When Cutty saw the man on the floor he knelt quickly. "Nasty bang on
the head, but he's alive. What's this? His cap. Poughkeepsie. By George,
padded with his handkerchief! Must have known something was going to
fall on him. Now, what's it all about?"
"When we get him to my apartment."
"Yours? Good Lord, what's the matter with this?"
"They tried to kill him here. They might return to see if they had
succeeded. They mustn't find where he has gone. I'm strong. I can take
hold of his knees."
"Tut! Neither of us could walk backward over that fire escape. He looks
husky, but I'll try it. Now obey me without question or comment. You'll
have to help me get him outside the window and in through yours.
Between the two windows I can handle him alone. I only hope we shan't
be noticed, for that might prove awkward. Now take hold. That's it.
When I'm through the window just push his legs outside." Panting, Kitty
obeyed. "All right," said Cutty. "I like your pluck. You run along ahead
and be ready to help me in with him. A healthy beggar! Here goes."
With a heave and a hunch and another heave Cutty stood up, the limp body
disposed scientifically across his shoulders. Kitty was quite impressed
by this exhibition of strength in a man whom she considered as
elderly--old. There was an underthought that such feats of bodily
prowess were reserved for young men. With the naive conceit of
twenty-four she ignored the actual mathematics of fifty years of clean
living and thinking, missed the physiological fact that often men at
fifty are stronger and tougher than men in the twenties. They never
waste energy; their precision of movement and deliberation of thought
conserve the residue against the supreme moment.
As a parenthesis: To a young woman what is a hero? Generally something
conjured out of a book she has read; the unknown, handsome young man
across the street; the leading actor in a society drama; the idol of
the movie. A hero must of necessity be handsome; that is the
first essential. If he happens to be brave and debonair, rich and
aristocratic, so much the better. Somehow, to be brave and to be heroic
are not actually accepted synonyms in certain youthful feminine minds.
For instance, every maid will agree that her father is brave; but tell
her he is a hero because he pays his bills regularly and she will accept
the statement with a smile of tolerant indulgence.