Part 2 (1/2)

George chuckled; paused; frowned; regarded P Sybarite with narrow suspicion

”And never tell anybody, either,” added the other, in deadly earnest

George hesitated

”Well, it's your _narumbled

”That's not my fault I'll be damned if I'll be called Perceval”

”And what if I keep on?”

”Then I'll make up my theatre party without you--and break your neck into the bargain,” said P Sybarite intensely

”You?” George laughed derisively ”You break _my_ neck? Can the comedy, beau Why, I could eat you alive, Perceval”

P Sybarite got down froht red spots, the size of quarters, beneath either cheek-bone He was half a head shorter than the shi+pping clerk, and apparently about half as wide; but there was sincerity in hisstare of his blue eyes

”Please yourself,” he said quietly ”Only--don't say I didn't warn you!”

”Ah-h!” sneered George, truculent in his a to settle this question before you leave this warehouse

I won't be called Perceval by you or any other pink-eared cross between Balaaaped with resentment

”You won't, eh?” he said stridently ”I'd like to knohat you're going to do to stop me, Perce--”

P Sybarite stepped quickly toward hirowl, threw out his hands in a manner based upon a somewhat hazy conception of the formulae of self-defence To his surprise, the open hand of the suard” and placed a s slap upon lips open to utter the syllable ”val”

Bearing with indignation, he swung his right fist heavily for the head of P Sybarite Soe Bross sat upon the dusty, grimy floor, batted his eyes, ruefully rubbed the back of his head, and marvelled at the reverberations inside it

Then he beca hie ejaculated with feeling ”Did _you_ do that to me?”

”I did,” returned P Sybarite curtly ”Want me to prove it?”

”Plenty, thanks,” returned the shi+pping clerk”Gee! You got a wallop like the kick of a e amended hastily ”Why didn't you ever tell me you was Jeffries's sparrin' partner?”

”I'm not and never was, and furthermore I didn't hit you,” replied P

Sybarite ”All I did was to let you fall over my foot and bump your head on the floor You're a clue, and if you tried it another tiht_ dent that dome of yours Better accept my offer and be friends”

”Never call you Per--”