The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1918-03-29
Yes. OF course the will has been


read to them"
Hum! 1 spose 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
repressing 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
I 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 a feller 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. understand.
Go ahead"
Il 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 if 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, 1 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 it. I
have to give me tonight to chew over
that way, I 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. his-er-er-Caroline and
Stephen they're used to livin' 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! l should imagine life on
twenty odd thousand year must be
pretty much all circles, one everlastin'
turn your partners Well, Mr.. Graves,
my circles down here are consider'bl
smaller, but they suit me. I'm worth
twenty odd thousand myself, not in
year, but in a lifetime. I'm selectman
and director in the bank and trustee
Of the church. When I holler Boo
the South Denboro folkS-some of
them, anyhow-set up and take notice.
l can lead the grand march down in
this neighborhood once in awhile, and
callate I'm prettier leadin' it than
1 would be doin' 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 a
two foot hole after the plugs out, and
1 can see that you and Bije's children
won't shed tears if 1 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
49," continued the captain, "Tn
ease your and their minds by sayin'
that, the way 1 feel now, 1 probably
sha'nt accept the trust. 1 probably
sha'n't. But won't say sure I won't,
because-well, because Bile was my
brother; he was that no matter what
our differences may have been. And
know-I know that there must be
some reason bigger than implicit trust
and the other May baskets for his ap-
pointin' me in his will What that rea-
son is 1 don't know-yet. But for a
beginnin' 1 cal'late to run down tc
New York some time durin' the next
week, take a cruise round and sort Of
look things over"