The Raymer enterprise., 1918-10-24
/. WIN ha,. hi ,oks Malcolm. 4polo


Nrs Dunn. "A little fresh air VIII do
her good. ! was going to suggest that
Malcolm and she and Stephen 20 for .
short ride. Our car d at the door, It's
not ct al Z bad afternoon and the out.
ing win b. Just what you need
thank you. Mra Dunn" said Caro-
line gratefully, 4 should like to. In
deed. should. But we have been ex-
pecting q business call from Mr.. Graves,
fathers lawyer, and"
"Oh. come on, sIsw interrupted Ste
phen. I'm dying to get out Of this
jdll. Let old Graves wait II he comes.
We won't be long. and. besides, IT'S not
certain that he Is coming today. Come
onf"
I'm afraid ought not, Steve. Mr..
Graves may come and-and It seems
too bad to trouble our friends"-
TITS not trouble, it's pleasure" urged
Mrs. Dunn. Malcolm will be delight.
ed. II was his idea"
When Caroline and her brother had
gone for their wraps Mrs. Dunn laid q
hand on her sons arm.
"Now mind" she whispered. 'see II
you can flnd out anything during the
ride. Something more explicit about
the size Of their estate and who the
guardian IL to be. There are an sorts
Of stories, you know, and We must learn
the truth very soon. Don't appear Gu
rious, but merely friendly. You un-
derstandr
"sure, mater" was tho careless reply.
"I1l pump"
The two departed, leaving their lady
visitor ensconced In the comfortable
chair. She remained In II Tor perhaps
Eve minutes. Then she rose and saun-
tered about the room.
Her revene was interrupted By
voices In the passage. She listened.
but could hear nothing understandable.
Evidently the butler was having an
argument with some one. II could
not be Graves.
Edwards reappeared. looking rou.
bled.
"It's IA gentleman to see Miss Car.
oline," be said. HE won't give his
name. ma'am, but says Shes expecting
him"
'what sort Of . person b b. Ed
wardsl"
The buffers fAce twitched for IN In
slant with troubled smile; than It ~
sumed its customary respectful calm.
"I hardly know. ma'am. Hes an
oldish man. Hell think hs's from the
country"
From behind him came Z quiet
chuckle.
you're right commodore said :
mans voice: @I'm from the country.
You guessed It."
Edwards jumped, startled out Of bis
respectable wits. Mrs. Dunn rose In
dignity from her chair.
II beg your pardon, ma'am," said
the intruder, appearing in the door.
way. "You mustn't think I'm forcin'
my way where amt wanted. But
It seemed to take 80 long to make the
admiral here understand that was
goin' to wait until Caroline came back
that thought I'd save time and
breath by proyin' It to him. I didn't
know there was any company. Nx-
cuse me. ma'am. / won't bother you.
IN Just come to anchor out here m
the entry. Don't mind me-"
"why," Mrs. Dunn exclaimed In an
alarmed whisper-"why, I never heard
Of such brasen impertinence In my Life.
He must be insane. He u . lunAHc.
isn't he, Edwardsr
The butler shook his head. I'LL
don't know, ma'am." he stammered.
II believe be is." Mrs. Dunn's pres
ence Of mind was returning and with
It her courage. Her norid cheeks
famed q more vivid red, and her eyes
snapped. But whether he u or not,
be shan't bulldoze me-"
She strobe majeBtically to the door.
The visitor was seated in the han,
calmly reading Z nswspaper. Hat and
suit case were On the floor beside him.
aWhat do you mean BY thlsr de-
manded the lady. "Who are youi II
you have any business here stats Il at
once"
The man glanced at her over his
spectacles, rose and stood looking down
at her. His expression was pleasant.
and he was remarkably cool.
"Yes, ma'am," be said gravely. am
be glad to tell you who I am Il you'd
like to have me. ! haven't made any
mistake, have II I understood your
steward-the feller with the brass but
tons-to say that Abijah Warren's
children lived here. That's so, amt IT
II not, then am mistaken"
Mrs. Dunn regarded him with indig.
nation. "You are" she said coldly.
'sThe family Of the late Mr.. Rodgers
Warren lives here. ! presume the
slight resemblance In names misled
you. Edwards. show the gentleman
out"
Just one moment more. ma'am. II
was Rodgers Warren's children Was
lookin' for. A. Rodgers Warren be
called himself, didn't he7 Yes. Well,
the A stood for Abijah; that was bis
Christian name. And he left two chill.
dren, Caroline and Stephen7 0oodl
thought for jiny I'd blundersd In
where ! had no business, but ~ all