"I'd like to say," she put in, "that the ten thousand my brother left me I want should go to make up arrears as far as it can."
"Dear Aunt Belinda," said Harriet, putting a hand on her aunt's knee as she sat next her. "Now, we don't any of us want to be quixotic," she went on in her moderate manner. "We want to be calm and sensible."
"Harriet," her younger sister turned to her, "we do want to be quixotic, if that is what the world calls returning money secured under false pretenses. So far as I am concerned, there is only one possibility for peace for me, and that is to keep our father's memory as clean before the world as it always has been. I can speak only for my share, of course, but my wish is this: that this house, the motors, and all these belongings, be sold—"
"You can keep your electric, Linda," interrupted King.
She brought her eyes back to him.
"You cannot tell me what I may keep," she answered, slowly and incisively, and the young man frowned wonderingly at her tone.
"I want everything sold," she went on. "I want my share of money, property, life insurance, everything, added together, and applied pro rata to the losses of every one who put a misplaced trust in Barry & Co."
"Linda—" began Bertram gently.
She rose suddenly and turned upon him, her nostrils dilating.
"Tell me this, Bertram King. Have you a dollar invested in the Antlers Irrigation Company?"