Part 35 (2/2)

”Will you get it--quick? The Armstrong paper-factory is on fire. Mr.

Bell mustn't know it. I can't stop to explain. I must get him away where he won't hear. I 'll go ask him and Mrs. Bell to take a drive with us--out to the farm, perhaps. I 'll run over. You drive round there--will you?”

”Why on earth should n't he know? He----”

”Oh, don't stop to talk about it. I 'll tell you afterward. The general alarm may go in any minute, and somebody will telephone him if he's at the house. Quick--please!”

Of course Brant did not understand, but s.h.i.+rley's manner was not to be taken lightly. Even as she spoke she left him and ran indoors again.

Well, if he could serve her, it would be better than having to sit beside her in silence while she thought about technical French phrases.

Besides, he was an enthusiastic motorist, and a hurry call for the car always gave him more or less pleasure. He bolted across the lawn, through the hedge by a short cut to the street, and so to his own home, on the farther side of Worthington Square.

s.h.i.+rley hurried across Gay Street, having stopped only to pick up a long coat and scarf. She caught sight of Mrs. Bell's light skirt at the edge of the vine-screen of the porch.

”Isn't it a perfect night?” Mrs. Bell heard a familiar, clear-toned voice ask. ”Don't you and Mr. Bell want to take a gentle little spin down Northboro road in Mr. Hille's car? He 's asked me out, and given me leave to invite whomever I want. I 'd love to have you.”

Mr. Brant Hille--inviting Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Bell to go motoring with him at nine o'clock on a May evening--there was no precedent for this!

But Mrs. Bell, with the intuition of the mother of young people, thought she understood. s.h.i.+rley wanted a chaperon, and her kind young heart prompted her to ask a pair who were not much accustomed to the delights of automobiling in the moonlight.

”Why, yes, we'll go,” said Mr. Bell, getting up from his rocking-chair.

”We 're all alone to-night--the young people are off at a party. If you 'll persuade the young man not to put on too much speed.”

So in less than five minutes the party were settling themselves in the big green car, its headlights making a wide, brilliant track before it down the quiet street.

”All ready?” asked Hille, and started the car. As it began to move, the distant but distinct sound of a telephone-bell struck upon s.h.i.+rley's ear. Mr. Bell turned his head. ”Was that in our house?” he asked.

Mrs. Bell was tying a scarf over her hair, slightly m.u.f.fling her ears.

She had not heard.

”Go on--fast!” breathed s.h.i.+rley in Hille's ear. The street was nearly empty, and he obeyed. For a moment Mr. Bell's attention was taken by the new sensation of speed,--not appreciable speed, from the motorist's stand-point, because the car was within city limits, but to the novice considerable.

At the intersection of Gay Street with Conner Street it was possible to look for a moment straight down toward the heart of the city, into the business district. A red glare was plainly visible, although partly dimmed by hundreds of twinkling electric lights between.

”Must be a big fire,” said Mr. Bell, straining his eyes to see. Then the trees and houses hid the city from view. ”It was down our way, too.

I wish I could telephone the factory and find out. Peter's there. He 'd know. Might be that was our telephone-bell that rang.”

”I did n't hear any bell, dear,” his wife a.s.sured him.

”A fire always looks nearer than it is,” said Hille, over his shoulder, driving on without diminis.h.i.+ng his speed. Instead, he accelerated it.

The street was a quiet one, there was n.o.body in sight.

”One summer, when I was a little girl, and we were staying in the country, father and I walked half a mile to see a fire--and found a big red moon coming up behind the trees,” said s.h.i.+rley, and talked lightly on.

Brant seconded her efforts with skill, for which she inwardly thanked him, and between them they soon had the thoughts of their guests far away from the dangerous subject. They ran quickly through the suburbs out into the open country, taking the Northboro road, for that course led directly away from the red glare which, as s.h.i.+rley covertly glanced back from time to time, could be clearly perceived on the western side of the city behind them.

Gaily as she talked and laughed, the girl's thoughts were with Peter.

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