"Hey, Geoff, me tell-a you piece-a da-noos!" he cried excitedly, "big-a
piece-a da-noos. Da cops go-a pinch-a Bud-a M'Ginn'!"

"Bud? Bud?" stammered the Spider. "Have they pinched Bud? Is this the
straight goods, Tony?"

"Sure--they gott-a heem this-a morn in Jersey City--'n' say, he think-a
eet a frame-up--he theenk-a Geoff set-a de cops for-a take heem."

"The hell he does!" exclaimed the Spider, starting to his feet.

"So he send-a da word to Soapy," continued Tony, his eyes rolling, "an'
now all-a da gang's out layin' for-a Geoff. So when Geoff go-a out on
da street--bingo! Dey snuff hees light out--"

"Not much they won't!" said the Spider, buttoning up his coat and
turning to the door. "I'll mighty soon fix this, I guess."

"Do you think you can, Spider?" enquired Ravenslee. "If you're going to
have any trouble, don't bother about--"

"Bo," said the Spider, squaring his big jaw, "get onto this: here's
where I chip in with ye; from now on we're in this game together, an'
I ain't a guy as'll lay down his hand till I'm called--an' called good,
see? You said it was goin' t' be a man's work--by Jiminy Christmas, it
looks like you're right; anyway, I stand in with you, that's sure--put
it there, bo!"

"But," said Ravenslee, as their hands gripped, "I don't want you to take