re a day or two."

"You must change your clothes, or you will get cold."

"I haven't got any clothes except what I've got on."

The young man looked rather surprised at this, since Tom had on a good
suit, and appeared to be in good circumstances.

"Then," said he, promptly, "I shall take you home with me, and lend you
one of my suits."

"It would fit me too much," said Tom, laughing.

"Never mind. We will stay in the house till your clothes are dry. What
do you say?"

"All right," said Tom. "I'm agreeable."

When they came to the Ohio side of the river the two got off. The young
man was so well over his fit of drunkenness that he walked quite
steadily, showing no trace of it in his gait.

"I live a mile and a half away," he said, "but it will be better to
walk, as we shall be less liable to take cold in our wet clothes. Or,
do you feel tired?"

"Not a bit," said Tom. "I'm used to walkin'. My coachman don't have
much to do."

"You're a genius," said the young man.

"I'm glad to hear it," said Tom. "If I'm a fair specimen, geniuses
don't know much."

"At any rate, you are not such a fool as I am."

"Are you a fool?"

"Any man is a fool that gets drunk."

"I don't know but you're right," said Tom. "What makes you do it?"

"Because I'm a fool. That's all the reason I can give. I'm too weak to
resist temptation."

"I never was drunk but once," said Tom. "I don't want to be again."

"How did that happen?"

"A sailor invited me into a bar-room, and got me to drink. I felt as if
my head would burst open the next morning."

"So you didn't get drunk again?"

"No, I got enough of it."

"What is your name?" asked the young man, interested.

"Gilbert Grey."

"Do you live in this city?"

"I'm goin' to."

"I wish you would come and live with me."

"What for?"

"Because, though you are younger, you know how to take care of
yourself. I think you would take care of me, too."

"If you pay me good wages," said Tom, "I'm willin' to be your
guardian."

"I am in earnest," said the young man. "It would do me good to have
some one help me keep straight."

"How many times a week would you want me to jump into the water after
you?" asked our hero, jocularly. "Because I'd want to keep a good stock
of dry clothes on hand; or maybe I might wear a bathin' suit all the
time."

"I sha'n't try that again," said the other, smiling; "I don't like it
well enough."

By this time they reached a handsome brick