“Not without that money. Sit down,” he commanded gruffly as the girl half rose from her seat.
Jeanne cast a wild, imploring look about her for help and sank back in her seat despairingly, for the passengers seemed intent upon other concerns, and the noise of the train prevented the conversation from being overheard.
“Are you going to hand out that money?”
“Ye-es,” faltered Jeanne, reaching for her purse.
“What do you mean by frightening this girl?” demanded a voice, and a hand was laid upon the ruffian’s shoulder. “Get out of my seat, you rascal, or I’ll have you thrown off the car.”
A cry of delight escaped Jeanne’s lips as she saw that the man who had come to her assistance was the old gentleman who had bought the handkerchiefs from her during the fair.
“I–I did not mean any harm,” stammered the fellow, resigning the seat with alacrity. “I was jest trying ter scare the girl a little.”
“Well, let me catch you ‘jest trying ter scare her,’ any more, and it will be the worse for you,” cried the old gentleman threateningly. “Now clear out, and let me see no more of you.”
The fellow slunk off and her friend in need took the seat by Jeanne’s side.
“That fellow was annoying you terribly, was he not?”