ad been known to lead
him to the counter of "th' Public," and bestow nectar upon him in the
form of "sixpenny." But of Lowrie, even the fighting community, which
was the community predominating in Riggan, could not speak so well. He
was "ill-farrant," and revengeful,--ready to fight, but not ready to
forgive. He had been known to bear a grudge, and remember it, when it
had been forgotten by other people. His record was not a clean one, and
accordingly he was not a favorite of Sammy Craddock's.

A short time afterward somebody passed the window facing the street, and
Lowrie started up with an oath.

"Theer he is!" he exclaimed. "Now fur it. I thowt he'd go this road.
I'll see what tha's getten to say fur thysen, my lad."

He was out in the street almost before Crad-dock and his companion had
time to reach the open window, and he had stopped the passer-by, who
paused to confront him haughtily.

"Why!" cried Sammy, slapping his knee, "I'm dom'd if it is na th' Lunnon
engineer chap."

Fergus Derrick stood before his enemy with anything but a propitiatory
air. That this brutal fellow who had caused him trouble enough already,
should interfere with his very progress in the street, was too much for
his high spirit to bear.

"I comn out here," said Lowrie, "to see if tha had owt to say to me."

"Then," replied Fergus, "you may go in again, for I have nothing."

Lowrie drew a step nearer to him.

"Art tha sure o' that?" he demanded. "Tha wert so ready wi' thy gab
about th' Davys this mornin' I thowt happen tha'd loike to say sum-mat
more if a mon ud gi' yo' a chance. But happen agen yo're one o' th'
soart as sticks to gab an' goes no further."

Derrick's eyes blazed, he flung out his open hand in a contemptuous
gesture.

"Out of the way," he said, in a suppressed voice, "and let me pass."

But Lowrie only came nearer.

"Nay, but I wunnot," he said, "until I've said my say. Tha wert goin' to
mak' me obey th' rules or let th' mesters hear on it, wert tha? Tha wert
goin' to keep thy eye on me, an' report when th' toime come, wert
tha? Well, th' toime has na come yet, and now I'm goin' to gi' thee a
thrashin'."

He sprang upon him with a ferocity which would have flung to the earth
any man who had not possessed the thews and sinews of a lion. Derrick
managed to preserve his equilibrium. After the first blow, he could not
control himself. Naturally, he had longed to thrash this fellow
soundly often enough, and now t