Those banks are practically guaranteed by the country and the
wealthiest men in Canada use them. Why!--Mr. Horsfal has thousands in
the Commercial Bank of Canada now. Here is the bank book,--see for
yourself! I send in a deposit every week for him."

Jake was impressed, but not unduly. He suddenly switched.

"Say, George,--who told you I had any dough?"

"Oh! I knew you had, Jake. Everybody in Golden Crescent knows. But,
to be honest, the minister told me,--in the hope that I would be able
to induce you to place it in safety somewhere."

Jake became confident, a most unusual condition for him.

"Well, George,--I can trust you,--you're straight. I got something
near ten thousand bucks in that brass chest. I don't need it, but
still I ain't givin' it away. I had to grub damned hard to get it.
It's kind o' good to know you ain't ever likely to be a candidate for
some Old Men's Home."

"It is indeed," I replied, "and I admire you for having saved so much.
But won't you put it into the bank, where it is absolutely safe for
you? It is a positive temptation to some men, lying around here.

"The bank will give you a receipt for the money; you can draw on it
when you wish and it will be earning three per cent or three hundred
dollars a year for you all the time it is there."

He pondered for a while, then he dismissed the subject.

"No! Guess I'll keep it by me. No more banks for mine. I ain't so
strong as I used to be and I guess three months in the coop would just
about make me cash in. I ain't takin' no more chances."

Jake's method of reasoning was amusing. After all, it was no affair of
mine and, now that I had unburdened myself, I felt conscience clear.

As I rose to leave, he started to talk again.

"George,--guess you'll think I'm batty,--but I'm goin' to cut out the
booze."

"You are!" I exclaimed in astonishment.

"Ya! Guess maybe you think I'll make a hell of a saint, but I ain't
goin' to try to be no saint; just goin' to cut out the booze, that's
all."

"What has given you this notion?" I could not help inquiring.

"Oh! maybe one thing, maybe another. Anyhow, I ain't had a lick
to-night. My stomach's on fire and my head's givin' me Hail Columbia,
but--I ain't had a drink to-night."

"Go easy with it, Jake," I cautioned. "You know a hard drinker like
you have been can't stop all at once without hurting himself."

"I can. You just watch me," he said with determination.

"Well