"About Gertrude," insisted Captain Wully. "If you don't believe it, why don't you come serenadin' with us, you and Miss Heather?"
Jerry looked inquiringly at Heather.
"I'll hate myself if I do," she said.
"Then we won't go."
"But I'll hate myself worse if I don't."
He called that evening to take her to the serenade, and met her family. Mr. Higgins was very pleasant. Mrs. Higgins was very pleasant. But Jerry was uncomfortably aware of a large photograph on the mantle. The photograph was of a young man, and it was not pleasant. Its eyes followed Heather Higgins possessively. The photograph's tailored suit intimated its pockets were not lined with tax liens.
Mrs. Higgins noticed Jerry's interest. "That's Wesley Tatom."
"Of the First National Bank Tatoms," said Mrs. Higgins.
"His great grandfather was Ephraim Tatom," said Mrs. Higgins.
Ephraim Tatom, so Jerry gathered in the next half hour, had practically blazed the Oregon Trail single-handed.