The Definite Object Part 26

Mr. Ravenslee lounged lower in the armchair and yawned behind the box of matches. And in that moment, like a maddened animal, M'Ginnis leapt upon him and, striking no blow, seized and shook Ravenslee in powerful, frantic hands, while from between his lips, curled back from big, white teeth, came a continuous, vicious, hissing sound.

"I'll wake ye up!" he panted. "Come out--come out, I say--oh, I'll wake ye up when I get ye outside, I guess. Come out! What you doin' in Hermy's flat? By G.o.d! I'll choke ye till you tell me!" and his hands came upon Ravenslee's throat--came to be met there by two other hands that, closing upon his wrists, wrenched and twisted viciously in opposite directions and, loosing his hold, M'Ginnis fell back, staring down at bruised and lacerated skin where oozed a few slow drops of blood.

"And now," said Ravenslee, rising, "after you, Mr. Flowers! Let us by all means step outside, where we will each earnestly endeavour to pitch the other down-stairs--personally, I shall do my very d.a.m.nedest, for really I don't--no, I do not like you, Mr. Flowers; you need some one to tread on you a little. Step outside and let _me_ try."

While M'Ginnis stared from his swelling, b.l.o.o.d.y wrists to Ravenslee's face--a face quite as fierce and determined as his own--steps were heard and Spike's voice called:

"Hermy come in yet, Geoff?"

"Not yet--but our friend Mr. Flowers has dropped in--socially, I fancy."

"Mr. Who?" enquired Spike at the door, but beholding M'Ginnis's angry face, he paused there, staring aghast. "Why--h.e.l.lo, Bud!" said he nervously. "What's wrong?"

"Nothin' much--yet, Kid, only it's kinder lucky for this guy as you happened in. Who is he? What's he doin' here?"

"He's only a friend o' mine, Bud, an' he's all right, 'n' say--"

"Tell him t' beat it."

"But y'see, Bud--"

"Tell him as we don't want his kind around here or--"

"Spike, did you bring in the b.u.t.ter?" enquired Ravenslee, serenely unconscious of M'Ginnis.

"Yes, here it is, Geoff--but say--"

"It doesn't feel much," said Ravenslee, weighing the package in his hand.

"It's half a pound. But say, here's Bud; he says you're to--"

"My, Spike, I'll trouble you for the b.u.t.ter-dish--thanks!" and turning away, Ravenslee busied himself at the table, whistling softly the while.

"But, Geoff, this is Bud!" cried the lad, glancing from one to the other in an agony of suspense. "Oh, don' ye know dis is Bud M'Ginnis?"

"Ah, still here, is he?" said Ravenslee, without looking round.

"See here, Kid," growled M'Ginnis, "you tell your--friend t' clear out an' t' do it real quick, see? You tell him if he ain't out in two minutes, I'll run him out meself--"

"Spike, this b.u.t.ter is nearly oil."

"Oh, Geoff," groaned the boy, "you've got t' go--here's Bud--"

"Why, then, Spike, tell him to--er--chase himself; I'm busy!" Came the sound of a chair set roughly aside and a shrill cry from Spike: "My G.o.d, Bud--don't! Look out, Geoff!"

But, as M'Ginnis came, Ravenslee turned swiftly, ducked the expected blow, and swinging his fist up beneath his a.s.sailant's extended arm, smote him hard and true upon the elbow; and Spike, pale and wide of eye, saw that arm fall and dangle helplessly at M'Ginnis' side, while his face was contorted with sharp agony.

"My G.o.d, Geoff! What you done t' him?"

"Pins and needles, Spike--that's all. A h.o.a.ry old trick, but useful now and then. Mr. Flowers isn't so very wide-awake as folks seem to think.

You see, it wouldn't have done to knock him out here; he might have upset the table."

"Knock out Bud!" cried Spike, aghast. "But there ain't n.o.body can lick Bud M'Ginnis!"

"Oh, I don't know, Spike. Anyway, we'll see what can be done--outside!

After you, Mr. Flowers! Pray go first, Mr. Flowers! A fellow who would attack a man sitting down isn't to be trusted behind one--so, after you, Mr. Flowers. Oh, we'll wait until you can use your arm, but we'll wait outside. Miss Chesterton's flat is no place for your sort, so--out with you, and quick--d'ye hear?"

M'Ginnis opened his lips to retort, but pa.s.sion choked him, and snarling unintelligibly, he turned and strode out upon the landing. As they stood fronting each other, very silent and grim and menacing, running feet were heard ascending the stairs, and a slender boy appeared, who, perceiving M'Ginnis, panted out:

"Say, Bud, O'Rourke's been pinched by d' cops! He wants ye t' skin over an' fix it up--"

"O'Rourke pinched?" growled M'Ginnis. "Say you, Larry, what yer givin'

me?"

"S' right, Bud, dere's a noo captain on d' precinct, an' he's pinched O'Rourke. 'N' say, Bud, d' game's all balled up; d' push is all up in d'

air. 'N' say, O'Rourke's crazy an' can't do nothin', so he sent me t'

fetch ye. You're d' only one as can fix d' police, so come on right now before d' whole show's busted up." During this breathless speech the narrowed eyes of M'Ginnis never left Ravenslee's pale, placid face, and in the persistence of this ferocious glare was something animal-like.

"Say, you--Mr. b.u.t.t-in!" said he, "I ain't through wid you--not by a whole lot I ain't. Oh, I'll get ye yet, an' I'll get ye good! There won't be nothin' left for n.o.body else when I'm through wid you. Savvy this--there ain't n.o.body ever goin' t' queer me with Hermy Chesterton.

Oh, I'll get ye good, an' I'll get ye--soon!"

So saying, Bud M'Ginnis turned, and went slowly and unwillingly down the stair.

"Gee, but I'm glad he's gone!" said Spike, as he closed the door. "Gee, but I'm--glad!" and he drew a deep breath.

"So am I!" said Ravenslee, sinking into the armchair, "but there's always to-morrow, isn't there?"

But instead of replying, Spike stood to stare on Ravenslee with eyes of admiring awe.

"I guess you know how t' handle y' self, Geoff," said he.

"I used to think I could, once upon a time," answered Ravenslee, stooping to recover his pipe.

"That sure was some wallop you handed him!"

"'T was fair, I thank you, comrade!"

"I shall be awful sorry to have you leave me, Geoff."

"Leave you?"

"Well, you heard what he said?"

"Yes, I heard."

"An' you know what he meant?"

"I can guess."