The old man took a step toward his son and checked himself abruptly.
“I took it,” he spoke in a low voice, “from the bank.”
Tommy's heart stopped beating. He had known there could be no other explanation, and yet this was really the first as it was the final confirmation. That his father was not in his right mind Tommy knew now. Long years of brooding—and the habit of taking! Unfortunate success in averting discovery had made him feel safe. Tommy craved to ask Thompson for advice. If Thompson were only here he would know what questions to ask and what remedies to suggest. If Thompson were only in New York!
But he wasn't and Tommy was, and Tommy must fight alone. He must fight the president of the bank—but not his own father!
“Then we'll have to put the money back in the bank, dad—don't you see?”
“Put it back?” repeated Mr. Leigh.
“Certainly. There is nothing else for us to do. And the question now is how must we go about it so that—so that we can put it back?” Tommy carefully included himself in the operation, because he wished his father to know that he considered himself just as guilty. They stood together in this.
“Why must we put it back?” persisted Mr. Leigh.
Tommy checked his impatience and answered, “Because you took it from the bank—”
The look of grim resolution that Tommy had often seen came into his father's face. The fight must be against senile stubbornness!