Tom, however,
managed to muster a smile as he went on:
"How do you do, Mr. Ashby? Your performance of this afternoon mystified
me a good deal. I had never expected to find myself on a shooting
acquaintance with you."
Three or four of the rascals chuckled at this way of putting it, but
Proprietor Ashby snarled like a wild animal.
"As for you, Mr. Duff," Reade resumed, "I confess that I have never been
able to understand you."
"You will to-night," smiled Duff, with bland ferocity. "I can promise
you, as a gambler, that I am going to give you a square deal."
"Fine!" glowed Tom. "I am delighted to hear that you have reformed,
then."
This' time there was a general laugh. Jim Duff flushed angrily.
"Reade, what you never understood about me is that I belong to the ranks
of the square gamblers."
"I didn't believe there were any such gamblers," Tom replied in a voice
of surprise. "It is still hard for me to believe. How can any man be
square and honorable when he won't work, but fattens on the earnings of
others? Has that idea any connection with honor?"
"Stop that line of talk, you young hound!" ordered Duff, striding up to
this bold young enemy.
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