"Not 'im, ma'am, not 'im!" piped the Old Un from the doorway, "it ain't the pore lad's fault. It's Joe, blame it all on to Joe--Joe's got a bad 'eart, ma'am, a black, base-'earted perisher is Joe--so no jam for Joe, ma'am, an' only one slice o' cake." Here Ravenslee hastened to explain, whereupon Mrs. Trapes's grimness abated, and her bristling elbows subsided; and now, perceiving how the abashed Spider, meeting her eye, flushed, plucked at his cuffs, and shuffled his feet, she reached out to pat his broad and drooping shoulder. "Mister Connolly," said she, "for harsh words spoke in haste I craves now your pardon, an' I craves it--humble. Am I forgive?" The Spider, flushing redder than ever, rose to his feet, seized her hand, shook it, and muttered: "Sure!" When the table was laid, the Old Un proposed, and was duly seconded, thirded, and fourthed, that Mrs. Trapes be elected into the chair to pour out the tea, which she proceeded to do forthwith, while the Old Un, seated at her right hand, kept a wary eye roving between jam dish and angel cake. And by reason of the unwonted graciousness of Mrs. Trapes, of Ravenslee's tact and easy assurance, and the Old Un's impish hilarity, all diffidence and restraint were banished, and good fellowship reigned supreme, though the Spider was interrupted in the midst of a story by the Old Un suddenly exclaiming: "Keep your hand out o' the jam, Joe!" And Joe was later rendered speechless, hard-breathing, and indignant, by the Old Un turning to Mrs. Trapes with the shrill warning: "Ma'am, Joe's 'ad two 'elpin's o' cake an' got 'is 'orrid eye on what remains!" Nevertheless, the meal was in all ways a success, and Ravenslee was reaching for his pipe when Mrs. Trapes, summoned to the front door by a feverish knocking, presently came back followed by Tony, whose bright eyes looked wider than usual as he saluted the company. "Hey, Geoff, me tell-a you piece-a da-noos!" he cried excitedly, "big-a piece-a da-noos. Da cops go-a pinch-a Bud-a M'Ginn'!" "Bud? Bud?" stammered the Spider. "Have they pinched Bud? Is this the straight goods, Tony?" "Sure--they gott-a heem this-a morn in Jersey City--'n' say, he think-a eet a frame-up--he theenk-a Geoff set-a de cops for-a take heem." "The hell he does!" exclaimed the Spider, starting to his feet. "So he send-a da word to Soapy," continued Tony, his eyes rolling, "an' now all-a da gang's out layin' for-a Geoff. So when Geoff go-a out on da street--bingo! Dey snuff hees light out--" "Not much they won't!" said the Spider, buttoning up his coat and turning to the door. "I'll mighty soon fix this, I guess." "Do you think you can, Spider?" enquired Ravenslee. "If you're going to have any trouble, don't bother about--"