[LIBRARY") UNIVERSITY OF CAtlFORWM. ? SAN DIEQO } " Yus, yus, you bloomin' hadjective two dollars fifty for each of us ! 'Urry up, oh, 'urry up afore 'e changes 'is mind an' begins to 'edge." So Joe follows his " Guv'nor " and the Old Un up a flight of stairs and into a large chamber fitted as a gym nasium, where are four roped and padded posts socketed into the floor ; close by is a high-backed armchair in which the Old Un seats himself with an air of heavy portent. But when Joe would have ducked under the ropes, the Old Un stayed him with an imperious gesture, and, clambering into the ring, advanced to the centre and bowed gravely as if to a countless multitude. " Gentlemen," he piped in his shrill old voice, " I take pleasure to introduce Joe Madden, undefeated 'eavyweight champion o' the world, an' the Guv both members of this club an' both trained by me, Jack Bowser, once light weight champion of England an' hall the Americas. Gen tlemen, it will be a fight to a finish Markis o' Queens- berry rules. Gentlemen I thank ye." Having said which, the Old Un bowed again, gravely stepped from the ring, and ensconcing himself in the armchair, drew out a large and highly ornate watch, while Ravenslee and Joe vaulted over the ropes. 142 The Definite Object Behold them facing each other, the brown-skinned fight ing man wise in ringcraft and champion of a hundred fights, and the white-fleshed athlete, each alike clean and bright of eye, light-poised of foot, quivering for swift action, while the Old Un looks needfully from one to the other, watch in one bony hand, the other upraised. " Get ready ! " he croaked. " Go ! " Comes immediately a quick, light tread of rubber-soled feet and the flash of white arms as they circle about and about, feinting, watchful and wary. Twice Ravenslee's fist shoots out and twice is blocked by Joe's open glove, and once he ducks a vicious swmg and lands a half-arm jolt that makes Joe grin and stagger, whereat the Old Un, standing upon his chair, hugs himself in an ecstasy, and forgetful of such small matters as five-dollar bills, urges, prays, beseeches, and implores the Guv to " wallop the blighter on the p'int, to stab 'im on the mark, and to jolt 'im in the kidney-pit." " Go it, Guv ! " he shrieked, " go it ! In an' out again, that 's it Gorramighty, I never see sich speed. Oh, keep at 'im, Guv make 'im cover up sock it into 'im, Guv ! Ho, lumme, what footwork you 're as quick as lightweights oh, 'appy, 'appy day ! Go to it, both on ye!" And " to it " they went, with jabs and jolts, hooks and swings, with cunning feints and lightning counters until the place echoed and reechoed to the swift tramp of feet and dull thudding of blows, while the Old Un, hugging himself in long, bony arms, chuckled and choked and rocked himself to and fro in an ecstasy; moreover, when Joe, uttering a grunt, reeled back against the ropes, the Old Un must needs shriek and dance and crow with delight until, bethinking him of his duty, he checked his excite ment, seated himself in the armchair again, and announced : " Time ! End o' round one." And it is to be noticed that as they sit down to take their two minutes' rest, neither Ravenslee nor Joe, for all their exertions, seem unduly distressed in their breathing. Joe and the Old Un 143 " Sir," says Joe, looking his pupil over, " you 're un common quick on your pins ; never knowed a quicker did you, Old Un?" " No, me lad never in all me days ! " " An' you 've sure-ly got a punch, sir. Ain't 'e, Old Un? " " Like a perishin' triphammer ! " nodded the Old Un. " Likewise, sir, you 've a wonderful judgment o' distance but, sir, you need experience ! " " That 's what I 'm after, Joe." " And you take too many chances ; you ain't larned caution yet." " That you must teach me, Joe." " Which I surely will, sir. In the next round, subject to no objection, I propose to knock ye down, sir." " Which means two dollars fifty for each on us, Joe mind that," added the Old Un. " So fight more cautious, sir, do," pleaded Joe, " and look out." " Time ! " croaked the Old Un. " Round two ! And Guv, look out for yer p'int, cover yer mark, an' keep a heye on yer kidney-pit ! " Once again they faced each other, but this time it was Joe who circled quick and catlike, massive shoulders bowed, knees bent, craggy chin grim and firm-set, but blue eyes serene and mild as ever. A moment's silent sparring, a quick tread of feet, and Joe feints Ravenslee into an opening, swings for his chin, misses by an inch, and ducking a vicious counter, drives home a smashing body-blow and, staggering weakly, Ravenslee goes down full length. " Shook ye up a bit, sir? " enquired Joe, running up with hands outstretched, " take a rest, now do, sir." " No, no," answered Ravenslee, springing to his feet, " the Old Un has n't called * Time ' yet." " Not me ! " piped the old man, " not bloomin' likely ! Go to it, both on ye mind, that 's two-fifty for me, Joe!" 144 The Definite Object What need is there to tell the numerous feints, the lightning shifts, the different tricks of in-fighting and all the cunning strategy and ringcraft that Joe brought to bear and carefully explained between rounds? Suffice it that at the end of a certain fierce " mix up ", as Ravenslee sat outstretched and panting, the white flesh of arms and broad chest discovered many livid marks and patches that told their tale; also one elbow was grazed and bleeding, and one knee showed signs of contact with the floor. " Joe," said he, when his wind was somewhat recovered, " that makes it thirty dollars I owe you, I think? " " Why, sir," said Joe, who also showed some slight signs of wear, but whose breathing was soft and regular, " why, sir, you could n't call that last one a real knockdown " " You 'm a liar, Joe, a liar ! " cried the Old Un. " Blimy, Guv, Joe 's a-tellin' you crackers, s' help me your 'ands touched the floor, did n't they ? " " And my knees, too," nodded Ravenslee, " also my elbow no, that was last time or the time before." " Well, then, tell this lying Joe-lad o' mine as 'e surely did knock ye down. Lord, Joe ! " cried the Old Un, wax ing pathetic, " 'ow can ye go takin' money from a pore old cove like I be. Joe, I blushes for ye an' Time, Time there, both on ye ! " " But we don't want any more, do we, sir ? " enquired Joe. " Why, yes, I think I can go another round or so." " There y' are, Joe, the Guv 's surely a game cove. So get at it, me lad, an' try an' knock it up to fifty dollars 'arves, Joe, mind ! " " But, sir," began Joe, eyeing the livid blotches on Ravenslee's white skin, " don't ye think " "Time oh, Time, Time!" shrieked the Old Un. Whereupon Ravenslee sprang to the centre of the ring, and once again the air resounded with tramp of feet and pant of breath. Twice Ravenslee staggers beneath Joe's mighty left, but watchful ever and having learned much, Ravenslee keeps away, biding his time ducks a swing, Joe and the Old Un 145 sidesteps a drive, and blocking a vicious hook smacks home his long left to Joe's ribs, rocks him with a swing ing uppercut, drives in a lightning left and right, and Joe goes down with a crash. Even while the Old Un stared in wide-eyed, gaping amaze, Joe was on his feet again, serene and calm as ever, only his great chest laboured somewhat, but Ravenslee shook his head. " I guess that '11 be about enough, Joe," said he. " Guv," cried the Old Un, seizing Ravenslee's right hand, boxing glove and all, and shaking it to and fro, " you 're a credit to us, you do us bloomin' proud strike me pink, ye do ! 'Ere 's Joe 'ammered you an' 'ammered you look at your bloomin' chest lumme ! 'Ere 's Joe been knockin' ye down an' knockin' ye down, an' you comin' up smilin' for more an' gettin' it 'ere 's Joe been a-poundin' of ye all over the ring, yet you can finish strong an' speedy enough to put Joe down blimy, Guv, you 're a wonder an' no error ! " " I don't think Joe fought his hardest, Old Un." " If 'e did n't," cried the old man, " I '11 punch 'im on the nose so 'e won't never smell nothink no more." " Sir," said Joe, " in the first round p'raps I did go a bit easylike, but arter that I came at you as 'ard an' 'eavy as I could. I 'it you where an' 'ow I could, barrin' your face." " I hope I shall soon be good enough for you to go for my face as well, Joe." " But, sir if I give you a black eye " " How will say, ten dollars do ? " " Ten dollars ! For blacking your eye, sir ? " " Lumme, Joe ! " cried the Old Un, " get back into the ring and black 'em both " " Shut up ! " said Joe, scowling down into the Old Un's eager face, " you 'eartless old bloodsucker, you ! " "Bloodsucker!" screamed the old man, " w'ot, me? I '11 punch you on the ear-'ole, Joe, so 's you never 'ear nothin' no more." 146 The Definite Object " Are you on, Joe? " asked Ravenslee, while the Old Un, swearing softly, unlaced his gloves. " But, crumbs, sir axin' your pardon, things '11 come a bit expensive, won't they? Y' see " " So much the better, ye blighted perisher ! " snarled the Old Un, " an' don't forget as the Guv owes you thirty dollars a'ready an' 'arves, mind." " Stow it, you old bag o' wickedness " " Bag o' " the Old Un let fall the boxing gloves and turning on Joe, reached up and shook a feeble old fist under the champion's massive chin. " Look at this, me lad look at this ! " he croaked. " Some day I shall ketch you sich a perishin' punch as '11 double ye up till kingdom come, me lad, and Lord, the Guv 's countin' out our money " " Thirty of 'em, Joe," said Ravenslee, holding out a wad of bills. " Why, sir," said Joe, backing away, " axing yer par don, but I 'd rayther not you give me such uncommon good wages, sir, and a bonus every race we run, win or lose so, sir, I I 'd rayther not " " Not? " cried the Old Un, " not take money as is 'arf mine Oh, kick 'im, somebody kick 'im ! Pound 'im for a pigeon-'earted perishin' pork pig " " That '11 be no sugar in your tea t'night, old vicious- ness ! But, sir, I 'd rayther not " " Don't 'eed 'im, Guv don't 'eed the flappin' flounder. If 'e wont obleege ye in a little matter like thirty dollars, I will I '11 always obleege you " " That 's enough from you, old tombstones." " Tombstones ! " hissed the Old Un, scowling darkly and squaring his trembling fists, " all right, me lad, 'ere 's where I ketch ye one as '11 flatten ye out till the day o' doom " Hereupon Joe caught him above the elbows, and lifting him in mighty hands that yet were gentle, seated the snarling old fellow in the armchair. " Old Un," said he, shaking his finger, " if ye give me Joe and the Old Un 147 any more of it off t' bed I take ye without any tea at all ! " The Old Un, cowering beneath that portentous finger, swore plaintively and promptly subsided. " And now," said Ravenslee, thrusting the money into Joe's reluctant hand, " when I make a bargain, I generally keep it. I wish all my money had been spent to such good purpose." " What about me ? " whined the old man humbly, " don't I get none, Joe-lad? " " Not a cent, you old rasper ! " " Blimy, Guv, you won't forget a old cove as 'ud shed 'is best blood for ye? " " The Guv'nor don't want yer blood, old skin-and-bones. And now, come on, sir " " Stay a minute, Joe, the Old Un generally keeps time for us when we spar rounds." " That I do, Guv," cried the old man, " an' give ye advice worth its weight in solid gold; you owe me a lot, s' 'elp me." " About how much? " " Well, Guv, I ain't got me ledger-book 'andy, but roughly speakin' I should say about five or six 'undred dollars. But seein' you 's you an' I 'm me a old man true-'earted as never crossed nobody let 's say fif teen dollars." " Why, you old thievin' vagabone ! " gasped Joe, as Ravenslee gravely handed over the money. " Vagabone yourself ! " said the Old Un, counting the bills over in trembling fingers. " The Guv wants a bath take 'im away 'ook it, d' j 'ear? " " Has Patterson got everything ready, Joe? " enquired Ravenslee, taking up his clothes. " No, sir," mumbled Joe, " but I '11 have ye bath ready in a jiffy, sir." " But where 's Patterson? " " Well, 'e 'e 's out, sir." "And the footmen?" " They 're out, sir." 148 The Definite Object " Oh ! And the housekeeper er what 's her name Mrs. Smythe?" " Gone to call on her relations, sir." "Ah! And the maids?" " Mrs. Smythe give 'em leave of habsence, sir. Y' see, sir," said Joe apologetically, " you 're 'ere so seldom, sir." " My servants are not exactly er worked to death, Joe?" "No, sir." " Manage to look after themselves quite well? " " Yes, sir." " It seems I need some one to look after them and me." " Yes, sir." " A woman, Joe one I can trust and honour and er what d' ye think? " " I think er yes, sir." " Well what do you suggest ? " " Marry her, sir." " Joe, that 's a great idea ! Shake hands ! I surely will marry her at once if she '11 have me." " She '11 have you, sir." " Do you really think she will, Joe ? " " I 'm dead certain, sir." " Joe, shake again. I '11 speak to her when she comes home. To-morrow 's Saturday, is n't it? " " As ever was, sir." " Then, Joe wish me luck ; I '11 ask her to morrow ! " CHAPTER XVI OP THE FIRST AND SECOND PERSONS, SINGULAR NUMBER IT was Saturday morning, and Hermione was making a pie and looking uncommonly handsome about it and al together feminine and adorable; at least, so Ravenslee thought, as he watched her bending above the pastry board, her round, white arms bared to each dimpled elbow, and the rebellious curl wantoning at her temple as usual. " But why kidneys, my dear? " demanded Mrs. Trapes, glancing up from the potatoes she was peeling. " Kidneys is rose again; kidneys is always risin', it seems to me. If you must have pie, why not good, plain beefsteak ? It 's jest as fillin' an' cheaper, my dear so why an* wherefore kidneys? " " Arthur likes them, and he '11 be hungry when he comes in- " Hungry," snorted Mrs. Trapes, " that b'y 's been hungry ever since he drawed the breath o' life. How 's he gettin' on with his new job? " " Oh, splendidly ! " cried Hermione, flushing with sis terly pride, " they 've promised him a raise next month." "What, already?" exclaimed Mrs. Trapes, cutting viciously into a potato. " If he don't watch out, they '11 be makin' him a partner next." " Oh, Ann, I wish you were not quite so so hard on him ! " sighed Hermione. " Remember, he 's only a boy ! " " You were a woman at his age, earning enough t' keep ye both but there ! I don't mean t' be hard, Hermy ; anyway, a man 's never much good till he 's growed up, and then only because some woman teaches him how t' be." 150 The Definite Object " What do you say to that, Mr. Geoffrey ? " enquired Hermione, pausing, flour-dredger in hand, to glance at him slily under her brows. " I think Mrs. Trapes is a wonderful woman," he answered. " Ah, now, Mr. Geoffrey, quit y'r jollying," said Mrs. Trapes, smiling at the potato. " Mrs. Trapes has taught me much wisdom already and, among other things, that I shall never be or do anything worth the while without the aid of a woman " " Lord, Mr. Geoffrey, I never remember sayin' no sich thing ! " " Not in so many words, perhaps, but you implied it, Mrs. Trapes." " H'm ! " said Mrs. Trapes dubiously. " Consequently, I mean to ask that woman on the very first opportunity, Miss Hermione." Seeing that Her mione was silent, all her attention being centred in the dough her white fists were kneading, Mrs. Trapes spoke instead. " D' ye mean as you want some one t' look after you to sew an' cook an' wash an' sew buttons on for ye I know the sort ! " " I certainly do, and " " Ah, it 's a slave you want, Mr. Geoffrey, and peanut men don't have slaves not unless they marries 'em, and a woman as would marry a peanut man has only herself t' blame peanuts ! " Hermione laughed, reached for the rolling-pin, and im mediately fell to work with it, her head stooped rather lower than was necessary. As for Ravenslee, he lounged in his chair, watching the play of those round, white arms. " But why the kidneys, Hermy? You 've got to cut out luxuries now, my dear we all have, I guess ; it '11 be dry bread next, I reckon." " Why so? " enquired Ravenslee lazily. "Why?" cried Mrs. Trapes bitterly, "I'll tell you why because me an' Hermy an' every one else is bein' The First and Second Persons 151 squeezed dry t' fill the pockets of a thing as calls itself a man a thievin' beast on two legs as is suckin' our blood, gnawin' our flesh, grindin' the life out of us a great fat man as is treadin' us down under his great boots, down an' down to slavery death an' worse it 's such men as him as keeps the flames of hell goin' fat frizzles well, an' so will Mulligan, I hope ! " " Mulligan ? " enquired Ravenslee. " He 's raised the rents on us, Mr. Geoffrey," sighed Hermione. " Raised the rents? " said Ravenslee, forgetting to lounge. " Sure ! " nodded Mrs. Trapes grimly. " I guess he thinks we live too easy an' luxoorious, so he 's boosted it up a dollar per. A dollar a week don't sound a whole lot, p'raps, but it sure takes some gettin'; folks expects a deal o' scrubbin' an' sewin' an' slavin' for a dollar yes, sir." " We shall have to work a little harder, that 's all, Ann dear." "Harder? I guess you work hard enough for two an' who gets the benefit? Why, Mulligan does. Oh, it 's a great comfort t' remember the flames of hell, sometimes. Lord, when I think how we have t' slave t' make enough t' live " " There are others worse than us, Ann." " Why, yes, there 's poor Mrs. Finlay ; she 's got to go, an' her husband paralysed ! There 's little Mrs. Bowker sewed herself pretty well blind t' keep her home together she 's got to go. There 's Mrs. Sims with all those children, and the but there, who cares for the likes o' them who cares, eh, Mr. Geoffrey? An' what might you be dreamin' over this time? " she enquired, eyeing Ravenslee's long figure a little contemptuously, for he had fallen to lounging again, sleepy eyes half closed. " I was thinking what a lot of interest we might find in this busy world if we only would take the trouble to look for it ! " he answered. " The fool who complains that 152 The Definite Object his life is empty is blind and deaf and damnably thick er pardon me, I er nearly got excited." "Excited?" snorted Mrs. Trapes, "I'd pay good money t' see you like that ! " " You see, I had an idea a rather original idea ! " " Then take care of it, Mr. Geoffrey ; nurse it careful, and we '11 have ye doin' bigger things than push a peanut barrer peanuts ! " " Mrs. Trapes, I 've got a stranglehold on that idea, for it is rather brilliant." " There 's that kettle b'ilin' at last, thank goodness ! " sighed Mrs. Trapes, crossing to the stove, " tea 's a lux ury, I suppose, but oh, drat Mulligan, anyway ! " So Mrs. Trapes brewed the tea, while Ravenslee gazed at Hermione again, at her shapely arms, her dimpled elbows, her preoccupied face a face so serenely, so utterly unaware of his regard, of course, until he chanced to look away, and then Hermione stole a glance at him. " There, my dear," said Mrs. Trapes after a while, " there 's a cup o' tea as is a cup o' tea, brewed jest on the b'ile, in a hot pot, and drawed to perfection ! Set right down an' drink it, slow an' deliberate. Tea ain't meant to be swallowed down careless, like a man does his beer! An' why? " demanded Mrs. Trapes, as they sipped the fragrant beverage, all three, " why ain't you out with your precious peanuts, Mr. Geoffrey? " Ravenslee set down his cup and turned to Hermione. " Mrs. Trapes has told you, I think, that I am become er an itinerant vendor of the ubiquitous peanut " " Mr. Geoffrey ! " gasped Mrs. Trapes, gulping a mouthful of hot tea and blinking, " I never did ! Never in all my days would I allow myself such expressions Mr. Geoffrey, I 'm ashamed at you ! An' that reminds me it was chicken fricassee, was n't it? For your supper, I mean? " " I believe it was." " Then," said Mrs. Trapes, rising, " I '11 go an' buy it. Was you wantin' anything fetched, Hermy? " The First and Second Persons 153 " If you would n't mind bringing a bunch of aspara gus " " Sparrergrass ! " exclaimed Mrs. Trapes in horror- struck tones, " why, it 's anywhere from thirty to sixty cents " " But Arthur loves it, dear, and now that he 's working so hard " " Arthur likes ! " cried Mrs. Trapes indignantly. " Mr. Geoffrey, it 's been Arthur ever since he was born, an' her scrinchin' an' pinchin' herself for the sake o' that b'y. O' course he likes sparrergrass so do I but I make shift with pertatoes or cabbidge or carrots an' so should he. Come now, Hermy, you take a bunch o' carrots in stead ; carrots is healthy an' cheap ! Come now, is that sparrergrass to be carrots or not? " " Ann, that asparagus is to be asparagus ! " " Such wicked extravagance, an' all for that b'y. Hermy, I 'm surprised at ye ! " For a long moment after Mrs. Trapes had departed there was silence, while Ravenslee sat gazing where Her- mione stood busy at her pastry again. " Mr. Geoffrey," said she at last, " I want to thank you for watching over my boy. Arthur told me how good you were to him while I was away. I want you to know how grateful I am " " What beautiful hands you have, Hermione and I shall dream of your arms." " My arms ? " she repeated, staring. " They 're so smooth and white " " Oh, that 's flour ! " said she, bending over the table. " And so round " "Oh, Mr. Geoffrey! Can't you find something else to talk about? " " Why, of course," he answered, " there are your feet, so slender and shapely " " In these frightful old shoes ! " she added. " Worn out mostly in other peoples' service," he nodded. " God bless them ! " 154 The Definite Object " They let the wet in horribly when it rains ! " she sighed. " So heaven send us dry weather ! Then there is your wonderful hair," he continued, " so long and soft and " " And all bunched up anyhow ! " said she, touching the heavy, shining braids with tentative fingers. " Please don't say any more, Mr. Geoffrey, because I just know I look a sight I feel it ! And in this old gown too it 's the one I keep to scrub the floors in " " Scrub the floors ? " he repeated. " Why, of course, floors must be scrubbed, and I 've had plenty oh, plenty of experience now what are you thinking? " " That a great many women might envy you that gown for the beauty that goes with it. You are very beautiful, you know, Hermione." "And beauty in a woman is everything, isn't it?" she said a little bitterly and with head suddenly averted. " Have I offended you? " " No," she answered without looking around, " only sometimes you are so very personal." " Because the First and Second Persons Singular Num ber are the most interesting persons in the world, and Hermione, in all this big world there is only one person I want. Could you ever learn to love a peanut man? " " That would all depend on the peanut man," she answered softly, " and you you don't talk or act a little bit like a real peanut man." " Well, could you stoop to love this peanut man just as he is, with all his faults and failures, love him enough to trust yourself to his keeping, to follow him into the unknown, to help him find that Beautiful City of Perhaps could you, Hermione?" As he ended he rose to his feet, but swiftly, dexterously, she eluded him. " Wait ! " she pleaded, facing him across the table, " I I want to talk to you to ask you some questions, and I want you to be serious, please." " Solemn as sixty judges ! " he nodded. The First and Second Persons 155 " Well, first, Mr. Geoffrey why do you pretend to sell peanuts? " " Pretend ! " he repeated, trying to sound aggrieved. " Oh, I 'm not blind, Mr. Geoffrey." " No, indeed I think your eyes are the most beau " " Oh, please, please be serious ! " " As a dozen owls ! " "I I know," she went on quickly, " I 'm sure you have n't always had to live in such such places as Mulli gan's. I know you don't belong here as I do. Is it ne cessity has driven you to live here or only curiosity? " " Well er perhaps a little of both," he admitted. " Then you 're not obliged to sell peanuts for a living? " " ' Obliged ' is scarcely the word, perhaps ; let us call it a peanut penchant, a hobby, a " " You are not quite so poverty-stricken as you pre tend? " Her voice was very soft and gentle, but she kept her head averted, also her foot was tapping nervously in its worn shoe. " Oh, as to money," he answered, " I have enough for my simple needs, but in every other sense I am a miserable pauper. You see, there are some things no money can buy, and they are generally the best things of life." " And so," said she, interrupting him gently, " you come here to Mulligan's, you deceive every one into think ing you are very poor, you make a pretence of selling peanuts and push a barrow through the streets why? " " First, because pushing a barrow is er very healthy exercise." " Yes, Mr. Geoffrey? " she said in the same soft voice. " And second," he continued, wishing he could see her face, " second, because I find it er, well highly amusing." " Amusing ! " she cried, turning suddenly, her eyes very bright and her cheeks hot and anger-flushed. " Amus ing! " she repeated, " ah, yes that 's just it it 's all only a joke to you, to be done with when it grows tiresome. But my life here our life is very real ah, terribly real, 156 The Definite Object and has been sordid sometimes. What is only sport to you for a little while is deadly earnest to me; you are only playing at poverty, but I must live it " " And thirdly," he continued gently, " because I love you, Hermione ! " " Love me ! " she repeated, shaking her head. " Ah, no, no your world is not my world nor ever could be." " Why, then, your world shall be mine." " Yes, but for how long? " she demanded feverishly. " I wonder how long you could endure this world of mine? I have had to work and slave all my life, but you look at your hands, so white and well-cared for yours are not the hands of a worker ! " " No, I 'm afraid they 're not ! " he admitted a little ruefully. " Now look at mine see my fingers all roughened by my needle." " Such busy, capable hands ! " said he, drawing a pace nearer, " hands always working for others, so strong to help the distressed. I love and honour them more just because of those work-roughened fingers." As he spoke he reached out very suddenly, and clasping those slender hands, stooped and kissed them reverently. Now, glancing up, he beheld her red lips quivering while her eyes were suffused all at once, as, drooping her head, she strove to loose his hold. " Let me go ! " she whispered, "I I ah, let me go ! " " Hermione," he breathed, " oh, Hermione, how beauti ful you are ! " But at this she cried out almost as if he had struck her and, wrenching her hands free, covered her face. " Oh, God ! are all men the same? " " Hermione," he stammered, " Hermione what do you mean? " " I mean," she answered, proud head up-flung, " there were always plenty of men to tell me that when I was an office scrubwoman. Well? " she demanded fiercely, stung by something in his look, " what did you think I 'd The First and Second Persons 157 been? When a girl is left alone with a baby brother to care for, she can't wait and pick and choose work that is nice and ladylike; she must take what comes along or starve so I worked. I used to scrub floors and stairs in an office building. I was very young then, and Arthur hardly more than a baby, and it was either that or starva tion or " she flushed painfully, but her blue eyes met his regard unflinchingly ; " anyway, I preferred to be a scrubwoman. So now you know what I mean by your world not being my world, and I I guess you see how how impossible it all is." For a long moment was a silence wherein she stood turned from him, her trembling fingers busily folding and refolding a pleat in her apron while he stared down blindly at the floor. " So you preferred the slavery of scrubbing floors, did you, Hermione? " he said at last. " Of course ! " she answered, without turning or lifting her heavy head. " And that," said he, his voice as placid, as serenely un hurried as usual, " and that is just why all things are going to be possible to us yes, even turning my wasted years to profit. Oh, my Hermione, help me to be worthy of you teach me what a glorious thing life may be " I? " she said wonderingly, her drooping head still averted, " but I am " " Just the one woman I want to be my own for ever and always, more far more than I have ever wanted anything in my life." " But," she whispered, " I am only " " The best, the noblest I have ever known." " But a scrubwoman ! " " With dimples in her elbows, Hermione ! " In one stride he was beside her, and she, because of his light tone, must turn at last to glance up at him half-fearfully ; but those grey eyes were grave and reverent, the hands stretched out to her were strangely unsteady, and when he spoke again, his voice was placid no longer. 158 The Definite Object " Dear," he said, leaning toward her, " from the very first I 've been dying to have you in my arms, but now I I dare not touch you unless you will it so. Ah, don't don't turn from me ; let me have my answer look up, Hermione ! " Slowly she obeyed, and beholding the shy languor of her eyes, the sweet hurry of her breathing, and all the sighing, trembling loveliness of her, he set his arms about her, drawing her close; and she, yielding to those com pelling arms, gave herself to the passion of his embrace. And so he kissed her, her warm, soft-quivering mouth, her eyes, her silken hair, until she sighed and struggled in his clasp. " My hair," she whispered, " see it 's all coming down ! " " Well, let it I 'd love to see it so, Hermione." " Should you? Why then let me go," she pleaded. Reluctantly he loosed her, and standing well beyond his reach, she shook her shapely head, and down, down fell the heavy coils, past shoulder and waist and hip, rippling in shining splendour to her knees. Then, while he gazed spellbound by her loveliness she laughed a little un steadily, and flushing beneath his look, turned and fled from him to the door; when he would have followed she stayed him. " Please," she said, tender-voiced, " I want to be alone it is all so wonderful, I want to be alone and think." " I may see you again to-night, Hermione ? Dear I must." " Why, if you must," she said, " how can I prevent you?" Then, all at once, her cool, soft arms were about his neck, had drawn him down to meet her kiss, and he was alone with the pastry board, the rolling-pin and the flour- dredger but he saw them all through a golden glory, and when he somehow found himself out upon the dingy landing, the glory was all about him still. CHAPTER XVII HOW GEOFFREY RAVENSLEE MADE A DEAL IN REAL ESTATE THE morning sun blazed down, and Tenth Avenue was full of noise and dust and heat; children screamed and played and fought together, carts rumbled past, distant street cars clanged their bells, the sidewalks were full of the stir and bustle of Saturday; but Ravenslee went his way heedless of all this, even of the heat, for before his eyes was the vision of a maid's shy loveliness, and he thrilled anew at the memory of two warm lips. Thus he strode unheeding through the jostling throng at a speed very different from his ordinary lounging gait. Very soon he came to a small drug-store, weather-beaten and grimy of exterior but very bright within, where every thing seemed in a perpetual state of glitter, from the multitudinous array of bottles and glassware upon the shelves to the taps and knobs of the soda fountain. Yet nowhere was there anything quite so bright as the shrewd, twinkling eyes of the little grey-haired man who greeted Ravenslee with a cheery nod. " Hot enough? " he enquired. " Quite ! " answered Ravenslee. " Goin' to be hotter." " Afraid so." " Rough on th' kiddies, an' ice goin' up. Which re minds me I sent on the mixture you ordered for little Hazel Bowker." " Good," nodded Ravenslee. " And the pills to Mrs. Sims." " Good again." " An' the sleeping-draught for old Martin Finlay." 160 The Definite Object " Good once more." " Won't last long, old Martin, I guess. Never been the same since little Maggie drowned herself, poor child. What d' ye want this morning? " " First to pay for the medicine," said Ravenslee, laying a five-dollar bill on the counter, " and then the use of your 'phone." " Right there," said the chemist, nodding toward a cer tain shady corner, where, remote from all intruding bustle, was a telephone booth into which Ravenslee stepped forth with and where ensued the following one-sided conversa tion: RAVENSLEE. " Hello ! " TELEPHONE. " Buzz ! " RAVENSLEE. " Hello, Central, give me Thirty-three Wall, please." TELEPHONE. " Ting-a-ling buzz ! " RAVENSLEE. " Damn this 'phone what ? No, I said Double-three Wall." TELEPHONE. "Buzz! Ting! Zut!" RAVENSLEE. " Sounded different, did it? Well, I want " TELEPHONE. "Buzz! Zut! Ting!" RAVENSLEE. " Thanks. Hello, that Thirty-three Wall? Dana and Anderson's Office? Good! I want to speak with Mr. Anderson say Mr. Ravenslee." TELEPHONE. " Zing ! " RAVENSLEE. " Thanks. That you, Anderson? " TELEPHONE. " Pang ! " RAVENSLEE. " Thanks very well ! What the devil 's wrong with this instrument of torment can you hear me? " TELEPHONE. " Crack ! " RAVENSLEE. " Good ! Yes that 's better ! Now listen ; I want you to do some business for me. No, I 'm buying, not selling. I 'm going into real estate. What, a bad speculation ? Well, anyway, I 'm buying tenement property in Tenth Avenue, known as Mulligan's, I be- A Deal in Real Estate 1 6 1 lieve. Oh, you 've heard of it, eh? Not in the market? Not for sale? Well, I'll buy it. Oh, yes, you can what d' you suppose is his figure ? So much ? Phew ! Oh, well, double it. No, I 'm not mad, Anderson. No, nor drunk I just happen to want Mulligan's and I'll have it. When can you put the deal through? Oh, non sense, make him sell at once get him on the 'phone. Oh, yes, he will, if you offer enough Mulligan would sell his mother at his own price. You quite understand at once, mind ! All right, good-by. No, I 'm not mad nor drunk, man ; I have n't tasted a cocktail for a month. Eh go and get one ? I will ! " So saying, Ravenslee hung up the receiver and hastened out of the stifling heat of the suffocating booth, mopping perspiring brow. " You look kinder warm ! " ventured the chemist. " I feel it." " And it 's going to be warmer. Try an ice-cream soda healthy and invigorating." " And better than any cocktail on such a day ! " "I guess! Take one?" " Thank you, yes." So the bright-eyed chemist mixed the beverage and handed it over the counter. " Chin-chin ! " he nodded. " Twice," said Ravenslee, lifting the long glass. " To the Beautiful City of Perhaps ! " and he drank deep. " Say," said the chemist, staring, " that sounds t' me like a touch of the sun. Try a bottle of my summer mix ture, good for sunstroke, heat-bumps, colic, spasms, and Hell's Kitchen generally try a bottle ? " " Thanks," said Ravenslee, " I will." And grimly pocketing the bottled panacea, he stepped out into the hot and noisy avenue. CHAPTER XVIII HOW SPIKE HEARKENED TO POISONOUS SUGGESTION AND SOAPY BEGAN TO WONDER SPIKE was on his way from the office, very conscious of his new straw hat and immaculate collar ; his erstwhile shabby suit had been cleaned and pressed by Hermione's skilled and loving fingers, hence Spike turned now and then as he passed some shop window to observe the general effect with furtive eye ; and stimulated by his unwontedly smart appearance, he whistled joyously as he betook himself homeward. Moreover in his breast pocket was his pay envelope, not very bulky to be sure, wherein lay his first week's wages, and as often as he turned to glance at the tilt of the straw hat or heed the set of his tie, his hand must needs steal to this envelope to make sure of its safety. His fingers were so employed when he chanced to espy a certain article exposed for sale in an adjacent shop win dow; whereupon, envelope in hand, he incontinent en tered and addressed the plump Semitic merchant in his usual easy manner. " Greetin's, Abe ! I '11 take one o' them hair-combs." " Hair-gombs ? " nodded the merchant. " Vot kind?" " What kind? Why, the best you got." " Ve got 'em up to veefty dollars " " Come off it, Cain, come off I ain't purchasin' a diamond aigrette to-day, it 's a lady's hair-comb I want good, but not too flossy-lookin' savvy that? This '11 do, I guess how much? Right there!" said Spike, flicking a bill upon the counter. " That 's it, stick it in a box oh, never mind th' wrappin's. S' long, Daniel ! " With his purchase in his pocket, Spike strode out of the Soapy Begins to Wonder 163 shop, whistling cheerily, but the merry notes ended very suddenly as he dodged back again, yet not quite quick enough, for a rough voice hailed him, hoarse and jovial. " Why, hello, Kid, how goes it ? " M'Ginnis's heavy hand descended on his shrinking shoulder and next moment he was out on the sidewalk where Soapy lounged, a smoul dering cigarette pendent from his thin, pallid lips as usual. And Soapy's eyes, so bright between their nar rowed, puffy lids, so old-seeming in the youthful oval of his pale face, were like his cigarette, in that they smoul dered also. " Holy smoke ! " exclaimed M'Ginnis, surveying Spike up and down in mock amazement, " this ain't you, Kid no, this sure ain't you. Looks all t' th' company-pro moter, don't he, Soapy? " " 'S' right, Kid, V right ! " nodded the pallid youth, his smouldering eyes always turning toward M'Ginnis. " Say, now, Bud, quit your kiddin' ! " said Spike petu lantly. " But, Gee whiz ! " exclaimed M'Ginnis, tightening his grasp, " you sure are some class, Kid, in that stiff collar an' sporty tie. How 's the stock market ? Are ye a bull or a bear? " " Ah, cut it out, Bud ! " cried the lad, writhing. '* Kight-o, Kid, right-o ! " said M'Ginnis, loosing his hold. " Yoa 'tt eomin' erver t' O'Rourke's t'night, of course? " " Why, no, Bud I can't." " Oh, t' hell wid that I got you all fixed up to go ten rounds wid Young Alf, th' East Side Wonder " "What? " exclaimed Spike, his eyes bright and eager, " you got me a match wi' Young Alf? Say, Bud you ain't stringing me, are ye? " " Not much. I told you I 'd get ye a real chance " " Why," cried Spike, " if I was t' lick Young Alf, I 'd be in line t' meet th' top-notchers ! " " Sure if you lick him ! " nodded M'Ginnis grimly. " Say," said Spike, his face radiant, " I 've just been 164 The Definite Object waitin' an' waitin' for a chance like this a chance t* show you an' th' bunch I can handle myself, an' now " he stopped all at once, and shaking his head gloomily, turned away. " I forgot, I I can't, Bud." " Aw, what 's bitin' ye? " " I can't come t'night." " Won't come, ye mean ! " " Can't, Bud." "Why not?" " I promised Hermy t' quit fightin' " " Is that all? Hermy don't have t' know nothin' about it. This is a swell chance for ye, Kid, the best you '11 ever get, so just skin over t'night an' don't say nothin' t' nobody." "I can't, Bud that 's sure." " Goin' t' give me d' throw-down, are ye? " " I don't mean it that ways, Bud, but I can't break my promise t' Hermy " " She 'd never know." " She 'd find out some ways ; she always does, and I can't lie t' her." " So you won't come, hey? We ain't classy enough for ye these days, hey? I guess goin' to an office every day is one thing an' crackin' a millionaire's crib 's another." " Cheese it, Bud, cheese it ! " gasped Spike, pale and trembling. "Right-o, Kid!" nodded M'Ginnis, "but I've been wantin' t' know how ye made your get-away that night." " Oh, quit quit talkin' of it ! " Spike panted. "I I want t' forget all about it. I been tryin' t' think it never happened." " Ah, but you know it did," said M'Ginnis, " an' I know it, an' Soapy knows it did don't yer, Soapy? " " 'S' right ! " nodded Soapy, his voice soft, his eyes hard and malevolent. " So we kinder want t' know," continued M'Ginnis, heed less always of those baleful watching eyes, " we just want t' get on t' how you " Soapy Begins to Wonder 165 " Oh, say give it a rest ! " cried Spike desperately* " Give it a rest, can't ye? " " Why, then, Kid, what about comin' over t' O'Rourke's t'night?" Spike wrung his hands. " If Hermy finds out, she '11 cry, I guess " " Hermy ! " growled M'Ginnis, black brows fierce and scowling, " a hell of a lot you care for Hermy, I don't think ! " " Say now, you Bud, whatcher mean? " demanded Spike, quivering with sudden anger. " Just this, Kid what kind of a brother are ye t' go lettin' that noo pal o' yours that guy you call Geoff go sneaking round her morning, noon, an' night? " " You cut that out, Bud M'Ginnis. Geoff don't ! Geoff ain't that kind." " He don't, eh? Well, what about all this talk that 's goin' on about him an' her, an' her an' him eh? " " What talk ? " demanded Spike, suddenly troubled. " Why, every one 's beginnin' t' notice as they 're always meetin' on th' stairs an' him goin' into her flat, an* them talkin' an' laughin' together when you 're out o' th' way ah," growled M'Ginnis, between grinding white teeth, " an' likely as not kissin' an' squeezin' in corners " " That 's enough that 's enough ! " cried the boy, fronting M'Ginnis, fierce-eyed. " Nobody ain't goin' t' speak about Hermy that way." " Y' can't help it, Kid. Here 's this guy Geoff, this pal o' yours been with her in her flat with her, all th' mornin' ain't he, Soapy? " " 'S' right, Kid ! " nodded that pallid individual, the smouldering cigarette a-swing between pale lips; and, though he addressed Spike, his furtive eyes, watching aslant between narrowed lids, glittered to behold M'Ginnis's scowling brow; also the wolverine mouth curled faintly, so that the pendulous cigarette stirred and quivered. " Oh, I 'm handin* ye the straight goods, Kid," M'Gin- 1 66 The Definite Object nis went on. " I 'm puttin' ye wise because you 're my pal, an' because I 've known Hermy an' been kind o' soft about her since we was kids." " Well, then, you know she she ain't that sort," said Spike, his voice quavering oddly. " So don't you say no more see? " " All right, Kid, all right only I don't like t' see this pal o' yours gettin' in his dirty work behind your back. If anything happens don't blame me " "What what you tryin' t' tell me you Bud?" questioned Spike, between quivering lips. " I 'm tellin' ye things are gettin' too warm oh, Hermy ain't the icicle she tries t' make out she is." " An' I 'm tellin' you you 're a liar, Bud M'Ginnis a dirty liar ! " cried the boy. M'Ginnis's bull neck swelled; between his thick, black brows a vein swelled and pulsed. Viewing this, Soapy's glittering eyes blinked, and the pendulous cigarette quiv ered faintly again. " Now by " began M'Ginnis, lifting menacing fist ; then his arm sank, and he shook his big, handsome head. ** Oh, pshaw ! " he exclaimed, " I guess you 're all worked up, Kid, so I ain't takin' no notice. But savvy this, Kid, if Hermy ain't goin' t' marry me on th' level, she ain't goin' t' let this guy have her the other way not much! I guess you ain't forgotten little Maggie Finlay? Well, watch out your pal Geoff don't make Hermy go th' same." Uttering a wild, inarticulate cry, the lad sprang to Ibe caught in M'Ginnis's powerful grasp, but, even so, his iist grazed M'Ginnis's full-lipped mouth. For a moment "Spike strove desperately to reach Bud's grim-smiling face until, finding his efforts vain, he ceased all at once, bowed liis head upon his arms, and burst into a passion of bitter sobbing; then, with an agile twist, he wrenched himself free, and turning, sped away, heedless of his jaunty straw hat that had fallen and lay upon the dusty sidewalk. Languidly Soapy stooped and picked it up. Soapy Begins to Wonder 167 "His noo lid!" said he. "Only bought t'day, I reckon ! " " Gee ! " exclaimed M'Ginnis, staring after Spike's flee ing figure, already far away, " he sure was some peevish ! " " Some ! " nodded Soapy. " If he 'd happened t' have a gun handy, here 's where you 'd have cashed in for good, I reckon. Yes, Bud, you 'd be deader 'n' mutton ! " sighed Soapy, turning Spike's hat around upon his finger. " You 'd be as dead as little Maggie Finlay you was mentionin' ! " M'Ginnis wheeled so suddenly upon the speaker that he took a long step backward, but he still spun Spike's hat upon his finger, and the pendulous cigarette quivered quite noticeably. " Aw, quit it, Bud, quit it ! " he sighed. " You know I ain't th' kind o' guy it 's healthy to punch around promiscuous." " You mean if he 'd missed, there was you, eh? " " Well, I dunno, Bud, if it had been my sister maybe " " Oh, I know the sort o' dirty tyke you are, Soapy but I 'm awake an' I 've got you, see ? If anything was t' happen t' me, I 've left papers proofs 'n' it 'ud be the chair for yours savvy? " " Anyway, Bud, I I have n't got a sister," said Soapy, juggling deftly with the hat. " But there 's one thing, Bud, th' guy who gets actin' Mr. Freshy with Hermy is sure goin' to ante-up in kingdom come, if th' Kid 's around." " You 're a dirty dog, Soapy, but you 've got brains in your ugly dome. I guess you 're right about th' Kid* an' that gives me an almighty good idea ! " And M'Ginnis walked on awhile, deep in thought ; and ever as he went, so between those pale and puffy lids two malevolent eyes watched and watched him. " No," sighed Soapy at last, sliding a long, pale hand into the pocket of his smartly-tailored coat, " no, I ain't got a sister, Bud, but there was little Maggie Finlay. I kind o' used t' think she was all t' th' harps an' haloes. I 1 68 The Definite Object used t' kind o' hope but pshaw ! she 's dead ain't she, Bud? " " I guess so ! " nodded M'Ginnis, yet deep in thought. " An' buried ain't she, Bud? " " What th' hell ! " exclaimed Bud, turning to stare, " what 's bitin' ye? " " I 'm wonderin' * why ', an' I 'm likewise wonderin' * who ', Bud. Maybe I '11 find out for sure some day. I 'm waitin', Bud, waitin'. Goin' around t' O'Rourke's, are ye? Oh, well, I guess I '11 hike along wid ye, Bud." CHAPTER XIX IN WHICH THE POISON BEGINS TO WORK SPIKE sat glowering at the newspaper, yet very conscious, none the less, that Hermione often turned to glance at him wistfully as she bustled to and fro ; at last she spoke. " Arthur, dear why so gloomy ? " " I ain't I mean, I 'm not." " You 're not sulking about anything? " " No." " Then you 're sick." " I 'm aU right." " But you did n't enj oy your dinner a little bit." "I I was n't hungry, I guess," said Spike, frowning down at the paper. But Hermione was beside him, her cool fingers caressing his curls. " Boy, dear what is it? " " Say, Hermy, where 'd you get them roses? " and he nodded to the flowers she had set among her shining hair. " Oh, Mr. Geoffrey brought them." " Been here, has he? " " Yes, he came in with Ann this morning why? " "Did he did he stay long?" " N-o, I don't think so why? " " Comes round here pretty often, don't he? " " Why, you see, he 's your friend, dear, and we are very near neighbours." " Oh, I know all that, but folks are beginning to talk." Hermione's smooth brows were wrinkled faintly and her caressing hand had fallen away. " To talk ! " she repeated, " you mean about me ? " 170 The Definite Object " Yes ! " nodded Spike, avoiding her eyes, " about you and him ! " " Well let them ! " she answered gently, " you and Ann are all I care about, so let them talk." " But I I don't like folks t' talk about my sister, an' it 's got t' stop. You got t' tell him so, or else I will. What 's he got t' go buying ye flowers for, anyway? " Hermione's black brows knit in a sudden frown. Arthur, don't be silly ! " " Oh, I know you think I 'm only a kid but I ain't I 'm not. If you can't take care of of yourself, I must and " " Arthur stop ! " " Well, but what 's he always crawlin' around here for? " " He does n't crawl he could n't," she cried in sudden anger ; then in gentler tones, " I don't think you 'd better say any more, or maybe I shall grow angry. If you have grown to think so so badly of him, remember I 'm your sister." " But you 're a girl, an' he *s a man an' " " Stop it ! " Hermione stamped her foot, and meeting her flashing glance, Spike wilted and stopped it. So, while he glowered at the paper again, Hermione put away the dinner things, making more clatter about it than was usual, and turning now and then to glance at him from under her long lashes. " Where did you meet M'Ginnis as you came home, Arthur? " " At the corner of say, who told you I met him ? " " You did." '" I never said a word about meetin' him." '" No, but you 've been telling me what he told you. Only M'Ginnis could be vile enough to dare say such things about me. Oh, Arthur, for shame how can you listen to that brute beast for shame ! " Now, meeting the virginal purity of those eyes, Spike felt his cheeks burn, and he wriggled in his chair. The Poison Begins to Work 171 o / " Bud only told me Geoff had been been here," he stammered, " and I guess it was the truth I I mean " " Oh, boy, for shame ! " and turning about, she swept from the room, her head carried very high, leaving him crouched in his chair, his nervous fingers twisting and turning a small box in his pocket the box that held the forgotten hair-comb. He was still sitting miserably thus when he heard a knock on the outer door and a moment later a woman's voice, querulous and high-pitched. " Oh, Miss Hermy, my Martin 's very bad t' night, an' I got t' go out, an' I can't leave him alone ; would ye mind comin' down an' sittin' with him for a bit? " " Why, of course I will." " Y' see, since he had th' stroke, he 's sorrered for our little Maggie he was hard on her, y' see, an' since she she died he 's been grievin' for her. Had himself laid in her little room seemed to comfort him somehow. But to-day, when he heard we had to leave because th' rent was rose, it nigh broke his poor heart. An' I got to go out, an' I can't leave him alone, so if y' would n't mind, Miss Hermy " " Just a moment I '11 come right now." As she spoke, Hermione reentered the kitchen, untying her apron as she came. Spike sat watching, waiting, yearning for a word, but without even a glance Hermione turned and left him. When he was alone, he started to his feet and tearing the box from his pocket dashed it fiercely to the floor; then as suddenly picked it up, and approaching the open window, drew back his hand to hurl it out and so stood, staring into the face that had risen to view beyond the window ledge, a round face with two very round eyes, a round button of a nose, and a wide mouth, just now up-curving in a grin. " Hey, you, Larry, what you hangin' around here for? "" demanded Spike, slipping the box into his pocket again. " What you doin' on our fire escape, hey? " " Brought back yer roof ! " replied the lad. 172 The Definite Object "Well, where is it?" " Here it is." And climbing astride the window sill, Liarry handed in the jaunty straw. " Where 'd you find it? " " Bud give it me, 'n' say " " All right," nodded Spike, dusting the straw tenderly with a handkerchief. " Now git, I wanter be alone." " But, say, Kid, Bud says I was ter say as he 's sorry for what he said, 'n' say, he says you 'd better be gettin' over t' O'Rourke's, 'n' say " "I ain't comin'!" " But say, you 're t' fight Young Alf , 'n' say " " I ain't comin' ! " " But say, dere 's a lot of our money on ye I got two plunks meself, 'n' say, you just gotter fight anyway. Bud says so " " I can't help what Bud says ; I ain't comin'." " Not comin' ! " exclaimed Larry, his eyes rounder than ever. " No ! " Larry's wide mouth curved in a slow grin, and he nodded his close-cropped head; said he: " Say, Kiddo, you know Young Alf 's a punishin' fighter, I guess ; you know as nobody 's never stopped him yet, don't yer ; you know as you 're givin' him six pounds say, you ain't scared, are ye? " " Scared? " repeated Spike, frowning. " Do I look like I was scared ? You know there ain't any guy I 'm scared of but I promised Hermy " " Pip-pip ! " grinned Larry. " Say, if you don't turn up t' night, d' ye know what d' bunch '11 say ? Dey '11 say you 're a quitter ! " " Well, don't you say it, that 's all ! " said Spike, laying aside his hat and clenching his fists. " Not me ! " grinned Larry. " There '11 be plenty to do that, I guess dey 'd call it after ye in d' streets dey '11 give ye th' ha ! ha ! Dey '11 say Hermy Chester ton's brother 's a quitter a quitter ! " The Poison Begins to Work 173 For a long moment Spike stood with bent head and hands tightly clenched, then crossing to the sideboard, he picked up his shabby cap. " Who 's in my corner? " " Now you 're talkin', Kiddo ; I know as you " " Who 's in my corner? " " Bud an' Lefty, 'n' say, I guess they can handle you all right, eh? 'N' say, come on, let 's cop a sneak before any one butts in d' fire escape for ours, eh?" " Sure ! " said Spike, climbing through the window. " Oh, there ain't nobody goin' t' call Hermy Chesterton's brother a quitter." " You bet there ain't ! " grinned Larry, " come on, Kid!" CHAPTER XX OF AN EXPEDITION BY NIGHT " WHY, Mr. Geoffrey, what you settin' here in the dark for? " " Is it dark, Mrs. Trapes? " " My land ! Can't you see as it 's too dark t' see, and oh, shucks, Mr. Geoffrey ! " " Certainly, Mrs. Trapes ! But can't you see that the whole world my world, anyway is full of a refulgent glory, a magic light where nothing mean or sordid can possibly be, a light that my eyes never saw till now nor hoped to see, a radiance that may never fail, I hope a er " " Oh, go on, Mr. Geoffrey, go on. Only I guess I '11 light the gas jest the same, if you don't mind! " Which Mrs. Trapes did forthwith. " But what was you a-doin' of all alone in the dark? " " Glorying in life, Mrs. Trapes, and praising the good God for health and strength to enjoy it and the fulness thereof " " ' Fulness thereof ' meanin' jest what, Mr. Geoffrey? " " The most beautiful thing in a beautiful world, Mrs. Trapes." " An' that 's Hermy, I s'pose. An' all that talk o' glory an' radiance an' magic light means as you 've been an' spoke, I guess? " " It does." " An' what did she say ? " " Nothing." "Nothin'?" " Not with her lips, but " An Expedition by Night 175 "Oh her eyes, was it? Mr. Geoffrey, I'll tell you what a girl may look * yes ' with her eyes a whole week an' say * no ' with her mouth jest once and mean ' no ' when it 's to a peanut man Lordy Lord ! what 's that? " And Mrs. Trapes jumped as a hand rapped softly on the door, and stared horrified to see a human head protrude itself into the room while a voice said : " Da Signorina she out, so me come tell-a you piece-a- da-noos ' " Why, if it ain't that blessed guinney ! Go away what d' ye want? " Hereupon Tony flashed his white teeth, and opening the door, bowed with his inimitable grace, grew solemn, tapped his nose, winked knowingly, and laid finger to lip. " My land ! " said Mrs. Trapes, staring. " What 's the matter with the Eyetalian iji't now? " " Spike he go make-a-da-fight ! " whispered Tony hoarsely. " Eh Arthur fightin' where? " " He go make-a-da-box he drink-a-da-booze, den he walk-a so ! Den da Signorina she-a- cry " " Oh ! " exclaimed Mrs. Trapes, " you mean as that b'y 's off boxin' again? " " Si, si he go make-a-da-box-fight." " Is he over at O'Rourke's, Tony? " enquired Ravenslee, sitting upright. " I bet-a-my-life, yes " " Oh, Mr. Geoffrey ! " exclaimed Mrs. Trapes, clasping bony hands. " If they bring him home drunk like they did last time ! " " They shan't do that, Mrs. Trapes. Don't worry, I '11 go and fetch him," said Ravenslee, getting to his feet. " Fetch him ? From O'Rourke's ? Are ye crazy ? You 'd get half-killed like as not. Oh, they 're a bad, ugly lot down there ! " " I feel rather ugly myself," said Ravenslee, looking around for the shabby hat ; " anyway, I 'm going to see." 176 The Definite Object " Why, then, if you 're goin' t' venture among that lot, you take this with ye, Mr. Geoffrey," and she thrust the poker into his hand. " You '11 sure need it ah, do now ! " But Ravenslee laughed and set it aside. " You 'd better take it, Mr. Geoffrey; fists is fists, but gimme a poker every time ! A poker ain't t' be sneezed at ! What, go in' an' empty-'anded? Mr. Geoffrey, I'm surprised at you. Think of Hermy ! " t( That 's just what I am doing." " Well, s'posin' they hurt you ! What '11 Hermy do? " " You think she 'd mind, then, though I 'm only a peanut man? " " Even a peanut man 's a feller creatur, ain't he an' Hermy's 'eart is very tender an' oh, shucks, Mr. Geof frey, I guess you know she 'd jest be crazy if you was hurt bad!" " Why, then," said Ravenslee, smiling and taking up the battered hat, " I '11 take great care of myself trust me i " Then good-by, Mr. Geoffrey, good-by and the good Lord go with you." " Thank you, Mrs. Trapes," said Ravenslee and fol lowed Tony out upon the stair. Upon one of the many landings the young Italian paused. " Me put-a-you wise, Geoff ; you savvy where-a to find Spike, now me go back t' my lil Pietro, yes. S' long, pal, 'n' good-a luck ! " Ravenslee hastened on down-stairs, returning neigh bourly nods and greetings as he went, but staying for none, and so, crossing the court, turned into the avenue. On the corner he beheld the Spider, hard at work on his eternal chewing gum, cap drawn low and hands in pockets. Seeing Ravenslee, he nodded and lurched forward. " What 's doin', Geoff? " he enquired. " I 'm off to O'Rourke's coming? " " Not much ! An' say, 't ain't worth your trouble I ain't fightin'. Nawthin' but a lot o' fifth-raters." " I 'm going over to fetch Spike." An Expedition by Night 177 "How much?" exclaimed the Spider, his square jaws immobile from sheer astonishment. " Say, you ain't crazy, are ye I mean you ain't dippy or cracked in the dome, are ye? Because d' Kid 's goin' ten rounds with Young Alf, d' East Side Wonder, t'night, see? " " Not if I can help it, Spider." " Aw come off, bo ! D' ye think Bud '11 let him go? " " I shan't ask Bud or any one else." " Meanin' as you '11 walk right in on Bud's tough bunch an' cop out d' Kid on y'r lonesome eh ? " " I shall try." " Then you sure are crazy ; if y'r dome ain't cracked yet, it 's sure goin' t' be. Why, Bud 'n' his crowd '11 soak you good 'n' plenty 'n' chuck ye out again quicker 'n ye went in. They will sure, bo if you go " " I 'm wondering if you '11 come along and help ? " said Ravenslee lazily. " Me ? Not so 's you could notice it. I ain't huntin' that sort o' trouble." " Oh, well, if you think you 'd er better not, I '11 go alone." " What, yer goin', are ye? " " Of course ! You see, Spike is my friend ; consequently his trouble is my trouble. Good night, Spider, and what ever else you do, be sure to er take good care of yourself ! " And Ravenslee smiled and turned away ; but he had not gone six paces before the Spider was at his elbow. " Say, bo," said he, " I don't like the way you smile, but you talk so soft an' pretty, I guess I '11 jest have t' come along t' gather up what they leave of ye." "Spider," said Ravenslee, "shake!" The Spider obeyed, somewhat shamefacedly to be sure. " It looks like two domes bein' cracked 'stead o' one, an' all along o' that fool-kid ! " Having said which, he lurched on beside Ravenslee, chewing voraciously. " How you goin' t' work it? " he enquired suddenly. " I don't know yet." 178 The Definite Object " Hully Chee ! You 've sure gotcher nerve along. There 's some o' the toughest guys in little Manhattan Village at O'Rourke's dump t'night, keepin' th' ring an' fair achin' for trouble." " We must dodge 'em, Spider." "S'pose we can't?" " Then we must trust our luck, and I 've got a hunch we shall get Spike away somehow before Mr. Flowers dopes him or makes him drunk ; anyway we '11 try. The dress ing rooms are behind the annex, are n't they ? " " Know the place, do ye? " " I 've looked it over. We can get in behind the annex, can't we? " " In ? " repeated the Spider, smiling grimly. " Oh, we '11 get in all right ; what gets my goat is how we 're goin' t' get out again. You sure are a bird for takin' chances, Geoff." " Life is made up of chances, Spider, and there are two kinds of men those who take them joyfully and those who don't." " Well, say, you can scratch me on the joyful business. I 'm th' guy as only takes chances he 's paid t' take." " How much are you getting on this job, Spider? " " Oh well I mean say, what 's th' time, bo ? " " Five minutes after eight why ? " " I guess d' Kid 's in th' ring, then. There 's a full card t'night, an' he 's scheduled for eight sharp, so I reckon he 's fightin' now an' good luck to him ! " By this time they had reached that dark and quiet neighbour hood where stood O'Rourke's saloon. But to-night the big annex glared with light, and the air about it was full of a dull, hoarse, insistent clamour that swelled all at once to a chorus of discordant shrieks and frenzied cries. " Ah ! " quoth the Spider sagely, " hark to 'em howl ! That means some guy 's gettin' his, alright. Listen to 'em; they love t' get blood for their entrance money, an' they 're sure gettin' it. Some one 's bein' knocked out come on ! " An Expedition by Night 179 It was a dark night, for there was no moon and the stars were hidden; thus, as Ravenslee followed the Spider, he found himself stumbling over the uneven ground of a vacant lot, a lonely place beyond which lay the distant river. At last they reached various outbuildings, looming up ugly and ungainly in the dimness. " Say, bo," said the Spider, stopping suddenly at a small and narrow door, " you 'd best wait here and lemme go first." " No, we '11 go together." " Right-o, only be ready to make a quick get-away ! " So saying, the Spider opened the door and, closely fol lowed by Ravenslee, stepped into a dimly-lit passage thick with the blue vapour of cigars and cigarettes. It was 9, long, narrow corridor, bare and uncarpeted, seeming to run the length of the building; on one hand was a row of dingy windows and on the other were several doors, from behind which came the sound of many voices that talked and sang and swore together, a very babel. At the end of this passage was yet another door which gave upon a small room that contained a rickety sofa, a chair, and a battered desk; a kerosene lamp suspended against the wall burned dimly, and it was into this cham ber that the Spider ushered Ravenslee somewhat hastily; the Spider's eyes were very bright, and he chewed rather more fiercely than usual. " Bo," said he, " this place ain't exactly a bed o' roses for a strange guy like you. Y' see, this is Bud's own stampin'-ground, an' the whole bunch is here t'night, and most of 'em are heeled. Soapy an' Bud always tote guns, I know. So I guess you 'd better mark time here a bit while I chase around an' locate th' Kid. If any one asks what you 're doin' around here, say as you come in with me. But, bo " and here the Spider laid an impressive hand on Ravenslee's arm " if you should happen t' see Bud, well, don't stop to look twice but beat it let it be th' door or winder for yours only beat it ! " "Oh, why?" i8o The Definite Object " Well, I know Bud 's got it in f er you ; I heard him say oh, well, if his gun should go off accidental-like, this place ain't exactly Broadway or Fifth Av'noo, bo see? " " I see ! " nodded Ravenslee. " Hold on ! " said Spider, and crossing to the window, he unlatched it stealthily and lifted it high, " if I ain't back inside of ten minutes, bo, nip out through here and hike; wait for me at the lamp-post across the lot over there it '11 be safer. D' ye get me? " "I do ! " nodded Ravenslee. " I guess you 'd be less of a fool if you was to get out now an' wait outside ! " Spider suggested. Ravenslee shook his head. " I '11 wait here," said he, " there are times when I can be as big a fool as the next, Spider, and this is one of them." " That 's so !" nodded the Spider, and chewing viciously, he turned and was gone, to be hailed a few minutes later in uproarious greeting by many discordant voices which died slowly to a droning hum above which came sounds more distant, shouts and cheers from the auditorium. Left alone, Ravenslee looked about him, and then espied a newspaper that lay upon the desk. Idly taking it up, his gaze was attracted by these words, printed in large black letters : NOTORIOUS CRIMINAL RUN TO EARTH JACOB HEINE THE GUN-MAN ARRESTED IN JERSEY CITY Below in small type he read this: Jacob Heine, believed to be the perpetrator of several mysterious shooting affrays, and member of a dangerous West Side gang, was arrested to-day. The light being dim, Ravenslee drew closer to the lamp, and standing thus against the light, his face was in An Expedition by Night 1 8 i shadow also his long figure was silhouetted upon the opposite wall, plain to be seen by any one opening the door. Suddenly, as he stood with head bent above the paper, this door opened suddenly, and M'Ginnis entered; he also held a paper, and now he spoke without troubling to lift his scowling gaze from the printed column he was scanning: " That you, Lefty? Here 's a hell of a mix-up that dog-gone fool Heine 's got himself pinched and in Jersey City too! I told him t' stay around here till things was quiet! It 's goin' t' be a hell of a job t' fix things for him over there 't ain't like N' York. But we got t' fix things for him or chance him squealing on th' rest of us, but what beats me is " M'Ginnis's teeth clicked together, and the paper tore suddenly between his hands as, glancing up at last, he beheld two keen, grey eyes that watched him and a mouth, grim and close-lipped, that curled in the smile Spider did n't like. For a long, tense moment they stood motionless, eye to eye, then, reaching behind him, M'Ginnis locked the door, and drawing out the key, thrust it into his pocket. "So I got ye at last have I ? " said he slowly. " And I 've got you," said Ravenslee pleasantly ; " we seem to have got each other, don't we? " " See here, you," said M'Ginnis, his massive shoulders squared, his big chin viciously outthrust, " you 're goin' t' leave Mulligan's, see? " "Am I?" said Ravenslee, lounging upon a corner of the battered desk. " You sure are," nodded M'Ginnis. " Hell's Kitchen ain't big enough for you an' me, I guess ; you 're goin* because I say so, an' you 're goin' t'night ! " " You surprise me ! " said Ravenslee sleepily. " You 're goin' t' quit Hell's Kitchen for good and you ain't comin' back ! " " You amaze me ! " and Ravenslee yawned behind his hand. 1 82 The Definite Object " An' now you 're goin' t' listen why an' wherefore if you can keep awake a minute ! " " I '11 try, Mr. Flowers, I '11 try." M'Ginnis thrust clenched hands into his pockets and surveyed Ravenslee with scornful eyes his lounging figure and stooping shoulders, his long, white hands and general listless air. " God ! " he exclaimed, " that she should trouble t' look twice at such a nancy-boy ! " and he spat, loud and contemptuously. " Almost think you 're trying to be rude, Mr. Flowers." " Aw I could n't be, to a thing like you ! An' see here me name 's M'Ginnis ! " " But then," sighed Ravenslee, " I prefer to call you Flowers a fair name for a foul thing " M'Ginnis made a swift step forward and halted, hard- breathing and menacing. " How much? " he demanded. " Fair name for a very foul thing, Mr. Flowers," re peated Ravenslee, glancing up at him from under slumber ous, drooping lids " anyway, Flowers you will remain ! " As they stared again, eye to eye, M'Ginnis edged nearer and nearer, head thrust forward, until Ravenslee could see the cords that writhed and swelled in his big throat, and he hitched forward a languid shoulder. " Don't come any nearer, Flowers," said he, " and don't stick out your jaw like that don't do it ; I might be tempted to try to er hit it ! " " What you? " said M'Ginnis, and laughed hoarsely, while Ravenslee yawned again. " An' now, Mr. Butt-in, if you 're still awake listen here. I guess it 's about time you stopped foolin' around Hermy Chesterton an' you 're goin' t' quit see ! " Ravenslee's eyes flashed suddenly, then drooped as M'GJn- nis continued : " So you 're goin' t' sit down right here, an' you 're goin' t' write a nice little note of farewell, an' you 're goin' t' tell her as you love her an' leave her be cause I say so see? Ah!" he cried, suddenly hoarse An Expedition by Night 183 and anger-choked, " d' ye think I '11 let Hermy look at a thing like you do ye ? do ye ? " and he waited. Ravenslee sat utterly still, and when at last he spoke his voice sounded even more gentle than before. " My good Flowers, there is just one thing you shall not do, and that is, speak her name in my hearing. You 're not fit to, and, Mr. Flowers, I '11 not permit it." " Is that so? " snarled M'Ginnis, " well, then, listen some more. I know as you 're always hangin' around her flat, and if Hermy don't care about losing her good name Even as Ravenslee's long arm shot out, M'Ginnis side stepped the blow, and Ravenslee found himself staring into the muzzle of a revolver. " Ah I thought so ! " he breathed, and shrank away. " Kind of alters things, don't it? " enquired M'Ginnis, hoarse and jeering. " Well, if you don't want it to go off, sit down an' write Hermy as pretty a little note as you can no, shut that window first." Silent and speechless, Ravenslee crossed to the window and drew down the sash, in doing which he noticed a dark something that crouched beneath the sill. " An' now," said M'Ginnis, leaning against a corner of the desk, " sit down here, nice an' close, an' write that letter there 's pen an' ink an' paper an' quick about it or by " M'Ginnis sprang up and turned as the glass of the window splintered to fragments, and, almost with the crash, Ravenslee leapt a fierce twist, a vicious wrench, and the deadly weapon had changed hands. " Lucky it did n't go off," said Ravenslee, smiling grimly at the revolver he held, " others might have heard, and, Mr. Flowers, I want to be alone with you just a little longer. Of course, I might shoot you for the murderous beast you are, or I might walk you over to the nearest police depot for the crook I think you are but oh, well, of late I 've been yearning to get my hands on you and so " Ravenslee turned and pitched the revolver through the broken window. But, almost as the weapon left his 184 The Definite Object hand, M'Ginnis was upon him, and, reeling from the blow, Ravenslee staggered blindly across the room, till stayed by the wall, and sank there, crouched and groaning, his face hidden in his hands. With a cry hoarse and fierce, M'Ginnis followed and stooped, eager to make an end stooped to be met by two fierce hands, sure hands and strong, that grasped his silken neckerchief as this crouching figure rose suddenly erect. So for a wild, panting moment they grappled, swaying grimly to and fro, while ever the silken necker chief was twisted tight and tighter. Choking now, M'Gin nis felt fingers on his naked throat, iron fingers that clutched cruelly, and in this painful grip was whirled, choking, against the wall and thence borne down and down. And now M'Ginnis, lying helpless across his op ponent's knee, stared up into a face pale but grimly joy ous, lips that curled back from gnashing white teeth eyes that glared merciless. So Ravenslee bent M'Ginnis back across his knee and choked him there awhile, then suddenly relaxed his hold and let M'Ginnis sink, gasping, to the floor. " A little rough, Mr. Flowers," he panted, " a trifle rough with you I fear but I want you to know that you shall not utter her name in my presence. Now the key I prefer door to window the key, Mr. Flowers ah, here it is ! " So saying, Ravenslee stood upright, and wiping blood and sweat from him with his sleeve, turned to the door. " One other thing, Mr. Flowers ; have the goodness to take off your neckerchief next time, or I may strangle you outright." Halfway down the passage Ravenslee turned to see Murder close on his heels. Once he smote and twice, but nothing might stay that bull-like rush and, locked in a desperate clinch, he was borne back and back, their trampling lost in the universal din about them, as reeling, staggering, they crashed out through wrecked and splin tered door and, still locked together, were swallowed in the night beyond. An Expedition by Night 185 Thus the Spider, crouching in the dark beneath the broken window with Spike beside him, was presently aware of the sickening sounds of furious struggling close at hand, and of a hoarse, panting voice that cursed in fierce triumph a voice that ended all at once in a ghastly strangling choke; and recognising this voice, the Spider hunched his great shoulders and bore Spike to a remote spot where stood a solitary lamp-post. Here he waited, calm-eyed and chewing placidly, one arm about the fret ful Spike. Presently Ravenslee joined them; the shabby hat was gone, and there was a smear of blood upon his cheek, also he laboured in his breathing, but his eyes were joyous. " Bo, what about Bud? " " Oh, he 's lying around somewhere." " Hully Chee d' ye mean " " He tried gouging first, but I expected that ; then he tried to throttle me, but I throttled a little harder. He 's an ugly customer, as you said, but " Ravenslee laughed and glanced at his bloody knuckles "I don't think he '11 be keen to rough it with me again just yet." " Bo, I guess you can be pretty ugly too say, when you laugh that way I feel kind of sorry for Bud." " Why, what 's wrong with Spike ? " " Dunno I guess they 've been slinging dope into him. And he 's copped it pretty bad from Young Alf too look at that eye ! " " Spike ! " said Ravenslee, shaking him, " Spike, what is it ? Buck up, old fellow ! " But Spike only stared dazedly and moaned. " It 's dope all right," nodded the Spider, " or else Bud 's mixed th' drinks on him." " Damn him ! " said Ravenslee softly. " I wish I M throttled a little harder ! " " I guess you give Bud all he needs for the present," said Spider grimly, " anyway, I 'm goin' t' see. The Kid ain't hurt none. Get him home t' bed, an' he '11 be all right s' long, Geoff." 1 86 The Definite Object " Good night, Spider, and thank you. Oh, by the way, who 's Heine? " " Heine 's a Deutscher, Geoff. Heine 's about as clean as dirt an' as straight as a corkscrew; why, he'd shoot his own mother if y' paid him, like he did but say, what d' you know about him, anyway? " " Well, for one thing, I know he 's been arrested in Jersey City " " Heine ? Pinched ? Say, bo, what yer givin' us who says so? " " Bud, and " But the Spider, waiting for no more, had turned about and was running back across the open lot. CHAPTER XXI HOW M'GINNIS THREATENED AND WENT " ME. GEOFFREY, prayer is a wonderful prop to a anxious 'eart ! " said Mrs. Trapes, leaning over the banisters to greet him as he ascended. " Mr. Geoffrey, my hands has been lifted in prayer for ye this night as so did me behoove, and here you are safe back with that b'y. A prayer prayed proper, and prayed by them as ain't plaguein' the Lord constant about their souls an' other diseases, is always dooly regarded. Yes, sir, a occasional petition is always heard and worketh wonders as the my land, Mr. Geoffrey, look at your face ! " " I know, Mrs. Trapes. Has she come in yet? " " Not yet an' glad I am. You 're all bleedin' stoop your head a bit there ! " and very tenderly she staunched the cut below the curly hair with an apron clean and spotless as usual. " And the b'y lord, what 's come to him? " " A black eye two, I 'm afraid. Anyhow, I '11 look after him and get him into bed before she comes ; can you keep her away till I 've done so? " " I '11 try. Poor lad ! " she sighed, touching Spike's drooping head with bony fingers, " if she was n't his sister, I 'd be sorry for him ! " So Ravenslee took Spike in hand, bathing his bruised and battered features and setting ice water to his puffy lips, which the lad gulped thirstily. Thereafter he revived quickly but grew only the more morose and sulky. "All right," he muttered, "I'll go t' bed, only leave me, see ! " " Can't I help you? " i88 The Definite Object " No you lemme alone. Oh, I know you think I 'm soused, but I ain't ; I I 'm not drunk, I tell ye I wish I was. I ain't no kid, so lemme alone an' I ain't drunk. What if me legs is shaky? So 'ud yours be if you 'd got what I got. It was dat last swing t' d' j aw as done me but I ain't drunk 'n' I ain't a kid t' be undressed so chase ye'self an' lemme alone ! " " All right, Spike only get to bed like a good chap before your sister comes." " You leave my sister alone ; she ain't that kind, an' she ain't fer you, anyway." " That will do, Arthur get into bed ! I '11 give you five minutes ! " So saying, Ravenslee turned away, but, as he closed the door, his quick ear detected the clink of glass, and turning, he saw Spike draw a small flask from his pocket. " Give me that stuff, old fellow." " Oh, you can't con me ! I ain't a kid, so you lemme alone ! " and Spike raised the flask to his lips, but in that instant it was snatched away. Spike staggered back to the wall and leaned there, passing his hand to and fro across his brow as though dazed, then stumbled out into the room beyond. " Gimme it, Geoff, gimme it ! " he panted, " you won't keep it, no, no Bud slipped it to me after I come to. Gimme it, Geoff. I want t' forget so be a sport an' give it me you will, won't ye ? " Ravenslee shook his head, whereat the boy broke out more passionately: "Oh don't ye see, Geoff can't ye understand? I I was knocked out t'night I took th' count ! I I 'm done for, I had me chance, an' I did n't make good ! I did n't make good ! " As he spoke, the lad hid his bruised face within his hands, while great sobs shook him. " Why, Spike ! Why, Arthur, old chap never mind " " Gimme th' bottle, Geoff ! Be a pal an' gimme th' stuff I want t' forget ! " How M'Ginnis Threatened 189 " This would n't help you." " Give it me, d' ye hear I want it I '11 have it, any way I '11 " Spike's voice failed, and cowering back, he sank into a chair at sight of her who stood within the doorway so very silent and pale of lip. " Ah, don't, Hermy don't look at me like that," he whispered. " Your eyes hurt me ! I ain't drunk this time ! " " Oh, boy ! " she sighed, " oh, boy after all your promises ! " Spike rose with hands stretched out appealingly, but even so, he swayed slightly, and seeing this, she shivered. " Is it th' fightin' you mean, Hermy? Why, I did it all for you, Hermy, all for you I wanted t' be a champion 'cause all champions are rich. I wanted t' make you a real lady t' take you away from Mulligan's but now I 'm only a * has-been.' I 've lost me chance oh, Hermy, I 'm done for ; I oh, Geoff, I think I '11 go to bed." So Ravenslee set down the flask, and, clasping an arm about Spike's swaying form, led him from the room, while Hermione stood rigid and watched them go. But when the door had closed behind them, she bowed her head upon her hands and sobbed miserably, until, spying the half-emptied flask through her tears, she sprang forward, and snatch ing it from the table, dashed it passionately to the floor. " Oh, dear God of Heaven ! " she whispered, sinking to her knees, " not that way ah, save him from that keep him from treading that path ! " With head bowed upon her folded hands she knelt thus awhile until a sound in the passage aroused her, and rising to her feet, she turned and confronted Bud M'Ginnis. He stood upon the threshold, and though his glowing, eager eyes dwelt yearningly upon her beauty, he made no motion to enter the room. Upon one cheek the skin was torn and grazed from nose to ear, and upon his powerful throat were vivid marks that showed fierce and red, and these seemed to worry him, for even while he stared upon 190 The Definite Object her loveliness, his hand stole up to his neck, and he touched these glowing blotches gently with his fingers. " God, Hermy," said he at last, " you get more beauti ful every day ! " She was silent, but reading the fierce scorn in her eyes, he laughed softly and leaned nearer. " Some day, Hermy, you '11 be all mine ! Oh, I can wait ; there 's others, an' you 're worth waitin' for, I guess. But some day you '11 come t' me you shall you must ! Meantime there 's others, but some day it '11 be you an' you only when you 're my wife. Ah, marry me, Hermy ; I could give you all you want, an' there 'd never be any one else for me then ! " Her eyes still met his unflinchingly, only she drew away from his nearness, shivering a little; seeing which, he frowned and clenched one hand, for the other had wan dered up to his throat again. " Won't ye speak t' me? " he demanded savagely, then shrugging his great shoulders, he continued in gentler tones : " I ain't here t' quarrel, Hermy ; I only came t' see if th' Kid got home all right." Hermione's firm, red lips remained tightly closed. "Did he?" Hermione slowly inclined her head. " Say now, Hermy," he went on, and his voice grew al most wheedling, " there was a guy here the other night a stranger, I guess one o' these tired, sleepy guys one o' the reg'lar sof t-talkin' nancy-boys who is he ? " Hermione only sighed wearily, whereat his voice grew hoarse with passion, and he questioned her fiercely : " Who is he, eh who is he? What was he doin' around here, anyway? Well, can't ye talk? Can't ye speak?" Hermione only looked at him, and before those calm, fearless eyes, M'Ginnis burned in a wild / yet impotent rage. "Won't talk, hey?" he questioned between grinding teeth. " Well, now, see here, Hermy. If you let this guy come any love business with you behind me back, it '11 be his finish an' he can blame you for it ! An' see here How M'Ginnis Threatened 191 again watch out for young Arthur. Oh ! " he cried, see ing her flinch, " you think you 've got the Kid tied to ye, you think you 've got him, I guess but you ain't ! I 've got him right here ! " and holding out his hand, M'Ginnis slowly clenched it into a fist. " I 've got th' Kid, see an' he 's goin' th' way I want him he 's got to, see?" " Ah ! " she cried, her scorn and fearless pride shattered to trembling pleading at last. " What do you mean oh, what do you mean? " " I mean as I want ye, an' I 'm goin' to have ye ! " he answered. " I mean that instead of ' no ' you 're goin' t' give me * yes ' for th' Kid's sake ! " " What do you mean ? " she said again between quiv ering lips, her eyes full of a growing terror. " Mean? " he continued relentlessly, viewing her trem bling loveliness with hungry eyes. " Well that 's what I mean ! " and he pointed to the broken flask upon the floor. " If you want t' see it in his face more an' more, if you want t' smell it in his breath say * No ! ' If you want t' see his hands begin t' shake, if you want t' hear his foot come stumbling up th' stair say ' No ! ' I guess you remember what it 's like you 've seen it all before. Well, if ye want Arthur t' grow into what his drunken father was before him say ' No ! ' " " Go away ! " she moaned, " go away ! " " Oh, I '11 go, but first I '11 tell you this " " I think not, Mr. Flowers no, I 'm sure you won't ! " Ravenslee's voice was soft and pleasant as usual, but before the burning ferocity of his eyes, the merciless line of that grim, implacable mouth, before all the hush and deadly purpose of him, the loud hectoring of M'Ginnis seemed a thing of no account. Beholding his pale, set face,, Hermione, sighing deeply, shrank away; even MNjinnis blenched as, very slowly, Ravenslee approached him, speaking softly the while. " Get out, Mr. Flowers, get out ! Don't say another word no, not one, if only because of ' that dog-gone fool 192 The Definite Object Heine ! ' Now go, or so help me God, this time I '11 kill you ! " Hermione leaned her trembling body against the table for support. And yet could it be fear that had waked this new glory in her eyes, had brought this glowing colour to her cheek, had made her sweet breath pant and hurry so fear? M'Ginnis stood rigid, watching Ravenslee advance ; sud denly he tried to speak yet uttered no word ; he raised a fumbling hand to his bruised and swollen throat, striving again for speech but choked instead, and, uttering a sound, hoarse and inarticulate, he swung upon his heel and strode blindly away. Then Ravenslee turned to find Hermione sunk down beside the table, her burning face hidden between her arms, her betraying eyes fast shut. " You are tired," he said gently, " that damned er I should say Mr. Flowers and other unpleasant things have upset you, have n't they ? " Hermione made a motion of assent, and Ravenslee con tinued, softer than before : " I wanted you to make up your mind to come away to night, but I can't ask you now, can I ? It it would n't be er the thing, would it ? " Hermione did n't answer or lift her head and, stooping above her, he saw how she was trembling; but her eyes were still fast shut. " You you 're not afraid of me, are you, Her mione? " " No." " And you 're not crying, are you ? " " No." "Then I'd better go, hadn't I? To Mrs. Trapes and supper stewed beef, I think, with er carrots and onions " Her head was still bowed, and his tone was so light, his voice so lazy, how was she to know that his hands were quivering or see how the passion of his yearning was How M'Ginnis Threatened 193 shaking him, fighting for utterance against his iron will? How was she to know anything of all this until, swiftly, lightly, he stooped and kissed the shining glory of her hair ? In a while she raised her head, but then she was alone. CHAPTER XXII TELLS OF AN EARLY MORNING VISIT AND A WARNING RAVENSLEE dreamed that he was in a wood with Her- mione, of course. She came to him through the leafy twilight, all aglow with youth and love, eager to give her self to his embrace. And from her eyes love looked at him unashamed, love touched him in her soft caressing hands, came to him in the passionate caress of her scarlet mouth, love cradled him in the clasp of her white arms. And the sun, peeping down inquisitively through the leaves, showed all the beauty of her and made a rippling splendour of her hair. But now the woodpecker began a tap-tapping soft and insistent somewhere out of sight, a small noise yet dis turbing, that followed them wheresoever they went. Thus they wandered, close entwined, but ever the wood grew darker until they came at last to a mighty tree whose sombre, far-flung branches shut out the kindly sun. And lo! within this gloom the woodpecker was before them a most persistent bird, this, tap-tapping louder than ever, whereat Hermione, seized of sudden terror, struggled in his embrace and, pointing upward, cried aloud, and was gone from him. Then, looking where she had pointed, he beheld no woodpecker, but the hated face of Bud M'Ginnis Ravenslee blinked drowsily at the wall where purple roses bloomed, at the fly-blown text in the tarnished frame with its notable legend: LOVE ONE ANOTHER and sighed. But in his waking ears was the tap of the woodpecker, loud and persistent as ever! Wherefore he An Early Morning Visit 195 started, stared, sat up suddenly and, glancing toward the window, beheld a large cap and a pair of shoulders he thought he recognised. " Why, Spider ! " he exclaimed, " what the " " Sufferin' Mike ! " sighed the Spider plaintively, " here I 've been knockin' at your all-fired winder knockin' an' knockin', an' here you 've been snorin' and snorin'." " No, did I snore, Spider? " " Bo, you sure are a bird for snorin'." " Damn it ! " said Ravenslee, frowning, " I must break myself of it." " Thinkin' of gettin' married, bo? " " Married ? What the " " She '11 soon get useter it, I guess they all do ! " said the unabashed Spider. " Anyway, if you did n't snore exactly, you sure had a strangle hold on the snooze busi ness, all right. Here 's me crawled out o' me downy little cot t' put ye wise t' Bud's little game, an' here 's you diggin' into the feathers t' beat th' band ! " " But the window was open ; why did n't you come in right away? " " Not much, bo, I ain't the kind o' fool as makes a habit o' wakin' your kind out o' their beauty sleep sudden, no more I ain't a guy as takes liberties in strange bedrooms, see? " " Well, come in, Spider sit on the bed ; I have n't a chair to offer. By the way, I have to thank you " "Whaffor?" " Breaking that window " ** Oh, I guess it was n't a bad wheeze." " It gave me the chance I wanted, Spider." " Which you sure gripped with both mitts, bo ! " " Now have a cigar in that coat pocket " " Not me, Geoff ! Smoke 's bad for th' wind, that 's why I 've took t' gum." Saying which, the Spider pro ceeded to take out and open a packet of that necessary adjunct, and having posted it into his mouth piece by piece, fell to grim mastication. 196 The Definite Object " Bo," said he suddenly, " you come away without your roof last night." " Eh? " said Ravenslee, blinking drowsily, " my what? " " Your lid, bo." " You mean my old hat? " " That 's what I 'm tryin' t' tell you an' say, that sure is the hardest bean cover I ever spotted; made of iron, is it? Where 'd you find it? " " At some dim and distant day it originated in England, I believe." " Well, that lid would turn a poleaxe, sure ; that 's why I brought it back it 's out on the fire escape now." " Very kind of you, Spider, but " " Bo, you 're goin' t' need that hat an' a soot o' tin underwear from now on unless well, unless you pack y'r trunk an' clear out o' Hell's Kitchen on th' jump." "Why so?" " Well, you certainly handed Bud a whole lot more 'n he 's ever had before, an' it 's a full house to a pair o' dooces he ain't lookin' for no more from you just yet. But then, Bud ain't no pet lamb nor yet a peace confer ence, an' it 's four aces to a bum-flush he means t' get back at ye some way an' get ye good ! " " Oh? " said Ravenslee, yawning. " And oh some more ! " nodded the Spider ; " it 's sure comin' t' you. When I got back las' night, there 's Bud lettin' against th' wall lookin' like an exhibit from the morgue, fightin' for breath t' cuss you with. 'N' say, you sure had done him up some, which I was n't nowise sad or peeved about, no, sir ! Me an' Bud 's never been what you might call real kittenish an' playful together. But it seems you ain't only soaked an' throttled him good an' plenty, but he 's gone an' let out t' you about that guy Heine an' consequently you 've gotter be kept from opening y'r mouth see ? Consequently it 's you for a sudden an' hasty hike." " Oh? " said Ravenslee again. " Twice ! " nodded the Spider, " with a F an' a L thrown An Early Morning Visit 197 in that 's what you '11 be, Geoff, if you try t' buck Bud an' th' gang. So here I 've shinnied up y'r fire escape to put ye wise an' lend a hand to make your swift get-away." Ravenslee sighed and settled his head more comfortably on his pillow. " You think I ought to go, Spider? " " I don't think I know ! Your number 's up, Geoff it 's you against th' field, an', bo they 're some field !" " You think there 's real danger, then? " enquired Ra venslee, staring up at the fly-blown text with shining eyes. " As real as death, bo ! " " Not so long ago I regarded Death as my best friend " " How much? " demanded the Spider, suspending mas tication. " Nothing, Spider, a mere passing thought." " Well, I 'm tellin' ye they '11 get ye sure it '11 be th' water or a forty-four bullet, or a blackjack or a knife but you '11 get it one way or another ! " " Sounds cheering ! " " An' it ain't over-pleasant t' be sandbagged." " No, Spider." " Nor t' feel a lead pipe wrapped round th' back o' y'r bean." " No indeed, Spider." " Nor yet t' feel a stiletta diggin' between y'r shoul ders or over y'r collar bone." " Worst of all, Spider." " Well, you 'd best pack y'r little trunk an' fade away, bo ! " Ravenslee sat up suddenly and looked at tiie Spider with eyes very bright and wide. " Not for all the gangs that ever ganged ! " said he softly. " Eh ? " exclaimed the Spider, staring, " what 's yer game? " " I 'm going to try to buck this gang clean out of existence." "You are, eh?" " I am." 198 The Definite Object " Bo," sighed the Spider, shaking his head, " you ain't a ordinary fool you 're a damned fool ! " " And you 're going to help me, Spider ! " "Not me, bo, not me I'm only just an ordinary fool!" " Well, we '11 let it go at that ! " said Ravenslee, and lying back, he yawned again. " Don't do that, bo, don't do that ! " exclaimed the Spider. " I 'm thinkin' what you '11 look like after you 've been floatin' around in th' river a week, say ! You 'd best get out o' Hell's Kitchen, bo don't stop to ask where to, but go there." " My Spider," said Ravenslee, shaking his head, " in Hell's Kitchen I should have to leave all that makes life worth while, so I shall stay, of course, and chance the er river and things." " Well, I guess it 's your trouble, not mine." " But I want it to be yours too, Spider. You see, I 'm counting on you to help me smash this gang." " Bo, it looks like you 're goin' t' do a hell of a lot o' countin' an' then some more, before you count me in on this fool game. Say " he paused to stare at Ra venslee, keen-eyed and with j aws clamped rigid " you ain't a fly-cop one o' these sleuthy gum-shoe men, are ye?" " No." " Well, you ain't one o' these fool amateur guys doin' the dare-devil detective act like you read about in th' magazines, are ye? " " No more than you are one of these dirty gang loafers you hear about around O'Rourke's and that 's why you 're going to help me root 'em out." " Sufferm' Pete ! " sighed the Spider, " here I keep tellin' you I ain't on in this act, an' here you keep on ringin' me in frequent all the same." " Because you are a man, Spider Connolly, and white all through, and because to smash up this gang is going to be man's work." An Early Morning Visit 199 " Well, it sure ain't no job for Sophy the Satin-skinned Show-girl nor yet for two nice, quiet little fellers like you an' me." " We shan't be quite alone, Spider." " That 's some comfortin', anyway ! " " There will be Joe Madden, for one." " Joe Mad " The Spider very nearly bolted his wad of chewing gum, then he rose and stood staring at Ra- venslee, very round of eye. " So you know Joe Madden, the best all-round champion that ever happened, eh? " " I box with him every day." " Hully Chee ! " exclaimed the Spider, and chewed fer vently in silent astonishment. Suddenly he lifted his head and stood as one that hearkens to distant sounds, and crossing stealthily to the window, climbed out. "What's the matter?" " Mother Trapes, bo. She 's just rollin' out o' th' feathers, an' she 's quite enough for me always has me fazed to a frazzle. If she caught me here it 'ud be th' gimlet eye for mine so here 's where I fade away." " Anyway, come and have tea here with me to-night, Spider, unless you think I am er too dangerous to visit just now on account of M'Ginnis " " Dangerous ? " repeated the Spider, scowling, " bo, when I get a call t' free food with a guy like you, danger gets lost in th' shuffle an' forgotten I '11 be there. Now here 's your bean cover catch ! S' long ! " And nod ding, Spider promptly vanished down the fire escape. CHAPTER XXIII CHIEFLY CONCERNING A LETTER " SUNDAY," said Mrs. Trapes sententiously, " Sunday is a holy day t' some folks an' a holiday for other folks, but t' folks like me an' Hermy it sure ain't no day of rest an' gladness like the hymn book says." " Is n't it ? " said Ravenslee, pushing away his coffee cup and glancing toward the loud-ticking clock upon the sideboard. " It sure ain't ! " nodded Mrs. Trapes, quick to note the look. " Hermy an' me ain't much given to Sunday ob servance, Mr. Geoffrey. Y' see, there 's always meals t' be cooked an' washin' up t' be done, an' clo'es t' be mended p'raps. I 've darned many a 'eartfelt prayer into a wore- out pair o' stockin's before now an' offered up many a petition t' the Throne o' grace with my scrubbin' brush sloshin' over the floor. Anyway, Hermy 'n' me ain't never had much time for church-goin' or prayer meetin's or mindin' our souls in our best frocks an' bonnets no, sir ! We jest have t' get on with our work sewin' an' cookin' an' washin' mindin' the welfare of other folks' bodies. So while them as has time an' inclination sing their praises t' the Lord on their knees, Hermy an' me take out our praises in work, an' have t' leave our souls t' God an' oh, well, I guess he '11 take care of 'em all right don't y' think? " " I certainly do ! " nodded Ravenslee. " O' course, my soul ain't all it should be a bit stained here an' there, p'raps a bit th' worse for wear, Mr. Geoffrey, but Hermy's well, there, I guess it's jest as sweet as a flower still, an' white as white as that table- Concerning a Letter 201 cloth. An' talkin' about her soul what about her body, Mr. Geoffrey? " Ravenslee started. " Her body ? " said he, staring. " Well, since you ask, I should say it is like her soul very sweet and white and " " Sure ! " nodded Mrs. Trapes, " but, bein' only flesh an' blood after all bein' only miserable clay like yours an' mine, Mr. Geoffrey, it '11 always need food t' nourish it, clo'es t' keep it warm, an' a roof t' shelter it. Well, if she was t' be s' mad as t' marry a peanut man, what about food an' clo'es an' a roof? " " I think they could be managed, Mrs. Trapes." " What out o' peanuts? " " No er the fact is, I 've given 'em up." Mrs. Trapes sniffed. " Y' don't say ! " she remarked drily. " Think o' that, now ! " " The fact is, Mrs. Trapes, I well, suppose I were to confess to you that I 'm not quite so poor as I seem what should you say? " " Why, I should say as I knew that about three weeks ago, Mr. Geoffrey." " Oh, did you? " said Ravenslee, staring. " How in the world did you find out? " " Why, Mr. Geoffrey, I '11 tell ye how. I got eyes an' I got ears, an' sometimes I can see a bit with my eyes an' hear with my ears that 's how ! Oh, I 've watched ye, Mr. Geoffrey I 've watched ye careful because well, because I sure love Hermy, an' 't would jest break my 'eart t' see her fallin' in love with a rogue ! " " So you think that she is falling in love, then ? " enquired Ravenslee slowly. " Well, Hermy 's Hermy, an' she 's wrote you two letters to my knowin' " " No, only one, Mrs. Trapes." " Now Hermy ain't the kind o' girl t' write twice to a man unless " " But she has only written me one letter, Mrs. Trapes the one she left with you last week." 202 The Definite Object " Oh, well here 's the other ! " said Mrs. Trapes, lay ing before him an envelope addressed in the handwriting he had come to know so well. " Why did n't you give it to me before ? " he enquired. " Her orders, Mr. Geoffrey." "Orders?" " Orders ! " nodded Mrs. Trapes. " She come in here last night an' give it me after you was gone t' bed. ' Ann dear,' she says, ' don't let him have it till half after- ten t' morrer,' she says. An' it 's nearly eleven now so there 's y'r letter ! " " But," said Ravenslee, " why on earth " " P'raps th' letter '11 tell you, Mr. Geoffrey ; s'pose you read it while I clear away your breakfast things ! " Hereupon Ravenslee opened the letter and read these words : MY DEAR, It would be my joy to trust myself to you utterly, to go with you to the world's end if you would have it so. Only I 'm afraid that I am not quite what you would have me. I 'm afraid that I might sometimes do things that would remind you that I had been only a scrubwoman. I 'm afraid that some day you might regret. Were I to answer you now, I should answer you selfishly so, please, you must give me time to think, for both our sakes. Love has never come near me before, and now I am a little afraid, for love is not little and tender and babyish, but great and strong and very fierce and masterful that is why I am afraid of it. So I must go away from you, from the sound of your voice, the touch of your hand to think it all out. My work will take me to Englewood to-morrow, and I want you to wait for your answer until I come back, for then I shall have decided one way or the other. But in Englewood the memory of your words will be with me still oh, did you mean all, quite all you said, and did you say quite all you meant to say did you? Did you? For indeed it has seemed to me that if Concerning a Letter 203 you really meant all you said you might have said a little more just a little more. This is a dreadfully long letter and very badly expressed, I know, but I dare not read it through. But what I have written is written from my heart. HEEMIONE. P.S. I shall be in Englewood three whole days. " Will strawberry j am an' angel cake an' a bunch or so o' water cress be enough, Mr. Geoffrey? " Ravenslee sat staring down at the letter, rubbing his square, fresh-shaven chin as one very much at a loss. " * Might have said a little more just a little more,' ' he muttered, his gaze focussed upon a certain line. " Will water cress an' angel cake an' a pot o' strawberry jam soot, Mr. Geoffrey? " " Now I wonder what the dickens she can mean? " mused Ravenslee. " She means jest strawberry jam an' angel cake an' water cress, fer tea fer your visitors," said Mrs. Trapes, with a patient sigh. " Visitors ! " repeated Ravenslee, glancing up. " Why, yes, they '11 be here about four o'clock." " An' will water cress an' angel cake an' " " Quite enough ! Certainly ! Admirable ! " exclaimed Ravenslee. " But what beats me," he continued, staring down at the letter again, " is what she can mean by writing this." " Not knowin' what she 's wrote, I can't say." " Mrs. Trapes, I know you are Hermione's best and staunchest friend, and lately I have ventured to hope you are mine too. As such, I want you to read this letter see if you can explain it ! " So Mrs. Trapes took the letter ; and when she had read it through, folded it together with hands very gentle and reverent and stood awhile staring out into the sunlit court. " My land ! " she said at last, her harsh voice grown almost soft, " love 's a wonderful thing, I reckon. No 204 The Definite Object wonder your eyes shine so. Yes, love 's a great an' won derful thing - my land ! " " But can you explain," said Ravenslee, as he took back the letter, " can you tell me what she means by " " Shucks, Mr. Geoffrey ! That sure don't want no ex- plainin'. When you said all you did say to her, did y' say anything about * wife ' or * marriage'?" "Why, of course I did!" " Sure? " " Yes er that is I think so." "Not sure then?" " Well, I may have done so I must have done so, but really I er forget " " Forget ! " Mrs. Trapes snorted. " Now look-a-here, Mr. Geoffrey, what d' ye want with Hermy ; is it a wife you 're after or only " " Mrs. Trapes ! " Ravenslee was upon his feet, and be fore the sudden glare in his eyes Mrs. Trapes gaped and for once fell silent. " Mrs. Trapes," said he, still frown ing a little, " really you you almost made me angry." " My land ! " said she, " I 'm kind o' glad I did n't quite ! " and her sniff was eloquent. " You see," he went on, glancing down at the letter again, " I 've learned to love and reverence her so much that your suggestion hurt rather ! " " Why, then, Mr. Geoffrey, I 'm sorry. But if your love is so big an' true as all that if you want her t' be a wife t' you why in the 'tarnal did n't ye speak out an' tell her so? " " I '11 go and tell her so this minute." " Y' can't ! She 's gone t' Bronx Park with that b'y, 'n' won't be back all day." " Damn ! " exclaimed Ravenslee. " Sure ! " nodded Mrs. Trapes. " Keep on, it '11 do ye good. But anyway, what y' got t' say '11 keep, I guess it '11 gush out all the stronger fer bein' bottled up a day or two." " I can write ! " he suggested. Concerning a Letter 205 " You can but you won't you '11 tell her with your two lips a woman likes it better spoke if spoke proper I should ! With arms entwined an' eyes lookin' into eyes an' oh, shucks ! Will angel cake an' straw berry j am " " They '11 be ample, and thank you, dear Mrs. Trapes ! " CHAPTER XXIV HOW THE OLD UN AND CERTAIN OTHERS HAD TEA " OLD UN," said Joe, halting his aged companion in the middle of the second flight to wag a portentous finger, " Old Un, mind this now if there should 'appen to be cake for tea, don't go makin' a ancient beast of yourself with it no slippin' lumps of it into your pocket on the sly, mind, because if I ketch ye at it " " Don't be 'arsh, Joe, don't be 'arsh ! Cake comes soft t' me pore old teef." " An' mind this again if there should be any j am about, no stickin' ye wicked old fingers into it an' lickin' 'em behind my back." " You lemme an' the jam alone, Joe; it 's a free country, ain't it? very well, then ! " " Free country be blowed ! You mind what I say, you venerable old bag of iniquity, you ! " " 'Niquity yerself ! " snarled the Old Un, and snapping bony finger and thumb under Joe's massive chin, turned and went on up the stairs, his smart straw hat cocked at a defiant angle, his brilliant shoes creaking loudly at every step. " Oh, Gorramighty ! " he panted, halting suddenly on the fifth landing to get his breath, " these perishin' stairs 'as ketched my wind, Joe ; it 's worse 'n th' treadmill ! Is there many more of 'em? " " Only six flights ! " nodded Joe grimly. " Six ! " wailed the Old Un. " Lord it '11 be the death o'me!" " Well, it 's about time you was dead," nodded Joe. The Old Un Had Tea 207 " Dead ye'self ! " snarled the old man. " I 'm a better of a man than ever you was " " An' you would come," continued Joe serenely, as he deftly resettled the old fellow's sporty bow-tie. " You fair plagued me to bring ye along, did n't ye, old packet o' vindictiveness? " " Well, an' here I am, Joe, an' here I mean t' stay no more climbin' fer me ; I 'm tired, me lad, tired ! " Say ing which, the Old Un spread his handkerchief on a con venient stair and proceeded to seat himself thereon with due regard for his immaculately creased trousers. " Well," growled Joe, " of all the perverse old raspers that ever I did see " " That 's enough, Joe, that 's enough ! " exclaimed the Old Un, fanning himself with his rakish hat. " Jest bend down and flick the dust off me shoes with your wipe, like a good lad, will ye ? That 's the worst o' these 'ere patent leathers; they looks well, but they sure ketches th' dust, Joe, they ketches the dust oncommon bad. So jest give 'em a flick over me pore old back 's too stiff t' let me reach 'em, what wi' me rheumatiz an' a floatin' kidney or so " " "Kidneys ! " snarled Joe, drawing out a large bandanna handkerchief and polishing the old man's natty shoes until they shone resplendent. " What 's the matter with ye blessed kidneys now? " " Don't I tell ye they floats, Joe, they floats ! " " Float ! " growled Joe. " Float where to ? " "'Ere, there, an' everywhere, Joe, I can feel 'em! They 're always a-gettin' theirselves all mixed up any'ow. Oh, it 's an 'orrible complaint to 'ave kidneys like mine as gets theirselves lost." " Wish they 'd lose you along with 'em ! " growled Joe, shaking the dust from his handkerchief. " Joe," said the old man, putting on his hat and blink ing up at him beneath its jaunty brim, " Joe, sometimes I fair despise ye ! " " Well, despise away," nodded Joe, " only get up stand up on them doddering old pins o' yourn." 208 The Definite Object "Not me!" declared the Old Un, "I ain't goin' to climb no more o' these perishin' stairs no, not for you nor nobody. 'Ere I am, me lad, an' 'ere I sits till you give me a piggy-back up to the top me bein' a pore old cove with rheumatiz. I demands it " " You '11 what? " growled Joe, hard-breathing and indignant. " Demand it, Joe a pore old feller wi' kidneys an' every other ailment as flesh is hair to a piggy-back, Joe a piggy-back ! " Without another word Joe stooped, and lifting the old man beneath one arm, bore him up the stairs regardless of his croaking protestations and fierce invective. " I said a piggy-back oh, you blightin' perisher, I said a piggy-back," he snarled, his resplendent shoes twinkling in futile kicks. " Oh, Joe, there 's times when I fair 'ates ye ! " Thus, despite virulent curses and feeble kickings, Joe bore him on and up until, as he climbed the last flight, he was arrested by an exclamation from above, and glancing upward, beheld a tall, sharp-featured woman who leaned over the rail. " Oh, land o' my fathers ! " exclaimed Mrs. Trapes, " what 's the matter what you got there? Who are ye? " " The matter, ma'am," answered Joe, for by this time the Old Un had cursed himself quite breathless, " the mat ter 's contrariness ; what I 'ave under my arm, ma'am, is a old reprobate, and I 'm Joe Madden, ma'am, come to take tea with my come, as you might say, a visiting to Mr. Geoffrey ; p'raps you '11 " " Don't 'eed 'im, ma'am never 'eed 'im ! " croaked the Old Un, who had regained his wind by now. " 'E 's a perishin' pork pig, that 's wot 'e is. Joe, you blighter, put me down. It 's me as the Guv expects it 's me as 'as come a-visitin' Joe, put me down, you perisher. Joe 's only a hoaf, ma'am, a nass, ma'am. Joe ain't used to perlite serciety, Joe don't know nothin' put me down, Joe, like a good lad ! " The Old Un Had Tea 209 At this juncture Ravenslee appeared, whereupon Joe, having reached the topmost landing, set the old man upon his natty feet and fell to straightening his smart clothes with hands big but gentle. " Sir," explained Joe, answering Ravenslee's smiling look, " Old Sin an' Sorrer here would n't walk up, which forced me to But now the Old Un, feeling himself again, cut in on his own account. " Ma'am," said he, flourishing off his hat to Mrs. Trapes, " 'ere 's me an' me lad Joe come to tea my best respex an' greetin's, ma'am. How do, Guv? I do 'ope as you ain't forgot th' cake." " Oh, we 've plenty of cake, Old Un ! " laughed Ra venslee. " An' water cress an' jam! " nodded Mrs. Trapes. " Guv," said the old man, gripping Ravenslee's hand, " God bless ye for a true man an' a noble sport. Ma'am, you 're a angel ! Jam, ma'am you 're a nymp' you 're two nymp's 'I oft would cast a rovin' eye Ere these white 'airs I grew, ma'am. To see a 'andsome nymp' go by, But none s' fair as you, ma'am.' An' there 's me hand on it, ma'am." " My land! " ejaculated Mrs. Trapes, staring; then all at once she laughed, a strange laugh that came and went again immediately, yet left her features a little less grim than usual, as, reaching out, she grasped the old man's feeble hand. " I guess you 're only bein' p'lite," said she, " but jest for that you 're sure goin' t' eat as much cake an' j am as your small insides can hold." So saying, she led the way into her small and very neat domain and ushered them into the bright little parlour where the Spider sat already enthroned in that armchair whereon sunflowers rioted. Like the chair, the Spider was somewhat exotic as to socks and tie, and he seemed a trifle irked by stiff cuffs 2io The Definite Object and collar as he sat staring at the green and yellow table cloth and doing his best not to tread upon the pink hearthrug. " Joe," said Ravenslee, " this is Spider Connolly, who knocked out Larry McKinnon at San Francisco last year in the sixty-ninth. Spider, I want you to shake hands with " " Bo," exclaimed the Spider, rising reverently and tak ing a step toward Joe's massive figure, quite forgetful of the pink hearthrug now, " you don't have t' tell me nothin'. I guess I know th' best all-round fightin' man, the greatest champion as ever swung a mitt, when I see him ! T' shake his hand '11 sure be " " Young feller, me lad," cried the Old Un, reaching out nimbly and catching the Spider's extended hand, " you got a sharp eye, a true eye a eye as can discrimpinate, like ah, like a flash o' light. You 're right, me lad, I was the best fightin' man, the greatest champeen as ever was sixty odd years ago. Ho, yus, I were the best of 'em all, an' I ain't t' be sniffed at now. So shake me 'and, me lad an' shake hard ! " The Spider's grim jaw relaxed, and his eyes opened very wide as the Old Un continued to shake his hand up and down. " But, say," said he faintly at last, " I don't " " No more don't I," nodded the Old Un, " what 's the old song say: ' I don't care if it rains or snows Or what the day may be Since 'ere 's a truth I plainly knows Love, you '11 remember me.' " " But say," began the bewildered Spider again. " Say, I reckon " " So do I," nodded the Old Un: ' I reckon up my years o' life An' a good long life 'ave I. Ye see, I never had a wife. P'raps that 's the reason why.' The Old Un Had Tea 2 1 1 So take it from me, young feller, me cove, don't 'ave nothin' to do with givin' or takin' in marriage." " Marriage? " " Marriage ain't good for a fightin' cove it spiles him, it shakes 'is nerve, it fair ruinates 'im. When love flies in at the winder, champeenships fly up the chimbley never t' come back no more. So beware o* wives, me lad." " Wives ! " repeated the Spider, lifting free hand to dazed brow, "I I ain't never " " That 's right ! " nodded the Old Un heartily, shaking the Spider's unresisting hand again, " marriage ain't love, an' love ain't marriage. Wot 's the old song say : 'Oh, love is like a bloomin' rose But marriage is a bloomin' thorn. An 'usband 's full o' bloomin' woes - An' 'eaves a bloomin' sigh each morn ' " " Why, Old Un ! " exclaimed Ravenslee, " that 's a very remarkable verse ! " "My land!" ejaculated Mrs. Trapes, squaring her elbows in the doorway, " I suspects he 's a poet an' him sech a nice little old gentleman ! " " A poet, ma'am ! " exclaimed the Old Un indignantly, " not me, ma'am, not me should scorn t' be. I 'm a 'ighly respected old fightin' man, I am, as never went on th' cross: 'A fightin' man I, ma'am, An' wish I may die, ma'am, If ever my backers I crossed; An' what 's better still, ma'am, Though I forgot many a mill, ma'am, Not one of 'em ever I lost.' " " My land ! " exclaimed Mrs. Trapes again. " What a memory ! " " Memory, ma'am ! " growled Joe, " that ain't memory ; 'e makes 'em up as 'e goes along " 212 The Definite Object " Joe," said the Old Un, glaring, " if the lady were n't here, an' axin' 'er pardon I 'd punch you in the perishin' eye-'ole for that ! " " All right, old vindictiveness," sighed Joe, " an' now, if you '11 let go of Spider Connolly's fist, I 'd like to say 'ow do. Sit down an' give some one else a chance to speak sit down, you old bag o' wind " " Bag o' " the old man dropped the Spider's nerve less hand to turn to Mrs. Trapes with a gloomy brow. " You 'card that, ma'am you 'eard this perishin' porker call me a bag o' Joe, I blush for ye ! Ma'am, pore Joe means well, but 'e can't 'elp bein' a perisher but " and here the Old Un raised and shook a feeble old fist " I 've a good mind t' ketch 'im one as would put 'im t' sleep for a fortnight I 've a good mind " But Mrs. Trapes caught that tremulous fist and draw ing the Old Un's arm through her own, turned to the door. " You come along with me," said she, " you shall help me t' get the tea ; you shall carry in th' cake an' " "Cake!" exclaimed the Old Un, "Oh, j'yful word, ma'am ; you 're a a lidy ! An' there 's jam, ain't there? " " Strawberry ! " " Straw oh, music t' me ears, ma'am you 're a nymp' lead me to it ! " So saying, the Old Un followed Mrs. Trapes out into the kitchen, while the Spider stared after him open-mouthed. " Sufferin' Pete ! " he murmured, then, inhaling a long, deep breath, turned to grasp Joe's mighty, outstretched hand. Then, drawing their chairs together, they sat down, and Ravenslee, by an adroit question or two, soon had them talking, the Spider quick and eager and chewing voraciously, Joe soft-voiced and deliberate but speaking with that calm air of finality that comes only of long and varied experience. So, while Ravenslee smoked and lis tened, they spoke of past battles, of fights and fighters old and new; they discoursed learnedly on ringcraft, they discussed the merits of the crouch as opposed to the The Old Un Had Tea 213 stiff leg and straight left ; they stood up to show tricks of foot and hand cunning shifts and feints ; they ducked and side-stepped and smote the empty air with whirling fists to the imminent peril of the owl that was a parrot, which moth-eaten relic seemed to watch them with his solitary glass eye. And ever the Spider's respect and admiration for the mild-eyed, quiet-spoken champion waxed and grew. " Bo ! " said he, dexterously catching the toppling bird, glass case and all, for the second time, and addressing Ra- venslee with it clasped to his heart, " bo," he repeated, his eyes shining, " I guess Joe Madden, the greatest battler of 'em all, is Joe Madden still. I 've always wanted t' meet with him, an' say I would n't ha' missed him for a farm." " Is that so ! " exclaimed Mrs. Trapes, entering the room at this moment with the tea-cloth, " well, now you jest put 'im down you jest put that bird back again, Spider Connolly ! " " Yes, ma'am," quoth the Spider, all abashed humility. " What you doin' with it, anyway ? " she demanded, elbows jutted ominously; "it's lost a eye, an' a cat got it once an' sp'iled it some, but I treasure it fer reasons o' sentiment, an' if you think you c'n steal it " " Not 'im, ma'am, not 'im ! " piped the Old Un from the doorway, " it ain't the pore lad's fault. It 's Joe, blame it all on to Joe Joe 's got a bad 'eart, ma'am, a black, base- 'earted perisher is Joe so no jam for Joe, ma'am, an' only one slice o* cake." Here Ravenslee hastened to explain, whereupon Mrs. Trapes's grimness abated, and her bristling elbows sub sided ; and now, perceiving how the abashed Spider, meet ing her eye, flushed, plucked at his cuffs, and shuffled his feet, she reached out to pat his broad and drooping shoulder. " Mister Connolly," said she, " for harsh words spoke in haste I craves now your pardon, an' I craves it humble. Am I forgive? " 214 The Definite Object The Spider, flushing redder than ever, rose to his feet, seized her hand, shook it, and muttered : " Sure ! " When the table was laid, the Old Un proposed, and was duly seconded, thirded, and fourthed, that Mrs. Trapes be elected into the chair to pour out the tea, which she pro ceeded to do forthwith, while the Old Un, seated at her right hand, kept a wary eye roving between jam dish and angel cake. And by reason of the unwonted graciousness of Mrs. Trapes, of Ravenslee's tact and easy assurance, and the Old Un's impish hilarity, all diffidence and re straint were banished, and good fellowship reigned su preme, though the Spider was interrupted in the midst of a story by the Old Un suddenly exclaiming: " Keep your hand out o' the jam, Joe! " And Joe was later rendered speechless, hard-breathing, and indignant, by the Old Un turning to Mrs. Trapes with the shrill warning: " Ma'am, Joe 's 'ad two 'elpin's o' cake an' got 'is 'orrid eye on what remains ! " Nevertheless, the meal was in all ways a success, and Ravenslee was reaching for his pipe when Mrs. Trapes, summoned to the front door by a feverish knocking, pres ently came back followed by Tony, whose bright eyes looked wider than usual as he saluted the company. " Hey, Geoff, me tell-a you piece-a da-noos ! " he cried excitedly, " big-a piece-a da-noos. Da cops go-a pinch-a Bud-a M'GJnn' ! " "Bud? Bud?" stammered the Spider. "Have they pinched Bud? Is this the straight goods, Tony? " " Sure they gott-a heem this-a morn in Jersey City 'n' say, he think-a eet a frame-up he theenk-a Geoff set-a de cops for-a take heem." " The hell he does ! " exclaimed the Spider, starting to his feet. " So he send-a da word to Soapy," continued Tony, his eyes rolling, " an' now all-a da gang 's out layin' for-a Geoff. So when Geoff go-a out on da street bingo ! Dey snuff hees light out " The Old Un Had Tea 2 1 5 " Not much they won't ! " said the Spider, buttoning up his coat and turning to the door. " I '11 mighty soon fix this, I guess." " Do you think you can, Spider? " enquired Ravenslee. " If you 're going to have any trouble, don't bother about " " Bo," said the Spider, squaring his big jaw, " get onto this : here 's where I chip in with ye ; from now on we 're in this game together, an' I ain't a guy as '11 lay down his hand till I 'm called an' called good, see ? You said it was goin' t' be a man's work by Jiminy Christmas, it looks like you 're right ; anyway, I stand in with you, that 's sure put it there, bo ! " " But," said Ravenslee, as their hands gripped, " I don't want you to take any chances on my account, or run any " " Fudge, bo, fudge ! I ain't takin' no chances " " Well, I 'm coming along to see you don't ! " said Ravenslee, reaching for his hat. " Not on your life, bo ; you 'd queer th* whole show. Y' see, they 're a tough crowd an' apt t' act a bit hasty now an' then ; 'sides, they might think you 're heeled, and they know I don't never carry a gun they all know me " " Still, I 'm coming, Spider " " Y' can't, bo ; Mrs. Trapes ain't goin' t' let ye look at her!" " You never spoke a truer word since you drawed the vital air, Spider Connolly ! " nodded Mrs. Trapes, hands on hips and elbows at the " engage." " If Mr. Geoffrey stirs out this day, he 's jest gotter trample over my mangled remains, that 's all ! " Heeding the glitter in her eye and noting the inexor able jut of her elbows, Ravenslee sat down and went on filling his pipe. " Y' see, bo, I know as it was n't you as give Bud away, an' the boys '11 listen t' my say-so you bet they will. So here 's where I ooze away. S' long, all ! " 216 The Definite Object The Old Un, having bolted the last handful of cake, got upon his legs and clutched the Spider's coat in talon-like fingers. "'Old 'ard, young feller, me lad!" he cried. "If there 's any chance of a scrap comin' off wot about me? Gimme me 'at, Joe, an' get yourn ; if I don't knock some on 'em stone cold call me a perishin' ass ! " " Why, since you say so, old blood an' bones," said Joe, his mild eye brightening, " we will step along with the Spider a little way if the Guv'nor '11 excuse us ? " " Certainly, Joe," nodded Ravenslee, " on condition that you do just as the Spider says." " You mean, sir? " " No fighting, Joe at least, not yet." " Trust me, sir ! What ain't to be yet, is to be sometime, I 'opes," sighed Joe. " Good-by, Guv, good-by ! " croaked the Old Un, " if I don't put some o' they perishers in the 'orspitals an' the infirmaries I ain't the man I was ' Oh, used am I to war's alarms I 'unger for the fray, Though beauty clasps me in 'er arms The trumpet calls away.' " So having made their adieux, the three took their de~ parture; though once, despite Joe's objurgations, the Old Un must needs come back to kiss Mrs. Trapes's toil-worn hand with a flourish which left her voiceless and round of eye until the clatter of their feet had died away. Then she closed the door and fixed Ravenslee with her stoniest stare. " Mr. Geoffrey," she demanded, " why did they call you ' Guv'nor ', and wherefore ' Sir ' ? " Ravenslee, in the act of lighting his pipe, had paused for a suitable answer, when Tony, who had remained mute in a corner, stepped forward and spoke: " Say, Geoff, I got-a bit-a more noos. Old-a Finlay-a want-a spik with-a you " The Old Un Had Tea 217 " Old Finlay with me? " " Sure. Old-a Finlay-a go die-a ver' queek, an' he want-a spik with-a you first." "Dying! Old Finlay dying?" questioned Ravenslee, rising. " Sure ! He go die-a ver' queek." " I '11 come ! " " An' I guess," said Mrs. Trapes, " yes, I opine as I '11 come along wi' ye, Mr. Geoffrey." Old Martin Finlay lay propped up by pillows, his great, gaunt, useless body seeming almost too large for the narrow bed wherein he lay, staring up great-eyed at Ravenslee live eyes in a dead face. " It 's dying I am, sorr," said he faintly, " an' it 's grateful is ould Martin for the docthers and medicine you 've paid for. But it 's meself is beyand 'em all an' it 's beyand 'em I 'm goin' fast. She 's waitin' for me me little Maggie 's houlding out her little hand to me she 's waitin' for me beyand, Holy Mary be praised ! An' she 's waited long enough, sorr, my little Maggie as I loved so while the harsh words burned upon me tongue my little Maggie ! I was bitter cruel to my little girl, but you 've been kind to me, and, sorr, I thank ye. But," continued the dying man, slowly and feebly, " it are n't to thank yez as I wanted ye but to give yez something in trust for Miss Hermy ye see, sorr, I shan't be here when she comes back to-night, I '11 be with little Maggie when the hour strikes my little Maggie ! Norah, wife give it to him." Silently Mrs. Finlay opened a drawer, and turning, placed in Ravenslee's hand a heavy gold ring curiously wrought into the form of two hands clasping each other. " It was my Maggie's," continued Martin, " an' I guess she valleyed it a whole lot, sorr. I found it hid away with odds and ends as she treasured. But she don't want it no more she 's dead, ye see, sorr I killed her drowned, sorr I drowned her. Cruel an' hard I was 218 The Definite Object shut her out onto the streets, I did, an' so she died. But before the river took oh, Blessed Mary oh, Mother O' God pity ! Before she went t' heaven, Miss Hermy was good t' her ; Miss Hermy loved her and tried t' comfort her but only God could do that, I reckon so she went t' God. But Miss Hermy was kind when I was n't, so, sorr, it 's give her that ring ye will, plaze, an' say as poor Martin died blessing her. An' now it 's go I '11 ask ye, sorr, for God 's callin' me to wipe away me tears an' sorrers and bind up me broken heart so lave me to God and my little Maggie " Very softly Ravenslee followed Mrs. Trapes out of the room, but they had not reached the front door when they heard a glad cry and thereafter a woman's sudden desolate sobbing. " Go on, Mr. Geoffrey," whispered Mrs. Trapes. " But I guess I 'd better stay here a bit." " You mean ? " . " As poor Martin 's sure found his little girl again ! " CHAPTER XXV HOW SPIKE MADE A CHOICE AND A PROMISE MONDAY morning found Ravenslee knocking at the oppo site door, which opening, disclosed Spike, but a very chastened and humble Spike, who blushed and drooped his head and shuffled with his feet and finally stammered: " Hello, Geoff I I 'm all alone, but you you can come in if if you care to?" " I dropped in on my way down just to have a word with you, Spike." With dragging feet Spike led the way into the sitting room, where lay his breakfast, scarcely tasted. " Sit down, Geoff, I I want to apologise," said the lad, toying nervously with his teaspoon. " I guess you think I 'm a mean, low-down sort o' guy, an' you 're right, only I I feel worse 'n you think. An' say, Geoff, if I if I said anything th' other night, I want you to forget it, will you? " " Why, of course, Spike." " Hermy 's forgiven me. I I 've promised to work hard an' do what she wants." "I'm glad of that, Spike!" " She came creepin' into my room this mornin' before she went, but me thinkin' she meant to give me a last call down I pretended t' be asleep, so she just sighed an' went creepin' out again an' wrote me this," and Spike drew a sheet of crumpled note paper from his pocket and handed it to Ravenslee, who read these words : BOY DEAR, I love you so much that if you destroyed my love, I think you would destroy me too. Now I must leave you to go to my work, but you will go to yours, won't 22o The Definite Object you for my sake and for your sake and because I love you so. Be good and strong and clean, and if you want some one to help you, go to your friend, Mr. Geoffrey. Goid-by, dear and remember your promise. Ravenslee passed back the pencilled scrawl and Spike, bending his head low, read it through again. " I guess I 've just got t' be good," he murmured, " for her sake. Oh, Geoff," he cried suddenly, " I 'd die for her ! " " Better live for her, Spike, and be the honourable, clean man she wishes." " She sure thinks you 're some man, Geoff ! I guess she 's kind o' fond of you." " That 's what I 've come to talk about, Spike." " Are you fond of her, Geoff? " " Fond ! " exclaimed Ravenslee, forgetting to drawl, *' I 'm so fond I love her so much I honour her so deeply that I want her for my wife." " Wife? " exclaimed Spike, starting to his feet, his eyes suddenly radiant, " d' ye mean you '11 marry her ? " " If she will honour me so far, Spike." " Marry her ! You '11 marry her ! " Spike repeated. " As soon as she '11 let me ! " " Geoff oh, Geoff," exclaimed the boy, and choking, turned away. " Won't you congratulate me ? " " I can't yet," gasped Spike ; " I can't till I 've told ye what a mean guy I 've been." " What about? " " About you an' Hermy. Bud said you meant t' make her go the way little Maggie Finlay went, an' oh, Geoff, I I kind of believed him." "Did you, Spike that foul beast? But you don't believe it any longer, and M'Ginnis is only M'Ginnis, after all." " But I I 've got to tell you more," said the lad mis erably, as meeting Ravenslee's eye with an effort, he went How Spike Made a Choice 221 on feverishly. " The other night after after Bud slipped me the the stuff an' I 'd had a a drink or two, he began askin' all about you. At first I blocked and side stepped all his questions, but he kep' on at me, an' at last I I give you away, Geoff " Here Spike paused breathlessly and cast an apprehensive glance toward his hearer, but finding him silent and serene as ever he repeated : "I gave you away, Geoff ! " " Did you, Spike? " " Yes, I I told him who you really are ! " " Did you, Spike? " "Yes! Yes! Oh, Geoff, don't you understand?" " I understand." " Well, why don't ye say something? Why don't ye tell me what I am? Say I 'm a dirty sneak call me a yeller cur anything ! " " No, you were drunk, that 's all ; and when the drink is in, honour, and all that makes a man, is out you were only drunk." " Oh, but I was n't s' drunk as all that," gasped Spike, cowering in his chair, " but he kep' on comin' at me with his questions, an' at last when I told him how I met up with you he kind o' give a jump an' his face " Spike clenched his fists and, slowly raising them, pressed them upon his eyes. " I '11 never forget th' look on his face ! So now you know as I 've blown th' game on ye given ye away you as was my friend ! " With the word Spike sobbed and fell grovelling on his knees. " Curse me, Geoff ! " he cried. " Oh, curse me, an' tell me what I am ! " " You are Hermione's brother ! " "My God!" wailed the boy. "If she knew, she'd hate me." " I almost think she would, Spike." " You won't tell her, Geoff, you won't never let her know?" I _ don't get drunk, Spike." 222 The Definite Object " But you won't tell her? " he pleaded, reaching out desperate hands, "you won't?" " Not a word, Spike ! " " Oh, I know I 'm rotten ! " sobbed the lad. " I know you ain't got no use for me any more, but I 'm sorry, Geoff, I 'm real sorry. I know a guy can't forgive a guy as gives a guy away if that guy 's a guy's friend. I know as you can't forgive me. I know as you '11 cut me out for good after this. But I want ye t' know as I 'm sorry, Geoff awful sorry I I ain't fit t' be anybody's friend, I guess." " I think you need a friend more than ever, Spike ! " "Geoff!" cried the boy breathlessly. "Say what d' you mean ? " " I mean the time has come for you to choose between M'Ginnis and me. If I am to be your friend, M'Ginnis must be your enemy from now on wait ! If you want my friendship, no more secrets ; tell me just how M'Ginnis got you into his power how he got you to break into my house." Spike glanced up through his tears, glanced down, choked upon a sob, and burst into breathless narrative. " 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 ! " How Spike Made a Choice 223 " And M'Ginnis has threatened to send you up for it now and then, eh? " " Only for a j oke. Bud ain't like me ; he 'd never split on a pal Bud would n'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 '11 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 '11 punch th' sawdust out o' them ! " CHAPTER XXVI WHICH MAKES FURTHEB MENTION OF A EING RAVENSLEE, strolling in leisurely fashion along Tenth Avenue, became aware of a slender, pallid youth whose old-young face was familiar; a cigarette dangled from his pale, thin lips, and his slender hands were hidden in the pockets of his smartly tailored coat. On went Ravens- lee, pausing now and then to glance idly into some shop window until, chancing to slip his fingers into a waist coat pocket, he paused all at once and, drawing thence a ring wrought into the semblance of two clasped hands, drew it upon his finger. Now as he glanced at the ring, his eye gleamed and, smiling as one who has a sudden bright idea, he set off faster than before, striding on light and purposeful feet. But, as he turned a corner, he no ticed that the pallid youth was still close behind, where fore he halted before a shop window where, among other articles of diet, were cans of tomatoes neatly piled into a pyramid. At these he stared, waiting, and presently found the pallid youth at his elbow, who also stared upon the tomato pyramid with half-closed eyes and with smoul dering cigarette pendent from thin-lipped mouth. And after they had stared awhile in silence, cheek by jowl, Ravenslee spoke in his pleasant, lazy voice: " Judging by the labels these tomatoes are everything tomatoes possibly could be." " 'S right ! " murmured the pale one imperturbably. " Fond of tomatoes ? " enquired Ravenslee. " Aw ! " answered his neighbour, " quit f oolin' talk sense i Certainly ! Why do you follow me, Soapy ? " Mention of a Ring 225 Soapy's eyes grew narrower, and the pendent cigarette stirred slightly. " Know me, hey? " he enquired. " Heaven forbid ! 'T was a bolt at a venture a shot in the dark." " Talkin' o' shootin'," said Soapy, grimly delib erate, " peanuts ain't a healthy profesh around here not fer your kind, it ain't ! " " Oh, I don't know," answered Ravenslee, shaking his head gently at the tomatoes. " I 've heard of professions even more unhealthy." " Aw well say what ? " " Well, talking of shooting yours ! " Soapy's narrow eyes gleamed with an added viciousness, his pale nostrils expanded, but the retort died upon his curling mouth, his puffy eyelids widened and widened as he stared at the ring on Ravenslee's finger, and when he spoke his voice was strangely hoarse and eager. "Say, sport where 'd you get that ring?" "Why do you ask?" " 'Cause I want to know, I guess." " Think you 've seen it before?" " Sport, I don't think I know. I seen it many a time. I 'd know it in a million, sure." "Where did you see it before?" "On M'Ginnis's mitt. It useter belong t' Bud." " Ah ! " exclaimed Ravenslee, scowling down at the ring, " you make me wish more than ever that I had throttled him a little harder." " Where 'd you get that ring, sport ? " Soapy repeated. " From Maggie Finlay's father ! " Soapy turned away to stare at the tomato cans again. " Meanin'?" he enquired at last, hoarser than before. " That once upon a time it belonged to her." " Sport," said Soapy after an interval, still staring at the pyramid of cans, " I useter know her once, an' I 've jest nacherally took a fancy t' that ring; if fifty dol lars '11 buy it, they 're yours right now." 226 The Definite Object " It is n't mine," answered Ravenslee, still scowling at the ring which he had drawn from his finger. " I 'm on my way to take it to its owner. But if that person does n't want it, and I 'm pretty sure that person won't, you shall have it, I promise you. And now," said he, pocketing the ring and turning, still scowling, on Soapy, " you are one of M'Ginnis's gang, I fancy ; any way, if you see him you can tell him from me that if he gives me another chance I '11 surely kill him for the foul beast he is." " Sport," said Soapy, " I guess the Spider 's right about you anyway, you ain't my meat. An' as f er killin* Bud you sure ain't goin' t' get th' chance not while I have the say-so. S' long, sport ! " and turning upon his heel, Soapy lounged away. At Times Square Ravenslee entered the subway and, buying his ticket, was jostled by a boy, a freckled boy, round-headed and round of nose, who stared at him with a pair of round, impertinent eyes. Lost in happy speculation he was duly borne to One Hundred and Thirtieth Street, where he boarded the ferry. Upon the boat he was again conscious of a round head that bobbed here and there amid the throng of pas sengers, but paid small heed as he leaned to watch the broad and noble river and the green New Jersey shore. At Fort Lee, exchanging boat for trolley car, he was once more vaguely conscious of two round eyes that watched him from a rear seat; but as the powerful car whirled them up-hill, plunged them down steep inclines, swung them around sharp curves, through shady woods, past far-flung boughs whose leaves stirred and whispered as the great car fleeted by, he fell again to dreaming of Hermione and the future; and so reached Englewood, a small township dreaming in the fierce midday sunshine. Here he enquired of a perspiring butcher in shirtsleeves the whereabouts of the house he wanted and, being fully directed and carefully admonished how to get there, set off along the road. And remembering that her feet must Mention of a Ring 227 often have traversed this very path, he straightway fell to his dreaming again. Thus how should he know any thing of the round head that bobbed out from behind bush or tree ere it followed whither he went? So Ravenslee came where the road led between tall trees to smooth green lawns beyond which was the gleam of water and so at last to the house he sought. Now beside this house, separated by a wide stretch of lawn, was a small wood and, lured by its grateful shade, he turned aside into this wood and began pushing his way through the dense undergrowth, which presently thinned to form a small clearing, roofed and shut in by leaves and full of a tender green light. Here he paused, and espying a fallen tree hard by, sat himself down and began to fill his pipe. And now, remembering his shabby person, he felt disinclined to go up to the house and demand to see Miss Chesterton. Yet see her he would but how ? He was frowning over this problem when it was resolved for him quite unexpectedly; roused by the sound of a snapping twig, he glanced up and Hermione was before him. She was coming down a narrow path that wound amid the leaves, and because she wore no hat, the sunlight, filtering through the branches, made a glory of her hair as she passed. Her head was bowed, and she walked very slowly as one in thought; she had brought sewing with her, but for once her busy hands were idle, and, as he looked upon her beauty, scarce breathing, he saw again that look of wistful sadness. As he rose, she glanced up, and seeing him, stood ut terly still. Thus for a long moment they gazed upon each other, then, even as he hastened to her, she came to him on swift, light feet, and, flushing, tremulous, quick-breath ing, gave herself into his arms. " Oh, Hermione, my beloved ! " he murmured, his voice tense and eager, " did n't I say enough, last time? Don't you know I love you worship you hunger and yearn for you ? I want you with every breath I draw. When will you be my wife oh, when will you marry me, Hermione?" 228 The Definite Object For answer she reached up her arms, sudden, passionate arms that clung about him close and strong ; so they stood thus, heart beating to heart, thrilling at each other's near ness yet drawing ever closer until, lifting her head, she gave her lips to his. " Oh, my dear, my dear," she whispered, " is it right to love you so, I wonder? I never thought it could be like this. It frightens me sometimes, because my love is so great and strong and I so powerless. Is it right? I Oh ! " she broke off breathlessly, " how can I speak if if you " "Kiss you so much?" he ended, "you can't speak, so don't speak, my Hermione ! " But now, all at once, he started and glanced up among the leaves above them. " Dear," she whispered, " what is it? " " That tapping sound," he answered, still gazing upward. " It 's only the woodpecker." " Why, of course ! " he laughed. " It 's strange, but I dreamed a scene like this yes, the great tree yonder, and you in my arms though it seemed so impossible then, and " But uttering a sudden, low cry of alarm, Hermione broke from his clasp and fled from him along the leafy path while he stared after her, lost in amazement; then he ran also and caught her upon the edge of the little wood. " What frightened you, Hermione who was it ? " "I I thought I saw some one crouching behind a bush watching us ! " " Not M'Ginnis ? " he demanded, fierce-eyed. " No no, I 'm sure it was n't ! " " I '11 go and look," said Ravenslee, clenching his fists. But now, as he turned away, two round arms were about him again, soft and compelling, and she was looking up at him, all shy-eyed, passionate tenderness ; and before the revelation in that look, he forgot all else in the world. " Hermione when will you marry me? " Mention of a Ring 229 Now, softened by distance, there floated to them the mellow booming of a gong. " That means I must go ! " she sighed. " Hermione when will you marry me ? " " Good-by good-by I must run ! " But his long arms only clasped her the closer. " Hermione, when will you be my wife? " " Oh, please, please let me go ; if I 'm late " " When, Hermione ? " " When I come home, if you really want me Oh, now my hair *s all coming down, I know. Good-by ! " Reluctantly he loosed her and stood to watch until, reaching the verandah of the house, she paused to glance back to where he stood among the leaves ere she vanished between the screen doors. Then Ravenslee turned, and re membering her sudden fright, looked sharply about him, even pausing, now and then, to peer behind bush and thicket ; but this time he did not think to glance upward, and thus failed to see the round eyes that watched him from amid the leaves of the great tree. So he came again to the dusty highway and strode along, throbbing with life and the lust of life, revelling in the glory of earth and sky and quite unconscious of the small, furtive figure that flitted after him far behind. And it was not until he sat in the ferryboat that he remembered he had forgotten to give her the ring, after all. CHAPTER XXVII MRS. TRAPES UPON THE MILLENNIUM MULLIGAN'S was in a ferment. Bare-armed women talked in every doorway; they talked from open windows, they talked leaning over banisters, they congregated on land ings and in passageways but everywhere they talked; while men and youths newly returned from work, lunch- can and basket in hand, listened in wide-eyed astonish ment, shook increaulous heads, puffed thoughtfully at pipes or cigarettes, and questioned in guttural wonderment. But Ravenslee, lost in his own happy thoughts, sped up the stairs all unheeding, abstractedly returning such neigh bourly salutes as he happened to notice; reaching his lofty habitation in due course he let himself in, and was in the act of filling his pipe when Mrs. Trapes appeared. In one hand she grasped a meat skewer and in the other an open testament, and it was to be noted that her bright eyes, usually so keen and steady, roved here and there, from pink rug to green and yellow tablecloth, thence to the parrot-owl, and at last to her lodger. Finally she spoke. " Mr. Geoffrey, are ye saved ? " she demanded in awe struck tones. " Why, really, Mrs. Trapes, I " " Because, Mr. Geoffrey, this day it behooveth us all t' think of our souls an' th' hereafter, I reckon." " Souls ? " said Ravenslee, staring in his turn. " Fire," she continued, shaking portentous head, " fire I 'm prepared for ; a earthquake I could endoor ; battle, murder, and sudden death I could abide; poverty is me The Millennium 231 lot, Mr. Geoffrey, an' hardship is me portion, an' for all sich am I dooly prepared, sich things bein' nacheral; but f er this well, there ! " " What is the matter, Mrs. Trapes? " " Matter, Mr. Geoffrey ? Well, the millenyum 's at hand, that 's all the lion is about t' lay down with th' lamb, tigers has lost their taste fer blood, an' snakes an' serpints has shed their vennymous fangs ! Mr. Geoffrey the day is at hand beware ! " " What in the world ' began Ravenslee, but Mrs. Trapes stayed him with uplifted skewer, and drew from the mysterious recesses of her apron a folded circular which she proceeded to spread open and from which she read in a hollow voice as follows: NOTICE AUGUST 1, 1910. On and after the above date, all tenants soever resid ing within the tenement house known as Mulligan's are warned that all rents will be reduced by fifty per cent. BY ORDER. " Now what," said Mrs. Trapes, refolding the circular very reverently and shutting it into the testament, "jest what d'ye think o' that?" " Quite a er remarkable document, Mrs. Trapes ! " "Remarkable?" snorted Mrs. Trapes. "Yes," said Ravenslee, beginning to fill his pipe, " extraordinary, most extraordinary er very much so " "Extraordinary? Mr. Geoffrey, is that all you got t' say about it?" And Mrs. Trapes sniffed loudly. " Well, what more should I say? " " Why, ain't it th' wonder o* th' whole round world ? Ain't it th' merry cle of all time? " " Certainly ! Not a doubt of it ! " he agreed. " By the way, what do you happen to have for supper? You see I 've been " 232 The Definite Object " Supper? " " I 'm quite hungry I 'm always hungry lately and " "Hungry! " ejaculated Mrs. Trapes, rolling her eyes, " here I tell him of wonders an' omens beyond pore hum- ing understandin', an' he 's hungry ! Lord, ain't that jest like a man! A man's soul, if a man has a soul, lays in his stummick. Hungry! But you shall be fed prompt, Mr. Geoffrey. How '11 b'iled salmon an' peas soot?" " Splendidly ! And I think " " ' On and after,' " said Mrs. Trapes, slowly and dreamily, " ' on and after the above date, all tenants soever residin' I 've learned it by heart, Mr. Geoffrey. Then it goes on to say, ' within the tennyment house known as Mul ligan's are warned ' hum ! I wonder why ' warned ' ? ' are warned that all rents will be re-dooced by fifty per cent ! ' Fifty per cent ! " she repeated in a dreamy rap ture, " which is jest half, y' see. An', Mr. Geoffrey, that 's jest what 's got me plumb scared it 's all so unnacheral. I 've heard o' rents bein' rose constant, but who ever heard of 'em bein' took down before? Well, well! My land! Well, well!" With which remark Mrs. Trapes went about her house hold duties, leaving Ravenslee to lounge and smoke and dream blissfully of Hermione. " Y' see," said Mrs. Trapes, wandering in with a plate, " it '11 make things s' much easier for all of us ; we shall begin t' feel almost rich some of us. ' Are warned that all rents will be re-dooced by fifty per cent.' Well, well ! " and she wandered out again. But presently she was back once more, this time with the tablecloth, which she proceeded to spread, though still lost in dreamy abstraction. " At first I could n't an' I would n't believe it, Mr. Geof frey no, sir ! " she continued in the same rapt voice. *' But every one 's got a notice same as mine, so I guess it must be true don't ye think ? " " Not a doubt of it ! " answered Ravenslee. The Millennium 233 "But th' burnin' question as I asks myself is who? It 's signed ' By Order ', y' see, well whose? One sure thing, it ain't Mulligan." " But he owns the place, does n't he? " " He did, Mr. Geoffrey, an' that 's what worries me continual. What I demands is who now? " " Echo, Mrs. Trapes, methinks doth answer * Who? ' By the way, it was er salmon arid green peas I think you " " My land, that bit o' salmon '11 bile itself t' rags ! " and incontinent she vanished. However, in due time Ravenslee sat down to as tasty a supper as might be and did ample justice to it, while Mrs. Trapes once more read aloud for his edification from the wondrous circular, and was again propounding the vexed and burning question of " who " when she was interrupted by a knocking without, and going to the door, presently returned with little Mrs. Bowker, in whose tired eyes shone an unusual light, and whose faded voice held a strange note of gladness. " Good evenin', Mr. Geoffrey ! " said she, bobbing him a curtsey as he rose to greet her, " my Hazel sends you her love an* a kiss for them last candies an' thank ye for all th' medicine but oh, Mr. Geoffrey, an' you, Ann Trapes, you '11 never guess what 's brought me. I 've come t' wish ye good-by, we 're oh, Ann, we 're goin' at last ! " " Goin' ! " exclaimed Mrs. Trapes, clutching at her elbows, " y' never mean as you 're leavin' Mulligan's now the rent 's been took down re-dooced fifty per cent. by order? " " That 's just what I 'm tellin' ye oh, Ann, ain't it just heavenly ! " " Heavenly ! " repeated Mrs. Trapes, and sank into a chair. " Yes, heavenly t' see th' trees an' flowers again t' live among them, Ann." " Samanthy Bowker what do you mean?" "Why, Ann, my Tom's had a gardener's job offered 234 The Definite Object him at a gentleman's mansion in the country. Tom went after it t'day an' got it. Fifteen dollars a week an' a cottage free, Ann ! Hazel 's just crazy with joy an* so 'm I ! " Mrs. Trapes fanned herself feebly with her apron. " All I can say is," said she faintly, " if the world don't come to an end soon I shall. A gardener's j ob ! A cot tage in th' country ! Why, that 's what you 've been hun- gerin' for, you an' Bowker, ever since I 've known ye. And to-day it 's come ! An' to-day the rent 's re-dooced itself fifty per cent, by order oh, dear land o' my fathers ! When d' ye go ? " " T'morrow mornin', Ann. Hazel '11 sure grow a strong, well girl in th' country doctor said so last week you heard him, Mr. Geoffrey, did n't you? " " I did, Mrs. Bowker." " And my Tom 's that excited he could n't eat no supper oh, an' have ye seen in t'night's paper, Ann, about Mulligan's?" " No what now? " enquired Mrs. Trapes, as though on the verge of collapsing. " Well, read that right there ! " and unfolding an evening paper, Mrs. Bowker pointed to a paragraph tucked away into a corner, and, drawing a deep breath, Mrs. Trapes read aloud as follows: It is understood that Geoffrey Ravenslee, the well- known sportsman and millionaire, winner of last year's International Automobile race and holder of the world's long-distance speed record, has lately paid a record price in a real estate deal. A certain tenement building off Tenth Avenue has been purchased by him, the cost of which, it is rumoured, was fabulous. " Fab'lous ! " repeated Mrs. Trapes, and sniffed. " Well, I never had no use fer millionaires, anyway they 're generally fools or rogues this one 's a fool sure any one is as would give much fer a place like Mulli- The Millennium 235 gan's an' yet, come t' think of it again ' are warned as all rents will be re-dooced fifty per cent, by order ' yes, come t' think of it again, what I say is God bless this millionaire, an' whatever he is, Ann Angelina Trapes is sure goin' t' mention him before th' Throne this night." CHAPTER XXVIII WHICH SHOULD HAVE RELATED DETAILS OF A WEDDING " IT 's all very, very wonderful, Ann, dear ! But then everything is so wonderful just lately! " " Meanin' what, Hermy ? " Hermione was darning one of Spike's much-mended socks, while Mrs. Trapes sat drinking tea. " Meanin' jest what is wonderful, my dear, and since when?" she persisted. " Oh everything, Ann ! " " Yes, you said everything before. S'pose you tell me jest the one thing as you find so wonderful? An' why an' wherefore that blush? " " Oh, Ann Ann, dear ! " Down went sock and needle and, falling on her knees, Hermione clasped her arms about Mrs. Trapes and hid her glowing face in her lap. " Ann, dear, I 'm so happy ! " she sighed her speech a little muffled by reason of the voluminous folds of Mrs. Trapes's snowy apron. " Happy? " said Mrs. Trapes, setting down her teacup to fondle and stroke that shapely head, " sich happiness ain't all because of the rent bein' re-dooced, by order, I reckon is it ? " " Dear Ann," said Hermione, her face still hidden, " can't you guess? " " No, my dear," answered Mrs. Trapes, her harsh tones wonderfully soft, " I don't have to I guessed days ago. D' ye love him, Hermy? " " Love him ! " repeated Hermione, and said no more, nor did she lift her bowed head, but feeling the quick, strong pressure of those soft, embracing arms, the quiver of that Details of a Wedding 237 girlish body, Mrs. Trapes smiled, and stooping, kissed . Hermione's shining hair. " When did he speak, ray dear ? " " Last Monday, Ann." " Did he say much? " " He asked me to marry him." " Spoke of marriage, eh? Did he happen t 5 mention th' word wife? " " Oh, many times, Ann." " Good f'r him ! An' when 's it t' be? " " Oh, Ann, dear, I I 'm afraid it 's to-night ! " " T'night? My land, he 's sure some hasty! " " And so so masterful, Ann ! " " Well, y' sure need a master. But t'night land sakes ! " " He wrote and told me he would fix things so he could marry me to-night, Ann ! " " Then he 's sure out fixin' 'em right now. Lord, Hermy, why d' ye tremble, girl y' sure love him, don't ye? " " So much, Ann, so very much and yet " "You ain't scared of him, are ye? " " No and yet, I I think I am a little." " But you '11 marry him, all the same ? " " Yes." " An' t'night? " " Yes. But Ann, dear, when he comes in I want you to keep him with you as long as you can will you ? " " Why, sure I '11 keep him, jest as long as he '11 let me ! Lord, t' think as my little Hermy '11 be a married woman this night ! " " And oh, Ann, I have n't any trousseau " " Shucks ! You don't need none. You 're best as you are. You won't need no fluffs an' frills, I reckon." " But, Ann dear," said Hermione, lifting her head and shaking it ruefully, " I have nothing ! And my best dress I made it in such a hurry, you remember it needs pressing and " 238 The Definite Object " He ain't rnarryin' you fer your clo'es, Hermy no, sir ! It 's you he wants an' oh, shucks ! What do clo'es matter t' you, anyway? You was meant to be one o' them nymphs an' goddesses as went about clad well, airy. You 'd ha' done fine with them soft arms an' shoul ders an' " " But I 'm not a goddess., Ann, I 'm only poor Hermy Chesterton with a hole in one stocking and the lace on her petticoat torn, and her other things well, look here ! " and up whirled gown and petticoat, " see what a state they 're in look, Ann ! " " My dear, I am ! " nodded Mrs. Trapes over her tea cup, " an' what I say is, it don't matter a row o' pins if a stockin' 's got a bit of a hole in it if that stockin' 's on sich a leg as that ! An' as fer " " But," sighed Hermione, " don't you understand " " My dear, I do ! I was a married woman once, mind. An' I tell you ' beauty doth lie in the eye o' the beholder ', my dear, an' the two eyes as is a-goin' t' behold you this night is goin' t' behold so much beauty as they won't be hold nothin' else." " But he loves dainty things, I 'm sure." " Well, ain't he gettin' a dainty thing? Ain't he gettin' th' daintiest, sweetest, loveliest " Here Mrs. Trapes set down her cup again to clasp Hermione in her arms. " Do you think he '11 understand, Ann ? " " He '11 be a fool if he does n't ! " " And make allowances ? He knows how poor we are and how busy I have to be." " He does so, my dear. But, if it 's goin' t' comfort you any, there 's that corset cover you made me last Christmas. I ain't never wore it; I ain't dared to with all them trimmin's an' lace insertion, an' me s' bony here an' there. You can have it an' willin', my dear, an' then there 's them " " Ann, you dear thing, as if I would ! " " Why not ? That corset cover 's a dream ! An* then there 's them " Details of a Wedding 239 " Dear, I could n't I would n't ! No, I '11 go to him just as I am he shall marry me just like I am " " An' that 's a goddess ! " nodded Mrs. Trapes, " yes, a young goddess only, with more clo'es on, o' course. I 'm glad as he 's quit peanuts ; peanut men don't kind o' jibe in with goddesses." " Ann," said Hermione, sitting back on her heels, " I think of him a great deal, of course, and just lately I 've begun to wonder " " My dear," said Mrs. Trapes, blowing her tea, " so do I ! I been wonderin' ever since he walked into my flat, cool as I don't know what, an', my dear, when I sets me mind t' wonderment, conclusions arrive constant ! I '11 tell ye what I think. First, he ain't s' poor as he seems he wears silk socks, my dear. Second, he 's been nurtured tender he cleans them white teeth night an' morn. Third, he ain't done no toil-an'-spinnin' act take heed t' his hands, my dear. He 's soft-spoke but he 's master ful. He 's young, but he 's seen a lot. He ain't easy t' rile, but when he is my land ! He don't say a lot, an' he don't seem t' do much, an' yet he don't seem t' starve none. Result he may be anything ! " "Anything? Ann, dear!" " Anything ! " repeated Mrs. Trapes. " An' havin' studied him good an' heeded him careful, I now conclood he 's jest the thing you need, my dear." " Then you like him, Ann you trust him ? " " I sure do." " Oh, you dear dear dear thing ! " And once again Mrs. Trapes was clasped in those vigorous young arms and kissed with every " dear." " Though, mind you," said Mrs. Trapes, pushing cup and saucer out of harm's way, " though, mind you, he 's a mystery I ain't found out yet. D' ye s'pose he made any money out o' them blessed peanuts not him ! Mrs. Smalley, as lives down along 'Leventh, she told me as she 's seen him givin' 'em away by the bagful t' all the children down her way repeated ! " 240 The Definite Object " How sweet of him ! " said Hermione, her red mouth all tender curves. "Yes, but how did he live? How does he? How will he?" " I don't know, dear ; I only know I would trust him always always ! " And sitting back, chin in hand, Her mione fell again to happy thought. " When he give up the nuts," pursued Mrs. Trapes, draining the teapot and sighing, " he tells me some fool tale of makin' a deal in real estate, an' I ha, real es tate!" Mrs. Trapes put down the teapot with a jerk. " A deal in real estate ! " she repeated, and thereafter fell to such unintelligible mutterings as " Record price ! Fab'- lous ! No, it could n't be ! An' yet silk socks ! ' On an' after above date all tenants soever residin' will be re-dooced by fifty per cent ! ' " Suddenly Mrs. Trapes sat bolt upright. " My land ! " she ej aculated, " oh, dear land o' my fathers if sech could be ! " " Why, Ann," exclaimed Hermione, roused from her reverie, " whatever is the matter? " " My dear," said Mrs. Trapes, laying gentle hand on Hermione's blooming cheek, " nothin' nothin' 't all ! I 'm jest go in' over in my mind sich small matters as silk socks an' toothbrushes, that 's all." "But you do mean something you always do." " Well if I do this time, my dear, I 'm crazy but the Bowkers have gone, mind that! An' him s' fond o' little Hazel ! " Here Mrs. Trapes nodded almost triumphantly. " The Bowkers ? Why, yes I 've been wondering " " I guess you know he went t' O'Rourke's an' give that M'Ginnis the thrashin' of his dirty life?" said Mrs. Trapes rather hastily. " Nigh killed the loafer, Spider Connolly told me." " He 's so strong," said Hermione softly, her eyes shin ing. " But, Ann, what did you mean about about tooth brushes and socks? " " Mean ? Why, socks an' toothbrushes, o' course. An' Details of a Wedding 241 my land ! here 's me guzzlin' tea, an' over in my kitchen th' finest shin o' beef you ever saw a-b'ilin' f'r his supper. But now the question as burns is, if a married man this night, will he be here t' eat? An' if him then you? An' if man an' wife suppin' in my parlour where will ye sleep ? " "I oh, Ann I don't know. His letter just said that when I came home it would be our wedding night ! " " Why, then it sure will be. An' f'r a weddin' supper, y' could n't have nothin' better 'n shin o' beef. I '11 go an' watch over that stoo with care unfailin', my dear; believe me, that stoo 's goin' t' be a stoo as is a stoo ! What, half after five? Land sakes, how time flies! " CHAPTER XXIX IN WHICH HERMIONE MAKES A FATEFUL DECISION WHEN Mrs. Trapes was gone, Hermione stood a long time to look at herself in her little mirror, viewing and examining each feature of her lovely, intent face more earnestly than she had ever done before; and sometimes she smiled, and sometimes she frowned, and all her thought was: " Shall I make him happy, I wonder? Can I be all he wants all he thinks I am ? " So, after some while, she combed and brushed out her glorious hair, shyly glad because of its length and splen dour; and, having crowned her shapely head with it, viewed the effect with cold, hypercritical eyes. " Can I, oh, can I ever be all he wants all he thinks I am?" And then she proceeded to dress ; the holey stockings were replaced by others that had seen less service; the worn frills and laces were changed for others less thread bare. This done, Hermione, with many supple twists, wriggled dexterously into her best dress, pausing now and then to sigh mournfully and grieve over its many defi ciencies and shortcomings, defects which only feminine eyes, so coldly critical, might hope to behold. Scarcely was all this accomplished when she heard a soft knock at the outer door, and at the sound her heart leapt ; she flushed and paled and stood a moment striving to stay the quick, heavy throbbing within her bosom ; then breathlessly she hastened along the passage and, opening the door with trembling hands, beheld Bud M'Ginnis. While she stared, dumb and amazed, he entered and, clos ing the door, leaned his broad back against it. A Fateful Decision 243 " Goin' away, Hermy ? " he enquired softly, looking her over with his slow gaze. " Yes." "Goin' far, Hermy?" I don't know." *' Goin' alone, Hermy? " " Why are you here? What do you want? " " T' save ye from hell ! " he answered, his voice ris ing loud and harsh on the last word. " Oh, I know," he went on fiercely, " I know why you 're all dolled up in your best. I know as you mean t' go away to-night with him. But you ain't goin', girl you ain't." " To-night," she said gently, " is my wedding night." M'Ginnis lifted a hand and wrenched at the silken neckerchief he wore as though it choked him. " No ! " he cried, " you ain't a-goin' t' get no wedding, Hermy ; he don't mean t' give ye a square deal. He 's foolin' ye foolin' ye, girl ! Oh," said he through shut teeth, " ye thought I was safe out o' the way, I guess. You ought t' known better ; th' p'lice could n't hold me, they never will. Anyway, I 've kept tabs on ye I know as you 've been meeting him in a wood ! I know," here M'Ginnis seemed to choke again, " I know of you an' him kissin' an' cuddlin' oh, I 've kept tabs on ye " " Yes," she said gently, " I saw your spy at work." " But y' can't deny it. Y' don't deny it ! Say, what kind o' girl are you? " " The kind that does n't fear men like you." " But y' can't deny meetin' him," he repeated, his hoarse voice quivering ; " you don't deny kissin' him in a wood ! Only deny it, Hermy, only say you did n't, an' I '11 choke th' life out of any guy as says you did only deny it, Hermy " " But I don't want to deny it. If your spy had ears he can tell you that we are going to be married. Now go." Once more M'Ginnis reached up to his throat and wrenched off the neckerchief altogether. " Married ! " he cried, " an' t' him ! He 's foolia' ye, 244 The Definite Object Hermy, by God he is ! Girl, I 'm tellin' ye straight an* true he '11 never marry ye. His kind don't marry Tenth Av'ner girls Nooport an' Fifth Av'ner 's a good ways from Hell's Kitchen an' Tenth Av'ner, an' they can't ever come t'gether, I reckon." " Ah ! " sighed she, falling back a step, " what do you mean? " " Why, I mean," said M'Ginnis, twisting the necker chief in his powerful hands much as if it had been the neck of some enemy, " I mean as this guy as comes here bluffin' about bein' down an' out, this guy as plays at sellin' pea nuts is Geoffrey Ravenslee, the millionaire." " But he is Arthur's friend ! " " Friend nothin' ! " said he, wringing and wrenching at the neckerchief, " I guess you ain't found out how th' Kid an' him came t' meet, eh? Well, I '11 tell ye listen ! Your brother broke in to this millionaire's swell house through the winder an' this millionaire caught him." " Oh," said she, smiling in bitter scorn, " what a clumsy liar you are, Bud M'Ginnis ! " " No," he cried eagerly, " no, I ain't tellin' ye no lies ; it 's God's own truth I 'm givin' ye." "No, you're just a liar, Bud M'Ginnis:" and she would have turned from him, but his savage grip stayed her. " A liar, am I ? " he cried. " Why, then, you 're sister to a crook, see ! Your brother 's a thief ! a crook ! You ain't got much t' be s' proud over " " Let me go ! " " Listen ! Your brother got into this guy's house t' steal, and this millionaire guy caught him in the act ! An' havin' nothin' better t' do, he makes young Spike bring him down here just t' see th' kind o' folks as lives in Hell's Kitchen, tee ? Then he meets you you look kind o' good t' him, so he says t' th' Kid, * Look here,' he says, ' you help me game along with y'r sister, an' we '11 call it quits ' " Breaking from his bold, Hermione entered the little A Fateful Decision 245 parlour, and sinking down beside the table, crouched there, hiding her face, while M'Ginnis, leaning in the doorway, watched her, his strong hands twisting and wrenching at the neckerchief. " Ah, leave me now ! " she pleaded, " you 've done enough, so go now go ! " " Oh, I '11 go. I come here t' put ye wise an' I have ! You 're on to it all now, I guess. Nooport and Fifth Av'ner 's a good ways from Hell's Kitchen and Tenth Av'ner, an' they can't never come together. I guess there 's sure some difference between this swell guy with all his millions an' a Tenth Av'ner girl as is a thief's sis ter " Slowly Hermione lifted her head and looked up at him, and M'Ginnis saw that in her face which struck him mute ; the neckerchief fell from his nerveless fingers and lay there all unheeded. " Hermione," he muttered, "I girl, are ye sick? " " Go ! " she whispered, " go ! " And turning about, M'Ginnis stumbled out of the place and left her alone. For a long time she sat there, motion less and crouched above the table, staring blindly before her, and in her eyes an agony beyond tears, heedless of the flight of time, conscious only of a pain sharper than flesh can know. Suddenly a key was thrust in the lock of the outer door, footsteps sounded along the passage accompanied by a merry whistling, and Spike appeared. " Hello, Hermy, ain't tea ready yet? " he enquired, tossing aside his straw hat and opening a newspaper he carried, " say, the Giants are sure playin' great ball this season what, are ye asleep?" " No, dear ! " " Why, Hermy," he exclaimed, dropping the paper and clasping an arm about her, " Oh, Hermy what is it ? " "Oh, boy dear, dear boy you didn't, did you?" she cried feverishly. " You are a little wild sometimes, dear, just a little but you are good and honour able, are n't you ? " 24-6 The Definite Object " Why, yes, Hermy I I try t' be," he answered un easily ; " but I don't know what you mean." " You 're not a thief, af e you ? You 're not a burglar ? You never broke into any one's house. I know you did n't, but tell me you did n't tell me you did n't ! " " No no, o' course not," stammered Spike and, avert ing his head, tried to draw away, but she clung to him all the closer. " Boy boy dear," she whispered breathlessly, " oh, boy, look at me ! " But seeing he kept his face still turned from her, she set a hand to his cheek and very gently forced him to meet her look. For a long moment she gazed thus saw how his eyes quailed, saw how his cheek blanched, and as he cowered away, she rose slowly to her feet, and into her look came a growing horror; beholding which Spike cov ered his face and shrank away from her. " Oh, boy " her voice had sunk to a whisper now, *' oh, boy say you did n't ! " " Hermy I can't " "Can't?" "It's it's all true. Yes, I did! Oh, Hermy, forgive me." "Tell me!" " Oh, forgive me, Hermy, forgive me ! " he cried, reach ing out and trying to catch her hand. " Yes, I '11 tell ye. I I got in through th' winder, an' Geoff caught me. But he let me go again he said he 'd never tell nobody if ah, don't look at me like that ! " "If what?" " If I 'd bring him back here with me Hermy, don't ! Your eyes hurt me don't look at me that way." " So it is all true ! " " Oh, forgive me, forgive me ! " he pleaded, throwing himself on his knees before her and writhing in the anguish of remorse. " They doped me, Hermy, I did n't know what I was doin' they did n't give me no time t' think. Oh, forgive me, Hermy; Geoff forgave me, an' you must A Fateful Decision 247 oh, God, you must, Hermy ! " Again he sought to reach her hand, but now it was she who shrank away. " I loved you so I loved you so ! " she said dully. " Hermy," he cried, catching hold of her dress, " for give me just this once, for God's sake! I ain't got no body in the world but you forgive me ! " And now his pleading was broken by fierce sobs, and he sought to hide his tear-stained face in the folds of her dress, but she drew it quickly from him, shrinking away almost as if she feared him. " A thief ! " she whispered, " oh, God my brother a thief ! I don't seem able to think. Go away go away, I must be alone ! " " Hermy, dear, I swear oh, I swear I '11 " " Go away ! " " Oh, Hermy, I did n't think you 'd ever turn away from me." " Go away ! " " Oh, Hermy won't you listen? " " I can't ! Not now. Go away." Sobbing, the boy got to his feet, and taking his hat, crossed slow-footed to the door; there he paused to look back at her, but her staring eyes gazed through him and, turning hopelessly away, he brushed his sleeve across his cheek and, treading slow and heavily along the passage, was gone. Dry-eyed she stood awhile, then sank again beside the table and crouched there with face bowed between out stretched arms, and hands tight clenched. Evening be gan to fall, but still she sat huddled there, motionless, and uttering no sound, and still her eyes were tearless. At last she stirred, conscious of a quick, firm step near by, and, thrilling to that sound, rose and stood with her back to the fading light as Ravenslee entered. " Dear," said he, tender and eager, " I found the door open did you leave it for me ? Why, Hermione oh, my love, what is it? " and he would have caught her to 248 The Definite Object him, but she held him away and Questioned him, quick- breathing: >w " " You are Geoffrey Ravenslee the millionaire are n't you ? " " Why er I I 'm afraid I am," he stammered. " I 'm sorry you found it out so soon, dearest ; I wanted to tell you after we " " Oh, why did n't you tell me before why did n't you ? No please wait ! You you caught my brother, did n't you ? " she went on breathlessly ; " he had broken in was burgling your house, was n't he was n't he? " " How in the world," began Ravenslee, flinching, " who told " " He broke into your house to steal, did n't he didn't he?" " But, good heavens that was all forgotten and done with long ago ! They 'd made the poor chap drunk he did n't know what he was doing it 's all forgotten long ago! Dear heart, why are you so pale? God, Her- mione nothing can alter our love ! " " No, nothing can alter our love," she repeated in the same dull tones. " Oh, no, nothing can ever alter that ; even though you deceived me I shall always love you, I can't help it. And just because I do love you so, and because I am a thief's sister, I oh, I can never be your wife I could n't, could I? " " By God, Hermione, but you shall ! " As he spoke he caught her in his arms, passionate arms that drew and held her close. Very still and unresisting she lay in his embrace, uttering no word ; and stooping, he kissed her fiercely her lips, her eyes, her white throat, her hair, and, silent still, she yielded herself to his caresses. " You are mine, Hermione, mine always and forever ! You are the one woman I long for the wife nature in tended for me ! You are mine, Hermione ! " Very softly she answered, her eyes closed : " I felt at the first there was a gulf dividing us and A Fateful Decision 249 now this gulf is wid' r so wide it can never be crossed by either of us. Youi orld is not my world, after all you are Geoffrey Ravenslee and I am only what I am. Newport and Fifth Avenue are a long way from Hell's Kitchen and Tenth Avenue, and they can never never come together. And I am a thief's sister, so please, please loose me oh, have mercy and let me go." His arms fell from her and, shivering, she sank beside the table, and the pale agony of her face smote him. " But you love me, Hermione? " he pleaded. " If I had only known," she sighed, " I might not have learned to love you quite so much ! If I had only known ! " Her voice was soft and low, her blue eyes wide and tearless, and because of this, he trembled. " Hermione," said he gently, " all this week I have been planning for you and Arthur. I have been dreaming of our life together, yours and mine, a life so big, so won derful, so full of happiness that I trembled, sometimes, dreading it was only a dream. Dear, the gates of our paradise are open; will you shut me out? Must I go back to my loneliness ? " " I shall be lonely, too ! " she murmured brokenly. " But better, oh, far better loneliness than that some day " she paused, her lips quivering. " Some day, Hermione? " " You should find that you had married not only a scrubwoman but the sister of a thief ! " Suddenly she sprang to her feet, her clinging arms held him to her bosom and, drawing down his head, she pressed her mouth to his; holding him thus, she spoke, her voice low and quick and passionate: " Oh, my love, my love ! I do love you with every thought, with every part of me so much, so very much that my heart is breaking, I think. But, dearest, my love is such that I would be everything fair and beautiful for you, everything proud and good and noble for you if I could. But I am only Hermy Chesterton, a Tenth Avenue girl, and my brother So I 'm going to send you 250 The Definite Object away, back to your own world, back to your own kind because because I do love you so ! Ah, God, never doubt my love, but you must go " *' Never, Hermione, never ! " " You must ! You will, I know, because your love is a big, generous love because you are chivalrous and strong and gentle because I beg and implore you if you have any pity for me go " "But why?- Why?" " Oh, must I tell you that can't you understand? " " Why must I go, Hermione ? " " Because," she murmured, her yearning arms close about him, her face close hidden against his breast, " be cause I '11 never marry you now but I love you love you so much that I 'm afraid ah, not of you. So, I must be alone quite alone to fight my battle. And now now that I 've shown you all my heart, told you all my weakness, you'll go for my sake just for my sake won't you ? " " Yes I '11 go ! " he answered slowly. " Away from here to-night ? " " Yes," he answered hoarsely, " yes ! " Then Hermione fell suddenly before him on her knees, and, before he could stay her, had caught his hands, kiss ing them, wetting them with her tears, and pressing them passionately to her bosom. " I knew," she cried, " I knew that you were strong and gentle and good. Good-by oh, my love good-by ! " " Hermione," said he, kissing her bowed head, " oh, my Hermione, I love you with a love that will die only when I do. I want you, and I '11 never lose hope of winning you some day, never give up my determination to marry you never, so help me God ! " Then swiftly he turned away but, reaching the door, stooped and picked up M'Ginnis's neckerchief and, recog nising it, crumpled it in fierce hand; so, with it clenched in griping fingers, he hurried away and left her there upon her knees. CHAPTER XXX HOW GEOFFREY RAVENSLEE DEPARTED FROM HELI/S KITCHEN "WHAT, back again already, Mr. Geoffrey?" exclaimed Mrs. Trapes, poking her head around the kitchen door, as Ravenslee entered the flat, "back so soon?" " Only for a minute, Mrs. Trapes." " Supper '11 be ready soon your wedding supper, eh, Mr. Geoffrey? You '11 have it here with me, you an' Hermy, o' course! Smells kind o' good, don't it? " " Delicious, Mrs. Trapes ! " " Delicious is the word, Mr. Geoffrey stooed beef with carrots " " And onions, Mrs. Trapes onions, I 'm sure? " " Well, I '11 not deny a onion here an' there, Mr. Geof frey a stoo needs 'em." " Ah, I knew it ! " sighed Ravenslee. " I grieve that I shan't be able to eat it." " Not eat what, you ? Say, y' ain't sick, are you ? " " Not in body, Mrs. Trapes." " Then why no stoo? " " Because I shan't be here. I 'm going, Mrs. Trapes I 'm leaving Mulligan's now for good " " Leavin' y ' mean with Hermy ? " " No alone. Good-by, Mrs. Trapes ! " " My land ! " gasped Mrs. Trapes, " what you tellin* me? " " Good-by, Mrs. Trapes ! " "But why? Oh, dear Lord, what is it? Who " " I want to thank you for all your kindness. Good- bj!" 252 The Definite Object As one in a dream Mrs. Trapes extended a limp hand and stood wide of eye and pale of cheek to watch him go ; and as he descended the stairs, her look of helpless, pained surprise went with him. Swiftly he strode across that familiar court, shoulders squared, chin outthrust, and eyes that glowed ominously in his pale face beneath fierce- scowling brows. As he turned into Tenth Avenue there met him the Spider. " What you chasin' this time, bo ? " he enquired. " M'Ginnis." " Then you 're sure chasin' trouble." " That 's what I want. D' you know where he is ? " " Sure I do, but " The Spider paused, drawing in his breath slowly, as with experienced gaze he viewed Ravenslee's pale, set face the delicate nostrils wide and quivering, the relentless mouth and burning eyes and all the repressed ferocity of him and, drawing back a step, the Spider shook his head. "Bo," said he, "that's jest what I ain't goin' t' tell ye." " Very well, I must find him." " Don't ! " said the Spider, walking on beside him, " if I did n't think a whole lot o' ye, I 'd lead ye t' him." " Oh I shall find him, if it takes me all night." " An' if ye do, it '11 be murder, I 'm dead sure ' " Murder? " said Ravenslee with a flash of white teeth. " Well, I shall certainly kill him this time ! " "Is it th' Kid again?" "No oh, no, it's just for my own satisfaction and pleasure." "You ain't heeled, are ye? This ain't goin' t' be no gun-play eh ? " " No, I have n't a gun, but I 've brought his neckerchief." " Sufferin' Pete ! " murmured the Spider in a strangely awed voice, and walked on in silence, chewing viciously. " Bo," said he at last, " I 'm thinkin' th' kindest thing I could do would be t' slip one over t' your point while How Geoffrey Departed 253 you was n't lookin', an' puttin' you t' sleep a bit you want soothin' ! Bud '11 be too big fer you or any other guy t' tackle now ; ye see, his stock 's rose th' Noo Jersey p'lice was n't strong enough t' hold him " " That 's where I 'm different I can ! " said Ravens- lee, opening and shutting his right hand convulsively. " Yes, I '11 hold him till his last kick and after ! " " My God ! " exclaimed the Spider softly, and, behold ing that clutching right hand, he edged away. " Where you goin' t' look fer him? " he enquired after a while. " O'Rourke's ! " " Why not try Raynor's first? " and he nodded to a saloon on the adjacent corner. " Because I 'm not a fool." " Bo, I ain't s' sure o' that ! O'Rourke's '11 be full o' tough guys t'night ; all th' bunch '11 be there, an' if Bud tips 'em th' say-so, they '11 snuff your light out quicker 'n winkin'." " That would n't be such a hardship." " Oh, so that 's it, hey? You got a kiss-me-an'-let-me- die sort o' feelin', hey? Some nice bit o' stuff been turnin' ye down, bo? " " That '11 be about enough ! " said Ravenslee, quick and fierce ; and, meeting the flash of his eye, the Spider edged away again. " Sufferin' Mike ! " said he, " you sure ain't doin' the affable chat stunt t'night ! " But Ravenslee strode along in silence, and the Spider, heeding the pale, set ferocity of his expression, grew troubled. " Say," said he at last, " this don't happen t' be th' night as you 've fixed up t' smash th' gang, does it ? " " No only M'Ginnis." " S'posin' he ain't at O'Rourke's? " " He '11 be somewhere else." " Bo, if I was your ma, I should be prayin' you don't find Bud, yes, sir ! An' I should pray dam' hard ! " 254 The Definite Object By this time they had reached Eleventh Avenue and were close upon the saloon when Ravenslee halted sud denly, for, beneath a lamp on the opposite sidewalk, he saw M'Ginnis in talk with two other men. .Drawing the neckerchief from his pocket, Ravenslee crossed over and tapped M'Ginnis on the arm, who, turn ing about, stared into a pallid face within a foot of his own. " What th' hell " he began, but Ravenslee cut him short. " You left this behind you," said he, thrusting forward the neckerchief, " so I 've brought it to twist around that foul throat of yours. Now, M'Ginnis fight ! " Thrusting the neckerchief into his pocket, Ravenslee clenched his fists, and, saying no more, they closed and fought not as men, but rather as brute beasts eager to maim and rend. M'Ginnis's companions, dumbfounded by the sudden ferocity of it all, stood awhile inactive, staring at those two forms that lurched and swayed, that strove and panted, grimly speechless. Then, closing in, they waited an opportunity to smite down M'Ginnis's foe from behind. But the Spider was watching, and, before either of them could kick or strike, his fists thudded home twice hard blows aimed with scientific precision; after which, having dragged the fallen away from those fierce-tram pling feet, he stood, quivering and tense, to watch that desperate encounter. Once Ravenslee staggered back from a vicious flush-hit, and once M'Ginnis spun around to fall upon hands and knees ; then they clenched, and coming to the ground to gether, fought there, rolling to and fro and hideously twisted together. But slowly Ravenslee's clean living began to tell, and M'Ginnis, wriggling beneath a merciless grip, uttered inarticulate cries and groaned aloud. And now the deadly neckerchief was about his gasping throat and in his ears his conqueror's fierce laugh lost all at once in a roar of voices, a rush of trampling feet. How Geoffrey Departed 255 Wrenched at by fierce hands, smitten by unseen fists, Ravenslee was beaten down was dimly aware of the Spider's long legs bestriding him, and staggering up through a tempest of blows, hurled himself among his crowding assailants, felled one with his right, stopped another with his left, and, as the press broke to the mad fury of his onslaught, felt his hand wrenched from a man's windpipe and heard a frantic voice that panted: " Leg it, bo, leg it. Hully Chee ! ain't ye had enough? " So, mechanically, he set off at a run, with his arm still gripped by the Spider. " Leg it, bo leg it good, or here 's where we snuff it sure ! This way round th' cor ner; only keep goin', bo, keep go in'." Very fleetly they ran with their pursuers close on their heels, across open lots, over fences, along tortuous alleys, until the rush and patter of the many feet died away, and the Spider, pulling up at the corner of a dismal, narrow street hard by the river, stood awhile to listen. " Jiminy Christmas ! but you 're some hot stuff at the swattin' business you 're a glutton, you are, bo. I been in one or two scraps meself, but I never seen a guy so hungry for " " Where are we? " " Thirteenth an' Twentieth." "Are we safe? " " F' th' time, I reckon. But all Hell's Kitchen '11 be out after us t'night, sure. So I guess it 's us for th' immedi ate hike " " Us? Will they be after you, too? " " Well," said the Spider, smiling down grimly at his damaged knuckles, " I guess yes ! Hell's Kitchen an' Tenth Av'ner 's got t' get along without me from now on, I reckon. They ain't losin' much, an' I ain't leavin' much, but" " Why the devil had you got to follow me to-night ? " demanded Ravenslee, scowling. " Bo," said the Spider as they went on again, " there 's times when my likin' f 'r you gets a pain ; there 's times 256 The Definite Object when y'r talk gives me th' earache, an' y'r lovin' looks the willies. I ain't lookin' f'r no gratitood, nor yet a gold dinner-set an' loominated address, but, not ownin' a hide like a sole-leather Saratoga, I'll jest get on me way S' long!" " Where are you going? " " I dunno, but I 'm goin' there, right now." But as the Spider turned away, his hand was caught and gripped, and Ravenslee was smiling; his features looked a bit battered, but his smile was pleasant as ever. " Forgive my cursed temper, Spider. I owe you my life again and I ought to be grateful, I suppose. Forgive me, I 'm not quite myself to-night." " Sure thingj " said the Spider, returning his grasp, " but, bo, I 'm kind o' wonderin' in me little mind what Bud 's f eelin' like ! You sure swatted him good an' heavy. I never seen cleaner footwork, an' them left jabs o* yours " " The question is, how do you feel, Spider, and what are you going to do ? " The pugilist scratched his rough chin. " Well, that 's what gets my goat; I dunno quite, bo. Y' see, I shan't be able t' get no more fights here in the East now, not wi' Bud 'n' his old man against me y' see, Bud's old man 's about the biggest " " I wonder if you 'd care to come with me ? " "Whaffor?" " Well, for one thing, I need another chauffeur and " " A what ? " The Spider halted under a lamp-post to stare at Ravenslee a little anxiously. " Say, now, take a holt of ye'self an' jest put that one over th' plate again you need a what ? " " Another chauffeur." "Another shuvver another? Bo, y' didn't happen t' get a soak on th' bean just now, did ye? " " No." " Well, then, I guess you 're some shook up ; what you want 's food, right now ' * How Geoffrey Departed 257 " Why, yes, now you mention it, I 'm devilish hungry," agreed Ravenslee. " Leave it t' me, bo I know a chewin'-j oint close by soup, joint, sweets, an' coffee an' only a quarter a throw some feed, bo ! Shin right along, I '11 " " No, you shall come home and dine with me." " Home?" repeated the Spider, halting to stare again; " you 're sure talkin' ramblin' " "We can discuss the chauffeur's job then " " Shuvver? " said the Spider uneasily. " But what 's a guy like you want with a shuvver? " " Well, to drive my car and " " Car?" said the Spider, his uneasiness growing, " got a car now, have ye, bo ? " " I rather think I 've got six." " Sufferin' Sam ! " The Spider scratched his chin while his keen eyes roved over Ravenslee's exterior apprehen sively. " Say, bo, you quite sure none o' th' bunch booted you on th' dome eh? " " Quite sure." " An' yet you got six auter-mobiles. I say you think so." " Now I think again, they 're seven with the newest racer." " Say, now, jest holt still a minute ! Now, swaller twice, think dam' hard, an' tell me again ! You got how many ? " "Seven!" "Got any thin' else?" " Oh, yes, a few things." "Tell us jest one." " Well, a yacht." "Oh, a yacht?" " A yacht." " 'S 'nuff, bo, 's 'miff ! But go on go on, get it all off if you '11 feel better after. Anythin' more? " " Why, yes, about twenty or thirty houses and castles and palaces and things " " That settles it sure ! " sighed the Spider. " You 're 258 The Definite Object comin' t' see a doctor, that 's what ! Your dome 's sure got bent in with a boot or somethin'." " No, Spider, I just happen to be born the son of a millionaire, that 's all." " Think o' that, now ! " nodded the Spider, " a million aire now how nice ! An' what do they call ye at home ? " " Geoffrey Ravenslee." " How much ? " exclaimed the Spider, falling back a step. " The guy as went ten rounds with Dick Dunoon at th' * National ? ' The guy as won th' Auter-mobile Race? Th' guy as bought up Mulligan's you?" " Why, yes. By the way, I sat in the front row and watched you lick Larry McKinnon at 'Frisco; I was afraid you were going to recognise me, once or twice." " Then, you you have got a yacht, th' big one as lays off Twenty-third Street? " " Also seven cars ; that 's why I want you for a chauffeur." " Ho-ly Gee ! " murmured the dazed Spider. " Well, say, you sure have got me goin' ! A millionaire ! A pea nut cart ! A yacht ! Well, say, I I guess it 's time I got on me way. S' long ! " " No you don't, my Spider ; you 're coming home with me." "What me? Not much I ain't no, sir! I ain't no giddy gink t' go dinin' with millionaires in open-faced clo'es not me ! " " But you 're coming to have dinner with that same peanut man who learned to respect you because you were a real, white man, Spider Connolly. And that 's another reason why I want you for my chauffeur." " But say, I I can't shuv." " Joe shall teach you." " Joe? Y' mean Joe Madden? " " He '11 be chauffeur number one and there 's a cross- town car ! Come on, Spider ! Now in with you ! " CHAPTER XXXI IN WHICH SOAPY TAKES A HAND O'ROURKE'S was full: its long bar, shaped something like the letter J, supported many lounging arms and elbows ; its burnished foot-rail was scraped by boots of many shapes and sizes ; its heavy air, thick with cigarette smoke, hummed with many voices. In one corner, a remote corner where few ventured to penetrate, Soapy leaned, as pallid and noncommittal as ever, while Spike poured out to him the story of his woes. " She drove me out, Soapy ! She drove me away from her ! " he repeated for the hundredth time. The boy was unnaturally flushed and bright of eye, and his voice was as shaky as the hand which fidgeted with his whisky glass ; and the sense of his wrongs was great and growing greater with every sip. " She told me t' leave her ! She drove me away from her" " So you come here, eh, Kid? " drawled Soapy, pendent cigarette smouldering. " You skinned over here t' Bud f ' comfort, an' you '11 sure get it, Kid in a glass ! " " Bud 's always good t' me " " 'S right, Kid, 's right, Bud 's an angel sure, though he ain't got no wings yet. Oh, Bud '11 comfort ye fre quent, an' by an' by he '11 take ye back t' Hermy good an' soused ; you can get your own back that ways eh, Kid ? It '11 sure make her sit up an' take notice when she sees ye come in reelin' an' staggerin' eh, Kid ? An' to morrow you '11 be sick mebbe, an' she '11 have ter nurse ye oh, Bud '11 fix things fer ye, I guess." Spike glowered and pushed his half-emptied glass further away. " I ain't goin' home soused ! " he muttered. 260 The Definite Object " No? " said Soapy, faintly surprised. " Bud '11 feel kind o' hurt, won't he? " " I ain't goin' home soused not for Bud nor nobody else ! " " Why, then, if I was you, Kid, I should beat it before Bud comes in." " I guess I will," said Spike, rising. But now was sudden uproar of voices in the street hard by, a running and trampling of feet, and, the swing doors opening, a group of men appeared, bearing among them a heavy burden ; and coming to the quiet corner they laid M'Ginnis there. Battered, bloody, and torn he lay, his handsome features swollen and disfigured, his clothes dusty and dishevelled, while above him and around him men stooped and peered and whispered. " Why, it 's it 's Bud ! " stammered Spike, shrink ing away from that inanimate form, " my God ! It 's Bud!" " 'S right, Kid ! " nodded Soapy imperturbably, hands in pockets and, though his voice sounded listless as ever, his eyes gleamed evilly, and the dangling cigarette quivered and stirred. " Ain't dead, is he? " some one questioned. " Dead not much ! " answered Soapy, " guess it 's goin' to take more 'n that t' make Bud a stiff 'un. Be sides, Bud ain't goin' t' die that way, no, not that way, I reckon. Dead? Watch this!" So saying, he reached Spike's half-emptied glass from the bar and, not troubling to stoop, poured the raw spirit down upon M'Ginnis's pale, blood-smirched face. "Dead?" said Soapy. "Well, I guess not look at him ! " And, sure enough, M'Ginnis stirred, groaned, opened swollen eyelids and, aided by some ready arm, sat up feebly. Then he glanced up at the ring of peering faces and down upon his rent and dusty person, and fell to a sudden, fierce torrent of curses ; cursing thus, his strength seemed to return all at once, for he sprang to his feet Soapy Takes a Hand 261 and with clenched fists drove through the crowd, and lift ing a flap in the bar, opened a door beyond and was gone. " No," said Soapy, shaking his head, " I guess Bud ain't dead yet, fellers. I wonder who gave him that eye, Kid? An' his mouth too! Did ye pipe them split lips ! Kind o' painful, I guess. An' a couple o' teeth knocked out too ! Some punchin', Kid ! An' Bud kind o' fancied them nice, white teeth of his a whole heap ! " Here the bartender glanced toward the corner where they stood, and, lifting an eyebrow, jerked his thumb at the door behind him with the words: "Kid, I reckon Bud wants ye." For a moment Spike hesitated^ then, lifting the mahog any flap, crossed the bar, and opened the door. " Guess I '11 come along, Kid," and, hands in pockets, Soapy followed. They found M'Ginnis sprawling at a table and scowling at the knuckles of his bruised right hand while at his elbow were a bottle and two glasses. He had washed the blood and dirt from him, had brushed and straightened his dusty garments, but he could n't hide the cuts and bruises that disfigured his face, nor his scratched and swollen throat. "What you here for?" he demanded, as Soapy closed the door, " did n't send for you, did I? " " No, that 's why I come, Bud." "But, say, Bud, what what's been th' matter?" stammered Spike, his gaze upon M'Ginnis's battered face, " who 's been " " Matter ? Nothin' ! I had a bit of a rough-house as I come along " " 'S right," nodded Soapy, " you sure look it ! Never seen a fatter eye " " Well, what you got t' beef about? " "Nothin', Bud, only " " Only what? " " It 's kind o' tough you losin' them couple o' teeth or is it three? " 262 The Definite Object M'Ginnis turned on him with a snarl. " A-r-r-, you ! Some day I 'm goin' t' kick the insides out o' ye ! " " Some day, Bud, sure. I '11 be waitin' ! Meantime why not get some doctor-guy t' put ye face back in shape gee, I hate t' see ye you look like a butcher's shop ! An' them split lips pains some, I guess ! " Here, while M'Ginnis choked in impotent rage, Soapy lit a fresh cigarette from the butt of the last and held out the packet. "Try a coffin-nail, Bud? No? Well, I guess y' could n't smoke good with a mouth on ye like that." " Who did it, Bud? " questioned Spike eagerly. " Who was it? " " Hush up, Kid, hush up ! " said Soapy, viewing M'Ginnis's cuts and bruises with glistening eyes. " I guess that guy 's layin' around somewheres waitin' f'r th' coroner Bud would n't let him make such a holy mess of his face an' get away with it not much ! Bud 's a killer, I know that don't I, Bud? " " You close up that dog's head o' yours, Soapy, or by " " 'S all right, Bud, 's all right. Don't get peeved ; I '11 close up tighter 'n a clam, only it 's kinder tough about them teeth " " Are ye goin' t' cut it out or shall " " Aw, calm down, Bud, calm down ! Take a drink ; it '11 do ye good." And filling a glass with rye whisky, Soapy set it before M'Ginnis, who cursed him, took it up, and turned to Spike. " Fill it up, Kid," he commanded. " Not me, Bud, I I ain't here for that," said Spike. " I come t' tell ye as some dirty guy 's been an' blown th' game on me t' Hermy ; she she knows everything, an' to-night she drove me away from her " " Did she, Kid, oh, did she ? " said M'Ginnis, a new note of eagerness in his voice. " Drove ye out onto th' streets, Kid? That 's dam' hard on you! " " Yes, Bud, I guess she don't want me around " Soapy Takes a Hand 263 " Kind o' looks that way ! " nodded M'Ginnis, and fill ing Spike's glass, he put it into the boy's unwilling fingers. " Take a drink, Kid ; ye sure need it ! " said he. " 'S right," murmured Soapy, " told ye Bud 'ud com fort ye, didn't I, Kid?" " So Hermy 's drove ye away? " said M'Ginnis, " throwed ye out eh ? " " 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 did n'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 264 The Definite Object 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 '11 be gettin' on me way, Bud," said he. "Whereto?" " 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 '11 fix ye up all right " " 'S right, Kid ! " nodded Soapy. " Bud '11 fix ye all right, same as I said ; we '11 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 '11 trust him an' then s'posin* he ain't? " Soapy Takes a Hand 265 "I I ain't s'posin' riothin' 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 j aw 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 '11 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 '11 fixjhim good, I reckon." " I ain't g-goin' t' drink no more," said Spike, resting heavy head between his hands, " I guess I '11 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. 266 The Definite Object " 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 '11 never for get how she looked pale, so pale an' still, an' th' water runnin' out of her brown curls I I '11 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 would n'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 '11 kill him ! " " Aw you would n'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 '11 take ye where they meet ; maybe you '11 ketch him waitin' for her but in stead of Hermy an' kisses there '11 be you an' me, hey? Will ye come? " " S-sure I will if you '11 gimme your gun." " Pshaw, Kid what 's a kid like you want with a gun?" Soapy Takes a Hand 267 " T' shoot him " " Eh ? What ? D' ye mean ? " " If he 's after my sister, I '11 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 breath" ing, 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. Conse quently, I guess you '11 be wantin' paper an' pencil both here ! " " What th' hell " began M'Ginnis. " Telegram, Bud. You 're goin' t' frame up a nice little telegram t' this guy Geoff oh, you sure are th' fly gazebo ! A nice little message * meet me t'morrow in the wood at sunset Hermy?' Somethin' nice 'n' ro mantic like that '11 bring him on th' run eh, Bud ? Then, 'stead of Hermy, comes you an' th' Kid, eh, Bud? An' 'stead of kisses, this guy Geoff gets a lead pill eh, Bud? Th' Kid can't miss if you get him close enough. It sure is some scheme, Bud ; I could n't have thought it out better myself. Paper 'n' pencil, Bud get busy an' I '11 sashay over an' send it off for ye t'night." During Soapy's unusually long speech, M'Ginnis sat staring at him under frowning brows, but now he turned and scowled down at the sheet of paper, picked up the pencil, laid it by again and sat opening and shutting his big hands, while Soapy, lighting another cigarette, watched him furtively. When at last he spoke, his voice was thick, and he did n't lift his scowling gaze. " Send that kid Larry t' me, an' say you don't have t' come back." 268 The Definite Object " All right, Bud, all right only you 'd best send two telegrams t' make sure one t' Fift' Av, an' one t' his place up th' river. S' long, Buddy ! " Some fifteen minutes later, the boy Larry, stepping out of O'Rourke's, was swung to the wall in Soapy's grip. " Aw say, cheese it now ! Is that you, Soapy? " " 'S right, my bucko. Fork out that telegram quick ! " " Aw, say, what yer mean 'n' say, Bud told me to hustle, 'n' say " " Dig it out quick ! " said Soapy, the dangling cigar ette glowing fiercely. " I want it see? " " But say " whimpered Larry, " what '11 Bud say " " Nothin' ! Bud ain't goin' t' know. You take this instead take it ! " And Soapy thrust another folded paper into the boy's limp hand, who took it whimpering. " Bud tol' me t' bring it back." " Well, you tell him you lost it." " Not much I '11 skin right back an' tell him you pinched it." " You won't, my sport, you won't ! " said Soapy, and speaking, moved suddenly ; and the boy, uttering a gasp of terror, shrank cowering with the muzzle of Soapy's deadly weapon against the pit of his stomach. " You ain't goin' t' say a word t' Bud nor nobody else, are ye, Larry boy, are ye? " No no " " Because if ye ever did, old sport, I should give it ye there right there in the turn-turn, see? Now chase off, an' see ye get them addresses right. S' long, Larry boy, be good now ! " When the boy had scudded away, Soapy opened the paper and scanned the words of M'Ginnis's telegram and, being alone, smiled as he glanced through it. " You got th' Kid, Bud," he murmured, " you got th' Kid but if th' Kid gets the guy Geoff, why I 've sure got you, Bud got ye sure as hell, Bud ! " CHAPTER XXXII OF HAEMONY AND DISCORD MR. BRIMBERLY, comfortably ensconced in Young R.'s favourite armchair, nodded ponderously and beat time to the twang of Mr. Jenkins's banjo, whereto Mr. Stevens sang in a high-pitched and rather shaky tenor the latest musical success yclept " Sammy." Thus, Mr. Jenkins strummed, Mr. Stevens trilled, and Mr. Brimberly alter nately beat the tempo with a plump white finger and sipped his master's champagne until, having emptied his glass, he turned to the bottle on the table beside him, found that empty also, crossed to the two bottles on the mantel, found them likewise void and had tried the two upon the piano with no better success, when, the song being ended, Mr. Jenkins struck in with : " All dead men, Brim ! Six of 'em between us not bad going, what? " " And very good fizz too, on the whole ! " added Mr. Stevens. " I always sing better on champagne. But come, Brim my boy, I 've obliged with everything I know, and Jenk, 'e 's played everything 'e knows, and I must say with great delicacy an' f eelin' now it 's your turn sing somethin'." " Well," answered Mr. Brimberly, squinting at an empty bottle, " I used to know a very good song once, called * Let 's drownd all our sorrers and cares.' But good 'eavens ! we can't drownd 'em in empty bottles, can we? " " Oh, very good ! " chuckled Mr. Jenkins, " oh, very prime ! If I might suggest, there 's nothin' like port port 's excellent tipple for drowndin' sorrer and downing care what? " 270 The Definite Object " Port, sir? " repeated Mr. Brimberly, " we 'ave enough port in our cellars to drownd every sorrer an' care in Noo York City. I 'm proud of our port, sir, and I 'm reckoned a bit of a connysoor " " Ah, it takes a eddicated palate to appreciate good port ! " nodded Mr. Jenkins loftily, " a eddicated palate what?" " Cert'nly ! " added Mr. Stevens, " an' here 's two pal ates waitin', waitin' an' ready to appreciate till daylight doth appear." " There 's nothin' like port ! " sighed Mr. Brimberly, setting aside the empty champagne bottle, " nothin' like port, and there 's Young Har 'ardly can tell it from sherry oh, the Goth ! the Vandyle ! All this good stuff would be layin' idle if it was n't for me ! Young Har ain't got no right to be a millionaire ; 'is money 's wasted on 'im he neglects 'is opportoonities shameful eh, shame ful ! What I say is what 's the use of bein' a million aire if you don't air your millions? " Hereupon Mr. Jenkins rocked himself to and fro over his banjo in a polite ecstasy of mirth. " Oh, by Jove ! " he gasped, " if that ain't infernal clever, I '11 be shot ! Oh, doocid clever I call it what ! " " Er by the way, Brim," said Mr. Stevens, his glance roving toward the open window, " where does he happen to be to-night ? " " Where? " repeated Mr. Brimberly, fingering a slightly agitated whisker, " where is Young Har, sir? Lord, Mr. Stevens, if you ask me that, I throws up my 'ands, and I answers you 'eavens knows ! Young Har is a un known quantity, sir a will o' the wisp, or as you might say, a ignus fattus. At this pre-cise moment 'e may be in Jerusalem or Jericho or a-sittin' outside on the lawn which Gawd forbid ! But there, don't let 's talk of it. Come on down into the cellars, and we '11 bring up enough port to drownd sorrer an' care all night." " With all my heart ! " said Mr. Jenkins, laying aside his banjo. Of Harmony and Discord 271 " Ditto, indeed ! " nodded Mr. Stevens, slipping a hand in his host's arm, and thus linked together they made their, way out of the room. Scarcely had their hilarious voices died away when a muscular brown hand parted the hangings of an open window, and Geoffrey Ravenslee climbed into the room. His rough clothes and shabby hat were powdered with dust, and he looked very much out of place amid his lux urious surroundings as he paused to glance swiftly from the bottles that decorated the carved mantel to those on table and piano. Then, light-treading, he crossed the room, and as the hilarious three were heard approaching, vanished in his turn. " 'Ere we are, Jubilee Port ! " exclaimed Mr. Brimberly, setting down two cobwebbed bottles with elaborate care, " obleege me with the corkscrew, somebody." " Won't forget as you promised us a song, Brim ! " said Mr. Jenkins, passing the necessary implement. " Oh, I won't disappoint ye," answered Mr. Brimberly, drawing the cork with a practised hand ; " my father were a regular songster, a fair carollin' bird 'e were, sir." "'Ow about 'Knocked 'em in the Old Kent Road'?" Mr. Stevens suggested. " Sir ! " exclaimed Mr. Brimberly, pausing in the act of filling the glasses, " that 's rather a a low song, ain't it? What do you think, Mr. Jenkins?" " Low? " answered Mr. Jenkins, " it 5 s as low as as mud, sir. I might say it 's infernal vulgar what ? " " Why, I don't care for it myself," Mr. Stevens ad mitted rather humbly, "it was merely a suggestion." " With your good favour," said Mr. Brimberly, after a tentative sip at his glass, " I '11 sing you a old song as was a rare favourite of my father's." "Why, then," said Mr. Jenkins, taking up his banjo, " oblige us with the key." " The key, sir ? " answered Mr. Brimberly, pulling down his waistcoat, " what key might you mean? " " The key of the note dominant, Brim." 272 The Definite Object Mr. Brimberly stared and felt for his whisker. " Note dominant," he murmured ; " I don't think m j song has anything of that sort " " Oh, well, just whistle a couple o' bars." " Bars," said Mr. Brimberly, shaking his head, " bars, sir, is things wherewith I do not 'old; bars are the 'aunt of the 'umble 'erd, sir " " No, no, Brim," explained Mr. Stevens, " Jenk merely means you to 'um the air." " Ah, to be sure, now I appre'end ! I '11 'um you the hair with pleasure." Mr. Brimberly cleared his throat vigorously and there after emitted certain rumbling noises, whereat Mr. Jen kins cocked a knowing head. " C sharp, I think? " he announced. " Not much, Jenk ! " said Mr. Stevens decidedly, " it was D flat as flat a D as ever I heard ! " " It was C ! " Mr. Jenkins said, " I appeal to Brim." " Well," said Mr. Brimberly ponderously, " I 'm reether inclined to think I made it a D if it was n't D it was F nat'ral. But if it 's all the same to you, I '11 accompany myself at the pianoforty." " What," exclaimed Mr. Stevens, emptying and refilling his glass, seeing which Mr. Jenkins did the same, " what do you play, Brim? " "By hear, sir only by hear," said Mr. Brimberly modestly, as, having placed bottle and glass upon the piano within convenient reach, he seated himself upon the stool, struck three or four stumbling chords and then, vamping an accompaniment a trifle monotonous as to bass, burst forth into song: "It was a rich merchant that in London did dwell, He had but one daughter, a beautiful gell, Which her name it was Dinah, scarce sixteen years old. She 'd a very large[fortune in silver and gold." CHORUS: "Ri tooral ri tooral ri tooral i-day, Ri tooral ri tooral ri tooral i-day." Of Harmony and Discord 273 It was now that Mr. Ravenslee, his rough clothes re placed by immaculate attire, entered unostentatiously, and, wholly unobserved by the company, seated himself and lounged there while Mr. Brimberly sang blithely on : "As Dinah was a-walking in her garden one day, Her father came to her and thus he did say: ' Come wed yourself, Dinah, to your nearest of kin, Or you shan't have the benefit of one single pin!'" "Ri tooral ri too " Here Mr. Jenkins, chancing to catch sight of that un obtrusive figure, let fall his banjo with a clatter, where upon Mr. Brimberly glancing around, stopped short in the middle of a note, and sat open-mouthed, staring at his master. "Enjoying a musical evening, Brimberly?" Mr. Brimberly blundered to his feet, choked, gasped, groped for his whiskers, and finally spoke: " Why, sir, I I 'm afraid I we are " " I did n't know you were such an accomplished musi cian, Brimberly." " Mu-musician, sir? " Brimberly stammered, his eyes goggling ; " 'ardly that, sir, oh, 'ardly that, I I venture to to tinkle a bit now an' then, sir no offence I 'ope, sir? " " Friends musical too, it seems." " Y-yes, sir, music do affect 'em, sir uncommonly, sir." "Yes, makes them thirsty, doesn't it?" " Why, Mr. Ravenslee, sir, I that is, we did so far venture to er I mean oh, Lord ! " and mopping perspiring brow, Mr. Brimberly groaned and goggled help lessly from Mr. Jenkins who stood fumbling with his banjo to Mr. Stevens who gaped fishlike. " And now," said Young R., having viewed them each in turn, " if these er very thirsty musicians have had enough of er my wine to er drink, perhaps you '11 be so obliging as to see them off the premises ? " 274 The Definite Object "I I beg parding, sir ? " " Please escort jour friends off the premises." " Certingly, sir at once, sir " " Unless you think you ought to give them each a hand ful of my cigars " But Mr. Brimberly had already bundled his dazed guests to the door, out of the door, and out of the house, with very little ceremony. It was a very deferential and officiously eager Brim berly who presently knocked and, bowing very frequently, begged to know how he might be of further service. " Might I get you a little supper, sir? We 'ave 'am, sir, we 'ave beef, cold, salmon and cucumber likewise cold, a ditto chicken " " That sounds rather a quaint bird," said Ravenslee. " Yes, sir, very good, sir, chicken an' a nice slice of 'am, sir, say, and " " Thank you, Brimberly, I dined late." " Why then, sir, a sandwich or so, pray permit me, sir, cut nice an' thin, sir " " Thank you no." "Dear, dear! Why then, sir, whisky? Brandy? A lick-your? " " Nothing." " A cigar, sir? " " Hum ! Have we any of the Garcias left ? " " Y-yes, sir. Ho, certingly, sir. Shall I " " Don't bother, I prefer my pipe ; only let me know when we get short, Brimberly, and we '11 order more or per haps you have a favourite brand? " " Brand, sir," murmured Brimberly, "a er cer tingly, sir." " Good night, Brimberly." " Good night, sir, but first can't I do hany thing? " "Oh, yes, you do me, of course. You do me so con sistently and well that I really ought to raise your wages. I '11 think about it." Mr. Brimberly stared, coughed, and fumbled for his Of Harmony and Discord 275 whisker, whence his hand wandered to his brow and hov ered there. "I I bid you good night, sir ! " " Oh, by the way, bring me the letters." " Certingly, sir ! " and crossing the room, Mr. Brim- berly returned, bearing a salver piled high with letters, which he set at his master's elbow; this done, he bowed and went from the room, one hand still at his dazed brow. Left alone, Ravenslee took up the letters one by one. Some he threw aside, some few he opened and glanced at carelessly ; among these last was a telegram, and the words he saw were these: " Meet me to-morrow sunset in the wood all shall be ex plained Hermy." For a while he sat staring at this, then, laying it by, drew out a letter case from which he took another tele gram bearing precisely the same message. Having com pared them, he thrust them into his pocket, and filling his pipe, sat awhile smoking and lost in thought. At last, his pipe being out, he rose, stretched, and turned toward the door, but in the act of leaving the room, paused to take out and compare the telegrams again and so stood with puckered brow. " ' Hermy ! ' " he said softly. " * Hermione ' is so much prettier. ' All shall be explained.' A little trite, perhaps ! Oh, well " So saying, he folded up the telegrams, switched off the lights and went to bed. CHAPTER XXXIII OF TRAGEDY IT was close on the hour of sunset when Ravenslee stopped his car before a quiet hotel in Englewood and sprang out. " Will you be long, sir? " enquired Joe, seating himself at the wheel and preparing to turn into the garage. " Probably an hour, Joe." " Very good, sir." But as the big car turned, Ravenslee spoke over his shoulder. " By the way, if I should n't be back in an hour, come and meet me." Then, having given Joe full and particu lar directions as to the little wood, he turned and went upon his way. It had been a stifling day, and even now, though a soft air was abroad tempering the humid heat, when this light wind languished there was over all things a brooding still ness, foreboding storm. But Ravenslee strode on, un heeding dust and heat, hastening on to that which awaited him, full of strength and life and the zest of life, glad- hearted, and with pulses that throbbed in expectation. Thus, as the sun sank in fiery splendour, he reached the little wood. Evening was falling, and already, among the trees, shadows were deepening to twilight, but in the west was a flaming glory; and, upon the edge of the wood he turned to glance back at this radiance, splashes of gold and pink flushing to an ominous red. For a long moment he stood to stare around about the solitary countryside, joying in life and the glory of it. Then he turned, with a smile on his lips, and stepped into the gloom of the wood. On he went, forcing his way through the under- Of Tragedy 277 brush until, reaching the clearing, he halted suddenly and faced about, fancying he had heard a rustle in the leaves hard by. Spike, cowering behind a bush with M'Ginnis's fingers gripping his arm, shivered and sweated and held his breath until Ravenslee moved on again, and, coming to a fallen tree, seated himself there and sat chin on fist, expectation in every tense line of him. " Now ! " whispered M'Ginnis hoarsely, " get him now before Hermy comes t' him ! " Shuddering, Spike lev elled the weapon he held, but at that moment Ravenslee was filling his pipe, and something in this homely action checked the lad, paralysed finger on trigger, and shrink ing, he cowered down upon the grass despite the fierce hand that gripped him. " Get him now, Kid get him now ! Aim f 'r his chest y' can't miss at this distance " "I I can't, Bud ! " gasped the boy, writhing, " I can't do it I can't ! " Dropping the revolver, he hid his face in sweating hands and shivered. From somewhere near by a woodpecker was tapping busily, but save for this no sound broke the pervading stillness, for the gentle wind had died away. But suddenly the quiet was rent and shivered, and Spike, deafened by the report, glanced up to see Ravenslee rise to his feet, stagger forward blindly, then, with arms outflung, pitch forward upon his face and lie there. " By God, you you 've shot him, Bud ! " he whim pered " you you 've killed dear old Geoff oh, my God ! " " Aw, quit quit all that ! " whispered M'Ginnis breathlessly, "that's what we came for, ain't it? What you lookin' at ? " " It lays so still ! so awful still ! " Spike gasped. " Well, what ye got t' go starin' at it that ways for? Come on let 's beat it ; it 's us for th' quick get-away in case any one heard. Come on, Kid ! " " But you 've killed Geoff! " " I guess he don't need no more 'n' say, Kid, you 're 278 The Definite Object in on this job too, don't forget! Come on, it's little old N' York for ours ! " Though M'Ginnis dragged at him, Spike huddled limply on his knees, his glaring eyes always staring in the one direction; whereupon M'Ginnis cursed and left him. But all at once, finding himself alone, to horror came fear, and stumbling to his feet Spike began to draw away from that awful thing that held his gaze; slowly he re treated, always going backwards, and though he stumbled often against tree and sapling, yet so long as it was in sight needs must he walk backwards. When at last a kindly bush hid it from his sight, he turned and ran ran until, panting and wild-eyed, he burst from the wood and was out upon the open road. Even then he paused to stare back into that leafy gloom but saw and heard nothing. Then, uttering a moan, he turned and ran sob bing along the darkening road. But, within that place of shadows, from amid the leaves of a certain great tree, dropped one who came beside that motionless form, and knelt there awhile. When at last he rose, a ring lay upon his open palm a ring in the shape of two hands clasping each other; then, with this clenched in a pallid fist, he also turned and left that still and awful thing with its face hidden in last year's dead and rotting leaves. CHAPTER XXXIV OF REMORSE FOR three miserable days Spike had remained indoors, eating little, sleeping less, venturing abroad only at dusk to hurry back with the latest paper and, locked within his bedroom, to scan every scare head and column with eyes dilating in dreadful expectation of beholding the awful word MURDER. For three interminable days Hermione, going about her many duties slow of foot and listless, had scarcely heeded him, conscious only of her own pain, the agony of longing, the yearning ache that filled her, throbbing in every heart beat an ache that would not be satisfied. Thus, lost in her own new sorrow, she spoke seldom, sighed often, and sang not at all; often sitting at her sewing machine with hands strangely idle and gaze abstracted. Spike, watch ing furtively, had seen her eyes brim over with great, slow- falling tears ; more than once he had heard her bitter weeping in the dawn. At such times he had yearned to comfort her, but between them was memory, dividing them like a wall the memory of a still form with arms wide- tossed and face hidden among dead leaves. And at such times Spike writhed in the grip of horror and groaned under the gnawing fangs of remorse ; sometimes he prayed wild, passionate prayers, and sometimes he wetted his pillow with unavailing tears, while in his ears, like a small voice, soft and insistent, repeated over and over again, was the dread word MURDER. By day it haunted him also; it stared up at him from the white cloth of the breakfast table, forbidding him to eat ; he read it on floor and walls and ceiling ; he saw it in bloody characters that 280 The Definite Object straggled across the very sky ; wherever he turned his hag gard gaze there he needs must read it. And then there were the footsteps. All day long they tramped up and down the stairs outside everyday sounds that he had never heeded before, but now they were warnings to hearken to and shudder at, and he would sit pretending to read but with ears straining for the sound of feet upon the landing or on the stair. Now they were feet that crept the stealthy steps of one that lurked to catch him unaware; or again, they were the loud tramp of those who came with authority to drag him to doom, and he would watch the door, staring wide-eyed, waiting for the thundering knock he expected yet which never came. All day long they haunted him, and at night, locked within his bedroom, he must needs lift heavy head from the pillow to hearken with ears straining even yet, until, haggard and worn, he had shivered and groaned and wept himself to sleep, only to awake and start up in sweating terror, thinking he heard a fierce hand knocking, knocking upon the outer door. Thus, for three long days Spike had lived in torment, and to-night, as he leaned throbbing head between clutch ing hands, his haggard eyes sought vainly for that fell word which he could read everywhere except in the news paper before him; his sufferings had grown almost be yond his strength, for to his old torments was added har rowing suspense. Why? Why? " " Why " was the word that stared at him from ceiling and walls and blue expanse of heaven ; why was it there and not in the papers ? Could it be that it was lying there yet, that awful, still thing, lying as he remembered it, as he could see it now, its ghastly features hidden among the leaves that rotted, its long arms out- flung and strong hands griped among the grass with clutching fingers could it be ? " Arthur boy what 's the matter? " Spike started and looked up to find Hermione beside him, and instinctively he shrank away. Of Remorse 281 " Arthur oh, what is it? Are you sick? " "N-no, why?" " You were moaning." " Oh, well, I I 'm all right, I guess. Got a headache, that 's all." " Why have you avoided me lately, Arthur? I 'm not angry any more, I 'm only disappointed." " Y' mean because I lost me job? They don't want my kind ; I oh, I 'm too mean too rotten, I guess." " I heard you cry out in the night, Arthur. What was it?" " Nothin' I did n't cry out las' night, I tell ye." " I heard you ! " " Oh, well, I I was only dreamin', I guess." " Why have you acted so strangely lately ? You don't eat, you don't go out; you sit around staring and seem to be listening almost as if you were afraid " " I ain't I ain't afraid. Who says I 'm afraid? An' I don't want you to go worryin' y'self sick over me I ain't a kid no more." " No, I 'm afraid you 're not." And sighing, she turned away. But as she crossed the room, her step slow and listless, he spoke, his head downbent and face hidden be tween clenched hands, voicing, almost despite himself, the questions that had tortured him so long. " Say, Hermy, where 's Geoff? How is he I mean you you ain't heard anything have you ? " " No," she answered softly, without turning, " what should I hear ? I only know he 's gone. How should I hope to hear anything any more? " "I I thought he was goin' t' marry you." " So he was, but I could n't let him marry a thief's sister," she said in the same low, even voice. " Ah ! " cried Spike, writhing, " why did he go an' tell ye about me after he told me he never would why did he tell ye?" " He did n't tell me ! " cried Hermione, with curling lip. " Did n't he oh did n't he? " said Spike, his voice 282 The Definite Object high and quivering, " did n't Geoff tell ye? Then say, Hermy, who who did? " " It was Bud M'Ginnis, and for once it seems he told the truth ! " " Bud ! " cried Spike, stumbling to his feet. " Oh, my God ! " At sound of his voice she turned, and seeing his face, cried out in sudden fear : " Arthur oh, Arthur, what is it?" " Bud told ye? " he gasped. " Was n't it Geoff oh, was n't it Geoff? " " No ! " Spike was down on his knees. " Oh, God ! Oh, Geoff dear old Geoff, forgive me ! " He was huddled upon the floor, his face pressed to the worn rug, his clenched fingers buried in his curls, while from his lips issued gasping sobs harshly dry and awful to hear. " Forgive me, Geoff, forgive me ! I thought you told her ! I thought you meant t' steal her from me ! Oh, for give me, Geoff I wish I was dead like you." " Arthur ! " She was down beside him on her knees, shaking him with desperate hands. "Arthur! Arthur! What are you saying?" " Nothin' nothin' ! " he stammered, staring up into her face, suddenly afraid of her. " Nothin', I I was only thinkin' I " " What did you mean ? " she cried, her grasp tightening. " Tell me what you meant tell me, tell me ! " " Nothin'," he mumbled, trying to break her hold. " Lemme go, I I did n't mean anything " ; ' Tell me what you meant tell me, tell me ! " " No I can't I " His voice failed suddenly, his whole frame grew tense and rigid, and lifting a stiff arm he pointed a trembling finger toward the open doorway. " Hush hush ! " he panted, " oh, for God's sake, hush ! There don't you hear there 's some one out side on th' landing footsteps hark ! They 're coming Of Remorse 283 to our door ! They 're stoppin' outside oh, my God, it 's come at " The word ended in a scream, drowned all at once in a thunderous knocking on the outer door, and Spike, crouch ing upon his knees, clutched at her as she rose. " Don't don't open the door!" he gasped, while Hermione gazed at him, terrified by his terror, as again the thunderous summons was heard. Then, despite the boy's passionate prayers and desperate, clutching hands, she broke from him, and hastening into the little passage, opened the door. Upon the threshold stood a little old man, very smartly dressed, who saluted her with a gallant flourish of his dapper straw hat and bowed with his two small and glittering patent leather shoes posed at position number one in waltzing. " Ma'am," said he, " miss, respectful greetin's. Your name 's Hermione, ain't it? " " Yes," she answered, wondering. " Knowed it was. And a partic'ler fine gal too ! Though not 'oldin' wi' marridge, I don't blame the Guv 'e always 'ad a quick eye for beauty like me." " But who are you? What do you want " " Miss, I want you leastways 'e does. Been callin' for you the last three days 'e has, ever since 'e ketched one as fair doubled 'im up " "I I don't understand. Who are you? " " A admirer of the Guv, ma'am. A trusted friend of 'is, miss come t' take ye to 'is poor, yearnin' arms, lady " " But who oh, what do you mean? " " Mr. Ravenslee, ma'am." " Mr. Ravenslee ! " she echoed, her colour changing. " Yes. Y' see he 's dyin', miss ! " Hermione gasped and leaned against the wall as if sud denly faint and sick, perceiving which, the Old Un promptly set his arm about her waist and led her unre sisting into the parlour. There, having aided her ten- 284 The Definite Object derly into a chair and nodded to pale-faced Spike, he sighed, shook his ancient head, and continued: " Ho, Lor lumme, lady, it fair wrung my old 'eart to 'ave to tell ye, but, 'aving to tell ye (Joe could n't) I told ye almighty quick to get it over sharp an' quick 's my motter. Fate 's crool 'ard when Fate takes the gloves off , miss, an' I know as Fate 's been an' took ye one in the wind wot 's fair doubled you up but take time, miss, take time throw back your pretty 'ead, breathe deep an' reg'lar, an' you '11 soon be strong enough to go another round. If I 'd got a towel handy I 'd fan ye a bit not 'avin' none, no matter. Fate 's 'ard on you, so fair an' young, miss, but Fate 's been 'arder on the Guv ketched the pore young Guv a fair spiflicator " " Oh, please please," cried Hermione, reaching out appealing hands, " oh, tell me, is he hurt sick dying? Oh, quick, quick tell me ! " " Lady, ma'am my pretty dear," said the Old Un, taking those pleading hands to pat them tenderly, " that 's what I 'm tryin' to do. The Guv ain't dead yet no, not yet " " You mean he 's dying ? " *' My dear," said the old man, blinking at her through sudden tears, " that 's what the doctors say." Here he loosed one hand to rub at each bright eye with a bony knuckle. " An' 'im so young so game an' strong three days ago." " How did it happen? " she questioned, her voice low and steady. " It was Fate ! " said the old man, taking her hand again. " Three days ago Fate (the perisher) sends him a telegram two on 'em tellin' 'im to meet you in a wood an' signed with with your name, both on 'em " At this she cried out and would have risen, but his kindly clasp checked her. sent no telegram ! " she whispered. " Me an' Joe an' the Spider know that now, miss. But anyway, to this 'ere wood the Guv do 'aste away, an' in Of Remorse 285 this wood Fate 's a-layin' for 'im wi' a gun, an' down goes the pore Guv wi' a perishin' bullet in 'is gizzard. An* there Joe finds 'im, an' 'ome Joe brings 'im in the car, an' Joe an' me an' the Spider 'ushes things up. An' now in bed lays the Guv with nurses an' doctors 'anging over 'im a-callin' for you I mean the Guv, d' ye see? So now for you I 've come. I 've brought Joe an' the car for you Joe 's across wi' Mrs. Trapes, an' the car 's below both waitin'. So you '11 come t' th' pore young Guv, miss, won't ye, lady? " " Have you any idea who did it ? " she ques tioned, speaking as with an effort. " We got our suspicions, ho, yus ! " the Old Un nodded. " Joe 's got a wonnerful gift o' suspicion oh, a rare 'ead 'as my lad Joe. Joe an' the Spider 's on the track, an' they 're goin' to track Fate to doom, ma'am to perishin' doom ! Y' see," here the old man leaned suddenly nearer, " y' see, Joe 's found a cloo ! " " A clew ! Yes yes ! " she whispered breathlessly, moistening lips suddenly dry, and conscious that Spike's lax form had stiffened to painful alertness. " Well, ma'am, Joe an' the Spider 's been a-seekin' an' a-searchin' of that there wood, an' they found," here the Old Un leaned nearer yet and whispered harshly, " they found a coat button ! Lorgorramighty ! " he exclaimed suddenly, pointing a trembling bony finger, " what 's took th' lad look ! " Spike had risen and now stood, breathing loudly, one hand clenched upon his breast, and turning swiftly, took a stumbling pace toward the open window, tripped, and fell prone upon his face. " Oh, poor lad, poor lad ! " cried the Old Un, rising hastily. " Fate 's been an' ketched him one too a fair knockout ! Leave him to me, miss, I '11 bring 'im round bitin' 'is years is good, or vinegar on a sponge leave 'im to a old fightin' man " " No ! " cried Hermione passionately, " no, I say. Leave him to me ! " Quelled by something in her tone and man- 286 The Definite Object ner, the old man sank back in his chair, while she, kneeling beside Spike, lifted him in her strong young arms so that he was hidden from the Old Un's bright, piercing eyes. Holding him thus, she loosed Spike's rigid fingers and drew away that clutching hand; then, seeing what that hand had striven to hide, she shrank suddenly away, let ting the boy's inanimate form slip from her clasp; and, as she knelt there above him, her shapely body was seized with fierce tremors. So she knelt for a long moment until Spike sighed, shivered, and sat up, but beholding the look in her wide eyes, uttered a hoarse sound that was like a cry of fear and, starting from her nearness, crouched down, huddled upon his knees. Then Hermione rose and, turning to the old man, smiled with pallid lips. " You see he 's all right now ! " she said. " If you '11 please go and tell Mrs. Trapes I 'm leaving, I '11 get ready." Obediently the Old Un rose. " Mrs. Trapes is a-gettin' into her bonnet to come along wi' us ! " said he, and putting on his hat with a flourish, took his departure. When he was gone, Hermione turned and looked down at Spike, who, meeting her eyes, flinched as from a blow and made no effort to rise from his knees. So she packed her grip and dressed for the journey, while he watched her with eyes of mute appeal. Twice he would have spoken, but her look smote him to silence. At last, as she took up her suit case and turned to go, he implored her in a hoarse whisper, reaching out his arms to her: " Hermy ! " But she shrank from his contact and, hastening from the room and along the little passage, closed the door and left him to his hopeless misery. As one in a dream she followed the old man down the stairs, was aware of his ushering her through the crowd of women and children who thronged about the big car. As one in a dream she found herself seated beside Mrs. Trapes, whose motherly solicitude she heeded no more than the bustle and traffic Of Remorse 287 of the streets through which the swift car whirled her on and on until, turning, it swung in between massive gates and pulled up before a great, gloomy house. As one in a dream she ascended the broad steps, crossed a stately hall, was ushered up a noble stairway and along thick-carpeted corridors until at last she found herself in a darkened chamber where, his dark head conspicuous upon the white pillow, he lay. A nurse rose from beside the bed as Hermione entered and softly withdrew. Left alone, she stood for a long moment utterly still, her hands tightly clasped, her breath in check, gazing at that dark head upon the pillow, at that outstretched form lying so silent and so very still. " Hermione ! " A feeble whisper, a sigh faintly breathed, but at the sound she had crossed the wide chamber on feet swift and noiseless, had sunk upon her knees beside the low bed to lean above him all murmurous love and sighing tender ness, while she stole a timid hand to touch the hair that curled upon his pallid brow ; then, for all his helplessness, she flushed beneath his look. " How beautiful you are ! " he said faintly, " and I weak as confounded rat ! Hermione love, they tell me I must die. But first I want you for my very own if only for a little while ! " " Oh, my dear," she whispered, soft mouth against his pale cheek, " I always was yours yours from the very first ; I always shall be." " Then you '11 marry me? " " Yes, dear." "Now?" " Yes, dear." "I hoped you would, so I arranged minister 's waiting now. Will you ring? " And he motioned feebly toward an electric bell-push that stood upon a small table beside the bed. And now once again as one in a dream she obeyed, and was presently aware of soft-treading figures about her in 288 The Definite Object the dim chamber among them the Old Un whose shoes for once creaked not at all. As one in a dream she made the responses, felt the feeble clasp of that hand whose strength and masterful power had thrilled her, heard the faint echo of that loved voice that had wooed her so pas sionately once, yet wooed in vain, while now She was alone again, alone with him who lay so very still and pale with eyes closed wearily ; from him she glanced to that which gleamed so bright and new upon her finger and bending her head she pressed the wedding ring to her lips. " Wife ! " he whispered ; the weary eyes were open, and his look drew her. So she knelt beside the bed again, stooping above him low and lower until her head lay beside his upon the pillow. Slowly, slowly his feeble hand crept up to her glowing cheek, to the soft waves of her hair, and to the little curl that wantoned above her eyebrow. " Hermione - wife kiss me ! " Tenderly her arms enfolded him, and with a soft little cry that was half a sob she kissed him, his brow, his hair, his lips, kissed him even while she wetted him with her fall ing tears. " Beloved," he murmured, " my glorious scrub woman if I must leave you these dear hands need never never slave again. Never any more, my Hermione." Long after he had fallen to sleep she knelt there, cradling his weakness in her arms, looking down on him with eyes bright with love. After this were days and nights when the soul of him wandered in dark places filled with chaotic dreams and wild fancies; but there was ever one beside him whose gentle voice reached him in the darkness, and whose tender hand hushed his delirium and soothed his woes and troubles. CHAPTER XXXV HOW GEOFFREY RAVENSLEE CAME OUT OF THE DARK SHE was knitting; and opening sleepy eyes he watched drowsily and wondered what it might be and was minded to enquire, but sighed instead and fell asleep again. She was knitting; knitting something in red wool, and opening his eyes again, he lay watching awhile and pon dered dreamily as to what it could be she wrought at so busily, for the wool was so very red and so extremely woolly. Her chin was set at an angle somewhat grim, she was sitting very upright in her chair and, though scrupulously hidden from sight, her elbows truly how portentous were the undisguisable points of those elbows ! And she was knitting fiercely in wool that was remarkably red and woolly. " Pray what is it, Mrs. Trapes ? " A feeble whisper, but, at the sound, faint though it was, Mrs. Trapes started, half rose from her chair, sank down again heavily and letting fall her knitting, stared at the invalid. " Land sakes, alive ! " she gasped. " Now you 've dropped it ! " said Ravenslee, his voice a little stronger. " Oh, dear beloved land o' my fathers it 's come ! " she exclaimed, clasping her hands, " the Lord be praised for evermore, it 's come ! " "What has?" " The turn ! And you 've took it ! Doctor Dennison says last night as you 'd take it soon one way or t' other. But all night long while they waited and watched here, you 've laid so pale an' still as a corp'. An' now, while 290 The Definite Object I 'm a-settin' here, you go an' take th' turn so sudden as fair takes my breath away, Lord be praised ! I mean I mean oh, I guess I '11 go wake the doctor." " But you have n't told me what it is," said Ravenslee drowsily. "What what is?" " That very peculiar woolly thing." "This?" said Mrs. Trapes, picking up the object in question, " this is my knittin'. Doctor said t' call him th' moment th' turn came " Her voice seemed to sink to a slumberous murmur as, having smoothed his pillow, she crossed the room and very softly closed the door behind her; wherefore Ravenslee blinked sleepily at the door until its panels seemed slowly to become confused and merge one into another, changing gradually to a cloud, soft, billowy, and ever growing until it had engulfed him alto gether, and he sank down and down into unknown deeps of forgetfulness and blessed quietude. She was knitting; knitting a shapeless something in red wool, and Ravenslee thought he had never known her elbows more threatening of aspect nor seen wool quite so red and woolly; wherefore he presently spoke, and his voice was no longer a feeble croak. "Pray what is it, Mrs. Trapes?" Mrs. Trapes jumped. " Well, for th' love o' heaven ! " she exclaimed, and down fell her knitting. " Now you 've dropped it ! " said Ravenslee a little petulantly. "Your very identical words!" said Mrs. Trapes in awed tones. " Nacher sure * moves in a mysterious way her wonders to perform ' ! " "What do you mean?" " I mean as them was the identical words as you ad dressed to me when you took th' turn two days ago ! " * Two days ! " exclaimed Ravenslee, staring. " Ever since you did take the turn two days ago, you 've Out of the Dark 291 laid there so quiet an' peaceful no more dreams an' ravin' you 've jest laid there 'wrapped in infant slum bers pure an' light ', Mr. Geoffrey Ravenslee, I mean." " Why then, it 's about time I got up. If you '11 kindly er retire and send Patterson, I '11 get dressed." " Dressed? " echoed Mrs. Trapes, hollow-voiced and grim. "Get up? Lord, Mr. Geoffrey!" "Certainly. Why not? " " What, you you as is only jest out o' the valley o' th' shadder ! You as we 've all give up for dead over an' over ! You get up ? Lord, Mr. Geoffrey I mean Ravenslee ! " " Oh," said Ravenslee, knitting his dark brows thought fully, " have I been sick long? " "Four weeks." " Weeks ! " he exclaimed, staring incredulously. " Four weeks an' a bit ! For four weary, woeful weeks you 've been layin' here with death hoverin' over you, Mr. Geoffrey. For four long weeks we 've been waitin' for ye t' draw your las' breath, Mr. Ravenslee. For four 'eart- rendin' weeks your servants has been carryin' on below stairs an' robbin' you somethin' shameful." "My servants? Oh, yes, they generally do. But tell me- " The amount o' food as they consoom constant ! The waste ! The extravagance ! Th' beer an' wine an' sperrits they swaller! Them is sure the thirstiest menials ever I heard tell of ! An' the butler such airs, such a appe tite ! An' sherry an' bitters t' make it worse ! Lord, Mr. Geoffrey, your servants sure is a ravenin' horde ! " " Don't be too hard on 'em, Mrs. Trapes," he answered gravely, " I 'm afraid I 've neglected them quite a good deal. But it 's a woman's hand they need over them." " It 's a pleeceman's club they need on 'em frequent ! I 'd learn 'em different, I guess " " So you shall, Mrs. Trapes, if you will. You are pre cisely the kind of housekeeper I need." "What me?" 292 The Definite Object " You, Mrs. Trapes. A lonely bachelor needs some one to er take care of his servants for him, to see they don't overeat themselves too often ; or er strain themselves spring-cleaning out of season or " " But you got a wife t' do all that for you. I guess Hermy '11 know how to manage." "Hermione!" said Ravenslee, starting, "wife? Am I really married ? " " Sure ! Did n't she go an* let you wed her when we all thought you was *dy in' ? " "Oh, did she?" said he very gently. "Why then, it it was n't all a dream ? " " Mr. Geoffrey, Hermy 's been Mrs. Ravenslee, your lawful wedded wife, just exactly four weeks." Ravenslee stared up at the ceiling, dreamy-eyed. " Good heavens ! " he murmured. " I thought I 'd only dreamed it." " Hermy 's watched over you night an' day a'most like th' guardian angel she is prayin' f you, workin' f you, fightin' death away from you. Oh, I guess it 's her fault as you 're alive this day ! Anyway, her an' you 's man an' wife till death do you part." " But death has n't, you see." " An' death sure ain't goin' to yet." " No, I 'm I 'm very much alive still, it seems." " You sure are, glory be t' th' Lord of Hosts to who I have also petitioned frequent on your behoof. An' now I '11 call th' doctor." " No, no not Dennison ; let me see her first. Can't I speak to Hermione first, Mrs. Trapes?" " She was up with you all las' night, sweet lamb ! It 'd be a shame to wake her " " So it would don't disturb her." " But I guess she 'd never forgive me if I did n't wake her. So if you'll promise t' be good " "I will!" " An' not go gettin' all worked up an' excited? " "I will not!" Out of the Dark 293 " Why then, perhaps ten minutes would n't hurt." " God bless you, Mrs. Trapes ! " Left alone, he tried to sit up, and finding this strangely difficult, examined his hands and arms, scowling to find himself so weak. Then he clapped hand to bony jaw and was shocked to feel thereon a growth of ragged beard, and then she was before him. Fresh from her slumbers she came, wrapped in a scanty kimono whose thin, cling ing folds revealed more of her shapely beauty than he had ever seen as she hurried across the wide chamber. " Hermione," he said, and reached out his hands to her. And his voice was no longer the feeble echo it had been ; the hand that clasped hers, though still thin and weak, thrilled her anew with its masterful touch. Because of all this, her words of tender greeting remained unspoken, the arms which had been eager to cradle his helplessness crossed themselves on her bosom; she became aware of naked ankles and of bare feet thrust into bedroom slippers and needs must hide them, and the better to do so, sank upon the bed, her feet tucked under her. So she sat, just beyond his reach, and, conscious of scanty draperies, shook her shining hair about her, veiling herself in its glory. " Hermione," he said unsteadily, "I I never knew quite how beautiful you were and we we are mar ried, it seems ! " " Yes," she said softly. " And now I 'm I 'm afraid I 'm going to live ! " "Afraid?" " It it almost seems as though I had married you under false pretences, doesn't it? But the doctors and everybody were so certain I was to die that I thought so too. And now I 'm going to live, it seems." She was silent, and slowly his hand went out to her again, and slowly hers went to meet it, but though her fingers clasped and twined, thrilling in mute passion to his touch, she came no nearer, but watched him from the shadow of her hair with great troubled eyes. 294 The Definite Object " Dear," he said, very humbly, " you do love me still, don't you? " " More than ever." " Then you 're not sorry to be my wife? " " No ah, no, no ! " she whispered, " never that ! " " Then, dear, won't you will you kiss me ? " Seeing she hesitated, he sank back on his pillow and laughed a little ruefully. " I forgot these confounded whiskers I must look an unholy object. Patterson shall shave me, and then perhaps " But sudden and warm and soft her arms were about him, and her eyes, troubled no longer, gazed into his, brimful of yearning tenderness. " Oh, my dear, my dear," she murmured, quick and passionate, " as if I should ever care how you looked as long as you were just you. My dear, my dear, you have come back to me from the very gates of death be cause I I " " Because you nursed me so tenderly ! " " Ah, no, there were others to do that no, God gave you back to me because He is merciful, and because I love you want you need you so much ! " " Oh, my Hermione Kiss me ! " A knock at the door, and, quick-breathing, she drew from him as the voice of Mrs. Trapes reached them. ' Ten minutes is up ! " she announced as she entered, " and Hermy, if you don't want th' doctor t' see you in your nightdress an' that " " Ann ! " gasped Hermione, drawing the folds of her kimono about her. " Anyway, he 's coming." Up sprang Hermione, in doing which she lost a slipper. " Give it me ! " she pleaded, for Ravenslee had caught it up. " Dear, you have one be content," he answered. " And surely I may kiss my wife's slipper without you having to blush so so deliciously, Hermione?" " It 's so old and shabby ! " said she faintly. Out of the Dark 295 " That s why I kiss it." " An' here comes th' doctor ! " said Mrs. Trapes,. Whereat Hermione incontinent fled away, white foot agleam. Then Ravenslee, having kissed the little slipper quite brazenly under Mrs. Trapes's staring eyes, tucked it beneath his pillow. " Why, Mr. Geoffrey ! " said Mrs. Trapes. CHAPTER XXXVI CONCERNING A CLEW ** MRS. TRAPES," said Ravenslee, laying aside the book he had been reading and letting his glance wander across smooth lawns and clipped yew hedges, " Mrs. Trapes, what about that stewed shin of beef with carrots and onions you prepared for our wedding supper? " " Which," said Mrs. Trapes, glancing up from her ever lasting knitting, " which you never stopped to eat." " Which omission I will now haste to rectify. Mrs. Trapes, pray go and get it ready I 'm ravenous ! " " Good f'r you ! " said Mrs. Trapes ; " in about half an hour you shall have a nice cup of beef tea to raven at " " Confounded slops ! " growled Ravenslee. " Doctor's orders ! " nodded Mrs. Trapes, clicking her knitting needles. " Can't I have something to chew at? " " Sure. How '11 a cracker soaked in milk soot? " " Cracker ! " snarled Ravenslee. " Doctor's orders ! " Ravenslee muttered and took up his book. "Helen who, did you say?" enquired Mrs. Trapes, glancing up. " Mr. Geoffrey I mean Ravenslee, I 'm surprised at you swearin' ain't good for a invalid ; your temperature '11 be rose if you swear." " But, my dear Mrs. Trapes, I 'm hungry, very hungry darned hungry ! " " Which is a sign as you 're improvin' rapid. Beef tea '11 be here soon." "I won't drink the stuff!" " Oh, but you will, when Hermy brings it." Concerning a Clew 297 " Hermione ! " said Ravenslee, his voice grown gentle, and laying down his book again. " Mrs. Trape, have you noticed any change in her lately? " " A bit handsomer, p'r'aps " " Yes, but I don't mean that ; it 's something that puz zles me. She seems to have grown more more reserved and shy " " Well, she was married to you before she knew it kind of, almost." " Do you suppose that 's it? " " Sure ! What you got t' do, Mr. Geoffrey, is woo her! Woo her all you know how. The best woman can't be wooed too hard nor too frequent so you start in an* woo." " But sometimes it has almost seemed that she avoided me." " Well, don't let her." " Do you suppose she 's grieving for Spike? " " Well, he ain't exactly a j 'y t' her. There he is going straight to the devil along o' that Bud M'Ginnis ! " " I must go and fetch him as soon as I can get about again." " If he '11 come." " Oh, he '11 come," said Ravenslee grimly. " I 've de cided to send him to college " "If he'll go!" " Oh, he '11 go there 's quite a lot of good in him, Mrs. Trapes." " Only it 's mighty hard to find, Mr. Geoffrey ! If that b'y wants t' go t' th' devil, to th' devil he '11 go. What you got t' do is t' make her forget him if you can. Oh, drat him, anyway ! " and squaring her elbows, Mrs. Trapes knitted so angrily that her knitting needles clashed like weapons fiercely opposed. " Yes, but suppose she is grieving for him, Mrs. Trapes?" " Why then," said Mrs. Trapes, " why then oh, shucks I guess I '11 go an' see after that beef tea." 298 The Definite Object When she had gone, Ravenslee sat plunged in gloomy thought until roused by the sound of approaching feet with a creak of shoes, a loud, arrogant creak there was no mistaking, and the Old Un appeared followed by Joe and the Spider, the latter looking very smart in his new livery. " Guv," said the Old Un, " best respex ! 'Ere we be, come to say 'ow glad we are t' see you come up smilin' an* ready for more after Fate ketchin' ye a perishin' wallop as we all thought 'ad doubled ye up till the day o' doom. 'Ere you are, on your pins again, an' 'ere 's us come t' give ye greetin's doo an' j'y o' your marriage shut up, Joe!" " Why, I was n't speakin' ! " growled Joe. " No, but you meant to you 're always meanin' to, you are. Guv," continued the Old Un, " folks is allus a-givin' an' takin' in marriage in this 'ere world, such bein' their natur' they can't 'elp it ! But never in this world nor no other was there ever sich a weddin' as yours. There was 'er so young an' fair an' full o' life, an' there was you so pale an' nigh to death one leg in the grave an' there was me s' full o' years an' wisdom an' sorrer for ye both oh, my pore old bowels was fair yearnin' over ye " " Lord, Old Un," expostulated Joe, " you keep them bowels o' yours out of it " " Shut up, Joe, in your ignorance ; bowels is in the Bible, an' bowels I abide by now and forever, amen ! Well, there we all were, Guv, bendin' o'er your couch o' care very silent an' solemn, ' Not a drum was 'card, not a funereal note ' an' there was you s' pale an' nigh t' death " " You said all that afore, Old Un ! " growled Joe. " You leave me alone, Joe," said the Old Un, scowling and flourishing a trembling fist, " you lemme be, or you '11 be pale an' nigh t' death next. Well, there was you, Guv, an' all s' pale an' still when: * 'Oo giveth this woman?' Concerning a Clew 299 says the parson-cove very solemn. * That 's me ! ' says I, quick an' ready. An' so, me 'avin' 'elped t' marry you, I 've brought Joe an' Spider t' wish you 'ealth an' 'appi- ness an' a j'y continual. Now, Joe, it's your round speak up ! " " Sir," said Joe heavily, " I we I mean Lord, sir, I am that glad ah, glad as as never was " "That'll do for you, Joe!" snapped the Old Un. " Spider's round." Hereupon the Spider lurched forward, hunched his wide shoulders, took off his smart cap, and stared at it very hard. " Bo," said he, chewing vigorously, " I mean boss er no, that ain't right either this is sure a bum start I 'm makin' " " * Bo ' will do, Spider," said Ravenslee, " let it go at that." " Why then, bo, I ain't one as is ever goin' t' win any gold-mounted testimonials at any talk-fest or heart-throb- bin' spiel-act, but what I wanter tell you is this an' I guess you know I ain't only breathin' out puffs o' hot air I want yer t' know as I feel about you like like Joe an' the Old Un does an' then some more. Y' see, bo, though I ain't never held a straight flush agin four aces an' don't expect to, though I shan't ever be a world's champion like Joe here I guess I know to-day what it feels like, because you ain't goin' t' snuff it, after all an' now I guess you 're on." Saying which, the Spider dexterously shifted his wad to the other cheek and chewed faster than ever. " I am, Spider, and I want you to know I 'm grateful to you, all three. Also I want to thank you all for keep ing this affair out of the papers, though how you managed it beats me." " Guv," cried the Old Un, tremulous and eager, " oh, Guv, we 're fair sleuth-hounds, we are specially me. There ain't a 'tective nor secret-service cove nor bloomin' bobby fit to black our shoes specially mine ! Y' see, 300 The Definite Object Guv, I know who done it ; Joe thinks he knows ; an' Spider don't think at all ! " " Oh? " said Ravenslee, and looking around, caught the Spider watching him wide-eyed, his jaws grimly tense and immobile ; but meeting his glance, the Spider lowered his eyes, shifted his smartly-gaitered legs, and chewed viciously. " So, Guv," piped the Old Un cheerily, " we 're out for the criminal's gore specially me. We 're goin' to track the perisher to 'is 'orrible doom ' Where'er he be To th' gallers tree Oh, Guv, we mean t' bring him; An' laugh with j'y When nice an' 'igh The blinkin' bobbies swing 'im.' " " And you think you know who it was ? " " I do, Guv, I do ! " nodded the Old Un. " I knows as 'twas a enemy as done it; Joe thinks it was one o' them gang fellers, an' Spider don't say who he thinks done it." Once again Ravenslee caught the Spider's eye watching him furtively, and once again he noticed that the Spider's jaws were clamped hard, while he was twisting his natty chauffeur's cap in fingers strangely agitated. " Sir," said Joe, " me an' the Spider searched that wood, an' we found a coat " " Shut up, Joe," snarled the Old Un, " you 're tellin' it all wrong. Guv, Joe an' the Spider went a-seekin' an' a-searchin' that wood, an' they found a cloo " "Oh?" said Ravenslee. " A cloo as is a-goin' t' 'ang somebody yet a cloo, Guv, as ain't t' be ekalled for blood-guilt an' mystery. Joe," said the Old Un, sinking his voice to a hoarse whis per, "the hour is come perjooce the cloo!" Hereupon Joe produced a pocketbook and took thence a highly ornate coat button whereto a shred of cloth was attached. Concerning a Clew 301 " I found this, sir," said he, " close by where you was a-lyin'." So Ravenslee took the button upon his palm, and, as he eyed it, the Spider saw his black brows twitch suddenly together, then he yawned. " And you found this in the wood, Joe ? " he enquired sleepily. " I did, sir. With that to help 'em, the perlice would have the murdering cove in no time, and more than once I 've been going to hand it over to 'em. But then I thought I 'd better wait a bit ; if you died was time enough, an* if you did n't I 'd keep it for you so, sir, there it is." " You did quite right, Joe. Yes, you did very right indeed!" For a long moment Ravenslee sat languidly twisting the button in thin white fingers, then flicked it far out over the balustrade down among the dense evergreens in the garden below. The Old Un gasped, Joe gaped, and the Spider sighed audibly. " Lorgorramighty ! Oh, Guv, Guv " quavered the old man, " you 've throwed away our cloo our blood- cloo th' p'lice you 've lost our evidence " " Old Un, of course I have ! You see, I don't like clews, or blood, or the police. You have all been clever enough, wise enough to keep this confounded business quiet, and so will I " " But, oh, Guv, arter somebody tryin' t' kill ye like a dog ain't there goin' t' be no vengeance, no gallers-tree, no 'lectric chair nor nothin' " " Nothing ! " answered Ravenslee gently. " Somebody tried to kill me, but somebody did n't kill me ; here I am, getting stronger every day, so we '11 let it go at that." " Why then I 'm done ! " said the Old Un, rising. " Guv, you 're crool an' stony-'earted ! 'Ere 's me, a pore old cove as has been dreamin' an' dreamin' o' gallers-trees an' 'lectric chairs, and 'ere 's you been an' took 'em off me ! Guv, I 'm disapp'inted wi' ye. Oh, ingratitood, thou art the Guv ! " So saying, the Old Un clapped on his hat and creaked indignantly away. 302 The Definite Object " Crumbs ! " exclaimed Joe, " what a bloodthirsty old cove he is, with his gallers-trees ! This means j am, this does." " Jam ? " repeated Ravenslee wonderingly. " Sir, whenever the Old Un 's put out, 'e flies to jam same as some chaps do to drink; makes a fair old beast of hisself , he do. If you '11 excuse us, sir, Spider an' me '11 just keep a eye on him to see as he don't go upsettin' his old innards again." Ravenslee nodded, and smiling, watched them hurry after the little old man; but gradually his amusement waned, and he became lost in frowning thought. So deeply abstracted was he that he started to find Mrs. Trapes regarding him with her sharp, bright eyes. " Mr. Geoffrey, here 's a cup o' beef tea as I 've pre pared with my own hand " " But where 's " " She 's gone t' bed. Here 's a cup o* beef tea as is stiff with nourishment, so get it into your system good an' quick." " Gone to bed " " She says it 's a headache, o* course drink it down while it 's hot but I reckon it 's more 'n a headache yes, sir. A while back I says t' you ' woo her,' I says, Mr. Geoffrey. I now says let her alone awhile. The poor child 's all wore out it 's nerves as is the matter with her, I reckon. So, Mr. Ravenslee, be patient, this ain't no wooin' time ; it 's rest she needs an' change of air " "Why, then, Mrs. Trapes, she shall have them I" CHAPTER XXXVII THE WOES OF MR. BRIMBERLY MR. BRIMBERLY, having dined well as was his custom, lay at his ease in a luxurious lounge chair in the shade of the piazza; the day was hot, wherefore on a table at his elbow was a syphon, a bottle, and a long glass in which ice tinkled alluringly; between his plump fingers was a large cigar and across his plump knees was an open paper over which he yawned and puffed and sipped in turn. Never theless Mr. Brimberly was bored and dropping the paper, languidly cherished a languorous whisker, staring dull- eyed across stately terraces and wide, neat lawns to where, beyond winding yew walks and noble trees, the distant river flowed. Presently as he sat he was aware of a small girl in a white pinafore approaching along one of these walks a small being who hopped along by means of a little crutch and sang to herself in a soft, happy voice. Mr. Brimberly blinked. Heedless of the eyes that watched her, the child turned into the rose garden, pausing now and then to inhale the scent of some great bloom that filled the air with its sweetness. Mr. Brimberly sat up, for he permitted few to enter the rose garden. All at once the child, singing still, reached up and broke off a great scarlet bloom. Mr. Brimberly arose. " Little girl ! " he called, in voice round and sonorous, " little girl, come you 'ere and come immediate ! " 304 The Definite Object The child started, turned, and after a moment's hesita tion hobbled forward, her little face as white as her pina fore. At the foot of the broad steps leading up to the piazza she paused, looking up at him with great, pleading eyes. Mr. Brimberly beckoned with portentous finger. " Little girl, come 'ere ! " he repeated. " Come up 'ere and come immediate ! " The small crutch tapped laboriously up the steps, and she stood before Mr. Brimberly's imposing figure mute, breathless, and trembling a little. " Little girl," he demanded, threatening of whisker, " 'oo are you and what? " " Please, I 'm Hazel." " Oh, indeed," nodded Mr. Brimberly, pulling at his waistcoat. " 'Azel 'oo, 'Azel what and say 'sir' next time, if you please." " Hazel Bowker, sir," and she dropped him a little curtsey, spoiled somewhat by agitation and her crutch. "Bowker Bowker?" mused Mr. Brimberly. "I've 'card the name I don't like the name, but I 've 'card it." " My daddy works here, sir," said Hazel timidly. " Bowker Bowker ! " repeated Mr. Brimberly. " Ah, to be sure one of the hunder gardeners as I put on three or four weeks ago." " Yes, please, sir." " Little girl, what are you a-doin' in that garden ? Why are you wandering in the vi-cinity of this mansion ? " " Please, I 'm looking for Hermy." "'Ermy?" repeated Mr. Brimberly, " 'Ermy? Wot kind of creater may that be? Is it a dog? Is it a cat? Wot is it? " " It 's only my Princess Nobody, sir ! " " Oh, a friend of yours ha ! Persons of that class do not pervade these regions ! And wot do I be'old grasped in your 'and? " Hazel looked down at the rose she held and trembled anew. The Woes of Mr. Brimberly 305 "Little girl wot is it?" demanded the inexorable voice. " A rose, sir." " Was it your rose? " " N-no, sir." " Don't you know as it 's a wicked hact to take what ain't yours? Don't you know as it's thieving and rob bery, and that thieving and robbery leads to prison bars and shackle-chains ? " " Oh, sir, I I did n't mean " the little voice was choked with sobs. " Well, let this be a warning to you to thieve no more, or next time I shall 'ave to become angry. Now go 'ence ! " Dropping the rose the child turned and hobbled away as fast as her crutch would allow, and Mr. Brimberly, having watched her out of sight, emptied his glass and took up his cigar, but, finding it had gone out, flung it away. Then he sighed and, sinking back among his cushions, closed his eyes, and was soon snoring blissfully. But by and by Mr. Brimberly began to dream, a very evil dream wherein it seemed that for many desperate deeds and crime abominable he was chained and shackled in a dock, and the judge, donning the black cap, sentenced him to be shorn of those adornments, his whiskers. In his dream it seemed that there and then the executioner ad vanced to his fell work a bony hand grasped his right whisker, the deadly razor flashed, and Mr. Brimberly awoke gurgling awoke to catch a glimpse of a hand so hastily withdrawn that it seemed to vanish into thin air. " 'Eavens and earth ! " he gasped, and clapping hand to cheek was relieved to find his whisker yet intact, but for a long moment sat clutching that handful of soft and fleecy hair, staring before him in puzzled wonder, for the hand had seemed so very real he could almost feel it there yet. Presently, bethinking him to glance over his shoul der, Mr. Brimberly gasped and goggled, for leaning over the back of his chair was a little, old man, very slender, 306 The Definite Object very upright, and very smart as to attire, who fanned himself with a j aunty straw hat banded in vivid crimson ; an old man whose bright, youthful eyes looked out from a face wizened with age, while up from his bald crown rose a few wisps of white and straggling hair. " 'Oly 'eavens ! " murmured Mr. Brimberly in a faint voice. The visitor, settling his bony elbows more comfortably, fanned himself until his sparse locks waved gently to and fro, and, nodding, spoke these words: " Oh, wake thee, oh, wake thee, my bonny bird. Oh, wake and sleep no more; Thy pretty pipe I 'ave n't 'card. But, lumme, how you snore! " Mr. Brimberly stared; Mr. Brimberly's mouth opened, and eventually Mr. Brimberly rose and surveyed the in truder slowly, up from glittering shoes to the dome of his head and down again; and Mr. Brimberly's ample bosom surged, 1 .5 eye kindled, and his whiskers ! " Cheer-o! " nodded the Old Un. Mr. Brimberly blinked and pulled down his waistcoat. " Me good man," said he, " you '11 find the tradesmen's entrance round the corner. Go away, if you please, and go immediate I 'm prehoccupied." " No, you ain't ; you 're the butler, you are, I lay my oath ' Spoons an' forks An' drawin' corks ' that 's your job, ain't it, chum? " " Chum ! " said Mr. Brimberly in tones of horror. " Chum ! " he repeated, grasping a handful of indignant whisker. " Oh, outragious ! Oh, very hobscene ! 'Ow dare you, sir? 'Oo are you, sir, eh, sir answer me, an' an swer prompt ! " " Leave them cobwebs alone, an* I '11 tell you, matey." " Matey ! " groaned Mr. Brimberly, turning up his eyes. " I 'm the Guv's familiar friend and personal pal, I am. The Woes of Mr. Brimberly 307 I 'm 'is adviser, confeedential, matreemonial, circumstan tial, an' architect'ral. I 'm 'is trainer, advance agent, manager, an' sparrin' partner that 's who I am. An' now, mate, 'avin' 'elped to marry 'im, I 've j est took a run down 'ere to see as all things is fit an' proper for 'is 'oneymoon ! " " My word, this is a mad feller, this is ! " murmured Mr. Brimberly, " or else 'e 's drunk ! " " Drunk? " exclaimed the Old Un, clapping on his hat very much over one eye and glaring, "wot me?" *' I repeat," said Mr. Brimberly, addressing the universe in general, " I repeats as 'e is a narsty, drunken little person ! " " Person ? " cried the Old Un, scowling, " why, you perishin' " "'Old!" said Mr. Brimberly, "'old, I beg! Enough 'as been said go 'ence ! 'Oo you are I do not know, wot you are I do not care, but in these regions you do not remain ; your langwidge forbids and " "Langwidge?" snorted the Old Un. " Whyf I ain't begun yet, you blinkin', fat-faced, owl-eyed piece o' sooet " " Your speech, sir," continued Mr. Brimberly with calm austerity and making the most of whiskers and waistcoat, " your speech is re-dolent of slums and back halleys. I don't know you. I don't want to know you! You are a feller ! Go away, feller ! " " Feller? " snarled the Old Un, " why you " " I repeat," said Mr. Brimberly with dignified delibera tion, " I repeat as you are a very low, vulgar little feller ! " The Old Un clenched his fists. "Right-o!" he nodded cheerily. "That's done it! F' that I 'm a-goin' t' punch ye in th' perishin' eye-'ole ! " And he advanced upon the points of his toes, shoulders hunched, and head viciously outthrust. " My word ! " exclaimed Mr. Brimberly, retreating rather precipitately, " this is very discomposing, this is ! I shall have to call the perlice." 308 The Definite Object " Perlice ! " snarled the Old Un, fiercer than ever, " you won't have nothing t' call with when I 've done wi' ye. I 'm goin' t' j ab ye on th' beak t' begin with, then I '11 'ook my left t' your kidneys an' swing my right to your p'int an' crumple ye up with a jolt on your perishin' solar plexus as '11 stiffen you till th' day o' doom ! " " 'Oly angels ! " murmured Mr. Brimberly, glancing hastily about. " Then while you lay bathed in 'orrible gore, I 'm goin' t' twist them whiskers into a 'angman's knot ! " "This is most distressing!" sighed Mr. Brimberly. " Then," continued the Old Un, grinding his remaining teeth, " I 'm a-goin' t' tread your face in an' dance on y'r blighted stummick. Arter that " " Oh, dear me ! " exclaimed Mr. Brimberly, retreating before the oncoming peril and mopping perspiring brow. But suddenly his wandering eye was arrested by velvet and gold braid, and lifting up his voice he called : " William ! James ! Come 'ere and come sharp ! " Two vast and splendid shapes loomed upon the scene, supermen whose silken calves quivered with unaccustomed haste; at a sign from Mr. Brimberly they seized upon the Old Un and, despite ghoulish threats, solemnly bore him off. Down the broad sweep of drive they went, the Old Un po ring forth fluent curses with every step, until they came to a powerful automobile from beneath which a pair of neatly gaitered legs protruded. " Joe ! " cried the Old Un, apostrophising these legs, " Joe, stop bein' a crawlin' worm come out an' bash these perishers for me, like a good lad ! " But even while he spoke, the footmen hauled him along, so that when Joe eventually wriggled from under the car the three were close against the great gates. The Old Un was earnestly explaining to his captors exactly what he thought of them, of their fathers and mothers, their kith and kin, and the supermen were heed ing him not the least, when a thunderbolt seemed to smite The Woes of Mr. Brimberly 309 them asunder, and Joe was glancing mild-eyed from one splendid, supine form to the other. " Hullo, Old Un ! " said he, " what 's the matter now, you old book o' bad language, you? " But Mr. Brimberly, somewhat shaken with his late in terview and feeling the need of a stimulant, had just re filled the long glass when, hearing a rustle behind him, he turned and beheld a tall woman, elderly and angular, es pecially as to chin and elbows, which last obtruded them selves quite unpleasantly; at least, as he eyed them there was manifest disapprobation in every hair of his whiskers. " Now I wonder," he sighed plaintively, " I wonder what under the blue expandment of 'oly 'eaven you might be, because if you 'appen to be the washing " " I am not ! " " Or the cannybal missions " " No sech thing ! " " Oh ! " said Mr. Brimberly, and his gaze wandered to the elbows. " Why, then, let me hinform you " " Ann Angelina Trapes is me name." " Why then, ma'am, you 've took the wrong turning. 'Owbeit an' notwithstanding, 'ooever you are and never theless, you will find the tradespeople's entra " " You 're the gentleman as is so obligin' as to be Mr. Ravenslee's butler, ain't you? " " Sich is my perfession," Mr. Brimberly admitted. I am in sole charge of these pre-mises and so being will ask you to withdraw 'ence immediate. I will ask " " An' I '11 ask you, very p'inted, what you reckon you 're doin' in that chair? " " Doing? " " I '11 ask you, very p'inted, why you 're loafin' around wastin' your master's time? " " Loafing? " cried Mr. Brimberly, very red in the face. " Loaf " " I also ask you, very p'inted, wherefore an' why you loaf, guzzlin' an' swillin' your master's good liquor?" 310 The Definite Object " Guzzling ! " gasped ^lr. Brimberly. " Oh, 'eavens, this is a outrage, this is ! I '11 " " It sure is ! An' so are you, winebibber ! " " Winebib " Mr. Brimberly choked, his round face grew purple, and he flourished pudgy fists while Mrs. Trapes folded her cotton-gloved hands and watched him. " Winebibber ! " she nodded. " An' the wine as you now bib is your master's, consequently it was stole, an' Ijein' stole you 're a thief, an' bein' a thief " "Thief!" gurgled Mr. Brimberly. "Ha, thief's a hepithet, thief is, and a hepithet 's hactionable ! I '11 'ave you indented for perjoorious expressions " " Winebibber ! " she sighed. " Snake an' plunderer ! " " Never," cried Mr. Brimberly, " never in all my days did I ever 'earken to such contoomacious contoomacity ! 'Oo are you an' wot " " Hand over that bottle and what you 've left o' them cigars ! " " Woman, begone ! " he cried hoarsely. " Woman, if you don't go 'ence this very moment, I '11 have you perse cuted with the hutmost vigour o' the law for a incorrigible female ! " " Female ! " repeated Mrs. Trapes ; and clasping her self in her long, bony arms she shuddered and smiled, though her eyes glared more stonily, and her elbows sug gested rapier points, daggers, and other deadly weapons of offence. " Female it were, I think ? " she enquired with another grim and smiling shudder. " Now, sir, to you I sez, de based creecher, I sez, vulgar an' dishonest loafer, I sez, sly an* subtle serpent, I sez, return to the back scullery wherefrom you sprang lest I seize you by the hair of your cheeks an' bounce your silly head against the wall fre quent, I sez ! " and very slowly, Mrs. Trapes moved toward him. Mr. Brimberly hesitated, but before those deadly elbows he blenched, his whiskers wilted all at once, and he re treated backwards; across the spacious drawing room, The Woes of Mr. Brimberly 311 along the hall and down the stairs he went, his pace ever accelerating, until, in full flight, he reached the sanctuary of his pantry, where, having locked himself securely in, he sank panting into a chair to mop beaded brow. " My word ! " said Mr. Brimberly. CHAPTER XXXVIII IN WHICH SOAPY TAKES UPON HIMSELF A NEW SOAPY was alone, which in itself was no new thing, for Soapy was a solitary soul at all times; but just now he sat close against the rotting fence which skirted that desolation behind O'Rourke's saloon. Moreover, it was night, and solitude profound was his. He sat on a bat tered and disused pail that chanced to be handy, a smoul dering cigarette dangling from his thin-lipped mouth, his long hands pendulous between his knees, his pallid eyelids sleepily a-droop ; but his eyes, quick and watchful, scanned the deeper gloom of fence and dismal outbuilding, and he sat there very patient and very still. At last he stirred slightly, the cigarette quivered and was motionless again, for, amid the shadows, he had seen a dim shape that flitted swiftly toward him ; on it came, creeping swift and silent beside the fence, nearer and nearer until it resolved itself into a slender form. Then Soapy spoke. " Hello, Kid ! " Ensued a moment of tense silence, then Spike answered, his voice unnaturally thin and high-pitched. " That that you, Soapy? " "'S right, Kid!" " What you doin' around here? " " Who, me? Y* see, I 'm kind o' yearnin' for that gun you got there " " Gun ? I I ain't got no gun " " Well, Kid, I know Heine 's all kinds of a liar, but he tells me he 's loaned you one of his, an' so " Soapy's long arm shot out in the gloom and seizing Spike's right arm he drew it near. " Why, Kid," said he, " it Soapy in a New Role 313 kind o' looks like Heine told the truth for once by acci dent, don't it? " " You leggo my wrist ! " " Right-o, Kid, right-o ! Don't get peeved " " Well, leggo then ! " " Sure ! Only this artillery ain't goin' t' be no good t' you t'night ye see, Bud ain't here ! 'S rough on ye, Kid, 's rough, but he ain't ! " " W what d' ye mean ? " stammered the boy. " I mean as you comin' here t' plug holes in Bud's car case it 's kind o' rough on you as there ain't goin' t' be no carcase here to plug. Y' see, Bud 's took his carcase up-town with him t'night " " You 're a liar, Soapy, a liar ! Bud 's inside, I know he is. Leggo my arm, you can't con me ! " "'S right, Kid, I ain't tryin'. Only I'm tellin' you Bud 's left me an' Lefty t' run things here t'night. Bud 's up-town at his old man's place. I know because I sent him, see? " " You sent him you? Ah, come off ! You could n't ! " " 'S right, Kid ; I got him away by a fake telegram." The boy ventured a long, quivering -sigh, his whole frame relaxed, and in that instant Soapy wrenched the weapon from his loosened hold and rose. Choking with passion, Spike sprang at him, but Soapy fended him off with a long arm. " Gimme that gun ! " " Behave, Kid, behave, else I '11 have t' dot ye one ! Be good an' chase off home; this ain't no place for you t'night nor no other time." " Gimme that gun ! " " No ! " Spike ceased the useless struggle and leaned against the fence, panting, while Soapy reseated himself upon the battered pail. " What you got t' come buttin' in for ? " demanded the boy, " this ain't your show, an' I guess you ain't so mighty fond o' Bud either " 3 14 The Definite Object " 'S right, too," nodded Soapy, " no, I ain't exactly fond of him, Kid ; leastways I don't run t' help him if he falls nor kiss th' place t' make it well no, Kid ! But I kind o' feel that Bud 's too good t' snuff it this way, or snuff it yet ! " " Good? " said the lad bitterly, " good hell ! He 's ruined me, Soapy, he 's done me in ! He 's come between me an' an' Hermy. He tried t' make me think dirt of her, an' now now I I 'm all alone ; I ain't got nobody left oh, my God ! " and huddling to the fence, Spike broke out into a fierce and anguished sobbing, while Soapy, spinning the revolver dexterously on his finger, watched him under drooping lids. " She was mighty good t' ye, Hermy was ! " said he thoughtfully. " Don't ah, don't ! " gasped Spike. " An' when he spoke dirt of her, you believed him, Kid!" " I did n't." " You did, else you 'd have been with her now. She was always good t' you, Hermy was, but you well, you pre ferred Bud ! " " I did n't, Soapy ; God knows I did n't only I thought Bud would make me a champion " " By gettin' ye soused, Kid ! " " Oh, I know I know now he 's only been stringin' me all along I know now it 's too late that 's why I 'm goin' t' kill him." " Kill him ! " mused Soapy. " Kid, there 's good killin's an' bad killin's, an' I reckon this 'ud be a good killin', maybe. But this ain't your job." "Why why ain't it?" " Well, you got a sister f'r one thing, an' besides, you ain't a killer." '* You gimme that gun an' see ! " cried the lad, reaching out a hand tremulous and eager. " When the time came, Kid, 'stead o' shootin', you 'd drop your gun like that time in th' wood." Soapy in a New Role 315 " Th' wood ! " Spike's voice dropped to a strangled whisper and he shrank back against the fence. " You my God, you saw ! " " 'S right, Kid, I was there ! An' I 'm kind o' glad y* could n't do it, glad for your sister's sake. But what I 'm thinkin' is that maybe she thinks it was you eh, Kid? " Spike writhed and groaned. "Eh, Kid?" "Yes!" " Why, then, if I was you, I 'd skin off right now an* put her wise; it may mean a whole lot t' her. Y' know where she is go an' tell her, Kid." " I can't ! I can't she don't want me no more, she 's done wi' me, I guess. I 'm oh, I 'm too low-down an' rotten ! " " Sure ! " nodded Soapy. " But she 's good, an' she 's a woman; an' good women are only made t' forgive, I reckon." " But there 's Geoff! I I could n't face Geoff." " That 's because you think a heap too much about a low-down rotten guy called Spike. I guess it 's about time you began t' think about your sister f a change. Well, s' long, Kid, I guess I '11 be movin' ; this pail comes a bit sharp after an hour of it." So saying, Soapy rose, nodded, and strolled away, still twirling the revolver upon that long and dexterous finger. For a moment Spike stood looking after him, then, chin on breast, turned and went his solitary way across the desolate waste. But now it was Soapy who, pausing, turned to watch him safe out of sight. Scarcely had the sound of Spike's departure died away than a door opened and closed hard by, and heavy steps approached, halted suddenly, and a hoarse voice demanded: "Who's there?" " Why, this is me, Bud." " What th' hell are ye hangin' around out here for? " questioned M'Ginnis suspiciously. 316 The Definite Object " Countin' th' stars, Bud, an' doin' th' Providence act * midst of life we are in death ' gag " " Aw, cut out that slush an' hike along t' Rayner's wi* me ; I got a j ob for you an' Heine " Side by side they crossed the gloomy, open lot until they were come beneath a lamp at a certain bleak street corner. Here Soapy paused and held out his hand, open to the light. " This don't happen t' be your ring, Bud? " he enquired lazily. M'Ginnis glanced at the ring upon that narrow palm, a ring wrought into the semblance of two hands that clasped each other, looked closer, drew in his breath sud denly, then straightened his shoulders and threw back his head. " No ! " he answered, frowning into Soapy's imperturb able face, " what th' hell made you think it was ? " " Why, ye see, Bud, it happens t' have your name scratched inside it, that 's all. But if it ain't yours, it ain't ! " And speaking, Soapy tossed the ring back over his shoulder far out into the open lot. For a long moment M'Ginnis stood motionless, staring back at that desolate plot of ground; when at last he glanced toward his companion, Soapy was lighting a fresh cigarette. CHAPTER XXXIX THE OLD UN ADVISES AND RAVENSLEE ACTS lir the rose garden was an arbour smothered in riotous bloom, and in the arbour was a divan, wide and low and voluptuously soft, meet for the repose of an invalid on a languorous afternoon, or indeed any other time. But just now the invalid reposed not at all but sat, elbow on knee and square chin on fist, very lonely and therefore very grim. All about him roses bloomed, filling the air with their sweetness, but he had no eyes for their beauty; upon the table within reach of his hand were books and maga zines, but he was in no mood for reading; clasped between strong white teeth he held his favourite pipe unlighted and cold, for tobacco had for him no savour. So he sat and scowled at the universe in general, and in particular at a robin that had boldly ventured near and was regard ing him with a very round, bright eye. " She 's avoiding me ! " said Ravenslee bitterly, teeth clenched upon his pipestem, " there 's no doubt about it, damn it ; she 's avoiding me ! And she 's not happy here either ! " The robin turned his head to regard the speaker with his other eye, then fluttered his wings and flew away as the lazy quiet of the afternoon was broken by the squeak of shoe leather, and glancing up, Ravenslee beheld the Old Un. " What cheer, Guv," said he, " greetin's doo and how 's the invalid?" " Invalid ! " repeated Ravenslee, scowling again, " I 'm no invalid ! " 3 1 8 The Definite Object " Spoke like a true-bred gamecock, s' help me ! " " I 'm as right as rain physically, Old Un, but " " Talkin' o' physic, Guv," said the old man, seating himself and nodding brightly, " talkin' o' physic, the physic as set you on your pins again was love, Guv, love ! " " But it so happens " " Wait a bit, I ain't done, Guv ! 'Ere 's me, a old cove as 'as lived 'ears an' 'ears an' 'ears an' 'ears longer 'n you, so nacherally I 'm a powerful lot fuller o' th' wisdom o' life than you, specially in matters o' th' 'eart, Guv. Now me, 'avin' 'elped you into th' matrimonial ring, as you might say, 'ave took your 'appiness under my wing, an', Guv, I don't like the way you 're shapin' " " But you see " " 'Old 'ard, Guv, let a pore old cove get a word in for a change. Now there 's you an' 'er, your fair young spouse, both up to each other's weight, sound in wind an' limb an' meant for j'y what I want is t' see you come to a clinch! This ain't no time for sparrin' an' out-fightin' yet 'ere you are a-feintin' at each other from opposite corners " " But " " 'Arf a mo', Guv, 'arf a mo' gimme a chance for a occasional word ! An' don't frown, Guv, don't frown at a pore old cove; y' see, there 's jest three blokes in this 'ard world as my old 'eart warms to, an' one on 'em 's Joe, an' t' other un 's you, an' t' other un 's 'er which ain't a bloke. Lord, Guv, what a soft armful o' beauty! 'Ow warm an' cuddlesome ! Oh, Guv, what a waist ! What lips ! What " " Old Un, for heaven's sake, shut up ! D' you think I 'm blind ? D' you think " " Guv, I dunno wot t' think ! 'Ere 's you with your 'ead in your 'ands, an' there 's 'er sighin' an' sighin' " "Sighing? Where? When? Why " " Sighin' an' sighin', Guv, so soft an' pretty I 'card 'er ! Also she wep' I seen 'er." " Where? " The Old Un Advises 319 " An' 'er tears, Guv, them pearly tears went t' my 'eart an' nobody t' put a arm round that waist, nor kiss them sweet lips, nor soothe them tears away ' Oh, alone she sat sighin' by a green wilier tree, With 'er 'and on 'er bosom, 'er 'ead on 'er knee, Weepin' wilier, wilier, wilier my garlan' shall be.' So, Guv, I ax you, man to man, why, oh, why are ye neglectin' your fair young spouse? An', Guv, I only ax because your 'appiness an' 'ers is mine s' 'elp me ! " " How if it 's the other way about, Old Un ? Suppose she avoids me? " " Why lumme, Guv ! 'T is a sure sign she needs per- soot. Remember this : ' 'Im as would lovely woman woo 'E lovely woman must persoo, For if 'e don't, 't is plain as plain That feller 'e will woo in vain.' An', Guv, I 've only took th' liberty o' sayin' this because my pore old bowels yearns to ye both on ye. Per- soot 's the word, Guv, per-soot ! " The Old Un nodded, rose, and creaked away, and Ra- venslee, looking after him, scowled no longer, but rising, sauntered across the trim garden to where there was a lily pool and, leaning over the marble rim, stared down into the placid water. Now as the Old Un went his way, there met him a little girl, very neat and tidy, who sang to herself in a small happy voice and tapped along on a crutch; but beholding the Old Un, his dazzling shoes, his rakish hat, she stood silent all at once, glancing up wistfully into that fierce, battered old face. " Lumme crutches ! " he exclaimed. " No, please only one, sir ! " she answered, dropping him a little, old-fashioned curtsey. " Crikey ! " said he, staring, " so young, so tender, an* a game leg ! A little angel wi' a broke wing lumme ! " So Age and Youth stared at each other and she, being 320 The Definite Object a child, was quick to heed that the eyes so bright beneath their hoary brows were kindly eyes, and the smile upon the grim old mouth was very reassuring, wherefore she smiled also. " Only one crutch, sir," she repeated. " An' the doctor says as I won't want it much longer, sir." Here, dropping another curtsey, she held up for his acceptance a bunch of wild flowers. " What P me, little maid? " he enquired. " Yes, please, sir." " Why bless bless your lovin' little 'eart ! " quavered the old man, and stooped to touch her rosy cheek with a hand gnarled and scarred with much hard punching, yet a very gentle hand indeed. " God bless that little game leg, but pretty flowers 'ud be wasted on a old bloke like me. You take 'em to th' Guv, see over there that tall chap leanin' over th' pool. But first gimme a a kiss instead, will ye, little lass?" " I 'd like to, sir. " And when the Old Un had kissed and been kissed right heartily, he pointed to Ravenslee's distant, lounging figure, winked, nodded, and squeaked away. Thus it was that Ravenslee, absorbed in thought, was presently roused by the quick light tapping of the little crutch and glanced up. " Oh ! " she cried softly ; the flowers fell and lay neglected as, clasping her hands, she stared up at him in radiant-eyed wonder. " Welcome, Highness ! " said he and bowed. " Oh, it 's the Prince my dear Prince ! Oh, Goody ! " and she hastened toward him, then stopped all at once, puzzled and abashed because of his elegant attire. Per ceiving which he reached out and drew her down by him on the marble seat beside the pool. " Why this sudden change of demeanour, Princess ? " he enquired. " What 's the matter? " " You 're you 're so different, sir so different an* grand in all them cute clo'es, sir." The Old Un Advises 321 " Am I, dear ? But I 'm j ust the same inside, you know. And, for heaven's sake, Princess, do not call me sir.' " " But the big gentleman that belongs here an' has all these lovely flowers an' everything he says as I must always say ' sir.' ' " Big gentleman? " " Yes, the big, soft gentleman with the cute little curls on his cheeks." " Oh him ! " said Ravenslee, laughing suddenly. " Indeed a very just description, Princess. But you don't have to worry about him any more ; he 's gone." "Gone? For good?" " For very good indeed ! " " Does n't all this beautiful, beautiful place belong t' him any more? " " Never any more." " Have you come here 'stead of him? Come t' stay? " " Yes." " An' can I pick a rose t' kiss sometimes ? " " As many as you like." " Oh ! " sighed the child rapturously, nestling within his arm, "isn't that just fine! I guess this sure is the Beautiful City of Perhaps, after all ! " " I wonder? " " Oh, but I 'm sure it is now th' gentleman 's gone I just know it is! " " What makes you so sure? " " Everything ! 'Cause you see, Prince, my daddy don't have t' be away all day any more. An' mumsey don't have t' sew late, nights, any more. An' when we came into the cute little house where we live there was the doll that says ' mamma ' jest waitin' f me. An' there was a big box o' candies, an' a doll carriage with real rubber on th' wheels jest like we used to talk about. So you see this must be Perhaps at last, an' I 'm so so happy only " Hazel sighed. "Only what?" 322 The Definite Object " I do wish Hermy could find her way here too ; she used t' be so tired sometimes." " You mean that you would like to find Princess Nobody, I guess." " Oh, but I can't ! I used to look an' look for her every day 'til th' gentleman said she was n't here, an' told me never t' come near th' big house any more." " But he 's gone, and you never had me to help you." " Oh, will you will you help me right now ? " she pleaded. " Surest thing you know ! " he nodded, " your hand, Princess." So hand in hand he led her, suiting his long legs to hers, along shady walks, up terrace steps, across smooth lawns, and so to the great house. Hazel paused to ques tion him further concerning " the gentleman ", but Ra- venslee laughed and, seating her upon his shoulder, bore her into the house. In her housekeeper's room, surrounded by many dusty bill files and stacks of account books, they presently found Mrs. Trapes, whose hawk's-eye viewed bills and trades men's books while she frowned and muttered such com ments as "Rogues!" "Thieves!" " Scand'lous ! " " Wicked ! " Until glancing up, her sharp features softened, and she smiled up into the child's happy face. " So Hazel 's found ye, has she, Mr. Geoffrey. An' talkin' o' her, you 've sure made the Bowkers a happy fam'ly. But, my land, Mr. Ravenslee, the scand'lous prices as th' tradespeople has been allowed t' charge you these last six months ! Here 's th' butcher listen t' this " " Heaven forbid, Mrs. Trapes ! Rather let that butcher listen to you, miserable wretch ! " " An' there 's the milkman that milkman's cows ought t' blush at th' sound o' your name ! Here 's his accounts for the last six months, an' I 've found " " Have you, Mrs. Trapes ? We 're trying to find Her- mione where is she ? " The Old Un Advises 323 " Oh, she 's in her room laying down, I guess." " Not," enquired Ravenslee, " not er in bed, is she? " " Mr. Geoffrey, I don't know ; I 'm busy. Go an' see for yourself she 's your wife, ain't she? " " Why, since you ask, I er hardly know," he an swered a little ruefully, " anyway, found she shall be." With the child perched upon his shoulder he strode up-stairs and along wide corridors whose deep carpets gave forth no sound, and so reached a certain door. Here he hesitated a moment, then knocked with imperious hand. " Come in ! " called that voice whose soft inflection had always thrilled him, but never as it did now as, turning the handle, he entered his wife's chamber. Hermione was standing before a long mirror, and she neither turned nor looked from the radiant vision it re flected ; her eyes, her attention, all the feminine soul of her being just then fixed and centered upon the tea gown she was trying on ; such a garment as she had gloated over in the store windows, yearned for, but never thought to possess. " Ann," she sighed, " oh, Ann, is n't it exquisite ! Is n't it a perfect dream ! Of course it needs a wee bit of altera tion here and there, but I can do that. Is n't it good of him to have bought it without saying a word ! And there are heaps of dresses and robes and and everything ! A complete trousseau, Ann, dear think of it! I wonder how he knew my size " " Oh, I just guessed it, my dear," answered Ravenslee in the voice of a much experienced husband. Hermione gasped, and turning, stared at him wide-eyed, seeing only him, conscious only of him. Lifting Hazel to the floor, he seated himself upon her bed and, crossing his legs, eyed her flushed loveliness with a matter-of-fact air. " Really," he continued, " I don't see that it needs any alteration; perhaps the sleeves might be a trifle shorter show a little more arm. But those flounces and 324 The Definite Object things are perfect! I hope all the other things fit as well? " Hermione flushed deeper still and caught her breath. " Oh, Hermy," said a soft, pleading little voice, " won't you see me, please? " Hermione started, her long lashes drooped suddenly, and then then, forgetful of costly lace, of dainty ruffles and ribbons, she was on her knees and had the child close in her arms. And beholding the clasp of those round, white arms, the lovely, down-bent head, and all the tender, craving, inborn motherhood of her, Ravenslee held his breath, and into his eyes came a light of reverent adoration. Presently he rose and left them together, but as he went, the light was in his eyes still. CONCERNING A HANDFUL OF PEBBLES " AND so," said Hermione, as she waved good-by to Hazel, who stood in the cottage doorway with Mrs. Bowker a Mrs. Bowker no longer faded, " you did n't forget even the doll that says ' Mamma '? " " It was such a little thing! " he answered. " What a man you are ! " she said softly. " Just that, Hermione," he answered, " and fright fully human ! " She was silent. " Do you know what I mean? " he demanded, glancing at her averted face. " Yes ! " she answered, without looking around. So they walked for awhile in silence. Suddenly he seized her hand and drew it through his arm. " Hermione," he said gently, " I want my wife." She still kept her head averted, but he could feel how she was trembling. " And you think " she began softly. " That I have been patient long enough. I have waited and hoped because " " Because you are so generous, so kind such a man ! " she said softly and with head still averted. " And yet since I have been well again, you have kept me at arm's length. Dear, you love me still, don't you?" "Love you?" she repeated, "love you?" For a mo ment she turned and looked up at him then drew her arm from his and walked on with head averted once more. So they entered the rose garden and coming to the lily pool leaned there side by side. 326 The Definite Object " Hermione," said he, staring down into the water, " if you really love me, why do you hate to kiss me? Why do you hardly suffer me to touch you ? And you 've never even called me by my name, that I remember ! " " Geoffrey ! " she breathed ; " and I love you to touch me! And I don't hate to kiss you, Geoffrey dear." " Then why do you keep me at arm's length ? " " Do I ? " she questioned softly, gazing down at the lily pads. " You know you do. Why ? " " Well because." " Because what ? " *' Oh, well, just because." " Hermione tell me." " Well, everything is so strange so unreal ! This great house, the servants, all the beautiful clothes you bought me! To have so very much of everything after having to do with so very little it 's all so wonderful and dreadful ! " "Dreadful?" " You are so dreadfully rich ! " "Is that the reason you keep me at such a distance? Is that why you avoid me?" "Avoid you?" " Yes, dear. You 've done it very sweetly and deli cately, but you have avoided me lately. Why? " Hermione did n't answer. " And you have n't touched any of the monthly allow ance I make you," he went on, frowning a little, " not one cent. Why, Hermione? " Hermione was silent. "Tell me!" Still she was silent, only she bent lower above the pool and drew further from him, whereat his pale cheek flushed, and his frown grew blacker. And presently, as he scowled down into the water, she stole a look at him, and when she spoke, though the words were light, the quiver in her voice belied them. A Handful of Pebbles 327 " Invalid, dear, if you want to be angry with me, wait till you 're a little stronger." Ravenslee stooped and picked up a handful of small pebbles that chanced to lie loose. " Wife, dear," said he, " I 'm as well and strong as ever I was. But I 've asked you several questions which I mean you to answer, so I am going to give you until I have pitched all these pebbles into the water, and then " Hermione glanced up swiftly. " Then ? " she questioned. " Why then, if you have n't answered, I shall take matters into my own hands. One ! " and a pebble splashed into the pool. " What do you want to know? " " Two ! Why have n't you condescended to take your allowance? " " Dear, I I did n't need it, and even if I had, I oh, I could n't take it yet ! " "Three! Why not? " " Because you have given me so much already, and I have given you nothing." " Four ! Why have n't you ? " " Oh well because ! " " Five! What does 'because ' mean, this time? " " It means just because ! " " Six ! Seven ! Eight ! Why have you avoided me lately?" Hermione was silent, watching him with troubled eyes while he slowly pitched the pebbles into the pool, count ing as they fell. " Nine ! Ten ! Eleven ! Twelve ! Why do you keep me at arm's length? " " I don't I I you won't let me " she said a little breathlessly, while one by one he let the pebbles fall into the pool, counting inexorably as they fell. " Thirteen ! Fourteen, fifteen and that 's the last ! " As he spoke he turned toward her, and she, reading some thing of his purpose in his eyes, turned to flee, felt his 328 The Definite Object long arms about her, felt herself swung up and up and so lay crushed and submissive in his fierce embrace as he turned and began to bear her across the garden. Then, being helpless, she began to plead with him. " Ah, don't, don't dear ! Geoffrey ! Put me tlown ! Where are you taking me? If any one sees us " " Let them ! " he muttered grimly ; " you 're my wife ! " So he bore her across the garden into the arbour and laying her upon the divan, sank beside it on his knees, panting a little. " A little weak still ! " said he, " but not so bad you 're no scraggy sylph, thank heaven ! Hermione look at me!" But she turned and hid her face against him, for his clasp was close about her still. So he stooped and kissed her hair, her glowing cheek, her soft white neck, and, in that instant wonder of wonders her arms were around him, strong, passionate arms that clung and drew him close then strove wildly to hold him away. " Loose me ! " she cried, " let me go ! Geoffrey hus band, be generous and let me go ! " But he lifted her head, back and back across his arm until beneath her long lashes her eyes looked into his. " Hermione, when will you be my wife ? " Against him he could feel the sweet hurry of her breath ing, and stooping he spoke again, lip to lip : " Hermione, when will you be my wife ? " But, even while he kissed her, between those quivering, parted lips came a murmur of passionate prayer and pleading. " Oh, my love, wait wait ! Let me tell you ah, loose me and let me tell you." Slowly his hold relaxed, and, twisting in his arms, she slipped upon her knees beside him, and, crouching close, hid her face against him. " Beloved," she whispered quickly, breathlessly, " oh, dear man that I love so there is something between us, a shadow of shame and horror that is with me day and night and always must be. While you lay sick it was A Handful of Pebbles 329 there, torturing me with every moan and sigh you uttered. It is with me wherever I go it is between us now yes, now even while I strain you in my arms like this. I have watched you grow strong and well again, I 've seen the love in your eyes, and I 've yearned to be to you all you would have me, but because of this shadow I dare not. Ah, God, how can I be wife to you when let this answer for me." And she placed in Ravenslee's hand a coat button whereto a piece of cloth adhered. " Dear love, I saw you throw it away," she explained, " and I searched and searched until I found it." "Why?" " Because I knew you would soon ask me this ques tion, and I have kept it for my answer. Ah, God! how can I be wife to you when my brother would have killed you murdered you ! " Ravenslee hurled the button far away, then lifting Her- mione's bowed head, spoke very tenderly. " How does all this affect our love, Hermione, except to show me you are even sweeter and nobler than I had thought. And as for the shadow, it is only a shadow after all." " But it is my shame ! " she answered. " You might have had for wife the sister of a thief, but not oh, God ! not the sister of a would-be murderer. If if I came to you now, I should come in shame Ah, Geoffrey, don't shame me ! " " God forbid ! " he muttered. Close, close she clasped him, hiding her face against him, kissing and kissing the rough cloth of his coat. " Oh, Geoffrey," she murmured, " how we do love each other ! " " So much, Hermione, that I will never claim you until you are ready to come to me of your own will. But, dear, I am only a man how long must I wait ? " " Give me time," she pleaded, " with time the horror may grow less. Let me go away for awhile a little while. Let me find Arthur " 330 The Definite Object " No," he answered, frowning, " you shan't do that ; there will be no need to-morrow I go to fetch him." " To bring him here? " " Why, of course. You see, I intend him to go to college." Hermione rose and coming to the entrance of the arbour leaned there. " Why, Hermione dear love you 're crying ! What is it?" " Nothing," she answered, bowing her face upon her arm, " only I think if you ask me again I can't keep you waiting very long ! " CHAPTER XLI OF A PACKET OF LETTERS M'GiNNis jerked aside the roll-top desk and falling on his knees before a small but massive safe built into the wall behind, set the combination and swung open the heavy door, talking to his companion as he did so and quite un conscious of the pale face that watched him through the dingy window. " That dam' Soapy 's gettin' ugly," he was saying, " an' it don't do t' get ugly with me, Heine, boy ! Soapy thinks he 's smart Alec all right, but I guess I 'm some smarter. Why, I got evidence enough in here t' 'lectrocute a dozen Soapys." " So? " said Heine, chewing on his cigar and peering into the safe. " Say, what 's all them tied up in sassy blue ribbon, Bud? " " These? " said M'Ginnis, and he took out a bundle of letters, turning them over in his big hands. "Skirt hey, Bud?" " Sure thing ! " he nodded, and as he stared down at this packet, how should he know how tense and rigid had be come the lounging form in the darkness beyond the win dow, or guess of the wide glare of watchful eyes or of the sudden quiver of a smouldering cigarette? " Yes, a girl's letters, Heine ! An' a hell of a lot of 'em. I dunno why I keep 'em, but oh, hell ! " So saying he tossed the letters back again and turned to his com panion. " Hand over that dope ! " he commanded, and Heine passed over a bundle of papers which M'Ginnis carefully slipped into a certain compartment. As he did so, Heine spun around upon his heel. 332 The Definite Object " Gee whiz ! " he exclaimed, " you shook me that time, Soapy ! Where 've you blown in from " " An' what th' hell are you nosin' around here for, any way? " snarled M'Ginnis, shutting the heavy safe with a fierce slam ; " since you 've come in you can get out again right now ! " Soapy seated himself upon a corner of the desk and placidly breathed out two spirals of cigarette smoke. "Heard about Hermy bein' married, Bud?" he enquired. "Married? You're a liar! Hermy married? It's not so ! " " 'S right ! " nodded Soapy. " She 's married th' mil lionaire guy as got shot you know got shot in that wood you '11 remember, Bud ! " M'Ginnis sank into a chair and fell to biting his nails, staring blindly before him. " Is this straight goods ? " he enquired thickly, without altering his gaze. " Sure ! Y' see, she nursed him through his sickness, Bud kind of did the piller-smoothin' an' brow-strokin' act. Oh, I guess she comforted him quite some." M'Ginnis stared before him, worrying his nails with sharp white teeth. " Ravenslee 's a well man again, I hear, an' they 're honeymoonin' at his place on the Hudson devotion ain't the word, Bud ! 'S funny," said Soapy, " but th' bullet as downed this guy drove Hermy into his arms. 'S funny, ain't it, Bud? " With a hoarse, inarticulate cry that was scarcely human, M'Ginnis sprang from his chair, his quivering fists upflung. For a moment he stood thus, striving vainly for utterance, then wrenched loose his neckerchief, while Soapy methodically lighted a new cigarette from the butt of its predecessor. " Easy, Bud, easy ! " he remonstrated gently, when M'Ginnis's torrent of frenzied threats and curses had died down somewhat. " If you go on that way, you '11 go off A Packet of Letters 333 in a fit or somethin', an' I should n't like t' see ye die that way ! " " Up the river, is he ? " panted M'Ginnis. " 'S right, Bud, up the river in his big house with her. I " "Is he, by" " A dandy place f honeymoonin', Bud ! " " Loan me your gun, Soapy. I '11 get him, by God ! if I have t' shoot him in her arms loan me y'r gun ! " " I guess not, Bud, no, I guess not. I 'd feel kind o' lonesome without th' feel of it. Ask Heine ; he '11 loan you his ; it 's gettin' t' be quite a habit with him, ain't it, Heine?" M'Ginnis sat awhile glaring down at his clutching right hand, then he rose, opened his desk, and took thence a heavy revolver, and slipped it inside his coat. " You 're comin' with me, Heine," said he, " I '11 want you." " Sure thing, Bud," nodded Heine, chewing his cigar. " But what about lettin' Soapy tag along too." " Soapy," said M'Ginnis, striding to the door, " Soapy can go t' hell right now." " Why then, Bud," drawled Soapy, " I '11 sure meet you later. S' long." Left alone, Soapy's languor gave place to swift action. In two strides, it seemed, he was in the saloon, had beck oned the quick-eyed bartender aside and put the question: " Where 's the Kid, Jake? " The bartender lifted an" eyebrow and jerked a thumb upward. " Shut-eye," he nodded, and turned back to his multi farious duties. Up a narrow stair sped Soapy and, opening one of the numerous doors, crossed to a truckle bed wherefrom a tousled head upreared itself. " Who th' " " Say, Kid, are ye drunk or only asleep ? " "What yer want, Soapy? You lemme be what yer want? " began Spike drowsily. 334 The Definite Object " Nothin' much, Kid, only Bud an' Heine 's gone t' shoot up y'r sister's husband." " Husband ! " cried Spike, drowsy no longer. " Hus band say, d' ye mean Geoff? " " That 's who, Kid. You was crackin' on t' me about wantin' t' make good ; well, here 's y'r chance. Bud aims t' get there 'bout midnight up th' river, you know so you got two hours. You '11 have t' go some t' get in first, but I guess you can do it." " I will if it kills me ! " cried Spike, springing toward the door. " Hold on, Kid, you '11 need some mazuma, maybe. Here 's a ten-spot. It '11 be more useful t' you than me after t'night, I reckon. So get your hooks on to it, an' now beat it ! " Without more words Spike snatched the money, crammed it into his pocket and, running down the stairs, was gone. Then, after having lighted another cigarette, Soapy descended to M'Ginnis's dingy office, where having dragged away the desk, he brought a chair and sat with his ear against the safe, turning the combination lock with long, delicate fingers. To and fro he turned it, very patiently hearkening to the soft clicks the mechanism gave forth while the cigarette smouldered between his pallid lips. Soapy, among other accomplishments, was a yeggman renowned in the profession, and very soon the heavy door swung softly back, and Soapy became lost in study. Money there was and valuables of many kinds, and these he did n't trouble with, but to the papers he gave a scrupu lous attention; sometimes as he read his white eyelids fluttered somewhat, and sometimes the dangling cigarette quivered. Presently he arose and bore these many papers to the sheet iron upon which stood the rusty stove; here he piled them and set them alight and stood watching until they were reduced to a heap of charred ash. Then, returning to the safe, he took out a bundle of letters tied up in a faded blue ribbon, and seating himself at M'Gin- A Packet of Letters 335 nis's desk, he slipped off the ribbon and very methodically began to read these letters one after the other. But as he read the humble entreaties, the passionate pleading of those written words, blotted and smeared with the bitter tears of a woman's poignant shame and anguish, Soapy's pendent cigarette fell to the floor and lay there smouldering and forgotten, and his lips were drawn back from sharp, white teeth pallid lips contorted in a grin the more awful because of the great drops that welled from the fierce, half-closed eyes. Every letter he read and every word, then very methodically set them back within the faded blue ribbon and sat staring down at them with eyes wider open than usual eyes that saw back into the past. And as he sat thus, staring at what had been, he repeated a sentence to himself over and over again at regular intervals, speaking with a soft inflection none had ever heard from him before: " Poor little Maggie poor little kid ! " CHAPTER XLH TELLS HOW BAVENSLEE BROKE HIS WOED AND WHY " PAST eleven o'clock, dear," said Hermione. " Still so early ? " sighed Ravenslee. They were sitting alone in the fire glow, so near that by moving his hand he could touch her where she sat curled up in the great armchair ; but he did not reach out his hand because they were alone and in the fire glow, and Hermione had never seemed quite so alluring. " How cosy a fire is and how unnecessary ! " she sighed contentedly. " I 'm English enough to love a fire, especially when it is unnecessary," he answered. " English, dear? " " My mother was English ; that 's why I was educated in England." " Your mother ! How she must have loved you ! " " I suppose she did ; but, you see, she died when I was a baby." " Poor lonely mite ! " Here her hand came out impul sively to caress his coat sleeve and to be prisoned there by two other hands, to be lifted and pressed to burning lips, whereat she grew all rosy in the fire glow. " I suppose," said he, the words coming a little un evenly, " it would be too much to ask my wife to come a little nearer ? " " Nearer? Why, Geoffrey, dear, our chairs are touch ing now." "Our chairs? Why, yes so they are! I suppose," sighed he, " I suppose it would be breaking my word to my wife if I happened to kiss my wife? " Why Ravenslee Broke his Word 337 " Why, Geoffrey of course it would ! " " Yes, I feared so ! " he nodded and kissed her hand in stead, and there fell a silence. " How heavenly it is ! " she whispered softly, leaning a little nearer to him. " Heavenly ! " he answered, leaning a little nearer to her and watching the droop of her lashes. " So so quiet and peaceful ! " she added, drawing away again, conscious of his look. " Horribly ! " he sighed. " Geoffrey ! " " Quiet and peace," he explained, " may hold such an infinitude of possibilities impossible of realisation to a husband who is bound by promises, that it is apt to be a little trying." Hermione did n't speak but drew his hand to be caressed by the soft oval of a cheek and touched by the velvet of shy lips. " And yet," he went on, staring resolutely at the fire, " I would n't change this, for anything else the world could offer me ! " " Bear with me a little longer, dear ! " she murmured. " As long as you will, Hermione providing " "Well, my Geoffrey, dear?" " That it is only a little longer." " You don't think I 'm very silly, do you, dear? " she enquired, staring into the fire. " No, not very ! " " Oh ! " she said softly, glancing at him reproachfully. " You don't think me cruel ? " " Not very," he answered, kissing her hand again. " Dear Geoffrey, you don't think I 'm very selfish, do you? " she questioned wistfully. " No never that ! " he answered, keeping his gaze averted. "Because if " " If? " said he. " If it is hard for you " the soft voice faltered. 338 The Definite Object "Yes, Hermione?" " If you really think I 'm cruel and silly, you need n't wait any longer if you wish " His arms were about her, drawing her near, clasping her ever closer, and she held him away no more, but behold ing her wistful eyes, the plaintive droop of her vivid mouth, and all the voiceless pleading of her, he loosed her and turned away. " I love you so much Hermione, so much, that your will shall be my will." She rose, and leaning against the carved mantel stared down into the fire; when at last she spoke, there was a note in her voice he had never heard before. " Geoffrey, dear, this world is a very bad world for a lonely girl, and sometimes a very hateful world, and I have been lonely nearly all my life and I did n't think there were such men as you ; I did n't think any man could love so unselfishly. All my life I shall treasure the recollection of this hour yes, always ! always ! " Then she turned and, ere he knew, was on her knees before him, had twined soft arms about his neck, and was looking up at him through shining tears. " Yes, I 'm crying a little ! I don't do it often, dear tears don't easily come with me. But now I 'm crying because oh, because I 'm so proud so proud to have won such a wonderful love. Good night good night ! Oh, break your word for once kiss me, my husband ! " So while she knelt to him thus, he kissed her until she sighed and stirred in his embrace. Then she rose and hand in hand they crossed the room and he opened the door; for a blissful moment they stood there silent in the shadows, but when he would have kissed her again she laughed at him through her tears and fled from him up the wide stairway. CHAPTER XLIII HOW SPIKE GOT EVEN A CLOCK in the hall without struck midnight, but Ra- venslee sat on long after the silvery chime had died away, his chin sunk on broad chest, his eyes staring blindly at the fading embers, lost in profound but joyful meditation; once he turned to look where she had stood beside the mantel, and once he reached out to touch the thrice-blessed chair that had held her. The curtains stirred and rustled at the open window behind him, but he sat looking into the flickering fire, see ing there pictures of the future, and the future was full of a happiness beyond words, for in every picture Hermione moved. All at once he started and glanced swiftly around, his lounging attitude changing to one of watchful alertness, for he had heard a sound that drew rapidly nearer the hiss and pant of breath drawn in quick gasps. Silently he arose and turned to see the curtains swing apart and a shapeless something stagger forward and fall heavily. Then he reached out to the switch beside the hearth, and the room was flooded with brilliant light ; the figure kneel ing just inside the swaying curtains uttered a strangled cry and threw up a hand before his face, a hand dark with spattering blood. "Oh, Geoff oh, Geoff!" panted Spike, "I ain't come thievin' this time honest t' God, I ain't ! " " Why, you 're hurt what 's the matter? " " They see me down th' road as I came an' shot me, but this ain't nothin'. Out th' lights, Geoff out 'em quick ! " 34 The Definite Object But Ravenslee had crossed the room, had seized the lad's arm, and was examining the ugly graze that bled so freely. " That ain't nothin' douse th' lights, Geoff out 'em quick. Bud 's coming here close behind Bud an' Heine they mean t' plug you oh, put out th' lights " Instinctively Ravenslee turned, but even as he did so Spike uttered a hoarse cry. " No, ye don't, Bud not this time, by God ! " and sprang upon the form that towered between the curtains ; came the sound of fierce scuffling, a deafening report, and running forward, Ravenslee caught Spike as he staggered back ; heard a rush and trample of feet along the terrace, the sound of blows and fierce curses behind the swaying curtains, heard the Spider's fierce shout and Joe's deep roar, two more shots in rapid succession, and the swift patter of feet in flight and pursuit. " How is it, Spike? Are you hurt, old chap? " But Spike just then was beyond words, so Ravenslee bore the swooning boy to a settee, and laying him there, began to search hastily for the wound. But now the door was flung wide and Hermione was beside him. " Geoffrey oh, my love ! Have they hurt you ? " " No, dear thanks to Spike, here ! " " Arthur ! Oh, thank God did he ? " " Took the bullet meant for me, Hermione. I owe your brother my life ! " She was down on her knees and very soon her skilful fingers had laid bare the ugly wound in the lad's white arm. But now came Mrs. Trapes, looking taller and bonier than ever in a long, very woolly garment, and while she aided Hermione to bandage the wound, Ravenslee brought water and brandy, and very soon Spike sighed and opened his eyes. " Hello, Hermy ! " he said faintly. " Don't worry, I 'm all O. K. Bud shot me an' I 'm glad, because now I How Spike Got Even 341 can ask you t' forgive me. Y' see, he 'd have got old Geoff sure if it had n't been for me, so you you will forgive me, won't you? " For answer Hermione bent and kissed his pallid cheek. " I '11 go and 'phone for the doctor," said Ravenslee. " Which," said Mrs. Trapes, " I done ten minutes ago, Mr. Geoffrey. Doctor '11 be right along." Ravenslee turned to Spike. " How are you now, old fellow? " " Only a bit sick, like. But say, Geoff I know I played it low down on you, but will you shake an' try t' forget?" Ravenslee took and held the boy's outstretched hand. " I think we 're going to be better friends than ever, Spike ! " " Good ! " said Spike, smiling wearily, " but say, Geoff dear old Geoff if I got t' die I don't mind because I guess this makes us quits at last don't it, Geoff? " CHAPTER XLIV RETRIBUTION HALF-STUNNED by a blow from Joe's mighty fist, M'Ginnis saw Heine felled by Spider, who, having promptly and scientifically kicked him unconscious, snatched the revolver from his lax fingers and turned to pursue. As he came M'Ginnis fired rapidly but, dazed by the blow, his aim was wild, so he turned and ran, with the Spider in hot pursuit. The moon was down, and it was very dark, and soon M'Ginnis found himself in the denser gloom of trees. On he ran, twisting and doubling, on and on, until spent and breathless, he paused to hearken. Far away, voices shouted to each other, voices that gradually grew more distant; so, finally having caught his breath, M'Gin nis went on again. But the wood was full of noises strange rustling and sudden, soft night sounds and at every sound the fugitive paused to listen, finger on trigger. And ever as he went the wild blood throbbed and pulsed within his brain, sounding now like the pad-pad of pursu ing feet that would not be shaken off, and again like a voice that mumbled and muttered querulous words in the air about him, and at such times he glanced around upon the dark, but the words would not be stilled: " She 's married married married ! You drove her into his arms you did you did you did ! And he 's alive still and with her, alive alive alive ! " And sometimes as he stumbled along through that place of gloom, he cursed bitterly beneath his breath, and some times he ground sweating j aws since needs must he hearken to that taunting devil-voice: Retribution 343 " Alive and with his wife beside him alive ! And yours the fault yours yours ! Your shot at Spike so near the house lost you the game lost lost ! Your shot at Spike was a call for help saved the life of the man you came to kill! Your shot at Spike lost you the game lost lost ! " So, followed by the pad-pad of running feet, haunted by the querulous demon-voice, M'Ginnis stumbled out upon the road a lonely road at most times but quite desolate at this hour. The fugitive hastened along, dogged by sounds that none but he might hear, yet to him these sounds were dreadfully real, so real that once, goaded to a paroxysm of blind fury, he whirled about and fired wildly a shot that seemed to split asunder the deep night silence, filling it with a thousand echoes. Once more he turned and ran, ran until his breath laboured painfully and the sweat ran from him, but ever the sounds were close about him. At last he beheld lights that moved, and reaching a way side halt, clambered aboard a late trolley and crouched as far from the light as possible. But even so, his dis ordered dress, his pallor, and the wild glare of his eyes drew the idle glances of the few passengers. " Looks like you 'd been through th' mill, bo ! " said one, a great, rough fellow; but meeting M'Ginnis's an swering glare, he quailed and shrank away. Dawn was at hand when at last he reached O'Rourke's saloon and, letting himself in, strode into the bar. The place was deserted at this hour, but from a room hard by came the sound of voices, hoarse laughter, and the rattle of chips that told a poker game was still in progress. Scowling, M'Ginnis stood awhile to listen. Then, lift ing the flap of the bar, he passed through the narrow door beyond, along the passage and so to that dingy office, from the open door of which a light streamed. Scowling still, M'Ginnis strode in, then stood suddenly still, lifted his right hand toward his breast, then paused as Soapy, turning about in the swing chair, took a heavy, 344 The Definite Object ivory-handled revolver from where it had lain on the desk beside a packet of letters tied up in a faded blue ribbon. " Lock th' door, Bud, lock th' door ! " said he softly. " So ! " he nodded, as M'Ginnis obeyed. " 'N' say, Bud, take that hand away from y'r gun an' keep it away see? " And the lamplight glittered on the long barrel that rested on Soapy's knee. " So this is th' game hey ? " demanded M'Ginnis hoarsely, his bloodshot eyes fixed on Soapy unwinkingly. " 'S right, Bud. Y' see, I been takin' a peek int' that little tin safe o' yours say, it looks like you 'd had a bit of a rough house, Bud ! " Soapy's cigarette quivered and was still again, while M'Ginnis watched him, breathing thickly but speaking no word, and Soapy went on again: " I been takin' a peek into that little tin safe o j yours, an' I found some papers you 'd been kind o' treasurin' up about me, so I burnt 'em, Bud not as they mattered very much, there ain't nobody t' worry when I snuff it but I found as you 'd got other papers about other guys as would matter some t' them, I guess so I burnt 'em too, Bud." " Burnt 'em ! " cried M'Ginnis in a strangled voice, " burnt 'em you " " It ain't no use t s get riled, Bud ; I burnt 'em there 's th' ashes ! " M'Ginnis glanced at the heap of ash by the stove and burst into a frenzy of curses and fierce invective, while Soapy, lounging back in the chair, watched him unmoved until he had done, then he spoke again: " Also I found letters, Bud, a packet tied up in blue ribbon an', Bud, they matter a whole lot. Here they are look at 'em ! " For a moment Soapy's baleful eye turned aside to the desk as he reached for the letters, and in that moment M'Ginnis's pistol spoke, and Soapy, lurching sideways, sagged to his knees, his back against the desk. Again Retribution 345 and again M'Ginnis's weapon clicked, but no report fol lowed, and Soapy slowly dragged himself to his feet. His cigarette fell and lay smouldering, and for a moment he stared at it; then he laughed softly and glanced at . M'Ginnis. " You fool, Bud, you dog-gone fool ! Forgot t' load up y'r gun, eh? But I guess you got me all right, anyway you 're shootin' better t'night than you did in the wood that time eh, Bud ? Now I want t' tell you " He was choked suddenly with a ghastly coughing, and when he spoke again, his voice was fainter, and he held a smartly-bordered handkerchief to his mouth. " They say God made this world, Bud if He did, I guess He was asleep when you was made, Bud anyway, remembering little Maggie, you ain't got no right to breathe any longer so that 's for me an' that 's for her!" Lounging still, he fired twice from the hip and M'Ginnis, twisting upon his heels, fell and lay with his face at his slayer's feet. Then, spying the packet of letters that lay upon the grimy floor, Soapy stooped painfully and fired rapidly four times; when the smoke cleared, of those tear-blotted pages with their secret of a woman's anguish, there remained nothing but a charred piece of ribbon and a few smouldering fragments of paper. And now Soapy was seized with another fit of coughing, above which he heard hoarse shouts and hands that thundered at the door. Lazily he stood upon his feet, turned to glance from that scorched ribbon to the still form upon the floor and, lift ing a lazy foot, ground his heel into that still face, then, crossing unsteadily to the door, unlocked it. Beyond was a crowd, very silent now, who drew back to give him way, but Soapy paused in the doorway and leaned there a moment. " What 's doin'? " cried a voice. " Say, run f'r a doctor, somebody quick Soapy 's hurt bad, I reckon " " Hurt? " said Soapy, in soft, lazy tones. " 'S right! 346 The Definite Object But say fellers, there 's a son of a dog in there waitin' f'r a spade t' bury him ! " Then Soapy laughed, choked, and groping before him blindly, stag gered forward, and pitching sideways, fell with his head beneath a table and died there. CHAPTER XLV OF THE OLD UN AND FATE SPIKE leaned back among his cushions and, glancing away across close-cropped lawns and shady walks, sighed lux uriously. " Say, Ann," he remarked. " Gee whiz, Trapesy, there sure ain't no flies on this place of old Geoff's ! " " Flies," said Mrs. Trapes, glancing up from her house hold accounts, " you go into the kitchen an' look around." " I mean it 's aces up." " Up where? " queried Mrs. Trapes. " Well, it 's a regular Jim-dandy cracker-jack some swell clump, eh? " " Arthur, that low, tough talk don't go with me," said Mrs. Trapes, and resumed her intricate calculations again. " Say, when '11 Geoff an' Hermy be back? " " Well, considerin' she 's gone to N' York t' buy more clo'es as she don't need, an' considerin' Mr. Ravenslee 's gone with her, I don't know." " An' what you do know don't cut no ice. Anyway, I 'm gettin' lonesome." " What, ain't I here? " demanded Mrs. Trapes sharply. " Sure. I can't lose you ! " " Oh ! Now I '11 tell you what it is, my good b'y " " Cheese it, Trapes, you make me tired, that 's what." " If you sass me, I '11 box your young ears an' that 's what ! " " I don't think ! " added Spike. " Nobody ain't goin' t' box me. I 'm a sure enough invalid, and don't you forget it." 348 The Definite Object " My land ! " exclaimed Mrs. Trapes, " a bit of a hole in his arm, that 's all." " Well, I wish you got it, 'stead o' me it smarts like sixty ! " " Shows it 's healin'. Doctor said as it '11 be well in a ,week." " Doctor ! " sniffed Spike, " he don't know what I suffer. I may be dyin' for all he knows." " You are ! " sighed Mrs. Trapes, with a gloomy nod. " Eh what ? " exclaimed Spike, sitting up. " So am I we all are by the minute. Every night we 're a day's march nearer home! So now jest set right there an' go on dyin', my b'y ! " " Say, now, cut it out," said Spike, wriggling. " That ain't no kind o' way t' cheer an invalid." " It 's th' truth." " Well, it don't cheer me more, so let 's have a lie for a change." Mrs. Trapes snorted and fell to adding and subtracting busily. " Say, Ann," said he after awhile, " if you got any more o' that punkin pie I could do some right now. I 'm hungry." " It ain't eatin' time yet." " But Gee ! ain't I a invalid? " " Sure ! Consequently you must be fed slow an' cautious." " Oh, fudge ! What 's th' good of a guy bein' a invalid if a guy can't feed when he wants to? " " What 's a hundred an' ninety-one from twenty- three? " enquired Mrs. Trapes. " Skidoo ! " murmured Spike sulkily. But after Mrs. Trapes had subtracted and added busily he spoke again. ' You ain't such a bad old gink sometimes," he con ceded. " Gink? " said Mrs. Trapes, glaring. " I mean you can be a real daisy when you want to." "Can I?" The Old Un and Fate 349 " Sure ! Sometimes you can be so kind an' nice I like you a whole lot ! " "Is that so?" " You bet it is honest Injun." " Arthur, if it 's that pie you want " " It ain't ! " "Well, what is it?" " How d' ye know I want anything? " " Oh, I just guess, maybe." " Well, say if you could cop me one o' Geoff's cigar ettes one o' them with gold letterin' onto 'em " " You mean thieve you one ! " " Why, no, a cigarette ain't thievin'. Say, now, dear old Trapesy, I 'm jest dyin' for a gasper ! " " Well, you go on dyin', an' I '11 set right here an' watch how you do it." " If I was t' die you 'd be sorry for this, I reckon." " Anyway, I 'd plant some flowers on you, my lad, an' keep your lonely grave nice " " Huh ! " sniffed Spike, " a lot o' good that 'ud do me when I was busy pushin' up th' daisies. It 's what I want now that matters." " An' what you want now, Arthur, is a rod of iron good 'n' heavy. Discipline 's your cryin' need, an' you 're sure goin' t' get it." "Oh? Where?" " At college ! My land, think of you at Yale or Har vard or C'lumbia " " Sure you can think ; thinkin' can't cut no ice." " Anyway, you 're goin' soon as you 're fit ; Mr. Geoff rey says so." " Oh, Geoff 's batty he 's talkin' in his sleep. I ain't goin' t' no college Geoff 's got sappy in th' bean " " Well, you tell him so." " Sure thing you watch me ! " " No, I '11 get you somethin' t' eat some milk an' " " Say, what about that punkin pie? " " You sit right there an' wait." 350 The Definite Object " Chin-Chin ! " nodded Spike, and watched her into the house. No sooner was he alone than he was out of his chair and, descending the steps into the garden, sped gleefully away across lawns and along winding paths, following a hap hazard course. But, as he wandered thus, he came to the stables and so to a large building beyond, where were many automobiles of various patterns and make ; and here, very busy with brushes, sponge, and water, washing a certain car and making a prodigious splashing, was a figure there was no mistaking, and one whom Spike hailed in joyous surprise. " Well, well, if it ain't th' old Spider ! Gee, but I 'm glad t' see you ! Say, old sport, I 'm a invalid pip e m j bandages, will ye? " " Huh ! " grunted the Spider, without glancing up from the wheel he was washing. " Say, old lad," continued Spike, " I guess they told you how I put it all over Bud, eh? " " Mph ! " said the Spider, slopping the water about. " Heard how I saved old Geoff from gettin' snuffed out, didn't yer?" " Huh-umph ! " growled the Spider. " That 's sure some car, eh? Gee, but it 's good t' see you again, anyway. How 'd you come here, Spider? " " U-huh ! " said the Spider. " Say," exclaimed Spike, " quit makin* them noises an' say somethin', can't yer? If you can't talk t' a pal, I 'm goinV; " Right-o, Kid ! " said the Spider ; " only see as you don't go sheddin' no more buttons around." " B-buttons ! " stammered Spike. " What yer mean ? What buttons?" The Old Un, who happened to have been dozing in the limousine that stood in a shady corner, sat up suddenly and blinked. '' Why, I mean," answered the Spider, wringing water from the sponge he held and speaking very deliberately, The Old Un and Fate 351 " I mean the button as you left behind you in th' wood ! " Spike gasped and sat down weakly upon the running- board of a car, and the Old Un stole a furtive peep at him. "So you know ?" " Sure I know more 'n I want t' know about you, so chase yourself out o' here beat it ! " Spike stared in mute amazement, then flushed painfully. " You mean you an' me ain't goin' t' be pals no longer? " he asked wistfully. " That 's what ! " nodded the Spider, without lifting his scowling gaze from the sponge. " Kid, I ain't no Gold- medal Sunday-school scholar nor I ain't never won no prizes at any Purity League conference, but there 's some guys too rotten even f'r me ! " " But I I saved his life, did n't I? " " That ain't nothin' t' blow about after what you did in that wood. Oh, wake up an' see just how dirty an' rotten you are ! " Spike rose and stood, his hands tight-clenched, and though he tried to frown, he could n't hide the pitiful twitching of his lips nor the quaver in his voice. " I guess you mean you 're goin' t' give me th' throw- down? " " Well," answered the Spider, scowling at the sponge in his hand, " there 's jest two or three things as I ain't got no use for, an' one of 'em 's murder! " Hereupon Spike shrank away, and the Old Un, reaching out stealthily, opened the door of the limousine while the Spider fell to work again, splashing more than ever. Thus as Spike crept away with head a-droop, the Old Un, all unnoticed, stole after him, his old eyes very bright and birdlike, and, as he followed, keeping in the shade of hedge and tree as much as possible, he whispered a word to him self over and over again : " Lorgorramighty ! " But Spike went on with dragging feet, ignorant that 352 The Definite Object any one followed, lost in a sudden sense of shame such as he had never known before a shame that was an agony : for though his bodily eyes were blinded with bitter tears, the eyes of his mind were opened wide at last, and he saw himself foul and dirty, even as the Spider had said. So on stumbling feet Spike reached a shady, grassy corner remote from all chance of observation and, throwing him self down there, he lay with his face hidden, wetting the grass with the tears of his abasement. When at last he raised his head, he beheld a little old man leaning patiently against a tree near by and watching him with a pair of baleful eyes. " Hello ! " said Spike wearily. " Who are you? " " I 'm Fate, I am ! " nodded the Old Un. " Persooin' Fate, that 's me." "What yer here for, anyway?" enquired the lad, humble in his abasement. " I 'm here to persoo ! " " Say, now, what 's your game; what yer want? " " I want you, me lad." " Well, say beat it, please I want t' be alone." " Not much, me lad. I 'm Fate, I am, an' when Fate comes up agin murder, Fate ain't t' be shook off." "Murder!" gasped Spike. "Oh, my God! I I ain't " The lad sprang to his feet and was running on the in stant, but turning to glance back, tripped over some ob stacle and fell. Swaying he rose and stumbled on, but slower now by reason of the pain in his wounded arm. Thus, when at last he came out upon the road, the Old Un was still close behind him. CHAPTER XLVI IN WHICH GEOFFREY RAVENSLEE OBTAINS HIS OBJECT MRS. TRAPES glanced sadly around her cosy housekeeper's room and sighed regretfully; she was alone, and upon the table ready to hand lay her neat bonnet, her umbrella, and a pair of white cotton gloves, beholding which articles her lips set more resolutely, her bony arms folded them selves more tightly, and she nodded in grim determination. " The labourer is worthy of his hire ! " she sighed, ap parently addressing the bonnet, " but, if so be the labourer ain't worthy, why then, the sooner he quits " A sound of quick, light feet upon the stair and a voice that laughed gaily, a laugh so full of happiness that even Mrs. Trapes's iron features relaxed, and her grim mouth curved in her rare smile. At that moment the door opened and Hermione appeared, a radiant Hermione who clasped Mrs. Trapes in her arms and tangled her up in her long motor veil and laughed again. " Oh, Ann, such a day ! " she exclaimed, laying aside her long dust-coat. " New York is a paradise when you 're rich ! No more bargain days and clawing matches over the remnant counter, Ann ! Oh, it 's wonderful to be able to buy anything I want anything ! Think of it, Ann, isn't it just a dream of joy? And I've shopped and shopped, and he was so dear and patient! I bought Arthur a complete outfit " " Arthur ! " said Mrs. Trapes, and groaned. " And you, Ann, you dear thing, I bought you guess what ? But you never could ! I bought you a gold watch, the very best I could find, and he bought you a chain for it, a long one to go around your dear neck, set with diamonds 354 The Definite Object and rubies, I mean the chain is it 's the cutest thing, Ann! You remember you used to dream of a gold chain set with real diamonds, some day ? Well, * some day 's ' to-day, Ann." " But oh, Hermy, I I " He wants to give it you himself, because he says you 're the best friend he ever had and oh, here he is ! You did say so, did n't you, Geoffrey? " " And I surely mean it ! " answered Ravenslee, tossing his driving gauntlets into a chair, " though you certainly threw cold water upon my peanut barrow, did n't you, Mrs. Trapes ? " " Oh, Geoffrey, dear, do give her that precious package ; I 'm dying to see her open it ! " So Ravenslee drew the jeweller's neat parcel from his pocket and put it into Mrs. Trapes's toil-worn hand. For a moment her bony fingers clutched it, then she sighed tremulously and, placing it on the table, rose and stood staring down at it. When at last she spoke, her voice was harsher than usual. " Hermy, dear I mean Mrs. Ravenslee, ma'am, I can't take 'em ! " " But, dear why not? " " Because they 're coals o' fire." " But you must take them, dear ; we bought them for you and " " Which jools, ma'am, I can in no wise accept." " Why, Ann, dear, whatever " " Which jools, ma'am, having been a dream, must for me so remain, me not bein' faithful in my dooties to you an' Mr. Geoffrey. Consequently I begs to tender you now my resignation, yieldin' up my post in your service to one better worthy, and returnin' t' th' place wherefrom I come." Here Mrs. Trapes put on her bonnet, setting it a little askew in her agitation. " Th' labourer is worthy of his hire, but if he ain't so be it ! " Geoffrey Obtains his Object 355 Here Mrs. Trapes tied her bonnet strings so tightly and with such resolute hands that she choked. " Why, Ann dear," cried Hermione, " whatever do you mean? As if I could bear to part with you! " Here she untied the bonnet strings. " As if I could ever let you go back to Mulligan's ! " Here she took off the bonnet. " As if I could ever forget all your tender love and care for me in the days when things were so hard and so very dark ! " Here she tossed the bonnet into a corner. " My land ! " sighed Mrs. Trapes, " me best bonnet " " I know, Ann. I made it for you over a year ago, and it 's time you had another, anyway ! Now, open that par cel this minute ! " But instead of doing so, Mrs. Trapes sank down in the chair beside the table and bowed her head in her hands. " Hermy," said she, " oh, my lamb, he 's gone ! You left Arthur in my care an' he 's gone, an' it 's my fault. Went away at five o'clock, an' here it is nigh on to ten an' him sick ! God knows I 've searched for him tramped to th' ferry an' back, an' th' footmen they 've looked for him an' so have th' maids but Arthur 's gone an' it 's my fault ! So, Hermy my dear blame me an' let me go " The harsh voice broke and, bowing her head, she sat silent, touching the unopened packet of jewellery with one long, bony finger. . " Why, Ann dear Ann you 're crying ! " Her mione was down on her knees, had clasped that long bony figure in her arms. " You must n't, Ann, you must n't. I 'm sure it was n't your fault, so don't grieve, dear there ! " And she had drawn the disconsolate grey head down upon her shoulder and pillowed it there. " But oh, Hermy, he 's gone ! An' you told me to look after him." " Ann, if Arthur meant to go, I 'm sure you could n't have prevented him ; he is n't a child any longer, dear. There, be comforted we '11 hunt for him in the car won't we, Geoffrey? " 356 The Definite Object " Of course," nodded Ravenslee, " I '11 'phone the gar age right away." But as he opened the door he came face to face with Joe, who touched an eyebrow and jerked a thumb over his shoulder. " S'cuse me, sir," said he, " but it 's that Old Un, cov ered wi' dust 'e is, sir, an' wants a word wi' you. And, sir, 'e 's that mysterious as never was. Shall I let him come in, sir? " " You try an' keep me out, my lad, that 's all ! " panted the Old Un, ducking under Joe's great arm, " I 'm a better man nor ever you '11 be ! " So saying, the Old Un hobbled forward and, sinking into the nearest armchair, fanned himself with his hat, which, like the rest of his garments, bore the dust of travel. " Greetin's, Guv ! " said he, when he had caught his breath. " 'Ere I be a old man as 'as done more for ye than all th' young 'uns put t'gether. Mrs. Ravenslee, ma'am, best respex ! " " And what have you been doing now ? " enquired Ra venslee, smiling. " Well, Guv, I been an' got th' murderer for ye, that 's all!" Hermione caught her breath suddenly and gazed at the fierce, dusty old man with eyes full of growing terror; beholding which Ravenslee frowned, then laughed lightly and, seating himself on a corner of the table, swung his leg to and fro. " So you 've found him out, have you, Old Un? " " Ah, that I have ! " " Are you sure? " " Ah, quite sure, Guv." " Well, where is he trot him out." " 'E 's comin' along th' Spider 's bringin' un. Ye see, he 's a bit wore out same as I am we been trampin' all th' arternoon. Look at me shoes, that 's th' worst o' patent leather they shows th' dust. Joe, my lad, jest give 'em a flick over with ye wipe." Geoffrey Obtains his Object 357 But at this moment steps were heard slowly approach ing, and Hermione uttered an inarticulate cry, then spoke in an agonised whisper : " Arthur ! " Pallid of cheek and drooping of head Spike stood in the doorway, his shabby, threadbare clothes dusty and travel- stained, his slender shape encircled by the Spider's long arm. At Hermione's cry he lifted his head and looked up yearningly, his sensitive mouth quivered, his long-lashed eyes swam in sudden tears, he strove to speak but choked instead; then Ravenslee's calm, pleasant voice broke the painful silence. " Old Un," said he, rising, " I understand you are fond of jam well, from now on you shall bathe in it if you wish." " Spoke like a true sport, Guv ! " " Why, you see, you have surely done me a very great service." " Meanin' because I found ye th' murderer." " Murderer? " exclaimed Ravenslee, staring. " Why, yes there 'e is ! " and the old man pointed a long finger at the shrinking Spike. " Old Un," said Ravenslee, shaking his head, " don't joke with me " "I I ain't jokin', Guv," cried the Old Un, rising. " Why oh, Lorgorramighty, you don't mean t' say as this ain't 'im ? Why, 'e 's confessed, Guv ; I 'card 'im ! * Ravenslee smiled gently and shook his head again. " But he has been sick, Old Un ; he was hurt, you know, when he saved my life." " But, Lord, Guv, if 'e 's confessed " " He has been sick, Old Un, and when we are sick the wisest of us are apt to say silly things even I did, so they tell me." "What?" quavered the old man, "ain't I ain't I found no murderer for ye, arter all, Guv? " " You 've done something much, very much better, Old Un you 've found me my brother ! " " Brother ! " echoed Spike, " brother? Oh, Geoff n 358 The Definite Object he sighed deeply, and as Ravenslee crossed toward him he smiled wanly and sank swooning into the supporting arms of the Spider, who at a word from Hermione bore the boy up-stairs ; but scarcely was he laid upon his bed than he opened his heavy eyes. " Say, Spider," said he wearily, " old Geoff sure does play square even to a worm like me well, I guess ! No, don't go yet, I want yer to hear me try to explain the kind o' dirty dog I been I guess he won't want t 5 call me ' brother ' after that ; no, siree, he '11 cut me out same as you have an' serve me right too." Then turning toward where Ravenslee and Hermione stood he continued : " Geoff Hermy, dear ah, no, don't touch me, I ain't worth it. I 'm too dirty Spider says so an' I guess he 's right. Listen I meant t' go away t'day an' leave you because I felt so mean, but th' old man followed me, an' I could n't run because my arm pained some y' see, I fell on it. So I let him bring me back because I guess it 's up t' me t' let you know as I ain't fit t' be your brother, Geoff or Hermy's." For a moment Spike paused, then with an effort he continued but kept his face averted. " Geoff, it was me in the wood that time ! Yes, it was me, an' I had a gun. I I meant t' do you in, Geoff " Spike's voice failed and he was silent again, plucking nervously at the sheet, while Hermione's proud head drooped and her hands clasped and wrung each other in an agony of shame; but to these painfully rigid hands came another hand, big and strong yet very gentle, at whose soothing touch those agonised fingers grew lax and soft, then clung to that strong hand in sudden, eager passion. " Poor old Spike ! " said Ravenslee, and his tone was as gentle as his touch. "But but, Geoff," stammered the boy. "I oh, don't you see? I meant to kill you? " " Yes, I understand ; you thought I deserved it why?" Geoffrey Obtains his Object 359 " Oh, I was crazy, I guess ! Bud told me lies an' I be lieved him lies about you an' Hermy he said you 'd make Hermy go the same road little Maggie Finlay went sol came t' kill you " " Spike, if you believed that, if you really believed that, I don't blame you for trying a shot " " But I did n't I could n't ! When I saw you sittin' there so unsuspectin', I just couldn't do it I tried to, but I could n't. An' somehow I dropped th' gun, an' then I heard a shot, an' when I looked up I saw you throw out your arms an' fall my God, I '11 never forget that ! Then I saw Bud starin' down at you an' th' pistol smokin* in his hand. I meant t' do it but I could n't, so Bud did it himself. I 'm as bad as him, I reckon, but it was Bud shot you Soapy saw him an' knows it was Bud ask Soapy. An' now I 've told you all ; I guess I ain't fit t' stay here any longer." Spike's voice choked upon a sob, he buried his face in the pillow, and so there fell a silence a strange, tense hush, a pause so unexpected that he looked up and saw that Hermione's head was bowed no longer, but she stood, very proud and tall, gazing upon her husband, and in her eyes was a great and wondrous light ; and as she looked on him so he gazed on her. They had no thought, no eyes for Spike just then, wherefore he hid his face again. " I guess this about puts the kybosh on th' brothel- business ! " he sighed miserably, " an' I sure ain't fit t' be th' Spider's pal, I reckon ! " But now the Spider spoke, rather quick and jerkily: " Say, Kid get onto this ! I 'm takin' back every thing I says t' you t'day, see? Because, oh, well I guess you 've sure woke up at last ! So, Kid give us your mitt ! " Eagerly Spike grasped the Spider's big fist, and they shook hands gravely and very deliberately, looking into each other's eyes the while. Then, still quick and jerkily, the Spider turned and hurried out of the room. Then Spike turned to Ravenslee. 360 The Definite Object " Geoff," he sighed, " I 'm not goin' to ask you to for give me yet, I can't I 'm goin' t' wait an' show you But as he paused Ravenslee's hand was upon the lad's drooping shoulder. " Arthur," said he, " from now on from to-night you are going to be my brother more than ever a brother we shall both be proud of what do you say? " But Spike's eyes were wet, his mouth quivered, and in stead of answering he buried his face in the pillow again. " Say, Hermy," he mumbled, " take him away before I do th' tear-gushin' act ! Take him down-stairs give him a drink light him a cigarette kiss him ! Only take him away before I get mushy. But, say when I 'm in bed, you '11 you '11 come an' say good night like like you used to, Hermy dear? " Swiftly she stooped and kissed that curly head. " I '11 come oh, I '11 come, boy, dear ! " she murmured, and left him with Mrs. Trapes^ Down-stairs the fire glowed, filling the room with shadows, and side by side they stood looking down into the heart of the fire and were silent awhile, and, though she was so near, he did n't touch her. " So it was n't Arthur, after all ! " he said at last. " No," she answered softly, " it was n't Arthur thank God!" " Amen ! " said he, so fervently that she glanced up at him swiftly, then looked into the fire again. Seeing how the colour deepened in her cheek, he came a little nearer; but still he did n't touch her; instead, he took out tobacco pouch and pipe and began to fill it with strangely clumsy fingers, and Hermione saw that his hands were trembling. " Let me ! " she said gently. So he surrendered pipe and pouch and, watching, saw that her hands trembled also; when at last she had filled the pipe, he took it and laid it on the table. "Aren't you going to smoke, dear? " " No, not now. You '11 remember that Arthur also suggested you should " Geoffrey Obtains his Object 361 " Give you something to drink ! " she added a little breathlessly and crossed to the cellaret in the corner. " Will you have brandy and soda? " " Thanks yes that will do," he answered absently, and when she dutifully brought the filled glass he took it and set it down untasted beside the pipe. " Why, Geoffrey ! " she said in murmurous surprise, " are n't you thirsty? " " No, not now. You will probably remember that Ar thur also suggested you should " " I know ! " she breathed, " but, oh, Geoffrey, dear wait just a little longer." " Why? " he demanded hoarsely. " Because ! " she answered, staring down at her clasped hands. "Why?" " Because, my Geoffrey, if if I let myself kiss you now, I shall never be able to tear myself away, and I must say good night to Arthur and " She paused as a knock sounded on the door, and Mrs. Trapes appeared. " Why, dear land o' my fathers ! " she exclaimed. " Ain't you had time t* take off your bonnet yet, Hermy? " " Goodness me ! " exclaimed Hermione, " I forgot it ! " So saying, off it came, and there was the curl above her eyebrow more wantonly alluring than ever. " An' there 's that blessed b'y," continued Mrs. Trapes, " a-layin' up-stairs yearnin' for you, Hermy, an' him s' pale an' gentle God bless him ! An' it now bein' exackly twenty-two an' a half minutes past 'leven by my beautiful new watch as ticks most musical ! Time as you was in bed both of you ! an' that reminds me, Hermy, I sent your maid t' bed like you told me, an' with my own two hands I laid out one o' them lovely noo nightdresses the one with the short sleeves an' lace as you showed me last night an' Land sakes, she 's gone ! Think o' that now my, my ! Mrs. Ravenslee 's wonderful quick an' light on her feet, Mr. Geoffrey ! " 362 The Definite Object Here Mrs. Trapes raised the watch to her ear and hearkened to its tick again, smiling at Ravenslee's broad back as he turned to reach his glass. " Them nightdresses," she sighed, " as is all fluffs an' frills an' openwork, may be all right when you 're young, but for true comfort give me flannel, every time." Here Ravenslee, in the act of sipping his brandy and soda, choked; when at last he glanced around, Mrs. Trapes was gone. Then he drew a chair to the fire and, sitting down, took up his pipe and tried to light it, but Hermione's nervous white fingers had packed it too tightly for mortal suction, whereat he sighed and, yielding to the impossible, sat with it in his hand, lost in happy thought and waiting for the swift light footsteps he yearned to hear. The clock in the hall without struck midnight, but long after the mellow chime had died away he sat there waiting ; but the great house lay very still about him, and no sound broke the pervading quiet. Wherefore at last he grew restless, frowned at the dying fire, and his strong fingers clenched themselves fiercely about the pipe they still held. All at once he started, rose to his feet, and turned toward the door eager-eyed, as a hand knocked softly ; before he could speak it opened, and Mrs. Trapes reap peared ; she was clad in a long flannel dressing gown, and as she paused in the shadows by the door he could vaguely define that she still held the precious watch to her ear. " It do tick that musical," she said, " an' I can't sleep this night till I 've tried t' thank ye both for for all your goodness to a lonely woman. Ah, Mr. Geoffrey, I guess th' day as you came seekin' lodgin's at my little flat was a good day for Ann Angelina Trapes why, my land, Mr. Geoffrey ain't Hermy here ? " " No," answered Ravenslee a little bitterly. " Oh, no, I 'm quite alone as usual, Mrs. Trapes." " Why, now, that 's queer ! " " How queer? " Geoffrey Obtains his Object 363 " Because I 've jest been into her bedroom, an' there 's her things except that nightdress but she ain't ! " "Not there? She must be! Did you look in her bed?" " Lord, Mr. Geoffrey her bed ain't been tetched ! " " Then where in the world is she? " " Well," said Mrs. Trapes, consulting her watch again, " it is now exactly fifteen and three-quarter minutes after midnight, so I guess she 's in bed somewhere. But this is a big house, an' there 's lots of bedrooms, so if I was you, I 'd go an' look till I found her Ravenslee was at the door so swiftly that Mrs. Trapes started, and she saw his eyes were very bright, and the hands he laid on her bony shoulders were quivering. " Mrs. Trapes," said he, " I will ! " Then he stooped, very suddenly, and kissed the thin, grey hair above her grim eyebrow, and so was gone. " Find her? " mused Mrs. Trapes, glancing after him up the wide stairs. " Why, yes, I guess he will sure find her where she should have been weeks ago. Lord, what a silly, beautiful, lovely thing love is ! " and she stood awhile smiling down into the fire, and her smile was very tender. Then she sighed, switched off the lights, and went softly away. THE END Novels by Jeffery Farnol Beltane the Smith Illustrated by Arthur E. Becher $1.50 net A romance of the Greenwood a tremendous love story full of adventure and rollicking humor. The Amateur Gentleman Illustrated by Herman Pfeifer $1.50 net Marks an advance in the writer's art. . . . Packed with adventure and with sentiment, with a style of rare charm and distinction. New York Times. The Honourable Mr. Tawnish Colored illustrations by C. E. Brock $1.25 net Rollicking and romantic highwaymen, a duel, love, sentiment, and all that pertains to the Farnol type of eighteenth-century tale. The Outlook. The Broad Highway Regular edition. $1.50 net. Illustrated edition. 8vo. With 24 colored plates by C. E. Brock. $3.00 net The novel of a decade . London Graphic. A down right delicious book. New York World. 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