The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1911-02-14
CHAPTER XIV.

* rumor and surmise Heman
lid had appealed to the courts,
asking that Captain Cy's APP
pointment as Bos'n's guardian be re-
scinded Cy had hired Lawyer Pea
body of Ostable to look out for his
interests.
Angelina Phinney was having the
time of her life. The perfect board
ing house hummed like fly trap. Ke-
turah and Mrs. Trip had deserted to
the enemy, and the minority-meaning
Asaph and Bailey-had little oppor-
tunity to defend their friends cause,
even If they had dared. Heman At
kins, his Christian charity and high
mindedness. his devotion to duty re-
CARELESS Of political consequences and
the magnificent speech at town meet
ing were lauded and exalted. The Bay
port Breeze contained full account of
the meeting, and 1t was read aloud by
Keturah amid hymns Of praise from
the elect.
Up at the Cy Whitaker place the
days were full ones. There also le-
gal questions were discussed with
Georgianna, the board of strategy, Jo-
siah Dimick occasionally and more
infrequently still Miss Dawes as par
Elephants with Captain Cy in the dis
cussions. Rumors were true in so far
as they related to Mr.. Atkins appeal
to the courts and the captains retain
ing Lawyer Peabody Of Ostable. Mr..
Peabody's opinion of the case was not
encouraging
You see, captain" he said when his
client visited him at his Office, 1.-The
odds are very much against US, The
court appointed you as guardian with
the understanding that this man
Thomas was dead. Now he is alive
and claims his child. More than that.
he has the most influential politician
in this county back of him We
wouldn't stand a fighting chance ex-
cept for one thing-Thomas himself.
He left his wife and the baby: desert
ed them, so she said; went to get work
he says. We can prove he was a
drunken BLACKBOARD before he went
and that he has been drunk since be
came back. But they'll say-Atkins
and his lawyer-that the man was des-
perate and despairing because of your
refusal to give him his child They'll
hold him up as repentant sinner anx
ious to reform and needing the little
girls influence to help keep him
straight That's their game, and they'll
play it-be sure of that 1t sounds
reasonable enough, too. for sinners have
repented before now. And the long
lost father coming back to his child Is
the one sure thing to win applause
from the gallery-you know that"
Captain Cy nodded.
He stopped, rose and. striding over
to the window, stood looking out
"How does she feel about it her.
self" asked Peabody.
"Her2 Bos'n? Why, that's the
hardest of all. Some Of the children
at school poster her about her father,
] don't knows you can blame 'em-
young ones are made that way. guess
but she comes home to me cryin',
and it's oh, Uncle Cy, he amt my
truly father, is her and You won't
let him take me away from you. will
your till it seems as If l should fly
out of the window. The poor little
thing! And that pulled up humbug
Atkins blowin' about his Christianity
and all! I've seen heather Injuns,
who never heard Of Christ, with more
of His spirit inside 'em. There! I've
shocked you, | guess. Sometimes
blink this place Is too narrer and
cramped for me. I've been around.
you know. and my New England
bringin' up has wore thin in spots.
Seems If l must get somewheres and
spread out or I'll bust"