“You'll find out if I give you a lickin'!” growled the other, handling the stick which he carried in a suggestive manner.
Walter was inclined to retort in kind, but all at once it struck him as foolish to get into a quarrel about a girl whom he had known less than an hour.
“If it will make you feel any better,” he said, “I'll tell you that I got acquainted with Miss Gilbert in the cars this afternoon. I never met her before, and, as I live in Chicago, I don't suppose I shall ever meet her again.”
The young man's face cleared up.
“Come, that's honest,” he said. “I thought you wanted to cut me out.”
“If Miss Gilbert likes you I shan't interfere,” said Walter. “Now I'm going to talk business. I would like to insure your life.”
“What's that? You ain't a doctor, be you?”
“No.”
Walter proceeded to explain in as simple terms as he could command the object and methods of life insurance.
The young man scratched his head.