His brother examined him steadily for a moment, and then went on.
"I don't know whether you've learned anything in the army or not. But
it ought to have taught you that you've got to live straight with your
buddy or you can't get on."
"Straight!" sneered Harry, "like _you_. You call this straight--what
you're doing?"
"No," Jim admitted. "It's not straight. It's crooked as hell, but if
it wasn't, you'd have been drummed out of the Service by now. I don't
want you to think I care about _you_. I didn't--out there. It was only
the honor of the service I was thinking about. I'd do it again if I had
to. But I do care about this girl you've bamboozled into marrying
you--you and Quinlevin. And whatever the dirty arrangement between you
that made it possible, I want to make it clear to you here and now that
she isn't going to be mixed up in any of your rotten deals. She isn't
your sort and you couldn't drag her down to your level if you tried.
I'll know more when Quinlevin gets back and then----"
Jim Horton paused as he realized that he had said too much, for he saw
his brother start and then stare at him.
"Ah, Barry Quinlevin--is away!"