An agile and cuol-headed man might readily descend
by means of this pipe. Whether or not he could re-
turn by the same route was quite another problem and
one that the man's rapidly wakening drink-lust did not
trouble to take into account.
At worst he would be but anticipating a disgrace
that was morally certain to come, soon or late.
3.n.iized by Google



COXmCIL OF WAR 66

Dad raised himself on his elbow. As he did so the
door of his room opened and closed in utter noiseless-
ness, and a square-shouldered Utile figure clad in white
stood beside his bed.
" I knew I'd find you awake," whispered Jimmie,
perching on the bed's edge. " Oh, I'm so sorry, Dad.
I wanted to tell you before. But mother kept me in
the room all the time the folks were here. It's awful
hard lines."

" It can't he helped," said Dad, with an effort at
philosophy.
