Ariel Custer Read Online Free PDF Page B

fished out of another pocket.
    “I guess this will do for tonight,” he said pleasantly. “Wait, I’ll see if they have a handle at the newsstand.”
    He came back in a moment with a wooden handle that he secured to one side of the bundle, and the girl roused from her exhaustion and thanked him with a smile: “I’m sure I don’t know what I should have done if you hadn’t helped me,” she said. “I think I was bewildered.”
    “Oh, someone else would have been there if I hadn’t,” said the young man gallantly. “No one would leave a lady in the middle of the street.”
    “Not everyone would take so much time and trouble as you have, I’m sure. And besides, I think you saved me from being taken to the hospital. I think I heard that policeman say something about calling an ambulance, and I shouldn’t have liked that.”
    “Well, I’m very glad if I’ve helped any. And now what can I do more for you? Shall I put you on your train? Or is there a friend with a car whom I can call up for you?”
    “No, thank you,” said Ariel, rousing to her situation, “I haven’t any train, nor any friend. I’m—that is, I don’t know—Well, I’m not sure just what I’m going to do. I’ve got to think. I’ll just sit here a little while and get rested, I think.”
    The young man frowned.
    “I don’t like to leave you here alone till I’m sure you’re all right,” he said. “I’m not so sure you oughtn’t go to the hospital and let the doctor give you something. You had a hard fall. You must be bruised.”
    “Oh, I’m quite all right, thank you,” she said with a wan little smile, but something in the whiteness of her cheek, the languor of her eye, made him reluctant to leave her thus.
    “You ought to have something hot to drink right away,” he said suddenly. “Here, come this way.” He picked up the satchel and assisted her to her feet.
    “Yes,” she said as if the suggestion were welcome. “But I don’t need to trouble you any further. Just show me where the restaurant is. I can walk quite well alone now.”
    He took her arm firmly and guided her through a crowd of people who were hurrying to catch a train, and toward the leather doors of the dining room. “You’re not troubling me,” he said cheerily. “I’m tremendously hungry myself. I had a hard day and scarcely any time for lunch. If you don’t mind, I’ll take a bite myself, and then I can see if you’re able to be left to yourself.”
    He seated her at a little white table and summoned a waiter. Ariel looked around anxiously at the palm-decked room and deft waiters. A meal in a place like this would cost more than she ought to afford from her scanty store, but what could she do? The man was very kind, and quite matter of fact. He had not taken advantage of her situation in the least. Well, she needed the food, and perhaps she might venture to ask this gentleman a few questions.
    The young man gave an order and then turned back to her.
    “He’s bringing you the tea at once,” he said pleasantly, “but I’m getting a steak for myself and they’re always too big for one. You’ll eat a little of it, I’m sure, and then you’ll be more fitted to decide what to do. Here comes the tea now.”
    The hot tea brought the color to Ariel’s white cheeks. As the young man watched the life come back into her face, with satisfaction he smiled. “Now,” said he, leaning across the table with a confidential tone, “my name is Granniss, and I live in Glenside, ten miles out. I wish you’d just consider that I’m your brother for a few minutes and tell me how I can serve you. I don’t see leaving you here to sit in the station indefinitely after a fall like that. You ought to be put to bed and have someone to look after you. If you haven’t a train, you must live in the city, and if you haven’t a friend, won’t you just consider me that until you get to your home? I can easily call a cab and see you to your boarding place or take