Part 52 (1/2)

”I fancy it will be best for all concerned if we avoid tableaux. Still, I will go away if you see fit to send me--”

”I do see fit! Go!”

Roberta Grand was staring at the speaker from the bottom of the steps.

”Don't haggle with her, father,” she cried venomously. ”Bring her to time!”

”You have met my daughter, Mrs. Braddock?” said Grand in his most suave manner. ”What are you looking at, Jenison?” he demanded, suddenly noting the young man's frozen stare, directed down the street.

David pa.s.sed his hand over his damp brow and turned to look helplessly into Mary Braddock's face.

Tom Braddock was standing across the street at the corner below, clutching a lamp-post for support. He was staring with wide open eyes at the group on the steps.

CHAPTER VII

TOM BRADDOCK'S PROMISE

She had seen Braddock turn the corner. Her eyes were closed now, as if to shut out the disaster that must rush down upon them in the next instant; her thrumming ears waited for the sound of running footsteps and the crack of a revolver. David started up the steps toward her.

”It will be best for you to hear what I have come to say,” observed Grand, ignorant of the peril that lay behind him. He resumed his progress up the steps, Roberta following close behind.

”For Heaven's sake, man, go while you can,” cried David hoa.r.s.ely.

”Don't you see--”

”Mary, will you listen to me? We've got to come to an understanding concerning Tom. He's in town. We must come to some agreement, you and I, as to whether a scandal is to follow his arrest--a scandal which will blast you and Christine forever in New--”

”Is there no way to stop him?” groaned Mary Braddock, opening her eyes to look again upon the sinister figure across the way. She had not heard a word of Colonel Grand's minacious overture.

”By this time Braddock has been taken by the police,--as Sam Brafford, the ex-convict and yeggman. Is he to go up this time as the father of Christine--”

David sprang to his side, seizing his right arm in a grip of iron. In the same movement he whirled the older man about and pointed toward the figure at the corner.

”It's Braddock!” he hissed. ”Now we're in for it. By heaven, he ought to kill you!”

”Braddock!” gasped Grand. ”Why, he is in jail--” The words died on his lips. He recognized the man. His eyes bulged, his grayish face seemed to freeze stiff, with the lower lip and tongue hanging loose.

Transfixed, he saw Thomas Braddock straighten up, relinquish his grip on the iron post, and start diagonally across the street, his head bent forward, his lower jaw extended. His unswerving gaze never left the face of Robert Grand.

”Get into the carriage, Roberta,” shouted Grand, suddenly alive to his peril. He trembled, but he was not the man to run from an adversary, nor was he likely to sell his life cheaply. With a quick, desperate tug, he jerked himself free of David's grasp. His hand flew to his inside coat pocket.

Thomas Braddock had reached the curb. Miss Grand stood directly in his path, petrified by terror. Like a cat he sprang forward, cunningly putting her body between him and Grand, making it impossible for the latter to shoot without imperiling the life of his daughter.

A revolver gleamed in the hand of the man on the steps.

David's wits worked quickly. It may have been that he was inspired.

Instead of attempting to grasp or disarm Colonel Grand, he decided to let the situation take care of itself for the moment. Neither of the men could make a move to attack the other.

”Here, I say!” gasped the Colonel. ”He can shoot me down like a dog.

Stop him, Jenison! Don't you see I can't protect myself?”