hat door?"

"Wot!" roars Dixon. "Hang it! I mustn't lock a door without asking my
barman now. Pack up and be off, you swab, afore I start on you."

Charlie gave a growl and rushed at 'im, and the next moment 'e was down
on the floor with the 'ardest bang in the face that he'd ever 'ad in 'is
life. Mrs. Dixon screamed and ran into the kitchen, follered by old
Burge, who went in to tell 'er not to be frightened. Charlie got up and
went for Dixon agin; but he 'ad come back as 'ard as nails and 'ad a
rushing style o' fighting that took Charlie's breath away. By the time
Bob 'ad left the bar to take care of itself, and run round and got in the
back way, Charlie had 'ad as much as 'e wanted and was lying on the
sea-chest in the corner trying to get 'is breath.

[Illustration: "Charlie had 'ad as much as 'e wanted and was lying on the
sea-chest."]

"Yes? Wot d'ye want?" ses Dixon, with a growl, as Bob came in at the
door.

He was such a 'orrible figure, with the blood on 'is face and 'is beard
sticking out all ways, that Bob, instead of doing wot he 'ad come round
for, stood in the doorway staring at 'im without a word.

"I'm paying off," ses Dixon. "'Ave you got any-thing to say agin it?"

"No," ses Bob, drawing back.

"You and Charlie'll go now," ses Dixon, taking out some money. "The old
man can stay on for a month to give 'im time to look round. Don't look
at me that way, else I'll knock your 'ead off."

He started counting out Bob's money just as old Burge and Mrs. Dixon,
hearing all quiet, came in out of the kitchen.

"Don't you be alarmed on my account, my dear," he ses, turning to 'is
wife; "it's child's play to wot I've been used to. I'll just see these
two mistaken young fellers off the premises, and then we'll 'ave a cup o'
tea while the old man minds the bar."

Mrs. Dixon tried to speak, but 'er temper was too much for 'er. She
looked from her 'usband to Charlie and Bob and then back at 'im agin and
caught 'er breath.

"That's right," ses Dixon, nodding his 'ead at her. "I'm master and
owner of the Blue Lion and you're first mate. When I'm speaking you keep
quiet; that's dissipline."

I was in that bar about three months arterward, and I never saw such
a change in any woman as there was in Mrs. Dixon. Of all the
nice-mannered, soft-spoken landladies I've ever seen, she was the best,
and on'y to 'ear the way she answered her 'usband when he spoke to 'er
was a pleasure to every marri