Tim then told me for the first time that he had, from
some source, funds equivalent to twenty-five dollars a month for my
board, and that he would allow me fifteen of that, keeping ten dollars a
month for his services as agent. You follow all this perfectly? So
matters went along for ten years, Tim bringing me the fifteen dollars
every month and coming frequently to see me in between, often bringing
along his brother Murphy, who is a yeggman. Last fall came this letter,
purporting to be from my father. Absurd as it appeared to me, I decided
to come. Tim said that, in that case, he would be compelled to cut off
the allowance entirely. Nevertheless, I came."
Sharlee had listened to this autobiographical sketch with close and
sympathetic attention. "And now that you are here--and settled--haven't
you decided to do something--?"
He leaned back in his swivel chair and stared at her. "Do something!
Haven't I done all that he asked? Haven't I given up fifteen dollars a
month for him? Decidedly, the next move is his."
"But if you meant to take no steps when you got here, why did you come?"
"To give him his chance, of course.
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