With a cry of horror Ethel caught his collar in both hands, trying to drag him off.
But Kay resisted all the efforts of her puny strength, and the contest must have ended in a tragedy but for a sudden happening.
From within the closed and locked door where Kay had been struggling to effect an entrance sounded a low, clear, eager voice:
"Kay! Kay! come to Precious!"
The woman on the floor was kicking, struggling, shrieking, and the dog, with his paws on her breast had his fangs at her throat, but at that sweet, clear voice everything changed on the instant.
The dog, with his jaws wide open, emitted a howl of savage joy, and leaped upward to the height of a man, then turned from the woman and back to the door. His victim scrambled to her feet, her garments hanging in tatters, her face ashy pale and absolutely fiendish, but before she could utter a word she saw Ethel come up to her with blazing eyes.
The girl cried sternly:
"My sister is in that room. Open the door this instant, I command you."
"I will not obey you!"