A Damsel in Distress

n thequickest-witted of men off his balance, he acted with promptitude,intelligence and despatch. The fact is, George had for ye

cle of the wrist, at the same time keeping his head stilland his eye on the ball. It is estimated that there aretwenty-three important points to be borne in mind simultaneouslywhile making a drive at golf; and to the man who has mastered theart of remembering them all the ta

red a voice behind him. It s

hip-shot out ofthe corner of his mouth, designed to l

not having had a bathsince the days of the Tudors. The east wind still blew. But,though superficially the same, in reality Piccadilly had alteredcompletely. Before it had been just Piccadilly. Now it was a goldenstreet in the City of Romance, a main thoroughfare of Bagdad, oneof the principal arteries of the capital of Fairyland. Arose-coloured mist swam before George's eyes. His spirits, so lowbut a few moments back, soared

enty-one, who during George'spreparations for ensuring privacy in his cab had been galloping inpursuit in a resolute manner that suggested a well-dressedbloodh

henomenon is of frequentoccurrence. After one look at some people even friendship isimpossible. Such a one, in George's opinion, was this gurglingexcrescence underneath the silk hat. He comprised in his singleperson practically all the qualities which George disliked most. Hewas, for a young man, extraordinarily obese. Alread

in all he looked li

ilege of mixing socially with many of NewYork's most prominent theatrical managers; so he

snot of the essence to these confirmed sightseers. The shop girl waslate already, so it didn't matter if she was any later; themessenger boy had nothing on hand except a message marked"Important: Rush"; and as for the

ked up a cigar stub from th

ot into your cab," sai

not?" sa

nd I should have noticed it."At this juncture the block in the traffic was relie

d have conducted itself. Hebroke into a jerky gallop, attended by his self-appointedassociates; and, considering that the young man was so stout, thatthe messenger boy considered it unprofessional to hurry, that theshop girl had doubts a

messenger boy, removing a bead ofp

n. Not for many a day had he so enjoyed himself. Inan arid world containing too few goes of gin and too manypolicemen, a world in which the poor were oppressed and couldseldom even enjoy a quiet cigar without ha

torkin'!"The shop girl had espied an a

silently while a motorist mends a tyre. Theyare not impatient. They do not call for rapid and continuousaction. A mere hole in the ground, which of all sights is perhapsthe least vivid and dramatic, is enough to

t be for ever, but they meant to b

ions becam

et picked!""Two toffs 'ad a scrap!""Feller bilked

r the pictures."The idea

they be up to next!"A red-nosed spectator with a tray of collar-studs harnessed to hiss

gorn and got into 'is 'ead!"The driver of the cab, who till now had been ostentatiously unawaret

e asked, swinging around a

ve the best theory."The stout young man, whose peculiar behaviour had drawn all thisflattering attention from the many-headed and who appearedconsiderably ruffled by the

lone.""There is a young lady in that cab. I saw her get in, and I havebeen watching ever since

e Man of Action? What areyou going to do about it?""Get out of my way!""I won't.""Then I'll force my w

on that itwould be impossible. Let this be a lesson to you!""I tell you what it is--""The advice I give to every young man starting life is 'Neverconfuse the unusual with the impossible!' Take the present case,for instance. If you had only realized the possibility of somebodysome day busting you on the jaw when you tried to get into a cab,you might have though

loomin' onion. That's why 'e 'sstandin' up instead of settin'. 'E won't set down 'cept you bring

tout young man, now in quite a Berserk frame ofmind, made a sudden spring at the cab door and clutched the handle,which h

r even to wrestle with himfor its possession entailed the risk that the door might open andreveal the girl.

f. Gaols yawn andactions for assault lie in wait for those who go about the placebusting their fellows on the jaw. No

d with a sweep and knocked the

is a silk hat, and freshly ironed byloving hands but a brief hour before at the only shaving-parlour inLondon where ironing is ironing and not a brutal attack, it was hispride and joy. To lose it was like losing his trouser

over it and stroking it with soothing fingers. It wastoo far off for anything to be audible, but he seemed to George tobe murmuring words of endearment to it. Then, placing it on hishead, he darted out int

e any of them might beglancing in his dire

, if she had ever beenthere, and was now sea