them talkin' an' laughin'
together when you're out o' th' way--ah," growled M'Ginnis, between
grinding white teeth, "an' likely as not kissin' an' squeezin' in
corners--"

"That's enough--that's enough!" cried the boy, fronting M'Ginnis,
fierce-eyed. "Nobody ain't goin' t' speak about Hermy that way."

"Y' can't help it, Kid. Here's this guy Geoff, this pal o' yours--been
with her--in her flat with her, all th' mornin'--ain't he, Soapy?"

"'S' right, Kid!" nodded that pallid individual, the smouldering
cigarette a-swing between pale lips; and, though he addressed Spike, his
furtive eyes, watching aslant between narrowed lids, glittered to behold
M'Ginnis's scowling brow; also the wolverine mouth curled faintly, so
that the pendulous cigarette stirred and quivered.

"Oh, I'm handin' ye the straight goods, Kid," M'Ginnis went on. "I'm
puttin' ye wise because you're my pal, an' because I've known Hermy an'
been kind o' soft about her since we was kids."

"Well, then, you know she--she ain't that sort," said Spike, his voice
quavering oddly. "So--don't you--say no more--see?"

"All right, Kid, all right--only I don't like t' see this pal o' yours
gettin' in his dirty work behind your back. If anything happens--don't
blame me--"

"What--what you tryin' t' tell me--you Bud?" questioned Spike, between
quivering lips.

"I'm tellin' ye things are gettin' too warm--oh, Hermy ain't the icicle
she tries t' make out she is."

"An' I'm tellin' you--you're a liar, Bud M'Ginnis--a dirty liar!" cried
the boy.

M'Ginnis's bull neck swelled; between his thick, black brows a vein
swelled and pulsed. Viewing this, Soapy's glittering eyes blinked, and
the pendulous cigarette quivered faintly again.

"Now by--" began M'Ginnis, lifting menacing fist; then his arm sank, and
he shook his big, handsome head. "Oh, pshaw!" he exclaimed, "I guess
you're all worked up, Kid, so I ain't takin' no notice. But savvy this,
Kid, if Hermy ain't goin' t' marry me on th' level, she ain't goin' t'
let this guy have her--the other way--not much! I guess you ain't
forgotten little Maggie Finlay? Well, watch out your pal Geoff don't
make Hermy go th' same."

Uttering a wild, inarticulate cry, the lad sprang--to be caught in
M'Ginnis's powerful grasp, but, even so, his fist grazed M'Ginnis's
full-lipped mouth. For a moment Spike strove desperately to reach Bud's
grim-smiling face until, finding his efforts vain, he ceased all at
once, bowed his hea