〃Let　me　down；　you！　　Leave　me　alone　now；〃　shrieked　the　boy；
  squirming；　scratching；　biting　like　an　infuriated　cat。
  〃Bite；　would　you？〃　said　Sam；　flinging　the　boy　down。　　〃Now　then；〃
  catching　him　by　the　legs　and　turning　him　over　on　his　stomach；
  〃we'll　make　a　wheelbarrow　of　you。　　Gee　up；　Buck！　　Want　a　ride；
  boys？〃　he　shouted　to　his　admiring　gallery　of　toadies。　　〃All
  aboard！〃
  While　the　unhappy　Steve；　shrieking　prayers　and　curses；　was
  struggling　vainly　to　extricate　himself　from　the　hands　gripping　his
  ankles；　Annette　Perrotte；　stepping　smartly　along　the　street　on　her
  way　from　the　box　factory；　came　past　the　entrance　to　the　lane。　　By
  her　side　strode　a　broad…shouldered；　upstanding　youth。　　Arrested　by
  Steve's　outcries　and　curses　she　paused。
  〃What　are　those　boys　at；　I　wonder？〃　she　said。　　〃There's　that　big
  lout　of　a　Wigglesworth　boy。　　He's　up　to　no　good；　I　bet　you。〃
  〃Oh；　a　kids'　row　of　some　kind　or　ither；　a　doot；〃　said　the　youth。
  〃Come　along。〃
  〃He's　hurting　someone；〃　said　Annette；　starting　down　the　lane。
  〃What？　　I　believe　it's　that　poor　child；　Steve　Wickes。〃　　Like　a
  wrathful　fury　she　dashed　in　upon　Sam　and　his　company　of　tormentors
  and；　knocking　the　little　ones　right　and　left；　she　sprang　upon　Sam
  with　a　fierce　cry。
  〃You　great　brute！〃　　She　seized　him　by　his　thatch　of　thick　red　hair
  and　with　one　mighty　swing　she　hurled　him　clear　of　Steve　and　dashed
  him　head　on　against　the　lane　fence。　　Sheer　surprise　held　Sam　silent
  for　a　few　seconds；　but　as　he　felt　the　trickle　of　warm　blood　run
  down　his　face　and　saw　it　red　upon　his　hand；　his　surprise　gave　place
  to　terror。
  〃Ouw！　　Ouw！〃　he　bellowed。　　〃I'm　killed；　I'm　dying。　　Ouw！　　Ouw！〃
  〃I　hope　so；〃　said　Annette；　holding　Steve　in　her　arms　and　seeking　to
  quiet　his　sobbing。　　But　as　she　saw　the　streaming　blood　her　face
  paled。
  〃For　the　love　of　Mike；　Mack；　see　if　he's　hurt；〃　she　said　in　a　low
  voice　to　her　companion。
  〃Not　he！　　He's　makin'　too　much　noise；〃　said　the　young　man。　　〃Here；
  you　young　bull；　wait　till　I　see　what's　wrang　wi'　ye；〃　he　continued；
  stooping　over　Sam。
  〃Get　away　from　me；　I　tell　you。　　Ouw！　　Ouw！　　I'm　dying；　and　they'll
  hang　her。　　Ouw！　　Ouw！　　I'm　killed；　and　I'm　just　glad　I　am；　for
  she'll　be　hung　to　death。〃　　Here　Sam　broke　into　a　vigorous　stream　of
  profanity。
  〃Ay；　he's　improvin'　A　doot；〃　said　Mack。　　〃Let　us　be　going。〃
  〃'Ello！　　Wot's　（h）up？〃　cried　a　voice。　　It　was　Mr。　Wigglesworth　on
  his　way　home　from　the　mill。　　〃Why；　bless　my　living　lights；　if　it
  bean't　Samuel。　　Who's　been　a　beatin'　of　you；　Sammy？〃　　His　eye　swept
  the　crowd。　　〃'Ave　you　been　at　my　lad？〃　he　asked；　stepping　toward
  the　young　man；　whom　Annette　named　Mack。
  〃Aw；　steady　up；　man。　　There's　naethin'　much　wrang　wi'　the　lada
  wee　scratch　on　the　heid　frae　fa'in'　against　the　fence　yonder。〃
  〃Who　'it　'im；　I　say？〃　shouted　Mr。　Wigglesworth。　　〃Was　it　you？〃　he
  added；　squaring　up　to　the　young　man。
  〃No；　it　wasn't；　Mr。　Wigglesworth。　　It　was　me。〃　　Mr。　Wigglesworth
  turned　on　Annette　who；　now　that　Sam's　bellowing　had　much　abated
  with　the　appearance　of　his　father　upon　the　scene；　had　somewhat
  regained　her　nerve。
  〃You？〃　gasped　Mr。　Wigglesworth。　　〃You？　　My　Samuel？　　It's　a　lie；〃　he
  cried。
  〃Hey；　mon；　guairrd　y're　tongue　a　bit；〃　said　Mack。　　〃Mind　ye're
  speakin'　to　a　leddy。〃
  〃A　lidy！　　A　lidy！〃　　Mr。　Wigglesworth's　voice　was　eloquent　of　scorn。
  〃Aye；　a　leddy！〃　said　Mack。　　〃An'　mind　what　ye　say　aboot　her　tae。
  Mind　y're　manners；　man。〃
  〃My　manners；　hey？　　An'　'oo　may　you　be；　to　learn　me　manners；　you
  bloomin'　（h）ignorant　Scotch　（h）ass。　　You　give　me　（h）any　of　your
  （h）imperance　an'　I'll　knock　y're　bloomin'　block　（h）off；　I　will。〃
  And　Mr。　Wigglesworth；　throwing　himself　into　the　approved　pugilistic
  attitude；　began　dancing　about　the　young　Scot。
  〃Hoot；　mon；　awa'　hame　wi'　ye。　　Tak'　yon　young　tyke　wi'　ye　an'　gie
  him　a　bit　wash；　he's　needin'　it；〃　said　Mack；　smiling　pleasantly　at
  the　excited　and　belligerent　Mr。　Wigglesworth。
  At　this　point　Captain　Jack；　slowly　motoring　by　the　lane　mouth；
  turned　his　machine　to　the　curb　and　leaped　out。
  〃What's　the　row　here？〃　he　asked；　making　his　way　through　the
  considerable　crowd　that　had　gathered。　　〃What's　the　trouble；
  Wigglesworth？〃
  〃They're　knockin'　my　boy　abaht；　so　they　be；〃　exclaimed　Mr。
  Wigglesworth。　　〃But；〃　with　growing　and　righteous　wrath；　〃they'll
  find　（h）out　that；　wotsomever　they　do　to　a　kid；　w'en　they　come　（h）up
  agin　Joe　Wigglesworth　they've　struck　somethin'　'ard'ard；　d'ye
  'ear？　　'Ard！〃　　And　Mr。　Wigglesworth　made　a　pass　at　the　young　Scot。
  〃Hold　on；　Wigglesworth；〃　said　Captain　Jack　quietly；　catching　his
  arm。　　〃Were　you　beating　up　this　kid？〃　he　asked；　turning　to　the
  young　man。
  〃Nae　buddie's　beatin'　up　the　lad；〃　said　Mack　quietly。
  〃It　was　me；〃　said　the　girl；　turning　a　defiant　face　to　Captain　Jack。
  〃You？　　Why！　great　Scot！　　Blest　if　it　isn't　Annette。〃
  〃Yes；　it's　me；〃　said　the　girl；　her　face　a　flame　of　colour。
  〃By　Jove；　you've　grown　up；　haven't　you？　　And　it　was　you　that〃
  〃Yes；　that　big　brute　was　abusing　Steve　here。〃
  〃What？　　Little　Steve　Wickes？〃
  〃He　was；　and　I　pitched　him　into　the　fence。　　He　hit　his　head　and　cut
  it；　I　guess。　　I　didn't　mean〃
  〃Served　him　right　enough；　too；　I　fancy；〃　said　Captain　Jack。
  〃I'll　'ave　the　law　on　the　lot　o'　ye；　I　will。　　I'm　a　poor　workin'
  man；　but　I've　got　my　rights；　an'　if　there's　a　justice　in　this　Gawd
  forsaken　country　I'll　'ave　protection　for　my　family。〃　　And　Mr。
  Wigglesworth；　working　up　a　fury；　backed　off　down　the　lane。
  〃Don't　fear；　Wigglesworth；　you'll　get　all　the　justice　you　want。
  Perhaps　Sam　will　tell　usHello！　　Where　is　Sam？〃
  But　Sam　had　vanished。　　He　had　no　mind　for　an　investigation　in　the
  presence　of　Captain　Jack。
  〃Well；　well；　he　can't　be　much　injured；　I　guess。　　Meantime；　can　I
  give　you　a　lift；　Annette？〃
  〃No；　thank　you；〃　said　the　girl；　the　colour　in　her　cheeks　matching
  the　crimson　ribbon　at　her　throat。　　〃I'm　just　going　home。　　It's　only
  a　little　way。　　I　don't〃
  〃The　young　leddy　is　with　me；　sir；〃　said　the　young　Scotchman
  quietly。
  〃Oh；　she　is；　eh？〃　said　Captain　Jack；　looking　him　over。　　〃Ah；　well；
  thenGood…bye；　Annette；　for　the　present。〃　　He　held　out　his　hand。
  〃We　must　renew　our　old　acquaintance；　eh？〃
  〃Thank　you；　sir；〃　said　the　girl。
  〃'Sir？'　　Rot！　　You　aren't　going　to　'sir'　me；　Annette；　after　all　the
  fun　and　the　fights　we　had　in　the　old　days。　　Not　much。　　We're　going
  to　be　good　chums　again；　eh？　　What　do　you　say？〃
  〃I　don't　know；〃　said　Annette；　flashing　a　swift　glance　into　Captain
  Jack's　admiring　eyes。　　〃It　depends　on〃
  〃On　me？〃
  〃I　didn't　say　so。〃　　Her　head　went　up　a　bit。
  〃On　you？〃
  〃I　didn't　say　so。〃
  〃Well；　let　it　go。　　But　we　will　be　pals　again；　Annette；　I　vow。
  Good…bye。〃　　Captain　Jack　lifted　his　hat　and　moved　away。
  As　he　reached　his　car　he　ran　up　against　young　Rupert　Stillwell。
  〃Deucedly　pretty　Annette　has　grown；　eh？〃　said　Stillwell。
  〃Annette's　all　right；〃　said　Jack；　rather　brusquely；　entering　his
  car。
  〃Working　in　your　box　factory；　I　understand；　eh？〃
  〃Don't　really　know；〃　said　Jack　carelessly。　　〃Probably。〃
  The　crowd　had　meantime　faded　away　with　Captain　Jack's　going。
  〃Did　na　know　the　Captain　was　a　friend　of　yours；　Annette；〃　said
  Mack；　falling　into　step　beside　her。
  〃NoyesI　don't　know。　　We　went　to　Public　School　together　before
  the　war。　　I　was　a　kid　then。〃　　Her　manner　was　abstracted　and　her
  eyes　were　far　away。　　Mack　walked　gloomily　by　her　on　one　side；
  little　Steve　on　the　other。
  〃Huh！　　He's　no　your　sort；　A　doot；〃　he　said　sullenly。
  〃What　do　you　say？〃　cried　Annette；　returning　from　her　abstraction。
  〃What　do　you　mean；　'my　sort'？〃　　Her　head　went　high　and　her　eyes
  flashed。
  〃He　would　na　look　at　ye；　for　ony　guid。〃
  〃He　did　look　at　me　though；〃　replied　Annette；　tossing　her　head。
  〃No　for　ony　guid！〃　repeated　Mack；　stubbornly。
  Annette　stopped　in　her　tracks；　a　burning　red　on　her　cheeks　and　a
  dangerous　light　in　her　black　eyes。
  〃Mr。　McNish；　that's　your　road；〃　she　said；　pointing　over　his
  shoulder。
  〃A'll　tak　it　tae；〃　said　McNish；　wheeling　on　his　heel；　〃an'　ye　can
  hae　your　Captain　for　me。〃
  With　never　a　look　at　him　Annette　took　her　way　home。
  〃Good…bye；　Steve；〃　she　said；　stooping　and　kissing　the　boy。　　〃This
  is　your　corner。〃
  〃Annette；〃　he　said；　with　a　quick；　shy　look　up　into　her　face；　〃I
  like　Captain　Jack；　don't　you？〃
  〃No；〃　she　said　hurriedly。　　〃I　mean　yes；　of　course。〃
  〃And　I　like　you　too；〃　said　the　boy；　with　an　adoring　look　in　his
  deep　eyes；　〃better'n　anyone　in　the　world。〃
  〃Do　you；　Steve？　　I'm　glad。〃　　Again　she　stooped　swiftly　and　kissed
  him。　　〃Now　run　home。〃
  She　hurried　home；　passed　into　her　room　without　a　word　to　anyone。
  Slowly　she　removed　her　hat；　then　turning　to　her　glass　she　gazed　at
  her　flushed　face　for　a　few　moments。　　A　little　smile　curved　her
  lips。　　〃He　did　look　at　me　anyway；〃　she　whispered　to　the　face　that
  looked　out　at　her；　〃he　did；　he　did；〃　she　repeated。　　Then　swiftly
  she　covered　her　eyes。　　When　she　looked　again　she　saw　a　face　white
  and　drawn。　　〃He　would　na　look　at　ye。〃　　The　words　smote　her　with　a
  chill。　　Drearily　she　turned　away　and　went　out。
  CHAPTER　V
  THE　RECTORY
  The　Rectory　was　one　of　the　very　oldest　of　the　more　substantial　of
  Blackwater's　dwellings。　　Built　of　grey　limestone　from　the　local
  quarries；　its　solid　square　mass　relieved　by