t. It was no time for fooling. You know, somebody is always
fooling over there?"

"That's a lie," said Bob. "You know I touched your elbow, not your
coat-tail. You looked down in my face, saw who it was and then kicked
me."

Bryant was so astounded at being given the lie so bluntly he sat still
and heard Bob through without uttering a word; then he looked up at
Manson and said:

"There's cheek for you!"

"Cheek!" exclaimed Bob. "Don't say a word about cheek! Your cheek drove
your typewriter out of your office. I got a place for her, and you had
the cheek to go to her new place and raise a row. That is what you
kicked me for. Two members of the Exchange told me to prosecute you and
call them as witnesses--Mr. Turner and Mr. Agnew."

Bryant turned white as a sheet. Those two brokers were his bitterest
enemies. They stood high, and their evidence would down him.

"See here, my boy," he said, "I ought to kick you clean through that
window for your impudence, but I won't. I tell you---"

"Of course, you won't," said Bob, interrupting him. "It's my time to
kick now."

Bryant was cool, pale, and yet in a rage. He saw that he was in a
serious scrape, and Bob, though a boy, was game all through.

"Are you willing for Mr. Manson to settle the matter?" he asked.

"No, sir. He is not my lawyer."

Bryant gave a start.

"Who is pour lawyer?" he asked.

"I haven't engaged one yet, but you can bet I am going to."

"Well, I see you are very mad about it. We can settle it ourselves, I
think, Just tell me what you want me to do."

"Well, I think you ought to be made to break stone over on the Island
for about six months. You need a good lesson and I'd like to see you get
one of that kind."

"The court would probably fine me $50. Will that sum satisfy you?"

"No, sir. You think money is everything. I don't. Just acknowledge that
you are an old hog and beg my pardon, and you may go to the Old Harry
for all I care!"

That was too much for the big broker. He sprang forward and dealt Bob a
stinging slap in the face. But the next moment both Bob and Fred sprang
up like two wildcats.

He tried to defend himself, of course, but those two boys had fought
many a battle in the street and were fighters from way back. They rolled
on the floor together, while Manson kept calling out:

"Boys! Boys! I'll call the police to you!"

They never heard him. If they did they didn't heed him. In half a minute
both eyes were blacked, a