She was
about to turn into the house to summon help when she heard a stir in the
shrubbery in quite another part of the garden, and in a moment the
stooping figure of a man moved swiftly toward the pergola.
Shirley stood quite still, watching and listening. The sound of steps in
the pergola reached her again, then the rush of flight, and out in the
garden a flying figure darted in and out among the walks. For several
minutes two dark figures played at vigorous hide-and-seek. Occasionally
gravel crunched underfoot and shrubbery snapped back with a sharp swish
where it was caught and held for support at corners. Pursued and pursuer
were alike silent; the scene was like a pantomime.
Then the tables seemed to be turned; the bulkier figure of the pursuer
was now in flight; and Shirley lost both for a moment, but immediately a
dark form rose at the wall; she heard the scratch of feet upon the brick
surface as a man gained the top, turned and lifted his arm as though
aiming a weapon.
Then a dark object, hurled through the air, struck him squarely in the
face and he tumbled over the wall, and Shirley heard him crash through
the hedge of the neighboring estate, then all was quiet again.
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