Instead his tone, when he spoke again, was quiet, even conciliatory.
"I--I'm sorry if I've said anything I shouldn't," he stammered.

"I'm gettin' old and--and sort of short in my talk, maybe.

I--I--there's a good many folks round here that don't like me, 'count of my doin' business in a business way, 'stead of doin' it like the average poor fool.

I suppose they've been talkin' to you and you've got sort of prejudiced.

Well, I don't know's I blame you for that.