As Squire Hexter and Vaniman walked on together the notary deferred comment on the recent happenings, as if he hoped that the cashier would open up on the topic. But Frank was grimly silent.
Therefore the Squire broke the ice. “What kind of a partner does Tasp Britt make in a polka, son? I saw you and him going at it pretty briskly.”
“I stopped him from making a fool of himself.”
“Quite a contract, boy! Quite a contract! And when you got to the matter of his purple whiskers and his lamp-mat hair—”
“I said nothing to Mr. Britt on such a ridiculous topic—certainly not, sir!”
“And yet you brag that you have stopped him from making a fool of himself,” purred the Squire. “Tut! Tut! He's worse than ever. I heard him tell you that you're discharged from the bank.”
“Yes, I heard him, too!”
“I didn't catch what you answered back.”
“I told him I should ask the directors to decide that matter.”
“Quite right! You're sure of one vote for your side—that's mine! And I think that when President Britt considers that he has no other charge against you except that you took away a horsewhip that he was using not wisely but too well—”