growled, "an' I'm right here to tell youse dat you don't wanta

try an' put nothin' over on me, see? Youse ain't a-goin' to

double-cross Billy Byrne. I gotta good notion to han' youse

wot's comin' to you. If it hadn't been fer youse I wouldn't

have been here now on dis Gawd-forsaken wreck. Youse is de

cause of all de trouble. Wot youse ought to get is croaked an'

den dere wouldn't be nothin' to bother any of us. You an' yer

bunch of kale, dey give me a swift pain. Fer half a cent I'd

soak youse a wallop to de solar plexus dat would put youse

to sleep fer de long count, you--you--" but here words failed

Billy.

To his surprise the girl showed not the slightest indication

of fear. Her head was high, and her level gaze never wavered

from his own eyes. Presently a sneer of contempt curled her

lip.

"You coward!" she said quietly. "To insult and threaten a

woman! You are nothing but an insufferable bully, and a

cowardly murderer. You murdered a man on the Lotus whose

little finger held more true manhood, bravery, and worth than

the whole of your great, hulking carcass. You are only fit to

strike from behind, or when your victim is unsuspecting, as

you did Mr. Theriere that other day. Do you think I fear a

THING such as you--a beast without honor that kicks an

unconscious man in the face? I know that you can kill me. I

know that you are coward enough to do it because I am a

defenseless woman; and though you may kill me, you never

can make me show fear for you. That is what you wish to

do--that is your idea of manliness. I had never imagined

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