the Boss.

"She does," says the girl, and shuts the door.

"Gee!" says I, "that's below the belt."

The Boss hadn't a word left in him, but I wouldn't have met him in the
ring about then for anything less'n a bookie's bundle.

Just as we hit the sidewalk we hears a front window go up, and down
comes a red rose plunk in front of us.

"Many happy returns of the day," says I, handing it to the Boss.

"I suppose you're right," says he. "It's the only way to look at it, I
expect; and yet--oh, hang it all, Shorty, what's the use?"

"Ahr-r, say!" says I. "Switch off! It's all over, and you've side
stepped takin' the count."

CHAPTER IV

Does the Boss let it go at that? Say, I was just thick enough to guess
that he would. I was still havin' that dream, a few days later, when the
Boss says to me:

"Shorty, you remember that old castle of ours?"

"You don't think I've been struck with softenin' of the brain, do you?"
says I. "That'll be the last thing I'll forget. What's happened to it?"

"It's mine," says he.

"G'way!" says I. "They couldn't force you to take it."

"I've bought it," says he. "I cabled over an offer, and the Count has
accepted."

"Goin' to blow it up?" I says.

"I hope," says he, gettin' a little red under the eyes, "to spend my
honeymoon there; that is, if the Princess Padova--"

"The who?" says I. "Oh, you mean the lady brigandess?"

"If the Princess Padova," says he, keepin' straight on, "doesn't prefer
some other place. We sail to-morrow."

"Then--then--" says I, catchin' my breath, "you've done it?"

It was silly askin' him. Why, it stuck out all over his face. I don't
know what I said next, but it didn't matter much. He was too far up in
the air to hear anything in particular. Just as we shakes hands though,
he passes me an envelope and says:

"Shorty, I wish you'd take this down to my lawyer next Monday morning.
It's a little matter I haven't had time to fix up."

"Sure," says I. "I'll tie up any loose ends. And don't forget to give my
regards to old Vincenzo."

Say, I s'pose I'd ought to told him what a mark he'd made of himself,
takin' a chance with any such wild-rose runnin' mate as that; but
somehow it seemed all right, for him. I couldn't get a view of the Boss
mated up with any silk-lined, city-broke girl. I guess Miss Padova was
about his style, after all; and I reckon it would take a man like him to
manage one of her high flyin' kind. Anyway, I'm glad he got he