, and seem to listen, and
then go on, and repeat the same manoeuvre after you had crossed the
street. We had stopped under a tree, and close against the wall nearly
opposite that bootblack's stand; and we meant to cross and surprise
you, when all at once out from behind that platform sprang someone. I
gave a yell, and we heard you go down. I ran to you, and Lossing ran
and fired after the fellow, who cut across the open ground. I called
him back when I saw that you were insensible, and the next minute this
officer came up. He ran to this place (lucky it is so near), and
brought the cot, and here you are. Can you remember? Did you hear me
call?'

'Y--yes,' I said slowly, 'I--I think I tried to turn.'

'And that saved you, no doubt,' declared the druggist. 'The fellow
meant to do you deadly hurt--the weapon shows that. He meant to strike
you lower, across the back of the neck; but, at the call, you turned,
just as he had taken aim, and as a result you received the blow on the
back of the skull, the thickest part; and it struck with less than
half its force, glancing away as your head moved sidewise. It was most
fortunate for you.'

And now, as I began to think and remember, I knew that Miss Jenrys
would be waiting anxiously, and that delay would mean for her, in the
mood in which I had left her, a time of terrible suspense.

I brought myself to a sitting posture, and then got upon my feet,
rather weakly. The druggist touched my wrist again.

'If you'll take my advice,' he said, 'you will stay right here for the
night. I have a comfortable room at the back here, and I think, by
keeping up an application during the night, a cooling and healing
lotion that will keep out inflammation, you will come out in the
morning with nothing worse than a sore and tender skull to show for
your encounter. I am a regular physician--you'll be quite safe with
me.'

I accepted his courtesy as frankly as he had proffered it, and then,
while he busied himself preparing the cooling lotion, I told Dave how
I had promised to return, and that Miss Jenrys must not be kept longer
in expectation. I did not tell him why I had left the house, to return
again so soon, and Dave was not the man to question.

'Tell her,' I said, 'that all is right. She will understand; and later
I will explain to you. And tell her I find that I must delay the
reading of that letter until to-morrow morning; that it is a purely
personal matter that detains me, and tha