acting as second, threatened each moment to take the matter into
his own hands and usurp the place of principal.
Straw Hat was placable and quite disposed to accept an expression
of regret that fright had been occasioned.
Sandy Beard would not have it so, and urged Straw Hat to make a
complaint.
Straw Hat spurred on his flagging indignation and asked for a
card.
Sandy Beard told Straw Hat not to be deterred by soft words and
civility, and promised to stand by him, or rather back of him;
whereupon something like the following might have occurred.
Sandy Beard.--Then you know what is to be done?
Straw Hat.--Not I, upon my soul!
Sandy Beard.--We wear no clubs here, but you understand me.
Straw Hat.--What! arrest him.
Sandy Beard.--Why to be sure; what can I mean else?
Straw Hat.--But he has given me no provocation.
Sandy Beard.--Now, I think he has given you the greatest
provocation in the world. Can a man commit a more heinous offence
against another than to frighten him? Ah! by my soul, it is a most
unpardonable breach of something.
Straw Hat.--Breach of something! Ay, ay; but is't a breach of the
peace? I have no acquaintance with this man. I never saw him
before in my life.
Sandy Beard.--That's no argument at all; he has the less right to
take such a liberty.
Straw Hat.--Gad, that's true. I grow full of anger, Sir Sandy!
fire ahead! Odds, writs and warrants! I find a man may have a good
deal of valor in him, and not know it! But couldn't I contrive to
have a little right on my side?
Sandy Beard.--What the devil signifies right when your courage is
concerned. Do you think Verges, or my little Dogberry ever
inquired where the right lay? No, by my soul; they drew their
writs, and left the lazy justice of the peace to settle the right
of it.
Straw Hat.--Your words are a grenadier's march to my heart! I
believe courage must be catching! I certainly do feel a kind of
valor rising as it were,--a kind of courage, as I may say. Odds,
writs and warrants! I'll complain directly.
(With apologies to Sheridan.)
And the pair went off to make their complaint.
Suppose each had been given then and there the sixty cents he
afterwards received and duly receipted for, would it have saved
time and trouble? Who knows? but the diversion of the afternoon
would have been lost.
In a few moments an officer quite courteously--refreshing
contrast--notified me that complaint was in process of making.
Here's a piece of wisdom on driving or cute car quote to study:
When buying a used car, punch the buttons on the radio. If all the stations are rock and roll, there's a good chance the transmission is shot. ~Larry Lujack
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