“This: If there should ever come a time when you want to play square, come straight to me and say so. I’ll promise to believe you—to take your word for it, and to stand for you in the fight that is bound to follow.”
“Thank you, Mr. Carter. I won’t forget; and who knows? There may come a time when I’ll call that hand of yours.”
“Good,” said Nick. “I hope there will.”
“And now, before I get down to the business of my call here to-night, I want to say a word in explanation of my position.”
“Go ahead, Red.”
“I told you just now that my principle was a fair field and no favors. That expression means more with me than it does with some people.”
“I’ve no doubt of it, Morgan.”
“It means, for instance, that when I decide to crack a crib somewhere I know that in doing it I am more than likely to get you on my track, and that it is your duty to nail me if you can.”
“Exactly.”
“Well, if you do nail me, I do not cherish the least sort of hard feeling toward you for doing it. I am a professed enemy to society; you are its guardian. If I do wrong it is your duty to catch me and send me away, if you can—and I respect you rather than hate you for doing your duty, even though I may be the victim of your zeal.”