Page:Harvey O'Higgins--Silent Sam and other stories.djvu/241

Rh advances. She did not understand Barney's part in the affair. She felt a mild contempt for Tim.

Barney yawned behind his hand. "Cheer up," he said. "Tim 'll be back."

She did not reply. And they were sitting, so, in silence, when Tim returned to confront them with a pallor of indignation. Barney rose eagerly to meet him. "Come to claim your bride? Where 's Pop?"

Tim thrust him aside. "Look here," he said, in a low voice to the girl, pointing his finger at her. "You need n't think I 'm goin' to ferget this the way I did las' time. This 's the finish between us, see?"

He paid no attention to Barney's "Sit down, you lobster, an' get busy."

He went on: "You can't play me fer a sucker. I 'm on to you, an' you 're no good." She looked straight ahead of her, ignoring him, but flushing under the eyes. "You 've picked your card, now, an' you 'll stick to it. You need n't come upstairs after me, because I don't want you around. We 're quits. It 's off, see? I 'm done with you." He threw Barney's hand from his arm.

Barney said disgustedly: "Come off! You 're talkin' through your spout."

Tim nodded, furiously calm. "Am I? You 'll see." He turned and shouldered his way through a little circle of the curious who had gathered to the sound of a quarrel.

Barney said to them, as he sat down: "Aw, run away an' sell yer papers." They melted away before