with me--how
about it?"

"Suppose you have supper at Mrs. Trapes' with me?"

"No, she gets on me nerves--so come on over, will you?"

"With pleasure."

"'N' say, I'm a few chips shy on butter, Geoff--bring in ten cents'
worth, will you?"

"Right, O comrade, I'll be with you anon. Make boil the kettle against
my coming," and Ravenslee hastened down the stairs. Reaching the court
he met the Italian trundling his barrow toward a certain shed, its usual
nocturnal biding place.

"How goes it, Tony?" he enquired, shaking hands.

The Italian nodded and flashed his teeth. "Ver-a good, pal!" he
answered.

"Tony, where can I get a peanut outfit like yours?"

"Ha! You go-a in-a da peanut-a beezneez, hey? You want-a push-a de cart,
hey?"

"That's it, Tony."

"Ver-a good!" nodded the good-natured Italian. "You come-a long-a me,
pal. I take-a you get-a push-a-de-cart, up-a de street, yes?" Having
very soon locked away his barrow, the loquacious Tony led Ravenslee
along certain streets and into a certain yard, where presently appeared
a stout man with rings in his ears, who smiled and nodded and greeted
them with up-flung finger and the word "altro." Presently Ravenslee
found himself examining a highly ornate barrow fitted with stove and
outfit complete, even unto the whistle, and mounted upon a pair of the
rosiest wheels he had ever seen. Thereafter were more smiles and nods,
accompanied by the ever recurrent "altro", the transfer of certain bills
into the stout man's pocket, and Geoffrey Ravenslee sallied forth into
the street, bound for Mulligan's, with the chattering Tony beside him
and the gaily-painted barrow before him, receiving many friendly hints
as to the pitfalls and intricacies of the peanut trade and hearkening
with unflagging interest to the story of "lil Pietro" and the unbounded
goodness of "da Signorina Hermione."

CHAPTER XI

ANTAGONISM IS BORN AND WAR DECLARED

"Why--hello, Hermy!" exclaimed Spike, pausing in the doorway. "Gee, I
thought you was--were in Englewood."

Hermione lifted her golden head, stayed her humming sewing-machine, and
smiled at him.

"And I thought I'd come home and surprise you. Aren't you glad to see
me, boy dear?"

"Why, sure I am!" he answered, and stooping, kissed a golden curl that
wantoned at her white temple; which done, he sprawled in the easy-chair
and taking a newspaper from his pocket, fell to studying the latest
baseball scores while Hermione, head