Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1918-01-22

there? It don't always make you feel
that way-that's why put in hot wa
ter heat-but for looks and sociable-
ness you can't beat log fire. Smoke,
do your"
"Yes, occasionally. But Captain
Warren
Here, try that It's cigar the
Judge gave me over to Ostable. He
smokes that kind reg'lar, but If you
don't like it throw it away. He amt
here to see you do 1t, so you won't be
fined for contempt Of court. I'll stick
to a pipe If you don't mind. Now
we're shipshape and all taut, cal'late.
Let's see. You wanted to talk busi-
ness, believe"
"Yes, I did. But before begin I
should like to be sure you are the
Elisha Warren I came from New York
to interview. I am an attorney. Have
you-had you brother in business in
New York"
"Hey?" The captain turned and
looked his guest squarely in the eye.
His brOwS drew together.
"Pve got brother in New York."
he answered slowly. "Did he send You
here"
"Was your brothers. name A. Rod
gers Warren?"
"tA. RodgersT No. His name is
Abijah Warren, and-wait! His mid
die name is Rodgers, though. Did
Bile send you to me?"
"a moment, captain. Was your
brother broker?"
"Yes. His Office Is or used to be on
Broad street. What
"You have not heard from him for
some time2"
"Not for eighteen years. BE and !
didn't agree as well as we might.
Maybe twas my fault, maybe twas
bis. have my own ideas on that. If
you're lookin' for Bile Warren's broth
er, Mr.. Graves, I guess you're come
to the right place. But what he sent
you to Inc for or what he wants-for
he wants somethin' or he wouldn't
have sent-I don't understand"
"Why do you think he wanted some
thing%
Because he's Bile Warren and I
was brought up with him. When We
was young ones together he went to
school and / went to work. he got
the frostin' on the cake, and got the
burnt part next to the pan. he went
to college, and I went to sea. Twas
later on that we Well, never mind
that either. What is it he wants Of
me after eighteen yearsF"
"He wants a good deal Of you, Cap
tain Warren, or did want It."
"Did? Don't he want 1t now? Is
Bile deadT
HE died ten days ago very suddenly.
In way 1t was a great shock to us
all, yet we have known that his heart
was weak. He realized 1t too"
$50 Bile Is dead, heyT Captain
Elisha's face was very grave, and he
spoke slowly. Dead! Well, well
wellP'
He paused and looked into the fire.
Graves saw again that vague resem-
blance he had caught on the train, but
had forgotten. He knew now why he
noticed it.
Captain Elisha cleared his throat.
"Well, wellr'. he sighed. $50 Bile
has gone. s'pose you think it's odd,
maybe" he went on, that amt more
struck down by the news. But, to
speak truth, he and l have been SO
apart and have had nothin' to do with
each other for so long that-that-well,
I've come to feel as If I didn't have a
brother. And know he felt that way
yes, and wanted to feel so. I know
that. There was q time when I'd have
got down on my knees and crawled
from here to New York to help Bile
Warren. lent him money to start In
business. Later on him and I went
into partnership together on IA fool
South American speculation that didn't
pan out for nothin'. I didn't care for
that. took my chance same as he
did. We formed stock company all
amongst ourselves, and I've got my
share of the stock somewhere yet. 1t
may come in handy If ever want to
paper the barn. But 'twan't business
deals Of that kind that parted US; twas
another matter -somethin' that he did
to other folks who'd trusted us and
Humphl This don't interest you, Of
course. Well, Bile was well of, I
know. His wife died way back In the
nineties. She was one Of them fash
ionable women, and a hayseed salt
herrin' of q bachelor brother.in-law
stuck down here in the sand heaps
didn't interest her much-except as
somethin' to forget, l s'pose. used
| to see her name in the Boston papers
occasionally, givin' parties at Newport
and one thing another. never en-
We'd 'em that kind Of life."
"Your brother had two children by
his marriage" said Mr.. Graves after
| q moment Of silence.
"Hey? Two children? Why, yes, I
remember he did. Boy and girl, want
they? never saw 'em. They've grow
ed up by this time, of course"
Eyes. The eldest, Caroline. Is near
| " twenty. The boy, Stephen, Is a year
younger. It is concerning those chill
dren, Captain Warren, that I have
come to see you. In spite Of the es-
arrangement it Is evident that bis conf.
dence in your judgment and integrity
was supreme. His children were his
idols, Captain Warren, and he has left
them In your charge"
The captains pipe fell to the hearth.
"Whatr' he shouted. Left his chill
dren toto me! Mr.. Graves, you're
you're out of your head-or I amT
II say that your brother has LETT his
two children in your care until the
youngest shall become Of age twenty.
one. have copy Of his win here,
and ~
"Wait, waitl Let me think. Left
his children to me-to mel Mr.. Graves,
had Bile lost all his money!"
mo. He was not the millionaire
that many thought him. Miss Warren
and her brother will be obliged to econ.
omize somewhat In their manner OF
living. But with care and economy
their income should be quite suficient
/ A. ..~suHfna1 k0W-