McClure's Magazine/Volume 55/Number 5/Colette Cries Help!

by Herman Cyril McNeile

 

Colette Cares Help!

And Jim Maitland Comes to the Rescue of a Damsel in Distress

By Major H. C. McNeile
illustrations by G. W. Gage

JIM MAITLAND, with a slightly puzzled frown on his face, sat staring at the contents of a letter which had arrived by the morning mail. At the opposite end of the table his wife was endeavoring to cope with young Jim's healthy breakfast appetite, a whole-time job of such magnitude that she failed to notice her husband's preoccupation. And it was only his sudden exclamation that made her look up.

“Why, by all the powers, it's little Colette! Dick—you remember Colette?”

I racked my brains unavailingly for a moment or two, until his next words brought back the whole episode to my mind.

“Colette—the girl from MacTavert's saloon. And look at her here, with a stout-hearted husband and twins all complete.”

Then he looked more closely at the picture he held in his hand, and the frown deepened. Without a word he passed the photograph across to me, and then he gave a little grunt.

“Notice anything?” he asked.

It was evidently the family group, taken by a local photographer and mounted on a picture postcard. Sitting on a chair was a girl—a pretty girl, with happiness written all over her face, and on her lap were two remarkably healthy-looking infants. Standing behind her was the proud father, arrayed in his best clothes, and with a collar half an inch too small and an inch and a half too high. But it was at something else that I was looking—something too obvious to escape attention, the something which had caused the frown to deepen on Jim's face.

“And who may Colette be?” asked his wife.

I handed her the postcard, and she glanced at it.

“What a pretty girl!” she said. “But what on earth is the matter with the poor girl's right arm?”

Jim and I looked at one another, and he smiled gravely.

Illustration: We walked quickly along, the girl between us. As far as I could see the street was deserted and I breathed more freely

“You have persuaded Dick into making an ass of himself on paper, my dear,” he remarked. “You get him to tell you the story of how Colette had her arm splintered to pieces in MacTavert's dancing saloon in Valparaiso. How many times I've thought of that girl's pluck.”

He pushed back his chair and strolled toward the window, pausing on the way to kiss his wife.

“You wouldn't have had that kiss, Sheila, if it hadn't been for Colette's broken arm. In fact, you wouldn't have had me for a husband at all,” he added.

“Do you mean that she saved your life?“ said his wife, looking at the picture with renewed interest.

“As surely as that I've just had breakfast,” he answered gravely.

She glanced at me and I nodded.

“All right, Mrs. Jim,” I said. “You shall hear about it. She saved mine, too.”

THE thing happened in MacTavert's bar. Incidentally, it was more than a mere bar; flamboyant notices and flaring lights in the street outside proclaimed it to be a dancing saloon. And even that fell short of the full truth, for Bully MacTavert knew—none better—the principal source of income from sailors just in from a voyage. When a man has taken forty days to get a wind-jammer merely around the Horn, on top of the rest of the voyage, and has then beaten up the west coast of South America toward Valparaiso, it isn't only drink he wants. When the second officer, with a marlinespike in his hand as an adjunct to speech, has discharged every possible member of the crew to save the wage bill while unloading and loading, men are apt to run a bit wild. There's money to burn in their pockets, and when it's finished a crew will be wanted for some other boat. Until then—there are women.

That was MacTavert's principal line. It means a quicker return for your money, and not such a rapid depreciation of stock. Not that MacTavert laid out much money to start with; there are quicker and surer ways into which is perhaps better not to enter. And MacTavert was a past master in all of them. Once a girl was there, God help her!—for she was beyond human aid. She was MacTavert's property, body and soul, and as such she did his bidding for the price of her keep.

FOR MacTavert was fe no believer in letting them have any money. Money makes for independence, and independence was the last thing he wished to encourage. He fed them, he housed them, bought them their tawdry finery, because that was a good investment.

But as for money no; that was his side of contract. They could be bought like his rink—no credit allowed—and MacTavert pocketed the cash.

Not often does one find a man so completely dead to every sense of human decency as he was. Originally, as his name implied, he was a Scotsman. Just about forty-eight years ago he had first seen the light of day in a Glasgow slum. There may be kind-hearted people who will say that he never had a chance; maybe he didn't.

Born and nurtured in the gutter, at ten years old he was a man in vice, or, at any rate, in his knowledge of it. At fifteen he went to sea in the three-masted brig Celandine, and Glasgow saw him no more. At thirty he decided that he could do better for himself than seafaring, and, helped by a strong will, an utterly unscrupulous character, and an intimate knowledge of what seamen wanted when they came ashore, he started on his own in Valparaiso.

Illustration: For a moment I thought MacTavert would murder the girl. His great hands shot out toward her, and she shrank back, terrified. And then Jim spoke again

He began in a smell way; perhaps the only Scotch trace left to him save his name was an unusual canniness about money. During those fifteen years when he roamed the seven seas from Newfoundland to Australia, from China to Suez, he managed to save a little out of his pay, which he had banked here and there all over the globe. And when he finally gave up the life and decided on Valparaiso as the scene of his future operations, he found that he had quite a respectable sum which he could draw on for capital.

He chose Valparaiso obviously because the majority of shipping there is American, and the American sailor is paid higher wages. Trifles like that told with MacTavert.

And now, eighteen years later, the small, stuffy saloon in which he had started had grown into a big, garish dancing hall, while its owner, heavy jowled and gross, looked on his creation with beady eyes and found it good.

MacTavert's clientele remained the same, but many more could be accommodated. And further, a very lucrative side show had developed gradually during the last few years. Tourists, anxious to see the sights, as they put it, were apt to be escorted there by specially selected touts of his own—people who paid anything up to ten times the regular tariff without a murmur. And MacTavert himself would welcome the poor fools with an expansive smile, which displayed his yellow crooked teeth to full advantage.

It was one of these touts who approached Jim and me before dinner. Neither of us knew Valparaiso, and we were at a loose end, but that tout had “tout” written altogether too largely all over him. So Jim, with commendable brevity, consigned him to his undoubted future destination, and we turned back toward our hotel for a cocktail before dinner.

And then there occured one of those things which a man ignores or does not ignore, according to the particular brand he is. When a woman gives a little cry for help, it is as often as not advisable to continue one's stroll and leave matters to be dealt with by the proper authorities. Ulterior motives have been known to be behind such cries.

NOT, however, for Jim. He was perfectly capable of dealing with ulterior motives should they arise, and, until they arose, he was of the brand who emphatically does not ignore. He swung round, and the next instant I was standing alone. And when I came up with him again, the tout who had recently accosted us was struggling impotently in his firm grasp, and Jim was staring at a girl who was standing on the pavement beyond. She was a pretty little thing, but what struck me most was the look of terror in her eyes as she glanced at the man whom Jim was holding.

“Can I help you in any way?” said Jim, in Spanish. “I thought I heard you call out.”

She looked at Jim, and her mouth drooped.

“It doesn't matter,” she said, in despair. “At first I thought you were English.”

Jim smiled.

“I most certainly am,” he answered, and the girl's face lit up once more. “I must blame the bad light for failing to see that you are, too.” Then he looked at the man who was still struggling in his grasp. “And that being the case,” he continued, “how comes it that this man made you cry out for help? Touts who do anything so foolish as to molest English girls are simply asking for trouble, aren't they, you repulsive little beast?”

The man squirmed and twisted in his hands, and Jim smiled placidly. Then he took him by the collar and the seat of his trousers and fairly slung him across the road. He lay for a moment where he fell; then, with a look of venomous hate on his face, he vanished down the road, and Jim turned back to the girl.

“Now, what can I do for you?” he asked gently.

SHE had been gazing at him in admiration, and now she clapped her hands together.

“Oh, but you're strong!” she said, and her eyes were shining. “That little brute ought to be killed. He's one of MacTavert's men.”

“So I gathered,” said Jim quietly. “In fact, a little while ago he was suggesting to my friend and me that we should go to MacTavert's place this evening.”

The girl shuddered, and once again the look of terror came into her eyes. She began to speak a little breathlessly, touching Jim's arm every now and then with her hand.

“It's an awful place—a ghastly place. And when I saw you, somehow I knew you were English, and I followed you. I thought perhaps you might be able to help me. That's why that little brute tried to interfere—to keep me from speaking to you.”

“But why should he object to your speaking to us?” asked Jim, looking a trifle puzzled. “What has he got to do with you, anyway?”

“I'm in the most dreadful trouble,” said the girl, and her line were trembling. “You see, I'm at MacTavert's.”

“You're at MacTavert's?” repeated Jim slowly. “But I don't understand. Why are you at such a place?”

“I was told to go there last night. I had no money, and I met a woman who said she could give me a room, and it didn't matter about paying her. And then I found that it was at this awful dancing saloon.”

It was all a little incoherent, and Jim looked at her gravely.

“Then why not go away?” he said at length. “Surely there must be a British chaplain here, or somebody to whom you could apply.”

“But I can't find my box, or any of my things.” The girl was on the verge of tears. “They've taken them away and hidden them. And I don't know any one in this horrible town, and I can't speak Spanish.”

“I see,” said Jim quietly, and his eyes were very gentle. “I see. Well, what do you want me to do?”

“If only I could tell you my story!” she cried. “But it's getting late, and I haven't time now. I must get back, or that brute will discover I've gone out, and get in a rage. You see, he told me I wasn't to go out unless he said I might. Oh, if you could come to the place to-night, and tell MacTavert you want to dance with me——That's what I have to do, you see: dance with any one who wants me to. Then I could tell you. And perhaps you could help me.”

SHE was looking up at Jim through eyes that were swimming with tears, and Jim smiled at her reassuringly.

“All right, kid,” he said quietly. “We'll come, and you shall tell us all about it. And then we'll see what we can do.”

“Oh, thank you a thousand times!” cried the girl, dabbing at her eves with a handkerchief. “I think I should have drowned myself if I hadn't seen you passing by. You know where it is, don't you? Just down the road there.”

“We'll find it,” said Jim. “Now you trot along. By the way, what is your name?”

“Colette,” said the girl simply, and she gave Jim a look such as a dog gives its master. And then she was gone, flitting like a shadow through the trees that lined the road.

For a few moments Jim watched her; then he turned to me.

“I may be a fool, Dick,” he remarked, “but I'll take my oath that wasn't a put-up job. In fact, I'm thinking we may be just in time to prevent a tragedy.”

“You'll probably find MacTavert a fairly tough customer,” I said, as we strolled back toward the hotel.

Jim grinned. “I like 'em tough. Let's dine.”

He was silent during dinner, and it was not until we had nearly finished that he spoke.

“If it's what I think it is, Dick, Mr. MacTavert and I will have words to-night.” His voice was savage.

MACTAVERT'S dancing saloon was very easy to find. As we entered the doors the strains of an automatic piano grinding out a waltz met our ears, and for a moment or two we stood just inside watching the scene. It was typical of scores of similar places to be found in seaports all over the world. A little larger, perhaps, than the average—apart from that there was nothing to distinguish it from a hundred others. A general reek of perspiring humanity and stale spirits filled the air: the thick haze of tobacco smoke made it almost impossible to see across the room.

In the center, where a space had been left, five or six couples were dancing; around the walls, men of every nationality sat drinking at little tables. Every now and then one of them would seize some woman by the waist and solemnly gyrate around the floor in the center to the strains of the piano. Then the pair would sit down again, and more drinks would be ordered—MacTavert expected his girls to increase the liquor consumption.

“Good heavens, Jim, what a horrible spot!” I muttered in disgust.

As I spoke we saw Colette. She was dancing with a big Italian, and her eyes lit up as she saw us.

Jim smiled at her, and at that moment MacTavert himself approached. His shrewd eyes had soon discerned two toffs standing by the door, and he had no intention of letting them escape if he could help it. He bowed obsequiously, showing his tobacco-stained teeth in an ingratiating smile, and Jim regarded him in silence.

“And what can I do for you gentlemen?” said MacTavert. “There is a good table unoccupied at the other end of the room, and I think I may say that my whisky is good. Or there's champagne, if you prefer it,” he added, hopefully.

“Show us the table,” said Jim curtly, and we followed MacTavert across the room. “Now bring me some whisky,” he continued, when we were seated.

“Certainly, sir,” returned the other. “And if there is any lady who takes your fancy,” he continued, with an odious leer, “you have merely to mention the matter to me.”

“There is,” said Jim quietly. “The girl over there dancing with that Italian. Tell her that my friend and I will be honored if she will join us at our table.”

MacTavert rubbed his hands together; things were progressing altogether to his fancy. Just as there was a special tariff for wines consumed by visitors like ourselves, so also there was a special tariff for girls.

“Leave it all to me,” he remarked confidentially. “And if”—his voice sank to a whisper—“you would care to smoke a pipe, or possibly——” He paused meaningly.

“I don't go in for opium or coke or any other rotten dope,” said Jim shortly. “Get the whisky.”

For a moment MacTavert's eyes gleamed angrily; he was not used to being spoken to in that way. But a second glance at Jim's face made him decide that speech on his part would be not only superfluous, but unwise, and he left us.

WE saw him approach the table where Colette was sitting, and speak to her. She rose instantly and followed MacTavert across the room, leaving her late dancing partner scowling furiously. But he said nothing: it was evident that what MacTavert said went in that place. He spoke to the girl with a kind of savage intensity as she tripped along at his side, and I thought she answered him back. Anyway, a sudden snarl showed on MacTavert's face, and he caught her roughly by the arm, only to pull himself together at once and regain his oily obsequiousness as he reached our table.

“This is Colette, sir,” he said, pinching the girl's cheek playfully, and she promptly smacked his face.

“Splendid!” said Jim lazily. “Do it again.”

For a moment I thought MacTavert would murder the girl. His great hands shot out toward her, and she shrank back, terrified. And then Jim spoke again.

“I ordered whisky, barman.”

MacTavert swung round on Jim with an oath.

“Who the hell are you calling barman?” he snarled. “I'm the owner.”

“Are you?” drawled Jim. “How fearfully jolly for all concerned! But it doesn't alter the fact that I ordered whisky.”

The veins stood out on MacTavert's neck like whipcord, and his face turned an ugly red. There was no mistaking the utter contempt in Jim's voice, and MacTavert was not accustomed to contempt. But he found, as others had found before him, that there was something about this tall, perfectly dressed individual, with his quite unnecessary eyeglass, which lent force to the old saw concerning discretion being the better part of valor. After a moment or two he swung around on his heel and slouched over to the bar to get the required drink, while Colette sat down, and Jim laughed.

Illustration: MacTavert's great, coarse face was within a few inches of mine, and his hands were around my throat

“He wanted me to make you order champagne,” she said, “and I wouldn't. Oh, thank heavens you've come! This place terrifies me more and more every moment.”

With a scowl on his face MacTavert lurched over to the table and banged down the whisky.

“Four dollars,” he grunted, sullenly.

“Think again,” said Jim quietly. “I'm not buying your beastly saloon: merely two glasses of whisky.”

“If you don't like the price you can clear out,” snarled MacTavert.

“I shall clear out exactly when I please,” returned Jim. “In the meantime, there's a dollar for the whisky. And if you don't like the price you can take your poison away and throw it down the sink.”

And once again MacTavert retired muttering, with the dollar bill in his great mottled hand. He was being beaten all along the line, and he knew it. He was up against something he couldn't understand—something that left him vaguely frightened, though no power on earth would have extracted such an admission from him.

DRUNKEN sailors, mere strength in any form, he could cope with—had coped with successfully for the whole of his life. But in Jim he had encountered something new, and anything new made him uneasy. It was outside his experience to be calmly and superciliously brow-beaten in his own saloon. He relapsed into dark mutterings behind the bar, assuring himself with growing anger that if he had any further lip from this damned toff he, personally, would throw him into the street.

And in the meantime the toff was smiling across the table at a very frightened girl into whose face the color was slowly coming back.

“My name is Jim,” he said quietly, “and his is Dick. So now we all know one another, Colette. And what we want to know is how you came into this unpleasant place. Then, after we've heard that, we must see how we can get you out.”

The girl looked at him with shining eyes; he seemed to her the most wonderful man in the world.

“You'll think me such a little fool when I tell you,” she whispered miserably; and Jim smiled again.

“We've all of us made idiots of ourselves at one time or another. Tell me, Colette—you're not French, are you, like your name?”

The girl laughed. “No; I'm English.” Her voice faltered for a moment. “I come from Sussex; from a little village lying under the South Downs.”

Her eyes had filled with tears, and suddenly Jim leaned across the table.

“Steady, kid, don't cry. I want to talk to you about that little village. I want to find out how you came to leave it.”

AND then, little by little, we heard the whole pitiful tale—not new to those who listen, but bitterly, tragically new to each one who tells. And as we heard it, told falteringly with many a pause, my only coherent wish was to have my hands around the throats of some of the men involved. I left MacTavert to Jim, who was staring at that gentleman with smoldering eyes.

She had run away from home, had the girl who was called Colette. It was dull, and a gentleman had assured her that she would be able to earn big money in London. On the stage, he said—pretty clothes and jewels and lots of dancing and amusement. So she'd stolen out of the house one night, and gone up to London to an address he had given her. She had never seen her mother and father again—and for a time as she came to that part of her story she fell silent. The automatic piano thumped on in MacTavert's bar, the haze of tobacco smoke grew denser, but all Colette could see was a little cottage in Sussex, with honeysuckle climbing round the windows and a kitchen spotlessly clean. Just home—that's all——

The Italian with whom she had been dancing lurched by with a snarl, which effaced itself as he caught Jim's eyes fixed on him, and with a little start Colette came back to reality. She was telling us her story—that story, new and original to her—little dreaming how well we knew every line before she spoke it. For the main theme is always the same—only the details differ.

The address in. London to which she had gone so hopefully turned out to be a theatrical agency. And there an oily gentleman had taken stock of her, and offered her on the spot a job with a company that was to go on tour in South America. He had assured her that all she required was experience, and that on her return he, personally, would get her an engagement at a West-End theatre. And she swallowed it whole, as hundreds of unfortunate girls have swallowed it.

Then came the awakening. The company had played for a week in a fifth-rate hall in Valparaiso to find on Saturday night that the manager had decamped with what money there was. They were stranded—penniless, or practically so—in a foreign town, with not a soul to turn to for assistance. The rest we knew already: the women with the kindly offer of assistance—the woman in MacTavert's pay.

“She seemed so nice,” said Colette. miserably, “and then I found myself here.”

ONCE again the poor child's eyes filled with tears; she was paying a big price for her one mistake of foolish vanity in England. And Jim's eyes were very gentle as he looked at her.

“I see, Colette,” he said quietly. “I understand. I'm thinking it was very lucky you saw us to-day.”

For a moment he looked at me; how lucky it was I don't think the girl quite realized. A good deal of the innocence of that little Sussex village still remained to Colette.

“And now,” continued Jim cheerfully, “the only thing that remains is to get you away. I don't think we'll bother about your box and things to-night; I'll fix up about them to-morrow morning. We'll just walk out, and I'll find you a room at some hotel.”

He smiled as he saw the look of amazed hope on the girl's face—a look which faded almost as quickly as it had come.

“Well—what's troubling you now?” he said.

“I can't, Jim!” she cried. “It's wonderful of you to have thought of it—but I can't.”

“Why not?” His voice was a little stern.

“There was a missionary here last night, and he took one of the girls away,” she said, at length. “And that brute MacTavert hired two men to throw him into the docks. They nearly drowned him.”

For a moment Jim looked puzzled; then, with ostentatious deliberation, he lit a cigarette.

“And you're afraid, Colette, that they will do that to me?”

She nodded. “I couldn't have you hurt for me,” she answered. “I'm not worth it.”

Jim was polishing his eyeglass, which had suddenly become a bit misty.

“Thank you, little girl,” he said quietly, after a while. “That's awfully sweet of you. But you needn't worry about it, I promise you. Somehow or other, I don't think MacTavert and his pals will throw me or Dick into any dock. And if they do,” he went on, with a sudden grin, “I'll guarantee that they will come in with us.” He pushed back his chair and rose to his feet. “Come along; we'll go now.”

He led the way toward the door, and after a moment's hesitation the girl followed him. They had got halfway across the room when MacTavert saw them. With a shout of anger he rushed out from behind the bar, and reached the door just ahead of Jim.

“Where are you taking that gel to?” he demanded, barring the way.

INSTANTLY a silence settled on the room; every one craned forward eagerly to see what was going to happen. And Colette, her breath coming in little frightened gasps, cowered close to me, while her eyes were fixed on the tall figure of Jim just in front of her.

“In England, MacTavert,” he remarked, and every word cut like a knife through the room, “in England you would be flogged with the cat for your method of living. Unfortunately, we are not in England, and so I propose to take the law into my own hands. If you don't get out of my way I shall hit you.”

MacTavert laughed, or rather he bared his yellow teeth in what was intended to be a grin. At last this man was talking the language he understood, and when that language was used MacTavert, to do him justice, was no coward.

“You'll hit me, Percy, will you?” he mimicked. “Sure, you frighten me, darling.”

A burst of laughter went round the room, but it died away in a gasp of astonishment. At ore moment MacTavert was standing there leering at Jim—the next he had disappeared. And only the drumming of his feet, sticking out from under a table which he had overturned in his fall, indicated his position. Not till the drumming ceased did Jim turn and contemplate the room.

“When he takes an interest in life again,” he remarked. pleasantly, to no no one in particular, “you can remind him that I gave him fair warning.”

He passed through the door and we followed lifting a finger to prevent us.

“Easy money,” said Jim, grinning, “but I think we'll get a move on. When MacTavert wakes up he won't be full of brotherly love.”

Illustration: A man with a revolver in his hand was covering Jim from outside while two other men hung on to him and steadily maneuvered him nearer and nearer to the window

We walked quickly up the street, the girl between us, and as we turned the corner that hid the flaring notice I looked back. As far as I could see the street was deserted, and I breathed more freely.

Several blocks farther on we came to a small and respectable-looking hotel, and after a brief survey Jim decided it would do. A room was available, and he engaged it for Colette.

“I'll be around in the morning,” he said, cutting short her thanks with a smile. “Until then you go to bed and sleep.”

We watched her go up the stairs before we left. At the top she turned and waved her hand, and Jim waved back, with a nod of reassurance.

“Poor little kid,” he said, as we went out into the street. “Thank heaven we were here, and she saw us! Otherwise——” He paused suddenly, gripping my arm, and stared across the road. “Under that tree, Dick,” he whispered. “Do you see anything?”

It seemed to me that on the path was a shadow such as a man might throw. But when we got there and looked about there was nothing. The road was deserted, and at last we turned and retraced our steps toward our own hotel.

And it was that one mistake which nearly cost Jim his life and caused the disfigurement which Mrs. Jim had noted in Colette's photograph.

IT was eleven o'clock next morning when we returned to the hotel where we had left Colette. And we found she'd gone!

The clerk, in the intervals of picking his teeth, informed us dispassionately that a message had come round for her to the effect that the gentleman with the eyeglass wished her to come at once to his hotel—the Grand. And she'd gone. Apparently her bill had been paid, and he could tell us nothing more. A car had been waiting and she had got in. So saying, he returned to his teeth, while Jim cursed with marvelous fluency under his breath.

“What a fool I was, Dick! We ought to have taken her to the Grand.” We were standing in the sunny street outside the hotel. “That swine MacTavert has got her back.”

“What about going to the police?” I suggested.

“Man, we've got no proof!” he cried. “And even if we had, the police in a place like this are no more use than a sick headache. We've got to handle this thing ourselves, Dick. Are you on?”

“Of course,” I said briefly. “What's the first move?”

“A further conversation with MacTavert,” he remarked. “And at once.”

The dancing saloon was empty as we turned into it. The reek of stale smoke and spirits was worse than it had been the night before, but it was evidently too early for the habitués to arrive.

“So much the better,” said Jim grimly. “It gives us a clear field.”

He gave a shout of “Bar!” and after a moment or two evil MacTavert's face appeared through a door. He stared at us for a time in silence; then he pressed an electric bell twice.

“This bar don't open till midday,” he remarked at length.

“That's very fortunate,” said Jim placidly. “It gives us an hour to break it up in. How is the face this morning?”

“Get out of here!” roared MacTavert, completely losing control of himself.

“Certainly,” answered Jim, “The instant you produce Colette I shall be delighted to go."

But the scoundrel wasn't going to give himself away.

“So you've lost her, have you?” he sneered. “She fooled you nicely last night, didn't she?” He was leaning over the bar, shaking with laughter. “You dear little mother's innocent, with the pane of glass in your eye! I admit you can hit, but you've a lot to learn yet, Percy. Sling him out, boys,” he snarled suddenly, “and half murder him!”

I swung around to see two men creeping on Jim from behind—two men who had entered noiselessly while MacTavert was talking. They were great, powerful brutes, in better condition than MacTavert, and they thought they had a soft thing on.

It was then I discovered what a wonderful weapon a bottle of French vermuth can be, if used skilfully. So did the leading tough. He crashed like a log, with vermuth dripping from his head, and Jim returned the broken bottle to MacTavert.

“A poor fighter,” he murmured placidly, though his eyes were very bright and watchful. “Will your other friend sling me out?”

But the second man showed no signs of attempting to do anything of the sort. He was muttering to MacTavert behind the bar, and suddenly the latter began to grin.

THERE'S something up, Jim,” I whispered, and he nodded, without speaking.

“Well, Percy,” said MacTavert, at length, “we've kind of come to the conclusion that you must be powerful fond of that little girl. So out of the kindness of my heart I guess you may take her—if you can. She is through that door there, and up the stairs. The room on the right is hers. And, as I say, you may take her—if you can.”

The leer had deepened on his face, and Jim was watching him narrowly.

“Not afraid, are you?” sneered MacTavert. “I'll come and show you the way.”

He slouched over to the door, and we followed him. Jim had his hand in his pocket, and I could see the outline of his gun, but if MacTavert saw it he gave no sign. He led the way up the stairs, and paused at the top, waiting for us. And it was then I noticed that the other man had left the bar. It was empty save for the unconscious scoundrel on the floor.

“Here's the room,” remarked MacTavert, flinging open the door and leading the way in.

“You infernal swine!” roared Jim, as we saw the terrified girl. She was lashed to a chair and gagged, and in an instant he was beside her undoing the rope, and Colette was free!

“Cover him, Dick!” he ordered briefly, and my gun pressed into MacTavert's waistcoat. His great, coarse face was within a few inches of mine, but it was the look of triumph in his eyes that warned me of the trap. He was staring at something over my shoulder, and suddenly he gave a great shout of “Now!”

I swung around, like the fool I was, and the next moment he'd knocked my revolver away, and his hands were around my throat. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Jim fighting desperately with two men who had sprung through the door, but it wasn't there that the trap lay; it wasn't that which had caused the sudden Shout of “Now!”

Coming toward the window from the outside along a flat piece of rock was the man who had been talking to MacTavert downstairs. He had a revolver in his hand, and he was covering Jim through the window—Jim, who was all unconscious of the danger. I strove to shout—to warn him, but MacTavert had got my throat, and it was all I could do to hold my own. And all the time the triumph deepened in MacTavert's eyes.

The two men were being flung all over the place by Jim, but they hung on to him. And steadily they maneuvered him nearer and nearer to the window. He had his back toward it, and once the man outside raised his revolver, only to drop it again as the three men spun around, spoiling his shot.

But it couldn't last long, and I put forth one supreme effort to get the better of MacTavert. We crashed, both of us rolling over and over on the floor. And so I didn't see the actual deed by which Colette saved our lives. All I knew was that suddenly we were fighting in darkness, MacTavert and I. I heard dimly the crashing of the window, and the splintering of wooden shutters. Then two shots rang out quickly, and the room was light again.

Instinctively MacTavert and I loosened our hold on one another, and got dazedly to our feet. And, save for our heavy breathing and a little sobbing whimper from that wonderful girl, there was silence in the room.

“She closed those wooden shutters,” said Jim at length, and his voice was a little dazed. “She closed those wooden shutters, and put her arm in place of the bar that bolts them. She hadn't time, I guess, for the bar. And he broke her arm!”

He looked at the man who had done it—the man who had smashed through the shutters, and fired at him—and he was lying motionless on his face. He looked at Colette, and she had fainted. And then he looked at MacTavert, and his face was terrible to see.

“Get out!” snarled Jim to the two men whom he had been fighting. He slipped his own revolver back in his pocket. “Get out—or I might shoot you, as I shot him.”

And the men slunk out, leaving MacTavert alone. For a moment Jim stared at him, and his eyes were hard and merciless. Then, without a word, he sprang on him.

He could have done it by himself, for MacTavert was like a child in his hands. But since I was there to help him it took less time. We lashed him to the bed face down.

“The cat is the proper weapon for MacTavert,” Jim remarked, “as I think I told you last night. But since I haven't got one a leather strap must do instead.”

And he flogged MacTavert with his leather belt till MacTavert fainted, even as Colette had fainted. Then, with the tenderness of a woman, he picked the girl up in his arms, and carried her down the stairs to the saloon below. It was still empty, and we chartered a passing cab, and got in. It was on the way to a doctor that Colette opened her eyes.

“He didn't hurt you, Jim?” she whispered.

And Jim bent down and kissed her.

“SO that's the story of Colette, Mrs. Jim,” I remarked, as she sat very silent, staring at the photograph. “We fixed up a passage for her, and there she is now with two little Colettes of her own.”

Copyright, 1923, H. C. McNeile