Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-07-30
CHAPTER III.
Acarollns, ! Want Yeu!S

solved to please the AttoI Dy 20
inx through the form Of pretending to
eat.
They rat down together. Captain
Elisha. with rueful smile, pointed 70
the noral centerpiece.
eve WON'T touch the birthday caks,
Jim" he added 1 little later. 'Shss
rot to cut that herself"
The soup was only lukewaTm, but
neither Of them commented on the net
The captain had scarcely tasted Of bis
when he paused, his spoon in air.
.HeyY' he exclaimed "Lastsnl
what's that7 BY the evsriastin'. Il y
Here they are at lastr'
he sprang up with such enthusiasm
that his chair tipped backward against
the buffers devoted shins. Pearsoo.
almost q much pleased, also rose.
Captain Elisha paid scant attention
10 the chair Incident
~What are Jon waitin' forr' hs D.
manded, wh1rling On Edwards. who
vas righting the chair with ono hand
and rubbing his knee with the other.
..Don't Jon hear 'sm ct the door, Lst
y
'em inr
4 ne reached the library nrst, hi
friend following more leisurely. Caro-
line ana Stephen had Just entered.
.Well" no cried In his quarterback
voice. biz face beaming with relief and
delight, you arr here, amt you! !
begun to think Why. what's the
matterf'
The question was addressed to St.
phen. who stood nearest to him. The
boy did not deign to reply. With .
contemptuous grunt he turned scorn-
fully away from his guardian.
"What il It, Caroline? demanded
Captain Elisha. "Has anything hap
penedr'
The girl looked coldly ct him. A
now brooch-Mrs. Corcoran Dunn's
birthday g1ft-sparkled at her throat
. .No accident has happened, If that Il
what you mean," she said.
"But-why, yos, that was what
meant You was 20 awful late, and
you know you said you'd b home for
dinner, So
i II changed my mind. Come, Steve"
1 She turned to leave the room. Pear.
ron &C TINT moment entered It Ste
phen saw him arst.
.sWhat7" he cried. well. Of al the
nerve! Look, Carol
s-AJlm- Mr. Pearson I mean-ran In .
~ nainutss ago" explained Captain
Elisha, bswildered and stammerins
"Hs thought, Of course, we'd had din
nsf and-and-hs Just wanted to wish
Jon many happy returns, Caroline"
Pearson had extended his hand, and Z
"Good evening was on bis nps.' Ste
5phen's strange behavior and language
caused him to halt. He flushed, awk-
ward, surprised, indignant
Caroline turned and saw him. She
started, and her cheeks also grew Grim
son. Then, recovering, she looked him
full in the face and deliberately and
dis6ainfully turned her back.
'.Come, Steve" she said again, and
walked from the room.
Her brother hesitated, glared at Pear
son and then stalked haughtly after
her.
Captain Elisha's bewilderment was
supreme. He stared open mouthed aft
Or his nephew and niece and thsa
turned slowly to his friend.
I what on earth, JimY' b staD
mered. whats It mean7"
Pearson shrugged his shoulders. Il
think know what It means" he eaid
II presume that Miss Warren and her
brother have learned OF my trouble
with their father"
'".Hey2 No, you don't think that's itS'
II think there's no doubt Of it,
"But howT"
II don't know how. What I do know
= that should not have come here. !
felt 1t and, II you will remember,
said 80. was fool. Good night, cap
tain"
Hot and furiously angry at bis own
lndecision 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. III the troubles what you
think It II I'm more to blame than any
body else, and you shan't leave this
house TIL I've done my best to square
you"
Thank you. but don't wish to BE-
squared I've done nothing to b
ashamed Of, and have borne as many
insults % / can stand. I'm going"
ssNo. you amt Not yet. want you
70 stay"
At that moment Stephens voice
reached them from the adjoining room.
II tell you shall, Carol" 1t pro
elaimed fercely. "Do you suppose I'm
going to permit that fellow to come
here again-or to 80 until he is made to
sunderland what we think Of him and
why7 No, BY sad! I'm the man Of
this family, and I'll tell him Z few
things"
\ Pearson's jaw yet grimly.
AYou may let 60 Of my wrist, Cap
eain warren" he said. "I'll stay
& Possibly Stephens intense desire 70
prove his manliness made him self
consciots. At any rate. he never ap.
reared more ridiculously boyish than
when, an instant il Ter, iie issss e !..es
ne library and confronted his uncle
ana Pearson.
I'll want to say he began ma
1astically. Il want to say
he paused, choking, and brandished
m A.. sg &
II want 70 say be began again.
III Stew Z. =: 81 y H. ~