"This is rich," said Pete. "Do you really expect to buy a dime for two cents?"
Shorty said, "He just noticed how well you're doing. He figures you can afford the loss."
"Boy, it burns me up," said Pete. "These professional bums make more in a week than I see in a month."
"You keep talking that way, and this clown will want to buy your business for the two cents," Shorty said. "Ain't worth it," George said and banged his glass down. "Fill it," he directed Pete.
As Pete turned, the man made a lunge for George's change on the bar.
"Watch him," warned Shorty.
George needed no warning. He had seen the man eying his money, and he had hoped for just such a move. With a right fist to the side of the man's head, George took revenge for a bad day's work.
The man lay very still on the floor.
"What a paste," said Shorty, admiringly. "You could have killed him like that."