CHAPTER IX--POLLY'S MUSCLE
Mr. Maynard was delighted with Eleanor's evident improvement in health,and all fears of the New York climate vanished entirely, before hefinished his visit in New York. He remained a week and then saidgood-by, reminding Mrs. Stewart that she had invited him for theChristmas Holidays. They all laughed because he was welcome, at alltimes, to remain as long as he could.
Regular studies began again after the Thanksgiving Holiday and, with thereopening of the classes, the girls started in on a new line of art atCooper Union. Anne Stewart used to escort the girls to and from theschool on class-nights, but it was such a tiresome trip for her to make,after a hard day at school, and with lessons to go over at home, thatthe girls insisted upon her staying home.
Mr. Fabian generally conducted them home after class, and then went onto his own rooms. As it was hardly dark by seven-thirty, in October andearly November, it was no more hazardous for the two girls to walk orride down to the Square than it would be in the daytime.
But the days were becoming so much shorter after Thanksgiving, that itwas quite dark by six o'clock. Hence Anne worried about their goingdowntown, alone, even though it was but a few blocks.
The second week of class in December, found Mr. Fabian absent. He hadtaken a severe cold and thought better of risking his health in thebitter wind and Scotch mist that night.
Polly and Eleanor did not speak of it to Anne, as she, too, feltwretched that day; and they would rather have stayed at home than havehad her accompany them to night school in her state of health.
"You're not to worry about us, Anne, if we do not come in as early asusual," said Eleanor, upon opening the door to go out.
"Why--where will you be?" asked Anne, instantly.
"Exams. Some of the teachers are testing us in all the work we did thislast term, and we have to write our answers. We may be a full hour laterthan usual; but we'll come uptown, together, so there's nothing to worryabout," explained Polly.
Anne thought she meant Mr. Fabian by "we-all" but Polly meant several ofthe students who lived a few blocks north of the Square.
Both girls were well bundled up in heavy storm coats, mufflers, andclose-fitting woollen caps pulled down over their ears. Besides theirbooks and other materials, they had umbrellas to carry but it was toowindy to open them.
The examination questions proved to be most interesting; and the answersrequired a great deal of careful thought, before describing the varioustypes, methods and ideals of architecture and decoration.
Polly described at large such questions as: "Can you describe thedifferent types that go to make up the Egyptian people?" or thequestion: "How does plant-life affect Egyptian ornament--sketch two suchplants."
"What is a torus molding? Where is echinus molding used? Sketch the cymarecta."
When Polly found the questions: "Describe a scarabaeus," and "Why didancient Egyptians prepare their dead as they did, and describe a mummyand the methods used for its preservation," she was elated, for she hadmade a particular study of these subjects at the Metropolitan Museumwhere the collection of Egyptian antiques is unsurpassed.
There were many other interesting questions, all of which Polly waseager to answer, but time was too limited for her to say all she wishedto. For instance, she wanted to describe, at length, Greek art and theGreek nation that was characteristic for its own type of art andornament.
She was anxious to tell what she knew about color and its importance inart. Of polychromy and what it was. In fact, she needed hours in whichto speak fully of the difference between Greek, Egyptian and Assyrianart and ornament.
Eleanor on her part, wrote graphically of the difference between theArabs and Persians, and how their modes and habits had a correspondingeffect on art. She liked to describe the style of Romanesque art and howit governed all Eastern Europe at one time.
Eleanor leaned to the Moorish classics and had a weakness for Turkishdesigns; she loved the warm coloring used by the Moors in their work,and the harsh bright colors employed by the Turks. She had no hesitationin selecting from samples shown, the Mohammedan designs, the Chinese,the Byzantine, or Arabian patterns. She was expert in stating why thefall of Rome affected all art in Eastern and Western Europe, and whatwas its highest development and its period of all architecture.
It was more than an hour later than usual, when the two girls put awaytheir work and started out for home. The scholars who lived on streetsuptown, had gone long before, and Polly and Eleanor found that the highwind made it impossible for them to open their umbrellas.
"It's so icy we will have to use them as props," laughed Polly.
"My! But this sleet in one's face is cold, isn't it?" gasped Eleanor.
"Let's take a short cut across the Plaza," suggested Polly, breakinginto a run across the diamond that separates the streets at Third andFourth avenues, and Eighth street.
Having reached the small oasis about the subway station, Eleanor said:"Why not take the subway, here, to Twenty-eighth street, Poll?"
"Oh, I hate those subways! This wonderful sleet and the quiet hissing ofthe ice on the windows and walks makes me feel as if I were home. Noclatter of wheels, no shouting of burly men, no _nothing_ that makes acity so horrid. Let's walk all the way home."
"All right," laughed Eleanor. "I'm game!"
So they started up Fourth avenue, past Wanamakers, and were soon lost totheir surroundings in their discussion of the examinations.
"What answer did you give to the question 'Tell the basis of religionsexisting with the Persians and the Arabs: describe the differences,'Polly?"
"I was not quite sure of that, Nolla, but I did make a good thing ofthat question 'Why did Egyptians use bright colors in art?' And alsothat question that read: 'When colors of the pattern contrast with thecolors of the back-ground, what general rule must govern?' You know, Ijust love to ferret out these ideas."
"So do I. But I never dreamed there was so much wonderful knowledge tobe obtained in a course of this kind," said Eleanor, holding her armbefore her face in order to speak distinctly.
They had now reached Eleventh street, and were passing a saloon stillbrightly lighted, in spite of Prohibition Laws. In the doorway loungedthree tough-looking young men; but the red-cheeked girls scarcely sawthem--they were too interested in their conversation. An empty autostood by the curb, but no other vehicle or person was in sight.
When the girls came under the arc of light that reflected from theglobes in the saloon-window, one of the flippant young men said, quiteloud enough for Polly and Eleanor to hear: "I say! Ain't them two goilspeaches, though!"
His two companions laughed rudely, but the girls hastened on without aword or look. Another of the trio then said: "Betcha they'd be glad ofcomp'ny. I'll try it."
Eleanor whispered anxiously to Polly: "What time do you think it is?"
"It was almost eleven when we stopped writing. It must be nearlyeleven-thirty now."
"Pretty late for such a bad night. We'll take the subway at Fourteenthstreet, Polly."
"Reckon we'd better. Are there no policemen about these corners?"
"Not when you need one. On fine summer nights you will see themstrolling about, maybe."
The girls tittered, but instantly hushed when they heard voices directlybehind them.
"Pretty evenin' fer a walk, goils."
No reply was vouchsafed to this remark but the girls kept right on withtheir customary swift gait.
"Ain't che hankerin' fer comp'ny?" chuckled another tough.
"Ah, come on back, fellers. What's th' use foolin' wid a couplahigh-brows on such a nasty night!" argued one of the three.
Polly and Eleanor fervently hoped they would go back, but the otherfellow replied: "G'wan back, if yeh wants. Bill and me er goin' to havesome fun. Come on, Bill."
Polly now glanced at Eleanor and said in a low tone: "Get a good grip onyour umbrella. Thank heavens we haven't any books or papers to carry, aswe usually have."
Then the fellow
called Bill, said: "You amble up to the peacherino onthe outside, whiles I take to the inside one, Andy."
"There's the boss's car waiting fer nuttin. We kin give them a ride--ajoy ride fer us," harshly laughed Andy.
Bill joined in the suggestive laugh, and both girls unconsciouslyhastened their steps.
"No hurry, my pretties. There ain't a cop twixt here an' the saloon onFourteenth street. Don't we'se know this districk? Ha-ha!"
"Ready for a fight, Nolla!" hissed Polly, suddenly wheeling and facingthe accosters.
Eleanor also turned, a second later, and both men were taken bysurprise. Polly's eyes blazed and she gave the roughs such a scornfullook that it should have withered them as they stood there.
"Now you two out-laws turn-about-face and march downtown as fast as youknow how!" commanded she.
"NOW YOU TWO OUT-LAWS TURN-ABOUT-FACE AND MARCH!"COMMANDED POLLY.]
"Ah, ha, Bill! I envy you your choice! She turns out to be a regerlersport. See them eyes shoot fire? Let me have a kiss, me pritty, aforeBill gits them all!" As the fellow Andy spoke insinuatingly, he steppedforward to take hold of Polly.
At the same moment her umbrella swung back over her head and themuscular young arm instantly brought down the heavy metal knob upon thesoft cap that covered the head of the ruffian. The blow was sounexpected, and forceful as well, that it staggered Polly's assailant.
Both men cursed fluently, then, and Bill threatened: "Jus' fer dat,you'se is goin' to get what's comin' to yeh!"
Eleanor wanted to turn and run, but she would not have deserted Pollyfor all the world, so she screamed "Help! Help!" with all herlung-power--and she had plenty of it.
Bill hesitated to attack Eleanor as she yelled and screamed for help,but Andy was raging and tried to close in with Polly. The umbrella wasflung aside, and in another minute Polly launched at his face with aclosed fist. It struck him between the eyes and caused a howl of pain.
Before he could collect himself, the daring girl had struck him anotherfearful blow under the chin. This sent him back flat upon his back, andwhile he was trying to crawl up on his knees, the amateur pugilistturned and sent a blow at Bill. But he had stood gaping at the amazingencounter with his pal, and he now dodged his own undoing.
Eleanor saw her opportunity. She had no time to lift her umbrella for ablow, and it had no solid handle like Polly's, but she fiercely rammedthe steel-capped end of the rod into the pit of the rascal's stomach, sothat, instantly, he buckled up. He sank down groaning while he struggledto get his breath.
Andy was up on his feet again by this time, but Bill was out of thefight, so both girls gave full attention to the second villain. Hefought now, as slum ruffians will, but he was no match for the hardknuckles, steel muscles and lithe movements, of the Rocky Mountain maidwho had grappled with wild animals and had won out.
The groveling Bill now managed to reach out a hand, planning to catchEleanor by the ankle and trip her. But at that moment a silent-runningautomobile slid up to the curb and, at the instant of its stopping, thedoor flew open and a gentleman leaped out. In his hand he pointed arevolver, and Andy immediately threw up both hands.
"W-h-y--Mr. Dalken. Oh, thank goodness you came!" cried Eleanor,trembling nervously.
The chauffeur was standing guard over Bill at the same time, so Mr.Dalken asked frowningly: "What are you girls doing down here at thishour?--all alone, too!"
By this time the truant officer ran over to the group and wanted to knowwhat was wrong. Mr. Dalken turned on him in just anger. "Wrong--why, youwere not on the beat! That's what's wrong."
"But I was--I got a beat bigger than any Fift' avenoo cop what only hasto parade in front of a swell's house."
"You needn't try to bull-doze me, my man. Evidently you fail torecognise me, but we will talk this over at the City Hall, in themorning. Now arrest these two foot-pads." As the officer snappedhand-cuffs on his prisoners, Dalken added, "By the way, why is a saloonopen at this hour--to sell soft drinks?"
The scorn in Mr. Dalken's tone silenced the policeman. "Now, girls, jumpinto the car and I will take you home," offered their rescuer. But theofficer interfered when they would have stepped inside the car.
"Your names, please, and addresses. And how do I know that you will takethese young ladies to their home?" The tone of the man was insulting.
"If it were not for the fact that I want to hurry these children totheir family as quickly as possible, I'd take the keenest pleasure inanswering you in a manner that you'd understand and respect. Now you goabout your tardy business and I will see to mine. Here's my card. Thegirls do not appear in this matter at all. I am the man who caused theruffians' arrest, and I will answer in Court."
Mr. Dalken followed the girls into the car and the driver instantly shotaway; in a short time the car stopped in front of the Studio. As Pollyand Eleanor gratefully took Mr. Dalken's hand, he advised them. "Betternot speak of this affair to anyone--leave it to me to settle. But,hereafter, do not dream of going about so late at night, unattended. Onenever can tell!"
"But we can't expect Anne to trot about with us when she is tired out atnight," explained Eleanor.
"Then use my car on the nights you have to go to school. I'll send downmy Sedan, after this, because the butler understands its tricksthoroughly. He seldom has anything to do on those evenings you go toschool, and he can oblige us by driving that car should I need Henri forthis car."
The girls thanked him again, and then hurried indoors.
"Where _have_ you been so late, dears?" cried Anne, anxiously, as theycame in.
"We told you we would be late," began Polly.
"But it is past twelve, now; I was about to call up the police-stationat Ninth street, and find out if anything had happened."
The two girls laughed and Eleanor pulled Anne's ear playfully, as shesaid: "Now, silly, what could happen to us!"
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