Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1918-03-22
CHAPTER Vl--Continued.

"Ha. ha !" he crowed. That's goodl
Then, from your questioning OF the
children, you've learned1'-
mot such an awful lot. think Two
learned that-hum that a good guard
ian might be n handy thing to have In
the house. A regular legal guardian, l
mean. Otherwise
"OtherwiseY'
"Otherwisc there might be too many
interested volunteer substitutes for the
lob. Maybe I'm wrong, but l doubt 1t"
Have you made up your mind to BIO
that guardlanT
mot yet, l haven't made up my
mind to anything yet. Now, Mr.. syl-
vester, while we're waitin' for what
comes next-you've ordered enough
grub to victual IA shlp-s'pose you Just
run over what your firm knows about
Biie-that Is, II / amt askin' too
much"
mot at all. That's what I'm here
for. You have n right to know. But
warn you my information isn't worth
much"
He went on briefly and with the con
ciseness OF the legal mind to tell OF A.
Rodgers Warren, his business and his
estate. He had been a broker with a
seat on the Stock Exchange.
That seat Ia worth considerable,
amt itY' interrupted the captain.
Between eighty and II hundred
thousand dollars"
"Yup. Well, 1t reminds me OF a pic
ture l saw once In one OF the comic
papers. An old Teller from the back
woods somewheres-good deal like me
he was and Just about as grcen-was
pictured standln' along with his city
nephew In the gallery OF the exchange.
And the nephew says, Uncle says he,
do you realize that II seat down there's
wuth $75,O0OT' Gosh says the old
man, no wonder most OF 'em arc
standin' up. Ho, no! IL that seat OF
Bije's part Of the 100000 you hgger
he's left?'
"Yes: In a way 1t IL. To be truthful,
Captain Warren, we're not sure as to
the amount Of your brothers. tangible
assets. Graves made a hurried examl-
nation of the stocks, bonds and memo.
randa and estimated the total. that's
ALL
II see. Well, hcave ahead"
what we propose, provided you de.
eide to accept the trust, the executor
ship and the rest, Is to get together
you and Graves If he is well enough,
YOU and | II he is not-and begin n
careful examination OF the stocks,
bonds, assets and debts of the estate.
This must be done first OF all"
Graves limited there want any
debts to amount to anything
$50 far as we can see there are non'
except a few trifing bills"
"Yes, yes. HUM! Captain Elisha pu'
down his coffee spoon and seemed t.
be thinking. He shook his head. Fl"
was puzzled afore | left home, and In
just as puzzled now"
What puzzles you. II may askY'
Everything. And, II you'll excus
my sayin' SO, Mr.. Sylvester, | guess
puzzles you too"
He returned his hosts look. The la
ter pushed back his chair, preparation
10 rising.
ut is all so perfectly simple on tn
face OF 1t, Captain Warren" he salt
"Your brother realized that he mu'
die, that his children and their none
must be taken care of you were h
nearest relative; his trust In your no
esty and Judgment caused him to Owe
look the estrangement between 20
That's the case, isn't it,
eyes. That's the case, IN the face
1t, as you say. But you've forgot
mention one item
"What's that?"
"Rije himself. You knew him pref
well. | can see that. So did |. Aud
guess that's why we're both puzzled
The big lounging OF the clu
on the first floor. Fifth avenue sid
was almost empty when they enter
II. The lawyer drew two big chat
near the open fire, rang the bell a
ordered cigars, After the cigars we
lighted and the fragrant clouds
smoke were rising he reopened the &C
yersation. And now, In an easy, dip
matte way, he took his turn at qu'
tioning.
Meanwhile the room had been fill
up. Around each of the big windo'
overlooking the avenue were gather
groups Of men, young and old, Smt
ing. chatting and gazing idly out. ca
tnin Elisha regarded them curiouSly.
''This amt n holiday, is it?' he ask
after awhile.
mo. WhyT