Ride the River (1983) Read Online Free PDF Page B

deck of his own!"
    "Don't be a damn fool! S'pose he has? I want that ...All right !Take him !"
    The shout was accompanied by a lunge. The second man leaped, swinging a cudgel. Bully Benson held a knife.
    Finian Chantry's brain was icy. He took a half-step back and the cane seemed to spring apart in his hands. A blade leaped from the cane like a whip of dancing light. Benson caught the flash of the blade and tried to pull up, his eyes bulging with sheer horror. The next moment, where his mouth had been there was an ugly gash as the blade cut ear to ear. The second man swung his cudgel, but the sweeping blade had never stopped moving, slicing his cheek and nicking his nose.
    He screamed and dropped his club, both hands going to his face. Bully Benson was already in a staggering run, choking on his own blood. The third and wiser man had never closed, and he was maintaining a fair lead as he ran.
    Turning quickly, Finian saw Johnny Gibbons had a man against the wall and was slugging him with both fists. Archie had put one man down, and the third was running away.
    Finian Chantry's heart was pounding as he watched them go; then, taking a handkerchief from his pocket, he wiped clean the sword blade and returned it to the cane. "A pack of scoundrels," he commented as Johnny Gibbons came up beside him. "This will give them something to consider before they try it again."
    When they reached the carriage, Chantry got in and Johnny followed. "Archie?" he invited.
    "Thank you, sir, your coachman is a friend, I shall ride out with him."
    "Back there," Gibbons commented, "you spoke of giving that chap fifty good ones with a 'Penang lawyer.' I had never heard the phrase."
    "A Penang lawyer is a strip of rattan. It was used to influence discipline aboard craft in the Indian Ocean."
    "You were a ship's officer?"
    "Briefly. Like my brother, I was a merchant venturer, investing in cargoes and often going along to handle the trading myself. I had read for the law, as had he, so I finally settled for that. It was a fortunate choice."
    "In the O'Hara affair, if I can be of any assistance, you have only to ask."
    "No, it is a small matter. What you have told me is sufficient."
    Alone in his bedroom, Finian Chantry looked down upon his hands. "Useful," he muttered, "useful still. And there was no fear, that is important."
    He felt no sympathy for Bully Benson. They had chosen the time, the place, and their weapons. What they got was less than what they deserved.
    At supper I was seated in the same place, and discovered that in boardinghouses as at home, most people wanted to sit in the same seats. The bald-headed man who sat across from me was named Prescott. He nodded and smiled when I came in. "How are you enjoying Philadelphia?" he asked.
    "There's so much to see! After I saw Mr. White and Mr. Chantry - "
    The fat man farther down the table looked up from his food long enough to give me a sharp, somewhat impatient glance. He clutched his knife and fork as if prepared for battle. "Chantry, did you say? Yousaw Finian Chantry?"
    "I did. He was very nice."
    "Young lady" - he spoke with authority - "you must be mistaken. Nobody, but no body just walks in and sees Finian Chantry."
    "I saw him. I shall see him again in the morning. He is coming with me to see Mr. White."
    Very patiently the man said, "Miss Sackett, I know very important men who have tried forweeks to see Mr. Chantry. He is a busy man and accepts no new clients. You must have met somebody else who you assumed was Finian Chantry."
    He resumed eating and for a moment I thought of replying, then thought it was no use. And what did it matter, anyway?
    Amy Sulky came in and seated herself. "Echo, there's a man in the sitting room who wishes to speak to you. His name is White. He said you would know him, but I told him we were at supper and he could not see you until it was over."
    Mr. Prescott said, "Miss Sackett? If I can be of service? A witness or something?"
    "Thank you. I cannot imagine