"We did," answered the Colonel, infinitely
surprised and troubled. "We shook hands outside
before we came in."


"Do it again," said Eskew. "I want to see you."

And Joe, making shift to smile, was suddenly
blinded, so that he could not see the wrinkled hands
extended to him, and was fain to grope for them.

"God knows why we didn't all take his hand
long ago," said Eskew Arp. "I didn't because I
was stubborn. I hated to admit that the argument
was against me. I acknowledge it now before
him and before you--and I want the word of
it CARRIED!"

"It's all right, Mr. Arp," began Joe, tremulously.
"You mustn't--"

"Hark to me"--the old man's voice lifted
higher: "If you'd ever whimpered, or give back-
talk, or broke out the wrong way, it would of been
different. But you never did. I've watched you
and I know; and you've just gone your own way
alone, with the town against you because you got
a bad name as a boy, and once we'd given you that,
everything you did or didn't do, we had to give