"I guess yes! Hell's Kitchen an' Tenth Av'ner's got t' get along without
me from now on, I reckon. They ain't losin' much, an' I ain't leavin'
much, but--"

"Why the devil had you got to follow me to-night?" demanded Ravenslee,
scowling.

"Bo," said the Spider as they went on again, "there's times when my
likin' f'r you gets a pain; there's times when y'r talk gives me th'
earache, an' y'r lovin' looks the willies. I ain't lookin' f'r no
gratitood, nor yet a gold dinner-set an' loominated address, but, not
ownin' a hide like a sole-leather Saratoga, I'll jest get on me way--S'
long!"

"Where are you going?"

"I dunno, but--I'm goin' there, right now."

But as the Spider turned away, his hand was caught and gripped, and
Ravenslee was smiling; his features looked a bit battered, but his smile
was pleasant as ever.

"Forgive my cursed temper, Spider. I owe you my life again and--I ought
to be grateful, I suppose. Forgive me, I'm--not quite myself to-night."

"Sure thing!" said the Spider, returning his grasp, "but, bo, I'm kind
o' wonderin' in me little mind what Bud's feelin' like! You sure swatted
him good an' heavy. I never seen cleaner footwork, an' them left jabs o'
yours--"

"The question is, how do you feel, Spider, and what are you going to
do?"

The pugilist scratched his rough chin. "Well, that's what gets my goat;
I dunno quite, bo. Y' see, I shan't be able t' get no more fights here
in the East now, not wi' Bud 'n' his old man against me--y' see, Bud's
old man's about the biggest--"

"I wonder if you'd care to come with me?"

"Whaffor?"

"Well, for one thing, I need another chauffeur and--"

"A--what?" The Spider halted under a lamp-post to stare at Ravenslee a
little anxiously. "Say, now, take a holt of ye'self an' jest put that
one over th' plate again--you need a--what?"

"Another chauffeur."

"Another shuvver--another? Bo, y' didn't happen t' get a soak on th'
bean just now, did ye?"

"No."

"Well, then, I guess you're some shook up; what you want's food, right
now!"

"Why, yes, now you mention it, I'm devilish hungry," agreed Ravenslee.

"Leave it t' me, bo--I know a chewin'-joint close by--soup, joint,
sweets, an' coffee an' only a quarter a throw--some feed, bo! Shin right
along, I'll--"

"No, you shall come home and dine with me."

"Home?" repeated the Spider, halting to stare again; "you're sure
talkin' ramblin'--"

"We can discuss the chauffeur's job then--"

"Shuvver