“Tradition be-darned! If you do, I’ll have a month of it, too.”
“That’s pure blarney, Phil. You’re not that kind.”
“No, but I shall be. See if I won’t, if you don’t quit.”
Jim looked into Phil’s eyes and he saw a determination in them that he knew he could never shake, and, knowing his own weakness, he would have killed Phil rather than see him in the same plight.
“Man!” he exclaimed in perplexity, “I do believe you would.”
“Try me and you’ll soon find out.”
They sat silently for a time. Suddenly Phil broke in.
“Come on,––what is it to be? Back into decency or a month of hell?” he asked.
Jim Langford got to his feet.
“Lead on, old chum,” he said. “Me for a bath, a shave, a good breakfast and––honest toil.”