"If what?" Ma queried. Gus halted; it was Allie who answered: "If he's done what we think he's done--gone away after some woman." "Some _woman_?" Ma stared blankly from one face to another. "Buddy in love? Why, he never wrote me nothing about bein' in love." Reading a further message in her husband's expression, she cried, fiercely: "He's a good boy. He wouldn't take up with--with nobody that wasn't nice. What makes you think it's a girl?" "I didn't say 'girl,' Ma, I said '_woman_.' Buddy's been writin' to me and--" "What's the difference? Mebbe he's in love with some nice young woman an' they've run away to git married. Buddy's han'some, and they got nice women everywhere--" "_Love_? With all his money? And him only up to fractions?" Allegheny laughed scornfully. Gus Briskow wiped his face with a nervous hand. "I'm 'most sick over it," he confessed. "The perfessor has written me a coupla times about him. Buddy's gone kinda wild, I guess, drinkin' an'--" "Drinking?" Gray interrupted, sharply. "Why didn't you tell me? So, you gave him unlimited money, in spite of my warning?" "He wanted his own bank account; his share of the royalties. Made him feel more like a man, he said. I--I never learned how to say 'no' to him or Allie. Ma an' I allus said 'no' to each other, but it was allus 'yes' to them. We never had much to give 'em, noway." "Drinking, eh?" Gray was frowning. "The woman part I don't care so much about--he'll probably get over that if it isn't too serious. But whisky! That's different. I'm responsible for that boy; in a manner of speaking, I adopted him because--well, because he flattered me by pretending to admire me. It was a unique experience. I took Buddy for my own. Will you let me handle this matter?" The speaker looked from one parent to the other, and they saw that his face was grimly set. "Give me my way and I'll bring that young rascal to time or--" He shrugged, he smiled faintly. "Give me permission to treat him as if he really were my own, will you?" "You got my leave," said the father; but Ma Briskow bristled. "Don't you dast to hurt him," she cried. Again Gray shrugged, this time with resignation. "As you will. I was wild, myself; I think I know what he needs." "You can't beat anything into Buddy's head." It was Allie speaking. "After all, he's grown up, and what right has anybody got to interfere with him? S'pose it _is_ a woman? S'pose she _is_ after his money? It's his. Men can get what they want by payin' for it. An hour, a day, a week of happiness! Ain't that worth all Buddy 'll have to pay? I'd pay. I'd go through torture the rest of my life--" "_Allegheny Briskow!_" the mother exclaimed.