because I want
to marry your daughter. I'm no coward. But I know myself, and I know
him. Here am I ready to meet John Kars, or a dozen of his kind, in any
play known to man, except rivalry for a woman. He's got them all where
he wants them from the jumping off mark. It's only natural, too. Look
at him. If he'd stepped out of the picture frame of the Greek Gods he
couldn't have a better window dressing. He's everything a woman ever
dreamed of in a man. He's all this country demands in its battles.
Then take a peek at me. You'll find a feller cussed to death with a
figure that's an insult to a prime hog. What's inside don't figger a
cent. The woman don't look beyond the face and figure, and the
capacity to do. Maybe I can do all John Kars can do. But when it
comes to face and figure, it's not a race. No, ma'am, it's a
procession. And I'm taking his dust all the time."

"Do you think Jessie is--likes John Kars?" The mother's question came
thoughtfully. To Murray it was evident the direction in which she was
leaning.

"She'd need to be a crazy woman if she didn't," he retorted bluntly.

Then he rose from his seat, and moved over to the window. He stood
gazing out of it. Ailsa Mowbray's eyes followed his movements. They
regarded him closely, and she thought of his own description of
himself. Yes, he was not beautiful. Wholesome, strong, capable. But
he was fat--so fat. A shortish, tubby man whose figure added ten years
to his age.

But with his face towards the window, his strong tones came back to
her, and held her whole attention.

"Yes, ma'am. She likes him. But I don't guess it's more than
that--yet. Maybe it would never become more if you discouraged it. I
could even think she'd forget to remember the queer figure I cut in the
eyes of a woman--if it suited you to tell her diff'rent. It seems a
pretty mean proposition for a feller to have to hand his love interests
over to another, even when it's the girl's mother. But whatever I can
do in the affairs of the life about us, whatever my ability, ma'am, to
put through the business side of our affairs, I guess I'm mighty short
winded in the race for a woman's love, and--know it. Say, you guessed
just now you owed me thanks for the things I figger to do for you. I'd
say if you'd feel like helping me to marry Jessie I'd owe you more
thanks on the balance than I can ever hope to pay off."

He abruptly turned back from the window. He step