one right important thing to tell you before we talk any further business, and that's this: there's some few men in this town made their money in off-colour ways, but there aren't many; and those there are have had to be a darn sight slicker than you know how to be, or ever will know how to be! Yes, sir, and they none of them had the little gumption to try to make it out of a man that had the spirit not to let 'em, and the strength not to let 'em! I know what you thought. 'Here,' you said to yourself, 'here's this ole fool J. A. Lamb; he's kind of worn out and in his second childhood like; I can put it over on him, without his ever———"
"I did not!" Adams shouted. "A great deal you know about my feelings and all what I said to myself! There's one thing I want to tell you, and that's what I'm saying to myself now, and what my feelings are this minute!"
He struck the table a great blow with his thin fist, and shook the damaged knuckles in the air. "I just want to tell you, whatever I did feel, I don't feel mean any more; not to-day, I don't. There's a meaner man in this world than I am, Mr. Lamb!"
"Oh, so you feel better about yourself to-day, do you, Virgil?"
