Frances Nimmo Greene

“ Riego, it is more than dishonest in Lorente to accept the blessings which America affords him and not be true to her. It is worse than traitorous in him to help spoil the peace of the country which is his refuge from oppression. If Alonzo Lorente likes the old way better than the new, he should go back to the old country. If he honestly wishes to change what he finds here, and thinks he can better things, he has one man's just share in deciding, for he is a naturalized citizen and can vote on any question. ”

“ They looked first at the sacred, sheltering flag of their country, and then at each other. And while they yet paused in awe there came to them the sound of a steady, familiar step on the garret stair. The next moment the door opened and there entered Miss Barclay—the teacher who, by her wisdom and her justice, could always command to stillness the tempests of their childish hearts. ”

“ The Colonists fought to win independence for America. We are fighting now to save that independence won. And if it takes every man in America—every boy in America—if it takes you, Danny—there is just one answer for an American to give. ”

“ This court finds, Danny, that in spite of very human, very natural fears, and at the cost of suffering to yourself, you performed a service to your country which may be more far-reaching than any of us dream. And if there is anything braver than the conquering of fear, anything more manly than the voluntary endurance of pain for a high cause, or any earthly motive of action higher than one's duty to one's country, we have never found it. ”

“ McKenzie had told him that a scout must keep his head. That was the hardest part. A fellow could force himself to go blindly to a haunted spot at night, but to think, to plan, to watch as he went——!
But he was a scout, and a scout must "be prepared." Danny forced himself to think as he went. He was not following that gruesome trail in response to Whitman's dare—he was scouting old Death Head in the service of his country. ”

“ Billy Hastings had called—called excitedly—and Billy was known to furnish nearly all the third-grade thrills there were. So the next moment Louise was stooping her way under the hawthorn boughs in answer to her playfellow's summons.
Billy was not alone in the green grotto in which Louise presently found herself, for nearly half the third-grade members were there. There was wide-eyed Tinsie Willis, with her little frilly skirts bristling with excitement, with Mamie Moore swallowing to keep back hysterical tears, and Sadie and Lallie Raiford, with their backs to each other for safe-keeping. ”

“ Riego learned at Miss Arden's class that "freedom" gives one the right to do as he wishes only in so far as he does not wish to interfere with the rights of another.
"There is no 'freedom' except in loyal obedience to law," she told him one day. "America is a 'free' country because—though here [Pg 106] are gathered people from all lands—they join together in making laws which are kind and impartial to all, and they stand together in support of the laws they make." ”

“ The father, usually so quiet and so busy, suddenly rose from his work-bench and came forward.
"Lorente," he said, and Pascual and Riego started at the iron in his tone, "Lorente, it is not the busy men who have quarrel with America. It is those who have time to do—much talking!" ”

“ Danny stood staring at the haunted tree.
All at once he crept forward, sharply intent on something.
What was that straight black line against the sky? Where did it come from?—that haunted tree?
Another moment and Danny was at the foot of the ghostly pine-tree, staring upward at the crisscross of its naked branches.
There was no swinging dead man there, but there was something—at the top!
Danny dropped to the ground and retreated a little on all fours for a better view-point. 'Way up, two parallel black bars rose against the sky.
A scout must keep his head! ”

“ And then, one momentous day, the Beautiful One stood in the shop-door, asking in Spanish if she might be allowed to enter. She was all in white this time—snow-white. To Riego's fond imagination she was still a shining goddess. ”

“ They hesitated a moment while they took in the quiet, dignified scene within. Portly old Judge Sledge was sitting well forward in his office chair with his spectacles pushed back upon his bald head, while Doctor Cranfield and several gentlemen whom Danny knew only by sight were grouped about him. All were in the attitude of listening intently to a man who stood before them—Mr. Gordon.
Danny's quick glance took in all this, including the background of khaki-clad Whippoorwills, plastered against the wall beyond. ”

“ Danny's spirit flamed for one brief moment. But in the very next his head dropped, and he turned away.
[Pg 19] "This is going too far," the wretched little fellow heard Biddie Burton exclaim sharply.
"What is 'going too far'?" a new voice asked out of the darkness, and Willard McKenzie advanced into the group. "What is 'going too far'?" he repeated, glancing from one to another. No answer being volunteered, his keen glance quickly singled out the shamed tenderfoot.
"What have they been up to, Danny?" he asked.
Danny turned and faced him.
"Nothing that makes any difference," he said. ”

“ One must know the truth when one's country was at stake. Louise drew a quick breath.
"Well, what are you doing with your pockets full of bombs, then?" she forced herself to bring out.
The little boy turned toward her again, and began slowly to draw out the contents of those suspicious pockets. A mitt, a top, two balls, a kite-string, a chicken-foot, a gopher, nails of various lengths, some tobacco tags, and a grimy stick of candy were laid one by one on the janitor's tool-bench, and the German spy stood with his pockets turned wrong side out. ”

“ After one tense moment the Beautiful One advanced to the edge of the platform and descended the steps till she stood almost among them.
And now this strange, new, better country was speaking to Riego in his own tongue!
"You didn't understand me, did you?" she asked in Spanish.
"Not then, my lady!—but now!" It was Riego who answered her, but the other dark [Pg 100] faces were alight like his own now. The crowd was leaning forward again.
"Ah, that is all the trouble!" said the Beautiful One. "Our new people simply do not understand America! ”

“ Gordon, the Scout Master, McKenzie, their leader, and jolly old Biddie Burton were hovering over him.
"Are you hurt?" they asked in one breath.
But Danny cried out feverishly: "There's a German spy sending wireless messages from old Death Head, and our transports have put to sea!" And he told them, brokenly, the story of his find.
There was consternation among them for one brief moment, and then everybody woke to action.
They must get the man at once—but which way to go? ”

“ First, he and the all-but-dead Pascual were carried by the soldiers to the American camp. Then his brother was taken away from him and borne into a closed tent.
The soldiers gathered around Riego and patted him on the shoulder. They gave him many things—things to eat and coins and pocket-knives and tobacco-tags, all the while challenging him to smile—he whose captured brother was yonder!
Later the big captain sent for him and took him by the hand.
"Riego Yañez," he said, "I am proud to shake hands with an American hero!" ”

“ And we decided, Riego, that one ought to think out carefully which country was really the better, and be true to that, because there is a higher duty than that to party or country, and that is—to the principles of justice and freedom. ”

“ How long will they let us have these?"
"Riego," said his father, "there are no revolutionists in America. Here, if a man works, he receives a just reward, and he is allowed to keep in peace what he earns. Our only danger is from across the border." ”