glance at her he perceived that she was still smiling. Nay, more, she now directed the smile straight at him, and though its warm brightness cheered him irrationally for a moment, it was for a moment only, and the gloom of their plight shut round him again as he caught the eye of the leader of the hostile group beyond. 

33

Suddenly he felt a tug at his coat, turned to see the gleaming red head of the author of all his woes, and seized him by the arm with a confused idea of vengeance. 

"The doctor's coming, mister, he's nearly got here!" panted this unconscious instrument of Fate, "and I'll bet that foreign man dies! I'll bet he does! He got a terrible bite! Did you see it?" 

Antony throttled the boy hastily and looked apprehensively at his companion; he had hoped to spare her this. To his surprise she turned to the child and laughed lightly. 34 

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"Oh, dear, no!" she said, "he won't die, little boy. Chauffeurs don't die--they explode!" 

Antony had a sense of moral shock. This passed frivolity. Really, the girl was scarcely human; sympathy was wasted on her. 

"Did you know the sheriff was coming?" the freckled-faced imp pursued, after a mildly contemptuous stare at his patron's incomprehensible friend. "I wouldn't go with him, if I was you. My uncle says he's got no right to make you." 

"Of course he's got no right," Antony exclaimed angrily, "but what can I do about it? I can't fight eight or ten men, can I? I'd rather go than be carried." 

"Why don't you jump into that automobile?" the boy asked abruptly. "I would. She goes easy--I saw him start her up before. She'll whizz off, I'll bet you!" 

The girl turned abruptly. "That's it!" she cried; "let's do that, Mr. Tony!" 

In a flash he caught the practical possibility of the scheme. Once at his uncle's and the affair was finished. But common sense gave pause. 

"I can't run the thing," he admitted with vexation, "I don't know the first thing about them." 35 

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