The judge reached out a tremulous hand.

He was only too familiar with his friend's distressing peculiarities.
"Not yet!" he begged thickly.
"Why not ?" demanded Mahaffy fiercely.

"Is it your liquor or mine ?" He quitted his chair end stalked to the well where he filled the flask with water.

Infinitely disgusted, the judge watched the sacrilege.

Mahaffy resumed his chair and again the flask went its rounds.
"It ain't so bad," said the judge after a time, but with a noticeable lack of enthusiasm.
"Were you in shape to put anything better than water into it, Mr.
Price ?" The judge winced.