“Mrs. Forbes, come here, please,” said Jewel.  The housekeeper had ceased crying, and was watching the pair.  She saw that her boy’s senses were clearer.  She approached obediently, and when the child took her hand her own closed tightly upon the little fingers.

“Zeke, you’re a big strong man and everybody likes you,” said Jewel earnestly.  “Isn’t it better to stay that way than to drink out of a bottle, no matter how much you like it?”

“I don’t like it so awfully,” returned Zeke protestingly.  “I like to be sociable with the boys, that’s all.”

“What a way to be sociable!” gasped the child.  “Well, wouldn’t you rather be nice, so people will like to get close to you?”

“Depends on the folks,” returned the boy with a touch of his usual manner.  “You’re all right, little kid.”  He put out his hand, but quickly withdrew it.

Jewel seized it.  “Now give your other one to your mother.  There now, we’re all together.  If your mother thinks you have a disease, Zeke, then she must know you haven’t.  If you want me to, I’ll come out here every day at a quiet time and give you a treatment, and we’ll talk all about Christian Science, and we’ll know that there’s nothing that can make us sick or unhappy—­or unkind!  Think of your unkindness to your mother—­and to me if you go on, for I love you, Zeke.  Now may I help you?”

The soft frank voice, the earnest little face, moved Zeke to cast a glance at his mother’s swollen eyes.  They were bent upon Jewel.

“Do you say your father was cured that way, child?” asked Mrs. Forbes.

“Yes.  Oh yes! and he’s so happy!”

“Zeke, let’s all be thankful if there’s anything,” said the woman tremulously, turning to him appealingly.

“I’d just as soon have a visit from you every day, little kid,” said the young fellow.  “You’re a corker.”

“But you must want more than me,” returned the child.  “God and healing and purity and goodness!  If you’re in earnest, what are you going to do with that?” She touched the black bottle with the toe of her shoe.

Zeke looked at the whiskey, then back into her eyes.  They were full of love and faith for him.

He stooped and picked up the bottle, then striding to a window, he flung it out toward the forest trees with all the force of his strong arm.

“Damn the stuff!” he said.

Mrs. Forbes felt herself tremble from head to foot.  She bit her lip.

Her son turned back.  “Getting near train time,” he added, not looking at his companions.  “Guess I’ll go upstairs.”

When he had disappeared his mother stooped slowly and kissed Jewel.  “Forgive me,” she said tremulously.

“What for?” asked the child.

“Everything.”

The housekeeper still stood in the harness room after Jewel had gone away.  She bowed her head on her folded hands.  “Our Father who art in heaven, forgive me,” she prayed.  “Forgive me for being a fool.  Forgive me for not recognizing Thine angel whom Thou hast sent.  Amen.”