.

THE COUNCIL OF THE CURB.
"How soon are you going to carry out your plans ?" Reade demanded.
"Then you won't leave Paloma ?" "I certainly won't--as far as my own decision goes," Reade replied firmly.

"Furthermore, I should feel the utmost contempt for myself if I allowed you to drive me away from here before my work is completed." "You're a fool!" hissed Duff.
"And you're a gambler," Tom shot back.

"If you won't change your trade, why should you expect me to change mine ?" "I reckon, gentlemen," said Duff, turning to the others present, "that there's no use in wasting any more time with this fellow.

He'd rather be hanged to a tree than take good advice.