"Wow!" sputtered Eph, angrily. "We'll see about that."
On the run Somers went down the short block. The bully, hearing him come, turned for a look, then darted away down the side street.
"I—I beg your pardon," stammered Eph, as the young woman turned, flashing a look at him through a thin veil. "I—I don't want to interfere, but—"
"I'm very glad you did, sir," responded the young woman, in a voice whose sweetness charmed the submarine boy. "That wretch—"
"I wonder if I can overtake him and thrash him," pondered Eph, glancing down the side street. The bully had disappeared.
"Oh, don't think of that," begged the girl, in a quick, anxious way. "I don't want to set people's tongues to wagging."
"No; of course not," Eph assented, quickly.
"But, if you will escort me safe home—"
"Gladly, miss," nodded young Somers, again lifting his cap.
"Oh, that will be so kind of you," she murmured. "For I am afraid Tom might be waiting for me, on the way to my home—"