Part 41 (1/2)
Meanwhile, seeing the turn events had taken, the pursuer had likewise stopped, and now he hesitated.
”All right,” replied Ben. ”Go ahead! I'll see that the fellow doesn't trouble you again.” And he started back.
But the girl's hand was again upon his arm. ”No,” she protested, ”not that way, please. He's my steady, Tom is, only to-night he's drank too much, and--and--he doesn't realize what he's doing.” The grip on his arm tightened as she looked imploringly into his face. ”Take me home, please!” A catch was in her voice. ”I'm afraid.”
Ben hesitated. Even in the half-light the pet.i.tioner's face hinted brazenly of cosmetics.
”Where do you live?” he asked shortly.
”Only a little way, less than a block, and it's the direction you're going. Please take me!”
”Very well,” said Blair, and they moved on, the girl still clinging to him and sobbing at intervals. Before a dark three-story and bas.e.m.e.nt building, with a decidedly sinister aspect, she stopped and indicated a stairway.
”This is the place.”
”All right,” responded Ben. ”I guess you're safe now. Good-night!”
But she clung to him the tighter. ”Come up with me,” she insisted.
”We're only on the second floor, and I haven't thanked you yet. Really, I'm so grateful! You don't know what it means to be a girl, and--and--”
Her feelings got the better of her again, and she paused to wipe her eyes on her sleeve. ”My mother will be so thankful too. She'd never forgive me if I didn't bring you up. Please come!” and she led the way up the darkened stair.
Again Ben hesitated. He did not in the least like the situation in which circ.u.mstances had placed him. The prospect of the girl's mother, like herself, scattering grateful tears upon him was not alluring; but it seemed the part of a cad to refuse, and at last he followed.
His guide led him up a short flight of stairs and turned to the right, down a dimly lighted hall. The ground-floor of the building was used for store purposes. This second floor was evidently a series of apartments.
Lights from within the rooms crept over the curtained transoms. Voices sounded; gla.s.ses clinked. A piano banged out ragtime like mad.
At the fourth door the girl stopped. ”Thank you so much for coming,” she said. ”Walk right in,” and throwing open the door she fairly shoved the visitor inside.
From out the semi-darkness, Ben now found himself in a well-lighted room, and the change made him blink about him. Instead of the motherly old lady in a frilled cap, whom he had expected to see, he found himself in the company of a half-dozen coatless young men and under-dressed women, lounging in questionable att.i.tudes on chairs and sofas. At his advent they all looked up. A sallow youth who had been operating the piano turned in his seat and the music stopped. Not yet realizing the trick that had been played upon him, Ben turned to look for his guide; but she was nowhere in sight, and the door was closed. His eyes s.h.i.+fted back and met a circle of amused faces, while a burst of mocking laughter broke upon his ears.
Then for the first time he understood, and his face went white with anger. Without a word he started to leave the room. But one of the women was already at his side, her detaining hand upon his sleeve. ”No, no, honey!” she said, insinuatingly. ”We're all good fellows! Stay awhile!”
Ben shook her off roughly. Her very touch was contaminating. But one of the men had had time to get between him and the door; a sarcastic smile was upon his face as he blocked the way.
”I guess it's on you, old man!” he bantered. ”About a half-dozen quarts will do for a starter!” He nodded to a pudgy old woman who was watching interestedly from the background. ”You heard the gent's order, mother!
Beer, and in a hurry! He looks dry and hot.”
Again a gale of laughter broke forth; but Ben took no notice. He made one step forward, until he was within arm's reach of the humorist.
”Step out of my way, please,” he said evenly.
Had the man been alone he would have complied, and quickly. No human being with eyes and intelligence could have misread the warning on Ben Blair's countenance. He started to move, when the girl who had first come forward turned the tide.
”Aw, Charley!” she goaded. ”Is that all the nerve you've got!” and she laughed ironically.
Instantly the man's face reddened, and he fell back into his first position.
”Sorry I can't oblige you, pal,” he said, ”but you see it's agin de house. Us blokes has got--”
The sentence was never completed. Ben's fist shot out and caught the speaker fair on the point of his jaw, and he collapsed in his tracks.