"If I come out winner," began the scoutmaster, very deliberately, "then I'm to have Narcissa for my wife--and you'll sign your consent. And we shall go at once--this morning--and be married." "So that's y'r bargain, is it?" said Big Tom. "Well, I'll say this: _if_ y' can lick me, which y' can't, then I'll make y' a present o' Cis----" "Don't give away what isn't yours!" Cis interrupted sharply. "And please understand, bargain or no bargain, that I'm leaving here this morning. If I can't marry Mr. Perkins without your consent, then I'll just wait till I can." The longshoreman ignored her. "I stick by what I've jus' said, Perksie," he went on, impudently. "BUT--if I lick _you_, and I'm goin' t', then out y' trot, and down, and y' lose her! Y' understand?" "I understand that I lose her until she is old enough to do as she chooses," amended Mr. Perkins. "After t'day, y' don't see her again," insisted Big Tom, "till she's growed up." "I'll see him every day!" cried Cis. "Every day!--Don't agree to that, Algy! The marriage part, yes, because we can't help ourselves. But he's not going to part us! I'm leaving, but wherever I am, I'm going to see you!" The longshoreman turned toward her now, and his look was full of hate. "I guess y'll do jus' about what I tell y' to," he said significantly. "Algy's goin' t' be too sick t' look after y'." Johnnie emitted a woeful little peep. "Oo-oo! Mister Perkins!" he pleaded. "Couldn't y' put off fightin' till--till some other time?" Johnnie's anxious demand amused Big Tom. It amused Cis, too, but for a wholly different reason. As they laughed together, each challenged the other with angry eyes. Johnnie, feeling fainter every moment, marveled as he stared at Cis. There was no question as to her perfect confidence regarding the outcome of the fight. And he marveled even more when he looked at Mr. Perkins. The latter was cheerful--even gay! He forgot nothing. First, he shook hands with Father Pat; next with One-Eye. "Maybe you'd like to have me put you into a taxicab before this row starts," he said to the cowboy. "Nope," was the answer. "I'm goin' t' stay fer the concert." Mr. Perkins went to Cis, took her fingers in his, bent gallantly, and kissed them. "Wish me good luck!" he bade her. "It won't be luck," she answered. "Ain't his hands nice and clean!" mocked Barber. "Ain't his nails shiny!" There was an ugly glitter in the bulging eyes once more. A moment later, as he found himself close to Mr. Perkins (for the latter had come to join him), he acted upon a sudden temptation. Reaching out, with an impudent grin he tweaked the younger man lightly by the nose. Biff! The blow was so sudden, so powerful and straight to its mark (which was a jaw), that Big Tom's breath went--as his toes tipped up, and he began to reel backward, fanning the air with both arms. "Ha-a-a-a!" cried the priest. "No wonder ye stand t' yer feet, Johnnie lad! Shure, that puts the faith into ye, don't it!"