Part 13 (1/2)

Then, ”h.e.l.lo, folks. Having a picnic? Who's your little friend in the rompers?” sang out a voice beside them. It was Milt Daggett--the Milt who must be scores of miles ahead. His bug had caught up with them, was running even with them on the broad road.

CHAPTER X

THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE HILLSIDE ROAD

So unexpectedly, so genially, that Claire wondered if he realized what was happening, Milt chuckled to the tough on the running-board, as the two cars ran side by side, ”Bound for some place, brother?”

The unwelcome guest looked puzzled. For the first time his china eyes ceased twinkling; and he answered dubiously: ”Just gettin' a lift.” He sped up the car with the hand-throttle. Milt accelerated equally.

Claire roused; wanted to shout. She was palsied afraid that Milt would leave them. The last time she had seen him, she had suggested that leaving them would be a favor.

Her guest growled at her--the words coming through a slit at the corner of his rowdy mouth, ”Sit still, or I'll run you over.”

Milt innocently babbled on, ”Better come ride with me, bo'. More room in this-here handsome coupelet.”

Then was the rough relieved in his uneasy tender little heart, and his eyes flickered again as he shouted back, not looking at Milt, ”Thanks, bub, I'll stick by me friends.”

”Oh no; can't lose pleasure of your company. I like your looks. You're a bloomin' little island way off on the dim silver skyline.” Claire knitted her brows. She had not seen Milt's rhetoric. ”You're an island of Hesperyds or Hesperides. Accent on the bezuzus. Oh, yes, moondream, I think you better come. Haven't decided”--Milt's tone was bland--”whether to kill you or just have you pinched. Miss Boltwood! Switch off your power!”

”If she does,” the tough shouted, ”I'll run 'em off the bank.”

”No, you won't, sweetheart, 'cause why? 'Cause what'll I do to you afterwards?”

”You won't do nothin', Jack, 'cause I'd gouge your eyes out.”

”Why, lovesoul, d' you suppose I'd be talking up as brash as this to a bid, stwong man like oo if I didn't have a gun handy?”

”Yuh, I guess so, lil sunbeam. And before you could shoot, I'd crowd your tin liz into the bank, and jam right into it! I may get killed, but you won't even be a grease-spot!”

He was turning the Gomez from its straight course, forcing Milt's bug toward the high bank of earth which walled in the road on the left.

While Claire was very sick with fear, then more sick with contempt, Milt squealed, ”You win!” And he had dropped back. The Gomez was going on alone.

There was only one thing more for Claire--to jump. And that meant death.

The tough was storming, ”Your friend's a crack shot--with his mouth!”

The thin pit-pit-pit was coming again. She looked back. She saw Milt's bug snap forward so fast that on a b.u.mp its light wheels were in the air. She saw Milt standing on the right side of the bug holding the wheel with one hand, and the other hand--firm, grim, broad-knuckled hand--outstretched toward the tough, then s.n.a.t.c.hing at his collar.

The tough's grip was torn from the steering wheel. He was yanked from the running-board. He crunched down on the road.

She seized the wheel. She drove on at sixty miles an hour. She had gone a good mile before she got control of her fear and halted. She saw Milt turn his little car as though it were a prancing bronco. It seemed to paw the air with its front wheels. He shot back, pursuing the late guest. The man ran bobbing along the road. At this distance he was no longer formidable, but a comic, jerking, rabbity figure, humping himself over the back track.

As the bug whirled down on him, the tough was to be seen throwing up his hands, leaping from the high bank.

Milt turned again and came toward them, but slowly; and after he had drawn up even and switched off the engine, he s.n.a.t.c.hed off his violent plaid cap and looked apologetic.

”Sorry I had to kid him along. I was afraid he really would drive you off the bank. He was a bad actor. And he was right; he could have licked me. Thought maybe I could jolly him into getting off, and have him pinched, next town.”