Well, at that he read the piece over and set down in his chair with both hands up to his head and he says, 'I'm bein' hounded by a venal press, that's what's the matter; I'm bein' hounded from pillar to post.' "At this I broke in with a sneer,--'Oh, we've only just began,' I says.
'We'll have the whole lot of 'em here inside of six weeks--children and all.' 'It's a lie,' he hissed at me.

'There ain't any more.' "'Have a care, Colonel Potts,' I exclaimed, 'or first thing you know you will rue those there words bitterly! I will not brook your dastardly insults,' I says, 'and besides,' I added with a sudden idee, 'it looks like two wives will warm things up plenty for _you_.' "At them words his craven face turned an ashen gray, and he fastened upon me a glare of baffled rage that might well have made a stouter heart quail before it, but I returned his glare fearlessly and backed swif'ly to the door, feelin' for the knob.

When I found it, I got quickly out, without a blow bein' struck or a shot fired.

Then I run here." Early in the narrative Solon had begun to beam, identifying readily the slender but important vertebrae of fact upon which Billy had organized this drama of his fancy.

At the close he shook hands warmly with our hero.
"This has been a splendid day's work, William Durgin!" and Billy beamed in his turn.
"I wasn't goin' to let him know we thought there was only one," he said.
"Precisely where your training showed, my boy.