She came to a narrow place, where there was room but for one vehicle to pass at a time, and seeing a bunch of wild fern, Cora got out of the car to gather some. As she did so she heard a girl's voice pleading in alarmed tones: "Let me pass! You must let me pass!" "Not until I get some money out of you--or somebody!" exclaimed the rough voice of a man. "I tell you I haven't any money!" "Well, you know who has. Come on, I want it." There was a sound of breaking sticks, as if the man had taken a step nearer the girl. She retreated, and this brought her into view of Cora. It was Ida Giles! Cora leaned forward to catch a glimpse of the man. She was startled to see that he was that good-for-nothing Lem Gildy. "Come on," growled Lem, "fork over some cash." "I haven't any. Oh, please, Lem, let me pass!" He took another step toward her with outstretched hands, and Ids shrank back. She screamed, but Lem only sneered. "No one'll hear you," he said. "Come on, I must have money, or I'll tell some things I know." Cora was hidden from the two by a screen of bushes, and on the dirt of the road, with her car running at low speed, they had not heard her. Lem laid his hand on Ida's wrist. "Let me alone!" she screamed. "Help! help!" Cora saw a stout stick lying on the ground. With hardly a thought of what she was doing she caught it up and stepped forward. "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. Sobbing like a child, Ida leaned on the arm that Cora held out to her, though as a matter of fact Cora was in need of assistance herself. "Well, never mind," she said to Ida. "Just get in my car and we'll go right to your home. He was a perfectly horrid man, and should be punished. See what he did to Jack, starting off his car and injuring him. Now he tries to rob you."