The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1918-08-17
By JOSEPH C. LINCOLN
Copyrights By D. Appleton . Coy

he demanded. Perhaps it's his latch.
key. Here! I'll do it myself"
He cut the cord and removed the GOV.
er Of the little box. Inside was the
jewelers. leather case. He took it out
and pressed the spring. The cover
| few up.
"Whew!' he whistled. "It's a pres.
ent. And rather a decent one, too. by
CAD! Look Caro!'
He handed her the open case. She
looked at the chain spread carefully on
the white satin lining. Inside the COW
er was fitted card. She turned Il
over and read: ITO my niece, Caro-
line. With wishes for many happy re.
turns and much love, from her Uncle
Elisha Warren"
She sat gazing at the card. Stephen
bent down, read the inscription and
then looked up into her face.
"What?" he cried. 81 believe-you're
not crying Well, I'll be hanged Sis,
you are foolp
The weather that morning was fine
and clear. James Pearson, standing by
the window Of his rooms at the board
ing house, looking out at the snow Gov
cred roofs sparkling in the sun, was
miserable. When he retired the night
before 1t was with a solemn oath to
forget Caroline Warren altogether; to
put her and her father and the young
cad, her brother, utterly from his mind,
never to be thought of again.
Why-why had he been so weak as
to yield to Captain Elisha's advice?
Why had he not acted like sensible,
self respecting man, done what he
knew was right and persisted in his
refusal to visit the Warrens? Why?
Because he was an idiot, of course-a
hopeless idiot, who had got exactly
what he deserved! Which bit of phi
losophy did not help make his renec-
lions less bitter.
After breakfast he went 70 his room,
seated himself at his desk and took the
manuscript of his novel from the
drawer.
He was still sitting there, twirling
an idle pencil between his fingers,
when he heard steps outside his door.
Some one knocked.
swell, what is it?" he asked.
His landlady answered.
mfr. Pearson" she said, "may / see
your? .> I
He threw down the pencil and, ris-
ing, walked to the door and opened 1t.
Mrs. Hepton was waiting In the hall.
She seemed excited.
"Mr. Pearson" she said, "will you
step downstairs with me for a mo-
ment? / have a surprise for you"
"a surprise? What sort Of a sur
prise?"
"Oh, pleasant one-at least think
it Is going to be pleasant one for all
of us. But I'm not going to tell you
what It is. You must come down and
see for yourself" ".
On the second floor Mrs, Hepton
stopped and pointed.
Its in there" she said, pointing.
"There" was the room formerly oc.
cupied by Mr.. Saks, the long haired
artist. Since his departure it had been
vacant. Mrs. Hepton took Pearson by
the arm and, leading him to the door,
threw the latter open.
Here he is" she said
"Hello, jim" hailed Captain Elisha
Warren cheerfully. "Ship ahoy Glad
to see you"
He was standing in the middle Of the
room, his hat on the table and his
hands in his pockets.
Pearson was surprised-there was no
doubt Of that-not SO much at the sight
of his friend-he had expected to see
or hear from the captain before the
day was over-as at seeing him in that
room. He could not understand what
he was doing there.
Captain Elisha noted his bewildered
expression and chuckled.
"Come aboard, Jimp' he commanded.
Come in and inspect. I'll see you
later, Mrs. Hepton," he added, "and
give you my final word. l want to
hold Offices council with Mr.. Pearson
here fust."
Pearson began to get clew to the
situation.
captain Warren" he demanded,
shave you-do you mean to say you've
taken this room to live in?"
mo, I amt said all that yet. I want.
ed to talk with you little afore I said
it. But that was my idea if you and /
agreed on sartin matters"
You've come here to live! You've
left your-your niece's houseY'
"Ya-as, I've left-that is, I left the
way the Irishman left the stable where
they kept the mule. He said there was
all outdoors in front of him and only
two feet behind. That's about the wav
twas with me-"
"Have your nephew and niece"-
"Um-hm! They limited that nv room
wac better than my company, and
take it by and large, guess they was
right, for the present anyhow. I set
up till 3 o'clock thinkin' it over. and
then / decided to get out afore break.
fast this mornin'. I didn't wait for
any goodbys. They'd been said. or oil
I cared to hear"-Captain Elisha,s
smile disappeared for an instant-.1ast