The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1923-02-20
~ n not sure"
He frowned at her and
asked. well. what dc you
think about it?"

think about it?"
Il don't know" she said. Il don't
believe 1 think anything at all about
anything today"
well, WELL" he returned; 81 ex-
pect not; 1 expect not. You kind Of
look to me as if you ought to be in
bed yourself, young lady"
"Oh, no."
Il guess you mean oh, yes'i and I
won't keep you long, but there's
something we got to get fixed up, and
I'd rather talk to you than 1 would to
your mother. because you're a smart
girl and always friendly; and 1 want
to be sure I'm understood. Now,
listen"
II WILL" Alice promised, smiling
family.
Il even hardly noticed your
brother was stin working for me" he
explained, earnestly. 4 never thought
anything about it. My sons sort of
tried to tease me about the way your
father-about his taking up this glue
business, so to speak-and one day
Albert, Junior, asked me If I felt all
right about your brothers staying
there after that, and I told him-wen,
1 just asked him to shut up. If the
boy wanted to stay there, 1 didn't
consider it my business to send him
away on account Of any feeling I had
toward his father; not as long as he
did his work right-and the report
showed he did Well, as it happens, it
looks now as if be stayed because he
had to: he couldn't quit because he'd
"a been found out if he did Wen,
he'd been covering up his shortage
for a considerable time-and do you
know what your father practically
charged me with about that?"
mo, Mr.. Lamb"
In his resentment. the old gentle
mans rudy face became ruddier and
his husky voice huskier. Thinks I
kept the boy there because I suspected
him! Thinks I did it to get even with
him! Do I look to you like a man
that'd do such a thing?"
No" she said, gently, Il don't
think you would"
MOI he exclaimed Nor he
wouldn't think so if he was himself;
k.e's known me too long, But he
must been sort of ~brooding owe this
whole business mean before Wal
ter's trouble-he mus been taking it
to heart pretty hard for some time
back. He thought I didn't think much
Of him any more-and I expect he
maybe wondered some what I was go
ing to do-and. there's nothing
worse'n that state of mind to make a
man suspicious of all kinds of mean
ness. Well. he practically stood up
there I'M accused me to my face Of
fixing things so't he couldn't ever
raise the money to settle for Walter
and ask US not to prosecute That's
the state of mind your fathers brood
ing got him into, young lady-charg-
ing me with a trick ike thatl"
I'm sorry" she said L know
you'd never
The old man slapped his sturdy
knee, angrily. why, that dang fool
Of a Virgil AdamsI" he exclaimed.
He wouldn't even give me a chance
to talk; and he got me SO mad I
couldn't hardly talk, anyway! He
might "a known from the first I
wasn't going to let him walk in and
beat me out Of my own-that It, he
might "a known I wouldn't let him get
ahead Of me in a business matter
not with my boys twitting me about
it every few minutes, But to talk
to me the way he liz his morning
well, he was out of his head; that's
all! Now, wait just a minute" he in
t~erposed, as she seemed about to
speak. I'm the first place, we aren't
going to push this case against your
brother. 1 believe in the law. all right,
and business men got TO protect them
selves; but in a case Ike this, where
restitution's made by the family, why,
I expect it's just as we'll sometimes to
use a little influence and let matters
drop. OF course your brother'n nave
to keep out o. this State, that's all"
''But-you said" she faltered
Yes. What'd I say?"
"You said, where resolutions
made by the family That's what
seemed to trouble papa so terribly,
because-because restitution couldn't
-
why, yes, it could That's what
I'm here to talk to you about"
"I don't SEQ
I'm going to tell you, amt ~ he
said, gruf1y. Just hold you horses
z minute, please" He coughed, rose
from his chair, walked up and down
the room, then halted before her. It's