Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1918-05-17
CHAPTER XVI.
The Unmasking Of the Dunns.

CAROLINE sat by the library win
~ dow, her chin In her hand, dreari'
ly watching the sleet as 1t beat
against the panes and the tops Of the
park trees flashing In the wind.
Stephen uttered an exclamation.
"Some ones at the door," he explain.
ed. Its Sylvester. Of course. I'll let
him in"
1t was not the lawyer, but a messen.
ger boy with a note. Stephen returned
to the library with the missiye In his
hand.
He couldn't get here, Caro-" he said
excitedly. wants us to come right
down to his office. Come! Rush! 1t
may be important"
The cab made good time, and they
soon reached the Pine street Offices.
Hope he doesn't keep US waiting
long," Steve fumed. II thought, OF
course, he was ready or he wouldn't
have sent for u.s."
"ReadyY His sister looked at him
q~uestioningly. Ready for what? she
repeated, with sudden suspicion. "Steve,
do you know what Mr.. Sylvester wishes
to see us abouty"
"See here, Caro-" he said, maybe ]
do know something, or I can guess.
Now, whatever happens, you've got to
be a sensible girl. Somebody In the
family must use common sense, and
when 1t comes to holding a person to
a promise then-confound 1t, Sis, we
can't starve. q we"
What do you mean" She rose and
advanced toward him. what do you
mean by a promise7 What have you
been doingT
Il haven't done anything" he grum-
bled-"that is, I've done what any rea-
sonable fellow would do. I'm not the
only one who thinks. Look here. we've
got q guardian, haven't WEI"
"A guardian! A guardian! Stephen
Warren, have you been to him? Have
you-was that where you were last
night? Why did you go to him? What
did you sayY
Il said-I said-never mind what I
said. He agrees with me, 1 can tell
you that. You'll thank your stars 1 did
go before very long. SSH, here's
Sylvester !"
The door Of the room opened. The
person who entered, however, was not
the lawyer, but the very man Of whom
they had been speaking, Captain Elisha
himself. BE closed the door behind him.
Hello, Stevie," he said, with a nod
to the boy. Then. turning to his niece,
he stepped forward and held out his
hand. Caroline" he began, 81 don't
doubt you're surprised to see me here,
but L Why, what's the matter?"
she faces of the pair led him to ask
the question. Stephens face was red.
and he looked embarrassed and guilty.
C2roline's was white, and she glanced
'f<om her brother to her guardian and
back again with flashing eyes.
captain Warren, my brother has
hinted-he has said What does he
mean by holding some n to a prom
isS Answer me truthfully."
Il shouldn't answer you any other
way, Caroline. Steve seems to be wor.
ried about the young man you're en-.
gagged to. He seems to callate that
Mr.. Dunn may want to slip out of that
engagement"
His niece looked at him. Then she
turned to her brother. "You went to
him and oh. how could you'll"
Stephen would not meet her gaze.
WELL" he muttered rebelliously. why
wouldn't I? You know yourself that
Nal hasn't been near you since 1t hap
pened. II he wasn't after-if he was
straight, he would have come, wouldn't
he?"
stop" She cut him short imperious.
ly. Don't make me. hate you. And
you," turning to her uncle, did YOU
listen and believe such things? Oh. /
know what you think of my friends! I
heard 1t from your own lips. And |
know why you think 1t. Because ahey
know what you are, because they ex.
posed you and"-