Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-07-25
CHAPTER VIII.
Thank You. Uncle.n

CHAPTER VIII.
THANK You, uncls.n $500
I<APTAIN ELISHA had been pretty
" well satisfied with the result Of
his visit to young Dunn at the lat
ter's odice. Malcolm had surrendered,
perhaps moi gracefully or uncondition-
ally, but he had surrendered. and the
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. one which the
captain himself had suggested, I,
Captain Elisha found some solace
and forgetfulness Of the unpleasant
life he was leading in helping the
stricken Moriarty family. Annie, the
maid at the apartment, he swore to
secrecy. She must not tell Miss Caro-
line OF his visits to her parents home.
Dr.. Henry also, though he could not
understand why, promised silence. Car
oline herself had engaged his services
In the case, and he was faithful.
'.Goin' to be pretty expensive job.
amt it, doctor?' asked the captain Of
the physician.
Rather, I'm afraid"
''An right. If expense is necessary
don't be afraid of 1t. You do just what
you'd ought to and send the bill to me"
"But Miss Warren insisted upon my
sending It to her. She said It was a
private matter and one with which y,u
a. her guardian had nothing to do"
II knoy. Caroline intends to use
her own allowance, s'pose. Well, let
her think she will il twill please her.
But when it comes to the settlement
call ON me. Give her any reason you
want 70. Say a--er-wealthy friend Of
the family come to life all ct once and
couldn't sleep unless he paid costs"
"But there isn't any such friend, Is
there, Captain Warren? Other than
yourself, mean?"
Captain Elisha grinned in apprecia-
ton Of private poke. There is some
body else" he admitted, who'll pay q
share, anyhow. But, anyhow, you saw
wood OF bones or whatever you have
10 do, and leave the rest to me. And
don't tell Caroline or anybody else .
word"
News from the Moriarty sick room
continued favorable for time. Then
with alarming suddenness a change
came. The broken hip was mending
slowly, but poor Pats age was against
him, and the shock and long Illness
were too much for his system to fight
Dr.. Henry shook his head dubious'y
when the captain asked questions.
And one morning at breakfast Edwards
informed him that the old man was
dead.
Captain Elisha. though not greatly
surprised, was shocked and grieved
It seemed such a needless tragedy, IL
most like murder. although there was
no malice IN ii. And the thought Of the
fatherless children and the poverty Of
the stricken family made him shuddeF.
But just before evening his blueness
had disappeared. he had just returned
to his room, after stepping into the hall
to drop his letter In the mail chute,
when his niece knocked at the door.
Captain Warren" she began hur-
riedly, 1.-THE last time came to you
the last time I came here, I came to
ask favor, and you'll thought you"
Eyes, Caroline" he said gravely, Il
know what you mean. Won't you
won't you sit DOWN."
Captain Warren" she began once
more, "the time came to you in this
room you were, SO thought, unreason-
able and unkind. asked you for
money to help . poor family in trou-
BILE, and you refused to give it to me"
aNo, Caroline" he interrupted, Il
didn't refuse; you only thought I did"
y She held up her hand. xPleass let
me 70 on" she begged. II thought you
refused, and ! couldn't understand
Why. I was hurt and angry. I knew
that father never would have refused
me under such circumstances, and you
were his brother. But since then, only
today, I have learned that was wrong.
have learned
She paused. The captain was silent.
He was beginning to hope, to believe
once more In his judgment Of charac-
ten, and yet with his hope and growing
Joy there was . trife Of anxiety.
II have learned" went on his niece.
.tlhat / was mistaken. can't under
stand yet why you wished to wait be-
fore saying yes but I do know that It
must have been neither because you
were ,unkind nor ungenerous. have
Just come from those poor people, and
they have told mo everything"
Captain Elisha started. what did
they tell your he asked quickly. "Who
told your
.Annie and Der mother. They told
me what you had done and were doing
for them, how kind you had been al
through the illness and today. Oh, I
know you made them promise not to
tell me, and you made the doctor and
nurse promise too. But knew some
ono had helped, and Annie dropped a
hint. Then I suspected, and now l
know. Those poor people!"
The captain, who had been looking at
the door and frowning bit. suddenly
glanced up to find his niece's eyes fixed
upon him, and they were filed with
tears.
"Win you forgive me?' she asked,
rising from her chair and coming i'm
pulsively toward him. "pm<sorry l
misjudged you and treated you SO.
You must be . very good man. Please
forgive me-
= He took her hand, which was swal-
4 lowed up n his big one. His eyes
were moist also. 8
Lord love you. dearie." he said.