y, then straightened his shoulders and threw back
his head.

"No!" he answered, frowning into Soapy's imperturbable face, "what th'
hell made you think it was?"

"Why, ye see, Bud, it happens t' have your name scratched inside it,
that's all. But if it ain't yours, it ain't!" And speaking, Soapy tossed
the ring back over his shoulder far out into the open lot.

For a long moment M'Ginnis stood motionless, staring back at that
desolate plot of ground; when at last he glanced toward his companion,
Soapy was lighting a fresh cigarette.

CHAPTER XXXIX

THE OLD UN ADVISES AND RAVENSLEE ACTS

In the rose garden was an arbour smothered in riotous bloom, and in the
arbour was a divan, wide and low and voluptuously soft, meet for the
repose of an invalid on a languorous afternoon, or indeed any other
time. But just now the invalid reposed not at all but sat, elbow on knee
and square chin on fist, very lonely and therefore very grim.

All about him roses bloomed, filling the air with their sweetness, but
he had no eyes for their beauty; upon the table within reach of his hand
were books and magazines, but he was in no mood for reading; clasped
between strong white teeth he held his favourite pipe unlighted and
cold, for tobacco had for him no savour. So he sat and scowled at the
universe in general, and in particular at a robin that had boldly
ventured near and was regarding him with a very round, bright eye.

"She's avoiding me!" said Ravenslee bitterly, teeth clenched upon his
pipestem, "there's no doubt about it, damn it; she's avoiding me! And
she's not happy here either!"

The robin turned his head to regard the speaker with his other eye, then
fluttered his wings and flew away as the lazy quiet of the afternoon was
broken by the squeak of shoe leather, and glancing up, Ravenslee beheld
the Old Un.

"What cheer, Guv," said he, "greetin's doo and how's the invalid?"

"Invalid!" repeated Ravenslee, scowling again, "I'm no invalid!"

"Spoke like a true-bred gamecock, s' help me!"

"I'm as right as rain physically, Old Un, but--"

"Talkin' o' physic, Guv," said the old man, seating himself and nodding
brightly, "talkin' o' physic, the physic as set you on your pins again
was love, Guv, love!"

"But it so happens--"

"Wait a bit, I ain't done, Guv! 'Ere 's me, a old cove as 'as lived
'ears an' 'ears an' 'ears an' 'ears longer 'n you, so nacherally I'm a
powerful lot fuller o' th' wisdom o' life than yo