"
James was hardly out of the office before Captain Chunn blew in
like a small tornado. He was boiling with rage.
"What's this infernal lie about you being the son of a convict,
David?" he demanded, waving a copy of the Herald.
"Sit down, Captain. I'll tell you the story because you're
entitled to it. But I shall have to speak in confidence."
"Confidence! Dad burn it, what are you talking about? Are you
trying to tell me that Phil Farnum was a thief and a convict?"
Jeff's steel-blue eyes looked straight into his. "Nothing so
impossible as that, Captain. I'm going to tell you the story of
his brother."
Jeff told it, but he and the owner of the _World_ disagreed
radically about the best way to answer the attack.
"Why must you always stand between that kid glove cousin of yours
and trouble? Let him stand the gaff himself. It will do him good,"
Chunn stormed.
But Jeff had his way. The _World_ made no denial of the facts
charged. In a statement on the front page that covered less than
three sticks he told the simple story of the defalcation of Robert
Farnum. One thing only he added to the account given in the
opposition papers. This was that during the past two years the
shortage of the bank cashier had been paid in full to the
Planters' First National at Shelby.
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