The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1913-12-26

perm! AND what unrecognIzeo mes
sage had prompted him to arrive upon
the scene so opportunity?
After the first shock Of pleased sur
prise, Van Vechten famed, then
turned to ice. His regard travelled to
the man In e narrowed look of anger
tina. left him white to the lips. II was
a hard look, an ugly, wicked look that
spelled danger.
But his lifelong habit of repression
checked any violent display OF feeling
when he composedly advanced a step
farther into the room, not for an in
slant moving his steely regard from
the man. All Of a sudden his thin lips
twisted in an odd little smile that
was not at all pleasing to see.
."Weil?" he said quietly. Save for
the unmistakable undercurrent of
menace, the tone might have been at
fable.
So profound was the other mans
stupefaction that he mechanically re-
leased the girls wrists and fell back
a pace. Only quick anticipation of
his sct saved her from falling to the
floor; as it was she staggered back
ward until dust-coated library table
stayed her. At this she clutched,
clicg.ng to its edges, and, wide-eyed,
stared from one to the other of the
men. Her tormento-'s brain, obvious
ly, stirred only sluggishly; but ell at
once the sullen features we're congest-
ed with blood, the veins On his fore
head swelled, and ali his eury-now re-
dcubled-was directed ct Van Vech-
ten.
Where IN hell did you come from ?"
he snarled venomously.
Anyhow, not the same neighbor-
hood that bred you" Van vechten
eyed him 6 moment longer with mex
preside disfavor. Good Lord!" he
added. What nasty brute you are!"
Nothing lesG than paralyzing amaze
ment. apparently, restrained Calls
from leaping upon Van Vechten and
finishing him out Of hand And per-
maps, too, there was a quality in the
young mans bearing that had some
thing to do with this unfiinching
n,
evitable dominance of caste and breed
ing. With little bow, Van Vechten
turned again to the girl.
You are at perfect liberty to de-
part" he said, with calm, dignifed
Difference. And, really, think you
had better do SO at once l can held
this ruffian-at least until you make
good your escape. Once you are in
the street, you know, and you are
safe"
BY this time she had regained some
thing of her own composure: but the
cool assurance of this punctiliously
garDed young man, the obvious deter
mlnation and air of authority that lay
behlnd his courtesy, evoked from her
a lock Of startled wonder. The heavy
lashes half-veiled her dark eyes as
they wavered to Calls, then back
again to him; it was a covert, all-ap-
praising glance. Then her lips curied
sCOrnfully.
What was passing in her mind was
only too plain to Van Vechten. He
flushed holly. Already he had made
the same comparison; and he fostered
no Illusions respecting the possible
outcome OLA combat.
Never before had he been confront
ed by any man so irresponsible with
rage, or one with whom it was so
hopeless to attempt to reason; never
in all his life had he struck man in
anger; but he knew there was just one
way in which he could succor this dis
dainful beauty, and that would be to
pit his endurance against the bully's
strength, to guard himself as much as
possible against his repeated on
slaughts, and delay pursuit Of the girl
until he Wan Vechten) was pounded
into insensibility-or mayhap slain He
did not blink that contingency. Yet
without the slightest hesitation, he
had resolved to offer himself to the
sacrifice
Through his mind all these aspects
of the crisis flashed. If only he had
the bludgeon which his fatuous wit
had SO disparaged to Tom!
He was guilty OF no error of judg-
ment now, however; Calls gave him
but scant time to reflect, then rushed,
not at him, but at the girl. Simultane-
ousIy Van Vechten plunged headlong
forward, interposing his lighter BODY
between.
Amid the stress and confusion OF
violent situations, the human mind is
capable OF the most ridiculous pranks.
And a. this critical moment Van Vech.
tens prompted him to commit such an
absurdity.
Get out of here, you little idiot"
he yelled a. the girl, who seemed
frozen to the table.