Blount fairly gasped. "Do you mean to tell me," said he, in forced calm,
"that you are this claim agent?"

"I have told you. That's the way I make my living. That's my duty."

"Your duty to give me fifteen dollars for a Himyah filly?"

"I said fifteen."

"And I said fifty."

"You don't get it."

"I don't, eh? Say, my friend"--Blount pushed the glasses away, his
choler rising at the temerity of this, the only man who in many a year
had dared to confront him. "You look here. Write me a check for fifty;
an' write it now." With a sudden whip of his hand he reached behind him.
Like a flash he pulled a long revolver from its holster. Eddring gazed
into the round aperture of the muzzle and certain surrounding apertures
of the cylinder. "Write me a check," said Blount, slowly, "and write it
for fifty. I may tear it up when I get it--I don't care fifty cents for
it--but you write it!"

The eyes of the two met, and which were the braver man it had been hard
to tell. Neither flinched. Eddring returned a gaze as direct as that
which he received. The florid face back of the barrel held a gleam of
half-admiration at witnessing his deliberation. The claim agent's eye
did not falter.

"You said fifty dollars, Colonel Blount," said he, just a suggestion of
a smile at the corner of his mouth. "Don't you think there has been a
slight misunderstanding between us two? If you are so blamed particular
and really _want_ a check for fifty, why, here it is." He busied himself
a moment, and passed over a strip of paper. Even as he did so, the ire
of Colonel Blount cooled as suddenly as it had gained warmth. A sudden
contrition sat on his face, and he crowded the paper into his pocket
with an air half shamed-faced.

"Sir--Mr. Eddring--" he began, falteringly.

"Well, what do you want? You've got your check, and you've got the
railroad. We've paid our little debt to you."

"Sir," said Blount. "My friend--why, sir, here is your julep."

"To hell with your julep, sir."

"My friend," said Blount, flushing. "You serve me right. I am forgetting
my duties as a gentleman. I asked you into my house."

"I'll see you damned first," said Eddring, hotly.

"Right!" cried Blount, exultingly. "You're right. You are one of the
fighting Eddrings, sure as you're born. Why, sir, come on in. You
wouldn't punish the son of your uncle's friend, your own daddy's friend,
would you? Why, man, I know your folks--"

But the ire of Eddring was now arouse