whisky, reached the judge.

"This is all very well, Montgomery, but I have a word or two to say to
you--come into the house."

He led his disreputable visitor into the library, turned up the gas, and
intrenched himself on the hearth-rug with his back to the fire. The
handy-man had kept near the door leading into the hall.

"Come closer!" commanded the judge, and Montgomery, hat in hand,
advanced a step. "I wish to warn you, Montgomery, that if you persist
in your present course, it is certain to bring its own consequences,"
began the judge.

"Sure, boss!" Joe faltered abjectly.

"I understand from Nellie that you have practically deserted your
family," continued the judge.

"Ain't she hateful?" cried Joe, shaking his great head.

"When she married you, she had a right to expect you would not turn out
the scoundrel you are proving yourself."

"Boss, that's so," agreed Montgomery.

"This won't do!" said the judge briskly. "Nellie says she doesn't see
you from one week's end to another; that you have money and yet
contribute nothing toward her support nor the support of your family."

"I am willin' to go home, Judge!" said Montgomery, fingering his cap
with clumsy hands. He took a step nearer the slight figure on the
hearth-rug and dropped his voice to a husky half maudlin whisper. "He
won't let me--see--I'm a nigger slave to him! I know I got a wife--I
know I got a family, but he says--no! He says--'Joe, you damned old sot,
you'll go home with a few drinks inside your freckled hide and begin to
shoot off your mouth, and there'll be hell to pay for all of us!'"

"He? What are you saying--who won't let you go home?" demanded the
judge.

"Andy Gilmore; he's afraid my old woman will get it out of me. I tell
him I'm a married man but he says, 'No, you old soak, you stay here!'"

"What has Andy Gilmore to do with whether you go home or not?" inquired
the judge.

"It's him and Marsh," said the handy-man. "They bully me till I'm that
rattled--"

"Marsh--do you mean my son, Marshall?" interrupted the judge.

"Yes, boss--"

"I don't understand this!" said the judge after a moment of silence.
"Why should Mr. Gilmore or my son wish to keep you away from your wife?"

"It's just a notion of theirs," replied Montgomery with sudden drunken
loyalty. "And I'll say this--money never come so easy--and stuff to
drink! Andy's got it scattered all about the place; there ain't many
bars in this here town stocked up like hi