seem to have got each
other, don't we?"

"See here, you," said M'Ginnis, his massive shoulders squared, his big
chin viciously outthrust, "you're goin' t' leave Mulligan's, see?"

"Am I?" said Ravenslee, lounging upon a corner of the battered desk.

"You sure are," nodded M'Ginnis. "Hell's Kitchen ain't big enough for
you an' me, I guess; you're goin' because I say so, an' you're goin'
t'night!"

"You surprise me!" said Ravenslee sleepily.

"You're goin' t' quit Hell's Kitchen for good and--you ain't comin'
back!"

"You amaze me!" and Ravenslee yawned behind his hand.

"An' now you're goin' t' listen why an' wherefore--if you can keep
awake a minute!"

"I'll try, Mr. Flowers, I'll try."

M'Ginnis thrust clenched hands into his pockets and surveyed Ravenslee
with scornful eyes--his lounging figure and stooping shoulders, his
long, white hands and general listless air.

"God!" he exclaimed, "that she should trouble t' look twice at such a
nancy-boy!" and he spat, loud and contemptuously.

"Almost think you're trying to be rude, Mr. Flowers."

"Aw--I couldn't be, to a--thing like you! An' see here--me name's
M'Ginnis!"

"But then," sighed Ravenslee, "I prefer to call you Flowers--a fair name
for a foul thing--"

M'Ginnis made a swift step forward and halted, hard-breathing and
menacing.

"How much?" he demanded.

"Fair name for a very foul thing, Mr. Flowers," repeated Ravenslee,
glancing up at him from under slumberous, drooping lids--"anyway,
Flowers you will remain!"

As they stared again, eye to eye, M'Ginnis edged nearer and nearer, head
thrust forward, until Ravenslee could see the cords that writhed and
swelled in his big throat, and he hitched forward a languid shoulder.
"Don't come any nearer, Flowers," said he, "and don't stick out your jaw
like that--don't do it; I might be tempted to try to--er--hit it!"

"What--you?" said M'Ginnis, and laughed hoarsely, while Ravenslee yawned
again.

"An' now, Mr. Butt-in, if you're still awake--listen here. I guess it's
about time you stopped foolin' around Hermy Chesterton--an' you're goin'
t' quit--see!" Ravenslee's eyes flashed suddenly, then drooped as
M'Ginnis continued: "So you're goin' t' sit down right here, an' you're
goin' t' write a nice little note of farewell, an' you're goin' t' tell
her as you love her an' leave her because I say so--see? Ah!" he cried,
suddenly hoarse and anger-choked, "d' ye think I'll let Hermy look at a
thing lik