e situation?

"There ain't much Irish about me!" said Montgomery, with a casual oath.

There was a moment of silence. The handy-man was searching his pockets
for a fresh match.

"Why have you come back, Joe?" asked Langham finally, when he could
command himself.

Montgomery started violently and his pipe fell from his mouth.

"Is that you, Boss Langham?" he faltered.

He stared about him seeking to pierce the darkness, fearful that Langham
was not alone, that Gilmore might be somewhere near.

"Are you by yourself, boss?" he asked, and a tremor stole into his
hoarse throaty voice. He still carried the scars of that fearful beating
Gilmore had administered.

"Yes," said Langham. "I'm alone."

"I didn't know but Andy Gilmore might be with you, boss," said
Montgomery, clearing his throat.

"No, he's not here," replied Langham quietly. "He's left town."

"Yes, but he'll be comin' back!" said the handy-man with a short laugh.

"No, he's gone for good."

"Well, I ain't sorry. I hope to God I never see him again--he beat me up
awful! I was as good a friend as he'll ever have; I was a perfect yellow
dog to him; he whistled and I jumped, but I'll be damned if I ever jump
again! Say, I got about eighteen inches of old gas-pipe slid down my
pants leg now for Mr. Andy; one good slug with that, and he won't have
no remarks to make about my goin' home to my old woman!"

"You won't have to use it."

"I'm almost sorry," said Montgomery.

"I suppose that thirst of yours is unimpaired?" inquired Langham.

His burning eyes never for an instant forsook the dark outline of the
handy-man's slouching figure.

"I dunno, boss, I ain't been drinkin' much lately. Liquor's a bully
thing to keep the holes in your pants, and your toes out where you can
look at 'em if you want to. I dunno as I'll ever take up
whisky-drinkin' again," concluded Mr. Montgomery, with a self-denying
shake of the head.

"Are you glad to be back, Joe?" asked Langham.

It was anything to gain time, he was thinking desperately but to no
purpose.

"Glad! Stick all the cuss words you know in front of that and it will be
mild!" cried Montgomery feelingly. "It's pitiful the way I been used,
just knocked from pillar to post; I've seen dogs right here in Mount
Hope that had a lot happier time than I've been havin'--and me a married
man! I've always tried to be a good husband, I hope there won't be no
call for me to make a rough-house of it to-night!" he ad