"Anyhow, I see my failin' sure enough. Never was so reckless b'fore in all my life," pursued Walky. "Mebbe, if I kep' on drinkin' that stuff they sell daown ter the ho-tel, I'd drown both m' hosses—havin' drowned m' own brains—like twin kittens, in ha'f an inch o' alcohol! Haw! haw! haw!"
But despite his laughter Janice saw that Walky Dexter was much in earnest. She said to Nelson that evening, in Hopewell Drugg's store:
"I consider Walky's conversion is the best thing that's happened yet in our campaign for prohibition."
"A greater conquest than mine?" laughed the schoolmaster.
"Why, Nelson," Janice said sweetly, "I know that you have only to think carefully on any subject to come to the right conclusion. But poor Walky isn't 'long' on thought, if he is on 'talk,'" and she laughed a little.
It was after Sunday School the following afternoon that Janice went again to Pine Cove to see the Narnay baby. She had conversed with busy Dr. Poole for a few moments and learned his opinion of the case. It was not favorable.
"Not much chance for the child," said the brusk doctor. "Never has been much chance for it. One of those children that have no right to be born."
"Oh, Doctor!" murmured Janice.
"A fact. It has never had enough nutrition and is going to die of plain starvation."
"Can nothing be done to save it? If it had plenty of nourishment now?"