"Hey!" he boomed.

Mrs. Porter turned her gaze upon him, her cold, steely gaze.

"I beg your pardon?"

"This won't do, ma'am. I've me report to make. How did this happen?"

"You have already been informed. The man ran into my automobile."

"But----"

"I shall not charge him."

She turned and followed Kirk.

"But, say----" The policeman's voice was now almost plaintive.

Mrs. Porter ignored him and disappeared into the house. The policeman,
having gulped several times in a disconsolate way, relieved his
feelings by dispersing the crowd with well-directed prods of his locust
stick. A small boy who lingered, squeezing the automobile's hooter, in
a sort of trance he kicked. The boy vanished. The crowd melted. The
policeman walked slowly toward Ninth Avenue. Peace reigned in the
street.

"Put him to bed," said Mrs. Porter, as Kirk laid his burden on a couch
in the studio. "You seem exceedingly muscular, Mr. Winfield. I noticed
that you carried him without an effort. He is a stout man, too. Grossly