第6章

At the same moment from behind it came a patter of feet, and Winthrop turned to see racing toward them some dozen young men of Fairport.They surrounded him with noisy, raucous, belligerent cries.They were, as they proudly informed him, members of the Fairport "Volunteer Fire Department." That they might purchase new uniforms, they had arranged a trap for the automobiles returning in illegal haste from New Haven.In fines they had collected $300, and it was evident that already some of that money had been expended in bad whiskey.As many as could do so crowded into the car, others hung to the running boards and step, others ran beside it.They rejoiced over Winthrop's unsuccessful flight and capture with violent and humiliating laughter.

For the day, Judge Allen had made a temporary court in the clubroom of the fire department, which was over the engine house; and the proceedings were brief and decisive.The selectman told how Winthrop, after first breaking the speed law, had broken arrest and Judge Allen, refusing to fine him and let him go, held him and his companions for a hearing the following morning.He fixed the amount of bail at $500 each;failing to pay this, they would for the night be locked up in different parts of the engine house, which, it developed, contained on the ground floor the home of the fire engine, on the second floor the clubroom, on alternate nights, of the firemen, the local G.A.R., and the Knights of Pythias, and in its cellar the town jail.

Winthrop and the chauffeur the learned judge condemned to the cells in the basement.As a concession, he granted Miss Forbes the freedom of the entire clubroom to herself.

The objections raised by Winthrop to this arrangement were of a nature so violent, so vigorous, at one moment so specious and conciliatory, and the next so abusive, that his listeners were moved by awe, but not to pity.

In his indignation, Judge Allen rose to reply, and as, the better to hear him, the crowd pushed forward, Fred gave way before it, until he was left standing in sullen gloom upon its outer edge.In imitation of the real firemen of the great cities, the vamps of Fairport had cut a circular hole in the floor of their clubroom, and from the engine room below had reared a sliding pole of shining brass.When leaving their clubroom, it was always their pleasure to scorn the stairs and, like real firemen, slide down this pole.It had not escaped the notice of Fred, and since his entrance he had been gravitating toward it.

As the voice of the judge rose in violent objurgation, and all eyes were fixed upon him, the chauffeur crooked his leg tightly about the brass pole, and, like the devil in the pantomime, sank softly and swiftly through the floor.

The irate judge was shaking his finger in Winthrop's face.

"Don't you try to teach me no law," he shouted; "I know what Ican do.Ef MY darter went gallivantin' around nights in one of them automobiles, it would serve her right to get locked up.Maybe this young woman will learn to stay at home nights with her folks.She ain't goin' to take no harm here.The constable sits up all night downstairs in the fire engine room, and that sofa's as good a place to sleep as the hotel.

If you want me to let her go to the hotel, why don't you send to your folks and bail her out?""You know damn well why I don't," returned Winthrop."I don't intend to give the newspapers and you and these other idiots the chance to annoy her further.This young lady's brother has been with us all day; he left us only by accident, and by forcing her to remain here alone you are acting outrageously.

If you knew anything of decency, or law, you'd----""I know this much!" roared the justice triumphantly, pointing his spectacle-case at Miss Forbes."I know her name ain't Lizzie Borden and yours ain't Charley Ross."Winthrop crossed to where Miss Forbes stood in a corner.She still wore her veil, but through it, though her face was pale, she smiled at him.

His own distress was undisguised.

"I can never forgive myself," he said.

"Nonsense!" replied Miss Forbes briskly."You were perfectly right.If we had sent for any one, it would have had to come out.Now, we'll pay the fine in the morning and get home, and no one will know anything of it excepting the family and Mr.

Peabody, and they'll understand.But if I ever lay hands on my brother Sam!"--she clasped her fingers together helplessly.

"To think of his leaving you to spend the night in a cell----"Winthrop interrupted her.

"I will get one of these men to send his wife or sister over to stay with you," he said.

But Miss Forbes protested that she did not want a companion.

The constable would protect her, she said, and she would sit up all night and read.She nodded at the periodicals on the club table.

"This is the only chance I may ever have," she said, "to read the `Police Gazette'!""You ready there?" called the constable.

"Good-night," said Winthrop.

Under the eyes of the grinning yokels, they shook hands.

"Good-night," said the girl.

"Where's your young man?" demanded the chief of police.

"My what?" inquired Winthrop.

"The young fellow that was with you when we held you up that first time."The constable, or the chief of police as he called himself, on the principle that if there were only one policeman he must necessarily be the chief, glanced hastily over the heads of the crowd.

"Any of you holding that shoffer?" he called.

No one was holding the chauffeur.

The chauffeur had vanished.

The cell to which the constable led Winthrop was in a corner of the cellar in which formerly coal had been stored.This corner was now fenced off with boards, and a wooden door with chain and padlock.