The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1918-06-08

Maybe? You mean I amt got to
do this thing unless / want tor
"CertaRly. You have the right to
renounce the various appointments, In
which case another executor, trustee
and guardian will be appointed. !
realize, and I'm sure that your broth
er's children will realize, your hest.
lance In assuming such responsible
ity over persons whom you have never
even met"
ayes, 1 guess wen all realize it. You
needn't worry about that Look hereI
Do the children know I'm elected?'
Eyes. OF course the will has been
read to them"
Hum! s'pose likely they was over
come with joy, want theyT
Graves bit his lip. Remembering the
comments of Miss Caroline and her
brother when they learned Of their un'
cle's appointment, he had difficulty In
depressing smile
"Well, what would you advise my
| doin'?" asked the captain.
"I'm afraid that must be answered
| by yourself alone, Captain Warren. OF
course the acceptance Of the trust will
necessarily involve much trouble and
inconvenience, especially to one Of
your-er--settled and-er-conservative
Il Judge merely from what you have
said-your conservative habits. The
estate is large, the investments are,
doubtless, many and varied, and the
labor Of looking into and Investigate
ing them may require some technical
skill and knowledge of finance. Yes"
"Um-ml Well, I judge that that
kind of skill and knowledge could be
hired ii Teller felt like payin' fair
wages. hey?"
"Oh, yes, yes! ANY good lawyer
could attend to that under the super
vision Of the executor, certainly. But
there are other inconvenience to
a--a''-
Country jay like me. I understand.
Go ahead"
II mean that you would probably be
required to spend much or all Of the
next two or three years in New York"
Would, hey? l didn't know but
bein' as a guardian has entire charge
Of the children and their money and
ALL understand that's what he does
have--he could direct the children
fetched down to where he lived If he
wanted to. Am wrongP
"No"--the lawyers hesitancy and nm
noyance were plainly eyident-'no.o
OF course that might be done. Still
To-
"You think that wouldn't cause no
more rejoicin' than some other things
have? Yes, yes; calTate / UNDER
stand, Mr.. Graves. Well, guess you'll
have to. I have built and launched
this. The whole house is yours. Help
yourself to 1t. But when I'm caught
In Glove hitch I just have to set
down and think myself out Of it. /
have to give me tonight to chew over
that way, guess, and maybe you'll
excuse me-"
It was after two the next morning be
fore Captain Elisha rose from his chair
by the fire and entered his bedcham-
Der. Yet when Atwood Graves came
down to breakfast he found his host
in the sitting room awaiting him.
"Afore we tackle Abbie's pancakes
and fishballs, Mr.. Graves" said the
captain, "let me ask you one more
question. This-er-er-Caroline and
Stephen they're ased to Twin pretty
well-fashionable society and the like
of that, hey?"
"Yes. Their home was on Fifth ave
nue., and the family moved in the best
circles"
"Hum! / should imagine life or
twenty odd thousand year must BIZ
pretty much all circles, one everlastin
turn your partners Well, Mr.. Graves
my circles down here are consider BIZ
smaller, but they suit me. I'm worth
twenty odd thousand myself, not in {
year, but In a lifetime. I'm selectma1
and director in the bank and truste,
of the church. When boiler Boo!
the South Denboro folks-some O.
them, anyhow-set up and take notice
can lead the grand march down il
this neighborhood once in awhile, an,
cal'late I'm prettier leadin it thar
I would be doin' solitaire jig for tw,
years on the outside edge of New
, YOrk's best circles. And Pm might,
sure I'm more welcome. Now my eye
sights strong enough to see through
two foot hole after the plugs out, an,
can see that you and Bije's children
: won't shed tears If / say no to tina
will No offense meant, you know
Just common sense, that's all"
H This was plain speaking. Mr.. Grave
: colored, though he didn't mean to, an,
for once could not answer offhand.
49," continued the captain, "Il
ease your and their minds by sayin
that, the way feel now, probabl
sha'n't accept the trust. probabl
: sha'n't. But won't say sure I won't
because-well, because Bile was m
brother; he was that no matter wha
our differences may have been. An
: i know--I know that there must
some reason bigger than implicit trust
and the other May baskets for his az
! pointin' me in his will. What that res
son is don't know-yet. But for
beginnin' I caplate to run down {