Colonel Calvin Blount had now feverishly finished his julep, and as the other stopped, he placed his glass beside him on the board-pile and swung a long leg across, so that he sat directly facing his enigmatical guest. The latter, in the enthusiasm of his argument, swung into a similar position, and so they sat, both hammering on the board between them.
"Well, I would like to see that damned claim agent offer me fifteen dollars for that filly," said Blount. "I might take fifty, for the sake of the road; but fifteen—"
"Well, what would you do?"
"Well, by God, sir, if I saw that claim agent—"
"Well, by God, sir, I'm that claim agent; and I do offer you fifteen dollars for that filly, right now!"
"What! You—"
"Yes, me!"
"Fifteen dollars!"
"Yes, sir, fifteen dollars."
Colonel Blount burst into a sudden song—"On Jordan's strand I'll take my stand!" he began.