“The way we feel about it now,” spoke Dick, sympathetically, “we’d rather be dead than facing any degradation of the sort.”

They were only boys, and they were strangers to the woman.  Moreover, little Mollie was looking pleadingly towards Dick, as if loath to let him go.  In her misery the young wife poured out her story to her sympathetic listeners.  Her husband had been a fine young fellow—–­was still young.  His drinking had begun only three months before.

“We have our own home, more than half paid for,” added the woman, pointing to a pretty little cottage.  “Tom has always been a good workman, never out of a job.  But lately he has been spending his wages for drink.  Last month we didn’t make our payment on the house.  Today he got his month’s pay, and promised not to drink any more.  He was going to take us into town to-night for a good time, and we were happy, weren’t we, baby?  Then two of his saloon cronies passed the house.  Tom went with them, but said he would come right back for us.  He hasn’t come yet, and he won’t come now until midnight.  The month’s pay will be gone, and that means that the home will be gone, after a little.  Boys, I shall never see you again, and it has seemed a help to me to talk to you.  Remember, don’t ever-----”

“Madam,” asked Dick, suddenly, in a husky tone, “do you mind telling us your husband’s name, and the name of the place where he has gone?”

“His name is Tom Drake, and he has gone up to Miller’s place,”
answered Mrs. Drake.   “But why do you ask?   What-----”

“Mrs. Drake,” Dick continued, earnestly, “we don’t want to be meddlers, and we’ll keep out of this, if you request it.  But the child has given me an inspiration that I could help you.  If you authorize me, I’ll go to Miller’s and see if I can’t help your husband to know that his happiness is right here, not in a saloon.”

“I—–­I fear that will be a big undertaking,” quivered Mrs. Drake.

A big undertaking, indeed, it was bound to be!

CHAPTER XIX

“I’LL FIGHT HIM FOR THIS MAN!”

“It’s wonderfully kind of you!” breathed the woman, gratefully.  “But it really won’t do any good.  When a man has begun to drink nothing can reclaim him from it.  My only hope is to be able to have a talk with Tom when his money is gone.”

“Of course if you dislike to have us try, Mrs. Drake-----” Dick
began.

“I don’t dislike to have you try!” cried the woman, quickly.  “All I am thinking about is the hopelessness of your undertaking.  You simply can’t get Tom out of Miller’s to-night until the owner of that awful place turns him out at closing time.  I know!  This has happened before.”

Dick stood in an uncertain attitude, his cap in hand.  The appealing face of the child, looking eagerly up at him, made him wish with all his heart to try to do a good act here, yet he couldn’t think of going on such an errand without the young wife’s permission.