Page:Lefty o' the Bush.djvu/99

 CHAPTER XVI

BENTON KING AWAKENS

Janet was pale and silent as King drove into town. Glancing at her, he saw that her lips were pressed together, her smooth brow puckered a bit, and her eyes filled with a strange, thoughtful expression. Her hands tightly gripped the handle of her parasol.

"I'm sorry it happened that way, Janet," he said apologetically. "It was thoughtless of me to get caught in that mob, so that you were compelled to suffer the humiliation of witnessing such a brutal spectacle."

"You were not to blame," she returned, in a low, queer voice. "I begged you to wait. I'm glad I did."

"You're what—glad?" he exclaimed, astonished. "It was not a thing for a girl like you to see and hear."

"Still," she declared, "I am glad I saw it. I know now that any man with an atom of manhood in his make-up may sometimes be compelled to fight."