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to the bars with both hands outstretched toward his foster-son.

"Thank God, Abner, it's you!" He reached through to grip the youth's hands. "I want you to go to Railroad Jones and tell him to git me out o' here quick. Unless that debt is fixed up right now, I'll shore lose my job, Abner. You tell him how urgent it is. And tell him how I'm fixed. Why, them damn niggers is runnin' me crazy. Have you got any licker with you?"

This was the first time Jim had ever mentioned whisky to Abner. It flattered the youth. He searched his pockets and found his pint bottle with a last swallow in it. Jim drank it, blinked his eyes, then noticed the bandages around Abner's head and around his chewed thumb. He asked what was the matter, and Abner told the story of his fight.

"I declare! The damn skunk! Railroad will shorely have to lissen to you after you nearly got killed helpin' him out. Git Adelaide to go to her daddy. Ever'thing depends on it, Abner. Why, me an' Haly will be right back where we was—tell Railroad to make any sort of sacrifice to git me out."

"I will, I will," nodded Abner, deeply moved.

"I wouldn't say anything against Railroad, but—er—Abner, seems like he's mighty keerless of his frien's when they're in trouble."

"I'll shore tell him," repeated Abner earnestly.

"You know it was Railroad who let yore daddy die right in this place of pneumony, Abner."

Abner knew that his father had died of pneumonia in jail. Now the thought of his sick father dying in this cold terrible upper story filled him with horror.

"But I ain't goin' to die here, Abner," nodded Mr. Sandage grimly. "I made up my min' to that. I shore ain't goin' to stay here tull I die. But of course Railroad'll git me out. My job, my good name, my fambly, ever'thing I got in the worl' depen's on his payin' back what I loaned him an' gittin me out honour free."