Part 20 (1/2)
That turned out to be not quite true, but as an argument it worked We sed, like the lined-uplirew iot through the door when a screaht him back on the run No black woman ever screams in just that way, and in a land of black and worse-than-black ination leaps at a white woman's call for help
There was a stampede for the door by every one except the Greeks and Goanese and the railway h the screen doors, the guard fighting to burst between us, and, because with a self-preserving instinct that I have never thought quite creditable to the human race, everybody ran toward his own compartment, it happened that we three and the two officials and the guard came first on the scene of trouble
Brown of Lumbas still drunk-affectionate, it seemed, by that time
”You've no call to be 'fraid of me, li'l sweetheart!” The door was open Within the coed
There came a stifled scream
”Li'l stoopid! What d'you come in for, if you're 'fraid o' poor ole Brown? I won't hurt you”
The guard passed between us and went up the step He listened, looked, disappeared through the open door, and there ca
”Whassis?” shouted Brown ”An interloper? No you don't! This is my li'l sweetheart! She came in to see me--didn't you, Matilda Ann?”
The wouard yelled for help Fred and one of the government officials were nearest and as they entered they passed the wonized Lady Saffren Waldon's Syrian uard had left with her By that time there was a considerable crowd about our car, unable to see ht She slipped through--to the right--not toward Lady Isobel's coht of her behind so the shadows, and although I hunted up and down and in and out I could find her nowhere
When I returned to our car Brown of Lumbas out on the platforuard iping a bloody nose and everybody was inventing an account of what nobody had seen
”Scrag him!” advised soht has anybody got,” demanded Broith querulous ferocity, ”to interfere between me and a lady? Eh? Whose compartment was she in? Me in hers or her in ht to sleep? Next thing I know she's fingerin' my whiskers How should I know she's not balht's she got in my comparthten her? What then?”
”Who was she?” demanded the official ”Had anybody seen her before?”
”Thethe lady in the next compartment,” said I
”Are you sure?”
”Positive”
”Very well Guard! See who is in there!”
The guard wiped blood from his nose and obeyed orders We clustered round the steps to hear
”'Ow many's in here?” he demanded
There was no answer He tried the door and it opened 'readily
”'Scuse me, but is there two of you? I can't see in the dark”
”Oh, is that our dinner?” said Lady Saffren Waldon's Voice
”No ma'am, not the dinner yet”