rubbed his hands
briskly.

"I brought home company, girls. Not exactly the reformer Vivian was
speaking of; perhaps someone to reform."

"What do you mean?"

"Whom have you found?"

"I think I may be able to explain what I mean, but until the girl thaws
out a little we will not know who she is," said the judge mysteriously.

"What in the world do you mean, father? But tell us about it."

"Well, as usual on a night of this sort, there was a missing man. The
search for him took me a couple of blocks out of my way and in coming
back I passed a saloon of a low order and found the girl lying in the
sleet. I thought more than likely she was drunk, and stepped into the
saloon to advise them to look after their productions. Here I found her
father in a state of beastly intoxication and learned that she had been
there, a short time before, begging him to go home with her to a sick
wife and some hungry children, but I could not find out where this home
was. Just as I left the saloon a cab came along, and I had the driver
put the girl in it. This is all. Where are you going, Jean?"

"Going to see the object of your charity."

Judge Thorn placed his hand on Jean's shoulder and pushed her gently
back into her chair.

"Possess your soul in patience. You could be of no possible service if
you were to go. Mrs. Floyd has her in charge and will do all that is
necessary. I am not sure that it was wise to bring her here. I am almost
sorry that I did so, but I hated to leave her and there was not a
policeman in sight; there never is.

"It is a shame such places as the place at which I stopped tonight are
allowed to exist. Two-thirds of the crime and misery of our entire
nation can be traced directly to their doors. They are a public
nuisance, an outrage to civilization. Temperance people must see to it
that license is raised so high that this sort cannot obtain it."

"Would that shut them up?" said Jean.

"Certainly it would."

"Not all the saloons?"

"All the poor, low ones."

"What about the rich ones?"

"It would make no difference with them, but they have not the bad effect
on the morals of a community that the low ones have. They are patronized
by a set of people who do not pour their last cent down their throats
and employ their time beating their families."

Jean crossed one foot over the other, leaned slightly forward and with
her head dropped a little to one side in the old-time way, sat studying
the fire. S