"Say, Jim—" says I. He didn't turn or move; didn't seem to hear me. I touched him on the shoulder and he jumped and come about.
"Eh—what?" he says.
"Nothin'," says I, "only I want to know why—that's all."
"Why?" says he. "Oh!—you mean what made me change my mind? Well, I just thought it over and decided we might as well agree. Agreein' don't do any harm, you know. Hey, Skipper? Ha-ha!"
He slapped me on the shoulder and laughed. The laugh seemed too big for the joke and sounded a little mite forced, I thought.
"Yes, yes! Ha-ha!" says I. "But your changin' from lion to lamb so sudden—"
"What are you talkin' about? I've got a right to change my mind, ain't I?"
"Sartin sure. But you was so set on gettin' that contract."
"Well, I ain't said I wasn't goin' to get it, have I? We're goin' to put in a bid, ain't we? What's the matter with you?"
"Nothin' at all; but your breakfast don't seem to have set extry well! However, it takes two to make a row, and I'm peaceful, myself. What do you think of the rival entry? Kind of a nice-appearin' girl—don't you think so?"