"
"H-u-s-h! Don't let your indignation run into profanity," said
Judge Lyman, trying to assume a serious air; but the muscles of
his face but feebly obeyed his will's feeble effort.
"Profanity! Poh! I don't call that profanity. It's only speaking
out in meeting, as they say,--it's only calling black, black--and
white, white. You believe in a hell, don't you, judge?"
"I suppose there is one; though I don't know very certain."
"You'd better be certain!" said the other, meaningly.
"Why so?"
"Oh! because if there is one, and you don't cut your cards a
little differently, you'll be apt to find it at the end of your
journey."
"What do you mean by that?" asked the judge, retreating somewhat
into himself, and trying to look dignified.
"Just what I say," was unhesitatingly answered.
"Do you mean to insinuate any thing?" asked the judge, whose brows
were beginning to knit themselves.
"Nobody thinks you a saint," replied the man, roughly.
"I never professed to be."
"And it is said"--the man fixed his gaze almost insultingly upon
Judge Lyman's face--"that you'll get about as hot a corner in the
lower regions as is to be found there, whenever you make the
journey in that direction."
"You are insolent!" exclaimed the judge, his face becoming
inflamed.
"Take care what you say, sir!" The man spoke threateningly.
"You'd better take care what YOU say."
"So I will," replied the other. "But--"
"What's to pay here?" inquired a third party, coming up at the
moment, and interrupting the speaker.
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