Holcombe went and stood by her side as she ironed, and watched the lithe play of muscles rolling beneath the satiny skin of her rounded forearms. "Katie," he said, his voice concealing a certain anxiety beneath a wooing tenderness, "I have come for my answer. It isn't necessary to repeat what we have talked over so often, but you know how anxious I am to have you. You know my circumstances and position, and that you will have every comfort and every privilege that you could ask for. Say 'Yes,' Katie, and I'll be the luckiest man in this town today." Kate set her iron down with a metallic click, and leaned her elbows upon the ironing board. Her great blue-black eyes went, in their Irish way, from sparkling fun to thoughtful melancholy. "Oh, Mr. Holcombe, I don't know what to say. I know you'd be kind to me, and give me the best home I could ever expect. I'd like to say 'yes'--indeed I would. I'd about decided to tell you so, but there's Danny--he objects so." Danny again! Holcombe strode up and down the room impatiently frowning. "Who is this fellow Conlan, Katie?" he asked. "Every time I nearly get your consent he comes between us. Does he want you to live always in this cottage for the convenience of his mightiness? Why do you listen to him?" "He wants me," said Katie, in the voice of a small, spoiled child. "Well, I want you too," said Holcombe, masterfully. "If I could see this wonderful Mr. Conlan, of the persuasive tongue, I'd argue the matter with him." "He's been the champion middleweight fighter of this town," said Katie, a bit mischievously. "Oh, has he! Well, that doesn't frighten me, Katie. In fact, I am not sure but what I'd tackle him a few rounds myself, with you for the prize; although I'm somewhat rusty with the gloves." "Whist! there he comes now," exclaimed Katie, her eyes widening a little with apprehension. Holcombe looked out the door and saw a young man coming up from the gate. He walked with an easy swagger. His face was smooth and truculent, but not bad. He wore a cap pulled down to one eye. He walked inside the house and stopped at the door of the room in which stood his rival and the bone of contention. "You're after my girl again, are you?" he grumbled, huskily and ominously. "I don't like it, do you see? I've told her so, and I tell you so. She stays here. For ten cents I'd knock your block off. Do you see?" "Now Mr. Conlan," began Holcombe, striving to avoid the _argumentum ad hominem_, "listen to reason. It is only fair to let Katie choose for herself. Is it quite the square thing to try to prevent her from doing what she prefers to do? If it had not been for your interference I would have had her long ago." "For five cents," pursued the unmoved Mr. Conlan, lowering his terms, "I'd knock your block off." Into Holcombe's eye there came the light of desperate resolve. He saw but one way to clear the obstacle from his path.