h him."

[Illustration: DANNY DISCOMFITS THE ASSAILANT.]

Miss Barstow's knowledge of this class taught her that the men had all
been drinking, and she knew that the situation was serious. She had
often been warned that she was in danger of just such experiences as
this, but until now had been saved from danger by the respect that the
tenement people felt for her. But these were not even tenement people of
the lowest kind. They belonged to the class of idlers who skulked about
the saloons in that neighborhood at night, and begged during the day. As
she was debating what she should do, Danny managed to trip his uncle
hard and break away from him. He ran to Miss Barstow, snatched her
umbrella from her hand, jumped between her and the man, and told her to
run. One of the half-drunken men lurched toward Danny, but suddenly
halted when Danny brought the silver head of the umbrella down on the
fellow's head with a whack. That was more than he expected, and while
they stood irresolute Danny and Miss Barstow hurried away, Danny keeping
between her and the enemy, swinging the umbrella threateningly. They
reached the elevated-road station without further molestation, and Danny
then found to his surprise that the woman who had been so brave while
there was any danger was now white and trembling, and nigh to fainting.

"It was not that I was afraid," she said, "but it shows me that there is
danger for me down there, and that I must give up my night work there."

"Why, lady," said Danny, "I taut it was a picnic; anyway it was good fun
when I cracked dat mug's nut wid dis umbrella. He'll know he was in a
fight to-morrow."

Danny went to Miss Barstow's door with her, and thought that would be
the last he would hear of the adventure. Three days later, while he was
sitting in the messenger office, a man called on him, who explained that
he was the lawyer for Miss Barstow's society which supported the
Tenement Mission. He had had Cahill and the men who had been with him
that night arrested, and Danny was wanted as a witness against them in
the Police Court.

"And now," said the lawyer, when he had explained about the arrest,
"tell me all you can about yourself, and your relations with Cahill.
Miss Barstow tells me that Cahill may have some legal right to your
wages, and if he has we want to give you another guardian. What would
you think of me as your guardian?"

Danny did not know what sort of a thing a guardian might be, and the