"You heard from him?"
"Got a wire the day he got my letter."
"You've told Bum?"
"I told him right away. I had to do it. The old boy was sober by then,
and crazy for a shot of booze. That was Monday. He wanted to go out and
get pied; but when I told him about his boy, he begun to cry. And he
ain't touched a drop since then."
"You haven't let him?"
"Sure I'd let him. But he wouldn't. I always told you the class was
there. He says to me: 'I can't let my boy see me in this state, you
know. Have to straighten up a bit. I'll need new clothes.'"
"I noticed his new suit."
"Sure," Sheener agreed. "I bought it for him."
"Out of his savings?"
"He ain't been saving much lately."
"Sheener," I asked, "how much does he owe you? For money loaned and
spent for him."