He broke down and wept out upon the shoulder of Potts his hopeless inability to comply with that outrageous request.

The entire crowd became emotional, and a dozen lighted matches were thrust forward toward an apparently incombustible cigar with which Potts had long striven.
Recovering from these first ravages of his self-analysis, the Colonel became just a bit critical.
"But you see, boys, a man of my attributes is hampered and kept down in a one-horse place like this.

Remarks have been passed about me here that I should blush to repeat.

I say it in confidence, but I have again and again been made the sport of a wayward and wanton ridicule.

I say, gentlemen, I have always conducted myself as only a Potts knows how to conduct himself--and yet I have been pestered by cheap flings at my personal bearing.