The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1913-03-29

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 position Of
some kind in Boston. Il don't want
money, | don't want charity" wrote
Keziah. What | want is work. Can
you get 1t for me, Abner? I 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 he
said no one had ever helped him. He
disliked to be reminded of it. 1t was
long while ago and the captain was
| dead. However, being reminded, he
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 so notified
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
il the least he could do
What 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 It
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's
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 that
| an unpleasant matter was disposed
| Of He had made some inquiries as to
where she intended staying, even add
ed a half-hearted invitation to dinner
| that evening at his home. But she
| declined.
NO, thank you, Abner," she said,
| I'm goin' to find boardin' place and
I'd just as soon nobody knew where
l was for the present. And there's
one thing | want to ask you: don't
| tell a soul | am here. Not a soul. II
anyone should come askin' for me,
don't give 'em any satisfaction. I'll
tell you why some day. perhaps. I
| can't now"
| This was what troubled Mr.. Stone
as he sat in his office. Why should
! this woman wish to have her where
abouts kept a secret? There was a
reason for this, of course. Was 1t a
| respectable reason, or the other kind?
| If the latter, his own name might be
associated with the scandal. He wish
ed, for the fiftieth time, that there
were no poor relations.
A boy came into the Office. There
is some one here to see you. Mr..
Stone" he said.
| who is it?"
II don't know, sir. Looks like a
seafaring man, a sea captain, should
say-but he won't give his name. Says
it's important and nobody but you'll
do"
"Humph. All right. Tell him to
wait. I'll be out in a minute"
Sea captains and ship owners were
Stone & Bankers best customers. The
senior partner emerged from the Of
fee with a smile on his face.
"Ah!" he said, extending his hand.
Glad to see you. Captain-er-"
Hammond" replied the visitor.
Same to you, Mr.. Stone"
Fine weather for this time of
year."
Fine enough, Mr.. Stone"
We'll, Captain Hammond, what can
we do for you? Going to sail soon?"
Not right away. Just made port,
less'n a week ago. Home looks good
to me, for a spell. anyhow"
so? Yes, l have no doubt. Let
me see-where is your home, cap
tain? l should remember. Of course.
but"
Don't know why you should. This
is my first trip in your latitude,
guess. My homes at Trumet."
"Trumet?" Mr.. Stones tone chang
ed.
Yes. Trumet, down on the Cape.
Ever been there? We think it's about
as good a place as there is"
HUM! Trumet? Well, Captain
Hammond, you wished to see me. l
understand"
Yes. Fact Is, Mr.. Stone, want
to ask you where l can find Mrs. Ke-
ziah Coffin. She's a relation of yours,
l b'lieve. and she's come to Boston
lately. Only yesterday or the day
afore. Can you tell me where she
is?"
why do you wish to see herr"
"Oh. for reasons, personal ones.
She's a friend Of mine"
II see. No, captain, can't tell you
| where she is Good morning"