"Yes, yes; keep Jack out of Milligan's; but for heaven's sake don't try to put a hand on Donnegan."
"Why not?"
"For your sakes; he'd kill you, Joe!"
At this they both gaped in unison, and as one man they drawled in vast admiration: "Good heavens!"
"But go, go, go!" cried the girl.
And she shoved them through the door and into the night.
22
To the people in Milligan's it had been most incredible that Jack Landis should withdraw from a competition of any sort. And though the girls were able to understand his motives in taking Nelly Lebrun away they were not able to explain this fully to their men companions. For one and all they admitted that Jack was imperiling his hold on the girl in question if he allowed her to stay near this red-headed fiend. But one and all they swore that Jack Landis had ruined himself with her by taking her away. And this was a paradox which made masculine heads in The Corner spin. The main point was that Jack Landis had backed down before a rival; and this fact was stunning enough. Donnegan, however, was not confused. He sent big George to ask Milligan to come to him for a moment.