"I figured on saving you a job, Singleton." Singleton's face reddened.
"Lawler, I figger to lick my own kid." "Singleton, I reckon it can't be undone, and you'll have to make the best of it.

You and I have never got along well, but I want you to know I didn't know it was your boy I punished." "Hell's fire!" snarled Singleton; "what you interferin' in the schoolhouse for?
What business you got buttin' in ?" It was dear that Singleton's rage was again rising.

He must have noticed that the pupils had crowded around the door, and that Jimmy was watching him, no doubt disappointed that the salutary punishment for which he had hoped had been unnecessarily delayed.
Undoubtedly the presence of the children contributed to Singleton's anger; but at bottom was his old dislike of Lawler--a dislike that the incident of the whipping had increased to hatred.
It was plain that Singleton meditated violence.

Yet it was equally plain that he feared Lawler.

He never had seen Lawler draw a gun, but he had heard tales of the man's ability with the weapon.