The Jasper news., 1918-06-06
By JOSEPH C. LINCOLN
Copyright BY D. Appleton a oo.)

and pressed the spring. The cover
flew up.
"Whewi" he whistled. 'Tts pres
ent. And rather decent one, too, by
gadl Look .Carop
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 II
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.
"What7" he cried. II believe-you're
not crying Well, I'll be hanged Sis.
You are fooli"
The weather that morning was nne
and clear. James Pearson, standing by
the window of his rooms at the board
ing house, looking out at the snow COW
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 advice2
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? Whyf
Because he was an idiot, Of course-a
hopeless idiot, who had got exactly
what he deservedr Which bit of phil
losophy did not help make his reflec-
lions less bitter.
After breakfast he went to 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.
well, what Is it?" he asked.
His lnndlady answered.
"Mr. Pearson" she said, may see
you%
| He threw down the pencil and, ris-
ing, walked to the door and opened it
Mrs. Hepton was waiting in the hall.
She seemed excited.
"Mr. Pearson" she said, will you
step downstairs with me for q mo-
ment7 l have a surprise for you"
"a surprise? What sort of q sur.
prise?"
| "Oh, a pleasant one-at least think
4 1t Is going to be a pleasant one for all
Of us. But I'm not going to tell you
4 what 1t Is. You must come down and
see for yourself"
4 On the second floor Mrs. Hepton
d 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 1t had beer
vacant. Mrs. Hepton took Pearson by
4 the arm and, leading him to the door
threw the latter open.
Here he is" she said.
Hello, jim" hailed Captain Ellsht
\ Warren cheerfully. "Ship ahoyl Glat
d to see you"
He was standing in the middle Of tn,
u room, his hat on the table and hill
hands In his pockets.
Pearson was surprised-there was NJ
doubt of that--not 30 much at the sigh
\ of his friend--he had expected to se
n or hear from the captain before tn
day was over-as at seeing him In tina
TT
Y he was doing there.
VI Captain Elisha noted his bewildere,
Il expression and chuckled.
II "Come aboard, JimW he commanded
"Come in and inspect. I'll see yol
later, Mrs. Hepton." he added, "ant
; give you my final word. l want Il
> held Offices council with Mr.. Pearson
here fust."
Pearson began to get clew to tn
situation.
Captain Warren" he demanded
"have you-do you mean to say you'v
taken this room to live inf"
mo, amt said all that yet I want
ed to talk with you little afore sal,
it. But that was my idea If you and
agreed on sartin matters"
you've come here to livei You'v
left your-your niece's houser
"Ya-as, I've left-that is l left tn
way the Irishman left the stable wher
they kept the mule. He said there wa
all outdoors in front of him and onl
two feet behind. That's about the wa
twas with me-"