Billy and the Big Stick [9]
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
"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