ou,
Jim--'t'll spot your clothes.

JOE. [_Pauses admiringly_.] Jim don't care a durn.

MRS. VERNON. There, I'll fix his bed. [_Getting coats from peg, back
wall_.] What's a man know, anyhow? [_Exit to shop_.

JOE. [_Gets tobacco from shelf_.] She'll fix him all right--ha, ha!

JIM. [_Entering, looking back_.] Say, Joe, women are great, ain't
they? [_Stands admiringly in doorway_.

JOE. [_Slowly coming down, filling pipe_.] Jim! [_Pause_. JIM _doesn't
answer, only looks at_ JOE.] You an' me--[_Turns quickly and looks
at_ JIM.] You an' me are goin' into the convention together? [JIM
_nods once, and chews slowly_.] Agin each other. [JIM _nods and chews.
Pause_.] Smoke? [_Offers pipe_.

JIM. [_Takes cud from mouth; hesitates--returns it_.] Chew.

JOE. Set down. [_They sit_. JIM _left of table_--JOE _to the right
in rocker_.] There's somethin' I want to say to you jes' between
ourselves.

_Enter_ MRS. VERNON.

MRS. VERNON. [_Comes back of table between the men_.] I reckon he's
comfortable.

JOE. Jim an' me's talkin' a minute, ma.

MRS. VERNON. [_Reassuredly_.] Well, I got my work. [_Exit_.

JOE. Jim--[JIM _looks at him_.] I been a figurin' an' I've calculated
they's a difference of about $600 'tween you an' me.

JIM. [_Placidly_.] How?

JOE. [_Rising, and closing door. Returns_.] When my Kate got through
the public school, you said she ought to go to college. [JIM _nods_.]
I didn't think so--I admit now I was a durn fool. [JIM _nods_.] You
said she had to go--an' she went--to Linenwood. [JIM _chews_.] When
she come back she taught me everything I know--I don't think I could
go afore this convention if it wasn't for what Kate's learned me--Jim,
I'm ashamed to say so, but I let you pay her schoolin'--I've figured
out it's a round six hundred dollars--an' I'm goin' to pay you every--

JIM. [_Impressively points at him with his whole hand_.] See here--
[_After a fateful pause, rises_.] Don't you ever say that to me agen.
[_Turns away_.

JOE. [_Half-rising, anxiously_.] Why, Jim?

JIM. [_Turning. Threatens_.] Never.

JOE. Tain't nothin' to make trouble 'tween us, Jim.

JIM. [_Pauses--growls slowly_.] Whatever I done--was done--have you
ever said a word to her about it?

JOE. Nobody knows it, Jim, but you an' me.

JIM. Man to man?

JOE. Man to man.

JIM. [_Slightly relieved_.] Well, I done it fur her--an' whenever I
hear her purty voice--soft an' low like verses out of a book--whenever
I look at her