登陆注册
15451100000114

第114章 THE LONG ARM(5)

"Captain Swanson, sir?" asked the orderly.

Swanson did not speak or move.

"The admiral's compliments, sir," snapped the orderly, "and will the captain please speak with him?"Still Swanson did not move.

He felt that the breaking-point of his self-control had come.

This impertinent interruption, this thrusting into the last few seconds of his life of a reminder of all that he had lost, this futile postponement of his end, was cruel, unhuman, unthinkable.

The pistol was still in his hand. He had but to draw it and press it close, and before the marine could leap upon him he would have escaped.

From behind, approaching hurriedly, came the sound of impatient footsteps.

The orderly stiffened to attention. "The admiral!" he warned.

Twelve years of discipline, twelve years of recognition of authority, twelve years of deference to superior officers, dragged Swanson's hand from his pistol and lifted him to his feet. As he turned, Admiral Preble, the aide, and the bareheaded bluejacket were close upon him. The admiral's face beamed, his eyes were young with pleasurable excitement; with the eagerness of a boy he waved aside formal greetings.

"My dear Swanson," he cried, "I assure you it's a most astonishing, most curious coincidence! See this man?" He flung out his arm at the bluejacket. "He's my wireless chief. He was wireless operator on the transport that took you to Manila. When you came in here this afternoon he recognized you. Half an hour later he picks up a message--picks it up two thousand miles from here--from San Francisco--Associated Press news--it concerns you; that is, not really concerns you, but I thought, we thought"-as though signalling for help, the admiral glanced unhappily at his aide-"we thought you'd like to know. Of course, to us," he added hastily, "it's quite superfluous--quite superfluous, but--"The aide coughed apologetically. "You might read, sir," he suggested.

"What? Exactly! Quite so!" cried the admiral.

In the fading light he held close to his eyes a piece of paper.

"San Francisco, April 20," he read. "Rueff, first sergeant, shot himself here to-day, leaving written confession theft of regimental funds for which Swanson, captain, lately court-martialled. Money found intact in Rueff's mattress. Innocence of Swanson never questioned, but dissatisfied with findings of court-martial has left army. Brother officers making every effort to find him and persuade return."The admiral sighed happily. "And my wife," he added, with an impressiveness that was intended to show he had at last arrived at the important part of his message, "says you are to stay to dinner."Abruptly, rudely, Swanson swung upon his heel and turned his face from the admiral. His head was thrown back, his arms held rigid at his sides. In slow, deep breaths, like one who had been dragged from drowning, he drank in the salt, chill air. After one glance the four men also turned, and in the falling darkness stood staring at nothing, and no one spoke.

The aide was the first to break the silence. In a polite tone, as though he were continuing a conversation which had not been interrupted, he addressed the admiral. "Of course, Rueff's written confession was not needed," he said.

"His shooting himself proved that he was guilty."Swanson started as though across his naked shoulders the aide had drawn a whip.

In penitence and gratitude he raised his eyes to the stars. High above his head the strands of the wireless, swinging from the towering masts like the strings of a giant Aeolian harp, were swept by the wind from the ocean. To Swanson the sighing and whispering wires sang in praise and thanksgiving.

同类推荐
  • The Writings

    The Writings

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 许黄门先生文集

    许黄门先生文集

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 所安遗集

    所安遗集

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • A Woman of No Importance

    A Woman of No Importance

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 九曜斋笔记

    九曜斋笔记

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
热门推荐
  • 天下之江山谋

    天下之江山谋

    萧景然的人生就像一场悲剧,被最好的朋友利用,被尊敬的兄长敌视,被命运所玩弄,最亲的家人漠不关心,最爱的人只会在他的世界里走来走去。一个动荡的九州,一个叫做'天下'的盒子,一场权与情的争斗。一个情深无悔的男人,一个图谋霸业的女人。因为知道是你,所以我愿意等;
  • 凡人爱自由

    凡人爱自由

    “生死有命,富贵在天”,凡人的命运一直被掌控在少部分神仙的手里,一个原本胆小,怕事,懦弱的男人,在经历了非常人可想像的经历后,终于登上了修真者的顶峰。为了改变凡人的命运,他毅然举起了魔军大旗,对抗神军!
  • 凌天无双

    凌天无双

    一个光怪陆离的世界在他的面前揭开神秘的面纱
  • 纨绔神医

    纨绔神医

    昆仑山巅一场旷世的争夺战,千年难得一见的绝世高手苏玄在悲痛中忍受天劫。带着传承千年的神秘绝技,带着玄幻莫测的超级医术,在这个新的世界里,他要重新开始一段精彩人生。
  • 雪缘之倾城绝恋

    雪缘之倾城绝恋

    一次穿越,草包?废物?No!看我如何玩转世界。神宠,太弱,不要!美男,不顺眼,随便送!她是神女亦是女娲他是神帝亦是伏羲一切将会如何?
  • 火影之忏

    火影之忏

    ============================================================================一个为情所困的男人,为了保护自己的女孩,跳下悬崖自杀,死后偶遇华夏神灵,神灵实现了男人的愿望,重生于火影。这个为情所困的男人以后会在在残酷;现实的忍者世界里,是悲痛或是幸福,是艰难或是顺利,是生或是死,一切都要靠这个男人的努力了....声明:这是小良的第一次写书,这是一本关于火影同人类的小说,望大家支持小良。(本书纯属虚构,请勿抄袭,本小说绝对不会抄袭别人的智力成果,如有雷同,纯属巧合。)=============================================================================
  • 山海经(第九卷)

    山海经(第九卷)

    《山海经》是中国先秦古籍。一般认为主要记述的是古代神话、地理、动物、植物、矿物、巫术、宗教、历史、医药、民俗、民族等方面的内容。记载了许多诡异的怪兽以及光怪陆离的神话故事,《山海经》全书十八卷,其中“山经”五卷,“海经”八卷,“大荒经”四卷,“海内经”一卷,共约31000字。记载了100多邦国,550山,300水道以及邦国山水的地理、风土物产等讯息。其中《山经》所载的大部分是历代巫师、方士和祠官的踏勘记录,经长期传写编纂,多少会有所夸饰,但仍具有较高的参考价值。本书主要是对该书进行了解读。
  • 幻世纪之筑器师

    幻世纪之筑器师

    ?这是一个魔法与斗气的世界,光是正义的代表,黑暗是邪恶的幻化,光与暗的碰撞,魔法与斗气的对决到底谁才能主宰沉浮!
  • 唐僧在异界

    唐僧在异界

    真佛消亡,伪佛纵世,心怀求佛之心的唐僧因为触犯如来被罚处死,永不超生,观音相救让其灵魂穿越在一个充满妖魔的大陆,且看唐僧如何在这妖魔纵横之地凭借佛法的威力“降妖除魔”,混的风生水起,花前月下,自身成魔,在寻求真佛之路上明白佛魔真谛的坎坷传奇!
  • 邪魅女王的萌货王子

    邪魅女王的萌货王子

    “喂!洛千辰,我要吃你做的叉烧包!”“我的专属公主~马上就到。”说着,上官怡的房门悄悄打开,一股清香的叉烧包味。“哇!千辰,你怎么知道我想吃叉烧包?”上官怡大吃特吃“你喜欢什么?本公主送你!”“我喜欢你!”洛千辰邪魅的帅脸贴近上官怡,“把你教给我把~”当萌萌吃货公主遇到千年温柔暖男,爱的历程刚刚开始,皇宫险恶,你陪我,就是春天……