The Jasper news., 1918-07-18
By JOSEPH C. LINCOLN
Copyright By D. Appleton q Co.,


coming to the part cannot under
stand. OF course the estate belonged
to him. l know that. 1t is his. But
why didn't he tell Steve and me the
truth then, at once"
Caroline, Caroline, don't you under
stand yet? Do you imagine for one
moment that your uncle intends keep
ing that money!
She stared at him In utter amaze
ment.
keeping it? she repeated. "why
not? 1t is his. 1t belongs to him"
Caroline, I'm afraid you don't know
him even yet. He was for going to
you at once and destroying the note
in your presence. He would have done
it, but we persuaded him to wait and
think it over for day or two. He did
think and then decided to wait little
longer for your sake"
For my sake2 For mine?" She
passed her hand in bewildered way
across her forehead. "Mr. Sylvester
don't seem to understand even
now. u
For your sake, Caroline. Remem-
Der, at that time you were engaged
to Malcolm Dunn"
Her intent gaze wavered. She drew
a long breath. II see," she said slow
ly. "Oh-I see."
"Yes. Captain Warren is one 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. He
knew you must see the proof with your
own eyes. And he showed 1t to you"
But then" she begged distractedly,
why couldn't he tell me after that?
Il am so stupid l suppose-but, Mr..
Sylvester, all this isis
"He might have told you then, but
he did not think 1t 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.
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. Ii has never been
so much OF a man as during the past
year, when he thought himself poor.
But your uncle has planned for him as
well as for you, aid when he believes
the time has come he
Please" she interrupted falteringly-
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 itr
Yes, all. He considers himself mere
ly your guardian still and will accept
only his expenses from the estate"
1T is wonderful" she repeated bro.
kenly. Even though we cannot take
it, it is wonderful"
what? Cannot take it?"
"Of course not! Do you suppose that
either my brother or 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 not take it,
But, Caroline, l imagine you viii
have to take it. I understand youl
feelings, but l think he will compa
you to take it."
81 shall not!' She sprang to hel
feet. "Of course l shall not! Never
Neverw
whats that you're never goin' t
take, Caroline-measles or another triI
down in these parts? l hope faint thu
last, cause I've been caplatin' you'C
like 1t well enough to come again"
Caroline turned. So dill Sylvester
Captain Elisha was standing In tn,
doorway, his hand on the knob. II,
was smiling broadly, but as he looket
at the two by the fire he ceased t,
smile.
whats 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 other.
sylvester |" Caroline had never seer
her uncle thoroughly angry before
sylvester" he cried. "have you-hav
you dast to tell her what you shouldn't
Didn't you promise me? If you tol,
that girl Pll-Ill'-
His niece stepped forward. Hush
Uncle Elisha" she said. "He didn'
tell me until knew already. guess
ed 1t. Then l asked for the Who'll
truth, and he told me-"
"The whole truth? Caroline"
He wrung his hands.
"Yes, uncle, the whole truth. knoV
you now. | thought | knew YOU BIZ