ole brotherhood. Every month Cameron
announced whatever saving had been made in different departments, and
the hands were proud enough of it. Those who had taken their whole
winter's coal out of the share were quite jubilant. Once a week the
workmen had a meeting, and discussed matters a little. Three men had
been reprimanded, but on the whole the _morale_ was excellent. Winston
was on the alert continually, east, west, anywhere, buying here, selling
there, seeing in every thing the promise of better times.

"We've reached the last ditch as surely as they did in the war," he said
to Darcy, rubbing his hands in great glee. "I tell you, old chap, it was
a lucky thought of starting just as we did. You see, we shall come up
with the good times; for I do honestly believe the worst is over."

Jack smiled, but was not so sanguine. They had only gone such a little
way on the five-years' journey. But there were some very encouraging
rays right around them. Kit Connelly's coffee-house was working to a
charm. Jack began to think that drinking liquors was not so much a
besetting sin, as a natural sequence of having nothing else to drink
when you were cold or hot, or tired or hungry. The men fell into the
habit of going to Kit's for their midday lunch, and presently some of
the women went over. The room was so bright and pleasant; and, with Miss
Rose there, they were on their best behavior. In the evening Mrs.
Connelly brought her work, and sat by the desk. Some of the younger men,
who had no homes; as one may say, dropped in, and looked over the books.
Once two young chaps had come up from Keppler's to have a little fun, as
they said, and were rather noisy. Mrs. Connelly rose.

"Gentlemen," she said, "you forget yourselves. This is an orderly, quiet
house, not a tavern. If you cannot submit to the rules, you must leave
it."

"Leave it! Come, who'll put us out!" laughed the bully. "Let's see you
try," with an insolent leer at the lady.

Two men were sitting at a table just a little back of them. Their eyes
met. Both rose; and, each seizing a shoulder of the bully, he was
marched out before he could make the slightest resistance, his companion
looking on in amazement.

"Next time you insult a lady in her own house, you will not get off so
easily! Just bear that in mind."

The fellow uttered an oath, but the door was shut in his face.

"Thank you, John Kelly, and you, Ben Hay," said Mrs. Connelly, in a
brave voice, though her