Christmas Eve on Lonesome

"Misto Richmond," he said, with hesitancy and an entire change of tone and manner, "I am afeerd I ain't goin' to be able to pay you that little amount I owe you, but if you can give me a little mo' time--"

"Captain Wells," interrupted Bill slowly, and again Mayhall stared hard at him, "as betwixt friends, as have been pussonal friends fer nigh onto twenty year, I hope you won't mention that little matter to me ag'in--until I mentions it to you."

"But, Misto Richmond, Hence Sturgill out thar says as how he heerd you say that if I didn't pay--"

"Captain Wells," interrupted Bill again and again Mayhall stared hard--it was strange that Bill could have formed the habit of calling him "Captain" in so short a time--"yestiddy is not to-day, is it? And to-day is not to-morrow? I axe you--have I said one word about that litt