Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1930-06-21
CHAPTER III
The Dangerous Step

When Verna looked into the in
truder's face. her first thought was
"How handsome he is" He was tall,
brown. Immediately dressed. unruf-
fled. suave-apparently a gentleman.
1t thrilled Verna, who had never
known the glamour of chivalry and
romance, to have a young knight
bound out of the darkness to her
rescue.
Pardon me. young lady" he ad-
dressed her in resonant voice, rub
bling his b.uised knuckleS. 81 hope l
didn't do anything you didn't want
done. I Just saw that fellow annoy
ing you and was fresh enough to
interfere"
ooh. thanks so much" the girl
murmured softly, glancing at the tel-
low from under her long, sllken
lashes. Its all right"
With a groar, Dick Colvin sat up
and rubbed his jaw and the back OF
his head. and then slowly rose. He
looked around bewildered at first. and
then noticing the stranger for the
first time. he lurched toward him..
'I'll get you, you :" he growled,
swinging a mighty blow at the dap
per intruder. The man stepped neat
ly aside, Dicks arm dashed the air
futilely, he stumbled to one side and
almost fell.
The LAUNDERING Ninny
Look out. old fellow" said the
stranger grinning, you're liable to
fall and hurt the other side of your
jaw"
Verna chuckled at Dicks discom-
future. He was such numbering min
ny and this other fellow was so slick.
and quick. 1t was like rhinoceros
charging a tiger. Then she uttered
a little sharp cry of dismay as she
saw Dick. his face working with rage,
advancing with an open knife.
Dick had bad reputation with a
knife. In the frequent Saturday night
brawls that enlivened things in Billy
Goat Lam. he usually came out the
victor. His acquaintance avoided
uuarrels with him when they knew he
was armed with blade. Now he
moved toward the stranger doubled
to dangerous crouch. the knife blade
glittering in the moonlight
"D-n you'll" he groWled, I'll stop
you from buttin' in where you amt
got no business"
When he was almost upon the
stranger, the man stepped back a
pace, reached in the bosom Of his
coat and Withdrew a shining auto
matte revolver. TWirling it on his
finger. he stood nonchalant but at
tentive, grim. hard, cynical smile
playing around his lips.
Dick stopped in his tracks, clicked
hic knifa chnt chnUad If in his
pocket and grinned sheepishly. We'll,
brother. I guess youse tn best" he
declared with tone of finality, and
beStowing a baleful glance upon
Verna. turned and strobe hurriedly
away.
You'd better git away from here,
she warned Dicks liable to come
back here with his gang. He's bad
one. he is"
Humph! Why was she saying that?
Was she being attracted to this
stranger? She looked at his clean-cut
features, accumulated by the moonlight,
and her heart skipped beat. Ger
tainly he was handsome but there
was something about his face, a GER
tain expression of calculating hard
ness that warned her to be careful.
After all. she might not be as safe
with THIS man as Sne naQ peen WIFI
Dick. Men were so funny. You could
never tell about them.
MY name is Donald Baxter" he
said quietly. ignoring her warning.
Donald Baxter from KaleSburg. Just
ran over to NorriSburg for a little
rest and vacation. Awfully glad to
be of service to YOU. I always say
that man has no business kissing
girl unless she wants him to do it.
All caresses ought to be voluntary,
think. That's why I interfered when |
I saw YOU weren't approving of our
friends attentions"
How nicely he spoke! Just like the
Richlands. And how well dressed |
he was! Looking beyond him into
the darkness, she saw the outline of
q low rakish roadster.
THAT'S my car" he said. looking
down c0Tt1v IIpOp har w0ndr0lIS brown