The Jasper news., 1918-05-09

body else" he admitted, who'll pay
share, anyhow. But, anyhow, you saw
wood or bones or whatever you have
to do, and leave the rest to me. And
don't tell Caroline or anybody else
word"
News from the Moriarty sick room
continued favorable for time. Then
with alarming suddenness a change
came. The broken hip was mending
slowly, but poor Pats age was against
him, and the shock and long illness
were too much for his system to fight.
DR.. Henry shook his head dubiously
when the CAY tain asked questions.
And one morning at breakfast Edwards
informed him that the old man was
dead.
Captain Elisha, though not greatly
surprised, was shocked and grieved
1t seemed such a needless tragedy, al
most like murder, although there was
no malice In 1t. And the thought of the
fatherless children and the poverty Of
the stricken family made him shudder.
But just before evening his blueness
had disappeared. He had just returned
to his room, after stepping into the hall
to drop his letter in the mail chute,
when his niece knocked at the door.
Captain Warren" she began hur-
riedly, "the last time I came to you
the last time came here, came to
ask favor, and you'll thought your
ayes, Caroline" he said gravely, II
know what you mean. Won't you
won't you sit down."
captain Warren" she began once
more, "the time + came to you in this
room you were, so thought, unreason-
able and unkind. ] asked you fol
money to help a poor family in trou-
BILE, and you refused to give it to me-"
mo, Caroline" he interrupted, II
didn't refuse; you only thought did"
She held up her hand. "Please let
me go on" she begged. II thought you
refused, and couldn't understand
why. ! was hurt and angry. / knew
that father never would have refused
me under such circumstances, and you
were his brother. But since then, only
today, have learned that was wrong.
/ have learned
She paused The captain was silent.
He was beginning to hope, to believe
once more in his judgment Of charac.
ter, and yet with his hope and growing
Joy there was tri1e of anxiety.
II have learned" went on his niece,
that I was mistaken. l can't under
stand yet why you wished to wait be-
fore saying yes but do know that it
must have been neither because you
were unkind nor ungenerous. have
just come from those poor people, and
they have told me everything"
Captain Elisha started. what did
they tell your" he asked quickly. "Who
told your
annie and her mother. They told
me what you had done and were doing
for them, how kind you had been all
through the illness and today. oh, I
know you made them promise not to
tell me, and you made the doctor and
nurse promise too. But knew some
one had helped, and Annie dropped
hint. Then l suspected, and now 1
know. Those poor people!"
The captain, who had been looking at
glanced up to find his niece's eyes fixed
upon him, and they were filed with
tears.
will you forgive me2" she asked,
rising from her chair and coming i'm
pulsively toward him. I'm sorry l
misjudged you and treated you 80.
You must be very good man. Please
forgive me-"
He took her hand, which was swal-
lowed up In his big one. His eyes
were moist also.
Lord love you, dearie," he said,
there's nothing to forgive. l realized
that I must have seemed like a mean,
stingy old scamp. Yet didn't mean to
be. only wanted to look into this
thing just nttle-just as a matter of
business, you know. And l. Caro-
line, did that doctor tell you anything
more?"
ANY more?" she repeated In bewil.
derment. "He told me that you were
the kindest man he had ever SEEN"
Eyes. yes. Well. maybe his eyesights
poor. What mean is did he tell you
anything about anybody else bein' III
this with mel"
Anybody else7 What do you meanT
"Oh, nothin', nothin'. / joked with
him spell ago about wealthy rela-
ton Of the Morlarty tribe turnin' up.
Twas only Joke, Of course. And yet.
Caroline. IL think I'd ought to say
He hesitated. What could he say