Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1918-05-24
He win have his joke. Malcolm, apollo

Mrs. Dunn. "a little fresh air will do
her good. I was going to suggest that
Malcolm and she and Stephen go for q
short ride. Our car is at the door, it's
not at all a bad afternoon and the out
ing will be just what you need"
"Thank you, Mrs. Dunn" said Caro-
line gratefully. II should like to. In
deed, I should. But we have been ex-
pecting a business call from Mr. Graves,
fathers lawyer, and"
"Oh, come on, sis !" interrupted Ste
phen. "Tm dying to get out Of this
Jail. Let old Graves wait IL he ome
We won't be long, and, besides, it's not
certain that he Is coming today. Come
on"
"Tm afraid I ought not, Steve. MI.
Graves may come and-and 1t seems
too bad to trouble our friends
"It's not trouble, it's pleasure" urged
Mrs. Dunn. Malcolm will be delight
ed. It was his idea"
When Caroline and her brother had
gone for their wraps Mrs. Dunn laid a
hand on her sons arm.
"Now mind" she whispered, "see If
you can find out anything during the
ride. Something more explicit about
the size of their estate and who the
guardian Is to be. There are all sorts
Of stories, you know, and we must learn
the truth very soon. Don't appear Gu
rious, but merely friendly. You un-
derstand?"
"Sure, mater" was the careless reply.
"I1l pump"
The two departed, leaving their lady
visitor %ensconced in the comfortable
chair. She remained In 1t for perhaps
five minutes. Then she rose and saun-
tered about the room.
Her reverie was interrupted by
voices in the passage. She listened,
but could hear nothing understandable.
Evidently the butler was having an
argument with some one. 1t could
not be Graves.
Edwards reappeared, looking trou.
bled.
"It's "a gentleman to see Miss Car
oline,' he said. "He won't give his
name, ma'am, but says she's expecting
him."
what sort Of a person is he, Ed
wardsT"
The buffers face twitched for an in
slant with a troubled smile; then it re-
sumed its customary respectful calm.
II hardly know, ma'am. He's an
oldish man. He-I think he's from the
country"
From behind him came a quiet
chuckle.
You're right, commodore" said a
You guessed it."
Edwards jumped, startled out Of his
respectable wits. Mrs. Dunn rose in
dignity from her chair.
81 beg your pardon, ma'am," said
the intruder, appearing in the door
way. "You mustn't think I'm forcin'
my way where 1 amt wanted. But
it seemed to take SO long to make the
admiral here understand that l was
goin' to wait until Caroline came back
that I thought I'd ave time and
breath by provin' 1t to him. l didn't
know there was any company. Ex-
cuse me, ma'am. I won't bother you.
I'll just come to anchor out here in
the entry. Don't mind me-"
"Why," Mrs. Dunn exclaimed in an
alarmed whisper-"why, 1 never heard
Of such brazen i%mpertinence In my life.
He must be insane. He Is a ~lunatic,
isn't he, Edwards"
The butler shook his head. "I-I
don't know, ma'am," he stammered.
81 believe he is" Mrs. Dunn's pres.
ence of mind was returning and with
it her courage. Her ford cheeks
famed a more vivid red, and her eyes
snapped. But, whether he is or not,
he shan't bulldoze me-"
She strobe majestically to the door.
The visitor was seated in the hall,
calmly reading a newspaper. Hat and
suit case were on the floor beside him.
"What do you mean by this?" de-
manded the lady. "Who are you? If
you have any business here state it at
once"
The man glanced at her over his
sp~ectacles, rose and stood looking down
at her. His expression was pleasant,
and he was remarkably cool.
Eyes, ma'am," he said gravely. 'I'n
be glad to tell you who l am if you'd
like to have me. l haven't made any
mistake, have I? l understood your
steward-the Teller with the brass but
tons-to say that Abijah Warren's
children lived here. That's so, amt it?
If not, then l am mistaken"
Mrs. Dunn regarded him with indig-
nation. "You are" she said coldly.
"The family Of the late Mr.. Rodgers
Warren lives here. I presume the
slight resemblance in names misled
you. Edwards, show the gentleman
out"
Just one moment more, ma'am. 1t
was Rodgers Warren's children I was
lookin' for. A. Rodgers Warren he
called himself, didn't he? Yes. Well,
the A stood for Abijah; that was his
Christian name. And he left two chill
dren, Caroline and Stephen? Good! I
thought for a jiffy I'd Numbered in