Good-evening, gentlemen--and--ah--Mistah Tomkins!" Thompson broke away, shaking his fist in Wyatt's face.

"Say that again and I'll brain you--pawdon me, I should say, I'll smash your head in.
Thompson's my name--T-h-o-m-p-s-o-n, _T h o m p s o n_! And you trade with me, now or never!" "You see, gentlemen ?" Wyatt appealed.

"Mistah--ah--Tawmson, I offahed you twenty-five thousand on my own wesponsibility, as a--ah--business pwoposition.

My--ah--associawates in this undehtaking aw all fwiends, quite congenwial, y' know, and I felt suah they would sanction that.

I do not cyah to go futheh lengths without--ah--a confewence with them, as I believe that pwice quite ahmple, y' know.