United labor bulletin., 1914-01-31
1 Ishan.t"-doeeedIv

What do you mean to do with me.
John?"
81 don't know. / haven't made up
my mind. Maybe I'll kill you--if you
drive me to it,
The girl must have rushed toward
the door. desperately striving to win
past him. and just as certainly he
must have caught her and stayed her
steps. What followed was pretty much
confused in Van vechten's mind. There
was a sound OF scufiiing: the incensed
listener in the hall heard the girl cry
out In an agitated voice: "ohI You
are hurting mel" which was immedi-
ately followed by a stified shrek that
chilled the blood In his veins.
Next instant he had grasped the
knob and thrown all his weight against
| the door
II was unbolted and crashed open
with explosive violence. His irrup-
ton promptly quieted the disturbance.
The man-it was the sandy-compiex-
ioned man-stood with dropped Jaw.
staring blankly at the intruder.
And the girl? His heart leaped- His
whole being was suffused with a warm
glow. The girl that he had despaired
of ever seeing again. what unhappy
nsischance had brought her to this
peril7 And what unrecognized mes
sage had prompted him to arrive upon
the scene SO opportuneiy!
After the first shock OF pleased sur
prise. Van vechten famed. then
| turned to ice. His regard travelled to
| the man in q narrowed look OF anger
that left him white to the lips. It was
hard look. an ugly. wicked look that
spelled danger.
But his lifelong habit OF repression
checked any violent display OF feeling
on his part The spell was broken
when he composedly advanced a step
farther into the room. not for an In
stant moving his steeiy 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
''well!" he said quietly. Save for
the unmistAkable nndercurrent of
menace. the tone might have been af.
fable.
So profound was the other mans
Ssupefaction that he mechanically re-
leased the girls wrists and fell back
pace. Only quick anticipation OF
his act saved her from falling to the
| moor. as Il was she staggered back.
ward until dust-coated library table
stayed her Al this she clutched.
clinEing 10 Its edges. and. wide-eyed.
stared from one to the other OF the
men Her tormentor's brain, obvious
ly. stirred only sluggtshly: but all at
hA faa
ed with blood. the veins on his fore
head sweiled. and all his fury-now re
doublcd-was directed at Van vech-
ten
Where In hell did you come from -
he snaried venomously.
Anyhow. not the same neighbor-
hood that bred you" Van vechten
eyed him a moment longer with inex-
pressible disfavor. Good Lordi" he
added. What n nasty brute you are,"
Nothing less than paraly King amaze
ment. apparently. restrained Callis
from ieaping upon Van vechten and
finishing him out of hand And per
haps. too. there was n quality In the
young mans bearing that had some
thing to do with this unfinching
nerve. the mastery of his look, the In
evstable dominance OF caste and breed
ing With a 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. | can hold
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
garbed young man. the obvious deter
mination and air OF authority that lay
behind his courtesy. evoked from her