The Morgan County press. (Wartburg, Tenn.) 1916-1926, 1918-07-05
CHAPTER xlv-continued.
Copyright, ISli, by d. Appleton q Co.

eyes. Precisely. And there were
many just as valueless. But we have
been gradually getting those out OF
the way and listing and appraistng the
remainder. It was tangle. Your
brothers business methods, especially
of late years. were decidedly unsys-
teinatic and slipshod. 1t may have
been the condition of his health which
prevented his attending to them as he
should. Or" he hesitated slightly, ut
may have been that he was secretly In
great trouble and mental distress. At
I'LL events, the task has been hard
one for us. But, largely owing to
Graves and his patient work. our re-
port was practically ready month
ago."
He paused. Captain Elisha. who had
been listening attentiyely, nodded.
"Yes," he said: you told me twas.
What does the whole thing tot up to?
What's the final figger. MIR. Graves?"
Never mind them now. Graves" In
terrupted Kuhn. 1.-THE amount, rough
iy speaking. is close to over our orig
inal estimate. half q million"
The captain drew a breath Of relief.
"Well,'' he exclaimed, that's all right
then, amt It? That's no poorhouse
pension"
Sylvester answered. Yes" he said,
that's all right as far as q goes.
"Humpt! Well, cal'late could
make it 60 to the end of the ROUTE
and then have enough left for i Re.
turn ticket. Say" with another look
at the solemn faces of the three, what
Is the row? IL the estate Is wuth hat
a million what's the matter with It'll"
That is what we are here this morn
ing to discuss, captain. A month ag0,
as said, we considered our report
practically ready. Then we suddenly
happened on the trail Of something
which upon investigation upset all our
calculations. If true 1t threatened,
not to mention it's effect upon the es-
tate, to prove so distressing and pain
fui to us, Rodgers Warren's friends
and legal advisers, that we decided not
to alarm you his brother. by disclosing
our suspicious until we were sure there
was no mistake. did drop you hint.
you will remember
II remember Now we're comm to
the rock!"
Sylvester was evidently disturbed.
CAPTAIN Elisha, regarding him intent
Is, nodded.
II Judge it's sort of hard for you to
go on, Mr.. Sylvester" he said. I'll
help you all can. You and Mr.. Kuhn
and Mr.. Graves here have found out
somethin' that amt exactly straight
In Bites doin's-somethtn's he's done
that's-well. to speak plain, that's
crookedW
I'm afraid there's no doubt Of it."
"Humph!' The captain frowned.
His cigar had gone out. and he idly
twisted the stump between his fin
gers. "Well," he said, with a sigh,
our family, centrally speakln'. has al
ways held Its head pretty high. Dad
was poor, but he prided himself on
bein' straight as plumb line. And, as
for mother. She {" Then. look
ing up quickly he asked, Does any
body outside know about thisT
mo one but ourselves-yet."
yet? Is it goin' to be necessary
for anybody else to know it?"
I'VE hope not But there Is posi-
bility."
az was thinkin' about the children"
"Of course So are we ALL"
"Um-hm. Poor Caroline! She put
her father on a sort of altar and bow
ed down afore him, as you might say.
Any sort OF disgrace to his name would
about kill her. AS for me-" with an
other sigh, 81 amt so much surprised
as you might think. know that
sounds tough to say about your own
brother, but I've been afraid all along.
You see, Bile always steered pretty
close TO the edge of the channel He
had ideas about honesty and fair deal
In IN business that didn't tibe with
mine. We split on just that, as | told
YOU, Mr. Graves, when you and fust
met. He got some South Denboro folks
10 invest money along With him-sort
of sayIn's account, they tggered IT.
but I found out he was usin' It to
speculate with. So that's why we had
our row. 1 took pains to see that the
money was paid back. but he and
never spoke sfterward. Fur as my
own money was concerned, I hadn't |
snv kick. but . - However, I'm |
taIkin' too much. Go on. Sylvester. |
I'm ready to hear whatever you've got |
to say"
THANK you. captain. You make Il
easier for me IL seems that your |
I,rother's 6rst step toward wealth and
.uccess VIZ taken sbOut nineteea