However, it was Stephanie’s mother and her grandmother who arrived in their station wagon. Stephanie was at the front door and she turned to me in a panic.

“Don’t go with them!” she pleaded.

“But why? You called them,” I said.

“I called my father. I didn’t think the two of them would come.”

“Well, I’m glad they did. I would’ve felt guilty, imposing on your father’s workday.” Rose Weber was at the door. I picked up my purse and started out.

“Don’t say anything to them about what I told you,” Stephanie whispered.

“Oh, really, Stephanie,” I said and closed the door.

Mrs. Reddy and her daughter were most cordial and sympathetic on the journey to Ashland. Mrs. Reddy said that she was sure the charges against Duff had been exaggerated by the deputy who called and that very likely Duff would be let off with a reprimand. She said, and Rose Weber agreed, that Duff was only “letting off a little steam,” “sowing a few wild oats,” and that his conduct showed that he was a real boy and not the wishy-­washy sissy type they had first taken him to be.

“Do you have a lawyer?” Mrs. Reddy wanted to know.

“Is that necessary?”

“If Duff has to appear in court, you ought to have someone, just to be on the safe side. I know the best man in the county, Oliver Matson. He won’t charge you much either.”

At the Ashland County Jail, we found that Duff would indeed have to appear in Juvenile Court and that he would be notified shortly of the scheduled time.

“What happened?” I asked the deputy sheriff at the booking desk.

“Why don’t you wait and ask Duff?” said Mrs. Reddy at my elbow.

“I’d like to hear the official version.”

The deputy leafed through some papers and selected one. “Your son, driving a nineteen seventy-­four Oldsmobile station wagon, was clocked by radar at a speed of ninety-­three miles an hour on Route Ninety-­Six. He was pursued by state highway Patrolmen Higgins and O’Donnell. In attempting to escape from the state patrol car, your son sideswiped a nineteen sixty-­seven Dodge sedan, driven by Arthur Henderson, of Rowsburg, Ohio. Mr. Henderson suffered multiple facial cuts and possible head injuries and his car was badly damaged. The Oldsmobile was overturned, but your son managed to get out unaided, and after abusing the officers verbally, he assaulted both of them.” The deputy put down the report. “If you want a more complete description, I suggest you talk with one of the arresting officers who came in aid of Patrolmen Higgins and O’Donnell.”

I said I thought I wouldn’t bother them just then. My check was unacceptable for the bond, but luckily I had enough traveler’s checks. After studying them suspiciously for a moment, the desk man sent another deputy to fetch Duff.