Mr. Maynard was delighted with Eleanor's evident improvement in health,
and all fears of the New York climate vanished entirely, before he
finished his visit in New York. He remained a week and then said
good-by, reminding Mrs. Stewart that she had invited him for the
Christmas Holidays. They all laughed because he was welcome, at all
times, to remain as long as he could.
Regular studies began again after the Thanksgiving Holiday and, with the
reopening of the classes, the girls started in on a new line of art at
Cooper Union. Anne Stewart used to escort the girls to and from the
school on class-nights, but it was such a tiresome trip for her to make,
after a hard day at school, and with lessons to go over at home, that
the girls insisted upon her staying home.
Mr. Fabian generally conducted them home after class, and then went on
to his own rooms. As it was hardly dark by seven-thirty, in October and
early November, it was no more hazardous for the two girls to walk or
ride down to the Square than it would be in the daytime.
But the days were becoming so much shorter after Thanksgiving, that it
was quite dark by six o'clock. Hence Anne worried about their going
downtown, alone, even though it was but a few blocks.
The second week of class in December, found Mr. Fabian absent. He had
taken a severe cold and thought better of risking his health in the
bitter wind and Scotch mist that night.
Polly and Eleanor did not speak of it to Anne, as she, too, felt
wretched that day; and they would rather have stayed at home than have
had her accompany them to night school in her state of health.
"You're not to worry about us, Anne, if we do not come in as early as
usual," said Eleanor, upon opening the door to go out.
"Why--where will you be?" asked Anne, instantly.
"Exams. Some of the teachers are testing us in all the work we did this
last term, and we have to write our answers. We may be a full hour later
than usual; but we'll come uptown, together, so there's nothing to worry
about," explained Polly.
Anne thought she meant Mr. Fabian by "we-all" but Polly meant several of
the students who lived a few blocks north of the Square.
Both girls were well bundled up in heavy storm coats, mufflers, and
close-fitting woollen caps pulled down over their ears. Besides their
books and other materials, they had umbrellas to carry but it was too
windy to open them.
The examination questions proved to be most interesting; and the answers
required a great deal of careful thought, before describing the various
types, methods and ideals of architecture and decoration.
Polly described at large such questions as: "Can you describe the
different types that go to make up the Egyptian people?" or the
question: "How does plant-life affect Egyptian ornament--sketch two such
plants."
"What is a torus molding? Where is echinus molding used? Sketch the cyma
recta."
When Polly found the questions: "Describe a scarabæus," and "Why did
ancient Egyptians prepare their dead as they did, and describe a mummy
and the methods used for its preservation," she was elated, for she had
made a particular study of these subjects at the Metropolitan Museum
where the collection of Egyptian antiques is unsurpassed.
There were many other interesting questions, all of which Polly was
eager to answer, but time was too limited for her to say all she wished
to. For instance, she wanted to describe, at length, Greek art and the
Greek nation that was characteristic for its own type of art and
ornament.
She was anxious to tell what she knew about color and its importance in
art. Of polychromy and what it was. In fact, she needed hours in which
to speak fully of the difference between Greek, Egyptian and Assyrian
art and ornament.
Eleanor on her part, wrote graphically of the difference between the
Arabs and Persians, and how their modes and habits had a corresponding
effect on art. She liked to describe the style of Romanesque art and how
it governed all Eastern Europe at one time.
Eleanor leaned to the Moorish classics and had a weakness for Turkish
designs; she loved the warm coloring used by the Moors in their work,
and the harsh bright colors employed by the Turks. She had no hesitation
in selecting from samples shown, the Mohammedan designs, the Chinese,
the Byzantine, or Arabian patterns. She was expert in stating why the
fall of Rome affected all art in Eastern and Western Europe, and what
was its highest development and its period of all architecture.
It was more than an hour later than usual, when the two girls put away
their work and started out for home. The scholars who lived on streets
uptown, had gone long before, and Polly and Eleanor found that the high
wind made it impossible for them to open their umbrellas.
"It's so icy we will have to use them as props," laughed Polly.
"My! But this sleet in one's face is cold, isn't it?" gasped Eleanor.
"Let's take a short cut across the Plaza," suggested Polly, breaking
into a run across the diamond that separates the streets at Third and
Fourth avenues, and Eighth street.
Having reached the small oasis about the subway station, Eleanor said:
"Why not take the subway, here, to Twenty-eighth street, Poll?"
"Oh, I hate those subways! This wonderful sleet and the quiet hissing of
the ice on the windows and walks makes me feel as if I were home. No
clatter of wheels, no shouting of burly men, no _nothing_ that makes a
city so horrid. Let's walk all the way home."
"All right," laughed Eleanor. "I'm game!"
So they started up Fourth avenue, past Wanamakers, and were soon lost to
their surroundings in their discussion of the examinations.
"What answer did you give to the question 'Tell the basis of religions
existing with the Persians and the Arabs: describe the differences,'
Polly?"
"I was not quite sure of that, Nolla, but I did make a good thing of
that question 'Why did Egyptians use bright colors in art?' And also
that question that read: 'When colors of the pattern contrast with the
colors of the back-ground, what general rule must govern?' You know, I
just love to ferret out these ideas."
"So do I. But I never dreamed there was so much wonderful knowledge to
be obtained in a course of this kind," said Eleanor, holding her arm
before her face in order to speak distinctly.
They had now reached Eleventh street, and were passing a saloon still
brightly lighted, in spite of Prohibition Laws. In the doorway lounged
three tough-looking young men; but the red-cheeked girls scarcely saw
them--they were too interested in their conversation. An empty auto
stood by the curb, but no other vehicle or person was in sight.
When the girls came under the arc of light that reflected from the
globes in the saloon-window, one of the flippant young men said, quite
loud enough for Polly and Eleanor to hear: "I say! Ain't them two goils
peaches, though!"
His two companions laughed rudely, but the girls hastened on without a
word or look. Another of the trio then said: "Betcha they'd be glad of
comp'ny. I'll try it."
Eleanor whispered anxiously to Polly: "What time do you think it is?"
"It was almost eleven when we stopped writing. It must be nearly
eleven-thirty now."
"Pretty late for such a bad night. We'll take the subway at Fourteenth
street, Polly."
"Reckon we'd better. Are there no policemen about these corners?"
"Not when you need one. On fine summer nights you will see them
strolling about, maybe."
The girls tittered, but instantly hushed when they heard voices directly
behind them.
"Pretty evenin' fer a walk, goils."
No reply was vouchsafed to this remark but the girls kept right on with
their customary swift gait.
"Ain't che hankerin' fer comp'ny?" chuckled another tough.
"Ah, come on back, fellers. What's th' use foolin' wid a coupla
high-brows on such a nasty night!" argued one of the three.
Polly and Eleanor fervently hoped they would go back, but the other
fellow replied: "G'wan back, if yeh wants. Bill and me er goin' to have
some fun. Come on, Bill."
Polly now glanced at Eleanor and said in a low tone: "Get a good grip on
your umbrella. Thank heavens we haven't any books or papers to carry, as
we usually have."
Then the fellow called Bill, said: "You amble up to the peacherino on
the outside, whiles I take to the inside one, Andy."
"There's the boss's car waiting fer nuttin. We kin give them a ride--a
joy ride fer us," harshly laughed Andy.
Bill joined in the suggestive laugh, and both girls unconsciously
hastened their steps.
"No hurry, my pretties. There ain't a cop twixt here an' the saloon on
Fourteenth street. Don't we'se know this districk? Ha-ha!"
"Ready for a fight, Nolla!" hissed Polly, suddenly wheeling and facing
the accosters.
Eleanor also turned, a second later, and both men were taken by
surprise. Polly's eyes blazed and she gave the roughs such a scornful
look that it should have withered them as they stood there.
"Now you two out-laws turn-about-face and march downtown as fast as you
know how!" commanded she.
[Illustration: "NOW YOU TWO OUT-LAWS TURN-ABOUT-FACE AND MARCH!"
COMMANDED POLLY.]
"Ah, ha, Bill! I envy you your choice! She turns out to be a regerler
sport. See them eyes shoot fire? Let me have a kiss, me pritty, afore
Bill gits them all!" As the fellow Andy spoke insinuatingly, he stepped
forward to take hold of Polly.
At the same moment her umbrella swung back over her head and the
muscular young arm instantly brought down the heavy metal knob upon the
soft cap that covered the head of the ruffian. The blow was so
unexpected, and forceful as well, that it staggered Polly's assailant.
Both men cursed fluently, then, and Bill threatened: "Jus' fer dat,
you'se is goin' to get what's comin' to yeh!"
Eleanor wanted to turn and run, but she would not have deserted Polly
for all the world, so she screamed "Help! Help!" with all her
lung-power--and she had plenty of it.
Bill hesitated to attack Eleanor as she yelled and screamed for help,
but Andy was raging and tried to close in with Polly. The umbrella was
flung aside, and in another minute Polly launched at his face with a
closed fist. It struck him between the eyes and caused a howl of pain.
Before he could collect himself, the daring girl had struck him another
fearful blow under the chin. This sent him back flat upon his back, and
while he was trying to crawl up on his knees, the amateur pugilist
turned and sent a blow at Bill. But he had stood gaping at the amazing
encounter with his pal, and he now dodged his own undoing.
Eleanor saw her opportunity. She had no time to lift her umbrella for a
blow, and it had no solid handle like Polly's, but she fiercely rammed
the steel-capped end of the rod into the pit of the rascal's stomach, so
that, instantly, he buckled up. He sank down groaning while he struggled
to get his breath.
Andy was up on his feet again by this time, but Bill was out of the
fight, so both girls gave full attention to the second villain. He
fought now, as slum ruffians will, but he was no match for the hard
knuckles, steel muscles and lithe movements, of the Rocky Mountain maid
who had grappled with wild animals and had won out.
The groveling Bill now managed to reach out a hand, planning to catch
Eleanor by the ankle and trip her. But at that moment a silent-running
automobile slid up to the curb and, at the instant of its stopping, the
door flew open and a gentleman leaped out. In his hand he pointed a
revolver, and Andy immediately threw up both hands.
"W-h-y--Mr. Dalken. Oh, thank goodness you came!" cried Eleanor,
trembling nervously.
The chauffeur was standing guard over Bill at the same time, so Mr.
Dalken asked frowningly: "What are you girls doing down here at this
hour?--all alone, too!"
By this time the truant officer ran over to the group and wanted to know
what was wrong. Mr. Dalken turned on him in just anger. "Wrong--why, you
were not on the beat! That's what's wrong."
"But I was--I got a beat bigger than any Fift' avenoo cop what only has
to parade in front of a swell's house."
"You needn't try to bull-doze me, my man. Evidently you fail to
recognise me, but we will talk this over at the City Hall, in the
morning. Now arrest these two foot-pads." As the officer snapped
hand-cuffs on his prisoners, Dalken added, "By the way, why is a saloon
open at this hour--to sell soft drinks?"
The scorn in Mr. Dalken's tone silenced the policeman. "Now, girls, jump
into the car and I will take you home," offered their rescuer. But the
officer interfered when they would have stepped inside the car.
"Your names, please, and addresses. And how do I know that you will take
these young ladies to their home?" The tone of the man was insulting.
"If it were not for the fact that I want to hurry these children to
their family as quickly as possible, I'd take the keenest pleasure in
answering you in a manner that you'd understand and respect. Now you go
about your tardy business and I will see to mine. Here's my card. The
girls do not appear in this matter at all. I am the man who caused the
ruffians' arrest, and I will answer in Court."
Mr. Dalken followed the girls into the car and the driver instantly shot
away; in a short time the car stopped in front of the Studio. As Polly
and Eleanor gratefully took Mr. Dalken's hand, he advised them. "Better
not speak of this affair to anyone--leave it to me to settle. But,
hereafter, do not dream of going about so late at night, unattended. One
never can tell!"
"But we can't expect Anne to trot about with us when she is tired out at
night," explained Eleanor.
"Then use my car on the nights you have to go to school. I'll send down
my Sedan, after this, because the butler understands its tricks
thoroughly. He seldom has anything to do on those evenings you go to
school, and he can oblige us by driving that car should I need Henri for
this car."
The girls thanked him again, and then hurried indoors.
"Where _have_ you been so late, dears?" cried Anne, anxiously, as they
came in.
"We told you we would be late," began Polly.
"But it is past twelve, now; I was about to call up the police-station
at Ninth street, and find out if anything had happened."
The two girls laughed and Eleanor pulled Anne's ear playfully, as she
said: "Now, silly, what could happen to us!"