Shirley buried her face in her hands.
CHAPTER XXIV.—AN ACCIDENT AND A CONFESSION.
Jimmy opened his mouth to speak, then bowed his head and turned away.
“Don’t be too hard on the boy, Willing,” said Mr. Ashton, taking a step forward.
“Hard on him!” repeated Mr. Willing. “How can I be too hard on him? The little scoundrel has sold me out.”
“Perhaps he is not to blame,” said Leonard.
Mr. Willing turned upon him.
“There have been too many of you trying to run my affairs,” he said angrily. “In the future, I shall attend to them myself.”
He turned and strode rapidly toward the house where he immediately telephoned for a veterinary to come out and look at Gabriel. Then he went to his own room, where he sat down, pulled out a cigar, and smoked in silence.
“I wish I hadn’t spoken,” moaned Shirley, as her father walked away. “Poor Jimmy! Perhaps he is not to blame, after all.”