"Say, Joe," washisgreetingtohisold-timeworking-matenextmorning, "there''smadeapotofmoney, andhe''sadandy, well-appointed, ', takethis; buysomeclotheswithitandbeatthisman'sofficebyteno', andhe', andthinkitisworththeprice—twelvethousand—.I'mbusy.I'llseeyoulater."

"Nowlookhere, Mart," theothersaidslowly, withkindlinganger, "Icomeherethismornin' ? Ididn'' sake, , ' gotohell."

HewasoutoftheroomwhenMartincaughthimandwhirledhimaround.

"Nowlookhere, Joe," hesaid; "ifyouactthatway, I'' sakeI'?—youwill, willyou?"

Joehadclinchedandattemptedtothrowhim, andhewastwistingandwrithingoutoftheadvantageoftheother', lockedineachother'sarms, , witharmsspreadoutandheldandwithMartin'.

"Nowwe'lltalkamoment," Martinsaid."Youcan''lltalkforoldsake'."

Aservanthadjustcomeinwiththemorningmail, agreatmassoflettersandmagazines.

"HowcanIwadethroughthatandtalkwithyou? Yougoandfixupthatlaundry, andthenwe'llgettogether."

"Allright," Joeadmittedreluctantly."Ithoughtyouwasturnin' medown, 'tlickme, Mart, inastand-upfight.I'vegotthereachonyou."

"We'llputontheglovessometimeandsee," Martinsaidwithasmile.

"Sure; assoonasIgetthatlaundrygoing." Joeextendedhisarm."Youseethatreach? It'llmakeyougoafew."

, , andnosoonerwasheincontactwiththemthanhewascastingaboutforexcusestogetridofthem.

Hedidnotproceedtoattackhismail, andforahalfhourhelolledinhischair, doingnothing, whilenomorethanvague, half-formedthoughtsoccasionallyfilteredthroughhisintelligence, orrather, atwideintervals, themselvesconstitutedtheflickeringofhisintelligence.