At this a young woman, who was about as pretty as any young woman could be, arose and ran to Hopalong and, impulsively throwing her arms around his neck, cried: "You brave man! You hero! You dear!"
"Skinny! Red! Help!" cried the frightened and embarrassed puncher, struggling to get free.
She kissed him on the cheek, which flamed even more red as he made frantic efforts to keep his head back. "Ma'am!" he cried, desperately. "Leggo, ma'am! Leggo!"
"Oh! Ho! Ho!" roared Red, weak from his mirth and, not looking to see what he was doing, he dropped into a seat beside another woman. He was on his feet instantly; fearing that he would have to go through the ordeal his friend was going through, he fled down the aisle, closely followed by Hopalong, who by this time had managed to break away. Skinny backed off suspiciously and kept close watch on Hopalong's admirer.
Just then the brakeman entered the car, grinning,
