"Do you want to hear a word on that?" demanded the Cap'n, grimly. He came close up, whirling the cudgel. "You're an old, cheap, ploughed-land blowhard, that's what you are! You've cuffed 'round hired men and abused weak wimmen-folks. I knowed you was a coward when I got that line on ye. You don't dast to stand up to a man like me. I'll split your head for a cent." He kept advancing step by step, his mien absolutely demoniac. "I've married your sister because she wanted me. Now I'm goin' to take care of her. I've got thutty thousand dollars of my own, and she's giv' me power of attorney over hers. I'll take every cent of what belongs to her out of your business, and I know enough of the way that your business is tied up to know that I can crowd you right to the wall. Now do ye want to fight?" The tyrant's face grew sickly white, for he realized all that threat meant. "But there ain't no need of a fight in the fam'ly--and I want you to understand that I'm a pretty dum big part of the fam'ly after this. Be ye ready to listen to reason?" "You're a robber!" gasped the Colonel, trying again to muster his anger. "I've got a proposition to make so that there won't be no pull-haulin' and lawyers to pay, and all that." "What is it?" "Pardnership between you and me--equal pardners. I've been lookin' for jest this chance to go into business." The Colonel leaped up, and began to stamp round his wagon. "No, sir," he howled at each stamp. "I'll go to the poor-farm first." "Shouldn't wonder if I could put you there," calmly rejoined the Cap'n. "These forced lickidations to settle estates is something awful when the books ain't been kept any better'n yours. I shouldn't be a mite surprised to find that the law would get a nab on you for cheatin' your poor sister." Again the Colonel's face grew white. "All is," continued the Cap'n, patronizingly, "if we can keep it all in the fam'ly, nice and quiet, you ain't goin' to git showed up. Now, I ain't goin' to listen to no more abuse out of you. I'll give you jest one minute to decide. Look me in the eye. I mean business." "You've got me where I'll have to," wailed the Colonel. "Is it pardnership?" "Yas!" He barked the word. "Now, Colonel Ward, there's only one way for you and me to do bus'ness the rest of our lives, and that's on the square, cent for cent. We might as well settle that p'int now. Fix up that toll bill, or it's all off. I won't go into business with a man that don't pay his honest debts." He came forward with his hand out. The Colonel paid. "Now," said the Cap'n, "seein' that the new man is here, ready to take holt, and the books are all square, I'll ride home with you. I've been callin' it home now for a couple of days." The new man at the toll-house heard the Cap'n talking serenely as they drove away.