Page:Arthur Stringer - Twin Tales.djvu/126

116 "No; it's for what I suppose you'd call breach of the peace," explained his client.

"What did you do?" inquired Gerry, with vivid but secret memories of the Nero incident.

"I had his nose thumped," acknowledged Teddie with vigor.

"Why?" asked Gerry, wondering why his mind kept straying back to one-eyed Russian rats.

Teddie hesitated. It wasn't an easy thing to talk about. That was a lesson she had already learned. But Gerry was different. He was one of her own world and one of her own set, and he'd look at the thing in the right way, in the only way.

"Why?" he repeated, secretly astounded by this new mood of humility in which he found Teddie Hayden immersed.

"Because he tried to kiss me," acknowledged Teddie, meeting Gerry's unwavering gaze.

"Fine!" said Gerry, as cool as a cucumber. "But who did the thumping?"

"A prize-fighter by the name of Dorgan—Gunboat Dorgan."