s into letting it alone. But that doesn't do
much good because, Dell, we don't bury enough drunkards at one time to
make a strong impression and convince the boys that we are right. Our
boys see big, respectable men like George Hoskins and Seth Curtis and
even good Billy Evans taking their drinks regularly and living and
prospering. So they make up their minds that mothers are all a little
bit crazy on the drink question. And the first thing we know we find
that our boys have been washing down their cigarettes with a drink.
And in those first sick five minutes we know, Dell, that the thing has
beaten us to the boy."

"Yes," mused Dell aloud, "but we aren't the only ones who feel beaten.
The men aren't all against us, Nan. Lots of them right here in this
town are on our side. And I tell you it's no joke for a natural man
who loves to hang around and pal with his neighbors to put himself in
the position of a spoilsport or an odd goody-goody. There's Uncle
Tony's brother William. He's been against war and drink and smoking
all his life, and look at the dog's life he's led. Nan, I believe the
men are as helpless as we. The Thing has grown so huge that we can't
fight it. It's got us all. And we're so helpless because we're
ignorant and won't think this thing out. Look at Frank Burton, who'd
give his soul to save Jim Tumley's. Yet it's only last year that he
gave up having drink in the house. He never realized until so late
that just by having it around he was hurting the man he'd die to save.
And there's Billy Evans. Why, Nan, Billy has sat up nights pulling
Hank Lolly through a jag. Yet Billy lets Hank see him take a drink
every day. And, Nan, it must be plain hell for Hank to see that. Why,
Billy wouldn't tempt Hank or make him suffer torment knowingly for a
million dollars. And yet he does it every day of his life because he's
ignorant, doesn't know any bigger, finer, more unselfish way of helping
Hank. No, Nan, you can't make me believe our Green Valley men are a
mean lot, meaner than others. They just don't know and when once they
realize, why, they'll put an end to it themselves fast enough."

"That's all right, but, Dell Parsons, you know that the world over men
have to be nagged and coaxed into seeing the right by their women
folks. And I tell you I'm going to begin right now to do a little of
both. And as for that vote--I've laughed about that long enough. Now
I'm going after it. It's just