He had the same confidence of athletic poise that Dave himself displayed.

In a resort to force, it looked as though the stranger would have the better of it.
Yet this stranger seemed suddenly deprived of much of his assurance.
Plainly, there was some good reason why he did not wish to fight on this side street so close to Broadway.
"Madam," inquired Darrin, half turning, "may I have the pleasure of escorting you to your friends ?" "If you will call a taxi-----" she began, eagerly.
At that moment a fareless taxicab turned the corner of Broadway and came slowly down the street.
"Hold on, chauffeur!" cried Darrin, in a voice of command.

Then, as the cab stopped at the curb, Dave turned his back upon the tormentor for a moment, while he assisted the young woman into the taxicab.
"Do you feel satisfied to go without escort," asked Darrin, "or may I offer my services in seeing you safely to your home ?" "I shall be all right now," replied the young woman, the troubled look in her lustrous brown eyes vanishing as she favored her unknown defender with a smile.

"If the driver will stop, two blocks from here, I will direct him where to take me." "Step aside, boy!" ordered the unknown man, as he tried to brush Dave away and enter the cab.
It was no time for gentle measures.

Ensign Darrin's right fist landed heavily on the face of the stranger, sending him prone to the sidewalk.
At a wave of Dave's hand the chauffeur started away.