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body. An' him r he Jikes .to
THINK of slugging, but he
hasn't the courage to slug a fly
himseli But he thinks J LIKE
it.'
," .'Has he a job for you to-night?'
" 'I guess so. He sent for me,
an' he wouldn't be seen talking-,
to'me unless he needed me to do
some of difty work. I'll do it, too.
I need the money. I've got to
have the money. MyjgirJ's been
starving herself for weeks, just
s dyin' before my eyes, and -I can't
get a decent job anywhere. I'm
blacklisted all over town by the
hi -, men tnat want to JviiJif me a
slugger..'
" 'How much is therein a, jab,
Denny?'
"If it's the big job, 'there's a
hundred, and by , I hope it's
tne Dig jod tonignt. witn a nun
dred why, with a hundred Mary
, and me could get outxif this curs
ed city, and away West some
place where no one knows me,
and' .
"The rear door of the. saloon
swung open. I heard some one
come in creep in, would be
more like the truth. 'Twas the
Mi. walk of a man in deadly fear of
V beine seen.
N " 'Here he is now said a h. parse
voice in the next compartment.
'Stay where you are, Johnny, and
look an' act as tough ,as you can.'
" 'Good evening, Mr. Trogan,'
said a""sdft, well bred, Persian kit
ten vpice.
" 'Cut out de misters, an' the
highbrow gladharid stuff,' said
, the" voice of the slugger, sudden-1
ly grown coarse and rasping. 'Me
name's Trogan, or Denny Tro
gan, if ye like, though I'd not ad
vise ye to be too free witr the
Denny.'
" 'Very wellr' said Kitten Voice.
-'Had we not better be alone?'
"N'No,' Trogaii's voice was
moderated, into imitation of the
mincing speech of his questioner,
"We had not better be alone. Dis
is me pal see! He's on de level,
an' anyt'ing you has to say to me,
you can say wit' him here seel"
" 'Very well, Mister er that
is Trogan,' Kitten Voice,-was
evidently nervous. 1 only
thought, you know,! '
. '-' 'Well don't,' said Denny Tro
gan. 'Let's talk business.'
, "'Well ah '' began Kitten
Voice.
" 'Who 'd'you want slugged?'
interrupted Trogan.
"I couldsalmost hear Kitten Voice
squirm.
" 'Why I er that is Trogan
I don't want anyone '
'' 'See, here" said Trogan, 'you
want me, or you don't want me.
If you don't want me, I dont
want you to talk to me, because I
ain't a friend.o' yours. Now, who
d'you wantslugged?'
" 'Day .Hoffman,' said Kitten
Voice.
"Trogan gave a low whistle
" 'He'll be extra,' he said grim-
1 . '
'''That's all right, Trogan, and
listen, the kittenish voice sank
to ahalf whisper, so -1 had to
strain my ears to get it 'We
want a good job of it, Trogan, If
Hoffman, is is gotten rid of.
