here?" asked Gilmore angrily. "Don't you get enough to
drink at my place?"

"Lots to drink, boss, but it's mostly too rich for my blood. I ain't
used to bein' so pampered."

"Come along with me!" said Gilmore briefly.

"Where to, boss?" asked Montgomery, in feeble protest.

"You'll know presently."

"I thought I'd like to go home, maybe--" said Joe irresolutely.

"Never mind what you thought you'd like, you come with me!" insisted
Gilmore.

Although the handy-man's first impulse had been that of revolt, he now
followed the gambler meekly back across the Square. They entered the
building at the corner of Main Street and mounted to Mr. Gilmore's
rooms. The latter silently unlocked the door and motioned Montgomery to
precede him into the apartment, then he followed, pausing midway of the
room to turn up the gas which was burning low. Next he divested himself
of his hat and coat, and going to a buffet which stood between the two
heavily curtained windows that overlooked the Square, found a decanter
and glasses. These he brought to the center-table, where he leisurely
poured his unwilling guest a drink.

"Here, you old sot, soak this up!" he said genially.

"Boss, I want to go home to my old woman!" began the handy-man, after he
had emptied his glass.

"Your old woman will keep!" retorted Gilmore shortly.

"But, boss, I got to go to her; the judge says I must! She's been there
to see him; damn it, she cried and hollered and took on awful because
she ain't seein' me; it was pitiful!"

"What's that?" demanded Gilmore sharply.

"It was pitiful!" repeated Montgomery, shaking his great head
dolorously.

"Oh, cut that! Who have you seen?"

"Judge Langham."

"When did you see him?"

Mr. Gilmore spoke with a forced calm.

"To-night. My old woman--"

"Oh, to hell with your old woman!" shouted the gambler furiously. "Do
you mean that you were at Judge Langham's to-night?"

"Yes, boss; he sent for me, see? I had to go!" explained Montgomery.

"Why did you go there without letting me know, you drunken loafer?"
stormed Gilmore.

He took the handy-man by the arm and pushed him into a chair, then he
stood above him, black-browed and menacing.

"Boss, don't you blame me, it was my old woman; she wants me home with
the kids and her, and the judge, he says I got to go!"

"If he wants to know why I'm keeping you here, send him round to me!"
said Gilmore.

"All right, I will." And Montgomery staggered to his fe