












THE SCARLET CAR


BY

RICHARD HARDING DAVIS




TO

NED STONE




CONTENTS

  THE JAIL-BREAKERS
  THE TRESPASSERS
  THE KIDNAPPERS




THE SCARLET CAR


I

THE JAIL-BREAKERS


For a long time it had been arranged they all should go to the Harvard
and Yale game in Winthrop's car.  It was perfectly well understood.
Even Peabody, who pictured himself and Miss Forbes in the back of the
car, with her brother and Winthrop in front, condescended to approve.
It was necessary to invite Peabody because it was his great good
fortune to be engaged to Miss Forbes.  Her brother Sam had been
invited, not only because he could act as chaperon for his sister, but
because since they were at St. Paul's, Winthrop and he, either as
participants or spectators, had never missed going together to the
Yale-Harvard game.  And Beatrice Forbes herself had been invited
because she was herself.

When at nine o'clock on the morning of the game, Winthrop stopped the
car in front of her door, he was in love with all the world.  In the
November air there was a sting like frost-bitten cider, in the sky
there was a brilliant, beautiful sun, in the wind was the tingling
touch of three ice-chilled rivers.  And in the big house facing Central
Park, outside of which his prancing steed of brass and scarlet chugged
and protested and trembled with impatience, was the most wonderful girl
in all the world.  It was true she was engaged to be married, and not
to him.  But she was not yet married.  And to-day it would be his
privilege to carry her through the State of New York and the State of
Connecticut, and he would snatch glimpses of her profile rising from
the rough fur collar, of her wind-blown hair, of the long, lovely
lashes under the gray veil.

"'Shall be together, breathe and ride, so, one day more am I deified;'"
whispered the young man in the Scarlet Car; "'who knows but the world
may end to-night?'"

As he waited at the curb, other great touring-cars, of every speed and
shape, in the mad race for the Boston Post Road, and the town of New
Haven, swept up Fifth Avenue.  Some rolled and puffed like tugboats in
a heavy seaway, others glided by noiseless and proud as private yachts.
But each flew the colors of blue or crimson.

Winthrop's car, because her brother had gone to one college, and he had
played right end for the other, was draped impartially.  And so every
other car mocked or cheered it, and in one a bare-headed youth stood
up, and shouted to his fellows:  "Look! there's Billy Winthrop!  Three
times three for old Billy Winthrop!"  And they lashed the air with
flags, and sent his name echoing over Central Park.

Winthrop grinned in embarrassment, and waved his hand.  A bicycle cop,
and Fred, the chauffeur, were equally impressed.

"Was they the Harvoids, sir?" asked Fred.

"They was," said Winthrop.


Her brother Sam came down the steps carrying sweaters and steamer-rugs.
But he wore no holiday countenance.

"What do you think?" he demanded indignantly.  "Ernest Peabody's inside
making trouble.  His sister has a Pullman on one of the special trains,
and he wants Beatrice to go with her."

In spite of his furs, the young man in the car turned quite cold.  "Not
with us?" he gasped.

Miss Forbes appeared at the house door, followed by Ernest Peabody.  He
wore an expression of disturbed dignity; she one of distressed
amusement.  That she also wore her automobile coat caused the heart of
Winthrop to leap hopefully.

"Winthrop," said Peabody, "I am in rather an embarrassing position.  My
sister, Mrs. Taylor Holbrooke"--he spoke the name as though he were
announcing it at the door of a drawing-room--"desires Miss Forbes to go
with her.  She feels accidents are apt to occur with motor cars--and
there are no other ladies in your party--and the crowds----"

Winthrop carefully avoided looking at Miss Forbes.  "I should be very
sorry," he murmured.

"Ernest!" said Miss Forbes, "I explained it was impossible for me to go
with your sister.  We would be extremely rude to Mr. Winthrop.  How do
you wish us to sit?" she asked.

She mounted to the rear seat, and made room opposite her for Peabody.

"Do I understand, Beatrice," began Peabody in a tone that instantly
made every one extremely uncomfortable, "that I am to tell my sister
you are not