The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1918-04-26
CHAPTER Vi-Continued.

"Ha, ha ~ he crowed. That's good
Then, from your questioning of the
children, you've learned?"-
''Not such an awful lot. / think I've
learned that-hum! that a good guard
ian might be a handy thing to have in
the house. A reg'lar legal guardian,
mean. Otherwise
"Otherwise?"
"Otherwise there might be too many
interested volunteer substitutes for the
Job. Maybe I'm wrong, but doubt it.
"Have you made up your mind to be
that guardian?"
"Not yet. I haven't made up my
mind to anything yet. Now, Mr.. Syl
vester, while we're waitin' for what
comes next-you've ordered enough
grub to victual a ship-s'pose you just
run over what your firm knows about
Bije-that is, if 1 amt askin' toe
much"
"Not at all. That's what I'm here
for. You have a right to know. But
warn you my information isn't worth
much
EIe went on briefly and with the con-
ciseness of the legal mind to tell OF A
Rodgers Warren, his business and his
estate. He had been a broker with a
seat on the Stock Exchange.
"That seat is worth consider BILE
amt it," interrupted the captain.
Between eighty and one hundred
thousand dollars"
"Yup. Well, it reminds me of pic
ture l saw once in one Of the comic
papers. An old feller from the back
woods somewheres-good deal like me
he was and just about as green-was
pictured standin' along with his city
nephew in the gallery of the exchange.
And the nephew says, Uncle says he,
do you realize that a seat down there's
wuth S75,OOOT Gosh says the old
man, no wonder most of 'em are
standin' up Ho, no! Is that seat OF
Biie's part of the 100000 you figger
he's left?"
"Yes; in a way it is. To be truthful
Captain Warren, we're not sure as to
the amount of your brothers tangible
assets. Graves made hurried exami.
nation of the stocks, bonds and memo
randa and estimated the total, that's
ALL
81 see. Well, heave ahead"
"What we propose, provided you de-
eide to accept the trust, the executor
ship and the rest, is to get together
you and Graves if he is well enough
you and l if he is not-and begin q
careful examination of the stocks
bonds, assets and debts Of the estate
This must be done first of ALL"
Graves hinted there want any
debts to amount to anything"
$50 far as we can see there are none
except few trifing bills"
eyes, yes. Hum Captain Elisha put
down his coffee spoon and seemed tc
be thinking. He shook his head. 81
was puzzled afore I left home, and Tn
just as puzzled now"
what puzzles you, if may ask?"
Everything. And, if you'll excuse
my sayin' so, Mr.. Sylvester, guess i
puzzles you too
He returned his hosts look. The lat
ter pushed back his chair, preparatory
to rising.
"It is all so perfectly simple on the
face of it, Captain Warren" he said
"Your brother realized that he mus
die, that his children and their none!
must be taken care of you were hi
nearest relative; his trust In your hon
esty and judgment caused him to over
look the estrangement between you
That's the case, isn't it?"
Eyes. That's the case, on the face o.
it, as you say. But you've forgot t.
mention one item.'
"What's that?"
"Biie himself. You knew him prett!
well, l can see that. So did |. And
guess that's why we're both puzzled.
The big lounging room Of the club
on the first floor, Fifth avenue side
was almost empty when they entered
it. The lawyer drew two big chair!
near the open fire, rang the bell ant
ordered cigars. After the cigars were
lighted and the fragrant clouds o
smoke were rising he reopened the con
versation. And now, in an easy, diplo
matte way, he took his turn at ques
ticning.
Meanwhile the room had been film!
up. Around each of the big Windows
overlooking the avenue We're gathered
groups Of tnen, young and old, smok
ing, chatting and gazing idly out. Cap
tain Elisha regarded them curiously.
"This amt holiday, is it?' he askeC
after awhile.
mo. Why"
81 was Just wondering If all those fel
lers hadn't any work to do, thatS all.
"Who-thst crowd?" The iawye
laughed. "Oh, they're doing their reg
uIar stunt. You'll find most of then
here every afternoon about this time
Most of the younger set have rich ia
theirs or have inherited money"
81 see. They let the old man do tn
Iorryin'. That's philosophy, anyhow
What are they so interested in outsid
parade goin' by?"
No. I imagine an unusually prett.
girl passed just then"
as that so? Well, we'll. Say, Nj
srlvesssr. the longer / stay in NeV