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, plac-

ing his whiskers within an inch or so of the other's nose

as was his habit when addressing another, and whis-

pered, 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 Ed-

die, laughing.

"The trouble with Soup Face," explained The Sky Pi-

lot, "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 back-

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