"I beg your pardon—" His tone was conventionally contrite, but he broke off in unfeigned surprise when she raised her head. "Why, Miss Shaw!"
It was the young man from the museum!
"Mr. Ross!" she gasped. "How stupid of me! I must have run full tilt into you."
"I'm not seriously injured," he assured her gravely, although his eyes twinkled. "But you were going at a most extraordinary pace. Tell me what villian was pursuing you and I will cheerfully annihiliate him."
Betty laughed with a note of sheer hysteria in her trembling tones.
"I have an appointment for which I am late." She lowered her tell-tale eyes. "I did not see you coming and the long deserted avenue tempted me to run for it. I—I cannot wait—"
"You are a long way from home." He had caught the dismayed, hunted look which she cast involuntarily over her shoulder. "If anyone has annoyed or frightened you, won't you allow me to walk with you to your destination?"
"Oh, no!" Her alarm at the suggestion was unmistakable. "Thank you, but I shall be quite all right, and I must go on alone. Nothing frightened me, Mr. Ross, I was only surprised at meeting you so unexpectedly in this part of town."
"And the Egyptian translation?" He was studying her face.
"I will bring it to you on Tuesday. Good bye."