按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
they are at each corner。 They watch the hotel。 They watch ME！ Why？
What do they want？〃
〃They want something of mine；〃 said Billy。 〃But I can't tell you
what it is until I'm sure it is mine。 Is the boat at the wharf？〃
〃All is arranged；〃 Claire assured him。 〃The boatmen are our
friends； they will take us safely to the steamer。〃
With a sigh of relief Billy lifted her valise and his own； but he
did not move forward。 Anxiously Claire pulled at his sleeve。
〃Come！〃 she begged。 〃For what it is that you wait？
It was just eight o'clock。
Billy was looking up at the single electric light bulb that lit the
narrow street； and following the direction of his eyes； Claire saw
the light grow dim； saw the tiny wires grow red； and disappear。
From over all the city came shouts； and cries of consternation
oaths； and laughter； and then darkness。
〃I was waiting for THIS！〃 cried Billy。
With the delight of a mischievous child Claire laughed aloud。
〃You…you did it！〃 she accused。
〃I did！〃 said Billy。 〃And now…we must run like the devil！〃
The PRINZ DER NEDERLANDEN was drawing slowly out of the harbor。
Shoulder to shoulder Claire and Billy leaned upon the rail。 On the
wharfs of Port…au…Prince they saw lanterns tossing and candles
twinkling； saw the LOUISIANA； blazing like a Christmas…tree；
steaming majestically south； in each other's eyes saw that all was
well。
From his pocket Billy drew a long envelope。
〃I can now with certainty；〃 said Billy； 〃state that this is
mine…OURS。〃
He opened the envelope； and while Claire gazed upon many
mille…franc notes Billy told how he had retrieved them。
〃But what danger！〃 cried Claire。 〃'In time Ham would have paid。
Your president at Washington would have made him pay。 Why take such
risks？ You had but to wait！〃
Billy smiled contentedly。
〃Dear one！〃 he exclaimed； 〃the policy of watchful waiting is safer；
but the Big Stick acts quicker and gets results！〃
End