Page:The Whisper on the Stair by Lyon Mearson (1924).djvu/111

 “Ah, my boy, you have struck on the keynote of our American life. The reason America has forged ahead so fast is because Americans are willing to learn. We have no deep rooted prejudices to eradicate—if anything worthwhile comes along, like burgling, or pinochle, we are ‘willing to learn, he went on growing expansive. “It is what has made us what we are to-day⸺”

“What are we to-day, sir?” asked Eddie mildly. Val turned and looked at him in astonishment.

“Why, we are—er—we are—damn it! Eddie, don’t you read your history and your newspapers. Why, we are—Eddie, I sincerely trust you are not being insolent enough to poke fun at me or at our institutions.”

“No, sir,” replied Eddie. “About this—er—burgling job, then, we can consider that I am going along, sir, I take it?” He noted the look of indecision in Val’s face, the while he missed a truck by an inch. Val saw no particular reason for exposing Eddie Hughes to whatever dangers there were attending this job. “Of course,” went on Eddie, “if you refuse, and thus make it necessary for me to notify the police of your—er—midnight exercise, why, it will be⸺”

“Pinked!” ejaculated Val. “I’ll come down. Eddie, you’re one of us to-night. But if you get killed, don’t blame me.”

“I won’t, sir,” said Eddie.

“Ah—very good, Eddie! Now that you’re a member of the party. I’ll tell you what I propose to do.”

He told and Eddie listened without comment.

“How does it look to you?” he inquired at the conclusion of the recital of his proposed deeds.

“All right, sir,” returned his man. “Except that it