"Without signing this petition?"
"Without so much as reading it. But I will agree to do this. When your daughter comes to me and tells me that she loves Mr. Sawyer, that her happiness depends upon him, then I will sign it. At present I am her protector."
The banker snorted, but calmed himself. "You a protector—a mediator! Sir, you continue to insult me."
"He ought to be kicked out of his own office," Sawyer swore.
"Yes, but it would take a mule, rather than a mule driver. But I don't want anything more to say to you. I know your history; you wouldn't hesitate to shoot a man in the back, but when it comes to a face to face fight, you are a coward. Shut up. Not a word out of you. Mr. McElwin, I sympathize with your wife and your daughter, but I am not at all sorry for you. Good morning."
The angry visitors strode out, with many a gesture of unspeakable anger. "Well," said Warren, "that beats anything I ever saw. How did you learn so much about his family affairs? Who told you?"
"You told me Sawyer's history, and I made a bold guess at the rest."
"And you nailed him. Well, I'll swear if it ain't a jubilee. But there's no news in it for me."
"There may be some day," Lyman replied.