men, I expect you may find that I am as bad as the worst of
them before we're through."

"No, no, Jack! I would trust you anywhere."

McMurdo laughed bitterly. "Good Lord! how little you know of me! Your
innocent soul, my darling, could not even guess what is passing in mine.
But, hullo, who's the visitor?"

The door had opened suddenly, and a young fellow came swaggering in with
the air of one who is the master. He was a handsome, dashing young
man of about the same age and build as McMurdo himself. Under his
broad-brimmed black felt hat, which he had not troubled to remove, a
handsome face with fierce, domineering eyes and a curved hawk-bill of a
nose looked savagely at the pair who sat by the stove.

Ettie had jumped to her feet full of confusion and alarm. "I'm glad to
see you, Mr. Baldwin," said she. "You're earlier than I had thought.
Come and sit down."

Baldwin stood with his hands on his hips looking at McMurdo. "Who is
this?" he asked curtly.

"It's a friend of mine, Mr. Baldwin, a new boarder here. Mr. McMurdo,
may I introduce you to Mr. Baldwin?"

The young men nodded in surly fashion to each other.

"Maybe Miss Ettie has told you how it is with us?" said Baldwin.

"I didn't understand that there was any relation between you."

"Didn't you? Well, you can understand it now. You can take it from me
that this young lady is mine, and you'll find it a very fine evening for
a walk."

"Thank you, I am in no humour for a walk."

"Aren't you?" The man's savage eyes were blazing with anger. "Maybe you
are in a humour for a fight, Mr. Boarder!"

"That I am!" cried McMurdo, springing to his feet. "You never said a
more welcome word."

"For God's sake, Jack! Oh, for God's sake!" cried poor, distracted
Ettie. "Oh, Jack, Jack, he will hurt you!"

"Oh, it's Jack, is it?" said Baldwin with an oath. "You've come to that
already, have you?"

"Oh, Ted, be reasonable--be kind! For my sake, Ted, if ever you loved
me, be big-hearted and forgiving!"

"I think, Ettie, that if you were to leave us alone we could get this
thing settled," said McMurdo quietly. "Or maybe, Mr. Baldwin, you will
take a turn down the street with me. It's a fine evening, and there's
some open ground beyond the next block."

"I'll get even with you without needing to dirty my hands," said his
enemy. "You'll wish you had never set foot in this house before I am
through with you!"

"No time like the present," cried McMurdo.

"I'll ch