Part I, Chapters 7 through 12 Summary

In chapter seven, there's a "social occasion" in a clearing near town. Bud picks a fight with a short man named Lit, not realizing that Lit is a deputy and has been known to beat large men to a pulp. Bud looks back at it later and is upset that he's called attention to himself with the law, but pledges to simply move forward from this point. Bud later goes to visit Old Jones, an older man who is known as the local bootlegger. Bud convinces Jones that he'll take over the bootlegging business, give Jones a healthy percentage of his business, and leaves with a book of standing orders Jones has for weekly deliveries. Days pass. One day Bud stops by Jones' house with a few twenties, a fraudulent percentage of his business. Jones asks Bud...