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 something for you. I didn't think you'd give me that ten dollars; I came in on a chance. Keep the ten dollars and put it toward the note money. That's as far as I'll go."

He swung the handbag out of the way of his knees and turned to go. The ice in Bert was beginning to change to the rage of one who finds himself miserably tricked, deftly hoodwinked, shamelessly swindled.

"You had that in your mind all the time," he said thickly.

"I didn't. I ran across that in the book the other night in the chapter on partnership agreements. You ought to read up more about business."

"But you know it was understood that we were to pay that note!"

"Show it to me in writing. Youcan't. In business nothing counts but written agreements unless you have witnesses to a verbal contract."

"You mean . . ." Bert found the words choking in his throat. "You mean you're going to play the skunk and skin out of this?"

"What a sucker I'd be," Sam said in scorn, "to hand over money when I don't have to. You want to wake up. It isn't my fault you left me out of that note, but I'd be a fool not to take advantage of it. Well, I've got to hustle along or I'll miss my train."

Something violent broke loose in Bert at the