Brandon of the Engineers

Bethune grinned at Dick. "It's not an unusual notice in some of our

smaller towns, and one must admit it's necessary. However, we want to get

him into dry clothes."

Jake gave them some trouble, but they put him in a re-made bed and went

back to the verandah, where Bethune sat down.

"Fuller has his good points, but I guess you find him something of a

responsibility," he remarked.

"I do," said Dick, with feeling. "Still, this is the first time he has

come home the worse for liquor. I'm rather worried about it, because it's

a new trouble."

"And you had enough already?" Bethune suggested. "Well, though you're not

very old yet, I think Miss Fuller did well to make you his guardian, and

perhaps I'm to blame for his relapse, because I sent him to Santa

Brigida. François was busy and there were a number of bills to pay for

stores we bought in the town. I hope Fuller hasn't lost the money!"

Dick felt disturbed, but he said, "I don't think so. Jake's erratic, but

he's surprised me by his prudence now and then."

Bethune left soon afterwards, and Dick went to bed, but got up again

after an hour or two and began his work without seeing Jake. They did not

meet during the day, and Dick went home to his evening meal uncertain

what line to take. He had no real authority, and finding Jake languid and

silent, decided to say nothing about his escapade. When the meal was

finished, they left the hot room, as usual, for the verandah, and Jake

dropped listlessly into a canvas chair.

"I allow you're more tactful than I thought," he remarked with a feeble

smile. "Guess I was pretty drunk last night."

"It looked rather like it from your clothes and the upset in the house,"

Dick agreed.

Jake looked thoughtful. "Well," he said ingenuously, "I have been on a

jag before, but I really don't often indulge in that kind of thing, and

don't remember drinking enough to knock me out. You see, Kenwardine's a

fastidious fellow and sticks to wine. The sort he keeps is light."

"Then you got drunk at his house? I'd sooner have heard you were at the

casino, where the Spaniards would have turned you out."

"You don't know the worst yet," Jake replied hesitatingly. "As I'm in a

very tight place, I'd better 'fess up. François doesn't seem to have

told you that I tried to draw my pay for some months ahead."

"Ah!" said Dick, remembering with uneasiness what he had learned from

Bethune. "That sounds ominous. Did you----"

"Let me get it over," Jake interrupted. "Richter was there, besides a

Spanish fellow, and a man called Black. We'd been playing cards, and I'd

won a small pile when my luck began to turn. It wasn't long before I was

cleaned out and heavily in debt. Kenwardine said I'd had enough and had

better quit. I sometimes think you don't quite do the fellow justice."