Part 27 (1/2)
The other glared at him, baleful and baffled.
”Hullo, I said. Don't you know me?”
”No, I don't. Neither will your own family after I get through with you.”
”Come off, Elpy; come off. I licked you once in the old days, and I guess I could do it now, but I don't want to. Come and have a drink with old Andy.”
”Andy? Andy the Spieler? Andy Certain?”
”Dr. L. Andre Surtaine, at your service. _Now_, will you shake?”
Still surly, Mr. McQuiggan hung back. ”What about that roast?” he demanded.
”Wasn't sure of you. Twenty years is a long time. But I knew if it was you you'd want to fight, and I knew if you didn't want to fight it wasn't you. I'll buy you one in honor of the best little city west of the Mississip, and the best bunch of sports that ever came out of it, the McQuiggans of St. Jo, Missouri. Does that go?”
”It goes,” replied the representative of the family concisely.
Across the cafe table Dr. Surtaine contemplated his old acquaintance with friendly interest.
”The same old sc.r.a.ppy Elpy,” he observed. ”What's happened to you, since you used to itinerate with the Iroquois Extract of Life?”
”Plenty.”
”You're looking pretty prosperous.”
”Have to, in my line.”
”What is it?”
Mr. McQuiggan produced a card, with the legend:--
+-----------------------------------------+
McQuiggan & Straight
STREAKY MOUNTAIN COPPER COMPANY
Orsten, Palas County, Nev.
L.P. MCQUIGGAN ARTHUR STRAIGHT
_President_ _Vice-Pres. & Treas._
+-----------------------------------------+
”Any good?” queried the Doctor.
”Best undeveloped property in the State.”
”Why don't you develop it?”
”Capital.”
”Get the capital.”
”Will you help me?”