Sydney saw Walter secretly urge the big fellow on.
The conductor was not afraid. He stopped the car right there, opened the gates, and collared the aggressor.
But the students stood by their mate, and it would have gone hard with the conductor if one or two men had not risen quickly and faced them.
“You get off the car or we’ll help him put you off!” said one, a well known banker, a man of power in the city.
The big fellow, seeing opposition was useless, stepped down, calling to the others to follow; but the conductor shut the gates, rang two bells, and again ordered the young men forward.
“Buckman, you get forward there,” the same authoritative passenger ordered. “You’re the ringleader.” And to the lady of the torn dress he said, indicating Max, “This young man is not at fault; it was those behind him. I saw them.”
“Stop at the next corner,” ordered Walter.
The conductor was about to ring when the same man of authority said, “Conductor, go on.” And to the boys, “You young ruffians, get up forward there as ordered!”
“You can’t do that,” Walter began; “we’ll have an action against the company. You can’t prevent a passenger getting off at any street he wants.”