"Hello, Reade! My congratulations on your getting out. 'Twas a brave
deed, too, to save that poor woman and her children."
Frank Danes pressed through the crowd about the car, reaching out to
seize Reade's hand.
Into Tom's face flashed a sudden look that few had ever seen there.
It was a look full of contempt that the young chief engineer bent on the
man who had greeted him.
"Your hand!" cried Danes, in a voice ringing with admiration.
"Don't you touch me!" warned Reade, his voice vibrating with anger.
"Why--what--" began Danes, then reached his own right hand for Tom's.
"Make way for this 'gentleman' to fall!" roared Reade, then swung a
crushing blow that landed squarely in Danes's face.
The latter went down in a heap.
There had been no explanation of the seemingly unprovoked blow, but the
crowd surged forward, snatching Danes's body up as though he were
something of which these men were anxious to be rid.
"Did he set the hotel afire?" demanded one man in husky tones.
Pages:
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190