The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1918-07-06

fathers death, Mr.. Pearson. ana I no
sumed that you had called upon my
brother and me. Excuse me. Mrs,
Dunn, we win go into the drawing
| room"
She led the way toward the apart.
ment Captain elisha was about to
speak. Pearson, however. explained
|. for him.
Miss Warren" he said, "if by q
business call you mean one In the In
terest of the Planet, I assure you that
you are mistaken. am no longer con-
nected with any paper. / met Cap
tain Warren under rather unusual cir
cumstances. We discovered that we
had mutual friends and mutual inter-
ests. He asked me to call ON him, and
I did SO. did not know until five
minutes ago that he was your uncle
or that you and your brother lived
here. I beg you won't leave the room
on my account was about to 90
when you came. Good evening""
He bowed and stepped toward the
hall. Captain Elisha laid hand on
his arm and detained him.
"Just minute" he said. caroline,
/ want you and Steve to know that
what Mr.. Pearson says is exactly true.
/ amt the kind to talk to the newspaA
pers about the private affairs of my re-
lations. and If I'm any Judge of char
acter Mr.. Pearson, KNOWN you as IL
seems he does, wouldn't be the kind to
listen. That's all. Now, Jim, IL you
must CO."
"Mr. Pearson" she said impulsively,
again I ask your pardon. / should
have known. am very sorry I spoke
as did. Will you forgive meY
Pearson colored. His embarrass.
ment was more evident than before.
There is no occasion for apology,
Miss Warren" he said. II don't won-
der you thought had come in my for
mer capacity as reporter"
Eyes, you do. You must have WON
dered. / am very glad you called to
see guardian, and hope you will
continue to do so. Father used to
speak so highly of you, and I'm sure
he valued your friendship. Stephen
and l wish to consider his friends
ours"
Parsons reply was brief.
THANK you, Miss Warren" he said.
"You are very kind. Good evening"
In the hall as they waited for the
elevator Captain Elisha, happier than
at any time since his arrival in New
York, clapped his friend ON the shouls
der.
"Jim," he aid, II was beginnin' to
doubt my judgment of things and
folks. Now feel better That niece
of mine has got the right stuff in her.
After that invitation you will come and
see us once in awhile. That makes it
easier heyY'
Pearson shook his head. "I'm not
sure, captain" he observed slowly,
"that it doesn't make it harder. shall
look for you at the boarding house
very soon. Don't disappoint me.
Good night"
The captains last remark that even
Ing vas made to Edwards, whom he
met just outside the door OF his bed.
room.
commodore" he said, "a barn full
Of rats is nuisance, amt it?"
"Why-why, yes, sir! / should think
1t might be, sir"
"Yup! Well, know a worse one.
It's house full Of mysteries. By, by.
son. Pleasant dreams"
He sat up until late, meditating pro-
foundly. Then, taking from Its en-
velope the letter yet unsealed, which
he had written to Miss Abigail Baker.
he added this postscript:
Eleven o'clock. l have decided,
Abbie, to accept the guardianship and
the rest of it for spell anyhow,
Shall notify the lawyers In the morn.
Ing. Necessity is one thing, and pleas !
ure is another. l doubt If 1 find the
job pleasant, but I guess 1t is neces-
sary. Anyhow, 1t looks that way to
me-"
Announcement of Captain Elisha's
decision followed quickly. Sylvester,
Kuhn & Graves received the tele. !
phone message stating 1t, and the
senior partner was unqualifiedly de-
lighted. Kuhn accepted his associates
opinion with some reservation. As for
Mr.. Graves, when the information was
to him by messenger, he ex.
pressed disgust and disuav aRidior