'Then you know all about this business?'
'Which business, Mr. Dingle?'
'Why, Kirk and Miss Ruth.'
Mrs. Porter raised her eyebrows.
'Really, Mr. Dingle! Has Mr. Winfield made you his confidant?'
'How's that?'
'Has Mr. Winfield told you about my niece and himself?'
'Hell, no! You don't find a real person like Kirk shooting his head
about that kind of thing. I had it from Bailey.'
'From Bailey?'
'Surest thing you know. He blew in here and shouted it all out at the
top of his voice.'
'Indeed! I was wondering if he had arrived yet. He left my apartment
saying he was going to thrash Mr. Winfield. I came here to save him
from getting hurt. Was there any trouble?'
'Not so's you could notice it. I guess when he'd taken a slant at Kirk
he thought he wouldn't bother to swat him. Say, ma'am...'
'Well?'
'Whose corner are you in for this scrap?'
'I don't understand you.'
'Well, are you rooting for Kirk, or are you holding the towel for old
man Bannister?'
'You mean, do I wish Mr. Winfield to marry my niece?'
'You're hep.'
'Most certainly I do. It was I who brought them together.'
'Bully for you! Well, say, I just been shooting the dope into Kirk
upstairs. I been, you didn't happen to read the report of a scrap I
once had with a gazook called Kid Mitchell, did you, ma'am?'
'I seldom, I may say never, read the sporting section of the daily
papers.'
Steve looked at her in honest wonder.
'For the love of Pete! What else do you find to read in 'em?' he said.
'Well, I was telling Kirk about it. The Kid came at me to soak me, but
I soaked him first and put him out. It's the only thing to do, ma'am,
when you're up against it. Get in the first wallop before the other guy
can get himself set for his punch. 'Kirk,' I says, 'don't you wait for
old man Bannister to tell you you can't marry Miss Ruth. Marry her
before he can say it.' I wish you'd tell him the same thing, ma'am. You
know the old man as well as I do, better, I guess, and you know that
Kirk ain't got a chance in a million with him if he don't rush him.
Ain't that right?'
'Mr. Dingle,' said Mrs. Porter, 'I should like to shake you by the
hand. It is amazing to me to find such sound sense in a man. You have
expressed my view exactly. If I have any influence with Mr. Winfield,
he shall marry my niece to-day. You are a man of really exceptional
intelligence, Mr. Dingle.'
'Aw, check it with your hat, ma'am!' murmured Steve modestly. 'Nix on
the bouquets! I'm only a roughneck. But I fall for Miss Ruth, and there
ain't many like Kirk, so I'd like to see them happy. It would sure get
my goat the worst way to have the old man gum the game for them.'
