JEALOUSY.
In spite of herself, June could not help wondering what had become of
Dick. After dancing again with Dale, she listened to his suggestion that
they should stroll out onto the veranda. There were other couples
outside, and, having paused near a corner, June’s keen ears detected the
sound of a faint familiar voice. Dick was near at hand, speaking
earnestly with a girl.
“You know you can trust me, Bab,” he was saying. “The secret is safe.
Have I ever failed you?”
“No, Dick,” was the answer. “You’re a dear good fellow. Really. I feel
like hugging you.”
June’s hand closed convulsively on Dale’s arm, and she turned away.
Sparkfair had caught a bit of this conversation, which was not intended
for their ears, and, strangely enough, instead of feeling elated, he was
seized by a sudden paroxysm of indignation toward Merriwell.
“Why, confound him for a scoundrel!” thought Spark. “I didn’t think it
of him. He’s got another girl on the string, and there’s a secret
between them. If I get a good opportunity, I’ll have to give him my
opinion of his conduct.”
“Let’s walk down across the lawn, Dale,” said June, suddenly anxious to
get away from the house. “I don’t think I’ll dance any more to-night.”
For the first time in his life Sparkfair, usually glib of tongue, was at
a loss for words. He felt awkward and embarrassed, and every moment it
seemed that his indignation toward Merriwell increased.
“You should be careful, June,” he finally said. “You are very warm, and
your dress is thin. You may catch cold. You may get pneumonia.”
“I don’t care if I do!” she exclaimed bitterly. “Really, I think it
would be fine to have pneumonia.”
“Oh, I say, June, that’s ridiculous. Now you’re talking like me. You’re
just saying that to hear yourself say something.”
“I mean it, Dale. I’m never ill, anyhow. Nothing ever happens to me.
Occasionally I get thin and ethereal, but that’s all.”
They sauntered past the shrubbery behind which Arlington had listened
some time before to the words of Spark and Hanks. Once more some one was
hidden behind that shrubbery. A pair of restless dark eyes peered out at
Spark and the girl. A pair of very red lips softly whispered:
“It’s Sparkfair, and that’s Arlington’s sister with him. Curse
Arlington! I’ll get even with him!”
Crouchingly, the fellow slipped to the shelter of another cluster of
shrubbery. In this manner he followed the couple some distance. At last
they paused and turned back toward the house. As they passed a thick
rosebush a pantherish figure leaped onto Sparkfair’s back and hurled him
fiercely to the ground.
Dale was stunned and rendered helpless. The assailant, who had a
handkerchief tied over the lower part of his face, whirled and caught
June Arlington in his arms. She uttered a scream of terror.
“All right, my beauty—squawk away!” laughed the fellow hoarsely. “You’re
the prettiest girl I’ve seen in a year, and I’m going to kiss you.”
He attempted to lift the handkerchief in order to accomplish his
purpose, but she fought him with such fury that he was overcome by
surprise. With a snatch she tore the handkerchief from his face and
flung it to the grass. Still it was too dark for her to see his features
distinctly. By this time the girl’s fight had been answered. Voices were
calling to her, and running feet were thudding across the lawn.
“Guess I’ll have to lose that kiss!” panted the ruffian. “Never mind,
I’ll get it some other time!”
But when he attempted to free himself and take to his heels, the girl
held fast and battled him in spite of all he could do.
“Help!” she cried. “Quick! This way!”
A moment later she felt a pair of strong hands tear her free from the
scoundrel, who was instantly flung face downward upon the ground and
pinned there with the knee of Dick Merriwell driven between his shoulder
blades. Steele, Buckhart, Randall, and several others came hurrying to
the spot and surrounded them.
Sparkfair had revived and was sitting up, although bewildered and dazed
to such an extent that he could not tell what had happened to him. June
could tell, however, and she explained in a very few words.
The rage of those lads was boundless. Only for the coolness of
Merriwell, the captive might have been vigorously manhandled.
“Strike a match, somebody,” said Dick. “Let’s get a look at his face.”
A match flared in Buckhart’s hands. Protected by Brad’s curving palms,
its light was flung on the face of the captured rascal.
“On my word, it’s Hanksy!” breathed Sparkfair. “Why, Hanksy, you
shouldn’t get so careless.”
“Attacked you, did he, Sparkfair?” cried Casper Steele. “Assaulted you
and Miss Arlington, eh? Had a handkerchief tied over his face when he
did it, did he? A pretty serious piece of business. I think it ought to
give Mr. Jim Hanks a nice little vacation behind some good strong iron
bars. Tie his hands, fellows.”
“Hold on! hold on!” protested Hanks. “What are you going to do with me?
I didn’t mean to hurt anybody but Sparkfair, and I’ve got a grudge
against him. Here, Sparkfair, speak up for me. If you don’t, I’ll tell
them what I know about you.”
“Go ahead,” said Dale defiantly. “I doubt if any one would believe you
now.”
The captured ruffian’s hands were pinioned, and he was marched back to
the house. On the veranda the girls were gathered, vaguely and
apprehensively speculating on the cause of those startling cries for
help. Beneath the light of the Japanese lanterns they made a beautiful
group, in dresses of white and pink and light blue.
Randall was sent to reassure the girls, while the captive was marched
along toward the stable. Reaching the stable, Hanks was bound and thrust
into a box stall, the door being fastened upon him. Steele called one of
the stablemen and gave him instructions to guard the captive cautiously
and faithfully.
“Now, fellows,” laughed Casper, “we’ll go back to the girls and forget
that there’s been anything to mar the pleasure of the evening.”
Returning to the house, Dick inquired for June. He was told that she was
in her room, and they assured him that she had not been harmed. It was
fully half an hour before June reappeared in the ballroom. He had been
watching for her, and hastened without delay to join her.
“I trust you’re all right, June,” he said. “I was afraid that scoundrel
had hurt you.”
“I’m all right,” she answered, with surprising coolness. “I was not
harmed in the least.”
“You must have been frightened.”
“Naturally, I was frightened somewhat, but I’m all right now.”
“Will you dance any more?”
“Yes.”
“Then this waltz—let’s——”
“I beg your pardon,” she said. “There’s Dale. I am to dance with him.”
She gave Sparkfair a signal and moved toward him, leaving Dick feeling
perplexed and hurt.
“You must dance with me this time, Dale,” she said.
“By the ears of Midas, I can’t!” he gasped, in dismay. “I’ve engaged
Janette Brice, and she has her eye on me this minute, June.”
“Then get me a partner and be quick about it,” June urged. “Don’t leave
me alone more than twenty seconds.”
Out shot Dale’s arm, and he collared Harmford, who was passing.
“Here you are,” said Spark. “Fine girl, fine fellow. Go it. You know Mr.
Harmford, June.”
“Goodness!” gasped Harmford, as Spark hustled away. “Is that his style
of doing things? Will you dance with me, Miss Arlington?”
June was ready to dance with any one save Dick. She knew Dick was
watching her, and as she whirled onto the floor with Harmford she was
filled with a feeling of satisfaction, for it seemed that she had
retaliated, in a measure, for the deception of Merriwell. As for Dick,
he was simply filled with astonishment, being utterly unable to
understand what it meant.
“Sparkfair has stolen a march on me,” he decided. “Well, if June is as
fickle as that, he may have her. I’ll show her that there are others.”
With this resolution in mind, he found another partner, and, thereafter,
during the remainder of the evening he and June did not dance together.