"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--"

"If he gets within hailing distance," uttered Eph, valiantly, "I'll plant
a torpedo fist under him!"