Warren and Ivan had so mysteriously appeared, as she thought, to get
her and take her home, her childish heart was filled with a terror so
overwhelming that she did not know what she did. Notwithstanding the
efforts of the woman who held her, she screamed as hard as she could
and stiffened in the woman's brutal grasp until she was obliged to put
her down. Elinor tried to run, but she was too tightly held. Then
with a muttered rush of comments, the woman rained blows on the poor
little shoulders and body until the child sank to the ground, nearly
stunned from the force of the blows. Her cries died, and she lay
gasping.

"Now will you be silent?" demanded the fury, shaking her. "You just
try that again! Just try it, and see what I will do to you." She
overwhelmed the fallen child with terrible threats until Elinor was
silenced and shook as though in a chill.

"Now you had better do as I tell you," the woman said. "You will never
see your brother again, never; never! And you will have to live with
me, and do as I say." She jerked the child to her feet and dragged her
down the street after the two men who had gone on, one of them carrying
Rika.

She was still muttering when she reached them.

"This one has got to be trained," she said savagely; "and I might as
well begin it right off."

Michael shrugged his shoulders. "Why don't you show a little, mercy at
the first?" he inquired carelessly. "It doesn't matter to me, but I
tell you, Martha, you will spoil her for everything if you handle her