, he incontinent
entered and addressed the plump Semitic merchant in his usual easy
manner.

"Greetings, Abe! I'll take one o' them hair-combs."

"Hair-gombs?" nodded the merchant. "Vot kind?"

"What kind? Why, the best you got."

"Ve got 'em up to veefty dollars--"

"Come off it, Cain, come off--I ain't purchasin' a diamond aigrette
to-day, it's a lady's hair-comb I want--good, but not too
flossy-lookin'--savvy that? This'll do, I guess--how much? Right there!"
said Spike, flicking a bill upon the counter. "That's it, stick it in a
box--oh, never mind th' wrappin's. S'long, Daniel!"

With his purchase in his pocket, Spike strode out of the shop,
whistling cheerily, but the merry notes ended very suddenly as he dodged
back again, yet not quite quick enough, for a rough voice hailed him,
hoarse and jovial.

"Why, hello, Kid, how goes it?" M'Ginnis's heavy hand descended on his
shrinking shoulder and next moment he was out on the sidewalk where
Soapy lounged, a smouldering cigarette pendent from his thin, pallid
lips as usual. And Soapy's eyes, so bright between their narrowed, puffy
lids, so old-seeming in the youthful oval of his pale face, were like
his cigarette, in that they smouldered also.

"Holy smoke!" exclaimed M'Ginnis, surveying Spike up and down in mock
amazement, "this ain't you, Kid--no, this sure ain't you. Looks all t'
th' company-promoter, don't he, Soapy?"

"'S' right, Kid, 's' right!" nodded the pallid youth, his smouldering
eyes always turning toward M'Ginnis.

"Say, now, Bud, quit your kiddin'!" said Spike petulantly.

"But, Gee whiz!" exclaimed M'Ginnis, tightening his grasp, "you sure are
some class, Kid, in that stiff collar an' sporty tie. How's the stock
market? Are ye a bull or a bear?"

"Ah, cut it out, Bud!" cried the lad, writhing.

"Right-o, Kid, right-o!" said M'Ginnis, loosing his hold. "You're comin'
over t' O'Rourke's t'night, of course?"

"Why, no, Bud--I can't."

"Oh, t' hell wid that--I got you all fixed up to go ten rounds wid Young
Alf, th' East Side Wonder--"

"What?" exclaimed Spike, his eyes bright and eager, "you got me a match
wi' Young Alf? Say, Bud--you ain't stringing me, are ye?"

"Not much. I told you I'd get ye a real chance--"

"Why," cried Spike, "if I was t' lick Young Alf, I'd be in line t' meet
th' top-notchers!"

"Sure--if you lick him!" nodded M'Ginnis grimly.

"Say," said Spike, his face radiant, "I've just been waitin' an'
waitin' for