The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1918-06-21


may be Important
The cab made good time, and they
soon reached the Pine street offices.
"Hope he doesn't keep US waiting
long," Steve fumed. 81 thought, of
course, he was ready or he wouldn't
have sent for u.s."
Ready" His sister looked at him
questioningly. Ready for what?' she
repeated, with sudden suspicion. "Steve,
do you know what Mr.. Sylvester wishes
to see us abOut?"
Her brother colored and seemed bit
disconnected.
"See here, Caro-" he said, maybe 1
do know something, or I can guess.
Now, whatever happens, you've got to
be a sensible girl Somebody in the
family must use common sense, and
when it comes to holding a person to
promise then-confound it, Sis, we
can't starve. can we"
What do you mean?' She rose and
advanced toward him. what do you
mean by a promise? What have you
been doingW
| L
bled-"that is, I've done what any rea-
sonable fellow would do. I'm not the
only one who thinks Look here, we've
got a guardian, haven't we?"
"a GUARDIAN! A guardian: Stephen
Warren, have you been to him? Have
you-was that where you were last
night? Why did you go to him? What
did you say?"
II said-I said-never mind what
said. He agrees with me, can tell
you that. You'll thank your stars did
go before very long. I-s-sh, here's
Sylvester y
The door of the room opened. The
person who entered, however, was not
the lawyer, but the very man of whom
they had been speaking, Captain Elisha
himself. He closed the door behind him
Hello, Stevie." he said, with a nod
to the boy. Then, turning to his niece,
he stepped forward and held out his
hand. Caroline" he began, 81 don't
doubt you're surprised to see me here
but I Why, what's the matter?'
The faces of the pair led him to ask
the question. Stephens face was red
and he looked embarrassed and guilty.
Caroline's was white, and she glanced
from her brother to her guardian and
back again with flashing eyes.
Captain Warren, my brother has
hinted-he has said What does he
mean by holding some one to a prom
Use? Answer me truthfully."
Il shouldn't answer you any other
way, Caroline. Steve seems to be wor-
ried about the young man you're en-
gagged to. He seems to callate that
Mr.. Dunn may want to slip out Of that
cement"
His niece looked at him. Then she
turned to her brother. "You went to
him and oh, how could your
Stephen would not meet her gaze.
"Well," he muttered rebelliously, why
wouldn't I? You know yourself that
Nal hasn't been near you since it hap
pened. If he wasn't after-if he was
straight, he would have come, wouldn't
he?"
"Stopw She cut him short imperious-
ly. Don't make me hate you. And
you," turning to her uncle, "did you
listen and believe such things? Oh,
know what you think Of my friends!
heard it from your own lips. And I
know why you think it. Because they
know what you are, because they ex-
posed you and"-
"There, there! Caroline, you needn't
60 on. I've heard your opinion Of my
character afore. Never mind me for
the minute. And, If you'll remember,
amt said that I doubted your young
man. You told me that you thought
the world and all Of him and that he
did of you. That's enough-or ought
to be. But your brother says you
wrote him two days ago and he amt
been near you"
81 misdi-ected the letter. He didn't
receive it."
"Um-hm. 1 see That would explain -
"Of course it would. That must be
the reason. Do you suppose if he were
as poor as-aS l am that / would de-
sert him? You know / wouldn't !
should be glad-yes, almost happy-be-
cause then could show him-could"-
Her voice failed her. She put her
handkerchief to her eyes for an instant
and then snatched it away and faced
them, her head erect. The pride in her
face was reflected in Captain Elisha s
as he regarded her.
mo. no." he said gently; 81 never
supposed you'd act but In one way,
Caroline. l knew you. If MaIcolm's
what he'd ought to be, 1 said, he'll be
glad of the chance to prove how
much he cares for you. But Steve ap,
it seemed 70 me that his doubts ought
to be settled. And" rising as there
came a tap at the door, Il carlate
they're goin' to be-
He walked briskly over and opened
the door. Sylvester was standing with
out, and with him were Mrs. Corcoran
Dunn and Malcolm,
They were past the sill before Cap
tain Elishas greeting caused them to
turn and see the three already there.
Mrs Dunn, who was in the lead, stop
ped short in her majestic though creak-
ing march of entrance, and her florid
face turned brighter crimson. Her
son, strolliI & tLnguidly at her heels,
started vioi-.kdy Aad dropped his hat.
Mrs. Dunn haG ''omG to the offices Of
Sylvester, Kuhn & Graves at the senior
partners request to be told, as she sup
posed, the full ana Anal details Of the
financial disaster threatening the War
rem family. If Ulcse details should
prove the disaster as overwhelming as
it appeared, then-well, then, certain
disagreeable duties must be performed.
But to meet the girl to whom her son
was engaged and her brother and her
guardian thus unexpectedly and unpre-
pared was enough to shake the compO-
sure and nerve Of even such a veteran
campaigner as Mrs. NJ. Corcoran Dunn
But of the three to whom the meet
ing was an absolute surprise-Caroline
| Malcolm and herself-she was charac-