"Never mind that. Just be thankful some one cared enough to give you the tip. Come on now."
"I tell you it's too late. How the hell can I go—to war?" Steadman laughed in a sickly fashion.
Ralston's heart sank and his gorge rose. Had he sacrificed his future for a cad like this? And was he going to fail besides?
"You miserable snipe!" he cried, for an instant utterly losing control of himself.
"You shan't—insult me!" chattered Steadman, rising unsteadily to his feet. In a flash Ralston perceived the possibilities of the situation.
"You're a coward, Steadman!" he cried. "A welcher!"
Steadman's eyes glared wildly. "I'll kill you for that!" he gasped.
"Come on down and fight it out then, if you're a man," sneered Ralston, turning and making for the head of the stairs. Steadman groped his way after him along the wall.
"Come on, you welcher!" taunted Ralston.
With an inarticulate cry of anger, Steadman clasped the banisters and half slid, half stumbled to the entrance hall.