So by the showing of good humor he tried to get out of his difficulty as easily as possible. “Then I’ll make my way down the stairs,” he said, laughingly. At that moment the door opened again and the young girl appeared for a second time. As she did so she said to the young fellow: “He’s Patsy Murphy. Nick Carter’s kid.” “What are you doing here, then?” asked the young fellow of Patsy. “Nothing you need get hot over,” said Patsy. “You ain’t goin’ to get off so easy as all that,” said the young fellow. “You can’t take anybody out of this house, not while I’m here.” “I don’t want to take anybody out,” said Patsy. “Then what are yer here for?” Patsy looked at the girl and made a bluff. “Well,” he said, laughing, “a feller can foller a pretty girl even if he is one of Nick Carter’s squad.” If Patsy squared himself with this left-handed compliment with the girl he certainly did not with the young fellow. “Say, dis goil is me sister,” he said, “an’ dere ain’t no chump goin’ to follow her up here. I’ll trow you downstairs.” “Look out,” said the girl, “Patsy Murphy ain’t no easy thing.” While this was going on, Patsy was trying hard to figure out how it was that he was known to this girl, whom he did not recollect ever having seen before. Though the young man was threatening in his manner, he had as yet made no move to attack Patsy. On his part, though, he was quite anxious to leave the house before any outbreak could occur, yet he saw that such was the position of the young man that if he were to attempt to go downstairs, he could be easily attacked from above and behind. “Oh, say,” he said, assuming the east-side dialect, “what you chewin’ about? All dere is of it is I saw dis goil on de street, got mashed, and was tryin’ to get de glad hand from her. Well, I’m up against it, dat’s all dere is of it.” “No, it ain’t,” said the young fellow. “You’re up here after somethin’ else.” “Honest,” said Patsy. “Don’t lie.” Patsy turned on the young fellow shortly and said: “I’ve given it to you straight. Now don’t come back to me wid dat or I’ll wipe that ugly mug of yours off your face.” The young fellow staggered back a step and Patsy went on: “I don’t believe dis goil is any sister of yours. She’s too pretty and you’re too ugly.” Patsy was playing to get into such a position that he might slip down the stairs without further trouble, all the more as he saw that he had made a point with the girl. But the unexpected happened. The young fellow made a queer sort of a call, which was immediately responded to from several rooms on that floor and, in a moment, two men and three women were in the hall, immediately roused by the young fellow’s declaration that they must smash one of Nick Carter’s kids. One man, without waiting further, made a rush at Patsy who, in self-defense, was compelled to strike out, which he did with such accuracy that the fellow was knocked backward against one of the women and together they fell to the floor.