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57
Continued from page 44
in the store and that night at
home, inwardly twist and
turn as I did to get away from
Jim’s insinuation, it followed
me.
On the following day, an
hour before closing time, I
stood in the back of the store
looking through the knothole.
I did not have long to wait.
Presently I saw Uncle trans
fer money from the register
into his pocket. He did this in
one swift, practiced gesture
and with a completely dead
pan expression. At that mo
ment none of the clerks were
standing near him. Jim was
in one of the windows, prepar
ing a display. Babs and Mary
were behind the counter,
waiting on trade.
Stunned, I stepped away
from the partition.
Moments later I was still
trying to decide whether to
talk to him or not. After all
he had done for us, how could
I accuse him? And yet I had
to know, one way or the other.
It seemed to me that my fat
her would have wanted me to
confront him, would have said
be a man. Perhaps, with a
few words, he could satisfact
orily explain the whole thing.
Perhaps the money I had seen
him pocket was actually his.
Earlier in the day the register
could have been short—
change or bills and he might
have temporarily supplied his
own money. I wanted to cling
to that possibility.
When several minutes later
he came into the stockroom,
I went up to him and said,
“Are you sure Jim’s the one
who’s taking the money.”
He didn’t say anything, just
looked at me, white-faced.
“What are you talking
about?” he said tightly.
“Was the register short of
change today?” I asked, halt
ingly. Then, without waiting
for his reply, I asked if he had
used his own money, if that
was why I had seen him put
some in his pocket before.
He continued to stare at me
with an incredulous look, and
then, very slowly, said, “Is
that what you thin k?” He
started to say something else
and stopped. One of his hands
went into the pocket where I
had seen him put the money.
Then he started walking a-
way toward the stockroom.
I followed him.
Standing beside the clothes
rack, he had already removed
his white jacket and put on an
overcoat. H e turned to give
me a quizzical look, as though
surprised that I had followed
him.
“Where are you going?”
He didn’t reply.
I repeated the question.
He looked at me coldly and
said, “Stop mixing in my busi
ness.”
Then he left the stockroom
and went out of the store.
For the next few days he
stayed clear of me, and I
couldn’t bring myself to apol
ogize to him. A week after
this incident he went back to
Cleveland.
Shortly after Uncle left us,
Mother sold the store. She
never understood why all at
once he had decided to leave,
and her feelings were tremen
dously hurt. Ashamed, troub
led, I could never bring my
self to tell her of what had
passed between Uncle and
myself.
He lived for another eight
years. One of my aunts brief
ly visited him in Cleveland
and found him in good health.
^Apparently he inquired after
Mother and me and instructed
my aunt to convey to us his
warmest regards.
That was many years ago.
If I had it to do all over again,
I would not have said any
thing to Uncle. To this day I
am not certain that he was the
thief. But even if he were,
how much does it matter? So
small a price we paid for what
he gave us, so small. For a
long time after he left us, I
would dream of him. Within
the graveyard atmosphere of
the store he would appear,
wearing white spats, a silk
scarf and slinging a cane.
“C’mon haver,” he would say
warmly, “let’s step out on the
town.” And I would follow
him, gladly.
Hay8 Heating and Plumbing Co,
Mechanical Contractors
743-5448
352 FIRST STREET
Macon, Georgia
Maxwell Brothers
Furniture Co,, Inc.
PHONE: SH. 2-6411
471-473 SECOND STREET
Macon, Ga.
Home Ph. 42»-424C
Calhoun, C*. '
JOE D. GRIFFITH
Raprasentatlvo
Brock Machine, Inc.
General Rug Mills
Specializing in Knotted Fringe
*50 S. Hamilton St. Dalton, Georgia
FIRST FEDERAL SA VINGS
and Loan Association
of Griffin
Insured Savings — Improved Real Estate Loans
US South Sixth Street T. O. Box US
Telephones 2205 and 220*
GRIFFIN, GEORGIA
Birdsong-McKenney Insurance Aaency
10* North Hightower Street
Telephone 647-7216
THOMASTON, GA.
WARNER ROBBINS, GA.
H. P. FUMING - PRESIDENT
CITIZENS [35^1111
Warner Robbins Oldesl and Largest Bank
The Southern Israelite