Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1917-09-07
CHAPTER VIII.
THANK You, Uncle"

NAPTAIN ELISHA had been pretty
well satisfied with the result of
his visit to young Dunn at the lat
ter's office. Malcolm had surrendered,
perhaps not gracefully or un%condition-
ally, but he had surrendered, and the
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. one which the
captain himself had suggested.
Captain Elisha found some solace
and forgetfulness of the unpleasant
life he vas 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.
DIR. Henry also, though he could not
understand why, promised silence. Car
Oline herself had engaged his services
In the case, and he was faithful
Coin to be a pretty expensive job.
amt 1t, doctor?' asked the captain of
the physician.
Rather, I'm afraid"
"All right. If expense is necessary
don't be afraid of it. You do just what
you'd ought to and send the bill to me-"
But Miss Warren insisted upon my
sending 1t to her. She said it was a
private matter and one with which you
as her guardian had nothing to do"
az know. Caroline intends to use
her own allowance, I s'pose. Well, let
her think she will if twill please her.
But when it comes to the settlement
call on me. Give her any reason you
want to. Say a-er-wealthy friend of
the family come to life all at once and
couldn't sleep unless he paid the COSTS"
But there isn't any such friend, is
there, Captain Warren? Other than
yourself, I mean?"
Captain Elisha grinned in apprecia-
ton of a private poke. "There is some
body else" he admitted, who'll pay a
share, anyhow. But, anyhow, you saw
wood or bones or whatever you have
to do, and leave the rest to me. And
don't tell Caroline or anybody else a
word"
News from the Moriaxty sick room
continued favorable for a 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 d%ubious'y
when the captain asked questions.
And n morning at breakfast Edwards
Informed him that the old man was
dead.
Captain Elisha, though not greatly
surprised, was shocked and grieved.
1t seemed such a needless tragedy, al
most like murder, although there was
no malice in it. And the thought of the
fatherless children and the poverty of
the stricken family made him shudder.
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, "the last time / came to you
the last time I came here, / came to
ask a favor, and you'll thought your
"Yes, Caroline" he said gravely, ST
know what you mean. Won't you
won't you sit DOWN."
Captain Warren" she began once
more, "the time I came to you in this
Don you were, SO / thought, u%nreason-
able and unkind. 1 asked you for
j.. money to help a poor family in trou-
BILE, and you refused to give it to me-"
mo, Caroline" he interrupted, 81
didn't refuse; you only thought l did"
She held up her hand. "Please let
me go on" she begged. IT thought you
refused, and I couldn't understand
why. I was hurt and angry. I knew
that father never would have refused
me under such circumstances. and you