But at the foot of the steps somebody blocked the way. Louise Carey had flung herself between.
"It's not fair, and you shan't!" she cried.
The astonished mob wavered in indecision.
"'Not fair?'" echoed Luke with a jeer.
"No," stormed Louise. "We didn't ask him to come under the flag, and you shan't make him do it!"
"We'll see about that—" began Luke.
"That we will!" put in Jimmie Fisher, but it was not to Louise that he spoke. He was talking to Luke, and he planted himself protectingly in front of Louise and the little German, and faced the third-grade bully. Never before in her life had Louise realized how beautiful was a shock of bristling red hair.
The third-grade bully was growling now, but in a decidedly lower key.
"Now, then"—Jimmie was speaking to Louise this time—"you are bossing this game. Say what you want done with that—that—" and he looked at the frightened Rudolph.
Louise glanced up at the flag. It was floating now—broad and free enough to cover all who might come.