The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1918-07-12

| q long breath. 81 See," she SAID SLOW
ly. "Oh-I see."
"Yes. Captain Warren is enc of the
best judges of character l ever met.
The Dunns did not deceive him for one
moment. He was certain Malcolm in
tended marrying you because of your
| money. For that matter, so was l.. lie
| knew you must see the proof with your
own eyes, And he showed 1t to you
"But them" she begged distractedly,
''why couldn't he tell me after that?
Il am so stupid, suppose-but, Mr..
Sylvester, all this isis
HE might have told you then, but
he did not think it best. Caroline, your
uncle has always believed in you. Even
when you sent him from your home he
did not blame you. He said you were
deceived-that was all. But, too, he
has always declared that you had been,
as he expressed it, brought up wrong.
Your money had, in a way, warped
your estimate of people and things.
And there was Steve. You know, Caro-
line, that money and what it brought
were spelling Steve. 81 , has never been
so much of man as during the past
year, when he thought himself poor.
But your uncle has planned for him as
well as for you, and when he believes
the time has come he
Please" she interrupted falteringly-
E'please don't say any more. Let me
think, Mr.. Sylvester. You say that
Uncle Elisha intends giving us all that
father took from him-all Of it?"
"Yes, all. He considers himself mere
ly your guardian still and will accept
only his expenses from the estate
"It is wonderfulv' she repeated bro
kenly. Even though we. cannot take
it, it is wonderful"
, What? Cannot take it,"
+, 'tOf course not, Do you suppose that
either my brother or l would take the
fortune, that our father stole-yes, stole
from him, after he has been living al
most, in poverty all these years and we
in luxury-on his money? OF course
we shall net take itv'
But. Caroline, 1 imagine you will
have to take it. l understand your
feelings, but 1 think he will compel
you to take it"
feet. ,':Of course shall not! Never!
Neverp'
whats that you're never goin' to
take, Caroline measles or another trip
down in these parts? l hope tain't the
last, cause I've been cal'latin' you'd
like it well enough to come again." f.
Caroline turned. so did Sylvester.
Captain Elisha was standing in the
doorway, his hand on the knob. He
was smiling broadly, but as he looked
at the two by the fire he ceased to
smile.
g"What's all this ~ he asked sus-
piciously. "Caroline, what-Sylvester,
what have you been tellin' herr"
Neither answered at once. The cap
tain looked from one to the sther.
sylvester !" Caroline had never seen
her uncle thoroughly angry before.
"Sylvester,p he cried. ."have you-have
you dast to tell her what you shouldn't?
Didn't you promise me? If you told
that girl Fll-I'll''-
His niece stepped forward. Hush,
Uncle Elisha,". she said. "He didn't
tell me until knew already. 1 guess
ed it. Then 1 asked for the Whole
truth, and he told me-
THE whole truth? Caroline"
h He eSwrung his hards.g So
Yes, uncle, the whole truth. know
you now l thought l knew you be-
fore, but didn't-not half. l do now"
"Oh, Carolinew He stepped toward
her and then stopped, frantic and de-
spairing. Caroline! Carolinew he
cried again. Can you ever forgive
me? You know-you must know
amt ever meant to keep it. It's all
yours. 1 just didn't give it to you
right off because-because- Oh, Syl-
vester. tell her I,never meant to keep
it. Tell her. x
The lawyer shook his head. 81 did
tell her," he said, with another shrug,
land she tells me she won't accept it"
.'What?' The captains eyes were
take it? Why, it's hers-hers and
Steve's. 1t always has been! Do you
cal'late I'd rob my own brothers chill
dren? Don't talk SO foolish! l won't
hear such talk"
Caroline was close to tears, but che
was firm.
Captain Elisha looked at her deter
mined face, then at the lawyers. But
he found no help there. His chin
thrust forward. He nodded slowly.
'All right. All right" he said grim
ly. sylvester, is your shop goin' to
be open tomorrer?'
Guess not, captain was the puz-
zled reply. "lt's Thanksgiving. Why?"
But Graves II be to home, won't he?
l could find him at his house?" '
Il presume you could"
"All right, then. Caroline Warren,
you listen, TO me. I'll give you till 2
o'clock to make up your mind to take
the money that belongs to you. If you
don't | swear to the Lord Almighty
I'll take the fust train, go straight to
New York; hunt up Graves, make him
go down to the office and get that note
your father made out turnin' all his
property over to that Akrae company.
III get that note. and I'll burn it up.
Then-then you'll have to take the
money because, it'll be yours. Every
bit of evidence that'Il hold i'll law is
gone
He turned. strode to the door and
out of the room. \ moment later they
heard a scream from Miss Baker in
the Kitchen: "Lisha Warren, what ails
you? Are you craZy?' There was no
answer, but the back door closed with
a tremendous bang.
Half an hour after his dramatic exit
CAPTAIN Elisha was pacing up and
down the floor of the barn. 1t was an
old refuge of his. a place where he was
accustomed to go when matters requir
ing deIiberation and thought Oppressed
him. AS he turned in his stride he
saw a shadow move across the sill of