somep'n fu' one o' dis fambly to be rottin' in jail fu'!"

The boy was cowed by his mother's manner. He was gathering his few
belongings in a bundle.

"I ain't goin' to cuss," he said sullenly, "I 'm goin' out o' your way."

"Oh, go on," she said, "go on. It 's been a long time sence you been my
son. You on yo' way to hell, an' you is been fu' lo dese many days."

Joe got out of the house as soon as possible. He did not speak to Kit
nor look at his mother. He felt like a cur, because he knew deep down in
his heart that he had only been waiting for some excuse to take this
step.

As he slammed the door behind him, his mother flung herself down by
Kit's side and mingled her tears with her daughter's. But Kit did not
raise her head.

"Dey ain't nothin' lef' but you now, Kit;" but the girl did not speak,
she only shook with hard sobs.

Then her mother raised her head and almost screamed, "My Gawd, not you,
Kit!" The girl rose, and then dropped unconscious in her mother's arms.

Joe took his clothes to a lodging-house that he knew of, and then went
to the club to drink himself up to the point of going to see Hattie
after the show.

XI

BROKEN HOPES

What Joe Hamilton lacked more than anything else in the world was some
one to kick him. Many a man who might have lived decently and become a
fairly respectable citizen has gone to the dogs for the want of some one
to administer a good resounding kick at the right time. It is corrective
and clarifying.

Joe needed especially its clarifying property, for though he knew
himself a cur, he went away from his mother's house feeling himself
somehow aggrieved, and the feeling grew upon him the more he thought of
it. His mother had ruined his chance in life, and he could never hold up
his head again. Yes, he had heard that several of the fellows at the
club had shady reputations, but surely to be the son of a thief or a
supposed thief was not like being the criminal himself.

At the Banner he took a seat by himself, and, ordering a cocktail, sat
glowering at the few other lonely members who had happened to drop in.
There were not many of them, and the contagion of unsociability had
taken possession of the house. The people sat scattered around at
different tables, perfectly unmindful of the bartender, who cursed them
under his breath for not "getting together."

Joe's mind was filled with bitter thoughts. How long had he been away
from home? he asked himself. N