'Twixt the powder and ball,'
as ye might say. That's why I started the factory.”
I paid my debt to him.
“Are you going to take out another line of goods?” he asked.
“No; I'm going home,” was my answer. “I'll write to you if I decide to try it again.”
“Maybe you need this money to get home with,” he suggested, in a careless and opulent manner.
“No; I have enough,” was my answer.
“Sit down, an' le' 's have a little visit,” said he. “I like you, an' by-an'-by I'll take you out an' show you the sights. I want to treat you as one gentleman would treat another. Have you noticed that I don't say 'ain't' for 'isn't' or 'them' for 'those' any more?”
“I notice that you speak very properly,” I assured him.
“I've got a grammar, and have begun to study it,” said he. “My tea-pot is all made, as ye might say, an' I have begun to put a polish on it. Let me show ye.”