"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, all the beard from one side of his face gone, and fully one-half of his hair lay on the floor. And still they went for him. Suddenly the shrill scream of a woman startled them, and the two boys desisted to turn and look at the newcomer. It happened to be Bryant's wife who uttered the scream when she saw what was taking place. Of course the row ended then and there. Bryant got up, explained to his wife what it all was about and apologized right then for his action. Of course Bob accepted it, and the matter was settled, as the boys thought. But the next day Bob met Fred and told him he had been discharged by Manson, saying that of course Bryant was responsible for it. A couple of days later Fred was the recipient of a handsome gold watch and chain, a present from Mr. Gaines.