Out into the main road he lurched, grimly clutching the steering wheel, leaning on it for support, his aching, blurred eyes clinging to the illuminated way before him, and he drove as he had never ventured to drive before.  Beating against his numbed brain was his will’s sledge-hammer demands for speed, and he obeyed recklessly. ...

Roadside objects flicked by, mile after mile was dropped behind, the city’s outskirts were being snatched closer and closer—­and then he saw the other car far ahead.  All that remained to be asked of his car he demanded now, and he overhauled the smaller, less speedy machine.  Now his lights played on its rear and his horn sounded a warning and a demand.  Dulac’s car veered to the side to let him pass, and he lurched by, only turning a brief, wavering glance upon the other machine to assure himself that Ruth was there.  He saw her in a flashing second, in the tonneau, with Dulac by her side. ...  She was safe, uninjured.  Then Bonbright left them behind.

The road narrowed, with deep ditches on either hand.  Here was the place he sought.  He set his brakes, shut off his power, and swung his car diagonally across the way, so that it would be impossible for Dulac to pass.  Then he alighted, and stood waiting, holding on to his machine for support.

The other car came to a stop and Dulac sprang out.  Bonbright saw Ruth rise to follow; heard Dulac say, roughly:  “Get back.  Stay where you are.”

“No,” she replied, and stepped to the road.

Bonbright could see how pale she was, how frightened.

“Don’t be afraid,” he said to her.  “Nothing is going to—­happen.”

He stood erect now, free from the support of the car, waiting for Dulac, who approached menacingly.

“Dulac,” he said, “I can’t—­fight you.  I can’t even—–­defend myself—­ much. ...  Unless you insist.”

The men were facing each other now, almost toe to toe.  Dulac’s face was stormy with passion under scant restraint; Bonbright, though he swayed a bit unsteadily, faced him with level eyes.  Ruth saw the decent courage of the boy and her fear for him made her clutch Dulac’s sleeve.  The man shook her off.

“I know—­why you attacked me,” said Bonbright, slowly, “what you thought. ...  I—­stopped you to—­be sure Miss Frazer was safe ... and to tell you you were—­wrong. ...  Not that you have a—­right to question me, but nobody must think—­ill of Miss Frazer. ...  No misunderstanding. ...”

“Get that car out of the way,” said Dulac.

Bonbright shook his head.  “Not till I’m—­through,” he said.  “Then you may—­take Miss Frazer home. ...  But be kind to her—­gentle. ...  I shall ask her about it—­and I sha’n’t be—­knocked out long.”

“You threaten me, you pampered puppy!”

“Yes,” said Bonbright, grimly, “exactly.”

Dulac started to lift his arm, but Ruth caught it.  “No. ...  No,” she said, in a tense whisper.  “You mustn’t.  Can’t you see how—­hurt he is?  He can hardly stand. ...  You’re not a coward. ...”