Read The Carter Girls' Mysterious Neighbors Page 24
CHAPTER XXIV
THE CARRIER PIGEON
There came a day in mid-April that will always be remembered by thedwellers in Valhalla. Herz had walked home from school with Douglas,and contrary to his custom, had come in when they reached the house. Hewas in a strange, fierce humor and it seemed to Douglas as though hisnear-sighted eyes were boring holes in her. She could not keep her mindand talk off the war and whenever war was mentioned he became very glum.
"Now that we are at war, will you not enlist?" she asked. "If you are atrue American, I do not see how you can help it."
"My eyes would debar me. Near-sighted men can't always serve where theywould like to," he answered rather bitterly. "You see good in no one buta soldier."
"Why, not at all!" blushed Douglas. "Of course, when my country is atwar I want our young men to be willing to fight. Being a girl is allthat keeps me here. You might work in a munition factory and help thatway."
"Ah, I should like that! Would you think more of me if I could help yourcountry in some way?"
"Your country, too!"
Herz had come so close to her as they stood in the middle of the quaintold living-room that Douglas felt a desire to run away. She welcomedthe sight of Helen running across the lawn from the direction ofGrantly.
"Guess!" panted Helen, bursting in on them. "I have seen James Hanks! Hewas sneaking out of the kitchen at Grantly. Had been in to see Tempy, Ireckon. The man is crazy about her. Miss Louise saw him, too, and has'phoned Mr. Sutton. I fancy he is on the way over here now with thosewestern cousins of his. Funny men, aren't they? Miss Ella says she neverheard of either Mr. or Mrs. Sutton's having any western kin, and she hasknown them and all their people for pretty near a century. I believethey are detectives myself, trying to find those runaway darkies."
While Helen was giving out this information, Herz stood as though he hadturned to stone. His face was white with a red spot on each high cheekbone.
"Where is your carrier pigeon?" he asked Douglas abruptly.
"The cage hangs on the porch."
He drew from his pocket a small note-book and wrote rapidly in it.Tearing out the sheet, he strode to the porch, and with a small rubberband he quickly attached the note to the foot of the docile bird that hehad grabbed from the cage without even a "by your leave."
"What are you doing?" demanded Douglas. Was the man crazy?
"Stop!" cried Helen. "Count de Lestis gave that bird to my sister."
"Yes, and she was to send him a message. This is the message. It is ashe would have it, I am sure. You remember he told you he would rathersomeone would seek him than search him. He shall have his choice."
He carried the pigeon out on the lawn and freed it. The clever bird rosein a spiral flight and then started straight towards Weston and itsmate. Without a word, Herz left the girls and started towards Weston,too, taking a line almost as straight as the one the pigeon had chosen.
"Is he crazy, Douglas?"
"I think he is something worse. I believe he is afraid of detectives."
The count and his confederate got away,--although they were capturedlater on in North Carolina. The faithful red car carried them offrapidly. De Lestis was waiting for his one time secretary at the crossroads by Paradise.
"Did you destroy the papers and maps?" gasped that gentleman as hesprang into the car.
"How could I when your call was so urgent? I brought all the money,though. Those fools will never find the wireless. They have noimagination. And I have the grey paint to put my darling here in heruniform."
That night, after having speeded for hours, the two men drew the littlered car into the woods where they painted her a dingy grey. The counthad purchased the paint only the day before at the country store.
"In case of an emergency!" he had told Herz.
Little did he dream that one of the visitors at Mr. Sutton's found outbefore night that he had bought the paint, and that when messages weresent in every direction to look out for two German spies, informationwas also given that they would be in a red car that had more than likelybeen painted grey.
When Weston was thoroughly searched, many things besides the wirelessstation were brought to light. One of the detectives brought to Douglasa letter addressed in Lewis Somerville's writing.
"Where did you find it?" blushed Douglas.
"In the count's desk! I am sorry to have to tell you that it was my dutyto read it before giving it to you."
It was the letter Lewis had written from the Mexican border and nowonder Douglas blushed. He had made most violent love to her in thisletter and had also spoken quite openly of the situation in Mexico froma soldier's standpoint.
"Nothing is too small for them!" cried Douglas.
"But what an escape we have made!" exclaimed Helen. "I bet you that manhas made love to every one of us except Lucy."
"He had better not say anything sweet to me," said that young lady. "Magand I never could abide him."
"Well, I liked him a whole lot," sighed Nan. "He appreciated poetry sothoroughly."
There were three young men who were secretly glad when the count andHerz were caught: Dr. Wright, Lewis Somerville and Billy Sutton. Theydid not wish to be ungenerous, but it _was_ hard to have your especialgirl monopolized on every occasion.
The Misses Grant never could be made to understand that their preciouscount was a spy. "He was a charming gentleman and we want to hearnothing unkind about him," they actually agreed.
Mrs. Carter insisted it was all the doings of that common Herz, who didnot know how to conduct himself in a ballroom and who held his fork soawkwardly at the table. And Mr. Carter, true to his professionalinstinct, declared he had had his doubts about de Lestis from the momenthe sacrificed his roof line to the pigeon house.
But whatever the opinion held by the various members of the Carterfamily, all agreed that the surprising summer at Valhalla was onelong to be remembered. Fascinating as had been its mysteries, itsuncertainties, its new friendships and responsibilities however, not oneof the family was sorry to return to Richmond. There, as fall advancedinto winter, new doors of opportunity were opened and old associationsrenewed. Once more there were numbered among the city's happily busypeople "The Carter Girls of Carter House."