He was a little fellow, but he seemed suddenly to take on heroic proportions. He whipped open his tightly buttoned coat and drew out an envelope.
“Here’s a letter—do you dare tell me you didn’t write it—an unsigned typewritten letter to the quartermaster-general. I knew instantly where it had come from.”
“I never saw it before; it’s a put-up job,” declared Balcomb, though not in a tone that carried conviction.
“My chief sent it to me,” continued Pollock, “with his indorsement, ‘Better find this fellow and punch his head.’ And now, by the great Lord Harry, I’m going to obey orders!”
Balcomb ducked under Leighton’s arm and bolted for the door, but as his hand found the knob Pollock seized him by the collar and flung him back against the ground-glass partition with a force that shook it.
“Leighton,” said Pollock in his blandest tones, as he held Balcomb against the partition at the end of his stick, “I’ve told you, and probably some of the adjoining tenants have heard me, that Mr. Balcomb is a liar. I wish to add now that he is a coward. Stand up!” he commanded, letting his stick fall, and Balcomb, thus released, made another rush for the door, only to be seized again by the little captain.
Leighton had tried up to this time to keep a straight face, but Balcomb was so clearly frightened to the point of panic that Morris sat down and laughed. Pollock, however, was as grave as an adjutant on parade, and he continued to address Leighton:
“He is a contemptible coward, and I want to warn him before a witness that if he ever appears at any place where I am—I don’t care where or when—I’ll rise and proclaim him. Now get out before I break my stick on you!”
He turned away from Balcomb, who seized the moment to dart into the anteroom, where the two young women stood huddled together, and began giving them orders with a great deal of unnecessary vehemence. Leighton and Pollock followed at once, passing through the anteroom at a leisurely pace set by Pollock. At the outer door the captain paused, lifted his hat with a mockery of courtesy to Balcomb’s back, and remarked in a pleasant tone:
“Good day, Mr. Balcomb. If you should ever need anything in my line please give me the pleasure of a call.”