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_?"

"No use. Gone too far," growled the physician, shaking his grizzled
head. "If I knew how to save it, I would; that's my job. But the best
thing that can happen is its death. Ought to be a hangin' matter for
poor folks to have so many children, anyway," he concluded grimly.

"That sounds _awful_ to me, Dr. Poole," Janice said.

"There is something awful about Nature. Nature takes care of these
things, if we doctors are not allowed to."

"Why! what do you mean?"

"The law of the survival of the fittest is what keeps this old world of
ours from being overpopulated by weaklings."

Janice Day was deeply impressed by the doctor's words, and thought over
them sadly as she walked down the hill toward Pine Cove. She went by
the old path past Mr. Cross Moore's and saw him in his garden, wheeling
his wife in her chair.

Mrs. Moore was a frail woman, and because of long years of invalidism,
a most exacting person. She had great difficulty in keeping a maid
because of her unfortunate temper; and sometimes Mr. Moore was left
alone to keep house. Nobody could suit the invalid as successfully as
her husband.

"Wheel me to the fence. I want to speak to that girl, Cross,"
commanded the wife sharply, and the town selectman did so.

"Janice Day!" c