“Are you a friend of mine?”

“Ain’t I a showin’ ye.”

“Take Billy home and take care of him until I return—will you do it?”

“Yes—but I don’t like this givin’ up a fight when I’ve won it.”

“And one thing more, Dan, old boy, before I let your hand go, you’ve got to promise me not to kill Steve Hoyle.”

“Who said I was goin’ to do it?”

“I say it.”

“He ain’t fit ter live.”

“Yes, but somehow God lets a lot of such trash cumber the earth. We’d better not try any more interference with his plans.”

Dan hesitated, struggling with deep passion, drew a handkerchief and blew his nose.