The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1913-04-25
CHAPTER Xxx.
In Which Mr.. Stone Washes His
Hands.

F1dnOb.
Mr.. Abner Stone, Of Stone & Bark
or, marine outfitters and ship chan
dlers, with a place OF business on
Commercial street In Boston, and
bank account which commanded re-
spect throughout the city. was feel
ing rather irritable and out OF sorts.
Poor relations are always a nuisance.
Mr.. Stone had washed his hands"
OF his cousin. Keziah Coffin. or
thought he had. After her brother
Solomon died she had written to him.
asking him to find her a position OF
some kind In Boston. II don't want
money. 1 don't want charity" wrote
Keziah. What l want is work. Can
you get 1t for me, Abner? write
because father used to tell OF what
you said to him about gratitude and
how you would never rest until you
had done something in return for what
he did for you"
Captain Ben Halls kindness was the
one thing Mr.. Stone forgot when ne
said no one had ever helped him. He
6isliked to be reminded OF 1t. 1t was
long while ago and the captain was
dead However, being reminded, ne
had called upon friend in the tailor
Ing line and had obtained for Keziah
the place OF sewing woman. She de-
cided to become housekeeper at the
Trumet parsonage and 80 notined
him. Then he washed his hands OF
her.
But now he was compelled to soil
them again. Keziah had appeared at
his office, without warning. and de-
manded that he find her position.
Demanded" was the proper WORD.
Certainly she had not begged. She
seemed to feel that her demand was
right and proper, and his acceding to
1t the least he could do.
What a fine place you've got here
Abner!" she said, inspecting the office
and store. II declare it's finer than
the one you had when you first went
into business, afore you failed. wish
father could have lived to see 1t.
He'd have realized that his Judgment
was good. even though his investment
wasn't"
Captain Hall had invested largely
In that first business, the one which
failed. Mr.. Stone changed the sub
ject. Later in the day he again sought
his friend, the tailor. and Keziah was
installed in the loft OF the latter
Washington street shop. beside the
other women and girls who sewed and
sewed from seven in the morning I'M
| til six at night. Mr.. Stone had left
her there and come away. feeling thai
an unpleasant matter was disposed
Of He had made some inquiries as tc
where she intended staying, even add
ed a half-hearted invitation to dinnel
that evening at his home. But she
declined.
mo, thank you. Abner." she said
I'm goin' to find a boardin' place anc
I'd Just as soon nobody knew where
I was for the present. And there!
one thing | want to ask you: dom
tell a soul am here. Not soul. L
anyone should come askin' for me
don't give EN- any satisfaction. II
tell you why some day. perhaps.
can't now"
This was what troubled Mr.. Ston'
as he sat In his Office. Why SHOULD
this woman wish to have her where
abouts kept a secret? There was
reason for this, of course. Was 1t
respectable reason, or the othsr kind
II the latter, his own name might b
associated with the scandal. He wish
ed. for the fftleth time, that Their
were no poor relations.
A boy came into the office. "Ther
is some one here to see you. MI
Stone" he said.
who is it?"
'T don't know, sir. Looks like
seafaring man, a sea captain, shout
say-but he won't give his name. Say
it's important and nobody but you
do"
"Humph! All right Tell him t
wait I'll be out in a minute"
Sea captains and ship owners wer
Stone & Bankers best customers. TIL
senior partner emerged from the o.
fee with a smile on his face.
"Ah!" he said, extending his hanC
GLAD to see you. Captain-er0"
Hammond" replied the visitor
Same to you. Mr.. Stone"
Fine weather for this time &
year"
Fine enough, Mr.. Stone"
well. Captain Hammond. what ca
| we do for your Going to sail soon
Not right away. Just made por
less'n a week ago. Home looks goo
TO me, for q spell. anyhow
"sof Yes, have no doubt Ia
me see-vhere IL your home, cal
! tainf / should remember. of eosrs'
but
! Don't know why you should III
, Is my nrst trip in your latitude