ATTACKED ON THE ROAD.
It was in truth the mysterious man who was lingering on the opposite
side of the street under the deeper shadows of the elms. That he was
watching Frank quickly became evident, but he slowly walked away when
he saw he was observed.
"What a villainous-looking creature he is!" said Inza, in a flutter of
alarm.
"How could you tell at that distance when it is so dark?" half laughed
Frank.
"Oh, it was his general appearance--his black clothes, and that strange
cloak and cape."
To himself Frank confessed that the man had seemed rather more
awe-inspiring when seen through the gathering darkness than he had
appeared near at hand in the stronger light of sunset.
The stranger had moved along the street till swallowed by the darkness
beneath the great trees, but something told the boy he was lingering at
a distance--watching and waiting.
Despite his strong nerves, the boy felt a cold chill creep along his
back. What desperate deed might not the mysterious man in black be
contemplating?
The girl was no less impressed.
"Oh, Frank!" she exclaimed, looking up into his handsome face; "I know
you are in danger--I am sure of it! That dreadful creature means to do
you some injury!"
Seeing how distressed she was, Frank began to feel sorry that he had
told her so much.
"You are nervous," he said. "I shouldn't have told you all this stuff
about the ring and that man."
Her hand fell on his, which rested on the top of the iron gate.
"You did right in telling me," came softly from her lips. "Who should
you have told if not me? We ought not to have secrets from each other."
"I do not fancy we have many secrets that we keep from each other,
Inza," he murmured, leaning toward her over the gate. "You know how I
have trusted you."
"And have I not trusted you, Frank? I have told you all my delightful
little secrets, and I have not told yours to another soul. They say
girls cannot keep secrets, but I think you will find out they can."
"Ah, Inza! you are not like other girls."
"Oh, yes, I am!" she laughed. "You think I am not, but I am. Perhaps
I am a trifle too old for my years, as papa often says; but the
terrible dangers you have rescued me from have been quite enough to add
something to my age."
"In the face of every danger you have been brave as few girls could
have been."
"That's flattery."
"It is the sincere, honest truth. Do you think I would attempt to
flatter you?"
"Frank!"
Their hands met, and he suddenly leaned over the gate and kissed her,
in the dusky twilight. She gave a little cry, as of surprise or
dismay, retreating swiftly; but Frank clung to her hands, and she did
not make a severe struggle to break away, although for a moment there
was a playful mockery of a struggle.
Slowly he drew her back to the gate, but she timidly held away, as if
she were really alarmed.
"How dare you, sir!" she exclaimed, with a toss of her head. "You are
very bold!"
"I beg your pardon," he beseeched, with mock humbleness. "I will agree
not to do it again--till I get another good chance."
"Really! How sacrificing you are! You are extremely free."
"Stolen sweets, you know, are the best. But truly, Inza, hadn't I a
right to that?"
"A right, indeed! Why, to use a slang expression, that is cheek!"
"Never mind the cheek," he said, laughingly. "I prefer the lips."
And then, before she could divine his intention, he kissed her again.
This time she broke away in earnest.
"Good-night, sir," she called, from up the walk.
"Oh, wait a moment!" he implored. "You aren't going to leave me like
this?"
"Oh, but I am."
"How can you!"
"You are getting altogether too free."
She seemed really angry, and a feeling of dismay came over the lad at
the gate.
"Inza!"
She had paused
"Well, sir?"
"Don't go away angry, please! I know I had no right to steal those
kisses, but I am willing to make amends."
"Oh, you are!" she said, wonderingly, and it seemed to Frank that she
was struggling to keep back a burst of laughter. "How will you do it?"
"If you'll come here, I will give them back to you."
That was a master-stroke. A soft laugh came from her lips, and she
returned:
"You are a saucy, cheeky fellow, and I am not coming back. Good-night."
"You are not angry?"
"What's the use to be angry with you!"
"Good-night, Inza."
"Good-night, Frank."
As he turned away down the walk, he saw her pause at the door and heard
her softly call:
"Frank."
"Yes?"
"I don't like to think of you as a thief. I will take those kisses
back some other time."
Then, with another ripple of laughter, she disappeared into the house.
Frank's heart was very light as he walked airily down the street. He
had forgotten the man in black for the time, and he whistled a lively
air, thinking of the charming girl he had left a few moments before.
It had now grown quite dark, for the moon had not yet risen; but there
was a spring-time sweetness in the air, which was not yet enervated by
the languorous heat of summer.
Frank passed beyond the limits of the village, where lights were
twinkling from the windows of the houses, and he swung down the road
toward the cove at a lively gait, still whistling.
At a certain point the road was lined with bushes, and not far away was
the village cemetery.
Frank had reached this lonely locality, when, of a sudden, a feeling of
uneasiness came over him. Somehow it seemed that he was in danger.
Then came a rustle in the bushes, and, the following moment, a dark
form confronted the lad, blocking his path.
Frank recoiled, and through his mind flashed the thought:
"It is the man in black!"
At the same moment, the unknown sprang forward and clutched the lad,
snarling:
"Give me that ring! I will have it! Give it up peaceably, or I will
choke the breath out of your body! Don't shout! It will be the worse
for you if you do!"
Right there and then the man in black met with a great surprise.
Frank grappled with the stranger, and, for some moments, they engaged
in a fierce struggle. At length the boy got the best of it, and, as he
threw the man, he gave his assailant a terrible upper-cut blow.
Having freed himself Frank took to his heels and ran down the road
toward the academy.