the need of it this minute,--moral stimulus, you know.'

"'Ministers' daughters have to be very, very careful,' I told him in an
even voice.

"We were both silent then as we drove into town. When he pulled up in
front of the house he looked me straight in the face, and he uses his
eyes effectively.

"'You are a darling,' he said.

"I said 'Thanks,' and went into the house.

"He told me next morning what happened that evening. Of course he was
there to witness Matters' discomfiture. He did not put in appearance
until the sheriff and his friend were climbing anxiously and sadly into
the light wagon to return home empty-handed. Then he sauntered from
behind a hedge and lifted his hat in his usual debonair manner.

"'By the way, Mr. Sheriff,' he began in a quiet, ingratiating voice, 'I
hope I am not to be called as a witness in that boot-legging case.'

"Matters snarled at him. 'Pooh,' he said angrily, 'you can't blackmail
me like that. You can't prove anything on me. I reckon the people
around here will take the word of the sheriff of their county against
the booze fightin' son of a Methodist preacher.'

"Kirke waved his hand airily. 'Far be it from me to enter into any
defense of my father's son. But a hundred and fifty bottles are pretty
good evidence. And speaking of witnesses, I have a hunch that the