Nelson. "You can go on, ma'am."

"I've only this to say--you must close your bar right now!"

"Suppose I'm not willing? It will mean a big loss to me."

"That," answered Mrs. Nelson firmly, "doesn't count; the bigger the
loss, the better. You will stop the sale of drink until to-morrow, or
take the consequences."

Another woman, who looked careworn and haggard, and was shabbily
dressed, stood forward.

"We and the children have borne enough!" she broke out. "We have to
save the cord-wood in the bitter cold; we have to send the kiddies out
in old, thin clothes, while the money that would make home worth living
in goes into your register. Where are the boys--our husbands and
sons--who once held steady jobs and did good work?" She raised an
accusing hand, with despair in her pinched face. "Oh! I needn't tell
you--they're rebranding farmers' calves or hiding from the police!
Don't you know of one who walked to his death through the big trestle,
dazed with liquor? For these things the men who tempted them will have
to answer!"

"True, but not quite to the point," Mrs. Nelson interposed. "We have
found remonstrance useless; the time for words has passed. This fellow
has had his warning; we're waiting for him to comply with it."

There was an uproar outside from the crowd that was struggling to get
in and demanding to be told what was going on; but Beamish made a sign