"You were a first-rate fellow to come to me," he went on more quietly.

"Of course, you know, our Western conventions are much more elastic than your New York ones.

All the same--" "I merely wanted to let her know the kind of man he is," explained Perry.

"What do women understand about the men they meet--why, we all look pretty much alike upon the surface." Then his righteous anger got the better of his philosophy and he broke out in a heartfelt oath.

"Damn him! I'd like to thrash him clean out of his skin!" "I am glad you told me," was all Adams said, but there was a reserved strength in his voice which made the explosive violence of the other sound the merest bravado.