g.
If I can't marry Mr. Perkins without your consent, then I'll just wait
till I can."

The longshoreman ignored her. "I stick by what I've jus' said, Perksie,"
he went on, impudently. "BUT--if I lick _you_, and I'm goin' t', then
out y' trot, and down, and y' lose her! Y' understand?"

"I understand that I lose her until she is old enough to do as she
chooses," amended Mr. Perkins.

"After t'day, y' don't see her again," insisted Big Tom, "till she's
growed up."

"I'll see him every day!" cried Cis. "Every day!--Don't agree to that,
Algy! The marriage part, yes, because we can't help ourselves. But he's
not going to part us! I'm leaving, but wherever I am, I'm going to see
you!"

The longshoreman turned toward her now, and his look was full of hate.
"I guess y'll do jus' about what I tell y' to," he said significantly.
"Algy's goin' t' be too sick t' look after y'."

Johnnie emitted a woeful little peep. "Oo-oo! Mister Perkins!" he
pleaded. "Couldn't y' put off fightin' till--till some other time?"

Johnnie's anxious demand amused Big Tom. It amused Cis, too, but for a
wholly different reason. As they laughed together, each challenged the
other with angry eyes.

Johnnie, feeling fainter every moment, marveled as he stared at Cis.
There was no question as to her perfect confidence regarding the outcome
of the fight. And he marveled even more when he looked at Mr. Perkins.
The latter was cheerful--even gay! He forgot nothing. First, he shook
hands with Father Pat; next with One-Eye. "Maybe you'd like to have me
put you into a taxicab before this row starts," he said to the cowboy.

"Nope," was the answer. "I'm goin' t' stay fer the concert."

Mr. Perkins went to Cis, took her fingers in his, bent gallantly, and
kissed them. "Wish me good luck!" he bade her.

"It won't be luck," she answered.

"Ain't his hands nice and clean!" mocked Barber. "Ain't his nails
shiny!" There was an ugly glitter in the bulging eyes once more. A
moment later, as he found himself close to Mr. Perkins (for the latter
had come to join him), he acted upon a sudden temptation. Reaching out,
with an impudent grin he tweaked the younger man lightly by the nose.

Biff!

The blow was so sudden, so powerful and straight to its mark (which was
a jaw), that Big Tom's breath went--as his toes tipped up, and he began
to reel backward, fanning the air with both arms.

"Ha-a-a-a!" cried the priest. "No wonder ye stand t' yer feet, Johnnie