Part 9 (1/2)
[Ill.u.s.tration: ”The two scoundrels pulled up at the sight of it.”]
”If you make me fire I shall not only shoot you,” I called, ”but bring the police up, and you'll have to explain this to them.”
And as we stood thus, the carriage drove up.
CHAPTER VI
GARETH
I was quite as anxious to avoid police interference as the men themselves could be; but I knew the threat was more likely to drive them off than any other.
To recover the girl, they would have bludgeoned me readily enough, if they could have done it without being discovered; but my weapon made that impossible. Moreover, they liked the look of the business end of the revolver as little as many braver men.
The stick was lowered; they whispered together, and then tried to fool me. They began to edge away from one another, so as to be able to rush in from opposite directions.
”You stand just where you are, or I fire, right now,” I called.
They stopped and swore.
”Can't a man take his own daughter home?” growled one of them.
”I am not his daughter,” protested the girl.
”I know that. Don't be afraid, I shan't give you up.”
”Who are you to interfere with us?” asked the other.
”I'm a man in woman's clothes,” I answered, intending this tale to be carried to their employer. ”And I'll give you five seconds to clear.
You get into that carriage and drive off, the lot of you together, or I'll bring the police about your ears. Now, one, two, if you let me count to five, you'll eat nothing but prison fare for a year or two.
Off with you;” and emboldened by my success I made a step toward them.
It was good bluff. They shrank back; then turned tail and scurried to the carriage, swearing copiously, and drove off in the direction of Old Buda.
I watched the vehicle until the darkness swallowed it, and then hurried with my companion in the opposite direction. We recrossed the bridge and made for my house.
When we were near it I stopped, and she began to thank me volubly and with many tears.
”Don't thank me yet. Tell me where you wish to go.”
”I have nowhere to go in Pesth, sir,” she answered.
I smiled at her mistake. ”Let me explain. I said that about my being a man to frighten those ruffians. I am a girl, like yourself, and have a home close by. If you like to come to it, you will be quite safe there.”
”I trust you implicitly,” she said, simply; and with that I took her to my house.
As we entered I managed to draw out a couple of hairpins, so that when I took off my hat, my hair came tumbling about my shoulders in sufficient length to satisfy her of my s.e.x. She was quick enough to understand my reason; and with a very sweet smile she put her arm round my waist and kissed me on the cheek.
”I did not need any proof, dear,” she said. ”But you are wonderful.