o, he went on to Jimmy's. He had
finished the stalls, and was sweeping when he heard a sound at the back
door, and turning saw Jimmy clinging to the casing, unable to stand
longer. Dannie sprang to him, and helped him inside. Jimmy sank to the
floor. Dannie caught up several empty grain sacks, folded them, and
pushed them under Jimmy's head for a pillow.

"Dannish, didsh shay y'r nash'nal flowerish wash shisle?" asked Jimmy.

"Yes," said Dannie, lifting the heavy auburn head to smooth the folds
from the sacks.

"Whysh like me?"

"I dinna," answered Dannie wearily.

"Awful jagsh on," murmured Jimmy, sighed heavily, and was off. His
clothing was torn and dust-covered, his face was purple and bloated,
and his hair was dusty and disordered. He was a repulsive sight. As
Dannie straightened Jimmy's limbs he thought he heard a step. He lifted
his head and leaned forward to listen.

"Dannie Micnoun?" called the same even, cold voice he had heard at
breakfast. "Have you left me, too?"

Dannie sprang for a manger. He caught a great armload of hay, and threw
it over Jimmy. He gave one hurried toss to scatter it, for Mary was in
the barn. As he turned to interpose his body between her and the
manger, which partially screened Jimmy, his heart sickened. He was too
late. She had seen. Frightened to the soul, he stared at her. She came
a step closer, and with her foot gave a hand of Jimmy's that lay
exposed a contemptuous shove.

"You didn't get him complately covered," she said. "How long have you
had him here?"

Dannie was frightened into speech. "Na a minute, Mary; he juist came in
when I heard ye. I was trying to spare ye."

"Him, you mane," she said, in that same strange voice. "I suppose you
give him money, and he has a bottle, and he's been here all night."

"Mary," said Dannie, "that's na true. I have furnished him money. He'd
mortgage the farm, or do something worse if I didna; but I dinna WHERE
he has been all nicht, and in trying to cover him, my only thought was
to save ye pain."

"And whin you let him spind money you know you'll never get back, and
loaf while you do his work, and when you lie mountain high, times
without number, who is it for?"

Then fifteen years' restraint slid from Dannie like a cloak, and in the
torture of his soul his slow tongue outran all its previous history.

"Ye!" he shouted. "It's fra Jimmy, too, but ye first. Always ye first!"
Mary began to tremble. Her white cheeks burned red