Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-07-21
CHATTER vi.
Fl Think I May Take the Job"

CHAPTER vi.
n Think 1 May Take the Job"
THN boy, Captain Elisha's acquaint-
ance Of the morning. was out re-
gazing himself with crullers and
milk at q pushcart on Broad street
when the captain returned to the Of
does Of Sylvester, Kuhn s. Graves.
The clerk who had taken his place was
very respectful. 81
Captain Warren" he said, ."Mr. Syl-
vester is at the Central club. He
wished me to ask IL you could conven-
iently join him there"
Captain Elisha pondered. "Why, yer"
he replied slowly, II s'pose could.
Il don't know why couldn't Where Is
this-er-club Of his?"
ION Fifth avenue. near Fifty second
street. I'll send one of our boys with
you IL you Ike"
ooh. no. I can pilot myself, guess.
amt 80 old can't ask my way"
The captain found the Central club,
a ponderous institution occupying a
becomingly gorgeous building on the
avenue. Mr.. Sylvester was expecting
him. and they dined in the club restau-
rant.
snow, Captain Warren. Just how
much do you know about your late
brothers afairs?' asked Mr.. Sylvester
at the conclusion Of the meal.
Except what Mr.. Graves told me,
nothin' Of importance. And, afore we
20 any further, let me ask question.
Do you know, why Bite made me his
executor and guardian and all the rest
Of t1'
II do not. Graves drew his will, and
10, of course, we knew Of your exist
ence ana your appointment yaur
brother forbade our mentioning 1t. but
we did not know until after his death
that his own children were unaware
theY had an uncle. It seems strange.
doesn't ftp i;
1T does to me; so strange that I
can't see two lengths ahead. caplate
Mr.. Graves told you how felt about
itr
Eyes. That Is, he said you were very
much surprised"
.aThat's putin it mild enough. Ard
did he tell you that Bite and hadn't
seen each other, or even written, n
eighteen years. Il
yea"
'.Um-hm. Well, when you consider
that can you wonder I was set al
saback1 And the more think Of it tho
foggier It gets. Why, Mr.. Sylvester. it's
one Of them situations that are tmpos-
sible, that you can prove fifty wayD
can't happen And yet, 1t hast sar.
tinly has. Now tell me: Arc you q
your firm well acquainted with ny
brothers anairs7"
mot well, no. The late Nh. Warren
vas 4 close mouthed man, rather &C.
cretive, in. fact. Have you questioned
the Children
..Caroline and Steve? Yes, I've ques.
toned 'em more than they think I have,
maybe And they know-well, leavin'
out about the price Of oil paintin's and
the way to dress and that it's more or
less Of disgrace to economic On
twenty thousand year, their worldly
knowledge amt too extensive"
do you like them?"
Il guess 90. Just now amt the fair.
ct time to judge 'em. You zee. they're
sufIerin' from the joyful shock Of their
country relation droppin' in, and"
He paused and rubbed his chin. His
linz were smiling, but his eyes were
not. Sylvester noted their expression
and guessed many things.
They haven't been disagreeable, !
hopef" hs asked
moo. No, wouldn't want to say
that. They're young and-and, well, !
ain't tho kind they've been used to.
Garc,:nes Moo girl. She Is, sure.
All she needs Is to grow little older
and have the right kind Of advice and
and friends.'
.How about the boyT Mr.. Sylvester
had met young Warren, and his eyes
twinkled ~ he spoke.
"Stevel Well"-there was an answer
ing twinkle In Captain Elisha's eye
s.well, Steve needs to grow, too, though
I wouldn't presume to tell him 20. When
Z 1eller's undertaken to give advice to
one Of the sevsn wise men he has to
be diplomatic, as you might say"
The lawyer put back his head and
laughed uproar1Ously.
aha, hal. he, crowed. That's good
Then, from your questioning Of tho
children, you've learned p
ssNot such IN awful lot / think I've
learned that-hum! that good guard
ian might be q handy thing to have in
the house. A reg'lar legal guardian. !
mean. OtherwisSr-
aOtherwissr'
.Otherwiss there might be too many
Interested volunteer substitutes for the
Job. Maybe I'm wrong, but I doubt 1t. "
Slave you INSIDE up your mind to be
that suardianf"
.Not yet. I haven't made up my
mind to anything yet. Now, Mr.. syl-
vester, while we're waitin' for what
comes next-you've ordered enough
grub to victual q ship s'pose you just
run over what your firm knows about
that is. Il I amt askin' too
much. :" "a.
b ..Not ut all. That's what I'm here
for. You have ! right to know. But ]
yyern vnm my Information !sn't worth
much II
+ : y - {. ~ F.. 49,