"It amounts to nine hundred and sixty dollars," he said, looking at
her, a disgusted expression on his face. "Looks like the old fool was
mighty careless with his money. Couldn't he have put down another item
to cover that forty dollars?"
"I believe that margin was left purposely to take care of a possible
advance in prices over those with which your father was familiar at the
time he made out the list," she answered, smiling in appreciation of
his perturbation.
"That's keepin' cases pretty close, ain't it?" he said. "Suppose I'd
blow the whole business?"
"That would show that you could not be trusted. Your father left
instructions which provide for that contingency."
"What are they?"
"I am not to tell."
"Clever, ain't it?" he said, looking at her with displeased, hostile
eyes. She met his gaze with a calm half-smile which had in it that
irritating quality of advantage that he had noticed before.
"I am glad you think it clever," she returned.
"It was your idea, I reckon?"
"I believe I did suggest it to your father. He was somewhat at a loss
to know how to deal with you. He told me that he had some doubts about
the scheme working; he said you would take it and 'blow' it in, as you
said you might, but I disagreed with him. I was convinced that you
would do the right thing.
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