In twenty minutes Lightener's huge form pushed through the station door. "Morning, Lieutenant. Got a friend of mine here?"
"Didn't know he was a friend of yours, Mr. Lightener. He wouldn't give his name, and never asked to have you notified till this morning…. He's in my office there."
Lightener strode into the room and shut the door.
"Well?" he demanded.
Breathlessly, almost without pause, Bonbright poured upon him an account of last night's happenings, making no concealments, unconsciously giving Lightener glimpses into his heart that made the big man bend his brows ominously. The boy did not explain; did not mention accusingly his father, but Lightener understood perfectly what the process of molding Bonbright was being subjected to. He made no comment.
"I don't want father to know this," Bonbright said. "If it can be kept out of the papers…. Father wouldn't understand. He'd feel I had disgraced the family."
"Doggone the family," snapped Lightener. "Come on."
Bonbright followed him out.
"May I take him along, Lieutenant? I'll fix it with the judge if necessary…. And say, happen to recognize him?"
"Never saw him before."