"I--I ain't s'posin' nothin' like that!" said Spike, gulping his whisky. "Well, s'posin' he's been meetin' her--in a wood--on the sly--eh? S'posin' they been huggin' an' kissin'--" "Say now--you cut that out--" stammered Spike, his voice thick. "I tell ye--she ain't--that kind." "S'posin'," continued Bud, refilling the lad's glass, "s'posin' I could show 'em to ye in a wood--eh? Ah! What she want t' meet him in a wood for, anyway--nice an' quiet, eh?" "Say now, Bud, I--I ain't goin' t' listen t' no more!" said Spike, rising and clutching at the table, "I--I'm goin' home!" And swaying on unsteady feet, he turned to the door, but M'Ginnis gripped his shoulder. "Wait a bit, Kid." "N-no, I'm--goin' home--see!" said Spike, setting his jaw obstinately, "I'm goin'--r-right now!" "That's just what you ain't!" snarled M'Ginnis. "Sit down! Hermy's only a work-girl--don't forget that, Kid--an' this guy's a millionaire. I guess he thinks Hermy'll do--till he gets tired of her an'--then what?" "He--told me he's goin' t' marry her!" said Spike slowly, speaking with an effort, "an' I guess Geoff ain't a liar. An' I wanter--go home." "Home--after she throwed ye out? Ain't ye got no pride?" "Aw, say, Bud," sighed Soapy, "I guess d' Kid ain't soused enough for pride yet; sling another glass int' him--that'll fix him good, I reckon." "I ain't g-goin' t' drink no more," said Spike, resting heavy head between his hands, "I guess I'll b-beat it home, f'lers." "Bud," suggested Soapy, "ain't it about time you rang in little Maggie on him?" M'Ginnis whirled upon the speaker, snarling, but Soapy, having lighted another cigarette, nudged Spike with a sharp elbow. "Kid," said he, "Bud's goin' t' remind ye of little Maggie Finlay--you remember little Maggie as drowned herself." Spike lifted a pale face and stared from the placid Soapy to scowling Bud and shrank away. "Yes," he whispered hoarsely, "yes--I'll never forget how she looked--pale, so pale an' still, an' th' water--runnin' out of her brown curls--I--I'll never forget--" "Well," growled M'Ginnis, "watch out Hermy don't end th' same way." "No!" cried Spike. "Oh, my God--no!" "What's she meetin' this millionaire in a wood for--on the sly?" "She don't! Hermy ain't like that." "I tell ye she does!" cried M'Ginnis, "an' him kissin' an' squeezin' her an'--nobody by--" "It's a lie, Bud--she--she wouldn't!" "S'posin' I could show ye? S'pose you see him there--waitin' for her--" "If--if he means any harm t' Hermy, I--I'll kill him!" "Aw--you wouldn't have the nerve, Kid!" "I'd shoot him dead--by God, I would!" "You ain't man enough, Kid." "You g-give me a gun an' see. I'd shoot any one t' save my sister from--th' river. Oh, my God--I--I'd die for her, an' she don't love me no more!" And leaning his head upon his arms, Spike burst into a passion of tears. M'Ginnis watched him awhile, then, filling the boy's glass, clapped him on the shoulder and held it to his lips.