But this was too swift for a Vandemark.  In spite of his urging, I insisted that I should have to think it over.  He grew almost angry at me at last, I thought; but he went away finally, after I had taken the hint he gave and bought him another drink.  The next morning he was back again, urging me to proceed immediately, “so that the property might not be further sequestrated and wasted.”  He did not know how slow I was to think and act; and suspected that I was going to some other lawyer, I now believe; for I noticed him shadowing me, as the detectives say, every time I walked out.  On the third day, while I was still studying the matter, and making no progress, Rucker himself came into the tavern, with his neck bandaged and his head on one side, and in his best clothes; and sitting on the edge of his chair between me and the door, as if ready to take wing at any hostile movement on my part, he broached the subject of my share in my mother’s estate.

“I want to deal with you,” said he in that dangerous whine of his, “as with my own son, Jacob, my own son.”

There was nothing to say to this, and I said nothing.  I only looked at him.  He was studying me closely, but had never taken pains to learn my peculiarities when I lived with him, and had to study a total stranger, and a person who was too old to be treated as a child, but who at the same time must be very green in money matters.  I was a puzzle to him, and my lack of words made me still more of a problem.

“You know, of course,” he finally volunteered, “that the estate when it was finally wound up had mostly been eaten up by court expenses and lawyers’ fees—­the robbers!”

I could see he was in earnest in this last remark:  but of course lawyers’ fees and court expenses were all a mystery to me.  I did not even know that lawyers and courts had anything to do with estates.  I did not know what an estate was—­so I continued to keep still.

“There was hardly anything left,” said he.

I was astonished at this; and I did not believe it.  After thinking it over for a few minutes, earnestly, and without any thought of saying anything to catch him up, I said:  “You traveled in good style coming west on the canal.  You took a steamer up the Lakes.  You have been dressing fine ever since the money came in; and you’re keeping a woman.”

He made no reply, except to say that I did not understand, but would when he showed me where every cent of the estate money had gone which he had spent, and just how much was left.  As for his daughter—­he supposed I knew—­but he never finished this speech.  I rose to my feet; and he left hurriedly, saying that he would show me a statement in the morning.  “I expect to pay your board here,” said he, “for a few days, you know—­until you decide to move on—­or move back.”