"Over at the Reading Room," replied the latter. "There's a big time on there to-night."
"What's up?" and Pritchen's face darkened as various thoughts flashed through his mind.
"Ye needn't worry," Perdue hastened to explain. "The boys are all right. They're only after a little fun. Ye see, there's a debate on, and that's why they're there."
"A debate! On what?"
"Ye'd never guess, Bill. It's a h— of a subject. 'Which has caused more misery in the world, war or whiskey?' that's what it is."
"Ha, ha," laughed Pritchen. "They're after you, Jim. Ain't you going to hold up your end of the game?"
"Not much. The boys'll do that all right without me."
"And they mean business?"
"Who, the boys?"
"Yes."