The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1923-02-20

like this he said. after L brought
your father home, this morning, there
was one of the things he told me,
when he vas going for me, ove yon-
der-it kind of stuck in my 1t
was something about all this glue
controversy not meaning anything to
me in particular, and meaning a
whole heap to him and his famil. ?.
Well, he was wrong about that two
ways. The first one was, it did mean
a good deal to me to have him go
Jack on me after so many years. I
don't need to say any more about 1t,
except just to tell you it meant quite
a little more to me than you'd think,
maybe. The other way he was wrong
is, that how much a thing means to
one man and how little it means to
another amt the right way to look
at a business matter"
st suppose it isn't, Mr.. Lamb"
NO" he said. TT isn't. It's not
the right way to look at anything.
Yes, and your father knows it as
well as I do, when he's In his right
mind; and 1 expect that's one of the
reasons he got so mad at mt-but any
how, I couldn't help thinking about
how much all this thing had maybe
meant to him:-as I say, it kind of
stuck in my craw. l want you to
tell him something from me. and I
want you to go and tell him right
off, If he's able and willing TO listen.
You tell him I got kind Of a no.
ton he was pushed into this thing
by circumstances. and tell him I've
lived long enough to know hat cir
cumstances a beat the best of US
you tell him I said the best of US.
Tell him 1 haven't got a bit of feel
ing against him-nOt any more-and
tell him l came here to ask him not to
have any against me-"
Yes, Mr.. Lamb"
Tell him l said" The old man
paused abruptly and Alice was sur
orised. in a dun and tired way, when
she saw hat his lips had begun to
witch and his eyelids TO blink; but
ne recovered himself almost at once,
and continued. Il want him to re-
member, Forgive US our transgres-
siOns. as we forgive those that trans
gress against us; and if he and I
oeen transgressing against each other,
why, tell him I think it's time we
quit such f-oolishnessr'
He coughed again, smiled heartily
upon her, and walked toward the
door; then turned back TO her with
an exclamation: We'll, If I amt an
DID fool"
What is it?" she asked.
'AYhy, l forgot what We were just
alking about, Your father wants to
settle for Walters deficit. Tell him
well be glad to accept IT; but Of
course, we don expect him to clean
the matter up until he's able to talk
business again"
Alice stared at him blankly enough
for him to perceive that further eX-
plantations were necessary. It's like
this" he said. You see, If your IA
Their decided to keep his works going
over yonder. l don't say but he might
give US some little competition for a
time, specially as he's got the start
on US and about ready for the market.
Then I was figuring we could use his
plaintiffs small. but it'd be to our
benefit to have the use of it-and he's
got a lease on that big lot; 1t may
come in handy for US if we want to
expand some. Well, I'd prefer to make
a deal with him Is quietly as possible
no good in every Tom. Dick and
Harry hearing about things like this
but I figured he could sell out to me
for a little something more'n enough
to cover the mortgage he put on this
house, and Walters deficit, too-that
don't amount TO much in dollars and
cents. The way I figure It, I could
offer him about $4,000 as a total-or
say S9.350-and if ne feels like accept
ing, why, III send a confidential man
up here with the papers soon's your
fathers able to look EN- over. You
tell him, win you. and ask him If he
sees his way to accepting that fgure?"
YES" Alice said. and now her own
lips twitched, while her eyes filled so
that she saw but a blurred image Of
the old man, who held out his hand
in parting. III tell him. Thank
you"
He shook her hand hastily. 'Wen.
lets just keep 1t kind Of quiet" he
said. at the door. No good in every
Tom. Die and Harry knowing all
what goes on In town! You telephone
me when your papa's ready to go
over the papers-and call me UP at
my house tonight. win you? Let me
hear how he's feeIing?"
Il VIII" she said, and through her
grateful tears gave him a smile al
most radiant. Hell be better, Mr..
Lamb. We all will"