“Go away, please,” she said in a pleading tone. “I have given you a meal, though you had no claim on me. Let that be sufficient.”
“You can't fool me!” he replied roughly. “Bring me the money, or it will be the worse for you.”
“I cannot!” she gasped.
“Then, by Heaven, I'll brain you!”
As he spoke he raised the chair on which he had been sitting and held it in position above his head, ready to bring it down upon the helpless woman.
Then it was that she uttered the piercing scream which brought Walter into the house.
His astonished glance rested on the terrified woman, with her little girl clinging in alarm to her dress, cowering beneath the chair which seemed ready to descend upon her.
Walter did not hesitate a moment. Though the tramp was possessed of twice his strength, he darted forward and grasped him by the arm.
“What are you about?” he demanded sternly.
The tramp turned at the unexpected interference and partially lowered the chair.