Teddy tore off his coat and flung it from him recklessly, and his cheek flamed suddenly redder than Ryan’s.
“Yes, and you’ll be stiff when I’m through with you, you big loafer!” he said savagely. “How’d you find that out?”
Ryan stretched forth a long arm, and swept his colleague into a hug like a bear’s.
“Be aisy, little man,” he said. “I just tried to kiss her while she was fightin’ with a set o’ new piston-rings. I got mine all right—from the lady.”
But Teddy tore loose and rushed into the garage, where he found Sadie still struggling with a recalcitrant piston of her dismounted motor. He seized a cold chisel from the work-bench.
“What did that fresh Mick say to you?” he demanded.
“Drop it at once, Teddy,” commanded Sadie. “When I can’t manage Ryan with my own hands, I’ll get a gun. Besides, I want you to hold these rings tight for me, so I can push this piston in.”
Teddy obeyed, marveling at the strength of the small brown fingers that had essayed the task unaided. Once more that strange, choking sensation assailed him, and he felt his eyes unaccountably filling with tears.
“Sadie, you’re an everlasting little marvel,” he said. “I expect you’ll marry one of these rich fans; but I wish it was me.”
“I don’t want to marry anybody,” the girl replied. “Say, can’t you hold those rings in without trembling so?”