rebelliousness. More than ever did he resemble a pig at bay. The black
hat, set on top of his greasy cap and topping with its respectability
his disreputable general outfit, added a bizarre touch to the scene
between the two men.

"You think now that you are the injured party," calmly pursued the man
of the brown eyes. "You haven't intelligence enough to take my own case
into account. You are injured because you are losing a few coins--but I
may be injured in all that gives life its flavor if I do not grasp this
opportunity." Both raillery and earnestness dropped out of his tones. He
became merely matter-of-fact. "I'll make it plain. Trot along about your
business, fat one, or I shall proceed to pound the face off you and
then kick you a few rods on your happy way. You deserve it as a thief--I
worked two weeks as a stone-mason on your account. Do you get me?"

For answer the infuriated vagrant rushed at him and kicked.

With one hand the stranger plucked the hat from the tramp's head and
sailed it to a place of safety. With the other hand he grabbed the
attacker's ankle before the foot hit him and with a jerk he laid the
tramp on his back.

The victim fell so helplessly that the concussion knocked the breath and
a groan out of him.

The man of the brown eyes had moved languidly and had talked languidly
till then. When he grabbed the foot he moved with a sort of steel-trap
efficiency and quickness. He promptly straddled his victim, seated
himself on the protruding abdomen, and began to beat the man's face. He
battered the flabby cheeks and punched his fists into the pulpy neck. He