"I want to be sure of everything," said Skippy retaining tight hold. "Never to frequent race tracks, that's a promise too, or to bet on the ponies, or to go into pool rooms."
"That's quite enough," said Miss Tupper, glancing nervously up towards the veranda.
"But I haven't promised to give up drinking and all that sort of thing," said Skippy enthusiastically.
Miss Tupper, in whom a slight suspicion was beginning to grow as to the exact motives back of the sudden conversion, hesitated, but finally put forth her hand a third time.
"I promise," said Skippy, drawing a deep breath and sailing away on perfumed clouds to an invisible choir. "I want to make this something terrific; it's the most important you know. I promise for the space of one year,--so long as you care enough to answer my letters, that's only fair you know--I promise never to touch a drop of beer or ale, or whiskey, or rum, or brandy, or sherry, or port, or . . ."
"Alcohol in any form," said Miss Tupper, the color of the rambler.
"In any form. So help me God," said Skippy slowly.
"There," said Miss Tupper, somewhat thrilled herself. "And now don't you feel better, much, much better for having done it?"
Skippy, indeed, would have sworn to anything just for the look that lighted up the velvety eyes in the joy of salvation. It is doubtful if he even heard half of the program of his future existence. There was something irresistible in the softness of her eyes and the fascinating lisp. He was face to face at last with a good influence. He had met, not the type of girl that men play with lightly or madly for a month or a day, but a woman, the kind rough coarse men look up to as to a polar star, the kind of woman you think of winning after years of struggle, that keeps men straight and their thoughts on higher things, the kind of woman that pulls a drunkard out of the gutter, reclaims him and makes a genius out of the wreck. He would be saved by her, he was bound he would--no matter what sacrifices he would have to make to keep in proper sinful condition.
SNORKY GREEN had experienced so many shocks in his intimate contact with his chum's imagination that he had come to believe the future could hold no surprises for him. But that evening Skippy after a long searching through bookcases said with a worried air: