bout that time was gittin' that _money_."

"I'd like to see that paper," said Bill, with a pretence of incredulity.

"You'll see it when the time comes," asserted David, with an emphatic
nod. He squared himself, planting his feet apart, and, thrusting his
hands deep in his coat pockets, faced the discomfited yokel.

"Do you think, Bill Montaig," he said, with measureless contempt, "that
I didn't know who I was dealin' with? that I didn't know what a
low-lived, roost-robbin' skunk you was? an' didn't know how to protect
myself agin such an'muls as you be? Wa'al, I did, an' don't you stop
thinkin' 'bout it--an'," he added, shaking his finger at the object of
his scorn, "_you'll pay that note_ or I'll put ye where the dogs won't
bite ye," and with that he turned on his heel and resumed his seat. Bill
stood for a minute with a scowl of rage and defeat in his lowering face.

"Got any further bus'nis with me?" inquired Mr. Harum. "Anythin' more 't
I c'n oblige ye about?" There was no answer.

"I asked you," said David, raising his voice and rising to his feet,
"if you had any further bus'nis with me."

"I dunno's I have," was the sullen response.

"All right," said David. "That bein' the case, an' as I've got somethin'
to do beside wastin' my time on such wuthless pups as you be, I'll thank
you to git out. There's the door," he added, pointing to it.

"He, he, he, he, ho, ho, ha, h-o-o-o-o-o!" came from the throat of Dick
Larrabee. This was too much for the exasperated Bill, and he erred (to
put it mildly) in raising his arm and advancing a step toward his
creditor. He was not swift enough to take the second, however, for
David, with amazing quickness, sprang upon him, and twisting him around,
rushed him out of the door, down the passage, and out of the front door,
which was obligingly held open by an outgoing client, who took in the
situation and gave precedence to Mr. Montaig. His companion, who so far
had taken no part, made a motion to interfere, but John, who stood
nearest to him, caught him by the collar and jerked him back, with the
suggestion that it would be better to let the two have it out by
themselves. David came back rather breathless and very red in the face,
but evidently in exceeding good humor.

"Scat my ----!" he exclaimed. "Hain't had such a good tussle I dunno
when."

"Bill's considered ruther an awk'ard customer," remarked Dick. "I guess
he hain't had no such handlin' fer quite a while."

"Sh