Gilpin observer., 1918-10-10

will or may be. Ahemr'
"Maybe7 You mean amt rot to
do this thing unless want tor"
Certainly. 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
ers children will realize, your hesi-
tance in assuming such a responsible
ity over persons whom you have never
even met"
"Yts, guess wen all realize 1t. You
needn't worry about that Look here!
Do the children know I'm electedr
"Yes. OF course tha will has been
read to Them"
"Hum! 4 s'pose likely they was over
come with joy, WANT they?"
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
repressinE a 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-conservativ
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 investigat-
ing them may require some technical
skill and knowledge of finance. Yes"
"Um-m! Well, 1 judge that that
kind Of skill and knowledge could be
hired If feller felt like payin' fair
wages. hey?"
could attend to that under the super
vision Of the executor, certainly. But
there are other Inconvenience to
a-a"-
Country jay like me. 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? 1 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 II he
wanted to. Am I wrong?"
"No"--the lawyers hesitancy and an
noyance were plainly evident-"no-o.
OF course that might be done. Still
| p
you think that wouldn't cause no
more rejoicin' than some other things
have? Yes, yes; I callate I under
stand, Mr.. Graves. Well, guess you'll
have to. I have built and launched
this. The whole house Is yours. Help
yourself to it. But when I'm caught
in Glove hitch I just have to set
down and think myself out Of 1t.
have to give me tonight to chew over
that way, guess, and maybe you'll
excuse me-"
1t 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 used to Hvin' pretty
wel-fashionable society and the like
Of that. heyT
"Yes. Their home was on Fifth ave-
nue., and the family moved in the best
circles"
"Huml I should imagine life on
twenty odd thousand a year must be
| ~1r nl-
turn your partners Well, Mr.. Graves,
my circles down here are considerable
smaller, but they suit me. I'm worth
twenty odd thousand myself, not in
year, but in lifetime. I'm selectman
and director in the bank and trustee
Of the church. When I holler 'Boov
the South Denboro folks-some of
them, anyhow-set up and take notice.
I can lead the grand march down In
this neighborhood once In awhile, and
l callate I'm prettier leadin' it than
I would be doin' a solitaire Jig for two
years on the outside edge of New
York's best circles. And I'm mighty
sure I'm more welcome. Now my eye
sights strong enough to see through q
two foot hole after the plugs out, and
l can see that you and Bites children
won't shed tears II I say no to that
will. No offense meant, you know;
just common sense, that's all"
This was plain speaking. Mr.. Graves
colored. though he didn't mean to, and
for once could not answer offhand.
"So," continued the captain. "IM
ease your and their minds by sayin'
that, the way I feel now, probably
sha'n't accept the trust. probably
sha'n't But won't say sure I won't,
because-well, because Bite was my
brother; he was that no matter what
our differences may have been. And
: I know-I know that there must be