But he must been sort of brooding over this whole business--I mean before Walter's trouble he must been taking it to heart pretty hard for some time back.

He thought I didn't think much of him any more--and I expect he maybe wondered some what I was going to DO--and there's nothing worse'n that state of mind to make a man suspicious of all kinds of meanness.

Well, he practically stood up there and accused me to my face of fixing things so't he couldn't ever raise the money to settle for Walter and ask us not to prosecute.

That's the state of mind your father's brooding got him into, young lady--charging me with a trick like that!" "I'm sorry," she said.

"I know you'd never----" The old man slapped his sturdy knee, angrily.