Bab: A Sub Deb

M >> Mary Roberts Rinehart >> Bab: A Sub Deb


It is a terrable thing to see a crime thus comitted and to know not what
to do. Had William repaired again to his chamber, or would he return for
the plates, etcetera?

At last I crept upstairs to my father's room, which was locked. I could
not waken him by gently taping, and I feared that if I made a noise
I would warn the lurking Criminal in his den. I therfore went to my
bathroom and filled my bath sponge with water, and threw it threw the
transom in the direction of my father's bed.

As it happened it struck on his face, and I heard him getting up and
talking dreadfully to himself. Also turning on the lights. I put my
mouth to the keyhole and said:

"Father!"

Had he but been quiet, all would have been well. But he opened the door
and began roaring at me in a loud tone, calling me an imp of Mischeif
and other things, and yelling for a towle.

I then went in and closed the door and said:

"That's right. Bellow and spoil it all."

"Spoil what?" he said, glareing at me. "There's nothing left to spoil,
is there? Look at that bed! Look at me!"

"Father," I said, "while you are raging about over such a thing as a wet
Sponge, which I was driven to in desparation, the house is or rather has
been robbed."

He then sat down on the bed and said:

"You are growing up, Bab, although it is early for the burglar
obsession. Go on, though. Who is robbing us and why? Because if he finds
any Money I'll divide with him."

Such a speach discouraged me, for I can bear anything except to be
laughed at. I therfore said:

"William has just taken your Dispach Case out of the safe. I saw him."

"William!"

"William," I repeated in a tence voice.

He was then alarmed and put on his slippers and dressing gown.

"You stay here," he observed. "Personally I think you've had a bad
dream, because William can't possably know the combination of that safe.
It's as much as I can do to remember it myself."

"It's a Spy's business to know everything, father."

He gave me a peircing glance.

"He's a Spy, is he?" he then said. "Well, I might have known that all
this war preparation of yours would lead to Spies. It has turned more
substantile intellects than yours."

He then swiched on the hall lights from the top of the stairs and
desended. I could but wait at the top, fearing at each moment a shot
would ring out, as a Spy's business is such as not to stop at Murder.

My father unlocked the safe and looked in it. Then he closed it again
and disapeared into the back of the house. How agonising were the
moments that ensued! He did not return, and at last, feeling that he had
met a terrable Death, I went down.

I went through the fatal dining room to the pantrey and there found
him not only alive, but putting on a plate some cold roast beef and two
apples.

"I thought we'd have a bite to eat," he said. "I need a little
nourishment before getting back into that puddle to sleep."

"Father!" I said. "How can you talk of food when knowing----"

"Get some salt and pepper," he said, "and see if there is any mustard
mixed. You've had a dream, Bab. That's all. The Case is in the safe, and
William is in his bed, and in about two minutes a cold repast is going
to be in me."

Ye gods!

He is now asleep, and I am writing this at 2 A. M.

I, and I alone, know that there is a Criminal in this house, serving our
meals and quareling with the cook as if a regular Butler, but really
a Spy. And although I cry aloud in my anguish, those who hear me but
maintain that I am having a nightmare.

I am a Voice crying in the Wilderness.


APRIL 15TH: 9 A. M. William is going about as usual, but looks as though
he had not had enough sleep.

Father has told mother about last night, and I am not to have coffee in
the evenings. This is not surprizing, as they have always considered me
from a physical and not a mental standpoint.

My very Soul is in revolt.


6 P. M. This being Sunday, camp did not convene until 3 P. M. and then
but for a short time. We flag-signaled mostly and are now to the letter
E. Also got the gun loaded at last and fired it several times, I giving
the orders as in the book, page 262, in a loud voice:

(1) "Hold the rifle on the mark." (2) "Aim properly." (3) "Squeeze the
Triger properly." (4) "Call the shot."

We had but just started, and Mademoiselle had taken the car and gone
back to the Adams's residence to bring out Mr. Adams, as she considers
gun-shooting as dangerous, when a farmer with to dogs came over a fense
and objected, saying that it was Sunday and that his cows were getting
excited anyhow and would probahly not give any milk.

"These are War times," I said, in a dignafied manner. "And if you are
doing nothing for the country yourself you should at least allow others
to do so."

He was a not unreasonable tipe and this seemed to effect him. For he sat
down on one of our stools and said:

"Well, I don't know about that, miss. You see----"

"Captain," I put in. Because he might as well know that we meant
business.

"Captain, of course!" he said. "You'll have to excuze me. This thing of
Women in War is new to me. But now don't you think that you'll be doing
the country a service not to interfere with the food supply and so on?"
He then looked at me and remarked: "If I was you, miss or Captain, I
would not come any to clost to my place. My wife was pretty well bruized
up that time you upset our milk waggon."

IT WAS INDEED HE! But he was not unpleasant about it, although remarking
that if he had a daughter and a machine, although he had niether, and
expected niether, the one would never be allowed to have the other until
carefully taught on an emty road.

He then said:

"You girls have been wig-wagging, I see."

"We are studying flag signals."

"Humph!" he observed. "I used to know something about that myself, in
the Spanish war. Now let's see what I remember. Watch this. And somebody
keep an eye on that hill and report if a blue calico dress is charging
from the enemies' Trenches."

It was very strange to see one who apeared to be but an ordinary Farmer,
Or Milkman, pick up our flags and wave them faster than we could read
them. It was indeed thrilling, although discouraging, because if that
was the regular rate of Speed we felt that we could never acheive it. I
remarked this, and he then said:

"Work hard at it, and I reckon I can slip over now and then and give you
a lesson. Any girl that can drive an automobile hell-bent" (these are
his words, not mine) "can do most anything she sets her mind on. You
leave that gun alone, and work at the signaling, and I guess I can make
out to come every afternoon. I start out about 2 A. M. and by noon I'm
mostly back."

We all thanked him, and saluted as he left. He saluted to, and said:

"Name's Schmidt, but don't worry about that. Got some German blood way
back, but who hasn't?"

He then departed with his to dogs, and we held a meeting, and voted to
give up everything but signaling.

Passed unanamously.


8 P. M. I am now at home. Dinner is over, being early on Sundays because
of Servants' days out and so on.

Leila had a Doctor to dinner. She met him at the Red Cross, and he
would, I think, be a good husband. He sat beside me, and I talked mostly
about her, as I wished him to know that, although having her faults as
all have, she would be a good wife.

"She can sow very well," I told him, "and she would probably like to
keep House, but of course has no chance here, as mother thinks no one
can manage but herself."

"Indeed!" he said, looking at me. "But of course she will probably have
a house of her own before long."

"Very likely," I said. "Although she has had a number of chances and
always refuses."

"Probably the right Person has not happened along;" he observed.

"Perhaps," I said, in a signifacant tone. "Or perhaps he does not know
he is the right Person."

William, of whom more anon, was passing the ice cream just then. I
refused it, saying:

"Not in war time."

"Barbara," mother said, stiffly. "Don't be a silly. Eat your desert."

As I do not like seens I then took a little, but no cake.

During dinner Leila made an observation which has somewhat changed my
opinion of Carter Brooks. She said his mother did not want him to enlist
which was why he had not. She has no other sons and probably never will
have, being a widow.

I have now come to William.

Lucy Gray had been on Secret Service that day, but did the observing
from the windows of their house, as my Familey was at home and liable to
poke into my room at any moment.

William had made it up with the cook, Lucy said, and had showed her
a game of Solitaire in the morning by the kitchin window. He had then
fallen asleep in the pantrey, the window being up. In the afternoon,
luncheon being over and the Familey out in the car for a ride, he had
gone out into the yard behind the house and pretended to look to see
if the crocuses were all gone. But soon he went into the Garage and was
there a half hour.

Now it is one of the rules of this Familey that no house servants go to
the Garage, owing to taking up the Chauffeur's time when he should be
oiling up, etcetera. Also owing to one Butler stealing the Chauffeur's
fur coat and never being seen again.

But alas, what am I to do? For although I reported this being in the
Garage to mother, she but said:

"Don't worry me about him, Bab. He is hopelessly inefficient. But there
are no Men Servants to be had and we'll have to get along."


1 A. M. I have been on watch all evening, but everything is quiet.

I must now go to bed, as the Manual says, page 166:

"Retire early and get a good night's rest."


APRIL 16TH. In camp. Luncheon of sardines, pickels, and eclairs as no
one likes to cook, owing to smoke in the eyes, etcetera.

Camp convened at 12 noon, as we spent the morning helping to get members
of the Other Sex to enlist. We pinned a pink Carnation on each Enlister,
and had to send for more several times. We had quite a Crowd there and
it was very polite except one, who said he would enlist twice for one
kiss. The Officer however took him by the ear and said the Army did not
wish such as he. He then through (threw?) him out.

This morning I warned the new Chauffeur, feeling that if he had by
chance any Milatary Secrets in the Garage he should know about William.

"William!" he said, looking up from where he was in the Repair Pit at
the time. "WILLIAM!"

"I am sorry, Henry," I said, in a quiet voice. "But I fear that William
is not what he apears to be."

"I think you must be mistaken, miss." He then hamered for some time.
When he was through he climbed out and said: "There's to much Spy talk
going on, to my thinking, miss. And anyhow, what would a Spy be after in
this house?"

"Well," I observed, in an indignant manner, for I am sensative and hate
to have my word doubted, "as my father is in a business which is now War
Secrets and nothing else, I can understand, if you can't."

He then turned on the engine and made a terrable noise, to see if
hitting on all cylinders. When he shut it off I told him about William
spending a half hour in the Garage the day before. Although calm before
he now became white with anger and said:

"Just let me catch him sneaking around here, and I'll--what's he after
me for anyhow? I haven't got any Milatary Secrets."

I then sugested that we work together, as I felt sure William was after
my father's blue prints and so on, which were in the Dispach Case in the
safe at night. He said he was not a Spy-catcher, but if I caught William
at any nonsense I might let him know, and if he put a padlock on the
outside of his door and mother saw it and raised a fuss, I could stand
up for him.

I agreed to do so.


10 P. M. Doctor Connor called this evening, to bring Sis a pattern for
a Surgicle Dressing. They spent to hours in the Library looking at it.
Mother is rather upset, as she thinks a Doctor makes a poor husband,
having to be out at night and never able to go to Dinners owing to baby
cases and so on.

She said this to father, but I heard her and observed:

"Mother, is a doctor then to have no Familey life, and only to bring
into the world other people's children?"

She would usualy have replied to me, but she merely sighed, as she is
not like herself, being worried about father.

She beleives that my Father's Life is in danger, as although usualy
making steel, which does not explode and is therfore a safe business, he
is now making shells, and every time it has thundered this week she has
ohserved:

"The mill!"

She refuses to be placated, although knowing that only those known to
the foremen can enter, as well as having a medal with a number on it,
and at night a Password which is new every night.

I know this, because we have this evening made up a list of Passwords
for the next week, using a magazine to get them out of, and taking
advertisements, such as Cocoa, Razers, Suspenders and so on. Not these
actualy but others like them.

We then learned them off by heart and burned the paper, as one cannot be
to carefull with a Spy in the house, even if not credited as such by my
Parents.

Have forgotten the Emblem. Must take it in.


APRIL 17TH. In camp.

Henry brought me out in the big car, as mine has a broken spring owing
to going across the field with it.

He says he has decided to help me, and that I need not watch the safe,
etcetera, at night. I therfore gave him a key to the side door, and now
feel much better. He also said not to have any of the Corps detailed to
watch William in the daytime, as he can do so, because the Familey is
now spending all day at the Red Cross.

He thinks the Password idea fine, as otherwise almost anybody could
steal a medal and get into the mill.

William seems to know that I know something, and this morning, while
opening the door for me, he said:

"I beg pardon, Miss Bab, but I see Henry is driving you today."

"It is not hard to see," I replied, in a hauty manner. It is not the
Butler's business who is driving me, and anyhow I had no intention of
any unecessary conversation with a Spy.

"Your own car being out of order, miss?"

"It is," I retorted. "As you will probably be going to the Garage,
although against orders, while Henry is out, you can see it yourself."

I then went out and sat in front in order to converce with Henry, as the
back is lonely. I looked up at the door and William was standing there,
with a very queer look on his face.


3 P. M. Mr. Schmidt is late and the Corps is practising, having now got
to K.

Luncheon was a great surprize, as at 12:45 a car apeared on the sky line
and was reported by our Sentry as aproaching rapidly.

When it came near it was seen to be driven by Carter Brooks, and to
contain several baskets, etcetera. He then dismounted and saluted and
said:

"The Commiseriat has sent me forward with the day's rations, sir."

"Very good," I returned, in an official manner. "Corps will line up and
count. Odd numbers to unpack and evens to set the table."

This of course was figurative, as we have no table, but eat upon the
ground.

He then carried over the baskets and a freezer of ice cream. He had
brought a fruit salid, cold chicken, potatoe Chips, cake and ice-cream.
It was a delightful Repast, and not soon to be forgotten by the Corps.

Mademoiselle got out of the Adams's car and came over, although she had
her own lunch as usual. She then had the Chauffeur carry over a seat
cushion, and to see her one would beleive she was always pleasant. I
have no use for those who are only pleasant in the presence of Food or
Strangers.

Carter Brooks sat beside me, and observed:

"You see, Bab, although a Slacker myself, I cannot bear that such brave
spirits as those of the Girls' Aviation Corps should go hungry."

I then gave him a talking-to, saying that he had been a great
disapointment, as I thought one should rise to the Country's Call and
not wait until actualy needed, even when an only son.

He made no defence, but said in a serious tone:

"You see, it's like this. I am not sure of myself, Bab. I don't want to
enlist because others of the Male Sex, as you would say, are enlisting
and I'm ashamed not to. And I don't want to enlist just to wear a
Unaform and get away from business. I don't take it as lightly as all
that."

"Have you no Patriotism?" I demanded. "Can you repeat unmoved the
celabrated lines:

"Lives there a man with Soul so dead,
He (or who) never to himself hath said:
This is my own, my Native Land."

I then choked up, although being Captain I felt that tears were a
femanine weakness and a bad Example.

Mademoiselle had at that moment felt an ant somewhere and was not
looking. Therfore she did not perceive when he reached over and put his
hand on my foot, which happened to be nearest to him. He then pated my
foot, and said:

"What a nice kid you are!"

It is strange, now that he and the baskets, etcetera, have gone away,
that I continue to think about his pating my foot. Because I have
known him for years, and he is nothing to me but a good friend and not
sentamental in any way.

I feel this way. Suppose he enlists and goes away to die for his
Country, as a result of my Speach. Can I endure to think of it? No. I
did not feel this way about Tom Gray, who has gone to Florida to learn
to fly, although at one time thinking the Sun rose and set on him. It is
very queer.

The Sentry reports Mr. Schmidt and the dogs coming over the fense.


EVENING. Doctor Connor is here again. He is taking Sis to a meeting
where he is to make a Speach. I ofered to go along, but they did not
apear to hear me, and perhaps it is as well, for I must watch William,
as Henry is taking them in the car. I am therfore writing on the stairs,
as I can then hear him washing Silver in the pantrey.

Mother has been very sweet to me this evening. I cannot record how I
feel about the change. I used to feel that she loved me when she had
time to do so, but that she had not much time, being busy with Bridge,
Dinners, taking Leila out and Housekeeping, and so on. But now she has
more time. Tonight she said:

"Bab, suppose we have a little talk. I have been thinking all day what
I would do if you were a boy, and took it into that Patriotic head of
yours to enlist. I couldn't bear it, that's all."

I was moved to tears by this afection on the part of my dear Parent, but
I remembered being Captain of the Corps, and so did not weep. She then
said that she would buy us an Emblem for the Camp, and have a luncheon
packed each day. She also ofered me a wrist watch.

I cannot but think what changes War can make, bringing people together
because of worry and danger, and causing gifts, such as flags and
watches, and ofering to come out and see us in a day or so.

It is now 9 P. M. and the mention of the flag has reminded me that our
own Emblem still fluters beneath the Starry Sky.


LATER: William is now in the Garage. I am watching from the window of
the sowing room.

The terrable thought comes--has he a wireless concealed there, by which
he sends out clandestine messages, perhaps to Germany?

This I know. He cannot get into Henry's room, as the padlock is now on.


LATER: He has returned, foiled!


APRIL 18TH. Nothing new. Working hard at signaling. Mr. Schmidt says I
am doing well and if he was an Officer he would give me a job.


APRIL 19TH. Nothing new. But Doctor Connor had told Leila that my father
looks sick or at least not well. When I went to him, being frightened,
as he is my only Male Parent and very dear to me, he only laughed and
said:

"Nonsense! We're rushed at the Mill, that's all. You see, Bab, War is
more than Unaforms and saluting. It is a nasty Business. And of course,
between your forgetting The Emblem until midnight, when I am in my
first sleep, and putting it out at Dawn, I am not getting all the rest I
really need."

He then took my hand and said:

"Bab, you haven't by any chance been in my Dispach Case for anything,
have you?"

"Why? Is something missing?" I said in I startled tone.

"No. But sometimes I think--however, never mind about that. I think I'll
take the Case upstairs and lock my door hereafter, and if the Emblem is
an hour or to late, we will have to stand for it. Eight o'clock is
early enough for any Flag, especialy if it has been out late the night
before."

"Father" I said, in a tence voice. "I have before this warned you, but
you would not listen, considering me imature and not knowing a Spy when
I see one."

I then told him what I knew about William, but he only said:

"Well, the only thing that matters is the Password, and that cannot be
stolen. As for William, I have had his record looked up by the Police,
and it is fine. Now go to bed, and send in the Spy. I want a Scotch and
Soda."


APRIL 20TH. Henry and I have searched the Garage, but there is no
Wireless, unless in a Chimney. Henry says this is often done, by Spies,
who raise a Mast out of the chimney by night.

To night I shall watch the Chimney, as there is an ark light near it, so
that it is as bright as Day.

The cook has given notice, as she and William cannot get along, and
as he can only make to salids and those not cared for by the other
servants.


APRIL 27TH. After eight days I am at last alowed this Log or Journal,
being supported with pillows while writing as Doctor Connor says it will
not hurt me.

He has just gone, and I am sure kissed Leila in the hall while Hannah
and the nurse were getting pen, ink, etcetera. Perhaps after all Romanse
has at last come to my beloved sister, who will now get married. If so,
I can come out in November, which is the best time, as December is busy
with Xmas and so on.

How shall I tell the tradgic story of that night? How can I put, by
means of a pen, my Experiences on paper? There are some things which may
not be written, but only felt, and that mostly afterwards, as during the
time one is to excited to feel.

On April 21st, Saturday, I had a bad cold and was not allowed to go to
camp. I therfore slept most of the day, being one to sleep easily in
daytime, except for Hannah coming in to feel if I was feverish.

My father did not come home to dinner, and later on telephoned that
he was not to be looked for until he arived, owing to somthing very
important at the Mill and a night shift going on for the first time.

We ate Dinner without him, and mother was very nervous and kept saying
that with foremen and so on she did not see why father should have to
kill himself.

Ye gods! Had we but realised the Signifacance of that remark! But we did
not, but went to living in a Fool's Paradice, and complaining because
William had put to much vinigar in the French Dressing.

William locked up the house and we retired to our Chambers. But as I had
slept most of the day I could not compose myself to Slumber, but sat up
in my robe de nuit and reflected about Carter Brooks, and that perhaps
it would be better for him not to enlist as there is plenty to be done
here at home, where one is safe from bullets, machine guns and so on.
Because, although not Sentamental about him or silly in any way, I felt
that he should not wish to go into danger if his mother objected. And
after all one must consider mothers and other Parents.

I put a dressing gown over my ROBE DE NUIT, and having then remembered
about the Wireless, I put out my light and sat in the window seat. But
there was no Mast to be seen, and nothing but the ark light swinging.

I then saw some one come in the drive and go back to the Garage, but
as Henry has a friend who has been out of work and sleeps with him,
although not told to the Familey, as probably objecting,--although why
I could not see, since he used half of Henry's bed and therfore cost
nothing--I considered that it was he.

It was not, however, as I shall now record in this Log or Journal.

I had perhaps gone to sleep in my place of watching, when I heard a
rapping at my Chamber door. "Only this and nothing more." Poe--The
Raven.

I at once opened the door, and it was the cook. She said that Henry had
returned from the mill with a pain in his ear, and had telephoned to
her by the house 'phone to bring over a hot water bottle, as father was
driving himself home when ready.

She then said that if I would go over with her to the Garage and drop
some laudinum into his ear, she being to nervous, and also taking my hot
water bottle, she would be grateful.

Although not fond of her, owing to her giving notice and also being very
fussy about cake taken from the pantrey, I am one to go always where
needed. I also felt that a member of the Corps should not shirk Duty,
even a Chauffeur's ear. I therfore got my hot water bottle and some
slippers, etcetera, and we went to the Garage.

I went up the stairs to Henry's room, but what was my surprize to find
him not there, but only his friend. I then said:

"Where is Henry?"

The cook was behind me, and she said:

"He is coming. He has to walk around because it aches so."

Then Henry's friend said, in a queer voice:

"Now, Miss Bab, there is nothing to be afraid of, unless you make a
noise. If you do there will be trouble and that at once. We three are
going to have a little talk."