"She sure has, Bud, an' I--Oh, I'm miserable as hell!" "Why, then, get some o' Bud's comfort into ye, Kid," murmured Soapy. "Lap it up good, Kid; there's plenty more--in th' bottle!" "Let him alone," growled M'Ginnis, "he don't want you buttin' in!" "'S right, too, Bud!" nodded Soapy, "he's got you, ain't he? An' you--got him, ain't you?" "I didn't think Hermy 'ud ever treat me--like this!" said Spike tearfully. "You mean--throwin' ye out into th' streets, Kid? Why, I been expectin' it!" "Expectin' it?" repeated Spike, setting down his glass and staring, "why?" "Well, she's a girl, ain't she, an' they're all th' same, I reckon--" "An' Bud knows all about girls, Kid!" murmured Soapy. "Bud's wise t' all their tricks--ain't you, Bud?" "But whatcher mean?" cried Spike. "What ye mean about expectin' it?" "Well, she don't want ye no more, does she?" answered M'Ginnis, his bruised hands fierce clenched, his voice hoarse and thick with passion. "She's got some one else now--ain't she? She's--in love--ain't she? She's all waked up an' palpitatin' for--for that dam'--" he choked, and set one hand to his scratched throat. "What d'ye mean, Bud?" "Ah!" said Soapy, softer than before, "I'm on, Bud; you put me wise! He means, Kid, as Hermy's in love with th' guy as has just been punchin' hell out of him--he means your pal Geoff." With a hoarse, strangling cry, M'Ginnis leapt up, his hand flashed behind him, and--he stood suddenly very still, staring into the muzzle of the weapon Soapy had levelled from his hip. "Aw, quit it, Bud, quit it," he sighed, "it ain't come t' that--yet. Besides, the Kid's here, so loose ye gun, Bud. No, give it t'me; you're a bit on edge t'night, I guess, an' it might go off an' break a glass or somethin'. So gimme ye gun, Bud. That's it! Now we can sit an' talk real sociable, can't we? Now listen, Bud--what you want is t' get your own back on this guy Geoff, an' what th' Kid wants is t' show his sister as he ain't a kid, an' what I want is t' give ye both a helpin' hand--" But while M'Ginnis stood scowling at the imperturbable speaker, Spike rose, a little unsteadily, and turned to the door. "I'll be gettin' on me way, Bud," said he. "Where to?" "Home." "What! Back t' Hermy? After she turned ye out?" "But I--I got t' go somewheres--" "Well, you stay right here with me, Kid; I'll fix ye up all right--" "'S right, Kid!" nodded Soapy. "Bud'll fix ye all right, same as I said; we'll have in another bottle when that's empty!" "What about your sister, Kid?" demanded M'Ginnis fiercely. "What about Hermy an' this swell guy? Are y' goin' t' sit around an' do nothin'?" "But Geoff's goin' t' marry her." "Marry her! What, him? A millionaire marry your sister? You think so, an' she thinks so, but I know different!" "But Hermy ain't that sort. Hermy's--good--" "Sure, but this guy's got her fazed--she thinks he's square all right--she'll trust him an' then--s'posin' he ain't?"