In this emergency Betty followed impulse. She ran out into the open,
calling to him wildly that his sons were alive. Not to run away,
because his sons were safe and well. They were coming to him----
The pitiful wreck of a man paused in his flight as the import of the
words seemed to sink into his befuddled brain, but he turned upon the
Little Captain a look of ferocious hatred that would have terrified a
less courageous girl than Betty. But her whole heart was in her
mission, and she had utterly forgotten herself.
"Won't you please believe me?" she said, advancing toward him, hands
outstretched pleadingly. "I know what I'm talking about. Your sons,
Arnold and Jimmy----"
As though the names of his boys had released some cord in his brain,
the man cried out hoarsely:
"Jimmy and Arnold-- my sons, my little boys!" Then, turning fiercely
to Betty, he cried: "You're not lying to me, are you? Because I'll
throw you into the river! I'll cut you into little pieces!"
As the man advanced menacingly, Grace screamed and Mollie ran forward
with some wild idea of protecting her chum, but Betty waved them back.
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