He wanted to write a note.

So I agreed to let him use it if he wouldn't take it out of my sight and on condition that he didn't write more than five or six line's.

But when he made as if he was going to sharpen it, I threatened him with an ax.

Can you beat that for wastefulness?
These low-down rich don't know the meaning of frugality.
Why, if I hadn't stopped him he might have whittled off five thousand dollars' worth of lead, just like that.

I also had to caution him about bearing down too hard while he was writing." "What was he wanting to write a note for ?" demanded Malone.