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〃and he put me on sentry…go； in front of this house。〃
With the back of his hand； the sergeant fretfully scraped the three
days' growth on his chin。 〃There's nothing to it；〃 he exclaimed；
〃but for to take him with us。 When we meet some more Reds we'll
turn him over。 Fall in！〃 he commanded。
〃No！〃 protested Lathrop。 〃I don't want to be turned over。 I've
got a much better plan。 YOU don't want to be bothered with a
prisoner。 I don't want to be a prisoner。 As you say； I am better
dead。 You can't shoot a prisoner； but if he tries to escape you
can。 I'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't court…martial a corpse。〃
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。
〃You're all right！〃 he said； heartily。 〃You can make your getaway
as quick as you like。〃
But to the conspiracy Miss Farrar refused to lend herself。
〃How do you know；〃 she demanded； 〃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！〃
Lathrop shook his head at her sadly。
〃How you wrong me！〃 he protested。 〃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。〃
He mounted his bicycle。 〃'If I had a thousand lives to give；'〃 he
quoted with fervor； 〃'I'd give them all to'〃 he hesitated； and
smiled mournfully on Miss Farrar。 Seeing her flushed and indignant
countenance； he added； with haste； 〃to the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts！〃
As he started on his wheel slowly down the path； he turned to the
sergeant。
〃I'm escaping；〃 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。
〃Death was instantaneous；〃 he called。 He bent his body over the
handle…bar； and they watched him disappear rapidly around the turn
in the road。
Miss Farrar sighed with relief。
〃Thank you very much；〃 she said。
As though signifying that to oblige a woman he would shoot any
number of prisoners； the sergeant raised his hat。
〃Don't mention it； lady；〃 he said。 〃I seen he was annoying you；
and that'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't you worry
about that。 I'll guard this house until your folks get back。〃
Miss Farrar protested warmly。
〃Really！〃 she exclaimed； 〃I need no one to guard me。〃
But the soldier was obdurate。 He motioned his comrade down the
road。
〃Watch at the turn；〃 he ordered； 〃he may come back or send some of
the Blues to take us。 I'll stay here and protect the lady。〃
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。
〃Now； how long might it have been；〃 he asked； 〃before we showed up；
that you seen us？〃
〃I saw you；〃 Miss Farrar said； 〃when Mr。when that bicycle scout
was talking to me。 I saw the red bands on your hats among the
bushes。〃
The sergeant appeared interested。
〃But why didn't you let on to him？〃
Miss Farrar laughed evasively。
〃Maybe because I am from New York； too；〃 she said。 〃Perhaps I
wanted to see soldiers from my city take a prisoner。〃
They were interrupted by the sudden appearance of the smaller
soldier。 On his rat…like countenance was written deep concern。
〃When I got to the turn；〃 he began； breathlessly； 〃I couldn'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？〃
The reappearance of his comrade affected the sergeant strangely。
He sprang to his feet； his under jaw protruding truculently； his
eyes flashing with anger。
〃Get back；〃 he snarled。 〃Do what I told you！〃
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。
〃Excuse me； lady；〃 he begged； 〃but it makes me hot when them
rookies won't obey orders。 You see；〃 he ran on glibly； 〃I'm a
reg'lar； served three years in the Philippines； and I can't get
used to not having my men do what I say。〃
Miss Farrar nodded； and started toward the house。 The sergeant
sprang quickly across the road。
〃Have you ever been in the Philippines； Miss？〃 he called。 〃It's a
great country。〃
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。
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。
〃Don't tell；〃 he commanded。 〃They're Blues in that car！ Don't
tell！〃 Again he sank from sight。
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。
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。
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