Well,
then, check your grouch with your hat. Do the square thing. Have out
the auto and come right round to the studio and make it up. What's
wrong with that, colonel? Honest, they'd be tickled clean through."
At this point Keggs entered, followed by a footman carrying wooden
bricks.
"Keggs," said Mr. Bannister, "telephone for the automobile at once--"
"That's the talk, colonel," cried Steve joyfully. "I know you were a
sport."
"----to take me down to Wall Street."
Keggs bowed.
"Oh Keggs," said Mr. Bannister, as he turned to leave.
"Sir?"
"Another thing. See that Dingle does not enter the house again."
And Mr. Bannister resumed his writing, while Steve, gathering up the
wheelbarrow, the box of bricks, and the dying pig, took William by the
hand and retreated.
* * * * *
That terminated Ruth's attempts to conciliate her father.
There remained Bailey. From Bailey she was prepared to stand no
nonsense. Meeting him on the street, she fairly kidnapped him, driving
him into a taxicab and pushing him into the studio, where he was
confronted by his nephew.
Bailey came poorly through the ordeal. William Bannister, a stern
critic, weighed him up in one long stare, found him wanting, and
announced his decision with all the strength of powerful lungs. In the
end he had to be removed, hiccupping, and Bailey, after lingering a few
uneasy moments making conversation to Kirk, departed, with such a look
about the back of him as he sprang into his cab that Ruth felt that the
visit was one which would not be repeated.
Pages:
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142