know it for a fact, I do."

"Well, and what of it?" said Marty.

"Just this. I wouldn't dismiss a man for getting knocked out by a
bigger man--"

"He ain't bigger."

"By a better fighter, then; but I doubt whether or not I want a
foreman who has to resort to that kind of thing--to buying off the man
who licked--"

"I didn't _buy_ him off," said Burke, as if he knew the distinction, even
in his own mind, was a fine one.

"Oh, yes, you did," answered Farron. And getting up, with his hands in
his pockets, he added, "I'm afraid your usefulness to me is over, Burke."

"The hell it is!"

"My wife is here, Marty," said Farron, very pleasantly. "But this story
isn't the only thing I have against you. My friend Mrs. Wayne tells me
you are exerting a bad influence over a fellow whose marriage she wants
to get annulled."

"Oh, let 'em get it annulled!" shouted Marty on a high and rising key.
"What do I care? I'll do anything to oblige if I'm asked right; but when
Mrs. Wayne and that gang come around bullying me, I won't do a thing for
them. But, if you ask me to, Mr. Farron, why, I'm glad to oblige you."

"Thank you, Marty," returned his employer, cordially. "If you arrange
that for me, I must own it would make me feel differently. I tell
you," he added, as one who suggests an honorable compromise, "you get
that settled up, you get that marriage annulled--that is, if you think
you can--"

"Sure I can," Burke replied, swaying his body about from the waist up, as
if to indicate the ease with which it could be accomplished.

"Well, when that's done, come back, and we'll talk over the other matter.
Perhaps, after all--well, we'll talk it over."

Burke walked to the door with his usual conquering step, but there
turned.

"Say," he said, "that story about the fight--" He looked at Adelaide.
"Ladies don't always understand these matters. Tell her, will you, that
it's done in some first-class fights?"

"I'll explain," answered Vincent.

"And there ain't any use in the story's getting about," Burke added.

"It won't," said Vincent. On which assurance Marty went away and left the
husband and wife alone.

Adelaide got up and went to the window and looked out toward the
Palisades. Marty Burke had been a symbol that enabled her to recall some
of her former attitudes of mind. She remembered that dinner where she had
pitted him against her husband. She felt deeply humiliated in her own
sight and in Vincent's, for she was