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Page 13
"That's scarlet fever too," said his brother.
"Pick somethin' a boy's apt to have."
"Hot dogs then," said Beany. "I got an awful pain."
A delightful, dimply nurse met them at the Hospital. She heard
their tale of woo sympathetically, and the boys, with a wisdom
beyond their years, beamed back at her.
"I will fix you something that won't spoil all the rest of your
day," she said; and quickly stirred something in a glass that
looked suspiciously like ginger and tasted like red pepper.
They were still talking, "stallin' along" as Porky said
afterwards, when a group of people came out of the inner office.
Colonel Bright led the way, his daughter on his arm.
"Yes, indeed," he was saying to the doctor, "she will be all
right now. It was a wonderfully narrow escape for both of them.
Do all you can for Captain DuChassis. I'm sorry you won't let me
take him home with me to-night. We are really very comfortably
fixed in Syracuse."
"Well, that's lucky," sighed Porky. "We know where he is for a
few hours anyhow. Now there wont be any murderin' done while we
find out just what's what."
"People are beginnin' to thin out. What time is it? Just five?
Great Scott! We better be on our way. Where will we meet?"
"Le's stay in the Mounted Police Camp tonight. Colonel Handler,
told us we could, and this is official business all right."
Beany reached the greenhouses and amused himself by talking with
Mr. O'Neill, the head gardener. Porky lounged against the gate,
and watched the tired sightseers drag out. By six they were all
gone, and Porky felt that he could go back and sit down awhile.
It occurred to him to get a close look at a wonderful piece of
Mr. O'Neill's work that stood in the center of the beautiful lawn
facing the central gateway.
The floral piece was a little house, about the size of a large
dog house, all made of growing plants. The sides were green, and
the roof was lovely shades of red foliage plants. They were all
clipped short and smooth, and it was the prettiest thing
imaginable. There was even a door with broad hinges, looking as
though it would really open, and the little windows were glass.
Porky had always thought that the inside must be of solid earth;
but when he walked close, and stooped to look in he was surprised
to find it a real little wooden house with wooden wall and floor,
and over that a steel lattice work where the plants were rooted
in moss and earth. He pushed against the door, and it fell in.
He had trouble in getting it up, and was afraid some of the
guards would happen along, so he crawled inside. It was softly
warm from the hot sun that had beat on the plants and earth all
day, and after he had propped the door it, he leaned against the
wall. And immediately what did Porky Potter do but fall asleep.
The sun went down and the dusty panes of glass in the little
house reflected the glancing lights of official automobiles that
swept along the smooth drives. Far away on the hill the bugles
sounded taps. Some one leaned against the little house, and
Porky woke with a start. A man's shoulders bulked against one of
the little windows as he lowered himself to the soft grass and
leaned against the house.
Some one chuckled.
"Sit down," said a deep, coarse voice. "This is safe as a
desert."
"What's inside this ornament?" asked another.
"Nothing and no one. It is not made for anything to get into.
It is all show, my Adolph, all show--like the Countess that our
friend the Wolf loves so back there in Berlin. I wonder what she
would think could she see him here?"
"She will never see him here or there if I can help it," growled
the other man. "I do not forget this bandaged neck, or this sore
head of mine." He laughed a laugh that chilled Porky. "Watch,
Ledermann, watch! I'll not destroy him while he is busy on the
Emperor's business. But some day, some day, Ledermann--"
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