When Cutty saw the man on the floor he knelt quickly. "Nasty bang on

the head, but he's alive. What's this? His cap. Poughkeepsie. By George,

padded with his handkerchief! Must have known something was going to

fall on him. Now, what's it all about?"

"When we get him to my apartment."

"Yours? Good Lord, what's the matter with this?"

"They tried to kill him here. They might return to see if they had

succeeded. They mustn't find where he has gone. I'm strong. I can take

hold of his knees."

"Tut! Neither of us could walk backward over that fire escape. He looks

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husky, but I'll try it. Now obey me without question or comment. You'll

have to help me get him outside the window and in through yours.

Between the two windows I can handle him alone. I only hope we shan't

be noticed, for that might prove awkward. Now take hold. That's it.

When I'm through the window just push his legs outside." Panting, Kitty

obeyed. "All right," said Cutty. "I like your pluck. You run along ahead

and be ready to help me in with him. A healthy beggar! Here goes."

With a heave and a hunch and another heave Cutty stood up, the limp body

disposed scientifically across his shoulders. Kitty was quite impressed

by this exhibition of strength in a man whom she considered as

elderly--old. There was an underthought that such feats of bodily

prowess were reserved for young men. With the naive conceit of

twenty-four she ignored the actual mathematics of fifty years of clean

living and thinking, missed the physiological fact that often men at

fifty are stronger and tougher than men in the twenties. They never

waste energy; their precision of movement and deliberation of thought

conserve the residue against the supreme moment.

As a parenthesis: To a young woman what is a hero? Generally something

conjured out of a book she has read; the unknown, handsome young man

across the street; the leading actor in a society drama; the idol of

the movie. A hero must of necessity be handsome; that is the

first essential. If he happens to be brave and debonair, rich and

aristocratic, so much the better. Somehow, to be brave and to be heroic

are not actually accepted synonyms in certain youthful feminine minds.

For instance, every maid will agree that her father is brave; but tell

her he is a hero because he pays his bills regularly and she will accept

the statement with a smile of tolerant indulgence.




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