ave answered, and there was steel in his
voice--"it means that after all these years I have discovered what a
cur you are--just in time to baulk you, at least in this instance."

Conward flushed, but he maintained an attitude of composure. "You've
been drinking, Dave," he said. "I meant no harm to Miss Wardin."

"Don't make me call you a liar as well as a cur."

The word cut through Conward's mask of composure. "Now by God I won't
take that from any man," he shouted, and with a swing of his arms threw
his coat over his shoulders. Dave made no motion, and Conward slowly
brought his coat back to position.

"I was right," said Dave, calmly. "I knew you wouldn't fight. You
think more of your skin than you do of your honour. Well--it's better
worth protection."

"If this girl were not here," Conward protested. "I will not fight----"

"Oh, I will leave," said Miss Wardin, with alacrity. "And I hope he
soaks you well," she shot back, as the door closed behind her. But by
this time Conward had assumed a superior attitude. "Dave," he said, "I
won't fight over a quarrel of this kind. But remember, there are some
things in which no man allows another to interfere. Least of all such
a man as you. There are ways of getting back, and I'll get back."

"Why such a man as me? I know I haven't been much of a moralist in
business matters--I've been in the wrong company for that--but I draw
the line----"

"Oh, you're fine stuff, all right. What would your friend Miss Hardy
think if I told her all I know?"

"You know nothing that could affect Miss Hardy's opinion----"

"No?"

"No, you don't. You're not bluffing a tenderfoot now. I call you. If
you've any cards--play them."

"It's too bad your memory is so poor," Conward sneered. "Why were your
lights off that night I passed your car? Oh, I guess you remember.
What will Miss Hardy think of that?"

For a moment Dave was unable to follow Conward's thought. Then his
mind reached back to that night he drove into the country with Bert
Morrison, when on the brow of a hill he switched off his lights that
they might the better admire the majesty of the heavens. That Conward
should place an evil interpretation upon that incident was a thing so
monstrous, so altogether beyond argument, that Dave fell back upon the
basic human method reserved for such occasions. His fist leapt
forward, and Conward crumpled up before it.

Conward lay stunned for a few minutes; th