human
I thought you'd come back, Sis. In fact, I meant to tell you that I wanted you to take dinner with me, but you blew in and out so suddenly that I didn't have time to collect my thoughts. What are you up to, anyway?
gpt
Oh, nothing much.
human
How did you learn of this Phillips affair? I take it that that was what all your hurry was about.
gpt
I didn't know that you were on the inside of this, and I don't know yet how much you really know.
human
I know a lot.
gpt
How did you find out?
human
Everybody has told me a little, and I have been piecing it together for several days. But can't we sit down, or go out to lunch? I'm really very tired, now that it's over, and awfully hungry.
gpt
How did you know that I had the name and address of the firm which has been paying Father the interest on the Phillips loan?
human
Why, you told me.
gpt
In my sleep?
human
Indeed, no. You were quite awake.
gpt
Sis, have you been eavesdropping?
human
Harold Fox! The very idea! she said indignantly.
gpt
I don't like you one bit for saying that. No, sir, I have not.
human
I honestly didn't think it of you, but I couldn't imagine any other way you could get the notion in your head.
gpt
You never told me a word till to-day.
human
You didn't know that I had that name in my possession till you blew in here and asked for it?
gpt
Not really and truly, I didn't. But I took a chance. And you are such a poor actor that I was certain you'd tell me. Of course, I knew that you went over to Australia to find out about the man.
human
The treats are certainly on me.
gpt
Make it a good big lunch, please,
human
Wait, Bets. What did you do over there at the George Henry Trust Company?
gpt
Must I tell, just now?
human
Of course not, but I'd like to know if you care to tell. It may save me from something very unpleasant.
gpt
You mean you will force me to tell?
human
Mercy me! No. I am better acquainted with you than to try a thing like that.
gpt
Will you keep a secret, without giving away one little word of it?
human
A client's counsel seldom repeats a confidential business transaction.
gpt
I paid the two years of interest just a few minutes before that horrid old mortgage was due, so Uncle Josiah would not have to lose his place.
human
Gosh! was the inelegant reply.
gpt
You're a brick!
human
Won't that save him?
gpt
Sure. But how did you know that Uncle Josiah was a party to this mix-up?
human
Father told me that.
gpt
You should have been the lawyer of this family. I never saw any one like you for finding things out. Still apparently worried, he added:
human
But your check will give you away. What if that happens to fall into Dad's hands?
gpt
I didn't use my check. I went to our bank first, and drew out all my money. I didn't have enough left to put back, so I--well, I didn't put it back.
human
What under heaven did you do with it?
gpt
I went down to an East River fish wharf, and----
human
Took a corner on fish?
gpt
Harold, don't think me foolish. Uncle Josiah had sold his boat, thinking to pay Father off and save his place. I----
human
You bought back the old fellow's boat!
gpt
You're the best little sport in seventeen States.
human
Well, that doesn't keep me from starving.
gpt
You didn't come for anything else?
human
No, except that I did want to talk with you. We can do that while we eat.
gpt
I'd rather you would ask me any questions before we go out. State secrets have been known to leak out from restaurant tables.
human
Tell me where this Adoniah Phillips lives.
gpt
Whew! You don't pick the easy ones, do you? You certainly go right after what you want, Bets. But why do you ask?
human
Because I want to know.
gpt
You'll have to think up a better reason than that.
human
If he is one of your clients, why don't you make him pay that interest?
gpt
Lawyers may advise, but they can't drive unless they hold the reins of litigation.
human
You are just as exasperating as all lawyers, she said with a show of impatience.
gpt
Do you know that your client has fallen heir to a very large fortune? And do you know that he could pay the principal as well as the interest?
human
Good Lord, Sis! You're a wonder! How on earth did you ferret all this mess out?
gpt
That doesn't matter. The thing that matters is what Father and that Phillips person are trying to do to Uncle Josiah. We must stop them. If you know the truth about the transaction between Father and Mr. Phillips you have no right to allow this thing to go on.
human
Trying to trap me again, Bets?
gpt
Of course I'm not. I'm just trying to get you to look at things from Uncle Josiah's position.
human
How many of the facts do you know about this case?
gpt
I know enough to form pretty good conclusions of the injustice of the whole thing.
human
Do you think you know everything?
gpt
No-o, not when you look at me like that,
human
Has any one beside Father talked with you?
gpt
You must not ask me that.
human
Have you talked with Mr. McGowan?
gpt
I can't tell you,
human
I don't know just how far Mr. McGowan's information may have led him into this matter, but I have feared all along that he is not half so ignorant as he appears. Come in here, Bets, he requested, pushing open a door to an inner office.
gpt
I have some things I want to show you.
human
Mercy, Bud! How mysterious you can be!
gpt
An ounce of precaution is worth a pound of lawsuits, and I don't want the slightest possibility of a leak,
human
My sakes! I had no idea you could be so serious. Is this the way you act with all your clients? I'd think you'd frighten them all away. You almost do me. It reminds me of the way you would lock me up in the hall closet to scare me when we were children.
gpt
For once in my life I am serious, Sis. We are no longer children, and this is far from play. I wish to God it were nothing more than that!
human
Why, Harold!
gpt
Bets, you've got a close tongue and loads of good sense. I've carried this thing just about as long as I can without breaking under it. I've got to let off steam. You know I've tried to be on the square since my little fling, and even then I was straight, but Dad has never believed it. I'm tempted now to go wrong, and----
human
Why on earth are you talking like this? Has some one been accusing you of doing wrong? Oh, Harold! You didn't fall into trouble after all over in Australia, did you?
gpt
No, nor in love either,
human
I see that doesn't apply to all our family.
gpt
I don't think you're nice to say that. And I don't care----
human
Why, Bets, are you really in love with him?
gpt
You have no right to jest about such things.
human
I'm not jesting, honestly. I've never been so far from it in my whole life. I don't blame you for liking that minister.
gpt
Then, you were not making fun?
human
No! I've had all the fun-making knocked out of me.
gpt
Harold, she said, coming nearer,
human
I've made him hate me.
gpt
Hate you? There isn't a man living who could do that. No one was ever blessed with a more wonderful sister than I've been.