He told me he was going to call upon
you--there he is now, entering the gate."

Stephen was glad to hear it. He wanted to empty the vails of his wrath on
the audacious offender.

He was accustomed to seeing men of the stamp of this stranger quail before
him and show nervous alarm at his rebukes. He had no doubt that his
majestic wrath would overwhelm the shabby outcast who had audaciously
assaulted his son and heir.

He rose to his feet, and stood the personification of haughty displeasure,
as the poor man who dared his anger walked composedly up the path. He now
stood by the piazza steps.

"It is well you have come here," began the squire in a dignified tone. "My
son tells me that you have committed an unprovoked outrage upon him in
dragging him from his wheel. I can only conclude that you are under the
influence of liquor."

Stephen Ray waited curiously to hear what the man would say. He was
prepared for humble apologies.

"I am no more drunk than yourself, if that is what you mean, Stephen
Ray."

Squire Ray was outraged and scandalized.

"You must be drunk or you would not dare to talk in this way. Who
authorized you to address me in this familiar way?"

"You are only a man, I believe, Stephen Ray. I have addressed you as
respectfully as you have spoken to me."

"Respect--to you?" repeated Mr. Ray disdainfully. "Has the time come when
we must be respectful to tramps?"

"A poor tramp is quite as deserving of respect as a rich rascal."

"What do you mean by that?" demanded the squire suspiciously.

"It was a general remark."

"It is well that it was. But it has no application in the present
instance. If you are poor I will give you a quarter, but only on condition
that you apologize to my son."

The stranger laughed.

"Why should I apologize to your son?" he asked.

"You pulled him off his wheel. Do you deny it?"

"No, I do not. Do you know what he did?"

"He brushed against you with his wheel, he tells me, accidentally."

"So that is his version of it? He deliberately ran into me."

"I gave you warning. I said 'Out of the way, there!'" interrupted
Clarence.

"Yes, but you had no right on the sidewalk."

"It seems to me, sir, that you are remarkably independent for a man of
your rank. Even if it had been as you say, you had no right to assault my
son. I might have you arrested on your own confession, but I will forbear
doing so on condition that you leave town at once."

"I have a littl