_I_ don't like his WAYS.' Then I HAD to do it.There jest wasn't nothin' LEFT--but I wouldn't of done you no harm by it--""You didn't do me any harm, Happy.""I mean your repitation."
"I didn't have one--so nothing in the world could harm it.About your getting some work, now--""I'll listen," said Happy, rather suspiciously.
"You see," Joe went on, growing red, "I need a sort of janitor here--""What fer?" Mr.Fear interrupted, with some shortness.
"To look after the place."
"You mean these two rooms?"
"There's a stairway, too," Joe put forth, quickly.
"It wouldn't be any sinecure, Happy.You'd earn your money; don't be afraid of that!"Mr.Fear straightened up, his burden of embarrassment gone from him, transferred to the other's shoulders.
"There always was a yellow streak in you, Joe,"he said, firmly."You're no good as a liar except when you're jokin'.A lot you need a janitor!
You had no business to pay my fine; you'd ort of let me worked it out.Do you think my eyes ain't good enough to see how much you needed the money, most of all right now when you're tryin' to git started? If I ever take a cent from you, I hope the hand I hold out fer it 'll rot off.""Now don't say that, Happy.""I don't want a job, nohow!" said Mr.Fear, going to the door; "I don't want to work.There's plenty ways fer me to git along without that.But I've said what I come here to say, and I'll say one thing more.Don't you worry about gittin' law practice.Mike says you're goin' to git all you want--and if there ain't no other way, why, a few of us 'll go out and MAKE some fer ye!"These prophecies and promises, over which Joe chuckled at first, with his head cocked to one side, grew very soon, to his amazement, to wear a supernatural similarity to actual fulfilment.His friends brought him their own friends, such as had sinned against the laws of Canaan, those under the ban of the sheriff, those who had struck in anger, those who had stolen at night, those who owed and could not pay, those who lived by the dice, and to his other titles to notoriety was added that of defender of the poor and wicked.He found his hands full, especially after winning his first important case--on which occasion Canaan thought the jury mad, and was indignant with the puzzled Judge, who could not see just how it had happened.