stranger sit in now—after last night. Hell!” he suddenly exploded. “Don't you know that you an' me stand to swing if any of de bunch gets gabby in front of dis phoney punk?”      

       The two sat silent for a while, The General puffing on a short briar, Dopey Charlie inhaling deep draughts from a cigarette, and both glaring through narrowed lids at the boy warming himself beside the fire where the others were attempting to draw him out the while they strove desperately but unavailingly to keep their eyes from the two bulging sidepockets of their guest's coat.     

       Soup Face, who had been assiduously communing with a pint flask, leaned close to Columbus Blackie, placing his whiskers within an inch or so of the other's nose as was his habit when addressing another, and whispered, relative to the pearl necklace: “Not a cent less 'n fifty thou, bo!”      

       “Fertheluvomike!” ejaculated Blackie, drawing back and wiping a palm quickly across his lips. “Get a plumber first if you want to kiss me—you leak.”      

       “He thinks you need a shower bath,” said Dirty Eddie, laughing.     

       “The trouble with Soup Face,” explained The Sky Pilot, “is that he's got a idea he's a human atomizer an' that the rest of us has colds.”      

       “Well, I don't want no atomizer loaded with rot-gut and garlic shot in my mug,” growled Blackie. “What Soup Face needs is to be learned ettyket, an'       if he comes that on me again I'm goin' to push his mush through the back of his bean.”      

       An ugly light came into the blear eyes of Soup Face. Once again he leaned close to Columbus Blackie. “Not a cent less 'n fifty thou, you tinhorn!”        he bellowed, belligerent and sprayful.     

       Blackie leaped to his feet, with an oath—a frightful, hideous oath—and as he rose he swung a heavy fist to Soup Face's purple nose. The latter rolled over backward; but was upon his feet again much quicker than one would have expected in so gross a bulk, and as he came to his feet a knife flashed in his hand. With a sound that was more bestial than human he ran toward Blackie; but there was another there who had anticipated his intentions. As the blow was struck The Sky Pilot had risen; and now he sprang forward, for all his age and bulk as nimble as a cat, and 

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