"Has he dared to do that?" demanded Dave, a quick flash in his eyes.
"Not in any way that it would be easy to resent," Belle a.s.sured him.
"Who is this fellow Ardmore?"
"He appears to be a gentleman--at least in his ordinary conduct," Belle Meade answered. "He moved here last spring with his parents. The father is a retired lawyer, and wealthy. The Ardmores move in a rather good set in town. About a month ago Caspar Ardmore, the young man, met me at a church affair. Ever since then he has all but waylaid me. Several times he has tried to walk with me when we met, and has often tried to see me home from church or elsewhere. I"ve been almost downright rude to him, and have shown him in every way I can that I don"t wish to continue acquaintance. But he"s hard to discourage."
"He hasn"t insulted you?" asked Dave quietly.
"Oh, dear, no! If he had, I think I might have been able to startle him somewhat," laughed Belle, who had a "temper" when it was necessary to have one. As she spoke she raised her eyes, glancing ahead.
"There, he has stopped, and looks almost as though he were waiting for us," she added.
"There"s an ugly scowl on his face, too."
Dave Darrin looked ahead at the foppish, rather good-looking, tall and slender young man of some twenty-six years.
"I hope he isn"t going to be troublesome," murmured Dave. "I don"t want to have to fight with him--at least, not when you"re along with me."
As they neared Ardmore, Dave continued to look at the young man quietly, steadily, frankly. Ardmore seemed trying to ignore the gaze, and looked, instead, at Belle.
Just as the young couple reached him, Ardmore raised his hat, at the same time stepping forward so that he blocked Belle"s progress.
"Good afternoon, Miss Meade," was Ardmore"s greeting. "I was on my way to your house when I saw you. Mother has some tickets for a concert at the Sorosis rooms, and is unable to use them this afternoon. So I have come to ask you if you will not honor me with your company at the concert?"
"Thank you, no," Belle answered coldly. "And I would also like to make it plain, Mr. Ardmore, since you make it necessary, that I do not wish your company at any time or place. I am sorry to have to speak so plainly."
A deep flush dyed the cheeks of the fop. But he was not so easily discouraged.
"I had intended to call this evening, Miss Meade. I am to have a box at the theatre."
"You may call anywhere you wish," Belle retorted, her eyes flashing, "provided it is not at my home."
"Oh, I am very much afraid that you are annoyed with me," cried Ardmore.
"I am," Belle admitted. "Mr. Ardmore, will you do me the very great favor of ceasing your attempts at acquaintance?"
"Acquaintance? Why, we"re already very well acquainted, Miss Meade; in fact, I had hoped that we were, by this time, the most excellent friends.
If this gentleman," with a sidelong look at Dave, "will excuse us, Miss Meade, will you stroll along with me and tell me in what way I may have offended you without intending anything of the sort?"
Dave, who had remained quiet, now felt called upon to interpose.
"Sir," he demanded, "will you observe Miss Meade"s request and take yourself away?"
"And what have you to say about this?" demanded Ardmore sneeringly.
"The young lady is under my protection."
"I have offered her mine."
"And Miss Meade has just told you that you will please her most by keeping away from her at all times," replied Darrin quietly but firmly.
"What? After all the good times she and I have enjoyed together?"
demanded Ardmore, as though astounded beyond measure.
"I? Good times with you?" cried Belle, her cheeks flaming. "I"ve never even spoken to you when I could avoid it."
"That"s false!" cried young Ardmore hotly.
"Stop, right there!" warned Dave Darrin in a quieter voice than ever, though his face paled swiftly. "Did I understand you to remark that Miss Meade had made a false statement?"
"You did!"
Whack! Darrin"s clenched right fist caught the fop on the temple, felling him to the ground.
"Go right on to Laura"s, Belle," begged Dave quickly. "I"ll be along soon."
Miss Meade walked rapidly ahead.
Ardmore was on his feet in an instant. Not wanting in a certain amount of animal courage, he rushed at Dave, only to be met with a blow in the mouth that floored him again. The fop"s lip was cut and bleeding when he rose.
"You cur!" bellowed the fellow.
"The opinion of a person like you can"t matter very much," Dave retorted coolly.
A little crowd was beginning to gather. Dave"s pallor increased, for his very soul writhed at the thought of having Belle"s name involved in a brawl in this fashion.
"You"re a--" began Ardmore, but Dave Darrin moved quickly up to him.
"Do you retract the statement you made?" demanded the midshipman in a low voice.
"I retract nothing," quivered Ardmore. "I repeat, and repeat--"
Dave closed in like lightning, Ardmore attempted to guard himself, but he was all but helpless before such a fast, trained hitter as Dave. The fop went down under two well-aimed blows delivered almost together.
Once more Ardmore leaped to his feet, while Darrin disdainfully awaited him.
But two or three men in the crowd leaped between the enemies, forcing the fop back.
"Don"t be a fool, Ardmore!" urged one of the men, speaking in the fellow"s ear. "That"s Midshipman Dave Darrin, and he"s one of the quickest, hardest hitters in Gridley."
"Oh, that"s the midshipman, is it?" demanded Ardmore in a sneering voice.
"Oh, well, then, I won"t hit him again. I know another way of making his skin smart."
Dave tarried only long enough to make sure that the fop did not care to carry the encounter further. Then, turning on his heel, he walked rapidly in the direction Belle had taken. He overtook that young lady before she reached the Bentley home.
[Ill.u.s.tration: Darrin"s Blow Felled the Fop to the Ground.]