Page:Tales from old Japanese dramas (1915).djvu/188

134 with my parents for the time being. She did not tell you to act in this summary manner!"

"I act in a summary manner?" roared Kosuké wrathfully. "You, a thief, dare to talk to me in that presumptuous manner?"

So crying he struck Hisamatsu a blow which felled him to the ground, and then kicked and trampled upon him.

The horror-struck girl could do nothing but look on trembling and wringing her hands. At this moment Kyūsaku suddenly returned. O-Mitsu rushed to him, crying with joy: "Oh father, help Hisamatsu." Scarcely had she spoken, when the old man seized the ruffian, and threw him with a thud on to the floor.

"You are Kyūsaku!" said Kosuké, rising to his feet. "How rude you are to throw me down, decrepit old man!"

"Ha! Ha!" said Kyūsaku laughing. "How could I, an old man, throw you down, even if I try my hardest? You fell down accidentally! Well, I started this afternoon for Ōsaka by a short route, intending to call at your shop. When I had reached the outskirts of my village, I heard that Hisamatsu and a gentleman had passed there