Gilpin observer., 1918-12-19
CHAPTER Kill.
A Rock or a Lighthouse.

-12-
A Rock or . Lighthouse.
THUS Captain Elisha entered an
other of New York's "circles," !"
that which centered at Mrs. Hep
ssa's boarding house. Within a week
he was as much part of 1t as II he
had lived there for years. At lunch,
on 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 zone 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 q business adviser but a 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 q brief
note. The note brought by a messen-
ger accompanied a package containing
the chain which he and Pearson select
ed with such deliberation 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 II there was
anything new in the ofiln'. Last time I
see You. you hinted you and your mates
had sighted somethin' or other through
the fog, and 1t might turn out to be q
rock or q lighthouse, you couldn't tell
which. Made up your mind yeti"
Sylvester shook his head. NO" he
said slowly, ut is still foggy. We're
busy investigating, but we're not ready
to report"
"Humphi Well, what's the thing
look likef You must be little higher
to 1t by now"
The lawyer tapped his desk with a
pencil. II don't know what it looks
like" he answered. "That is to say,
DON'T can't believe 1t is what 1t ap-
pears at this distance to be. II 1t Ia it
is the most
He paused. Captain Elisha waited
for him to 60 on and when he did so
asked another question.
'The most what?" he demanded. "Is
It likely to be very bad? Amt discov.
cred any more of those Cut Short bonds.
have your"
The bonds to which he referred were
those Of 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.
differentiating from the tangible" va.
riety.
. "Abbie, my housekeeper, has been
writin' me-" he went on, "about havin'
the sewin' 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 expen-
sive. Judge what she wants Is some
thin that looks like money but amt
really worth more than 10 cents mile.
I've been thinkin' I'd send her a bale
or so Of those bonds. They'd fill the
bill in those respects, wouldn't theyT"
Sylvester laughed. "They certainly
would, captain" he replied. mo, we
haven't unearthed any more OF that
sort. And, as for this mystery Of ours,
I'll give you the answer, II it's worth
giving at all, In very short time.
Meanwhile you go home and forget It."
well, I'll try. But guess 1t 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 carryin, about
all the worry my tonnage'n stand as
It's"
He drew q long breath: Sylvester ~
garded him sympathetically.
You mustn't take your nephew's
and niece's treatment too much to
heart" he said.
O~s oou pS@es Ab, pkotcho
don't. And do try not to. But ]
keep thinkin' and wonderin' II 'twould
have been better II hadn't gone there
to live at all. HI hum! A man Of my
age hadn't ought to mind what Q
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. I suppose there's
just a. much 'Dunnin'' ~ ever goin
on mp there"
"Yes; q little more, II anything. Tn
afraid. Your niece and Mrs. Dunn and
her precious son are together now &c
constantly that people are expecting
well, You know what they expect"
''I can guess. I hope they'll be die