I'd hev cut the whole blamed gang ef it weren't for one or two things," he added darkly.
Clarence, impressed by Jim's mysterious manner, for the moment forgot his contemptuous allusion to Mr.Peyton, and the evident implication of Susy and himself, and asked hurriedly, "What things ?" Jim, as if forgetful of the boy's presence in his fitful mood, abstractedly half drew a glittering bowie knife from his bootleg, and then slowly put it back again.

"Thar's one or two old scores," he continued, in a low voice, although no one was in hearing distance of them, "one or two private accounts," he went on tragically, averting his eyes as if watched by some one, "thet hev to be wiped out with blood afore I leave.

Thar's one or two men TOO MANY alive and breathin' in this yer crowd.

Mebbee it's Gus Gildersleeve; mebbee it's Harry Benham; mebbee," he added, with a dark yet noble disinterestedness, "it's ME." "Oh, no," said Clarence, with polite deprecation.
Far from placating the gloomy Jim, this seemed only to awake his suspicions.

"Mebbee," he said, dancing suddenly away from Clarence, "mebbee you think I'm lyin'.