“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.

“Neck this, Kid,” said he, “neck it all—­so, that’s good, ain’t it?  To-morrow evenin’ I’ll take ye where they meet; maybe you’ll ketch him waitin’ for her—­but instead of Hermy an’ kisses there’ll be you an’ me, hey?  Will ye come?”

“S-sure I will if—­you’ll gimme—­your gun.”

“Pshaw, Kid—­what’s a kid like you want with a gun?”

“T’shoot him—­”

“Eh?  What?  D’ye mean—?”

“If he’s after my sister, I’ll—­kill him!  I will, by God, I will!”

“’S right,” nodded Soapy, staring into the boy’s drawn face, “’s right, Bud; if ever I see a killer—­th’ Kid’s sure it!”

Slowly the glare died out of Spike’s eyes, his body drooped, and sighing, he pillowed his heavy head upon the table and fell into a drunken slumber.  For a while the two men sat there hearkening to his stertorous breathing, then Soapy laughed soft and mirthlessly.  “You sure got th’ Kid all worked up an’ mad enough t’—­kill, eh, Bud?  If he does get up against this guy Geoff—­this guy Geoff’s sure goin’ t’ cash in—­sudden.  Consequently, I guess you’ll be wantin’ paper an’ pencil—­both here!”

“What th’ hell—­” began M’Ginnis.