The other man looked at him, with a curious frown upon his face.
"Think I'm a damned fool!" he curtly answered, and sopped his handkerchief in the water again.
The rage went out of Arthur's eyes, and he almost smiled, so much did that familiar phrase convey, with its subtle inflections. It was cunning and candid and chivalrous all at once. It acknowledged defeat and guilt and embodied a certain pride in the victor.
"Well, that settles that," said Arthur. "One thing more—I don't want you to say what made the row between us."
"All right, pard; only, you'd better see Tim."
In spite of his care, the matter came to the ears of Richards, who laughed over it and told his wife, who stared blankly.
"Good land! When did it happen?"
"A couple of days ago."
"Wal, there! I thought there was a nigger in the fence. Dan had a head on him like a bushel basket. What was it about?"
"Something Tim said about Edith."