o heaven that I had never entered
it! But regrets are useless now.

Jack stepped after me, and detained me. I instantly saw that trouble was
about to come.

"Greenhorn," said Jack, with an air of angry reproach, as he laid his
hand upon my shoulder--"why do you so continually avoid me? What in the
devil's name have I ever done to deserve this treatment? Have I ever
injured you in any way? Damn it, we are equal in age, and in
disposition--let us be friends. I can put you in a way, in this city, to
enjoy the tallest kind of sport. Give me your hand, and let's go up to
the bar and take a social drink."

"Jack," said I, seriously and very calmly--"I will shake hands with you
in friendship, but I candidly confess that I do not like you; and I
believe that it will be better for us both not to associate together at
all. Observe me!--I have no hard feelings against you;--you are a clever
fellow, and generous to a fault; but something whispers to me that we
must not be companions, and I therefore respectfully desire you not to
speak to me again. Good night."[E]

I turned to go, but Jack placed himself directly in my path, and said,
in a voice that was hoarse with passion--

"Stay and hear me. We must not part in this way. Do you think that I
will tamely submit to be _cut_ in a manner so disgraceful? Do you think
that I am going to remain the object of an unfounded and ridiculous
prejudice? Explain yourself, and apologize, or by G----, it will be the
worse for you!"

"Explain myself--apologize!" I scornfully repeated--"you are a fool, and
don't know to whom you are talking. Let me go."

"No!" passionately screamed my enraged antagonist, who was somewhat
intoxicated--"you must stay and hear me out. I may as well throw off the
mask at once. Know, then, that I hate you like hell-fire, and that, the
very first time I saw you, I resolved to make you as bad as myself.
Therefore did I induce you to drink, and visit disreputable places. The
cool contempt with which you have always treated me, had increased my
hatred ten-fold. I thirst for vengeance, and _I'll fix you yet_!"

"Do your worst," said I, contemptuously; and again did I essay to take
my departure. Meanwhile, during the quarrel, the frequents of the saloon
had gathered around and appeared to enjoy the scene highly.

"If he has given you any cause of offence, Jack, why don't you pitch
into him?" suggested a half-drunken fellow who bore the enviable
reputation of being