against the heavily-inked patent-specifications at the end. 'Can I keep it ? I thank you—I thank you! Why—why—well—well! The American Tyler of all things created! Do you subscribe to that?'
'I'm on the free list,' said the visitor, nodding.
He extended his blue-tanned hand with that air of Oriental spaciousness which distinguishes the native-born American, and met the visitor's grasp expertly. 'I can only say that you have treated me like a Brother (yes, I'll take every last one you can spare), and if ever———' He plucked at the bosom of his shirt. 'Psha! I forgot I'd no card on me; but my name's Zigler—Laughton O. Zigler. An American? If Ohio's still in the Union, I am, Sir. But I'm no extreme States'-rights man. I've used all of my native country and a few others as I have found occasion, and now I am the captive of your bow and spear. I'm not kicking at that. I am not a coerced alien, nor a naturalised Texas mule-tender, nor an adventurer on the instalment plan. I don't tag after our Consul when he comes around, expecting the American Eagle to lift me out o' this by the slack of my pants. No, Sir! If a Britisher went into Indian Territory and shot up his surroundings with a Colt automatic (not that she's any sort of weapon, but I take her for an illustration), he'd be strung up quicker'n a snowflake 'ud melt in hell. No ambassador of yours 'ud save him. I'm my neck ahead on this game, anyway. That's how I regard the proposition.
'Have I gone gunning against the British? To a certain extent. I presume you never heard
