'Ee takes 'is wine and 'is beer like a gentleman, 'ee
does, and 'ee don't 'ave no use for Billy Breen. Billy, 'ee's a beast,
and t' manager, 'ee kicks un hout. But supposin' Billy wants to stop
bein' a beast, and starts a-tryin' to be a man again, and w'en 'ee
gets good an' dry, along comes some un and says, "'Ello, Billy, 'ave a
smile," it hain't picters nor magazines 'ud stop un then. Picters and
magazines! Gawd 'elp the man as hain't nothin' but picters and magazines
to 'elp un w'en 'ee's got a devil hinside and a devil houtside a-shovin'
and a-drawin' of un down to 'ell. And that's w'ere oi'm a-goin'
straight, and yer bloomin' League, wisky or no wisky, can't help me.
But,' and he lifted his trembling hands above his head, 'if ye stop the
wisky a-flowin' round this camp, ye'll stop some of these lads that's
a-followin' me 'ard. Yes, you! and you! and you!' and his voice rose to
a wild scream as he shook a trembling finger at one and another.
'Man, it's fair gruesome tae hear him,' said Geordie; 'he's no' canny';
and reaching out for Billy as he went stumbling past, he pulled him down
to a seat beside him, saying, 'Sit doon, lad, sit doon.
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