"One should practise moderation in everything. _Everything_!"

"It has struck me," said Edgar thoughtfully, "that moderation is now
and then desirable in temperance reform."

Mrs. Nelson fixed her eyes on him with a severe expression.

"Are you a scoffer?"

"No," said Edgar; "as a matter of fact, I'm open to conviction,
especially if you intend to reform the Butte. In my opinion, it needs
it."

"Well," responded the lady, "you're a signature, anyway; and we want as
many as we can get. But we'll proceed to business. Will you state our
views, Mr. Hardie?"

The man began quietly, and George was favorably impressed by him. He
had a pleasant, sun-burned face, and a well-knit but rather thin
figure, which suggested that he was accustomed to physical exertion.
As he could not afford a horse, he made long rounds on foot to visit
his scattered congregation, under scorching sun and in the stinging
frost.

"There are four churches in Sage Butte, but I sometimes fear that most
of the good they do is undone in the pool room and the saloons," he
said. "Of the latter, one cannot, perhaps, strongly object to the
Queen's."