Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1917-08-17
CHAPTER w.
A Little Business Talk.

IF the captain heard Stephens fer
vent ejaculation he paid no atten-
ton to it. Dropping his niece's
hand, he extended his own toward his
nephew.
"And this is S~tephen?" he said.
well, Steve, you and me have never
met afore, l b'lieve. But that's our
misfortune, not our fault, hey? How
are you-pretty smart?"
The boys face was flaming. He num-
bled something to the effect that he
was all right enough and turned away
without accepting the proffered hand.
Captain Elisha glanced quickly at him,
then at his sister.
well, Caroline" he said pleasantly,
81 s'pose you've been expectin' me.
MI. Graves told you l vas comm,
didn't he?"
Miss Warren also was flushed with
embarrassment and mortified surprise.
mo-" she stammered. "He has been
ILL.,"
"Sho, you don't say! So you didn't
know l was comm at all"
mo. We've have not heard from
you since he returned"
"That's too bad. | hope l shan't put
you out any, droppin' in on you this
way. You mustn't treat me as COM
p'ny, you know. If faint convenient,
If your spare room amt ready so soon
after movin', or anything of that kind,
I can go to a hotel somewhere for a
lay or 50. Hr4n't-I better, don't you
think?"
Caroline hesitated. If only they
might have beer spared this public
humiliation! If the Dunns had not
been there! 1t was bad enough to have
this dreadful country uncle come at
all, but to have hin come now, before
they were prepared, before any expla-
nations had been made! What should
she do?
Her brother, fdgeting at her elbow,
not daring to look at Malcolm Dunn,
who he knew was thoroughly enjoying
the scene, could stand it nc longer.
"Caro," he snapped, what are you
waiting for? Don't you know that the
rooms are not ready? OF course they're
not! We're sorry and all that, but
Graves didn't tell US, and we aren't
prepared. Certainly he'll have to go to
the hotel for-for the present"
He ventured to raise his eyes and
glare Indignantly at the captain. Find
ing the latter looking intently at him
he dropped them again and damned his
clinched fists into his pockets.
Captain Elisha pulled thoughtfully at
his beard.
"Humph |" he grunted. "Humph!
Then / callate maybe He took a
step toward the door, stopped, turned
back and said with calm decision: u
guess I'd better stay. You won't mind
me, Caroline-you and Stephen. You
mustn't. AS I said, I amt compny.
I'm one of the family, your pas broth
er, and I've come some considerable
ways to see you two young folks and
talk with you. I've come because your
pa asked me to. I'm used to roughin'
it, been to sea a good many wages,
and if a feather bed amt handy l can
get my forty winks on the floor. So
that's settled, and you mustn't have me
Oh your COHSCleuCS' Ahdbo SChoS, Ill
it, Mrs. Dunn?"
Mrs. Corcoran Dunn did not deign a
reply. Caroline answered for her.
"Very WE'LL" she said coldly. Step
ping to the desk she rang a bell. The
butler appeared in the doorway.
Edwards" said Miss Warren, "this
gentleman" indicating the captain, sis
to be our guest for the present. You
may show him to his room-the blue
room, 1 think. If it is not ready see
that it is made So"
"Yes, Miss Caroline" replied Ed
wards. Retiring to the hall, he return
ed with the suit case.
"Win you wish to go to your room
at once, sir?" he asked.
"Why, 1 guess 1 might as well, COM
modore," answered Captain Elisha,
smiling. little soap and water won't
do no harm. Fact is, I feels If twas
a prescription to be recommended. You
needn't tote that valise, though" he
added. "'Tain't heavy, and I've lugged
It so fur already sence 1 got off the car
that I feel kind of lonesome without it"
The butler, not knowing exactly how
to answer, grinned sheepishly. Captain
Elisha turned to Mrs. Dunn and her
son
"WeIl, good afternoon, ma'am," he
said. "Im real glad to have made your