Regan, unruffled and undemonstrative, said through the cloud of his pipe:
"Well, I've seen men go through it before. You never were very bad."
"What?" said Stover, who felt rather annoyed at this tame estimate.
"It's not a bad thing when you've licked the devil four ways to election," said Regan. "You know what you can do, and that's something."
"Ever been through it?" said Stover, still a little piqued.
"Ye-es."
"Really, Tom?" said Dink amazed.
"Ran about six months," said Regan, crossing his legs and dreaming. "I wasn't nice and polite like you—used to clean up the place—rather ugly time, but I pulled out."
"You've never told me about yourself," said Stover tentatively.
Regan rose, reaching for the tobacco. "No, I never have," he said. "My story is one of those stories that isn't told. Come on over to Brocky's; he's got a debating scheme you'll be interested in."