McMurdo answered.

"Well, I guess you'll go far. Say, can you make those dollars yet?"

McMurdo took half a dozen from his pocket. "Those never passed the
Philadelphia mint," said he.

"You don't say!" McGinty held them to the light in his enormous hand,
which was hairy as a gorilla's. "I can see no difference. Gar! you'll be
a mighty useful brother, I'm thinking! We can do with a bad man or two
among us, Friend McMurdo: for there are times when we have to take our
own part. We'd soon be against the wall if we didn't shove back at those
that were pushing us."

"Well, I guess I'll do my share of shoving with the rest of the boys."

"You seem to have a good nerve. You didn't squirm when I shoved this gun
at you."

"It was not me that was in danger."

"Who then?"

"It was you, Councillor." McMurdo drew a cocked pistol from the side
pocket of his peajacket. "I was covering you all the time. I guess my
shot would have been as quick as yours."

"By Gar!" McGinty flushed an angry red and then burst into a roar of
laughter. "Say, we've had no such holy terror come to hand this many a
year. I reckon the lodge will learn to be proud of you.... Well, what
the hell do you want? And can't I speak alone with a gentleman for five
minutes but you must butt in on us?"

The bartender stood abashed. "I'm sorry, Councillor, but it's Ted
Baldwin. He says he must see you this very minute."

The message was unnecessary; for the set, cruel face of the man himself
was looking over the servant's shoulder. He pushed the bartender out and
closed the door on him.

"So," said he with a furious glance at McMurdo, "you got here first, did
you? I've a word to say to you, Councillor, about this man."

"Then say it here and now before my face," cried McMurdo.

"I'll say it at my own time, in my own way."

"Tut! Tut!" said McGinty, getting off his barrel. "This will never do.
We have a new brother here, Baldwin, and it's not for us to greet him in
such fashion. Hold out your hand, man, and make it up!"

"Never!" cried Baldwin in a fury.

"I've offered to fight him if he thinks I have wronged him," said
McMurdo. "I'll fight him with fists, or, if that won't satisfy him,
I'll fight him any other way he chooses. Now, I'll leave it to you,
Councillor, to judge between us as a Bodymaster should."

"What is it, then?"

"A young lady. She's free to choose for herself."

"Is she?" cried Baldwin.

"As between two brothers of the lodge I