Snorky, who was waiting patiently.

"Say, these are the ten commandments, aren't they?"

"Sure they are!"

"Genuine, bona-fide, patent applied for, no imitations, only original
ten commandments?"

"Keerect."

"Well do you know there isn't a thing in them about cigarettes, or booze
or penny-ante. Not a word!"

"Honest?"

"Read 'em yourself," said Skippy indignantly. "It's all about being nice
to your neighbor and sitting still on Sunday."

"No!"

"Fact!" said Skippy, whose real irritation was caused by the fact that
the ten commandments did not afford him any suggestion in his new
predicament.

Suddenly Snorky slapped his shoulder with a resounding whack.

"I'm on."

"Ouch! On to what?"

"Own up! I'm in the same box too," said Snorky with a smirk.

"You mean?"

"Sure, Margarita's trying the reform racket on me too!"

"Oh, she is?" said Skippy, who did not like sharing the honors of a
stellar role.

"Yep, and you must have been laying it on strong for Margarita's been
asking all sorts of questions about you."

"Snorky, go the limit--make it strong and stronger," said Skippy,
brightening up.

"Honest?"

"The limit!"

"I get you."

Skippy took a few steps towards the door and reflected.

"When I say the limit--" he said doubtfully.

"Leave it to me."

"There are some things though."

"Don't worry--trust me."

"Well, however, I say,--don't get rash."

"Keep on trusting me," said Snorky with an airy wave of his hand.

Something in the repetition struck Skippy where he was the weakest, in
that wholesouled faith which should sanctify the friendship of a
lifetime. The more he considered it the less he liked it.

"I have made a mistake," he said frowning. "Snorky has no sense of
discretion."

CHAPTER XXXIV

THE WAY OF THE TRANSGRESSOR

MISS JENNIE TUPPER at the end of a week acknowledged to herself with an
uneasy sense of her own shortcomings that the task of keeping Mr. Skippy
Bedelle in the straight and narrow path was one beyond her limited
experience. It was not that she had lost confidence in her own
efficiency, but that she anxiously asked herself if she could afford the
time and the effort. Skippy was all for the better life and yielded at
once to her suggestions. The trouble was in his staying put, as it is
colloquially expressed. Each evening the cure was complete, but each
morning the conversation had to begin all over. The hold that his past
life had taken upon h