May 20, 2023 • 21 mins
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Naguib Mahfouz, Egyptian literature, existentialism, identity, love, relationships, social commentary, cultural norms, social class, personal growth, literary style, literary legacy, literary analysis, literary adaptation, literary criticism, Cairo, modernity, cultural influence, societal expectations, individualism, human nature, psychological analysis, Arab culture, family, urbanization
Naguib Mahfouz, Egyptian literature, existentialism, identity, love, relationships, social commentary, cultural norms, social class, personal growth, literary style, literary legacy, literary analysis, literary adaptation, literary criticism, Cairo, modernity, cultural influence, societal expectations, individualism, human nature, psychological analysis, Arab culture, family, urbanization
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(00:00):
Chapter nine. Ruth tried to controlher perturbation and meet her guest with an
unruffled countenance. But there was somethingabout the bland, smug countenance of Lieutenant
Wainwright that irritated her. To haveher first pleasant visit with Cameron suddenly broken
up in this mysterious fashion, andWainwright substituted for Cameron was somehow like taking
(00:24):
a bite of some pleasant fruit andhaving it turned out plain potato in one's
mouth. It was so sudden likethat she could not seem to get her
equilibrium. Her mind was in awhirl of question, and she could not
focus it on her present caller,nor think of anything suitable to say to
him. She was not even surebut that he was noticing that she was
(00:45):
distraught to have John Cameron leave inthat precipitate manner at the sight of Harry
Wainwright. It was all too evidentthat he had seen him through the window.
But they were fellow townsmen and hadgone to school together. Surely he
knew him. Of course, Harrywas a superior officer. But Cameron would
not be the kind of man tomind that she could not understand it.
(01:08):
There had been a look in hisface, a set look. There must
be something behind it all, somereason why he did not want to be
seen by Wainwright. Surely Cameron hadnothing of which to be ashamed. The
thought brought a sudden dismay. Whatdid she know about Cameron? After all?
A look, a smile, abit of boyish gallantry. He might
(01:30):
be anything but fine in his privatelife, of course, and Harry might
be cognizant of the fact. Yethe did not look like that. Even
while the thought forced itself into hermind, she resented it and resisted it.
Then, turning to her guest,who was giving an elaborate account of
how he had saved a woman's lifein an automobile accident, she interrupted him.
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Harry, what do you know aboutJohn Cameron, she asked impulsively.
Wainwright's face darkened with an ugly frown. More than I want to know,
he answered, gruffly. He's rotten, that's all why he eyed her suspiciously.
There was something in his tone thatput her on the defensive at once.
(02:13):
Oh, I saw him today,and I was wondering, she answered,
evasively. It's one of those annoyancesof army life that we have to
be herded up with all sorts ofcattle, said Wainwright, with a disdainful
curl of his baby mustache. ButI didn't come here to talk about John
Cameron. I came to tell youthat I'm going to be married, Ruth.
(02:34):
I'm going to be married before Igo to France. Delightful, said
Ruth, pleasantly. Do I knowthe lady? Indeed you do, he
said, watching her with satisfaction.You've known for several years that you were
the only one for me, andI've come to tell you that I won't
stand any more dallying. I meanbusiness now. He crossed his fat leather
(02:55):
puttise creakily and swelled out, tryingto look He had decided that he must
impress her with the seriousness of theoccasion, but Ruth only laughed merrily.
He had been proposing to her eversince he got out of short trousers,
and she had always laughed him outof it. The first time she told
him that she was only a kid, and he wasn't much more himself,
(03:19):
and she didn't want to hear anymore such talk. Of late, he
had grown less troublesome, and shehad been inclined to settle down to the
old neighborly playmate relation, so shewas not greatly disturbed by the turn of
the conversation. In fact, shewas much too upset and annoyed by the
sudden departure of Cameron to realize thedetermined note in Wainwright's voice. I mean
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it, he said, in anoffended tone, flattening his double chin and
rolling out his fat lips importantly,I'm not to be played with any longer.
Ruth's face sobered. I certainly neverhad an idea of playing with you,
Harry. I think I've always beenquite frank with you. Wainwright felt
that he wasn't getting on quite aswell as he had planned. He frowned
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and sat up. Now, seehere, Ruth, let's talk this thing
over, he said, drawing thebig leather chair in which he was sitting
nearer to hers. But Ruth's glancehad wandered out of the window. Why
there comes Bobby Weatherull, she exclaimedeagerly, and slipped out of her chair
to the door, just as oneof Wainwright's smooth, fat hands reached out
(04:26):
to take hold of the arm ofher rocker. I'll open the door for
him. Mary is in the kitchenand may not hear the bell right away.
There was nothing for Wainwright to dobut make the best of the situation,
although he greeted Weatherull with no verygood grace, and his large lips
pounded out sulkily as he relaxed intohis chair again to await the departure of
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the intruder. Lieutenant Weatherall was quiteoverwhelmed with the warmth of the greeting he
received from Ruth, and settled downto enjoy it while it lasted. With
a wicked glance of triumph at hisrival. He laid himself out to make
his account of camp life as entertainingas possible. He produced a gorgeous box
of bonbons and arranged himself comfortably forthe afternoon. While Wainwright's brow grew darker
(05:12):
and his lips pounded out farther andfarther under his petted little mustache. It
was all a great bore to Ruthjust now, with her mindful of the
annoyance about Cameron. At least shewould have preferred to have had her talk
with him and found out what hewas with her own judgment, But anything
was better than a tete a tetewith Wainwright just now. So she ate
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bonbons and asked questions and kept theconversation going, ignoring Wainwright's increasing grouch.
It was a great relief, however, when about half past four, the
maid appeared at the door a longdistance telephone call for you, miss Ruth.
As Ruth was going up the stairsto her own private bone, she
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paused to fasten the tie of herlow shoe that had come undone and was
threatening to trip her, and sheheard Harry Wainwright Wright's voice in an angry
snarl. What business did you havecoming here today, you darned chump.
You knew what I came for,and you did it on purpose. If
you don't get out the minute shegets back, I'll put her wise to
you and the kind of girls yougo with in no time. And you
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needn't think you can turn the tableson me either, for I'll fix you
so you won't dare open your foolmouth. The sentence finished with an oath,
and Ruth hurried into her room andshut the door, with a sick
kind of feeling that her whole littleworld was turning black about her. It
was good to hear the voice ofher cousin, Captain LaRue over the phone,
even though it was but a messagethat he could not come as he
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had promised that evening, It reassuredher that there were good men in the
world. Of course, he wasolder, but she was sure he had
never been what people called wild,although he had plenty of courage and spirit.
She had often heard that good menwere few, but it had never
seemed to apply to her world.But vaguely, now here of a sudden
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a slur had been thrown at threeof her young world. John Cameron,
it is true, was a comparativestranger, and of course she had no
means of judging except by the lookin his eyes. She understood in a
general way that Broughton, as appliedto a young man's character, implied uncleanness.
John Cameron's eyes were steady and clear. They did not look that way.
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But then how could she tell?And here, this very minute she
had been hearing that Bobby Weatherall's lifewas not all that it should be,
and Wainwright had tacitly accepted the possibilityof the same weakness in himself. These
were boys with whom she had beenbrought up selfish and conceded. She had
often thought them on occasion, butit had not occurred to her that there
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might be anything worse. She pressedher hands to her eyes and tried to
force a calm, steadiness into hersoul. Somehow she had an utter distaste
for going back into that library andhearing their boastful chatter. Yet she must
go. She had been hoping allthe afternoon for her cousin's arrival to send
the other two away. Now thatwas out of the question, and she
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must use her own tact to getpleasantly rid of them. With a sigh,
she opened her door and started downstairsagain. It was Wainwright's blatant voice
again that broke through the sabbath afternoon'sstillness of the house as she approached the
library door. Yes, I've gotJohn Cameron all right now, he laughed.
He won't hold his head so highafter he's spent a few days in
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the guard house. And that's whatthey're all going to get that are late
coming back this time. I foundout before I left camp that his pass
only reads till eleven o'clock, andthe five o'clock train is the last one.
He can leave Chester on to gethim to Camp by eleven. So
I hired a fellow that was comingup to buddy up to Camp and fix
it that he is to get afriend of his to take them over to
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Chester in time for the train.The fellow doesn't have to get back himself
tonight at all, but he isn'tgoing to let on, you know,
so Camp will think they're in thesame boat. Then they're going to have
a little bit of tire trouble downin that lonely bit of rough road that's
shortcut between here and Chester where therearen't any car's passing to help them out,
and they'll miss the train at Chesterce and then the man will offer
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to take them on to Camp inhis car, and they'll get stuck again
down beyond Wilmington, lose the roadand switch off towards Singleton, you know
where we took those girls to thatlittle out of the way tavern that time.
And you see Cam getting back toCamp in time, don't you.
Ruth had paused with her hand onthe heavy portiere, wide eyed. But
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Cameron'll find a way out. He'stoo sharp. He'll start to walk,
or he'll get some passing car totake him, said, weatherell with conviction.
No he won't. The fellows areall primed. They're going to catch
him in spots where cars don't go, where the road is bad, you
know, and nobody but a foolwould go with a car. He won't
be noticing before they break down,because this fellow told him his man could
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drive a car over the moon andever break down. Besides, I know
my men, they'll get away withthe job. There's too much money in
it for them to run any riskof losing out. It's all going to
happen so quick. He won't beready for anything. Well, you'll have
your trouble for your pains. Cam'llexplain everything to the officers and he'll get
by. He always does not thistime. They've just made a rule that
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no excuses go. There've been alot of fellows coming back late drunk,
and you see, that's how wemean to wind up. They are going
to get him drunk, and thenwe'll see if little Johnny we'll go around
with his nose in the air anylonger. I'm going to run down to
the tavern late this evening to seethe fun myself. You can't do it.
Cam won't drink. It's been triedagain and again. He'd rather die.
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But the girl at the door hadfled to her room on velvet shod
feet and closed her door, herface white with horror, her lips set
with purpose, her heart beating wildly. She must but a stop somehow to
this diabolical plot against him, Whetherhe was worthy or not, they should
not do this thing to him.She rang for the maid and began putting
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on her hat and coat and flinginga few things into a small bag.
She glanced at her watch. Itwas a quarter to five. Could she
make it? If she only knewwhich way he had gone. Would his
mother have a telephone? Her eyesscanned the sea column hurriedly. Yes,
there it was. She might haveknown. He would not allow her to
be alone without a telephone. Themaid appeared at the door. Mary,
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she said, trying to speak calmly. Tell Thomas to have the gray car
ready at once he needed bring itto the house. I will come out
the back way. Please take thisbag and two long coats out, and
when I am gone, go tothe library and ask the two gentlemen there
to excuse me, Say that Iam suddenly called away to a friend in
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trouble. If Aunt Rhoda returned soon, tell her I will call her up
later and let her know my plans. That is all. I will be
down in two or three minutes,and I wished to start without delay.
Mary departed on her errand, andRuth went to the telephone and called up
the Cameron number. The sadness ofthe answering voice struck her even in her
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haste. Her own tone was eager, intimate as she hastened to convey her
message. Missus Cameron, this isRuth mac donald. Has your son left
yet? I was wondering if hewould care to be taken to the train
in our car. Oh, hehas just gone. Came a pitiful little
gasp that had a sob at theend of it. He went in somebody's
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car and they were late coming.I'm afraid he is going to miss his
train, and he has got toget it or he will be in trouble.
That is the last train that connectswith Wilmington. Ruth's heart leaped to
her opportunity. Suppose we try tocatch him, then, proposed Ruth.
Gleefully, my car can go prettyfast, and if he has missed the
train. Perhaps we can carry himon to Wilmington. Would you like to
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try? Oh? Could we?The voice throbbed with eagerness. My car
is all ready, I'll be downthere in three minutes. We've no time
to waste. Put on something warm. She hung up the receiver without waiting
for further reply, and hurried softlyout of the room and backed down the
stairs. Thomas was well trained,The cars were all ready in order.
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He was used to Ruth's hurry calls, and when she reached the garage she
found the car standing in the backstreet waiting for her. In a moment
more, she was rushing on herway toward the village, without having aroused
the suspicion of the two men whoso impatiently awaited her return. Missus Cameron
was ready, eager as a child, standing on the sidewalk with a great
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blanket shawl over her arm and lookingup the street for her. It was
not until they had swept through thevillage, over the bridge, and were
out on the broad Highway toward Chesterthat Ruth began to realize what a wild
goose chase she had undertaken. Justwhere did you she expect? To find
them anyway. It was now threeminutes to fight, by the little clock
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in the car, and it wasa full fifteen minutes drive to Chester.
The plan had been to delay himon the way to the train, and
there had been mention of a shortcut. Could that be the rough,
stony road that turned down sharply justbeyond the stone Quarry. It seemed hardly
possible that anybody would attempt to runa car over that road. Surely John
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Cameron knew the roads about here wellenough to advise against it. Still,
Ruth knew the locality like a book, and that was the only shortcut thereabout.
If they had gone down there,they might emerge at the other end
just in time to miss the trainand then start on toward Wilmington. Or
they might turn back and take thelonger way if they found the short road
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utterly impassable. Which should she take? Should she dare that rocky way?
If only there might be some tracksto guide her? But the road was
hard and dusty and told no talesof recent travelers. They gimmed down the
gride past the stone quarry, andthe short cut flashed into view, rough
and hilly, turning sharply away behinda group of spruce trees. It was
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thick woods beyond. If she wentthat way and got into any trouble with
her machine, the chances were fewthat anyone would come along to help.
She had but a moment to decide, and something told her that the long
way was the safe one, andthe shorter. In the end, she
swept on, her engine throbbing withthat pleasant purr of expensive, well groomed
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machinery, the car leaping forward asif it delighted in the high speed.
The little woman by her side satbreathless and eager, with shining eyes looking
ahead for her boy. They passedcar after car, and Ruth scanned the
occupants keenly. Some were filled withsoldiers, but John Cameron was not among
them. She began to be afraidthat perhaps she ought, after all,
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to have gone down that hilly wayand made sure they were not there.
She was not quite sure where thatshort road came out. If she knew,
she might run up a little wayfrom this further end. The two
women sat almost silent, straining theireyes ahead. They had hardly said a
word since the first greeting. Eachseemed to understand the thought of the other
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without words. For the present,they had but one common object, to
find John Cameron. Suddenly, asfar ahead as they could see, a
car darted out of the wooded roadside, swung into their road, and plunged
ahead at a tremendous rate. Theyhad a glimpse of khaki uniforms, but
it was much too far away todistinguish faces or forms. Nevertheless, both
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women fastened their eyes upon it withbut one thought. Ruth put on more
speed and forged ahead, thankful thatshe was not within city lines yet and
that there was no one about toremind her of the speed limit. Something
told her that the man she wasseeking was in that car ahead. It
was a thrilling race. Ruth saidno word, but she knew that her
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companion was aware that she was chasingthat car. Missus Cameron sat straight and
tense, as if it had beena race of life and death, her
cheeks glowing and her eyes shining.Ruth was grateful that she did not talk.
Some women would have talked incessantly.The other car did not go into
Chester proper at all, but feeredaway into a branch road, and Ruth
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followed, leaping over the road,as if it had been a gray velvet
ribbon. She did not seem tobe gaining on the car, but it
was encouraging that they could keep itstill in sight. Then there came a
sharp turn of the road and itwas gone. They were pushing along now
at a tremendous rate. The girlhad cast caution to the winds. She
had heard the complaisant sneer of HarryWainwright as he boasted how they would get
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John Cameron into trouble, and allthe force of her strong, young will
was enlisted to frustrate his plans.It was growing dusk, and light slept
out on the mountain factories all aboutthem. Along the river, other lights
flashed and flickered in the white mistthat rose like a wreath. But Ruth
saw nothing of it all. Shewas straining her eyes for the little black
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speck of a car which she hadbeen following, and which now seemed to
be swallowed up. By the evening, she had not relaxed her speed,
and the miles were whirling by.She had a growing consciousness that she might
be passing the object of her chaseat any minute without knowing it. Presently,
they came to a junction of threeroads, and she paused on ahead.
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The road was broad and empty,save for a car coming towards them.
Off to the right was a desolateway leading to a little cemetery.
Down to the left, a smoothwooded road wound into the darkness. There
were signboards up. Ruth leaned outand flashed a pocket torch on the board
to pine Tree in seven miles Itread Did she fancy it? Or was
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it really true? That she couldhear the distant sound of a car among
the pines. I'm going down thisway, she said decidedly to her companion,
as if her action needed an explanation, and she turned her car into
the new road. But it's toolate now, said missus Cameron wistfully.
The train will be gone, ofcourse, even from Wilmington, and you
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ought to be going home. I'mvery wrong to have let you come so
far, and it's getting dark.Your folks will be worrying about Hugh.
That man will likely do his bestto get him to camp in time.
No, said Ruth decidedly. There'sno one at home to worry just now,
and I often go out alone ratherlate. Besides, aren't we having
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a good time. We're going alittle further anyway before we give up.
She began to wonder in her heartif she ought not to have told somebody
else and taken Thomas along to help. It was rather a questionable thing for
her to do in the dusk ofthe evening, two women all alone,
But then she had missus Cameron along, and that made it perfectly respectable.
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But if she failed, now,what else could she do? Her blood
boiled hotly at the thought of lettingHarry Wainwright succeed in his miserable plot.
Oh, for cousin LaRue, hewould have thought of a way out of
this. If everything else failed,she would tell the whole story to Captain
LaRue and beg him to exonerate JohnCameron. But that, of course,
she knew, would be hard todo. There was so much red tape
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in the army, and there wereso many unwritten laws that could not be
set aside just for private individuals.Still, there must be a way,
if she had to go herself tosomeone and tell them what she had overheard.
She set her pretty lips firmly androde on at a brisk pace down
the dark road, switching on herheadlights to see the way here in the
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woods. And then suddenly, justin time, she jerked on the brake
and came to a jarring stop,for ahead of her a big car was
sprawled across the road. And there, rising hurriedly from a kneeling posture before
the engine, in the full blazeof her headlights, blinking and frowning with
anxiety, stood John Cameron, endof Chapter nine,
Chapter nine. Ruth tried to controlher perturbation and meet her guest with an
unruffled countenance. But there was somethingabout the bland, smug countenance of Lieutenant
Wainwright that irritated her. To haveher first pleasant visit with Cameron suddenly broken
up in this mysterious fashion, andWainwright substituted for Cameron was somehow like taking
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a bite of some pleasant fruit andhaving it turned out plain potato in one's
mouth. It was so sudden likethat she could not seem to get her
equilibrium. Her mind was in awhirl of question, and she could not
focus it on her present caller,nor think of anything suitable to say to
him. She was not even surebut that he was noticing that she was
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distraught to have John Cameron leave inthat precipitate manner at the sight of Harry
Wainwright. It was all too evidentthat he had seen him through the window.
But they were fellow townsmen and hadgone to school together. Surely he
knew him. Of course, Harrywas a superior officer. But Cameron would
not be the kind of man tomind that she could not understand it.
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There had been a look in hisface, a set look. There must
be something behind it all, somereason why he did not want to be
seen by Wainwright. Surely Cameron hadnothing of which to be ashamed. The
thought brought a sudden dismay. Whatdid she know about Cameron? After all?
A look, a smile, abit of boyish gallantry. He might
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be anything but fine in his privatelife, of course, and Harry might
be cognizant of the fact. Yethe did not look like that. Even
while the thought forced itself into hermind, she resented it and resisted it.
Then, turning to her guest,who was giving an elaborate account of
how he had saved a woman's lifein an automobile accident, she interrupted him.
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Harry, what do you know aboutJohn Cameron, she asked impulsively.
Wainwright's face darkened with an ugly frown. More than I want to know,
he answered, gruffly. He's rotten, that's all why he eyed her suspiciously.
There was something in his tone thatput her on the defensive at once.
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Oh, I saw him today,and I was wondering, she answered,
evasively. It's one of those annoyancesof army life that we have to
be herded up with all sorts ofcattle, said Wainwright, with a disdainful
curl of his baby mustache. ButI didn't come here to talk about John
Cameron. I came to tell youthat I'm going to be married, Ruth.
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I'm going to be married before Igo to France. Delightful, said
Ruth, pleasantly. Do I knowthe lady? Indeed you do, he
said, watching her with satisfaction.You've known for several years that you were
the only one for me, andI've come to tell you that I won't
stand any more dallying. I meanbusiness now. He crossed his fat leather
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puttise creakily and swelled out, tryingto look He had decided that he must
impress her with the seriousness of theoccasion, but Ruth only laughed merrily.
He had been proposing to her eversince he got out of short trousers,
and she had always laughed him outof it. The first time she told
him that she was only a kid, and he wasn't much more himself,
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and she didn't want to hear anymore such talk. Of late, he
had grown less troublesome, and shehad been inclined to settle down to the
old neighborly playmate relation, so shewas not greatly disturbed by the turn of
the conversation. In fact, shewas much too upset and annoyed by the
sudden departure of Cameron to realize thedetermined note in Wainwright's voice. I mean
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it, he said, in anoffended tone, flattening his double chin and
rolling out his fat lips importantly,I'm not to be played with any longer.
Ruth's face sobered. I certainly neverhad an idea of playing with you,
Harry. I think I've always beenquite frank with you. Wainwright felt
that he wasn't getting on quite aswell as he had planned. He frowned
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and sat up. Now, seehere, Ruth, let's talk this thing
over, he said, drawing thebig leather chair in which he was sitting
nearer to hers. But Ruth's glancehad wandered out of the window. Why
there comes Bobby Weatherull, she exclaimedeagerly, and slipped out of her chair
to the door, just as oneof Wainwright's smooth, fat hands reached out
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to take hold of the arm ofher rocker. I'll open the door for
him. Mary is in the kitchenand may not hear the bell right away.
There was nothing for Wainwright to dobut make the best of the situation,
although he greeted Weatherull with no verygood grace, and his large lips
pounded out sulkily as he relaxed intohis chair again to await the departure of
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the intruder. Lieutenant Weatherall was quiteoverwhelmed with the warmth of the greeting he
received from Ruth, and settled downto enjoy it while it lasted. With
a wicked glance of triumph at hisrival. He laid himself out to make
his account of camp life as entertainingas possible. He produced a gorgeous box
of bonbons and arranged himself comfortably forthe afternoon. While Wainwright's brow grew darker
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and his lips pounded out farther andfarther under his petted little mustache. It
was all a great bore to Ruthjust now, with her mindful of the
annoyance about Cameron. At least shewould have preferred to have had her talk
with him and found out what hewas with her own judgment, But anything
was better than a tete a tetewith Wainwright just now. So she ate
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bonbons and asked questions and kept theconversation going, ignoring Wainwright's increasing grouch.
It was a great relief, however, when about half past four, the
maid appeared at the door a longdistance telephone call for you, miss Ruth.
As Ruth was going up the stairsto her own private bone, she
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paused to fasten the tie of herlow shoe that had come undone and was
threatening to trip her, and sheheard Harry Wainwright Wright's voice in an angry
snarl. What business did you havecoming here today, you darned chump.
You knew what I came for,and you did it on purpose. If
you don't get out the minute shegets back, I'll put her wise to
you and the kind of girls yougo with in no time. And you
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needn't think you can turn the tableson me either, for I'll fix you
so you won't dare open your foolmouth. The sentence finished with an oath,
and Ruth hurried into her room andshut the door, with a sick
kind of feeling that her whole littleworld was turning black about her. It
was good to hear the voice ofher cousin, Captain LaRue over the phone,
even though it was but a messagethat he could not come as he
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had promised that evening, It reassuredher that there were good men in the
world. Of course, he wasolder, but she was sure he had
never been what people called wild,although he had plenty of courage and spirit.
She had often heard that good menwere few, but it had never
seemed to apply to her world.But vaguely, now here of a sudden
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a slur had been thrown at threeof her young world. John Cameron,
it is true, was a comparativestranger, and of course she had no
means of judging except by the lookin his eyes. She understood in a
general way that Broughton, as appliedto a young man's character, implied uncleanness.
John Cameron's eyes were steady and clear. They did not look that way.
(07:20):
But then how could she tell?And here, this very minute she
had been hearing that Bobby Weatherall's lifewas not all that it should be,
and Wainwright had tacitly accepted the possibilityof the same weakness in himself. These
were boys with whom she had beenbrought up selfish and conceded. She had
often thought them on occasion, butit had not occurred to her that there
(07:44):
might be anything worse. She pressedher hands to her eyes and tried to
force a calm, steadiness into hersoul. Somehow she had an utter distaste
for going back into that library andhearing their boastful chatter. Yet she must
go. She had been hoping allthe afternoon for her cousin's arrival to send
the other two away. Now thatwas out of the question, and she
(08:07):
must use her own tact to getpleasantly rid of them. With a sigh,
she opened her door and started downstairsagain. It was Wainwright's blatant voice
again that broke through the sabbath afternoon'sstillness of the house as she approached the
library door. Yes, I've gotJohn Cameron all right now, he laughed.
He won't hold his head so highafter he's spent a few days in
(08:30):
the guard house. And that's whatthey're all going to get that are late
coming back this time. I foundout before I left camp that his pass
only reads till eleven o'clock, andthe five o'clock train is the last one.
He can leave Chester on to gethim to Camp by eleven. So
I hired a fellow that was comingup to buddy up to Camp and fix
it that he is to get afriend of his to take them over to
(08:52):
Chester in time for the train.The fellow doesn't have to get back himself
tonight at all, but he isn'tgoing to let on, you know,
so Camp will think they're in thesame boat. Then they're going to have
a little bit of tire trouble downin that lonely bit of rough road that's
shortcut between here and Chester where therearen't any car's passing to help them out,
and they'll miss the train at Chesterce and then the man will offer
(09:15):
to take them on to Camp inhis car, and they'll get stuck again
down beyond Wilmington, lose the roadand switch off towards Singleton, you know
where we took those girls to thatlittle out of the way tavern that time.
And you see Cam getting back toCamp in time, don't you.
Ruth had paused with her hand onthe heavy portiere, wide eyed. But
(09:35):
Cameron'll find a way out. He'stoo sharp. He'll start to walk,
or he'll get some passing car totake him, said, weatherell with conviction.
No he won't. The fellows areall primed. They're going to catch
him in spots where cars don't go, where the road is bad, you
know, and nobody but a foolwould go with a car. He won't
be noticing before they break down,because this fellow told him his man could
(09:58):
drive a car over the moon andever break down. Besides, I know
my men, they'll get away withthe job. There's too much money in
it for them to run any riskof losing out. It's all going to
happen so quick. He won't beready for anything. Well, you'll have
your trouble for your pains. Cam'llexplain everything to the officers and he'll get
by. He always does not thistime. They've just made a rule that
(10:22):
no excuses go. There've been alot of fellows coming back late drunk,
and you see, that's how wemean to wind up. They are going
to get him drunk, and thenwe'll see if little Johnny we'll go around
with his nose in the air anylonger. I'm going to run down to
the tavern late this evening to seethe fun myself. You can't do it.
Cam won't drink. It's been triedagain and again. He'd rather die.
(10:45):
But the girl at the door hadfled to her room on velvet shod
feet and closed her door, herface white with horror, her lips set
with purpose, her heart beating wildly. She must but a stop somehow to
this diabolical plot against him, Whetherhe was worthy or not, they should
not do this thing to him.She rang for the maid and began putting
(11:07):
on her hat and coat and flinginga few things into a small bag.
She glanced at her watch. Itwas a quarter to five. Could she
make it? If she only knewwhich way he had gone. Would his
mother have a telephone? Her eyesscanned the sea column hurriedly. Yes,
there it was. She might haveknown. He would not allow her to
be alone without a telephone. Themaid appeared at the door. Mary,
(11:31):
she said, trying to speak calmly. Tell Thomas to have the gray car
ready at once he needed bring itto the house. I will come out
the back way. Please take thisbag and two long coats out, and
when I am gone, go tothe library and ask the two gentlemen there
to excuse me, Say that Iam suddenly called away to a friend in
(11:52):
trouble. If Aunt Rhoda returned soon, tell her I will call her up
later and let her know my plans. That is all. I will be
down in two or three minutes,and I wished to start without delay.
Mary departed on her errand, andRuth went to the telephone and called up
the Cameron number. The sadness ofthe answering voice struck her even in her
(12:13):
haste. Her own tone was eager, intimate as she hastened to convey her
message. Missus Cameron, this isRuth mac donald. Has your son left
yet? I was wondering if hewould care to be taken to the train
in our car. Oh, hehas just gone. Came a pitiful little
gasp that had a sob at theend of it. He went in somebody's
(12:35):
car and they were late coming.I'm afraid he is going to miss his
train, and he has got toget it or he will be in trouble.
That is the last train that connectswith Wilmington. Ruth's heart leaped to
her opportunity. Suppose we try tocatch him, then, proposed Ruth.
Gleefully, my car can go prettyfast, and if he has missed the
train. Perhaps we can carry himon to Wilmington. Would you like to
(12:58):
try? Oh? Could we?The voice throbbed with eagerness. My car
is all ready, I'll be downthere in three minutes. We've no time
to waste. Put on something warm. She hung up the receiver without waiting
for further reply, and hurried softlyout of the room and backed down the
stairs. Thomas was well trained,The cars were all ready in order.
(13:22):
He was used to Ruth's hurry calls, and when she reached the garage she
found the car standing in the backstreet waiting for her. In a moment
more, she was rushing on herway toward the village, without having aroused
the suspicion of the two men whoso impatiently awaited her return. Missus Cameron
was ready, eager as a child, standing on the sidewalk with a great
(13:43):
blanket shawl over her arm and lookingup the street for her. It was
not until they had swept through thevillage, over the bridge, and were
out on the broad Highway toward Chesterthat Ruth began to realize what a wild
goose chase she had undertaken. Justwhere did you she expect? To find
them anyway. It was now threeminutes to fight, by the little clock
(14:03):
in the car, and it wasa full fifteen minutes drive to Chester.
The plan had been to delay himon the way to the train, and
there had been mention of a shortcut. Could that be the rough,
stony road that turned down sharply justbeyond the stone Quarry. It seemed hardly
possible that anybody would attempt to runa car over that road. Surely John
(14:24):
Cameron knew the roads about here wellenough to advise against it. Still,
Ruth knew the locality like a book, and that was the only shortcut thereabout.
If they had gone down there,they might emerge at the other end
just in time to miss the trainand then start on toward Wilmington. Or
they might turn back and take thelonger way if they found the short road
(14:46):
utterly impassable. Which should she take? Should she dare that rocky way?
If only there might be some tracksto guide her? But the road was
hard and dusty and told no talesof recent travelers. They gimmed down the
gride past the stone quarry, andthe short cut flashed into view, rough
and hilly, turning sharply away behinda group of spruce trees. It was
(15:09):
thick woods beyond. If she wentthat way and got into any trouble with
her machine, the chances were fewthat anyone would come along to help.
She had but a moment to decide, and something told her that the long
way was the safe one, andthe shorter. In the end, she
swept on, her engine throbbing withthat pleasant purr of expensive, well groomed
(15:30):
machinery, the car leaping forward asif it delighted in the high speed.
The little woman by her side satbreathless and eager, with shining eyes looking
ahead for her boy. They passedcar after car, and Ruth scanned the
occupants keenly. Some were filled withsoldiers, but John Cameron was not among
them. She began to be afraidthat perhaps she ought, after all,
(15:54):
to have gone down that hilly wayand made sure they were not there.
She was not quite sure where thatshort road came out. If she knew,
she might run up a little wayfrom this further end. The two
women sat almost silent, straining theireyes ahead. They had hardly said a
word since the first greeting. Eachseemed to understand the thought of the other
(16:15):
without words. For the present,they had but one common object, to
find John Cameron. Suddenly, asfar ahead as they could see, a
car darted out of the wooded roadside, swung into their road, and plunged
ahead at a tremendous rate. Theyhad a glimpse of khaki uniforms, but
it was much too far away todistinguish faces or forms. Nevertheless, both
(16:37):
women fastened their eyes upon it withbut one thought. Ruth put on more
speed and forged ahead, thankful thatshe was not within city lines yet and
that there was no one about toremind her of the speed limit. Something
told her that the man she wasseeking was in that car ahead. It
was a thrilling race. Ruth saidno word, but she knew that her
(17:00):
companion was aware that she was chasingthat car. Missus Cameron sat straight and
tense, as if it had beena race of life and death, her
cheeks glowing and her eyes shining.Ruth was grateful that she did not talk.
Some women would have talked incessantly.The other car did not go into
Chester proper at all, but feeredaway into a branch road, and Ruth
(17:22):
followed, leaping over the road,as if it had been a gray velvet
ribbon. She did not seem tobe gaining on the car, but it
was encouraging that they could keep itstill in sight. Then there came a
sharp turn of the road and itwas gone. They were pushing along now
at a tremendous rate. The girlhad cast caution to the winds. She
had heard the complaisant sneer of HarryWainwright as he boasted how they would get
(17:47):
John Cameron into trouble, and allthe force of her strong, young will
was enlisted to frustrate his plans.It was growing dusk, and light slept
out on the mountain factories all aboutthem. Along the river, other lights
flashed and flickered in the white mistthat rose like a wreath. But Ruth
saw nothing of it all. Shewas straining her eyes for the little black
(18:08):
speck of a car which she hadbeen following, and which now seemed to
be swallowed up. By the evening, she had not relaxed her speed,
and the miles were whirling by.She had a growing consciousness that she might
be passing the object of her chaseat any minute without knowing it. Presently,
they came to a junction of threeroads, and she paused on ahead.
(18:32):
The road was broad and empty,save for a car coming towards them.
Off to the right was a desolateway leading to a little cemetery.
Down to the left, a smoothwooded road wound into the darkness. There
were signboards up. Ruth leaned outand flashed a pocket torch on the board
to pine Tree in seven miles Itread Did she fancy it? Or was
(18:55):
it really true? That she couldhear the distant sound of a car among
the pines. I'm going down thisway, she said decidedly to her companion,
as if her action needed an explanation, and she turned her car into
the new road. But it's toolate now, said missus Cameron wistfully.
The train will be gone, ofcourse, even from Wilmington, and you
(19:15):
ought to be going home. I'mvery wrong to have let you come so
far, and it's getting dark.Your folks will be worrying about Hugh.
That man will likely do his bestto get him to camp in time.
No, said Ruth decidedly. There'sno one at home to worry just now,
and I often go out alone ratherlate. Besides, aren't we having
(19:36):
a good time. We're going alittle further anyway before we give up.
She began to wonder in her heartif she ought not to have told somebody
else and taken Thomas along to help. It was rather a questionable thing for
her to do in the dusk ofthe evening, two women all alone,
But then she had missus Cameron along, and that made it perfectly respectable.
(19:59):
But if she failed, now,what else could she do? Her blood
boiled hotly at the thought of lettingHarry Wainwright succeed in his miserable plot.
Oh, for cousin LaRue, hewould have thought of a way out of
this. If everything else failed,she would tell the whole story to Captain
LaRue and beg him to exonerate JohnCameron. But that, of course,
she knew, would be hard todo. There was so much red tape
(20:22):
in the army, and there wereso many unwritten laws that could not be
set aside just for private individuals.Still, there must be a way,
if she had to go herself tosomeone and tell them what she had overheard.
She set her pretty lips firmly androde on at a brisk pace down
the dark road, switching on herheadlights to see the way here in the
(20:44):
woods. And then suddenly, justin time, she jerked on the brake
and came to a jarring stop,for ahead of her a big car was
sprawled across the road. And there, rising hurriedly from a kneeling posture before
the engine, in the full blazeof her headlights, blinking and frowning with
anxiety, stood John Cameron, endof Chapter nine,
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