with a rabid tongue. He beheld the two young folks exchanging looks that
gave to their simple words an import which roused all his fury. Britt
shook himself free from all restraint. He had been assured by the
Harndens that their home was his haven; he took advantage of that
assurance and of the young man's more dubious standing in the household.

Britt was holding to the paper-covered novel--it was doubled in his
ireful grip and its title showed plainly above his ridged hand--a
particularly infelicitous title it seemed to be under the circumstances,
because Britt was shaking the book like a cudgel and his demeanor was
that of a man who was clutching thorns instead of flowers. He advanced
on Frank and his voice made harsh clamor in the little room. "You'd
better not take on any more engagements for to-morrow, Vaniman. You'll
be mighty busy with me, winding up our business together."

"Very well, sir. And suppose we leave off all matters between us until
then!"

But Britt had started to run wild and was galloping under the whip of
fury. He had been doing some amazing things that day--he had written
verse, he had blubbered foolishly with a girl looking on, and he had
horsewhipped his twin brother before the eyes of the populace--but what
he did next was more amazing than all the rest. Having sourly admitted
to himself that he was a coward when he was alone with the girl, he
took advantage of this moment when his choleric desperation gave him
fictitious courage. He slashed into the situation with what weapons he
had at hand--and he held a reserve weapon, so he thought, in the big
wallet that thrust its bulk reassuringly against his breast. "This thing
seems to have come to a climax; and it ain't through any fault of mine.
I've never yet been afraid to talk for myself, in a climax, and I ain't
afraid now. The time to do business is when you've got your interested
parties assembled--and the five folks in this room--the whole five--may
not be collected together again," he stated, with vengeful significance,
looking hard at Vaniman. Then he whirled on the girl. "Vona, I want to
marry you. You know it. Your folks know it. It's all understood, even if
it hasn't been put into words. I'll give you everything that money will
buy. When you get me you know what you're getting. I put the question to
you right here and now, before your home folks, and that shows you what
kind of a square man I am. I don't sneak in dark corners." He acc