"I'm not so drunk as I look," he responded bitterly. "I wish to Heaven I were! There are worse things than being drunk, though you won't believe it. I say," he added, in a sudden, hysterical exclamation, "you're the only friend I have on earth!" "Nonsense. What have you been doing?" "Oh, I couldn't help it--it wasn't my fault, I'll be blamed if it was! I did sell the breastpin and get the money, and wrapped it in the list of things that Molly wanted. I put them in my pocket," he finished, touching his coat, "the money and the list together." "And where is it?" For a moment Will did not reply, but stood shaking like a blade of grass in a high wind. Then removing his hat, he mopped feebly at the beads of sweat upon his forehead. His eyes had the dumb appeal of a frightened animal's. "I haven't had a morsel all day," he whimpered, "and the effect of the whisky has all worn off." "Speak up, man," said Christopher kindly. "I can't eat you." "Oh, it's not you," returned Will desperately; "it's Molly. I'm afraid to go home and look Molly in the face." "Pish! She doesn't bite." "She does worse; she cries." "Then, for God's sake, out with the trouble," urged Christopher, losing patience. "You've lost the money, I take it; but how?" "There was a fair," groaned Will, his voice breaking. "I met Fred Turner and a strange man who owned horses, and they asked me to come and watch the racing. Then we had drinks and began to bet, and somehow I always lost after the first time. Before I knew it the money was all gone, every single cent, and I owed Fred Turner a hundred and fifty dollars." Christopher's gaze travelled slowly up and down the slight figure before him and he swore softly beneath his breath. "Well, you have made a mess of it!" he exclaimed with a laugh. "I knew you'd say so, and you're the only friend I have on earth. As for Molly--oh, I'm afraid to go home, that's all. Do you know, I've half a mind to run away for good?" "Pshaw! Accidents will happen, and there's nothing in all this to take the pluck out of a man. I've been through worse things myself." "But Fred Turner!" groaned Will. "I promised him I'd pay him in two days." "Then you'll do it. I'll undertake to see to that." "You!" exclaimed the other, with so abject a reliance upon the spoken word that it brought a laugh from Christopher's lips. "How will you manage it?" Oh, somehow--mortgage the farm, I reckon. At any rate, in two days you shall be clear of your debt to Fred Turner; there's my word. All I hope is that you'll learn a lesson from the fright." "Oh, I will, I will; and by Jove! you are a bully chap!" "Then go home and make your peace with Molly. Mind you, if you get in liquor again I warn you I won't lift a hand."