Larry sat long out in the night after his grandmother had left him.
What should he do with this amazing information placed at his
disposal? Tell Joe Ellison? Or tell Maggie? Or tell both? Or himself
try to meet Jimmie Carlisle and pay that traitor to Joe Ellison and
that malformer of Maggie the coin he had earned?
But for hours the situation itself was still too bewildering in its
many phases for Larry to give concentrated thought to what should be
its attempted solution. Not until dawn was beginning to awaken dully,
as with a protracted yawn, out of the shadowy Sound, was he able
really to hold his mind with clearness upon the problem of what use he
should make of these facts of which he had been appointed guardian. He
decided against telling Joe Ellison--at least he would not tell him
yet. He recalled the rumors of Joe Ellison's repressed volcano of a
temper; if Joe Ellison should learn how he had been defrauded, all the
man's vital forces would be instantly transformed into destructive,
vengeful rage that would spare no one and count no cost. The result
would doubtless be tragedy, with no one greatly served, and with Joe
very likely back in prison. If he himself should go out to give Old
Jimmie his deserts, his action would be just good powder wasted--it
likewise would serve no constructive purpose.
Pages:
297
298
299
300
301
302
303
304
305
306
307
308
309
310
311
312
313
314
315
316
317
318
319
320
321