The Washington times., 1936-02-22

lew SIUSC11CS d4O O 44bGAC VOOoSSS'
Getting old. getting a little lonely
and frightened.
Small wonder that he jumped
at the offer the lawyer from the
city madC him.
Dolph was dead. Died without
leaving his half brother a cent.
Dolph's widow and Dolph's daugh.
ter were strangers. What did he
care for them? If one wanted to
pay him to cheat the other what
did he care, hadn't he been cheat
ed, too?
IF I was a man of honor he
told McGlinn, with a chuckle, Il
wouldn't be here. Now would II"
Certainly" Nettie cried. Its
your duty!"
Absolutely" McGlinn cut in.
1T IS your duty, and don't be-
lieve need remind you, Cooper,
that you can be subpoenaed.
You're a witness in this case, and
as such you'll have to testify"
But Nettie wouldn't be silenced.
IT can't forgive you for going to
Christine. OF course, you don't
know all I did for her, but she
does. To think that she could
bribe you to"
Old Ebert Cooper's amused
smirk was wiped off his face.
Nov you listen to me, Nettie.
Listen good! If you'd treated me
right, shown me the sights, and
helped me find a couple O. cronies
to pass the time, I wouldn't never
have seen Dolph'S girl.
"Or if you had more movie
houses in this town. Same dunn
pitcher shown a week-what's a
man gonna do with his time?
Well, went to see the girl. I
didn't know as I'd even go in. but
there she was out front working
in her yard. Spoke to me civil,
too"
"She would" Isabelle said un-
der her breath, but he heard.
"More'n you ever did. None of
your Aunt Mimi in YOU, young
lady-or you either. miss. Young
Christiell never be the woman her
ma was, but she's got that kinda
warm way about her that makes
you feel good. She"
"Her ma" Isabelle said. did
you hear that, Mr.. McGlinn?"
"Never mind" Nettie whispered.
LET him talk. Let's hear what he
has to say!"
But Mr.. McGlinn didn't want to
hear. He came bustling forward
with a fresh cigar.
Nov know that this meeting
with the young lady was merely
casual. and there's NOTHING we
need to go into here. want to
have a little private talk with you.
Cooper, and L"
Let go my arm. Can't you
leave man talk? I'm talkin' to
Nettie an if you don't like it you
can leave. Now where was I? Talk
so much man gets all bawled up
- Well, t'anyrate. see Christie,
and her and get to be pursy good
friends. I don't tell her who I
am, mind you. I tell her the
names Elbert-Sam Ebert, and
I was friend Of her dads. When
she goes to ask me questions about
him and this case Of yours shut
up like a clam. I don't know
nothin'-'
GAS I was sayin' I never told
Christie who I was, or what I was
here for. I never told her or the
Doc nothin'. But they treat me
white. I can sit down to the table
with them any time. I can take
care of the little shaver, and feel
t'home. It don't take me long t.
see how the wind blowin'. They got
a nice little place but it's mort
gagged. Moneys scarce. I don't
know why Dolph, the burned old
fool, didn't leave a will-TF he
didn't"
II did everything in reason for
her, because knew my sister and
my husband would have wished
it. But there were circumstances
you know nothing about, and
which I need not explain to you,
Ebert. It's not for you to Judge!
My conscience is clear!"
conscience. Nettie, you amt
got a conscience. I amt got much
Of a one, either, but I'll see my.
self and all of you in blankety
blank blank before I go on with
this. You paid me to keep my
mouth shut and I'm man enough
of my word for that, but not one
word will I say for you. So with
your kind permission, ladies and
gents"
Certainly. Ebert" Nettie
"Well. that's one on me-" he
mumbled sheepishly. "I sure
thought it was a bribe. Well, I
said right along I wasn't a man
Of honor. Thanks for what you
give me. Nettie. I'll be gettin'
along"
But you can't go!" Nettie was
losing all patience. Her voice
was high and petulant.> "Or if
you do you'll have to come back
and tell the truth. You'll be sub.
poenaed!"
"You want me to tell the
truth?" he asked incredulously.
"Of course!" McGlinn snapped.
"Of course!" Nettie echoed.
He ought to gloat over them,
but he was suddenly too tired. |
Too tired, and lonely.
He began to mop his face with