me definite idea as to when the fun begins?"

"No, but it will be soon enough, Andy. He wants the support of the best
element. He can't afford to offend it."

"And he knows you are my lawyer?" asked Gilmore still thoughtfully.

"Of course."

"Ain't that going to cut any figure with him?"

"Certainly not."

"Is that so, Marsh?" He crossed his legs and nursed an ankle with both
hands. "Well, somebody ought to lose Moxlow,--take him out and forget to
find him again. He's much too good for this world; it ain't natural.
He's about the only man of his age in Mount Hope who ain't drifted into
my rooms at one time or another." He paused and took the cigar from
between his teeth. "You call him off, Marsh, make him agree to let me
alone; ain't there such a thing as friendship in this profession of
yours?"

Langham shook his head, and again Gilmore's black brows met in a frown.
He made a contemptuous gesture.

"You're a hell of a lawyer!" he sneered.

"Be careful what you say to me!" cried Langham, suddenly giving way to
the feeling of rage that until now he had held in check.

"Oh, I'm careful enough. I guess if you stop to think a minute you'll
understand you got to take what I choose to say as I choose to say it!"

Langham sprang to his feet shaking with anger.

"No, by--" he began hoarsely.

"Sit down," said Gilmore coldly. "You can't afford to row with me;
anyhow, I ain't going to row with you. I'll tell you what I think of you
and what I expect of you, so sit down!"

There was a long pause. Gilmore gazed out the window. He seemed to watch
the hurrying snowflakes with no interest in Langham who was still
standing by his desk, with one shaking hand resting on the back of his
chair. Presently the lawyer resumed his seat and Gilmore turned toward
him.

"Don't talk about my quitting here, Marsh," he said menacingly. "That's
the kind of legal advice I won't have from you or any one else."

"You may as well make up your mind first as last to it," said Langham,
not regarding what Gilmore had just said. "I can't keep Moxlow quiet any
longer; the sentiment of the community is against gamblers. If you are
not a gambler, what are you?"

"You mean you are going to throw me over, you two?"

"With Moxlow it is a case of bread and butter; personally I don't care
whom you fleece, but I've got my living to make here in Mount Hope, too,
and I can't afford to go counter to public opinion."

"You have had some favors out