“Sure, why not?” Bearcat felt good. Since his win over the blacksmith, he had more confidence in himself than ever before. Now he ordered another round of drinks for the party, but he himself stuck to ginger ale.

Babe began to feel her liquor a little. She had certain ideas. She wanted to get rid of the others and talk to Bearcat alone. Always resourceful, she quickly found a way.

“Charlie says he wants to see you in an hour,” Babe warned the Bearcat. “We’d better get started. You can drop me off downtown.”

Babe’s suggestion suited Bearcat. He felt an urge to see Babe alone. He did not know much about women, and she held a strange fascination for him.

However, he insisted they all have some food before they left. They ate and drank and talked, and Bearcat paid the bill.

Once outside, Bearcat obtained a cab. He put Babe inside, and climbed in after her. But Joe Malone and two of the boys from the express company said they were going their way and insisted on a ride. This was unlooked for, and Bearcat was peeved, while Babe was furious. She was smouldering inside until the cab arrived at 80th Street, where two of the excess pieces of baggage got out.

“You’re sure one swell scrapper, Bearcat,” one of them said. “We’ll tell the boys down at the garage what they missed. Good-night, take care of yourself, old timer.”

Babe was relieved when they had gone. But Joe Malone still remained with them. Every block or two Babe asked him if this was not where he got off. Joe refused to take the hint and grinned maliciously, until at last Columbus Circle hove in sight. There Joe put his hand on the door and said:

“T’anks for a very nice evenin’.” Then he turned to the driver. “Hey, Mac, let me out here.” The cab jolted to a stop and Joe alighted. With a “So long!” and a wave of his hand he was gone. The cab continued across the Circle and down Eighth Avenue. There was not a sound for a long time in the back of the cab.

At last Babe and the Bearcat were alone. It was precisely what they had waited for since the moment they had set eyes on each other. Babe finally broke the silence. If the Bearcat had done all the leading in tonight’s fight, it was Babe who did all the leading in the cab.

“I thought they’d never go,” said Babe, edging closer to the Bearcat.

“Me either,” said the Bearcat.

“You know,” Babe said, warming up, “when I saw you in the ring tonight, I could hardly wait to meet you. Then when I did meet you, I could hardly wait till we were alone.”