U.S.A_ - John Dos Passos [471]
."
Mr. Wheatley was talking again. "Mr. Anderson, Mother, was one of our most prominent war aces, he won his spurs fightin' for the flag, Mother, an' his whole career seems to me to be an example . . . now I'm goin' to make you blush, ma boy. . . . of how American democracy
works at its very best pushin' forward to success the most intel igent and bestfitted and weedin' out the weaklin's.
. . . Mr. Anderson, there's one thing I'm goin' to ask you to do right now. I'm goin' to ask you to come to church with us next Sunday an' address ma Sundayschool class. I'm sure you won't mind sayin' a few words of in-spiration and guidance to the youngsters there."
-300-Charley blushed and nodded. "Aw, Daddy," sang Gladys, putting her arms around both their necks, "don't make him do that. Sunday's the only day the poor boy gets any golf. . . . You know I always said I never would marry a Sundayschool teacher." Mr. Wheatley laughed and Mrs. Wheatley cast down
her eyes and sighed. "Once won't hurt him, wil it, Char-ley?""Of course not," Charley found himself saying. "It would be an inspiration."
Next day Charley and Mr. Wheatley had lunch alone
at the University Club. "Wel , son, I guess the die is cast," said Mr. Wheatley when they met in the lobby. "The Wheatley women have made up their minds, there's nothin' for us to do but bow to the decision. I certainly wish you children every happiness, son. . . ." As they ate Mr. Wheatley talked about the bank and the Tern inter-ests and the merger with Askew-Merritt that would a little more than double the capitalization of the new Tern Aviation Company. "You're surprised that I know al about this, Charley . . . that's what I'd been thinkin', that boy's a mechanical genius but he don't keep track of the financial end . . . he don't realize what his holdin's in that concern mean to him and the financial world."
"Wel , I know some pretty good guys who give me the lowdown," said Charley.
"Fair enough, fair enough," said Mr. Wheatley, "but now that it's in the family maybe some of ma advice, the result of twenty years of bankin' experience at home in Birmingham and here in this great new dazzlin' city of Detroit . . ."
"Wel , I sure wil be glad to take it, Mr. Wheatley," stammered Charley. Mr. Wheatley went on to talk about a lot on the water-front with riparian rights at Grosse Pointe he was plan-ning to turn over to the children for a weddingpresent and how they ought to build on it right away if only as an
-301-investment in the most restricted residential area in the entire United States of America. "And, son, if you come around to ma office after lunch you'l see the plans for the prettiest little old English house to set on that lot you ever did see. I've been havin'
'em drawn up as a surprise for Mother and Gladys, by Ordway and Ordway. . . . Halftimbered Tudor they cal it. I thought I'd turn the whole thing over to you children, as it'l be too big for Mother and me now that Gladys is gettin' married. I'l chip in the lot and you chip in the house and we'l settle the whole thing on Gladys for any children." They finished their lunch. As they got up Mr. Wheat-ley took Charley's hand and shook it.
"And I sincerely hope and pray that there'l be children, son." Just after Thanksgiving the society pages of al the De-troit papers were ful of a dinnerdance given by Mr. and Mrs. Horton B. Wheatley to announce the approaching marriage of their daughter Gladys to Mr. Charles Ander-son inventor war ace and head of the research department at the great Tern Airplane Plant.
Old Bledsoe never spoke to Charley after the day the engagement was announced but Anne came over to Char-ley and Gladys the night of the Hal oween dance at the Country Club and said she thoroughly understood and wished them every happiness. A few days before the wedding Taki gave notice. "But I thought you would stay on. . . . I'm sure my wife would like it too. Maybe