The Jasper news. [volume] (Jasper, Missouri) 1898-1924, 1918-06-13
CHAPTER XIII.
A Rock or q Lighthouse.


he was as much a part Of it as If he
had lived there for years. at lunch,
Oh the day Of his arrival, he made his
appearance at the table in company
with Pearson, and when the landlady
exultantly announced that he was to
be lone Of our little party" thereafter
he received and replied to the welcom-
ing salutations of his fellow boarders
with unruffled serenity.
The captain paid frequent visits to
the offices of Sylvester, Kuhn & Graves
in Pine street. Upon the senior part
ner, whom he esteemed and trusted not
only as business adviser but friend,
he depended for information concern
ing happenings at the Warren apart
ment.
Caroline sent him regular statements
of her weekly expenditures, also bills
for his approval, but she had written
him but once, and then only brief
note. The note brought by a messen-
ger accompanied a package containing
the chain which he and Pearson select
ed with such elaboration and care at
the Fifth avenue jewelers.. Under the
existing circumstances, the girl wrote,
she felt that she did not wish to accept
presents from him and therefore re-
turned this one.
After Pearson had departed one morn
ing Captain Elisha put on his hat and
coat and started for his lawyers Office
Sylvester was glad to see him and in
vited him to lunch.
mo, thank you," replied the captain.
II just run down to ask If there was
anything new in the oftin Last time
see you, you limited you and your mates
had sighted somethin' or other through
the fog, and it might turn out to be a
rock or lighthouse, you couldn't tell
which. Made up your mind YETI"
Sylvester shook his head. NO" he
said slowly, sit is still foggy. We're
busy investigating, but we're not ready
to report"
"Humph! Well, what's the thing
look like? You must be little higher
to it by now"
The lawyer tapped his desk with q
pencil. II don't know what it looks
like" he answered. THAT is to say, l
DON'T can't believe 1t is what 1t ap-
pears at this distance to be. If 1t is 1t
is the most
He paused. Captain Elisha waited
for him to go on and when lie did so
asked another question.
THE most what?" he demanded. SIS
1t likely to be very bad? Amt discov.
cred any more OF those Cut Short bonds
have youT'
The bonds to which he referred were
those of defunct Short Line railroad
large number Of these bonds had
been discovered among A. Rodgers
Warren's effects. Part of his tangled
assets the captain had termed them
ditferentlating from the tangible" va
riety.
"Abbie, my housekeeper, has beer
writin' me-" he went on, "about havln
the SEWN room papered. She want
my advice cOnCernin' the style of pa
per. Says it ought to be pretty ant
out of the common, but not too expen
sive. ! judge what she wants is some
thin that looks like money but ain
really worth more than 10 cents mile
I've been thinkin' I'd send her q bal
or so of those bonds. They'd fill tn
bill in those respects, wouldn't they :?
Sylvester laughed. "They certainl.
would. captain" he replied. mo, W,
haven't unearthed any more of tina
sort. And, as for this mystery of ours
Ill give you the answer, If it's wort
giving at all, in very short time
Meanwhile you go home and forget it.
"Well, I'll try. But guess it stick
out on my face like four days tooth
ache. But won't worry about thai
You know best whether to tell me nov
or not, and-well, I'm carryin' abou
all the worry my tonnage'll stand a
it's"
He drew long breath. Sylvester re
garded him alphabetically
You mustn't take your nephew
and niece's treatment too much
heart" he said.
"Oh, l don't-that is, l pretend
don't. And | do try not to. But
keep thinkin' and wonderin if 'twoul
have been better If l hadn't gone theI
to live at all. Hi hum! A man of m
age hadn't ought to mind what
twenty-year- girl says or does, 'sp
cially when her kind, advisin' FRIEND
have shown her how she's been d
ceived and hypocritted. BY the wa
speakin' of hypocrites, suppose there
Just as much 'Dunnin'' as ever goi
on up there"
''Yes; little more, If anything, II
afraid. Your niece and Mrs. Dunn an
hnr nracious son are topethar now {