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"You're going to see your family in a minute." "M' poor fam'ly!" mourned Strong, shaking his head. "M' poor fam'ly! Thish'll be awful blow to m' fam'ly, Recky. They all like so mush to see me sober always 's their fad, Recky. Don't blame 'em, Recky, 's natural to 'em. Some peop' born that way. M' poor fam'ly."

"Lil' sir," he said impressively, "if you should bite off my elbow, you saucy baggage" and the thought was too much for him. Tears filling his eyes he turned to Rex. "Recky, you spank that lil' sir," he pleaded brokenly. "He's too lil' for me I'd hurt him" and Rex meditated again. A shock came when they reached the corner of Broadway and Chambers Street.

Rex was mistaken about that, but Billy was cordial in agreeing with him. "Good idea, Recky! Howd'y' ever come to think of it? Le's go home straight; tha's a bully good thing to do. Le's do it. Big head on you, ol' boy," and yawning still, but with unperturbed good nature, Strong marched, a bit crookedly, arm in arm with his friend to the street.

Lesh be true to th' ladies till hell runs dry Oh, 'scuse me Recky f'got you was parson till well runs dry, meant say. That all right? Come on t' Chris'pher Street." And in spite of desperate attempts, of long argument and appeal on Rex's part, to Christopher Street they went. The ministering angel had no hankering to risk his charge in a street-car, so, as the distance was not great, they walked.

But Billy's head was in his guardian's neck and he was spluttering and sobbing. "Fight you? Nev' s' help me nev' Fight poor, ole fool Recky bes' fren' ev' had? No sir. I wouldn' fight you Recky," and he raised a tear-stained face and gazed mournfully into his eyes. "D'ye think I'd " "Oh, shut up!" Rex ejaculated, "and hold your head up, Billy. You make me sick."

They stood in front of the broad driveway which swept under lofty arches into the huge apartment house. Strong stopped and gazed upwards mournfully. "Right up there," he murmured, pointing skywards "M' fam'ly." The tears were streaming down his face frankly now. "I can't face 'em Recky, 'n this condition you've got me in," he said more in sorrow than in anger.

"I hope not," Rex responded promptly, but Strong was not to be side-tracked. "No mother 'n the world not one no sir!" he went on. His voice broke with feeling. "I'll nev' forget it nev' don't ask me to," he insisted. "Dear Recky blessed old tomfool I'm go'n kiss you good-night." "You bet you're not," said Fairfax with emphasis.

Couldn' tell girl's name, Recky be dishon'able. Couldn', no, couldn'. Anythin' else ask m' anythin' else in all these wide worlds" and he struck his breast with fervor. "Tell you anythin', Recky, but couldn' betray trustin' girl's secret." "Billy, can't you give me an idea what the girl's like?" pleaded Rex desperately. Billy smiled up at him drowsily. "Perfectly good girl," he elucidated.

So that it was one of the surprises of the evening when Strong entered quietly and with perfect deportment took his place in the elevator and got out again, eight floors up, with the mildness of a dove. At the door of the apartment came the last brief but sharp action of the campaign. "Recky," he said, taking Fairfax's shoulders in his great grasp, "no mother could be t' me what you've been."

You're making me lots of trouble," and Billy burst into tears and sobbed out: "Wouldn' make Recky trouble for worlds good ol' Recky half-witted ol' goat, but bes' fren' ev' had," and the address was captured. Rex turned to his cousin, his winning, deprecating manner warning Reed but softening him against his will.