In the “Jolly Cricketers”
The"JollyCricketers"isjustatthebottomofthehill,wherethetram-linesbegin. Thebarmanleanthisfatredarmsonthecounterandtalkedofhorseswithananaemiccabman,whileablack-beardedmaningreysnappedupbiscuitandcheese,drankBurton,andconversedinAmericanwithapolicemanoffduty.
"What'stheshoutingabout!"saidtheanaemiccabman,goingoffatatangent,tryingtoseeupthehilloverthedirtyyellowblindinthelowwindowoftheinn. Somebodyranbyoutside. "Fire,perhaps,"saidthebarman.
Footstepsapproached,runningheavily,thedoorwaspushedopenviolently,andMarvel,weepinganddishevelled,hishatgone,theneckofhiscoattornopen,rushedin,madeaconvulsiveturn,andattemptedtoshutthedoor.Itwasheldhalfopenbyastrap.
"Coming!"hebawled,hisvoiceshriekingwithterror."He'scoming.The'VisibleMan!Afterme!ForGawd'ssake!'Elp!'Elp!'Elp!"
"Shutthedoors,"saidthepoliceman."Who'scoming?What'stherow?"Hewenttothedoor,releasedthestrap,anditslammed. TheAmericanclosedtheotherdoor.
"Lemmegoinside,"saidMarvel,staggeringandweeping,butstillclutchingthebooks."Lemmegoinside.Lockmein—somewhere. Itellyouhe'safterme.Igivehimtheslip.Hesaidhe'dkillmeandhewill."
"You'resafe,"saidthemanwiththeblackbeard. "Thedoor'sshut.What'sitallabout?"
"Lemmegoinside,"saidMarvel,andshriekedaloudasablowsuddenlymadethefasteneddoorshiverandwasfollowedbyahurriedrappingandashoutingoutside.