Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1917-09-14

nne n stephen nau just entered.
"Wel." he cried In his quarterdeck
voice, his face beaming with relief and
delight, you are here, amt you! ]
begun to think Why. what's the
matter?"
The question was addressed to Ste
phen. who stood nearest to him. The
boy did not deign to reply. With a
contemptuous grunt he turned scorn.
fully away from his guardian.
"What is it. Caroline" demanded
Captain Elisha. HAS anything hap
pened?'
The girl looked coldly at him. A
new broochGMrs. Corcoran Dunn's
birthday gift-sparkled at her throat.
"No accident has happened. If that is
what you mean." she said.
"But-why. yes, that was what !
meant. You was so awful late, and
you know you said you'd be home for
dinner. So
II changed my mind. Come. Steve
She turned to leave the room. Pear
son at that m entered it. Ste
phen saw him first.
"What?" he cried. We'll. of all the
nerve! Look, Caro!'
"Jim-Mr. Pearson | in q
Elisha, bewildered and stammering.
II thought, of course, we'd had din
ner a~nd-and-he just wanted to wish
you many happy returns, Caroline"
Pearson had extended his hand, and a
GOOD evening" was on his lips. Ste
phen's strange behavior and language
caused him t halt. He flushed, awk-
ward. surprised. indignant.
Caroline turned and saw hin. She
started, and her cheeks also grew GRIM
son. Then, recovering, she looked him
full in the face and deliberately and
disdainfully turned her back.
Come, Steve she said again, and
walked from the room.
Her brother hesitated. glared at Pear
son and then stalked haughtily after
her.
Captain Elisha's bewilderment was
supreme. He stared open mouthed aft.
er his nephew and niece and then
turned slowly to his friend.
what on earth, Jim?" he STAN
mered. "What's it mean?"
Pearson shrugged his shoulders. 81
think l know what it MEANS he said.
81 presume that Miss Warren and ie1
brother have learned of my trouble
with their father"
"Hey? No, you don't think that's it?-
II think there's no doubt of it
"But how?'
81 don't know how. What do know
is that l should not have come here. /
felt it and, if you will remember, ]
said so. l was a fool. Good night, cap
tain"
Hot and furiously angry at his W
indecision which had placed him in this
humiliating situation, he was striding
toward the hall. Captain Elisha seized
his arm.
"Stay where you are, Jim!' he COM
manded. "If the troubles what you
think it is I'm more to blame than any
body else, and you shan't leave this
Lhouse till I've done my best to square
you"
'4Thank you, but l don't wish to be
squared I've done nothing to be
ashamed of, and | have borne as many
insults as l can stand. I'm going"
mo, you amt. Not yet. l want you
to stay"
At that moment Stephens voice
reached them from the adjoining room.
II tell you l shall, Carol" it pro
claimed fercely. do you suppose I'm
going to permit that fellow to come
here again-or to go until he is made to
understand what we think of him and
why? No, by CAD! I'm the man of
this family, and I'll tell him a few
things" \
Parsons jaw set grimly.
"You may let go of my wrist, Cap
tain Warren" he said. "I1l stay"
Possibly Stephens intense desire to
prove his manliness made him self
conscious. At any tate, he never ap-
Gs .tmrI,.