Dannie was willing to undertake anything in the world for Mary, but just how to furnish the "vital spark," to an unborn babe, was too big a problem for him.

And Jimmy Malone was growing to be another.

Heretofore, Dannie had borne the brunt of the work, and all of the worry.

He had let Jimmy feel that his was the guiding hand.

Jimmy's plans were followed whenever it was possible, and when it was not, Dannie started Jimmy's way, and gradually worked around to his own.
But, there never had been a time between them, when things really came to a crisis, and Dannie took the lead, and said matters must go a certain way, that Jimmy had not acceded.