fence with his hands, and his
+ eyes were fastened on hers. He lacked neither confidence nor vocabulary,
+ and not for an instant did his tongue hesitate or his eyes wander, and yet
+ in his manner there was nothing at which she could take offence. He
+ appeared only amiably vain that he had seen much of the world, and anxious
+ to impress that fact upon another. Miss Farrar was bored, but the man gave
+ her no opportunity to escape. In consequence she was relieved when the
+ noisy approach of an automobile brought him to an abrupt pause. Coming
+ rapidly down the road was a large touring-car, filled with men in khaki.
+ The sergeant gave one glance at it, and leaped across the road, taking
+ cover behind the stone wall. Instantly he raised his head above it and
+ shook his fist at Miss Farrar.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ &ldquo;Don&rsquo;t tell,&rdquo; he commanded. &ldquo;They&rsquo;re Blues in that car! Don&rsquo;t tell!&rdquo; Again
+ he sank from sight.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Miss Farrar now was more than bored, she was annoyed. Why grown men should
+ play at war so seriously she could not understand. It was absurd! She no
+ longer would remain a party to it; and, lest the men in the car might
+ involve her still further, she retreated hastily toward the house. As she
+ opened the door the car halted at the gate, and voices called to her, but
+ she pretended not to hear them, and continued up the stairs. Behind her
+ the car passed noisily on its way.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ She mounted the stairs, and crossing a landing moved down a long hall, at
+ the further end of which was her bedroom. The hall was uncarpeted, but the
+ tennis shoes she wore made no sound, nor did the door of her bedroom when
+ she pushed it open.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ On the threshold Miss Farrar stood quite still. A swift, sinking nausea
+ held her in a vice. Her instinct was to scream and run, but her throat had
+ tightened and gone dry, and her limbs trembled. Opposite the door was her
+ dressing-table, and reflected in its mirror were the features and figure
+ of the rat-like soldier. His back was toward her. With one hand he swept
+ the dressing-table. The other, hanging at his side, held a revolver. In a
+ moment the panic into which Miss Farrar had been thrown passed. Her breath
+ and blood returned, and, intent only on flight, she softly turned. On the
+ instant the rat-faced one raised his eyes, saw her reflected in the
+ mirror, and with an oath, swung toward her. He drew the revolver close to
+ his cheek, and looked at her down the barrel. &ldquo;Don&rsquo;t move!&rdquo; he whispered;
+ &ldquo;don&rsquo;t scream! Where are the jewels?&rdquo;
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Miss Farrar was not afraid of the revolver or of the man. She did not
+ believe either would do her harm. The idea of both the presence of the man
+ in her room, and that any one should dare to threaten her was what filled
+ her with repugnance. As the warm blood flowed again through her body her
+ spirit returned. She was no longer afraid. She was, instead, indignant,
+ furious.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ With one step she was in the room, leaving the road to the door open.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ &ldquo;Get out of here,&rdquo; she commanded.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ The little man snarled, and stamped the floor. He shoved the gun nearer to
+ her.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ &ldquo;The jewels, damn you!&rdquo; he whispered. &ldquo;Do you want me to blow your fool
+ head off? Where are the jewels?&rdquo;
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ &ldquo;Jewels?&rdquo; repeated Miss Farrar. &ldquo;I have no jewels!&rdquo;
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ &ldquo;You lie!&rdquo; shrieked the little man. &ldquo;He said the house was full of jewels.
+ We heard him. He said he would stay to guard the jewels.&rdquo;
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Miss Farrar recognized his error. She remembered Lathrop&rsquo;s jest, and that
+ it had been made while the two men were within hearing, behind the stone
+ wall.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ &ldquo;It was a joke!&rdquo; she cried. &ldquo;Leave at once!&rdquo; She backed swiftly toward the
+ open window that looked upon the road. &ldquo;Or I&rsquo;ll call your sergeant!&rdquo;
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ &ldquo;If you go near that window or scream,&rdquo; whispered the rat-like one, &ldquo;I&rsquo;ll
+ shoot!&rdquo;
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ A heavy voice, speaking suddenly from the doorway, shook Miss Farrar&rsquo;s
+ jangled nerves into fresh panic.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ &ldquo;She won&rsquo;t scream,&rdquo; said the voice.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ In the door Miss Farrar saw the bulky form of the sergeant, blocking her
+ escape.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Without shifting his eyes from Miss Farrar, the man with the gun cursed
+ breathlessly at the other. &ldquo;Why didn&rsquo;t you keep her away?&rdquo; he panted.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ &ldquo;An automobile stopped in front of the gate,&rdquo; explained the sergeant.
+ &ldquo;Have you got them?&rdquo; he demanded.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ &ldquo;No!&rdquo; returned the other. &ldquo;Nothing! She won&rsquo;t tell where they are.&rdquo;
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ The older man laughed. &ldquo;Oh, yes, she&rsquo;ll tell,&rdquo; he whispered. His voice was
+ still low and suave, but it carried with it the weight of a threat, and
+ the threat, although unspoken, filled Miss Farrar with alarm. Her eyes,
+ wide with concern, turned fearfully from one man to the other.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ The sergeant stretched his hands toward her, the fingers working and
+ making clutches in the air. The look in his eyes was quite terrifying.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ &ldquo;If you don&rsquo;t tell,&rdquo; he said slowly, &ldquo;I&rsquo;ll choke it out of you!&rdquo;
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ If his intention was to frighten the girl, he succeeded admirably. With
+ her hands clasped to her throat, Miss Farrar sank against the wall. She
+ saw no chance of escape. The way to the door was barred, and should she
+ drop to the garden below, from the window, before she could reach the road
+ the men would overtake her. Even should she reach the road, the house
+ nearest was a half mile distant.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ The sergeant came close, his fingers opening and closing in front of her
+ eyes. He raised his voice to a harsh, bellowing roar. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m going to make
+ you tell!&rdquo; he shouted. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m going to choke it out of you!&rdquo;
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Although she was alone in the house, although on every side the pine woods
+ encompassed her, Miss Farrar threw all her strength into one long,
+ piercing cry for help. And upon the instant it was answered. From the hall
+ came the swift rush of feet. The rat-like one swung toward it. From his
+ revolver came a report that shook the room, a flash and a burst of smoke,
+ and through it Miss Farrar saw Lathrop hurl himself. He dived at the
+ rat-like one, and as on the foot-ball field he had been taught to stop a
+ runner, flung his arms around the other&rsquo;s knees. The legs of the man shot
+ from under him, his body cut a half circle through the air, and the part
+ of his anatomy to first touch the floor was his head. The floor was of
+ oak, and the impact gave forth a crash like the smash of a base-ball bat,
+ when it drives the ball to centre field. The man did not move. He did not
+ even groan. In his relaxed fingers the revolver lay, within reach of
+ Lathrop&rsquo;s hand. He fell upon it and, still on his knees, pointed it at the
+ sergeant.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ &ldquo;You&rsquo;re MY prisoner, now!&rdquo; he shouted cheerfully. &ldquo;Hands up!&rdquo;
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ The man raised his arms slowly, as if he were lifting heavy dumb-bells.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ &ldquo;The lady called for help,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;I came to help her.&rdquo;
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ &ldquo;No! No!&rdquo; protested the girl. &ldquo;He did NOT help me! He said he would choke
+ me if I didn&rsquo;t&mdash;&rdquo;
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ &ldquo;He said he would&mdash;what!&rdquo; bellowed Lathrop. He leaped to his feet,
+ and sent the gun spinning through the window. He stepped toward the man
+ gingerly, on the balls of his feet, like one walking on ice. The man
+ seemed to know what that form of approach threatened, for he threw his
+ arms into a position of defence.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ &ldquo;You bully!&rdquo; whispered Lathrop. &ldquo;You coward! You choke women, do you?&rdquo;
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ He shifted from one foot to the other, his body balancing forward, his
+ arms swinging limply in front of him. With his eyes, he seemed to undress
+ the man, as though choosing a place to strike.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ &ldquo;I made the same mistake you did,&rdquo; he taunted. &ldquo;I should have killed you
+ first. Now I am going to do it!&rdquo;
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ He sprang at the man, his chin still sunk on his chest, but with his arms
+ swinging like the spokes of a wheel. His opponent struck back heavily,
+ violently, but each move of his arm seemed only to open up some vulnerable
+ spot. Blows beat upon his chin, upon his nose, his eyes; blows jabbed him
+ in the ribs, drove his breath from his stomach, ground his teeth together,
+ cut the flesh from his cheeks. He sank to his knees, with his arms
+ clasping his head.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ &ldquo;Get up!&rdquo; roared Lathrop. &ldquo;Stand up to it, you coward!&rdquo;
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ But the man had no idea of standing up to it. Howling with pain, he
+ scrambled toward the door, and fled staggering down the hall.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ At the same moment the automobile that a few minutes before had passed up
+ the road came limping to the gate, and a half-dozen men in uniform sprang
+ out of it. From the window Lathrop saw them spread across the lawn and
+ surround the house.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ &ldquo;They&rsquo;ve got him!&rdquo; he said. He pointed to the prostrate figure on the
+ floor. &ldquo;He and the other one,&rdquo; he explained, breathlessly, &ldquo;are New York
+ crooks! They have been looting in the wake of the Reds, disguised as
+ soldiers. I knew they weren&rsquo;t even amateur soldiers by the mistakes in
+ their make-up, and I made that bluff of riding away so as to give them
+ time to show what the game was. Then, that provost guard in the motor car
+ stopped me, and when they said who they were after, I ordered them back
+ here. But they had a flat tire, and my bicycle beat them.&rdquo;
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ In his excitement he did not notice that the girl was not listening, that
+ she was very pale, that she was breathing quickly, and trembling.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ &ldquo;I&rsquo;ll go tell them,&rdquo; he added, &ldquo;that the other one they want is up here.&rdquo;
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Miss Farrar&rsquo;s strength instantly returned.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ With a look of terror at the now groaning figure on the floor, she sprang
+ toward Lathrop, with both hands clutching him by his sleeves.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ &ldquo;You will NOT!&rdquo; she commanded. &ldquo;You will not leave me alone!&rdquo;
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Appealingly she raised her face to his startled countenance. With a burst
+ of tears she threw herself into his arms. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m afraid!&rdquo; she sobbed. &ldquo;Don&rsquo;t
+ leave me. Please, no matter what I say, never leave me again!&rdquo;
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Between bewilderment and joy, the face of Lathrop was unrecognizable. As
+ her words reached him, as he felt the touch of her body in his arms, and
+ her warm, wet cheek against his own, he drew a deep sigh of content, and
+ then, fearfully and tenderly, held her close.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ After a pause, in which peace came to all the world, he raised his head.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ &ldquo;Don&rsquo;t worry!&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;You can BET I won&rsquo;t leave you!&rdquo;
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ <br /> <br />
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+
+
+
+
+
+End of Project Gutenberg&rsquo;s Peace Manoeuvres, by Richard Harding Davis
+
+*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PEACE MANOEUVRES ***
+
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+</pre>
+ </body>
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