M'Ginnis, "he don't want you buttin' in!"

"'S right, too, Bud!" nodded Soapy, "he's got you, ain't he? An'
you--got him, ain't you?"

"I didn't think Hermy 'ud ever treat me--like this!" said Spike
tearfully.

"You mean--throwin' ye out into th' streets, Kid? Why, I been expectin'
it!"

"Expectin' it?" repeated Spike, setting down his glass and staring,
"why?"

"Well, she's a girl, ain't she, an' they're all th' same, I reckon--"

"An' Bud knows all about girls, Kid!" murmured Soapy. "Bud's wise t' all
their tricks--ain't you, Bud?"

"But whatcher mean?" cried Spike. "What ye mean about expectin' it?"

"Well, she don't want ye no more, does she?" answered M'Ginnis, his
bruised hands fierce clenched, his voice hoarse and thick with passion.
"She's got some one else now--ain't she? She's--in love--ain't she?
She's all waked up an' palpitatin' for--for that dam'--" he choked, and
set one hand to his scratched throat.

"What d'ye mean, Bud?"

"Ah!" said Soapy, softer than before, "I'm on, Bud; you put me wise! He
means, Kid, as Hermy's in love with th' guy as has just been punchin'
hell out of him--he means your pal Geoff." With a hoarse, strangling
cry, M'Ginnis leapt up, his hand flashed behind him, and--he stood
suddenly very still, staring into the muzzle of the weapon Soapy had
levelled from his hip.

"Aw, quit it, Bud, quit it," he sighed, "it ain't come t' that--yet.
Besides, the Kid's here, so loose ye gun, Bud. No, give it t'me; you're
a bit on edge t'night, I guess, an' it might go off an' break a glass or
somethin'. So gimme ye gun, Bud. That's it! Now we can sit an' talk real
sociable, can't we? Now listen, Bud--what you want is t' get your own
back on this guy Geoff, an' what th' Kid wants is t' show his sister as
he ain't a kid, an' what I want is t' give ye both a helpin' hand--"

But while M'Ginnis stood scowling at the imperturbable speaker, Spike
rose, a little unsteadily, and turned to the door.

"I'll be gettin' on me way, Bud," said he.

"Where to?"

"Home."

"What! Back t' Hermy? After she turned ye out?"

"But I--I got t' go somewheres--"

"Well, you stay right here with me, Kid; I'll fix ye up all right--"

"'S right, Kid!" nodded Soapy. "Bud'll fix ye all right, same as I
said; we'll have in another bottle when that's empty!"

"What about your sister, Kid?" demanded M'Ginnis fiercely. "What about
Hermy an' this swell guy? Are y' goin' t' sit around an' do nothin'?"

"Bu