e or grain products "too far," until
there was nothing left but the alcohol.

That meant disapproval of gin and vodka on the grounds that, unlike
whiskey or brandy, they'd had the "life" distilled out of them.

Forrester, however, was not really fond of brandy and whiskey. He
decided to explain this to the tall man, but at the same time he began
to develop the sinking feeling that it wasn't going to do any good.

Oh, well, there was still room for patience. "Don't fire," as Mars had
said somewhere, "until you see the whites of their eyes."

"No, I'm no infidel," Forrester said politely. "You see, I'm--"

"_No infidel?_" the tall man roared. "Then I tell you what you do. You
pour that slop out and drink a proper drink." He made a grab for
Forrester's glass.

Forrester jerked it back, sloshing it a little in the process--and a few
drops splattered on the other's hand.

"Now look here," Forrester said in a reasonable tone of voice. "I--"

"You spilling that stuff on me? What the blazes are you doing that for?
I got a good mind to--"

Another man stepped into the altercation. This was a square-built,
bullet-headed man with an air that was both truculent and eager. "What's
the matter, Herb?" he asked the tall man. "This guy giving you trouble
or something?" He favored Forrester with a fierce scowl. Forrester
smiled pleasantly back, a little unsure as to how to proceed.

"This guy?" Herb said. "_Trouble?_ Sam, he's an _infidel_!"

Forrester said: "I--"

"He drinks vodka," Herb said. "And I guess he drinks gin too."

"Great Bacchus," Sam said in a tone of wonder. "You run into them
everywhere these days. Can't get away from the sons of--"

"Now--" Forrester started.

"And not only that," Herb said, "but he spills the stuff on me. Just
because I ask him to have a regular drink like a man."

"_Spills_ it on you?" Sam said.

Herb said: "Look," and extended his arm. On the sleeve of his jacket a
few spots were slowly drying.

"Well, that's too much," Sam said heavily. "Just too damn much." He
scowled at Forrester again. "You know, buddy, somebody ought to teach
guys like you a lesson."

Forrester took a swallow of his drink and set the glass down
unhurriedly. If either Herb or Sam attacked him, he knew his oath would
permit his fighting back. And after the day he'd had, he rather looked
forward to the chance. But he had to do his part to hold off an actual
fight. "Now look here, friend--"

"Friend?" Sam sa