The Raymer enterprise., 1918-12-26
CHAPTER XIII.
A Rock OF liahtheuss.


J other Of New York's "circles,"
that which centered at Mrs. Hep
ss-'s boarding house. Within q week
he was as much a part Of 1t as II be
had lived there for years. At lunch,
on the day Of bis arrival, he made his
appearance at the table In company
with Pearson, and when the hndlady
exultantly announced that he was to
be zone Of our little party" thereafter
he received and replied to the welcom-
Ing salutations Of his fellow boarders
with unrufled serenity.
The captain paid frequent visits to
the Offices Of Sylvester, Kuhn 4 Graves
In Pine street. Upon the senior part
ner, whom be esteemed and trusted not
only as a 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 a brief
note. The note brought by a messen-
ger accompanied a package containing
the chain which he and Pearson select
ed with such dellberation and care at
the Fifth avenue jewelers.. Under the
existing circumstances, the girl wrote,
she felt that she did not wish 10 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 zee him and In
vitei him to lunch.
mo, thank you." replied the captain.
u Just run down to ask II there was
anything new In the ofiln'. Last time
see you, you hinted you and your mates
had sighted somethin' or other through
the fog, and II might turn out to be
rock or lighthouse. you couldn't tell
which. Made up your mind YETI"
Sylvester shook his head. mo" he
said slowly. ut Is still foggy. We're
busy investigating. but we're not ready
TO report"
"Humphl Well, what's the thing
look llkel You must be a little higher
to II by now"
The lawyer tapped his desk with a
pencil. Il don't know what Il looks
like" he answered. "That Is to say,
DON'T can't believe 1t Is what II ap-
pears ut this distance to be. II II In II
In the most
He paused. Captain Elisha waited
for him to 60 on and when be did 80
asked another question.
The most whatr' he demanded ia
It likely to be very badi Amt discoy.
cred any more Of those Cut Short bonds
have your"
The bonds to which be referred were
those of q defunct Short Line railroad.
A large number Of these bonds had
been discovered among A. Rodgers
Warren's effects. Part Of his tangled
assets" the captain had termed them,
dlfferentating from the tangible" va.
rlety.
"Abbie, my housekeeper has been
writin' me-" he went on. "about havin'
the SEWN room papered. She wants
my advice concernin' the style of pa
per. Says It ought to be pretty and
out Of the common. but not too eIpen-
sive. Judge what she wants Is some
thin that looks like money but amt
really worth more thnn 10 cents a mile.
I've been thinkIn' I'd send her bale
or 40 Of those bonds. They'd flll the
biil In those respects, wouldn't theyT
Sylvester laughed. "rhey certainly
would. captain" he replied. mo, we
haven't unearthed any more OF that
sort. And. as for this mystery Of ours,
Ill give you the answer. II It's worth
giving at all. In a very short time.
Meanwhile you go home and forget It."
well, III try. But l guess It sticks
out on my face like four days tooth
ache. But won't worry about that.
You know best whether to tell me now
or not, and-well. I'm carryln' about
all the worry my tonnage'll stand 40
tbs"
He drew long breath. Sylvester ~
garded him sympathetically.
"You mustn't take your nephew's
and niece's treatment too much to
heart" be said.
"Oh, I don't-that is. l pretend
don't. And l do try not to- But I
keep thinkin' and wonderin' IL 'twould
have been better II / hadn't gone there
to live ut all. I'll huml A man OF my
age hadn't ought to mind what a
twenty -year-old girl says or does, 'spe-
cially when her kind, advisin' friends
have shown her how she's been de-
ceived and hypocritted. BY the way,
speakin' Of hypocrites. suppose there's
just as much 'Dunnin'' as ever goin
on up there"
"Yes: q little more. II anything, I'm
afraid. Your niece and Mrs. Dunn and
her precious son are together now so
constantly that people are expecting
well. you know what they expect"
II can guess. l hope they'll be dis
app'inted."
$50 do I, but must confess I'm fear
full Malcolm himself isn't 30 wise.
but his mother is"-
"A whole book Of Proverbs, heyf l
know. She's an able old fngate !