I knew who he was now, of course.

There was consider'ble talk when the Lathrop place was rented, and I gathered that the feller who hired it answered to the hail of Williams and was a retired banker, sufferin' from an enlarged income and the diseases that go along with it.

He lived alone up there in the big house, except for a cranky housekeeper and two or three servants.
This was afore he got married, Sim; his wife's tamed him a little.

Then the yarns about his temper and language would have filled a log book.
"But all this was way to one side of the mark-buoy, so fur as I was concerned.

I'd cruised with cranks afore and I thought I could stand this one--ten dollars' worth of him, anyhow.