man sitting down isn't to be trusted behind one--so, after you,
Mr. Flowers. Oh, we'll wait until you can use your arm, but we'll wait
outside. Miss Chesterton's flat is no place for your sort, so--out with
you, and quick--d'ye hear?"

M'Ginnis opened his lips to retort, but passion choked him, and snarling
unintelligibly, he turned and strode out upon the landing. As they stood
fronting each other, very silent and grim and menacing, running feet
were heard ascending the stairs, and a slender boy appeared, who,
perceiving M'Ginnis, panted out:

"Say, Bud, O'Rourke's been pinched by d' cops! He wants ye t' skin over
an' fix it up--"

"O'Rourke pinched?" growled M'Ginnis. "Say you, Larry, what yer givin'
me?"

"S' right, Bud, dere's a noo captain on d' precinct, an' he's pinched
O'Rourke. 'N' say, Bud, d' game's all balled up; d' push is all up in d'
air. 'N' say, O'Rourke's crazy an' can't do nothin', so he sent me t'
fetch ye. You're d' only one as can fix d' police, so come on right now
before d' whole show's busted up." During this breathless speech the
narrowed eyes of M'Ginnis never left Ravenslee's pale, placid face, and
in the persistence of this ferocious glare was something animal-like.

"Say, you--Mr. Butt-in!" said he, "I ain't through wid you--not by a
whole lot I ain't. Oh, I'll get ye yet, an' I'll get ye good! There
won't be nothin' left for nobody else when I'm through wid you. Savvy
this--there ain't nobody ever goin' t' queer me with Hermy Chesterton.
Oh, I'll get ye good, an' I'll get ye--soon!"

So saying, Bud M'Ginnis turned, and went slowly and unwillingly down the
stair.

"Gee, but I'm glad he's gone!" said Spike, as he closed the door. "Gee,
but I'm--glad!" and he drew a deep breath.

"So am I!" said Ravenslee, sinking into the armchair, "but there's
always to-morrow, isn't there?"

But instead of replying, Spike stood to stare on Ravenslee with eyes of
admiring awe.

"I guess you know how t' handle y' self, Geoff," said he.

"I used to think I could, once upon a time," answered Ravenslee,
stooping to recover his pipe.

"That sure was some wallop you handed him!"

"'T was fair, I thank you, comrade!"

"I shall be awful sorry to have you leave me, Geoff."

"Leave you?"

"Well, you heard what he said?"

"Yes, I heard."

"An' you know what he meant?"

"I can guess."

"You'd best skin out o' Mulligan's first thing to-morrow."

"What for?"

"Bud says you must, an' he'll m