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

diced, or something, would need more
than just one look to"
But Alice moved away from the
caressing hand Never mind, mama.
I wonder ne looks at me at all. And
brother with those horrible people"
I'm sure Walter is a good boy"
Mrs. Adams said.
! You are?' Alice criec, with a sud
den Wgor. You are?"
I'm sure he's good, yes-and If he
isn't, it's not his fault. It's mine"
What nonsense
No, it's true" Mrs. Adams lament
| ed II tried to bring him up to be
good, God knows; and when he was
little he was the best boy 1 ever saw.
/ When he came from Sunday school
he's always run to me and we'd go
over the lesson together; and he let
me come in his room at night to hear
/ mis- prayers almost until he was 16.
/ Most boys won't do that with their
mothers-not nearly that long. I tried
| 50 hard to bring him up right-but
if anything's gone wrong it's my
fault"
How could it be? You've just
/ said"
It's because I didn't make your ia
! ther take this-this new step earlier.
Then Walter might have had all the
advantages that other"
ooh. mama. please!' Alice begged
her. Lets don't go over all that
! again. Isn't it more important to
! think what's to be done about h1m2
/ Is he going to be allowed to go on
/ disgracing US as he does?"
Mrs. Adams sighed profoundly. ct
don't know what to do" she confessed
unhappily. your fathers so upset
about-about this new step he's tax
ing-I don't feel as If we ought
/ to"
No. no. Alice cried. Papa must
not be distressed with this, on top of
everything else. But something's got
to be done about Walter"
What can be?5 her mother asked,
/ helplessly. What can be-"
Alice admitted that she didn't know.
! At dinner, an hour later, Walters
! habitually yelled glance lifted. now and
! then, to touch her furtively;-he was
waiting, as he would have said, for
her to spring it." and he had pre-
! pared a brief and sincere defense to
the effect that he made his own liv.
| ing, and would like 70 inquire whose
! business it was to offer intrusive COM
| ment upon his private conduct. But
she said nothing, while his father and
mother We're as silent as she. Walter
/ concluded that there was 10 be no at
| tack, but changed his mind when his
father. who ate only a little. and
/ broodinsly at that, rose to leave the
able and spoke to him.
Walter" he said, when you've
finished wish you'd come up to my
room. I got something 1 want to say
10 you
Walter shot a hard look at his apath-
etc sister, then turned to his father.
Make it tomorrow" he said. This
is Satad'y night and 1 got a date"
NO." Adams said, frowning. You
come up before you go out. It's i'm
portant"
An right; I've had all want to
eat" Walter returned. 4 got q few
minutes. Make it quick"
He followed his father upstairs. and
when they We're in the room together
Adams shut the door, sat down. and
began to rub his knees.
rheumatism" the boy inquired,
! ;lyly. That what you want to talk
% me about?'
No" But Adams did not so on;
Ie seemed to be in difficulties for
words, and Walter decided to help him
Hop ahead and spring it." he said.
Get it off your mind: I'll tell the
/ world I should worry. You aren't
-oin' to bother me any. so why bother
yourself? Alice hoped home and
told you she saw me playin' around
with some pretty gay-loolin' berries
and yoU-"
Alice" his father said. obviously
'urprised. It's nothing about Alice
oh. I see," Walter said. "She
| told mother and mother told you"
No, neither Of EN- have told me
anything. What was there to teIl?"
Walter laughed. "Oh. it's nothin'."
| he said. II was Just startin' out to
buy a girl friend O. mine a rhinestone
buckle I lost to her on a bet, this
/ .,fternoon, and Alice came a,ong with
that big Russell fish: and I thought
he looked sore. She expects me to
ike the kind she likes, and I don't
ike EN-. I thought she'd probIy got
YOU all stirred up about it."
No, no" his father said, peevishly.
Il don't know anything about It. and
! don't care to know anything about
it. want TO talk to you about some
thing important"
Then, IS he was again silent. Wal
ter said. We'll talk about it; I'm lis.
tening."
IT'S this" Adams began, heavily.
IT'S about me going into this glue
business. Your mothers told you,
hasn't she2"
she said you were goIn' to leave
The old place downtown and start n
clue factory. That's all I know about
Il; ! got my own affairs to tend to. 1"
We'll, this is your affair" his
father said. frowning. You can't
stay with Lamb and Company"
Walter looked a little started.
What you mean, I can't? Why not?"
You've got to help me-" Adams ex-
planned slowly; and he frowned more
deeply as If the interview were grow
ing increasingly laborious for him.
TITS going to be a big pull to get this
business on its feet"
Yes" Walter exclaimed with a
sharp skepticlsm. Il should say it
was. He stared at his father incredu-