As Banks stood there, blinking in the sudden blaze
oflight, this figure swung about and faced him.
Banks, what is it yourekeepin hid from
me?
The hand holding the speakingtrumpet dropped to his
side. In this case, impossible as it seemed, the voicewas the voice of Mrs. The
Trent-Truman combination must be laughing in its sleeve. The only sane procedure
wasto save whatever might be saved.
Below in the yard was a figure, shouting, waving to
him.
Yes, sir, Bije and his crew are liable to befetched
up with their sails slattin.
Captain Abijahs square chin became squarer than
ever. She had many of them, he knew, and they were valuable. Tadgett answered the
last question with another groan, deeperthan before. There were French windows
there, he knew,opening from the library.
As Banks stood there, blinking in the sudden blaze
oflight, this figure swung about and faced him.
From this family reminiscence she turned to the
matter of the bankmerger.
He darted past her, slammed the safe door and
whirled the dial uponits face. A cloud of smokeswept through the hall, causing him
to cough and choke.
He said a good deal, for he was dreadfully
disappointed.
Somebody said shed fainted whenthey found her; I
dont know how true it is. His wife raised both hands in solemn protest.
All wellhave to do is keep her plate filled up and
bend a listenin ear, asthe hymn tune says. And there have been many times when I
felt as if I could not standit a minute longer. Well, how about what you was goin to
find out for me about themnotes?
Why dont you get hersome ammonia or
somethin?
A bell was ringing somewhere, ringingsteadily and
persistently.
Abial, my husband, couldnt understand
it.
On theMain Road were other figures, running in the
same direction.
He stared in amazement at the
lockeddoor.
And so I dont think I should meddle at
all.
She ran to the bureauand took from it a leather
jewel case, which she thrust into thesafe. In the end, Dobbs would fight with himas
he had with his predecessors.
She went on withher sepulchral
monologue.
Folksll take his word for it that you were no good
and couldnthold the job.
Altogether it was not a happy meal for Banks
Bradford.