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dollars a month！ It was worth that merely to have her sit in the flat where
one could look at her； for already he had decided that； when they were
married； they would live in a flatprobably in one overlooking Central
Park； on Central Park West。 He knew of several attractive suites there at
thirty…five dollars a weekor； if she preferred the suburbs； he would
forsake his beloved New York and return to the country。 In his gratitude to
her for being what she was； he conceded even that sacrifice。
When he reached New York； from the speculators he bought front…row
seats at five dollars for the two most popular plays in town。 He put them
away carefully in his waistcoat pocket。 Possession of them made him feel
that already he had obtained an option on six hours of complete happiness。
After she left Sam； Sister Anne passed hurriedly through the hospital
to the matron's room and； wrapping herself in a raccoon coat； made her
way to a waiting motor car and said； 〃Home！〃 to the chauffeur。 He drove
her to the Flagg family vault； as Flagg's envious millionaire neighbors
called the pile of white marble that topped the highest hill above
Greenwich； and which for years had served as a landfall to mariners on the
Sound。
There were a number of people at tea when she arrived and they
greeted her noisily。
〃I have had a most splendid adventure！〃 said Sister Anne。 〃There were
six of us； you know； dressed up as Red Cross nurses； and we gave away
programmes。 Well； one of the New York reporters thought I was a real
nurse and interviewed me about the Home。 Of course I knew enough
about it to keep it up； and I kept it up so well that he was terribly sorry for
me； and。 。 。 。 〃
One of the tea drinkers was little Hollis Holworthy； who prided
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himself on knowing who's who in New York。 He had met Sam Ward at
first nights and prize fights。 He laughed scornfully。
〃Don't you believe it！〃 he interrupted。 〃That man who was talking to
you was Sam Ward。 He's the smartest newspaper man in New York； he
was just leading you on。 Do you suppose there's a reporter in America who
wouldn't know you in the dark？ Wait until you see the Sunday paper。〃
Sister Anne exclaimed indignantly。
〃He did not know me！〃 she protested。 〃It quite upset him that I should
be wasting my life measuring out medicines and making beds。〃
There was a shriek of disbelief and laughter。
〃I told him；〃 continued Sister Anne； 〃that I got forty dollars a month；
and he said I could make more as a typewriter； and I said I preferred to be
a manicurist。〃
〃Oh； Anita！〃 protested the admiring chorus。
〃And he was most indignant。 He absolutely refused to allow me to be a
manicurist。 And he asked me to take a day off with him and let him show
me New York。 And he offered； as attractions； moving…picture shows and a
drive on a Fifth Avenue bus； and feeding peanuts to the animals in the park。
And if I insisted upon a chaperon I might bring one of the nurses。 We're to
meet at the soda…water fountain in the Grand Central Station。 He said； 'The
day cannot begin too soon。'〃
〃Oh； Anita！〃 shrieked the chorus。
Lord Deptford； who as the newspapers had repeatedly informed the
American public； had come to the Flaggs' country…place to try to marry
Anita Flagg； was amused。
〃What an awfully jolly rag！〃 he cried。 〃And what are you going to do
about it？〃
〃Nothing；〃 said Anita Flagg。 〃The reporters have been making me
ridiculous for the last three years； now I have got back at one of them！
〃And；〃 she added； 〃that's all there is to that！〃
That night； however； when the house party was making toward bed；
Sister Anne stopped by the stairs and said to Lord Deptford： 〃I want to
hear you call me Sister。〃
〃Call you what？〃 exclaimed the young man。 〃I will tell you；〃 he
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THE RED CROSS GIRL
whispered； 〃what I'd like to call you！〃
〃You will not！〃 interrupted Anita。 〃Do as I tell you and say Sister once。
Say it as though you meant it。〃
〃But I don't mean it；〃 protested his lordship。 〃I've said already what
I。 。 。 。〃
〃Never mind what you've said already；〃 commanded Miss Flagg。 〃I've
heard that from a lot of people。 Say Sister just once。〃
His lordship frowned in embarrassment。
〃Sister！〃 he exclaimed。 It sounded like the pop of a cork。
Anita Flagg laughed unkindly and her beautiful shoulders shivered as
though she were cold。
〃Not a bit like it； Deptford；〃 she said。 〃Good…night。〃
Later Helen Page； who came to her room to ask her about a horse she
was to ride in the morning； found her ready for bed but standing by the
open window looking out toward the great city to the south。
When she turned Miss Page saw something in her eyes that caused that
young woman to shriek with amazement。
〃Anita！〃 she exclaimed。 〃You crying！ What in Heaven's name can
make you cry？〃
It was not a kind speech； nor did Miss Flagg receive it kindly。 She
turned upon the tactless intruder。
〃Suppose；〃 cried Anita fiercely； 〃a man thought you were worth forty
dollars a monthhonestly didn't know！honestly believed you were poor
and worked for your living； and still said your smile was worth more than
all of old man Flagg's millions； not knowing they were YOUR millions。
Suppose he didn't ask any money of you； but just to take care of you； to
slave for youonly wanted to keep your pretty hands from working； and
your pretty eyes from seeing sickness and pain。 Suppose you met that man
among this rotten lot； what would you do？ What wouldn't you do？〃
〃Why； Anita！〃 exclaimed Miss Page。
〃What would you do？〃 demanded Anita Flagg。 〃This is what you'd do：
You'd go down on your knees to that man and say： 'Take me away！ Take
me away from them； and pity me； and be sorry for me； and love meand
love meand love me！〃
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〃And why don't you？〃 cried Helen Page。
〃Because I'm as rotten as the rest of them！〃 cried Anita Flagg。
〃Because I'm a coward。 And that's why I'm crying。 Haven't I the right