The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1918-03-29
CHAPTER II.
The Will of Abiiah.

The Will of Abijah.
"%HIS is your room, Mr.. Graves,
Il said Miss Abigail Baker, plac'
ing the lighted lamp on the
bureau. "And here's a pair of socks
and some slippers. They belong to
Elisha-Cap'n Warren, that is-but he's
got more Cold water and towels and
soap are in the washstand over yon'
der, but 1 guess you've had enough
cold water for one night. There's
plenty hot in the bathroom at the end
of the hall. You needn't hurry. Sup,
per's waited an hour and half as it's
"Twon't hurt it to wait spell longer
She went away, closing the door aft
er her. The bewildered, wet and shiv'
ering New Yorker stared about the
room, which, to his surprise, was warm
and cozy. Radiators and bathroom
These were modern luxuries he would
have taken for granted had Elisha
Warren been the sort Of man he ex-
pected to find-the country magnate,
the leading citizen, fitting brother to
the late A. Rodgers Warren Of Fifth
avenue and Wall street.
But the Captain Warren who had
driven him to South DenborO in the
rain was not that kind of man at all.
His manner and his language were as
far removed from those of the late A.
Rodgers as the latter's brown-stone
residence was from this big, rambling
house, with its deep stairs and narrow
halls, its antiquated pictures and hid
eous, old fashioned wall paper; as far
removed as Miss Baker, whom the cap
tain had hurriedly introduced as my
second cousin keepin' house for me. ="
was from the dignified butler at the
mansion on Fifth avenue. Certainly
this particular Warren was not fitted
to be elder brother to the New York
broker who had been Sylvester, Kuhn
& Graves client.
It could not be; it could not. There
must be some mistake. In country
towns there were likely to be several Of
the same name. There must be another
Elisha Warren.
Meanwhile Miss Abigail had descend
ed the stairs to the sitting room. Be
fore a driftwood fire in big brick fire
place sat Captain Warren in his shirt
sleeves, pair Of mammoth carpet slip
pers on his feet and the said feet
stretched luxuriously out toward the
blaze.
"Abbie," observed the captain, "this is
solid comfort. Every time 1 go away
from home l get into trouble, don't [?
Last trip took to Boston lost $50,
and
Lost itr' interrupted Miss Baker
tartly. eff lendin' Tim Foster amt Civ
in it away, then miss my guess"
"Well," with another chuckle, "Tim
don't feel that way He swore right up
and down that he wouldn't take cent
as a gift. I offered to make him a
that 1 apologized afore he could say
no."
"Yes, and then lent him that thirty.
Shocked! The only thing that would
shock that good-for-nothin' is bein' set
to work. When you get back copper
of that money I'll believe the millen-
NUNS struck, that's all"
Hum! Well. I'll help you believe it
that is, if I have time afore I drop
dead of heart disease. What started
to say was that every time I go away
from home I get into trouble. Up to
Boston twas Tim and his loan To
night it's ABOUT as healthy sou'wester
IN nova to6a I'D
in the team, has he?"
"Yes; it's in the stable. He says the
buggy dash is pretty well scratched up
and that it's a wonder you and that
Graves man want killed. Who is he,
anyhow
Land knows: I DON'T
"You don't know! Then what's he
doin' here?"
"Changin' his duds, 1 guess. That's
what I'd do if looked as much like
drowned rat as he did"
Elisha Warren, If you amt the
most provokin' thing! Don't be so un-
likely You know what I mean.
What's he come here to this house
forY
Don't know, Abbie. I didn't know
he was comm here till just as we got
down yonder by Emery's corner. I
asked him who he was Iookin' for; he
said Elisha Warren, and then the
tree caved in on us. Oh, come right
in, Mr.. Graves. 1 hope you're drier
now"
Captain Warren sprang from the
chair to greet his visitor, who was
standing In the doorway.
Eyes, come right in, Mr.. Graves" he
urged cordially. "Set down by the
fire and make yourself comf'table. Abb
he'll have somethin' for us to eat in
tiffy. Pull up chair"
The lawyer cams forward hesitat-
4ngly.
THANK you, captain" he said. But
before 1 accept more of your hospitah-
ty feel / should be sure there is no
mistake 1 have come on important
business, and
Hold on" The captain held up a
big hand. Don't you say another
word. There's just one business that
interests me this minute, and that's
supper. Set right down here, Mr..
Graves. I'll try to keep you supplied
With solid cargo, and Abbie'n tend to
he moistenin'. Hope that teapot is
.ull up, Abbie Hot tea tastes good
after you've swallowed as much cold
rain as Mr.. Graves and have.
Father, we thank thee for these mer-
cies set before us. Amenl