The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-06-12
CHAPTER III

Hunter Dent dazedly counted the sum Of money again, and replaced the large denominations in the leather bag. A goldleaf monogram, almost obliterated by use, was of the First National Bank, Middleton. The Ballard Laboratories had their ac- count in this bank. It was possible the money was MT. Ballard's. Hun- ter went and looked down at the boy. He was breathing with 8 garg- ling noise and seemed dead drunk. Pain tugged at Hunter. It was no new thing. He had looked after Junior before when he was drunk; he had tided him through R couple of tight spots from gam- ing; he had tried to get the boy bo behave. Hunter had an af- lection for Junior. They had been pretty close these years, that is until lately. Something seemed to be coming between them, and Hunter was seddened.
 Poor brat. Well, this is the fruits of too much paternal indul- Rence. I'd better get him to his room and to bed"
 First, however, he must safe- guard the money. eHe put 1t in the new steel safe, the combina- ton to which only Hunter knew, as the safe was recently installed and MT. Bullard had not got around to checking on the install lation. Hunter then hoisted the limp young man across his pow erful shoulders and carried him into the night. The party seemed to have broken. Hunter knew his way about. He toted Junior to his room and without taking of his clothes put him on the bed and came away.
 He made round of the house. odd about the party's breaking up. Usually these things lasted all night. The house was as de- serted as a tomb. He searched for Juniors car, powerful, costly roadster, but. it was not in the garage nor parked under the trees in the drive.
 Funny" Hunter commented in his mind.
 He ascended the outside stairs to the office, which was housed in the largo upstairs over the modern garage. Before going in he took look down toward the large barns. He could see the huge sign on the roof of the larger barn.
 BALLARD BITTERS, FOR EX- CESS ACID STOMACH, OVER INDULGENCE, LIQUID, POW DER, TABLET FORM.
 The thought that struck Hunter made his pulse bound. Junior Ballard in all likelihood was so intoxicated that he would remem- Der nothing of his coming to the officc, of Hunters carrying him to his bed, perhaps not even how or where he had got the money!
 "All would need to do," Hunt CT thought, would be to keep the money in the safe. Junior will almost certainly get into trouble over 1t. Just before he has to go to jail, or the hot seat, can have my inning with his daddy, Bal lard will do anything for the boy. I've got him with his tail in the fence-crack, and all I need to do is to let the fence drop smack dab down on him!"
 Maybe it was a little shabby But when you have just yielded ip the fruits of some years of your own life because of an un- lerhold, and you manage in turn to grab yourself an underhold even stronger, is that moment in which to weaken? Hunter stiffened his spine and went in, going to bed so as to catch some more sleep before he rose early tn the morning.
 He did not sleep very well. He walked before sunrise, according tc his habit. He went down to the barns. There he set the colored boys to feeding the horses, and getting the milking done. Sunrise was gath
 k x
 NA0tHc~RssxNiM