"There's nobody here to help you," said Lem with a brutal chuckle.
"Yes, there is!" cried Cora in ringing tones. "Let go of her arm,
Lem Gildy, or I'll strike you with this!" and the girl raised the
stick over the rascal's head.
He hesitated a moment, still gripping Ida, who was on the verge of
collapse. She looked at Cora with wonder and fear.
"Let go!" demanded Cora, taking a step nearer.
"Not for you!" answered Lem defiantly.
Cora brought the stick down with stinging force on his wrist. With a
howl of pain he let go and advanced toward Cora, but she struck him
aver the head with her weapon, and Ida, who had recovered her
courage, catching up a heavy stone, made it a more even battle. With
a muttered snarl Lem slunk away and disappeared in the underbrush.
Cora felt herself trembling violently, but she kept control of
herself.
"Oh, Cora!" sobbed Ida. "I believe I would have died if you had not
come along. I was never afraid of Lem Gildy, and when I saw him
following me along the road I never dreamed that he would molest
me."
"What did he want?" asked Cora.
"Oh, it's all over that dreadful money! Mr. Foster's, you know."
Indeed, Cora was beginning to suspect that.
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