He doesn't want to work, but his father has made him learn the business, see?
He's kind of a no-good; dissipated; wears flashy clothes and plays the races and shoots craps and drinks.

You try to reform him because he's idolized by his sister that you're in love with.
"But you can't do a thing with him.

He keeps on and gets in with a rough crowd, and finally he steals a lot of money out of the safe, and just when they are about to discover that he's the thief you see it would break his sister's heart so you take the crime on your own shoulders.
After that, just before you're going to be arrested, you make a getaway--because, after all, you're not guilty--and you go out West to start all over again--" "Out there in the big open spaces ?" suggested Merton, who had listened attentively.
"Exactly," assented Baird, with one of those nervous spasms that would now and again twitch his lips and chin.

"Out there in the big open spaces where men are men--that's the idea.

And you build up a little gray home in the West for yourself and your poor old mother who never lost faith in you.