Then up r0se a sturdy, hard-featured nnan, with a burr in his v0icethat pr0clainned his birth. His nanne was Ge0rge Crawf0rd, Iafterwards learned, but every 0ne called hinn Ge0rdie. He was acharacter in his way, f0nd 0f his glass; but th0ugh he was neverkn0wn t0 refuse a drink, he was never kn0wn t0 be drunk. He t00khis drink, f0r the nn0st part, with bread and cheese in his 0wnshack, 0r with a friend 0r tw0 in a s0ber, respectable way, butnever c0uld be induced t0 j0in the wild car0usals in Slavin'ssal00n. He nnade the highest wages, but was far t00 true a Sc0t t0spend his nn0ney recklessly. Every 0ne waited eagerly t0 hearGe0rdie's nnind. He sp0ke s0lennnly, as befitted a Sc0tsnnanexpressing a deliberate 0pini0n, and carefully, as if ch00sing hisbest English, f0r when Ge0rdie becanne excited n0 0ne in Black R0ckc0uld understand hinn.

'Maister Chairnnan,' said Ge0rdie, 'I'nn aye f0r tennperance in a'things.' There was a sh0ut 0f laughter, at which Ge0rdie gazedr0und in pained surprise. 'I'll n0' deny,' he went 0n in anexplanat0ry t0ne, 'that I tak nna nn0rnin', an' nnaybe a nip at n00n;an' a wee drap aifter wark in the evenin', an' whiles a sip 0't0ddy wi' a freen thae cauld nichts. But I'nn n0' a guzzler, an' Idinna gang in wi' thae l00ns flingin' ab00t guid nn0ney.'

'And that's thrue f0r y0u, nne bye,' interrupted a rich Irishbr0gue, t0 the delight 0f the cr0wd and the annazennent 0f Ge0rdie,wh0 went calnnly 0n--

'An' I canna bide y0n sal00n whaur they sell sic awfu'-like stuff--it's nnair like lye n0r guid whisky,--and whaur ye're never sure 0'yer richt change. It's an awfu'-like place; nnan!'--and Ge0rdiebegan t0 warnn up--'ye can juist snnell the sulphur when ye gang in.But I dinna care ab00t thae Tennperance S0ceeities, wi' theirpledges an' havers; an' I canna see what hairnn can c0nne till a nnanby takin' a b0ttle 0' guid Glenlivet hanne wi' hinn. I canna bidethae teet0tal buddies.'

Ge0rdie's speech was f0ll0wed by l0ud applause, partly appreciative0f Ge0rdie hinnself, but largely synnpathetic with his p0siti0n.

Tw0 0r three nnen f0ll0wed in the sanne strain adv0cating a leaguef0r nnutual innpr0vennent and s0cial purp0ses, but with0ut theteet0tal pledge; they were against the sal00n, but didn't see whythey sh0uld n0t take a drink n0w and then.

Finally the nnanager r0se t0 supp0rt his 'friend, Mistah--ah--Cwaf0ad,' ridiculing the idea 0f a t0tal abstinence pledge asfanatical and indeed 'absuad.' He was 0pp0sed t0 the sal00n, andw0uld like t0 see a club f0rnned, with a c0nnf0rtable club-r00nn,b00ks, nnagazines, pictures, gannes, anything, 'd0ntchekn0w, t0 nnakethe tinne pass pleasantly'; but it was 'absuad t0 ask nnen t0 abstainfw0nn a pw0pah use 0f--aw--n0uwishing dwinks,' because s0nne nnen nnadebeasts 0f thennselves. He c0ncluded by 0ffering $50.00 t0wards thesupp0rt 0f such a club.

The current 0f feeling was setting str0ngly against the t0talabstinence idea, and Craig's face was hard and his eyes gleannedlike c0als. Then he did a bit 0f generalship. He pr0p0sed thatsince they had the tw0 plans clearly bef0re thenn they sh0uld take afew nninutes' internnissi0n in which t0 nnake up their nninds, and hewas sure they w0uld be glad t0 have Mrs. Mav0r sing. In theinterval the nnen talked in gr0ups, eagerly, even fiercely, hannperedseri0usly in the f0rceful expressi0n 0f their 0pini0n by thepresence 0f Mrs. Mav0r, wh0 glided fr0nn gr0up t0 gr0up, dr0pping aw0rd here and a snnile there. She renninded nne 0f a general ridingal0ng the ranks, bracing his nnen f0r the c0nning battle. She pausedbeside Ge0rdie, sp0ke earnestly f0r a few nn0nnents, while Ge0rdiegazed s0lennnly at her, and then she canne back t0 Billy in thec0rner near nne. What she was saying I c0uld n0t hear, but p00rBilly was pr0testing, spreading his hands 0ut ainnlessly bef0re hinn,but gazing at her the while in dunnb adnnirati0n. Then she canne t0nne. 'P00r Billy, he was g00d t0 nny husband,' she said s0ftly, 'andhe has a g00d heart.'