New Britain herald., 1929-09-09
CHAPTER 13 THE "CUB' IS LICKED


 ment which was written in my ex- rrcssion. But amazement could | hardly be regarded as unnatural | under the circumstances. It was enough that a girl like Veronica . should ask me 10 help her hide an . derer, for all I knew--hut to learn | my mother had entered the ,on- spiracy, and without word 10 me, was sufficient to shake anyone.
 Don't look as if you'd swallowed | q slug, Mir Gronofen," said Eeron- ica, with a touch of her old man. ncr.
 "Vcry we'll" I said, 'Jf this is the order, so be it."
 Agreed? Then I'm eternally . grateful. But there's one other thing; will you walk home with me-"
 Would l like q million!
 NOW" I asked.
 "Y"s. But that's not all. If We should meet anybody on the road will you be very kind and atten- tive, even affectionate? I hate it like mush-but if I give you the word, will you even paw me about"
 Miss Soabroke,'
 q mean it. When I say Paw you paw mo brisk and hearty"
 The change in Veronica was amazing, Her 1eiection had .,one and ncr blue eyes plazed with fun. Was it all a huge joke I wondered - one of Eeronica's monkey triclls,' as S2aoroHe would have said?
 I shook myself, shook off the glooms and horrors Of the after noon and the suspicious of the last five minutes, anl capered into Neronica's own mood. We set off for home.
 "Tcrrible lot of outsiders still left in the world, don't you think?" she asked, apparently aproros Of noth- ing.
 Anything biting you at pres ent?"
 Martin Somerfield just missed one last night said Veronica. You know-when you were so under standing-of course you dcat want to know any more about it?"
 Not a word, I declared.
 Tn that case, I'd better tell you. An outsider molestod mo, and there
  fuss made last night. But if an outsider molested me again tonight l should be grossly offended"
 You may rely on it." said I, | that nobody will molest you to- night"
 "Oh, I do" said Veronica.
 Nevertheless, l was quite un- prepared when she said suddenly, Now, paW!'
 We were in the little road among the sandhills. Veronica saw first the figure that moved into the
 I could not see the features Of the man who stood in the middle Of the road. But he was young and well dressed in a pIus-four suit. l cid not recognize his voice when he spoke.
 His words and tone gave me sensation of pins and needles in the knuckles. When we were within two yards of him ho still stood in the middle of the narrow oad, Larring the way.
 "Lo, Veronica," said he
 And then l understood that he was not quite sober.
 Veronica made no answer. l released Veronicas arm and put l CT gently behind me.
 Then I took the young man by his collar stud and anything else could catch in [ al region, and fetched him out of the road. He came 10 rest on his launches, l fear rather abruptly, against a hillock.
 The young man recovered his feet and came at me. shouting out:
 "So you're the little devils bully. eh? You're dam little fool, Veronica, and you'll soon find it cut"
 The rush stopped when he ob served that I had placed my right hand under guard of the left. said
 ''lf you were sober I'd knock your head off at once. I'll do 1t now if you don't clear, Say an- other word to Miss Seabrokc and"
 But l had 10 do it before I could announce it, for he yelled: Hi | Neronica."
 l judge by the crack I felt on my knucllles that their impact with the corner between eye and nose must have been momentarily unpleasant for him. But only mo- mcntarily. He sank down against