n
as quick's he can. I know that. And them sayin' that he's turned
inter a reg'lar old drunk, an' sich."

"What do you mean, Walky?" asked Janice, seriously. "You cannot be in
earnest. Surely people do not say such dreadful things about Mr.
Drugg?"

"Fact. They got poor old Hopewell on the dissectin' table, and the way
them wimmen cut him up is a caution to cats!"

"What women, Walky?"

"His blessed mother-in-law, for one. And most of the Ladies Aid is
a-follerin' of her example. They air sayin' he's nex' door to a ditch
drunkard."

"Why, Walky Dexter! nobody would really believe such talk about Mr.
Drugg," Janice declared.

"Ye wouldn't think so, would ye? We've all knowed Hopewell Drugg for
years an' years, and he's allus seemed the mildest-mannered pirate that
ever cut off a yard of turkey-red. But now--Jefers-pelters! ye oughter
hear 'em! He gits drunk, beats 'Rill Scattergood, _that was_, and
otherwise behaves himself like a hardened old villain."

"Oh, Walky! I would not believe such things about Mr. Drugg--not if he
told them to me himself!" exclaimed Janice.

"An' I reckon nobody would ha' dreamed sech things about him if Marm
Scattergood hadn't got home from Skunk's Holler. I expect she stirred
up things over there abeout as much as her son and his wife'd stand,
and they shipped her back to Polktown. And Polktown--includin'
Hopewell--will hafter stand it."

"It is a shame!" cried Janice, with indignation. Then she added,
doubtfully, remembering the unfortunate incident she and Marty and Mrs.
Scattergood had viewed so recently: "Of course, there isn't a word of
truth in it?"

"That Hopewell's become a toper and beats his wife?" chuckled Walky.
"Wal--I reckon not! Maybe Hopewell takes a glass now and then--I
dunno. I never seen him. But they _do_ say he went home airly from
the dance at Lem Parraday's t'other night in a slightly elevated
condition. Haw! haw! haw!"

"It is nothing to laugh at," Janice said severely.

"Nor nothin' ter cry over," promptly returned Walkworthy Dexter.
"What's a drink or two? It ain't never hurt _me_. Why should it
Hopewell?"

"Don't argue with me, Walky Dexter!" Janice exclaimed, much
exasperated. "I--I _hate_ it all--this drinking. I never thought of
it much before. Polktown has been free of that curse until lately. It
is a shame the bar was ever opened at the Lake View Inn. _And
something ought to be done about it!_"

Walky had pulled in