billy and the big stick-第3节

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station；　and　to　the　Secretary　of　State　of　the　United　States
addressed　this　message：　〃President　refuses　my　pay；　threatens　shoot；
wireless　nearest　war…ship　proceed　here　full　speed。　William　Barlow。〃

Billy　and　the　director　of　telegraphs；　who　out　of　office　hours　was
a　field…marshal；　and　when　not　in　his　shirt…sleeves　always　appeared
in　uniform；　went　over　each　word　of　the　cablegram　together。　When
Billy　was　assured　that　the　field…marshal　had　grasped　the　full
significance　of　it　he　took　it　back　and　added；　〃Love　to　Aunt　Maria。〃
The　extra　words　cost　four　dollars　and　eighty　cents　gold；　but；　as
they　suggested　ties　of　blood　between　himself　and　the　Secretary　of
State；　they　seemed　advisable。　In　the　account…book　in　which　he
recorded　his　daily　expenditures　Billy　credited　the　item　to
〃life…insurance。〃

The　revised　cablegram　caused　the　field…marshal　deep　concern。　He
frowned　at　Billy　ferociously。

〃I　will　forward　this　at　once；〃　he　promised。　〃But；　I　warn　you；〃　he
added；　〃I　deliver　also　a　copy　to　MY　president！〃

Billy　sighed　hopefully。

〃You　might　deliver　the　copy　first；〃　he　suggested。

From　the　cable　station　Billy；　still　accompanied　by　his　faithful
retainers；　returned　to　the　power…house。　There　he　bade　farewell　to
the　black　brothers　who　had　been　his　assistants；　and　upon　one　of
them　pressed　a　sum　of　money。

As　they　parted；　this　one；　as　though　giving　the　pass…word　of　a
secret　society；　chanted　solemnly：

〃A　BUIT　BEURES　JUSTE！〃　And　Billy　clasped　his　hand　and　nodded。

At　the　office　of　the　Royal　Dutch　West　India　Line　Billy　purchased　a
ticket　to　New　York　and　inquired　were　there　many　passengers。　〃The
ship　is　empty；〃　said　the　agent。

〃I　am　glad；〃　said　Billy；　〃for　one　of　my　assistants　may　come　with
me。　He　also　is　being　deported。〃

〃You　can　have　as　many　cabins　as　you　want；〃　said　the　agent。　〃We　are
so　sorry　to　see　you　go　that　we　will　try　to　make　you　feel　you　leave
us　on　your　private　yacht。〃

The　next　two　hours　Billy　spent　in　seeking　out　those　acquaintances
from　whom　he　could　borrow　money。　He　found　that　by　asking　for　it　in
homoeopathic　doses　he　was　able　to　shame　the　foreign　colony　into
loaning　him　all　of　one　hundred　dollars。　This；　with　what　he　had　in
hand；　would　take　Claire　and　himself　to　New　York　and　for　a　week　keep
them　alive。　After　that　he　must　find　work　or　they　must　starve。　The
one　whose　features　seemed　familiar　replied：

〃Still；　we　are　leaving　to…night；〃　he　said；　〃not　on　a　steamer；　but
on　a　war…ship。〃

〃A　war…ship？〃　cried　Billy。　His　heart　beat　at　high　speed。　〃Then；〃　he
exclaimed；　〃you　are　a　naval　officer？〃

The　young　man　shook　his　head　and；　as　though　challenging　Billy　to
make　another　guess；　smiled。

〃Then；〃　Billy　complied　eagerly；　〃you　are　a　diplomat！　Are　you　our
new　minister？〃

One　of　the　other　young　men　exclaimed　reproachfully：

〃You　know　him　perfectly　well！〃　he　protested。　〃You've　seen　his
picture　thousands　of　times。〃

With　awe　and　pride　he　placed　his　hand　on　Billy's　arm　and　with　the
other　pointed　at　the　one　in　the　Panama　hat。

〃It's　Harry　St。　Clair；〃　he　announced。　〃Harry　St。Clair；　the　King　of
the　Movies！〃

〃The　King　of　the　Movies；〃　repeated　Billy。　His　disappointment　was　so
keen　as　to　be　embarrassing。

〃Oh！〃　he　exclaimed；　〃I　thought　you〃　Then　he　remembered　his
manners。　〃Glad　to　meet　you；〃　he　said。　〃Seen　you　on　the　screen。〃

Again　his　own　troubles　took　precedence。　〃Did　you　say；〃　he　demanded；
〃One　of　our　war…ships　is　coming　here　TO…DAY？〃

〃Coming　to　take　me　to　Santo　Domingo；〃　explained　Mr。　St。　Clair。　He
spoke　airily；　as　though　to　him　as　a　means　of　locomotion
battle…ships　were　as　trolley…cars。　The　Planter's　punch；　which　was
something　he　had　never　before　encountered；　encouraged　the　great
young　man　to　unbend。　He　explained　further　and　fully；　and　Billy；　his
mind　intent　upon　his　own　affair；　pretended　to　listen。

The　United　States　Government；　Mr。　St。　Clair　explained；　was
assisting　him　and　the　Apollo　Film　Company　in　producing　the
eight…reel　film　entitled　〃The　Man　Behind　the　Gun。〃

With　it　the　Navy　Department　plotted　to　advertise　the　navy　and
encourage　recruiting。　In　moving　pictures；　in　the　form　of　a　story；
with　love　interest；　villain；　comic　relief；　and　thrills；　it　would
show　the　life　of　American　bluejackets　afloat　and　ashore；　at　home
and　abroad。　They　would　be　seen　at　Yokohama　playing　baseball　with
Tokio　University；　in　the　courtyard　of　the　Vatican　receiving　the
blessing　of　the　Pope；　at　Waikiki　riding　the　breakers　on　a
scrubbing…board；　in　the　Philippines　eating　cocoanuts　in　the　shade
of　the　sheltering　palm；　and　in　Brooklyn　in　the　Y。　M。　C。　A。　club；　in
the　shadow　of　the　New　York　sky…scrapers；　playing　billiards　and
reading　the　sporting　extras。

As　it　would　be　illustrated　on　the　film　the　life　of　〃The　Man　Behind
the　Gun〃　was　one　of　luxurious　ease。　In　it　coal…　passing；　standing
watch　in　a　blizzard；　and　washing　down　decks；　cold　and
unsympathetic；　held　no　part。　But　to　prove　that　the　life　of　Jack　was
not　all　play　he　would　be　seen　fighting　for　the　flag。　That　was
where；　as　〃Lieutenant　Hardy；　U。　S。　A。；〃　the　King　of　the　Movies
entered。

〃Our　company　arrived　in　Santo　Domingo　last　week；〃　he　explained。
〃And　they're　waiting　for　me　now。　I'm　to　lead　the　attack　on　the
fortress。　We　land　in　shore　boats　under　the　guns　of　the　ship　and　I
take　the　fortress。　First；　we　show　the　ship　clearing　for　action　and
the　men　lowering　the　boats　and　pulling　for　shore。　Then　we　cut　back
to　show　the　gun…crews　serving　the　guns。　Then　we　jump　to　the
landing…party　wading　through　the　breakers。　I　lead　them。　The　man　who
is　carrying　the　flag　gets　shot　and　drops　in　the　surf。　I　pick　him
up；　put　him　on　my　shoulder；　and　carry　him　and　the　flag　to　the
beach；　where〃

Billy　suddenly　awoke。　His　tone　was　one　of　excited　interest。

〃You　got　a　uniform？〃　he　demanded。

〃Three；〃　said　St。　Clair　impressively；　〃made　to　order　according　to
regulations　on　file　in　the　Quartermaster's　Department。　Each
absolutely　correct。　〃Without　too　great　a　show　of　eagerness　he
inquired：　〃Like　to　see　them？〃

Without　too　great　a　show　of　eagerness　Billy　assured　him　that　he
would。

〃I　got　to　telephone　first；〃　he　added；　〃but　by　the　time　you　get　your
trunk　open　I'll　join　you　in　your　room。〃

In　the　cafe；　over　the　telephone；　Billy　addressed　himself　to　the
field…marshal　in　charge　of　the　cable　office。　When　Billy　gave　his
name；　the　voice　of　that　dignitary　became　violently　agitated。

〃Monsieur　Barlow；〃　he　demanded；　〃　do　you　know　that　the　war…　ship
for　which　you　cabled　your　Secretary　of　State　makes　herself　to
arrive？〃

At　the　other　end　of　the　'phone；　although　restrained　by　the　confines
of　the　booth；　Billy　danced　joyously。　But　his　voice　was　stern。

〃Naturally；〃　he　replied。　〃Where　is　she　now？〃

An　hour　before；　so　the　field…marshal　informed　him；　the　battle…ship
LOUISIANA　had　been　sighted　and　by　telegraph　reported。　She　was
approaching　under　forced　draft。　At　any　moment　she　might　anchor　in
the　outer　harbor。　Of　this　President　Ham　had　been　informed。　He　was
grieved；　indignant；　he　was　also　at　a　loss　to　understand。

〃It　is　very　simple；〃　explained　Billy。　〃She　probably　was　somewhere
in　the　Windward　Passage。　When　the　Secretary　got　my　message　he
cabled　Guantanamo；　and　Guantanamo　wired　the　war…　ship　nearest
Port…au…Prince。〃

〃President　Poussevain；　warned　the　field　marshal；　〃is　greatly
disturbed。〃

〃Tell　him　not　to　worry；〃　said　Billy。　〃Tell　him　when　the　bombardment
begins　I　will　see　that　the　palace　is　outside　the　zone　of　fire。〃

As　Billy　entered　the　room　of　St。　Clair　his　eyes　shone　with　a
strange　light。　His　manner；　which　toward　a　man　of　his　repute　St。
Clair　had　considered　a　little　too　casual；　was　now　enthusiastic；
almost　affectionate。

〃My　dear　St。　Clair；〃　cried　Billy；　〃I'VE　FIXED　IT！　But；　until　I　was
SURE；　I　didn't　want　to　raise　your　hopes！〃

〃Hopes　of　what？〃　demanded　the　actor。

〃An　audience　with　the　president！〃　cried　Billy。　〃I've　just　called
him　up　and　he　says　I'm　to　bring　you　to　the　palace　at　once。　He's
heard　of　you；　of　course；　and　he's　very　pleased　to　meet　you。　I　told
him　about　'The　Man　Behind　the　Gun；'　and　he　says　you　must　come　in
your　makeup　as　'Lieutenant　Hardy；　U。S。A。；'　just　as　he'll　see　you　on
the　screen。〃

Mr。　St。　Clair　stammered　delightedly。

〃In　uniform；〃　he　protested；　〃won't　that　be〃

〃White；　special　full　dress；〃　insisted　Billy。　〃Medals；　side…　arms；
full…dress　belt；　and　gloves。　What　a　press　story！　'The　King　of　the
Movies　Meets　the　President　of　Hayti！'　Of　course；　he's　only　an
ignorant　negro；　but　on　Broadway　they　don't　know　that；　and　it　will
sound　fine！〃　St。　Clair　coughed　nervously。

〃DON'T　forget；〃　he　stammered；　〃I　can't　speak　French；　or　understand
it；　either。〃

The　eyes　of　Billy　became　as　innocent　as　those　of　a　china　doll。

〃Then　I'll　interpret；〃　he　said。　〃And；　oh；　yes；〃　he　added；　〃he's
sending　two　of　the　palace　soldiers　to　act　as　an　escort…　sort　of
guard　of　honor！〃

The　King　of　the　Movies　chuckled　excitedly。

〃Fine！〃　he　exclaimed。　〃You　ARE　a　brick！〃

With　trembling　fingers　he　began　to　shed　his　outer　garments。

To　hide　his　own　agitation　Billy　walked　to　the　window　and　turned　his
back。　Night　had　fallen　and　the　electric　lights；　that　once　had　been
his　care；　sprang　into　life。　Billy　looked　at　his　watch。　It　was　seven
o'clock。　The　window　gave　upon　the　harbor；　and　a　mile　from　sh