only to teach him manners to a lady.”
He removed the rope, hauled the victim to his feet, and propelled him briskly through the outer office.
A series of shrill yelps was heard and then a thud. Tommy came back, flushed but smiling.
The girl was staring at him with round eyes.
“Did you—hurt him?”
“I hope so,” said Tommy. “But these foreigners make a practise of crying out before they’re hurt—so I can’t be quite sure about it. Shall we come back into my office, Miss March, and resume our interrupted conversation? I don’t think we shall be interrupted again.”
“I’ll have my lasso ready, sir, in case,” said the helpful Albert.
“Put it away,” ordered Tommy sternly.
He followed the girl into the inner