th' moonlight. Then Bud says: 'You ain't got th' nerve, Heine. Why, th'
Kid's got more nerve than you,' he says, pattin' my shoulder. An' Heine
laughs an' says I'm only a kid. An' Geoff, I'd got two or three drinks
into me an' th' end was I agreed t' just show 'em as I had nerve enough
t' get in through a winder an' cop something--anything I could get. So
Bud hands me his 'lectric torch, an' we skin over th' fence an' up to
th' house--an' Heine has th' winder open in a jiffy, an' me--bein'
half-soused an' foolish--hikes inter th' room, an' you cops me on th'
jump an'--an' that's all!"

"And M'Ginnis has threatened to send you up for it now and then, eh?"

"Only for a joke. Bud ain't like me; he'd never split on a pal--Bud
wouldn't gimme away--"

"Anyway, Spike, it's him or me. Which will you have for a friend?"

"Oh, Geoff, I--I guess I'd follow you t' Kingdom Come if you'd let me.
I do want t' live straight an' clean--honest t' God I do, Geoff, an' if
you'll only forgive--"

Spike's outstretched, pleading hands were caught and held, and he was
lifted to his feet.

"My Arthur-Spike, art going to the office this morning?"

"Sure I am; my eye ain't--ain't s' bad, after all, is it? Anyway, I feel
more like what a man should feel like now, an'--Gee! look at me doin'
the sissy tear-spoutin' act! Oh, hell--lemme go an' wash me face. 'N'
say, if--if any o' them--I mean those dolly office boys has anything t'