"I'm sorry, Councillor, but it's
Ted Baldwin. He says he must see you this very minute."
The message was unnecessary; for the set, cruel face of the man
himself was looking over the servant's shoulder. He pushed the
bartender out and closed the door on him.
"So," said he with a furious glance at McMurdo, "you got here
first, did you? I've a word to say to you, Councillor, about
this man."
"Then say it here and now before my face," cried McMurdo.
"I'll say it at my own time, in my own way."
"Tut! Tut!" said McGinty, getting off his barrel. "This will
never do. We have a new brother here, Baldwin, and it's not for
us to greet him in such fashion. Hold out your hand, man, and
make it up!"
"Never!" cried Baldwin in a fury.
"I've offered to fight him if he thinks I have wronged him," said
McMurdo. "I'll fight him with fists, or, if that won't satisfy
him, I'll fight him any other way he chooses. Now, I'll leave it
to you, Councillor, to judge between us as a Bodymaster should."
"What is it, then?"
"A young lady. She's free to choose for herself."
"Is she?" cried Baldwin.
"As between two brothers of the lodge I should say that she was,"
said the Boss.
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