Page:Arthur Stringer - The Door of Dread.djvu/291

 Again her revolt against indignity was prompt and instinctive. She felt the odious hand padding impersonally about her body, in search for a possible weapon. Those bruskly interrogative fingers seemed to her as beastialbestial [sic] as the slathering of a snake about her helpless limbs. And she fought against them with all the strength that was left to her.

The big man beside her tightened his grip. "Quit that!" he warned her, "or you'll quit breathing!"

And again the great hand cupped over her face and shut off her breath. And again she was compelled to subside.

"Nothin' doin grunted the smaller man when the exploration was completed. He sat back in the seat again, linking his arm dexterously through the girl's so that any further movement of her hand was impossible. Then the big man on her left did the same. She felt at least grateful for being able to breathe again. But she was held as tightly between the two bodies on each side of her as though she had been strapped in a straight-jacket. She had no clear knowledge of where the hurrying taxicab was threading its way. She knew that they had turned, and turned again. The lights seemed