The Definite Object Part 46

"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 b.u.t.ts in--d' fire escape for ours, eh?"

"Sure!" said Spike, climbing through the window. "Oh, there ain't n.o.body 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'll 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 G.o.d 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--"

"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 hoa.r.s.ely.

"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'll 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."

"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'll 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, goin'--an'

empty-'anded? Mr. Geoffrey, I'm surprised at you. Think of Hermy!"

"That's just what I am doing."

"Well, s'posin' they hurt you! What'll 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. Geoffrey, 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'll take great care of myself--trust me!"

"Then good-by, Mr. Geoffrey, good-by and--the good Lord go with you."

"Thank you, Mrs. Trapes," said Ravenslee and followed 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!"