His daughter said
he went to sleep every afternoon, an' wouldn' be waked. How could a
man afford to do that if his money wasn' rollin' up somewhere for
him? An' the place fairly lined with barrels o' good liquor."
"Mightn't liquor accumylate in the same way?" asked Mr. Adams, with
sudden and lively interest.
"No, you nincom'," began Mr. Jope--when a loud knocking on the outer
door interrupted him. "Hallo!" he sank his voice. "Callers
already!"
He went to the door, unlocked and opened it. A heavy-shouldered,
bull-necked man stood outside in the dusk.
"Good evenin'."
"Evenin'," said the stranger. "My name is Coyne an' you must get out
o' this."
"I don't see as it follows," answered Mr. Jope meditatively. "But
hadn't you better step inside?"
"I don't want to bandy words--" began the publican, entering as
though he shouldered his way.
"That's right! Bill, fetch an' fill a glass for the gentleman."
"No, thank you. . . . Well, since you have it handy. But look here:
I got nothin' particular to say against you two men, only you can't
stop here to-night. That's straight enough, I hope, and no bones
broken.
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