"That sounds interesting. I certainly ain't in business for my health. Fire it off. I'm listening."
"There's no use beating about the bush with you. And I'm a man of my word. Isn't that so?"
"I never heard it gainsaid," said Masterson. "I'll trust you, and you can trust me as equally."
"Well, I'll tell you how I'm fixed. You know that Madam Spoll and Vixley have got it in for me—they've tried to run me out of this town, in fact."
"Oh, that's why you quit? Lord, I wouldn't lay down so easy as that!"
"Well, I'm out of it, at any rate. I won't say why, but they tried to hurt me, fast enough. Now I want to give them as good as they sent."
Doctor Masterson grinned and clasped his hands over his knees. "That suits me all right, I ain't any too friendly myself, just at present."
"Then perhaps we can come to terms. What I propose to do, is to checkmate them with Payson."
Masterson rubbed his red, scrawny beard. "That ain't easy," he said reflectively.
"Easy enough, if you'll help me."