CHAPTER XIX.
AN UNEQUAL BATTLE.
“Daisy!” exclaimed Joe Hooker.
His brother gave vent to an exclamation of rage.
“Back!” cried the girl. “You shall not harm him!”
Joe took a step forward, but she glared at him and seemed ready to strike with all her strength.
“I’ll hit you, Joe Hooker, just as quick as anybody else!” she declared. “And I reckon I can lay you out with this bat!”
“Daisy, you don’t mean it!”
“Yes, I do!”
“But—but——”
“You shan’t touch him, I tell ye!” she screamed. “He was my friend. He talked to me better than anybody ever did before. I won’t see him hurt.”