It was terrifying; he grew cold with pure fright.

But that was like some women--once show them a little attention, they expected everything! Gideon Whipple mercifully broke in while Harvey D.floundered upon an inconclusive period.

Gideon was not nervous, and saw little need for strategy with this rather vagabondish fellow.
"In short, Mr.Cowan, my son offers to adopt that boy of yours--make him his own son in name--and opportunities and advantages--his own son." So it was only that! Dave drew a long, pleasant breath and wiped his brow.

Then he took a pencil from the table and began to draw squares and triangles and diamond patterns upon a pad of soft paper that lay at hand.
"Well--I don't know." His eyes followed the pencil point.

Nor did he know until it presently developed that the desired adoption was of the Merle twin.