y of the hoped-for client is driven away by the fear
of the collector." He was silent for a moment, and then he said: "I
don't feel that there's any advantage in being hooked up with a
saint."

"I don't know," Lyman replied. "I never tried it."

"I have," said Caruthers, looking at him.

Lyman laughed and rubbed his hands together. "You are the only one
that has ever insinuated such a compliment, if you mean that I am a
saint. But I hold that there's quite a stretch between a saint and a
man who has a desire simply to be honest. Saint--" He laughed again.
"Why, the people where I was brought up called me a rake."

"They were angels. But why don't you say where you were 'raised.' Why
do you say 'brought up?' You were not brought up; you were raised."

"Yes, that's true, I guess. But we raised vegetables where I was
brought up."

"Cabbages?"

"Yes, some cabbages. Round about here, though, they appear to make
pumpkins more of a specialty. But come a little nearer with your
meaning concerning the saint. I take it that you are tired of the
partnership. Am I right?"

"Well," Caruthers spoke up, "we haven't done anything and we have no
prospects."

"You are right," said Lyman. "But I am poorer and you are about as
well off as you were."

"Do you mean to insinuate--"

"Oh, I don't insinuate, though it's a habit among the people where I
was brought up."

"If you don't insinuate, what then? what do you mean?"

"That you've got about all the money I had."

"The devil, you say!"

"I didn't mention the devil. I didn't think it was necessary to speak
in the third person of one who is already present."

Caruthers started and took his feet off the table. Lyman regarded him
with a cool smile.

"Lyman, I thought that we might have parted friends."

"We can at least part as acquaintances," Lyman replied. "Until a few
moments ago I was willing to stand a good deal from you; that part of
your principles that I do not like I was willing to ascribe to a
difference of opinion, but just now you called me a fool because I had
refused to declare those books to be worth a hundred dollars. Up to
that time we might have parted in reasonably good humor, but since
then I haven't thought very well of you. And you'll have to take it
back before you leave."

"You say I'll _have_ to take it back."

"Yes, that's what I said."

"I never had to take anything back."

"No? Then you are about to encounter a new phase of life. Sing