MAMIE was sick. Hunch did not go to the house, but one night after supper, while he was changing his clothes to go to the Bartlett’s, Bruce came in.

“Hello, Bruce. Sit down.”

“Can’t stop but a minute. Where’re you going?”

“Up to see Jess.”

“I ain’t seen you to shake on that, have I, Hunch. Marne told me. She says Jess’s tickled to death. When’re you going to be married?”

“Dunno exactly. Guess not before spring.”

“Did you hear about Marne, Hunch?”

“Sick, you mean?”

“Yes, I s’posed you knew what was the matter. Thought mebbe Jess told you—but she couldn’t though, could she? I’m awful worried. It’s too soon, you know. You see that’s what I come to see you about. I’ve been shaving it pretty close. Had to be up nights and it kind of knocked my work. And the doctor’s sticking me like everything. I didn’t know but—well, I’ll tell you, Hunch, can you let me have fifty for a couple of weeks? I don’t get my salary till the end of the month, and I’ve got to settle some things right away.”

“Sure,” said Hunch. “I’ve got a little put by.”

“I’m awful sorry, Hunch, but you see how it is——”

“That’s all right, Bruce. Any time ‘ll do.”

“I’ll give you my note. That’s about all I can do.”

“Not much you won’t. You just take it, and pay when you can, and don’t you say nothing about it.”

For a few days there was gloom at Bruce’s cottage. Once Hunch went around and was met at the door by Bruce, who looked worn. Hunch did not know how to ask about Mamie, but Bruce came out and drew the door to behind him.

“She’s pretty bad, Hunch. I don’t know what I’ll do if anything happens. The doctor says we’ll know one way or the other in a day or so.”

Hunch gripped his hand and went away.

That evening, when Hunch went around to see Jess, he was depressed. The thought of Mamie’s suffering stood in his way whenever he tried to respond to Jess’s sallies. As the evening went on, Hunch’s mood grew worse. Jess went into a sulk later; when he dropped a careless remark that hurt her pride, she grew angry.

“What’s the matter, Jess?” Hunch said at last.

“I guess you know.”

“I don’t believe you want me here.”

“Oh, you can go if you want to.”

Hunch looked at her, vaguely conscious that he had been unkind; but he went away without kissing her good-night.

One morning, a day or two later, he was dressing, when Bruce came in, with disordered hair and excited eyes.

“It’s all right, Hunch; it’s all right! Doctor says it’s wonderful how she come through it.”

Hunch sat on the bed without speaking, but with an almost painful expression of relief on his face.

“It’s a girl,” said Bruce, and he laughed. “Come on over, Hunch. It’s a fine little kid. Come along with me.”

“No,” said Hunch, slowly. “I don’t believe I can just now.”

“What’s the matter? Why can’t you come?”

“I’ve got a lot of work to do to-day.”

“Don’t talk to me about working. You’re my best friend and I want you to come first.”

“No, I can’t, Bruce.”

“You make me tired, Hunch. You might as well be decent about it.”

“There ain’t no use of getting mad, Bruce. I’ll get around before long.”

“That’s what I call——”

“No, you don’t, now, Bruce. You’d better go on back. I guess they need you anyhow.”

Bruce muttered as he went out. He did not know why Hunch refused to go, and Hunch was not sure that he knew himself.

All day Hunch alternated between a nervous buoyancy and a sense of depression. After supper he went to Bartlett’s. Jess was watching at the window, and she hurried to open the door. He was wondering what to say, to show her that he was sorry for his unkindness, when she closed the door and flung her arms around his neck, and for a long time she cried on his shoulder. This was the end of their quarrel.

Finally, when they were in the parlor, Jess said, with lowered eyes: “Have you been down to Marne’s, John?”

“No.” Hunch was embarrassed.

“I—I went over this afternoon.”

After a silence she went on. “Seems awful funny, don’t it?”

Hunch nodded.

“She wants us to come down tonight. I didn’t know whether you’d want to.”

“Sure.”

“She’s awful proud about it. I—I can’t get over thinking about it—about her and him. It’s awfully little.”

They walked to Bruce’s and sat for an hour in the living room. Mamie was too sick to see them, but Bruce opened the door into her room so that she could hear their voices. Bruce was bubbling over with happiness. When he finally brought out the baby, a sickly little thing, he was laughing out loud. Jess took it in her arms.

“My, ain’t it light,” she said.

“Six pounds,” said Bruce.

“What’s her name going to be?”

“Dunno yet. Marne wants to name it after her mother.”

“John,” said Jess, “take her just a minute. She’s such a funny little thing.” Hunch moved away and shook his head. This made Bruce and Jess laugh. For the rest of the evening Hunch was thoughtful. His manner subdued Jess, and they walked home with little to say.

The following night, as Hunch was coming away from Bartlett’s, he met Jess’s brother on the street.

“Hello, Hunch,” said Jim. “Say, if you want to see a circus, you ought to go down to Herve’s place.”

“Why, what’s up?”

“Bruce Considine’s celebrating.”

“What—drinking?”

“Yes, he’s got a peach of a jag already.”

Hunch hurried down to the saloon. Bruce was sitting on one of the tables, treating the crowd.

“Hello, Hunch,” he said, waving his glass. “Have somethin’ on me, ol’ man. All my fren’s got to have somethin’ on me to-night. I’m a father, Hunch.”

Hunch took his arm and jerked him to his feet. Bruce leaned against Hunch, and a man laughed.

“Shut up, there!” said Hunch. Then he led Bruce away and took him to his own room. He needed to think. It was not such a simple matter as in the other days, when Bruce was one of his crew. He sat by the bed until the night was half gone. Bruce had gone to sleep. Hunch had been angry, but after awhile he began to think of Mamie and the baby, and his expression softened a little. Mamie was not in condition to bear a shock. The only thing to do was to sober Bruce and get him home, so he took off his coat and hammered him until he showed signs of consciousness. Finally he got him aroused, and then ducked his head in the washbowl, and scrubbed his face with soap and water.

It was two o’clock in the morning before Bruce was fit to go home. Then he sat on the bed and looked helplessly at Hunch.

“What’ll I do, Hunch? I can’t go home now.”

“You shut up and go along. Don’t do any more talking about it.”

“I can’t, Hunch. Think of it! There ain’t a thing I can tell Marne. I went uptown to get some medicine and said I’d come right back.”

“You’ll go back all the same, if I have to take you myself.”

“What can I tell her?”

Hunch walked up and down the floor.

“That’s your business, Bruce. It ain’t mine.”

“Don’t throw me up now, Hunch. Oh—everything’s going to smash. What’ll

“What do you want to do, lie to her?”

“It ain’t that, Hunch; it ain’t lying. I do! I can’t tell her how it was. It would kill her.”

“All right, if you want to lie to her, you tell her I was drunk and you brought me home. Now get out—go home, go somewhere, but get out of here.”

“I—I-don’t you see, Hunch——”

“Go on now!”

Bruce went out talking to himself.