rt him!" Roger burst forth. "How can you be so foolish! He ought to
be beaten within an inch of his life. He's gotten drunk on cologne!"

"Roger, he's never been this bad before. He's been growing slowly better
all these years. He never struck me before."

"And you've been living with a drunkard all these years who might have
killed you. You knew this, yet you let little Felicia come to you. How
could you do it?" Roger paced up and down the floor.

Charley looked at him piteously, but he went on, his voice growing
louder.

"You must know that a periodic drunkard is the worst kind and almost
never cured. I thought you were unafraid of truth, but you've been
living just like a sentimental woman, after all."

Charley raised her hands and dropped them as if in despair. "I promised
mother I'd never leave him. And he's put up a fight. Oh, you'll never
know what a fight! And I love him. He's a dear when he's not drinking."

Dick roared again and Roger stared at Charley's sick white face.

"Promise me you won't hurt him, Roger."

"How can I promise when I know if I get another glimpse of him I'll
break every bone in his carcass?"

Again Charley dropped her hands with that despairing gesture. "Then how
can I help fearing your dreadful temper as much as I do Dick's drinking?
What difference is there?"

Roger jumped as if she had struck him. "You can't mean that! You're sick
and unstrung and don't know what you're saying. I'll go after Ern."

"I have to mean it," insisted Charley wearily, "after seeing you that
time with Gustav."

"I'm not like Dick!" shouted Roger. "I wouldn't touch a woman or a
child!"

"How do you know you wouldn't?" asked Charley.

A sudden burning recollection of the little boy who had struck his
mother's hand from his shoulder flashed through Roger's mind. He groaned
and dropped his head. Charley did not speak and for some moments Roger
did not move. Then he came over to the couch and said quietly:

"I'll not hurt Dick. Where did he get the cologne, Charley?"

"He must have found it in Elsa's room. I didn't know she had it, or I'd
have put it away. And now, every one will know! Oh, Roger, must they all
know?"

"I don't see how it can be helped. But you can be sure none of us will
say more than has to be said. Charley, I'm going to get Peter and take
you down to the Plant for the night. You need absolute rest and quiet
and you can't get it so near Dick."

"And Dick?"

"Dick must fend f