When his mind was dull and numb I began to slip in changes.

And each change meant better work and less easy money.

And soon I was making headway fast; for Joe had never cared for money for himself, but only for her--and she was dead.
So he let our profits go down and down, while what we did got more worth doing.

It even began to take hold of him--of the old Joe that was still there.
"But after nearly a year of that, I had to laugh at myself for a fool.
For Joe began wanting money again, and I knew he was thinking of marrying you.

I fought, of course, and for a time I had some hope of beating you.