"There was me an' Bud an' a guy they call Heine--we'd been to a rube boxin' match up th' river. An' as we come along, Heine says: 'If I was in th' second-story-lay there's millionaire Ravenslee's wigwam waitin' t' be cracked,' an' he pointed out your swell place among th' trees in th' moonlight. Then Bud says: 'You ain't got th' nerve, Heine. Why, th' Kid's got more nerve than you,' he says, pattin' my shoulder. An' Heine laughs an' says I'm only a kid. An' Geoff, I'd got two or three drinks into me an' th' end was I agreed t' just show 'em as I had nerve enough t' get in through a winder an' cop something--anything I could get. So Bud hands me his 'lectric torch, an' we skin over th' fence an' up to th' house--an' Heine has th' winder open in a jiffy, an' me--bein' half-soused an' foolish--hikes inter th' room, an' you cops me on th' jump an'--an' that's all!" "And M'Ginnis has threatened to send you up for it now and then, eh?" "Only for a joke. Bud ain't like me; he'd never split on a pal--Bud wouldn't gimme away--" "Anyway, Spike, it's him or me. Which will you have for a friend?" "Oh, Geoff, I--I guess I'd follow you t' Kingdom Come if you'd let me. I do want t' live straight an' clean--honest t' God I do, Geoff, an' if you'll only forgive--" Spike's outstretched, pleading hands were caught and held, and he was lifted to his feet. "My Arthur-Spike, art going to the office this morning?" "Sure I am; my eye ain't--ain't s' bad, after all, is it? Anyway, I feel more like what a man should feel like now, an'--Gee! look at me doin' the sissy tear-spoutin' act! Oh, hell--lemme go an' wash me face. 'N' say, if--if any o' them--I mean those dolly office boys has anything t' say, I'll punch th' sawdust out o' them!" CHAPTER XXVI WHICH MAKES FURTHER MENTION OF A RING