"Oh, sure—he treated me fine."
"And yet he discharged you yesterday." Then Carroll bluffed.
"Without notice!"
Barker looked up sharply. His face betrayed his surprise; showed clearly that Carroll's guess had scored.
"How'd you know that?"
"I knew it," returned Carroll. "That's sufficient."
Barker assumed a defensive attitude.
"Anyway," said he, "that didn't make me sore at him, because he give me a month's pay; and that's just as good as a notice, ain't it?"
"Ye-e-es, I guess it is." Carroll hesitated. "Did he pay you in cash?"
"Yeh—cash."
Again Carroll hesitated for a moment, while he lighted a cigarette. When he spoke again, his tone was merely conversational, almost casual.