The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1918-04-12

first time you and he exchanged a
word?"
Insult him? Him? Ha, ha! Do you
imagine that hayseed like that would
recognize an insult without an intro
duction? You don't intend putting him
on your calling list, do you?"
81 intend cultivating him for the
PRESENT.
"Cultivating him?'
"Yes-for the present. He is Rod
gers Warren's brother. That lawyer,
Graves, travelled miles to see him.
What does that mean? That In some
the estate and those two children. If
the estate is worth anything, and we
have reason to believe it is, you and
must know it. If it isn't it is even
more important that we should know
before we waste more time. If Caro-
line is an heiress, If she inherits even
a moderate fortune"-
She shrugged her shoulders by way
of finish to the sentence.
When Captain Elisha emerged from
his room after a wash and change Of
linen he found the library untenanted.
He strolled about, his hands behind
him, inspecting the pictures with criti-
cal interest. Caroline, dressed for din
ner, found him thus engaged. He turn
ed at the sound Of her step.
"Why, hello!" he cried, with hearty
enthusiasm. "All rigged up for inspec-
ton, amt your"
"Inspection?"
"Oh. that's just sailors lingo. Means
you've got your Sunday uniform on,
that's all. My, My How nice you
look! But amt black pretty old for
such q young girl?"
II am in mourning" replied his niece
coldly
There, there! OF course you are
Tut, tut! How could I forget it. You
see, I've been SO many years feelin' as
if didn't have brother that I've sort
Of got used to his bein' gone"
81 have not" Her eyes filled as she
said it. The captain was greatly moved.
I'm blunderin' old fool, my dear"
he said. Il beg your pardon. Do try to
forgive me, won't you? And, perhaps
perhaps l can make up your loss to
you just a little mite. I'd like to-.
I'll try to, if
He laid hand on her shoulder. She
avoided him and, moving away, seated
herself in a chair at the opposite side
of the desk. The avoidance was so OBJ
vious as to be almost brutal. Captain
Elisha looked very grave for an in
slant. Then he changed the subject.
After some further conversation, dur
ing which Caroline was plainly i'll at
ease, dinner was announced. When the
captain in his quaint way described to
Caroline and Steve how he found his
way In New York Caroline was bored,
and Steve was almost brutal with his
interjections. For the hundredth time
Caroline asked Steve what had prompt
ed her father to make the captain their
guardian.
After breakfast the next morning
came the business talk" 1t was a
brief one Captain Elisha soon dis
covered that his brothers children
knew very little concerning their IA
theirs affairs. They had always plenty
Of money, had been INDUCED in prac-
tically every wish and had never had
to think or plan for themselves. AS to
the size Of the estate, they knew moth
| ing more than Mr.. Graves had told
them, which was that, instead Of the
several millions which rumor had cred
tied A. Rodgers Warren with possess
ing, 100000 would probably be the
extent of thek inheritance and that
therefore they must live economically.
AS a first step in that direction they
had given up their former home and
moved to the apartment.
"Yes, yes" mused the captain; II
see. Mr.. Graves didn't know about
your movin', then? You did it on your
own hook, so to speak?"
Stephen answered promptly.
"Of course we did," he declared.
"Why not?"
mo reason In the world. A good, SEN
sible thing to do, should say. Didn't
anybody advise you where to go?"
"Why should we need advice?" Again
it was Stephen who replied: I'VE aren't
kids. We're old enough to decide some
things for ourselves, should think"
Yes; sartin. That's right But /
didn't know but p'raps some Of your
friends might have helped along. This
Mrs. Dunn now, she kind Of limited to
me that she'd-well, done what she
could to make you comf'table."
"She has," avowed Caroline warmly
Mrs. Dunn and Malcolm have proved
| %ho{, Rr;@ ir
We never can repay them, Stephen
and I, never"
mo. There's some things you can't
ever pay, 1 know that. Mrs Dunn
found this nice place for you, did she?'
"Why, yes. Mrs. Dunn knew that
we had decided to move, and she has a
cousin who is interested in New York
property. She asked him, and he men.
toned this apartment
"One of his own, was it?"
Il believe so. Why are you so par
ticular? Don't you like itT'
isn't it as good as those in-what do
you call it-South Denboro" Stephen
asked maliciously.
Captain Elisha laughed heartily.
Pretty nigh as good" he said. ~
didn't notice any better on the way to
the depot as I drove UP. What's the
rent? You'll excuse my askin', things
bein' as they art"
twenty-five hundred a year," an
swered his niece cOldly.
The captain looked at her, whistled,
broke off the whistle in the middle and
did little mental arithmetic.
TWENTY-FIVE hundred year!' he re-
peated. That's one hundred and eighty
odd month. Say, that cousin Of Mrs.
Dunn's must want to get his investment
back You mean for just these ten
rooms?"
Stephen laughed scornfully.
Our guardian has been counting,
Caro-" he remarked.
Eyes. Yes, / counted this mornin'