Inconversationhealwaysappearedtodescendonlyhalfwaydownalongmoralandintellectualstaircase，andalwaysdeliveredhisconclusionsoverthebalusters。
Ihadbeenspeakingofmyfriend，theTramp。\"Thereisbutonewayoftreatingthatclassofimpostors；itissimplytorecognizethefactthatthelawcallshima’vagrant，’andmakeshistradeamisdemeanor。Anysentimentontheothersiderendersyouparticepscriminis。Idon’tknowbutanactionwouldlieagainstyouforencouragingtramps。Now，Ihaveanefficaciouswayofdealingwiththesegentry。\"Heroseandtookadouble-barreledfowling-piecefromthechimney。\"Whenatrampappearsonmyproperty，Iwarnhimoff。Ifhepersists，Ifireonhim——asIwouldonanycriminaltrespasser。\"
\"Fireonhim？\"Iechoedinalarm。
\"Yes——BUTWITHPOWDERONLY！OfcourseHEdoesn’tknowthat。Buthedoesn’tcomeback。\"
Itstruckmeforthefirsttimethatpossiblymanyotherofmyfriend’sargumentsmightbeonlyblankcartridges，andusedtofrightenoffothertrespassingintellects。