Bab: A Sub Deb

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


Ye gods! I tremble even to remember his words, for he said:

"What we want is simple enough. We want tonight's Password at the Mill.
DON'T SCREAM."

I dropped the hot water bottle, because there is no use pretending one
is not scared at such a time. One is. But of course I would not tell
them the Password, and the cook said:

"Be careful, Miss Bab. We are not playing. We are in terrable ernest."

She did not sound like a cook at all, and she looked diferent, being
very white and with to red spots on her cheeks.

"So am I," I responded, although with shaking teeth. "And just wait
until the Police hear of this and see what happens. You will all be
arested. If I scream----"

"If you scream," said Henry's friend in an awful voice, "you will never
scream again."

There was now a loud report from below, which the neighbors afterwards
said they heard, but considered gas in a muffler, which happens often
and sounds like a shot. There was then a sort of low growl and somebody
fell with a thump. Then the cook said to Henry's friend:

"Jump out of the window. They've got him!"

But he did not jump, but listened, and we then heard Henry saying:

"Come down here, quick."

Henry's friend then went downstairs very rapidly, and I ran to the
window thinking to jump out. But it was closed and locked, and anyhow
the cook caught me and said, in a hissing manner:

"None of that, you little fool."

I had never been so spoken to, especially by a cook, and it made me very
angry. I then threw the bottle of laudinum at her, and broke a front
tooth, also cutting her lip, although I did not know this until later,
as I then fainted.

When I came to I was on the floor and William, whom I had considered a
Spy, was on the bed with his hands and feet tied. Henry was standing by
the door, with a revolver, and he said:

"I'm sorry, Miss Bab, because you are all right and have helped me a
lot, especially with that on the bed. If it hadn't been for you our
Goose would have been cooked."

He then picked me up and put me in a chair, and looked at his watch.

"Now," he said, "we'll have that Password, because time is going and
there are things to be done, quite a few of them."

I could see William then, and I saw his eyes were partly shut, and
that he had been shot, because of blood, etcetera. I was about to faint
again, as the sight of blood makes me sick at the stomache, but Henry
held a bottle of amonia under my nose and said in a brutal way:

"Here, none of that."

I then said that I would not tell the Password, although killed for it,
and he said if I kept up that attitude I would be, because they were
desperate and would stop at nothing.

"There is no use being stubborn," he said, "because we are going to get
that Password, and the right one to, because if the wrong one you, to,
will be finished off in short order."

As I was now desperate myself I decided to shriek, happen what may. But
I had merely opened my mouth to when he sprang at me and put his hand
over my mouth. He then said he would be obliged to gag me, and that when
I made up my mind to tell the Password, if I would nod my Head he would
then remove the gag. As I grew pale at these words he threw up a window,
because air prevents fainting.

He then tied a towel around my mouth and lips, putting part of it
between my teeth, and tied it in a hard knot behind. He also tied my
hands behind me, although I kicked as hard as possable, and can do so
very well, owing to skating and so on.

How awfull were my sensations as I thus sat facing Death, and
remembering that I had often been excused from Chapel when not necesary,
and had been confirmed while pretending to know the Creed while not
doing so. Also not always going to Sunday School as I should, and being
inclined to skip my Prayers when very tired.

We sat there for a long time, which seemed Eternities, Henry making
dreadful threats, and holding a revolver. But I would not tell the
Password, and at last he went out, locking the door behind him, to
consult with the other Spies.

I then heard a whisper, and saw that William was not dead. He said:

"Here, quick. I'll unloose your hands and you can drop out the window."

He did so, but just in time, as Henry returned, looking fierce and
saying that I had but fifteen minutes more. I was again in my chair, and
he did not percieve that my hands were now untied.

I must stop here, as my hands tremble to much to hold my trusty pen.


APRIL 28TH. Leila has just been in. She kissed me in a fraternal manner,
and I then saw that she wore an engagement ring. Well, such is Life.
We only get realy acquainted with our Families when they die, or get
married.

Doctor Connor came in a moment later and kissed me to, calling me his
brave little Sister.

How pleasant it is to lie thus, having wine jelatine and squab and so
on, and wearing a wrist watch with twenty-seven diamonds, and mother
using the vibrator on my back to make me sleepy, etcetera. Also, to know
that when one's father returns he will say:

"Well, how is the Patriot today?" and not smile while saying it.

I have recorded in this journal up to where I had got my hands loose,
and Henry was going to shoot me in fifteen minutes.

We have thus come to Mr. Schmidt.

Suddenly Henry swore in an angry manner. This was because my father had
brought the machine home and was but then coming along the drive. Had he
come alone it would have been the end of him and the Mill, for Henry and
his friend would have caught him, and my father is like me--he would die
before giving the Password and blowing up all the men and so on in the
Mill. But he brought the manager with him, as he lives out of town and
there is no train after midnight.

My father said:

"Henry!"

So Henry replied:

"Coming, sir" and went out, but again locked the door.

Before he went out he said:

"Now mind, any noise up here and we will finish you and your father
also. DON'T YOU OVERTURN A CHAIR BY MISTAKE, YOUNG LADY."

He then went down, and I could hear my dear Parent's voice which I felt
I would probably never hear again, discussing new tires and Henry's
earache, which was not a real one, as I now knew.

I looked at William, but he had his eyes shut and I saw he was now realy
unconscious. I then however heard a waggon in our alley, and I went to
the window. What was my joy to see that it was Mr. Schmidt's milk waggon
which had stopped under the ark light, with he himself on the seat. He
was getting some milk bottles out, and I suppose he heard the talking
in our Garage, for he stopped and then looked up. Then he dropped a milk
bottle, but he stood still and stared.

With what anguished eyes, dear Log or Journal, did I look down at him,
unable to speak or utter a sound. I then tried to untie the Towle but
could not, owing to feeling weak and sick and the knots being hard.

I at one moment thought of jumping out, but it was to far for our Garage
was once a Stable and is high. But I knew that if the Criminals who
surounded my Father and the manager heard such a sound, they would then
attack my Father and kill him.

I was but a moment thinking all this, as my mind is one to work fast
when in Danger. Mr. Schmidt was still staring, and the horse was moving
on to the next house, as Mr. Schmidt says it knows all his Customers and
could go out alone if necesary.

It was then that I remembered that, although I could not speak, I could
signal him, although having no flags. I therfore signaled, saying:

"Quiet. Spies. Bring police."

It was as well that he did not wait for the last to letters, as I could
not remember C, being excited and worried at the time. But I saw him
get into his waggon and drive away very fast, which no one in the Garage
noticed, as milk waggons were not objects of suspicion.

How strange it was to sit down again as if I had not moved, as per
orders, and hear my Father whistling as he went to the house. I began to
feel very sick at my Stomache, although glad he was safe, and wondered
what they would do without me. Because I had now seen that, although
insisting that I was still a child, I was as dear to them as Leila,
though in a different way.

I had not cried as yet, but at the thought of Henry's friend and the
others coming up to kill me before Mr. Schmidt could get help, I shed a
few tears.

They all came back as soon as my Father had slamed the house door, and
if they had been feirce before they were awfull then, the cook with a
handkerchief to her mouth, and Henry's friend getting out a watch and
giving me five minutes. He had counted three minutes and was holding
his Revolver to just behind my ear, when I heard the milk waggon coming
back, with the horse galloping.

It stopped in the alley, and the cook said, in a dreadfull voice:

"What's that?"

She dashed to the Window, and looked out, and then turned to the other
Spies and said:

"The Police!"

I do not know what happened next, as I fainted again, having been under
a strain for some time.

I must now stop, as mother has brought the Vibrater.


APRIL 29TH. All the people in my father's Mill have gone together and
brought me a riding horse. I have just been to the window of my Chamber
to look at it. I have always wanted a horse, but I cannot see that I
deserve this one, having but done what any member of the G. A. C. should
do.

As I now have a horse, perhaps the Corps should become Cavalry. Memo:
Take this up with Jane.


LATER: Carter Brooks has just gone, and I have a terrable headache owing
to weeping, which always makes my head ache.

He has gone to the War.

I cannot write more.


10 P. M. I can now think better, although still weeping at intervals.
I must write down all that has happened, as I do not feel like telling
Jane, or indeed anybody.

Always before I have had no Secrets from Jane, even in matters of the
Other Sex. But I feel very strange about this and like thinking about it
rather than putting it into speach.

Also I feel very kind toward everybody, and wish that I had been a
better girl in many ways. I have tried to be good, and have never smoked
cigarettes or been decietful except when forced to be by the Familey not
understanding. But I know I am far from being what Carter Brooks thinks
me to be.

I have called Hannah and given her my old watch, with money to for a new
chrystal. Also stood by at Salute while my father brought in the Emblem.
For William can no longer do it, as he was not really a Butler at all
but a Secret Service Inspector, and also being still in the Hospital,
although improving.

He had not told the Familey, as he was afraid they would not then treat
him as a real Butler. As for the code in the pantrey, it was really not
such, but the silver list, beginning with 48 D. K. or dinner knives,
etcetera. When taking my Father's Dispach Case from the safe, it was to
keep the real Spies from getting it. He did it every night, and took the
important papers out until morning, when he put them back.

To-night my father brought in the Emblem and folded it. He then said:

"Well, I admit that Fathers are not real Substatutes for young men in
Unaform, but in times of Grief they may be mighty handy to tie to." He
then put his arms around me and said: "You see, Bab, the real part of
War, for a woman--and you are that now, Bab, in spite of your years--the
real thing she has to do is not the fighting part, although you are
about as good a soldier as any I know. The thing she has to do is to
send some one she cares about, and then sit back and wait."

As he saw that I was agatated, he then kissed me and sugested that we
learn something more than the first verse of the National Hymn, as he
was tired of making his lips move and thus pretending to sing when not
actualy doing so.

I shall now record about Carter Brooks coming today. I was in a chair
with pilows and so on, when Leila came in and kissed me, and then said:

"Bab, are you able to see a caller?"

I said yes, if not the Police, as I had seen a great many and was tired
of telling about Henry and Henry's friend, etcetera.

"Not the Police," she said.

She then went out in the hall and said:

"Come up. It's all right."

I then saw a Soldier in the door, and could not beleive that it was
Carter Brooks, until he saluted and said:

"Captain, I have come to report. Owing to the end of the Easter Holadays
the Girls' Aviation Corps----"

I could no longer be silent. I cried:

"Oh, Carter!"

So he came into the room and turned round, saying:

"Some soldier, eh?"

Leila had gone out, and all at once I knew that my Patriotism was not
what I had thought it, for I could not bear to see him going to War,
especialy as his mother would be lonly without him.

Although I have never considered myself weak, I now felt that I was
going to cry. I therfore said in a low voice to give me a Handkercheif,
and he gave me one of his.

"Why, look here," he said, in an astounded manner, "you aren't crying
about ME, are you?"

I said from behind his Handkercheif that I was not, except being sorry
for his mother and also for him on account of Leila.

"Leila!" he said. "What about Leila?"

"She is lost to you forever," I replied in a choking tone. "She is
betrothed to another."

He became very angry at that, and observed:

"Look here, Bab. One minute I think you are the cleverest Girl in the
World, and the next--you little stuped, do you still insist on thinking
that I am in love with Leila?"

At that time I began to feel very queer, being week and at the same time
excited and getting red, the more so as he pulled the Handkercheif from
my eyes and commanded me: "Bab, look at me. Do I LOOK as though I care
for Leila?"

I, however, could not look at him just then. Because I felt that I could
not endure to see the Unaform.

"Don't you know why I hang around this House?" he said, in a very savige
manner. "Because if you don't everybody else does."

Dear Log or Journal, I could but think of one thing, which was that
I was not yet out, but still what is called a Sub-Deb, and so he was
probably only joking, or perhaps merely playing with me.

I said so, in a low tone, but he only gave a Groan and said:

"I know you are not out and all the rest of it. Don't I lie awake at
night knowing it? And that's the reason I----" Here he stopped and said:
"Damm it" in a feirce voice. "Very well," he went on. "I came to say
Good-bye, and to ask you if you will write to me now and then. Because
I'm going to War half because the Country needs me and the other half
because I'm not going to disapoint a certain young Person who has a way
of expecting people to be better than they are."

He then very suddenly stood up and said:

"I guess I'd better go. And don't you dare to cry, because if you do
there will be Trouble."

But I could not help it, as he was going to War for my Native Land, and
might never come back. I therfore asked for his Handkercheif again, but
he did not listen. He only said:

"You are crying, and I warned you."

He then stooped over and put his hand under my Chin and said:

"Good-bye, sweetheart."

AND KISSED ME.

He went out at once, slaming the door, and passed Leila in the lower
Hall without speaking to her.


APRIL 30TH. I now intend to close this Log or Journal, and write no
more in it. I am not going back to school, but am to get strong and well
again, and to help mother at the Red Cross. I wish to do this, as it
makes me feel usefull and keeps me from worrying.

After all, I could not realy care for any one who would not rise to the
Country's Call.


MAY 3RD. I have just had a letter from Carter. It is mostly about
blisters on his feet and so on, and is not exactly a love letter. But he
ends with this, which I shall quote, and so end this Dairy:


"After all, Bab, perhaps we all needed this. I know I did.

"I want to ask you something. Do you remember the time you wrote me that
you were BLITED and I sugested that we be blited together. How about
changing that a bit, and being PLITED. Because if I am not cheered
by something of the sort, my Patriotism is going to ooze out of the
blisters on my heels."


I have thought about this all day, and I have no right to ruin his
Career. I beleive that the Army should be encouraged as much as
possible. I have therefore sent him a small drawing, copied from the
Manual, like this:

{1" tall figure of a man holding semifore flags--his right arm is to the
right and his left arm is up}

Which means "Afirmative"