Tony turned to the girl. "You mustn't be mixed up in a street fight," he said. "If you will allow me to see you to a taxi, my friend here will prevent these unpleasant looking people from following us."
He offered her his arm, and after a second's hesitation she laid a small gloved hand upon his sleeve.
"It is very kind of you," she faltered. "I fear I am going to give you a great deal of trouble."
"Not a bit," replied Tony. "I love interfering in other people's affairs."
With a swift stride the cross-eyed gentleman thrust himself across their path.
"No, no!" he exclaimed vehemently. "You must not listen to this man. You——"
With a powerful thrust of his disengaged arm Tony sent him staggering back to the edge of the pavement, where he stumbled over the curb and sat down heavily in the gutter.
His companion, seeing his fall, gave a guttural cry of anger and lifting the light stick that he was carrying lashed out savagely at Bugg. As coolly as if he were in the ring the latter ducked under the blow, and coming up with a beautiful straight left knocked his assailant spinning against the lamp-post.
