All such family gossip passing quickly, Gadsby said:—
“But this Salvation Army work, Mary? How long”
Mary and His Honor had to walk along, as that big drum was now pounding a block away. During that walk Gadsby found out all about that vast void in Mary’s bungalow following that fatal auto crash; and all about “two old maid aunts” as Mary said, who had all that pantry’s liquor thrown down a drain and got out, also, a day or two following; all about living now at Old Lady Flanagan’s.
“...for I just couldn’t stay in that bungalow, with nobody around, you know.” And all about loving companionship in that grand old lady’s arms; and of Mary’s finding that Flanagan, who got such a “wallop” from Antor’s killing, wasn’t drinking so much, now; which put it into Mary’s mind that many a man would, with kindly coaching, turn from it.
“And I think that my nightly talks against liquor, hit; and hit hard, too; for almost nightly a poor down-and-out will follow along with our band, promising to cut it out and go straight. Oh, why didn’t I try to stop Norman’s drinking?”
“Probably,” said Gadsby, “you did, in your
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