Eldridge, she drew
herself to her full height and swept magnificently out the door. An
awkward silence followed her departure.
Robert Morton hesitated, glancing uneasily from Willie to Janoah,
scented a storm and, slipping softly from the shop, went in pursuit of
the retreating figure.
"For goodness sake, Janoah, whatever set you makin' a speech like
that?" Willie demanded, when the two were alone. "Have you gone plumb
crazy? The very notion of your lightin' into that innocent young
feller! What are you thinkin' of?"
"Mebbe he ain't so innocent as he seems," the accuser sneered.
The little old man faced him sharply.
"Come," he persisted, "let's have this thing out. What do you know
about him?"
"What do you?" retorted Janoah, evading the question.
The inventor paused, chagrined.
"You don't know nothin' an' I don't know nothin'," continued Janoah,
seizing the advantage he had gained. "Each of us is welcome to his
opinion, ain't he? It's a free country. You're all fur believin' the
chap's an angel out of heaven.
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