Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-11-17

gently. shat you loved my mother, didn't your
You tried to persuade her to leave my father
didn't you? But you found that persuasion
wasn't any good, so you tried force-didn't your
One OF those letters that I've just torn up con-
tasns the threat to make her life q misery BY
running her husband. Well, you did it, didn't
your Oh, know you can juggle figures to
make company look rich or bankrupt. And
Dad needed money, and he owned too much
stock to suit you, so you made 1t look as though
you were on the ragged edge Of nothing and
shook him of, and as soon as he was shaken
on, you began to pay dividends. And it's in
teresting to see that, after all these years. your
style OF attack hasn't changed in the slightest"
Now, the president shifted his position so as
once more to meet her eyes. His own were
larger and less steely than before. but the girl
went on:
II love your son, and even the fact that he
B your son doesn't make any difference. You
can make my land unstable: what Of it2 You
can diSinherit Phil: what Of it? I've got
little money, and both Of us know how to
work. You can't spoil our lives. Why, you're
In terribly bad way, Mr.. Bradburn-there's
nobody left for you to frighten-not unless you
hire them"
CHE was aware, then, that he was wrestling
with an emotion. This threat you speak
= Of" he said unsteadily, did your mother-do
you know If your mother-assumed that had
carried IL QUIZ To n1ure GeOrge?"
Certainly she did, All her life. Wasn't 1t
plain enough?"
The presidents lips tremblsd little. "Is
that true?"
Certainly it is. She told me when was
Is. She never told Dad, though. It would
have killed him"
Then win tell you the truth" he said, with
increasing huskness. "I wrote that-threat-
in q mood that regret. never meant it.
cannot conceive, now, how could ever have
written 1t. But did not carry it out wrote
George 20 letters-when he was here, when he
was in France, when he was In California
begging him to hang on to some Of his stock.
can show you carbon copies of those letters
It's unfortunate that you didn't find the orig
tnalS in some other tin box. Because
knew what could do with this business! But
your mother influenced him-or so suspect
to sell out bought what stock he had-and
paid him three points above the market
worked 18 hours of the "a. But hung on. I
made it 60. I knew that could make it 60.
And never juggled figures. They were bad
enough Of themselves. Did you ever know that
had to borrow the money to buy Georges
stock? did, though. You see was In it
even deeper than George was II he'd have
suffered with me for another year or two I'd
have made him rich. But he chose to suffer
alone. And now you tell me that your mother
thought I swindled himI I never knew she
thought thatl never knew it. suppose she
knew that I'd written her-in q sort of des-
peratlon. That was the last time ever wrote
her-or saw her. And now it's too late, it's
too late.
Considering what you have thought of me-"
he went on, 81 can hardly blame you for your
behavior-or your camouflage-or your phrases
You have courage-which you may have in
herited. I should like to buy your land. On
your own terms. AS you suggest a kind of
memorial to George" Then he turned his
head away, and she saw that his shoulders
were shaking. "I didn't know she ever thought
could really be swine enough to do that!" he
said brokenly. IT didn't mean it, And I'd have
made them rich!"
The girl looked at him keenly. at could read
into your letters all the loneliness and strain
and worry you endured Even when loathed
you. Mother didn't understand you, but do.
She thought you meant what you said. But
I've seen enough of life to make allowances.
And do you suppose I'd tell single soul about
it-even Phil? Why, wouldn't do that-any
more than Mother told Dad. But, perhaps
you'll want to yourself. Take the old land
but won't you please be nice to Phil? Don't
you owe 1t to me-in a way?"
"So--in spite Of the fact that he's my SON
you're going to marry him?'
mot going TO-" she said. "T did-yesterday"