dst of the man's oratory, and would
not be denied.

"Marriage," he said, "is not for regulation by law. No one has the
right," he declared, with an emphatic thump on the bar, "to dictate to
the individual on the subject." He went on at high pressure in a
heated crescendo for some moments, denouncing any interference by
public bodies. Then of a sudden he laid a hand on Abe's shoulder and
abruptly dropped his voice to a confidential whisper. His eyes were
smiling and shining with the feelings which stirred him. Everything
was forgotten except the fact of his engagement to Eve. Jim was
obscured from his mental vision by the uplifting spirit vapors which
supported his thoughts. Eve, and Eve alone, was in his mind, that--and
the fact that she was to be--his.

"Listen to me, Abe," he said, a little thickly. "All this talk of
yours don't hold water--no, nor spirit either," he laughed. "Say, I'm
goin' to get married, and so I know."

Quite how he knew didn't seem clear; but he paused for the impression.
Abe whistled interestedly and edged nearer, turning his ear so as not
to miss what the youngster had to say.

"Who?" he demanded.

"A-ah!" Will prolonged the exclamation knowingly, and waited for the
man to guess.

"You wus allus sweet on Eve Marsham--you and Jim Thorpe."

Will suddenly ceased to smile. He drank his whiskey at a gulp and
banged his glass on the counter.

"By G----!" he exclaimed harshly, while Abe wondered at his changed
tone. "Yes, it's Eve--Eve Marsham; and I'm going to marry her--not
Jim. D'you git that? By heaven!--yes. Here, Rocket----!" He lurched
round on the bar. "Here, you old Sky-Rocket, get drinks, quick! For
everybody! I'll pay! See, here's the wad," and he slammed a thick roll
of bills on the counter. "I've got money, sure, and I'm--hic--goin'
to burn it. Boys," he cried, swinging about and facing the tables,
supporting himself against the bar, "you'll drink with me. Si--Silas
here'll take your orders, an' serve you. You, too, Abe, ole pal."

Jim looked up from his cards the moment Will addressed the room, and
now he watched him swaying against the bar. The light in his dark eyes
was peculiar. He seemed to be speculating, and his thoughts were
uneasy. Will yawned drunkenly. Peter Blunt, from across the room, was
watching Jim, and moved abruptly clear of the tables, but not
ostentatiously so.

Will's eyes watched Silas passing round the drinks. He was smiling in
the futile manner of a d