“Go on. I don’t know that his not drinking makes him any better. What happened? Go on.”
“Hooker seemed to be talking to the other man seriously. I had a good chance to see him. He was a man about fifty years old, and I have an idea.”
“About him?”
“Yes.”
“You think——”
“It is possible that this unfortunate wretch is Hooker’s father.”
“I thought of that myself,” nodded Bart. “I wondered if it wouldn’t occur to you. A fine father he has! He must be proud of him! A criminal and a drunkard!”
“Without doubt, Hooker is not proud of his father,” said Frank. “I believe he is anything but proud of him. Have you ever heard how he happened to get to college?”
“There’s a story that some old aunt of his who has money is putting him through, and that he is helping work his way. Work his way! You can understand what that means. He is working his way with those light fingers of his.”
To Bart’s surprise, Merry did not protest his disbelief of this now. He was silent and sad.