Part 14 (1/2)
”You know my nephew, Mr. Dingle?”
”Sure. I box with him every morning.”
”I never expected to hear that my nephew Bailey did anything so sensible as to take regular exercise. He does not look as if he did.”
”He certainly is a kind o' half-portion, ma'am. But say, if he's your nephew, Miss Ruth's your niece.”
”Perfectly correct.”
”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?”
”h.e.l.l, 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 sc.r.a.p?”
”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 sc.r.a.p I once had with a gazook called Kid Mitch.e.l.l, did you, ma'am?”
”I seldom, I may say never, read the sporting section of the daily papers.”