s you can be pretty ugly too--say, when you laugh that way I
feel--kind of sorry for Bud."

"Why, what's wrong with Spike?"

"Dunno--I guess they've been slinging dope into him. And he's copped it
pretty bad from Young Alf too--look at that eye!"

"Spike!" said Ravenslee, shaking him, "Spike, what is it? Buck up, old
fellow!" But Spike only stared dazedly and moaned.

"It's dope all right," nodded the Spider, "or else Bud's mixed th'
drinks on him."

"Damn him!" said Ravenslee softly. "I wish I'd throttled a little
harder!"

"I guess you give Bud all he needs for the present," said Spider grimly,
"anyway, I'm goin' t' see. The Kid ain't hurt none. Get him home t' bed,
an' he'll be all right s'long, long, Geoff."

"Good night, Spider, and--thank you. Oh, by the way, who's Heine?"

"Heine's a Deutscher, Geoff. Heine's about as clean as dirt an' as
straight as a corkscrew; why, he'd shoot his own mother if y' paid him,
like he did--but say, what d' you know about him, anyway?"

"Well, for one thing, I know he's been arrested in Jersey City--"

"Heine? Pinched? Say, bo, what yer givin' us--who says so?"

"Bud, and--"

But the Spider, waiting for no more, had turned about and was running
back across the open lot.

CHAPTER XXI

HOW M'GINNIS THREATENED AND--WENT

"Mr. Geoffrey, prayer is a wonderful prop to a anxious 'eart!" said Mrs.
Trapes, leaning over the banisters to greet him as he ascended. "Mr.
Geoffrey, my hands has been lifted in prayer for ye this night as so did
me behoove, and here you are safe back with--that b'y. A prayer prayed
proper, and prayed by them as ain't plaguein' the Lord constant about
their souls an' other diseases, is always dooly regarded. Yes, sir, a
occasional petition is always heard and worketh wonders as the--my land,
Mr. Geoffrey, look at your face!"

"I know, Mrs. Trapes. Has she come in yet?"

"Not yet--an' glad I am. You're all bleedin'--stoop your head a
bit--there!" and very tenderly she staunched the cut below the curly
hair with an apron clean and spotless as usual. "And the b'y--lord,
what's come to him?"

"A black eye--two, I'm afraid. Anyhow, I'll look after him and get him
into bed before she comes; can you keep her away till I've done so?"

"I'll try. Poor lad!" she sighed, touching Spike's drooping head with
bony fingers, "if she wasn't his sister, I'd be sorry for him!"

So Ravenslee took Spike in hand, bathing his bruised and battered
features