with lounging shoulder or elbow. As they passed a certain dark entry
where divers of these vague shadows lounged, a long arm was stretched
thence, and a large hand gripped Spike's shoulder.

"Why--hello, Spider," said he, halting. "What's doin'?"

"Nawthin' much, Kid--only little M--'say, who's wid you?"

"Oh, this is a friend o' mine--Geoff, dis is d' Spider!" explained
Spike.

Visualised in "the Spider" Ravenslee saw a tall, slender youth, very
wide in the shoulder and prodigiously long of arm and leg, and who
looked at him keen-eyed from beneath a wide cap brim, while his square
jaws worked with untiring industry upon a wad of chewing gum.

"Good evening!" said Ravenslee and held out his hand. The Spider ceased
chewing for a moment, nodded, and turning to Spike, chewed fiercer than
ever.

"Where youse goin', Kid?" he enquired, masticating the while.

"What was you goin' to tell me, Spider?" demanded Spike, a note of
sudden anxiety in his voice.

"Nawthin', Kid."

"Aw--come off, Spider! What was it?"

The Spider glanced up at the gloomy sky, glanced down at the dingy