"
"If I had the traditions of a deranged doodle bug, I'd go around
hunting trouble in a country that is full of it for foreigners--
even those who behave themselves like sane human beings."
"Meaning, perhaps, that I'm not a sane human being?" inquired the
Southerner.
"Do you think you act like it? To satisfy your own petty vanity of
courage, you'd involve all of us in difficulties of which you know
nothing. We're living over a powder magazine here, and you want to
light matches to show what a hero you are. Traditions! Don't you
talk to me about traditions! If you can serve your country or a
woman better by running away than by fighting, the sensible thing
to do is to run away. The best thing you can do is to keep quiet
and let Von Plaanden drop. Otherwise, you'll have Miss Brewster
the center of--"
"Keep your tongue from that lady's name!" warned Carroll.
"You're giving a good many orders," said the other slowly. "But
I'll do almost anything just now to keep you peaceable, and to
convince you that you must let Von Plaanden strictly alone."
"Just as surely as I meet him," said the Southerner ominously, "on
my word of honor--" "Wait a moment," broke in the other sharply.
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