The Washington times., 1920-09-12

MARTHA (proudIyJ-Your father? No, Evie.
EVIE-Then why did Mr.. Gresham send for him?
MARTHA-He wanted to talk to him.
EvIE-What about? Mr.. Gresham has been arl
going to try him tomorrow What can he wal
MARTHA-Your father will have to testify.
EvIE-But he's going to testify against Mr.
Gresham. Why should Mr.. Gresham want to
see him?
MARTHA don't know. Evie You know. your
father doesn't say much about bis business
affairs (She panses.) j didn't know there
was anything wrong with the bank until l
saw it in the papers.
EvIE-Do you think that father had anything to
do with-with (She does not like to say IT,
MARTHA-With the wrecking of the bank? You
know him better than that Evie
EvIE-But did he know what was going on? You
know what the papers are saying
MARTHA-They haven't been fair to him. Evie
EvIE-Perhaps not. But they said he must have
been fool not to know They said that only
he could have known-,he and Mr. Gresham.
Why didn't he stop it?
MARTHA-He was acting under Mr. Gresham's
orders
EVE (contemp mptuously)-Mr. Gresham's orders!
Did he have to follow them?
MARTHA latter pause)-Evie. don't believe
your father did wrong thing In his
ll1e-nOt II ne knew IL was wrong. he lOuuO
out by accident-found out what Mr. Gresham
doing.
EVlE-How do you know that?
MARTIAL don't know it; I suspect it-some
thing he said (Edgerly) You see, Evie he
can't have done anything wrong They haven't
indicted him.
EVE (sloUly)-No They didn't indict hm-be-
cause they want him to testify against Mr..
Gresham. That's little consolation, mother.
JOHN-I was talking to the assistant cashier yes
terday.
EvIE-Donovan?
JOHN-Yes. Donovan. I saw him up at the Ath.
letic Club. He said that nobody had any idea
that there was anything wrong until the crash
came. Donovan had been there eight years.
He thought lie taken of for the rest
of his life He had gotten married on the
strength Of it. And then, one morning, there
a sign up the door, 1t like bolt
out Of a clear sky.
EVIE-And father?
JOHN-He says the governor must have known
He'll swear nobody else did. You see, father
was closer to Gresham than anyone else That
puts him in a nice position, doesn't it?
MARTHA-What do you mean, John?
JOHN-The governor the only witness against
John Gresham-and me named after him!
John Gresham Baldwin, at your servce
comes of it.
JOHN (ShOrtly)-I know it. And I'm not
right. (They look at him inQuirtn0ly) There's
am, grown rich in twenty years, and the COVE
along as his secretary at sixty dollars a week!
MARTHA-Your father never complained
JOHN-No; that's just the pity Of it. He didn't col
he'll have his chance tomorrow. He'll go til
when he's through they'll put John Gresham VIII
be able to hurt anybody for a while. Wasn't s
underpaying his employees; had to rob his depos
him jolly well right
EVE tat the ,oindoW)-Theres father now!
There is the click of Idtchkey outside.J
BALDWIN coming INFLOW are you. my boy?
hands ,oith John.) Evie! (He kisses her. Il
chair; sits. There is an a,okpard pause.)
JOHN-well, dad? Don't you think it's about time
something?
BALDwIN-Tod you something? don't understan
JOIIN-People have been talking about you-saying
BALDWIN-What kind of things, John?
JOHN-You can imagine rotten things And {
tradct them.
BALDWIN-Why not, John?
JOIfN-Because I didn't know.
BALDwIN-Did you hare to know? Wasn't 1t enor
knew your father?
JOHN after pduse)-I beg your pardon, sir.
BALDWIN, told him he would have to malce
said he couldn't. | told him he would have to d,
could-and the first step would be to close tn,
didn't want to do that.
MARTHA-But he did II.
BALDWIN, made him do It. He was angry-ver,
had the whip hand.
EvIE-The papers didn't mention that
BALDWIN, didn't think It necessary to tell Il
BAJT'wIN--Tt will be cleared Tomorrow won't It?
To-day Gresham sent for me. The trial begins
four hours. I'm the only witness against him.
YOU can guess what