Summeval replied to this by presenting to the Captain a slip of paper containing entries of many charges against Suggs, and in favour of the “Union Hotel.” “All right,” said Suggs; “I’ll be over in a couple of weeks and settle.” “Can’t wait; want money to buy provisions; account been standing two years, thirty-one dollars and fifty cents is money these days,” said Dennis, with unusual firmness. “Confound your ugly face,” vociferated Suggs, “_I’ll give you my note!_ that’s enough among gentlemen, I suppose?” “Hardly,” returned the inn-keeper, “hardly; we want the cash; your note ain’t worth the trouble of writin’ it.” “Dam you!” roared Suggs, “dam you for a biscuit-headed _nullifier_! I’ll give you a mortgage on the best half section of land in the county; _south_ half of 13, 21, 29!” “Captain Suggs,” said Dennis, drawing off his coat, “you’ve called me a nullifier, and that’s what I _won’t_ stand from _no_ man. Strip! and I’ll whip as much dog out of you as’ll make a full pack of hounds. You swindlin’ robber!” This hostile demonstration alarmed the Captain, and he set in to soothe his angry landlord. “Sum, old fel,” he said, in his most honeyed tones, “Sum, old fel! be easy. I’m not a fightin’ man—” and here Suggs drew himself up with dignity, “I’m not a fightin’ man _except_ in the cause of my country! _Thar_ I’m _allers_ found! Come, old fellow—do you reckon ef you’d been a nullifier, I’d ever been ketched at your house? No, no! you _ain’t_ no part of a nullifier, but you are rather hard down on your Union friends that allers puts up with you. Say, won’t you take the mortgage?—the land’s richly worth a thousand dollars, and let me have Old Bill.” The heart of Dennis was melted at the appeal thus made. It was to his good-fellowship and his party feelings. So, putting on his coat, he remarked that he “rather thought he would take the mortgage. However,” he added, seeing Mrs. Dennis standing at the door of the tavern watching his proceedings, “he would see his wife about it.” The Captain and Dennis approached the landlady and made known the state of the case. “You see, Cousin Betsey,”—Suggs always _cousined_ any lady whom he wished to _cozen_—“you see, Cousin Betsey, the fact is, I’m down just now, in the way of money, and you and Summeval bein’ afraid I’ll run away and never come back—” “T’aint that _I’m_ afraid of,” said Mrs. Dennis. “What then?” asked Suggs. “Of your comin’ back, eatin’ us out of house and home, and _never payin’ nothin’_!”