don't pay. Seems to me you better wait till the
note's due before you begin to worry, Mr. Selmer. And I'll set your mind
at rest on one point, anyway. The plane may go to smash, as you say, but
if I don't smash with it, I'll pay you that three thousand. And you
don't have to strain any point, either, to give me a job. When I want to
work for you I'll sure tell you so. In the meantime, I don't know as
it's very businesslike for you to go prying into my plans. You've
accepted my note, and you've got your security, and what the hell more do
you want?"

Sudden was very much occupied with his cigar just then, and he did not
answer the challenge. Moreover, he was having some difficulty with his
poker face, which showed odd twitchings around his mouth. But Johnny did
not wait for a reply. He was started now, and he went on hotly,
relieving his mind of a good many other little grievances.

"You don't go around asking other men how they expect to meet their
obligations a year from now, do you? Then why should you think you've
got a right to butt in on my private business, I'd like to know? Put my
plane in your cow shed and go to work for you! Huh! I've caused you
trouble and expense enough, I should think, without saddling myself on
you like that. I appreciate all you have done--but I absolutely will not
get under your wing and let you pet and humor me along like you do Mary
V. Why, good golly! You've spoiled and humored her now until I can't do
a thing with her! Why, she harps on my staying here at the ranch--under
dad's wing, of course!--instead of getting out and making something of
myself. You didn't fool around and let somebody else shoulder your
responsibilities, did you? You didn't let somebody plan for you and
dictate to you and do all your thinking--no, you bet your life you
didn't! And nobody's going to do it for me, either. If I haven't got
brains enough and guts enough to make good for myself, I'll blow the top
of my head off and be done with it."

He rose and pushed his chair back with a kick that sent it skating
against the wall. His stormy blue eyes snapped at Sudden as though he
would force some display of emotion into that smooth, impassive, well-fed
countenance, the very sight of which lashed his indignation into a kind
of fury.

"If you really think I don't amount to any more than to hang around here
for you to support, why the devil don't you kick me out and tell Mary V
not to marr