rivals; second, because you take these
matters so serious. I--I am Frenchman. I love the women"--he threw
back his curls, bared his yellow teeth, and blew an unsavory kiss
toward the kitchen. "It is, I suppose, a trait of my nation. All
Frenchmen love the women--pretty women. Now, look: Here I am!" He
spread out his arms. "Cold outside! I detes' the col-l-l! Snow! I
abominate the mees-ser-rhable snow! Two men! This--" pointing to
me--"an' this!" Pointing to' Ross. "I am distracted! For two whole
days I stan' at the window an' tear my 'air! I am nervous, upset,
pr-r-ro-foun'ly distress inside my 'ead! An' suddenly--be'old! A
woman, a nice, pretty, charming, innocen' young woman! I, naturally,
rejoice. I become myself again--gay, light-'earted, 'appy. I address
myself to mademoiselle; it passes the time. That, m'sieu', is wot the
women are for--pass the time! Entertainment--like the music, like the
wine!

"They appeal to the mood, the caprice, the temperamen'. To play with
thees woman, follow her through her humor, pursue her--ah! that is the
mos' delightful way to sen' the hours about their business."

Ross banged the table. "Shut up, you miserable yeller pup!" he roared.
"I object to your pursuin' anything or anybody in my house. Now, you
listen to me, you--" He picked up the box of stogies and used it on
the table as an emphasizer. The noise of it awoke the attention of the
girl in the kitchen. Unheeded, she crept into the room. "I don't know
anything about your French ways of lovemakin' an' I don't care. In my
section of the country, it's the best man wins. And I'm the best man
here, and don't you forget it! This girl's goin' to be mine. There
ain't going to be any playing, or philandering, or palm reading about
it. I've made up my mind I'll have this girl, and that settles it. My
word is the law in this neck o' the woods. She's mine, and as soon as
she says she's mine, you pull out." The box made one final, tremendous
punctuation point.

Etienne's bravado was unruffled. "Ah! that is no way to win a woman,"
he smiled, easily. "I make prophecy you will never win 'er that way.
No. Not thees woman. She mus' be played along an' then keessed, this
charming, delicious little creature. One kees! An' then you 'ave
her." Again he displayed his unpleasant teeth. "I make you a bet I
will kees her--"

As a cheerful chronicler of deeds done well, it joys me to relate that
the hand which