“I think both those chaps are crazy. It’s a puzzle to tell which one is worse.”
“I agree with you,” said Bart. “I wouldn’t want to meet either one of them here alone in the woods after dark.”
“Nonsense,” exclaimed Frank. “Why, a lunatic is the easiest person in the world to get along with. All you have to do is to humor him.”
“Let him kill you if he feels so disposed?” suggested Fenn.
“No, but if you should meet one, and he asks you to let him shoot you, fall in with his idea.”
“Hand him a gun, eh, Frank?” asked Bart.
“No, but, after he sees you are not going to oppose him, incidentally suggest that the moon is in the wrong quarter for a successful killing, or that the hour has not yet arrived, or that you have nine lives like a cat and that he had much better murder some one who has only one life. Ten chances to one he’ll agree with you and let you alone.”
“I guess that one chance would fall to me,” observed Fenn, “and I’ll give the lunatics a wide berth. You can have ’em all, Frank.”
“Well, I’ve read that’s the best way to act.”