The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1918-07-06
CHAPTER VI-Continued.

D.
ZIG, iaa r. he crowed That's good
Thea, from your questioning of the
children, you've learnedT'--
mot such an awful lot i think I've
learned that-hum that good guard
ian might be q handy thing to have in
the house. A regular legal guardian, i
mean. Otherwise
"Otherwise?"
otherwise there might be too many
interested volunteer substitutes for the
COB. Maybe I'm wrong, but doubt it.
Have you made up your mind to be
chat guardian?"
Not yet. I haven't made up my
mind to anything yet. Now, Mt. Syl-
vester, while we're waitin' for what
comes next--you've ordered enough
grub to Victual a ship-s'pose you just
run over what your firm knows about
Bije-that is, if l amt askin' too
much"
mot at all That's what Im here
for. You have 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 broker with "a
seat on the Stock Exchange
THAT seat is worth considerable,
amt it?" interrupted the captain.
Between eighty and one hundred
thousand dollars"
"Yup. Well, it reminds me of a pic
ture / 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 green-was
pictured standin' along with his city
nephew in the gallery of the exchange.
And the nephew says, Uncle, says he,
do you realize that a seat down there's
wuth $4,000? Gosh, says the old
man, no wonder most of 'em are
standin' up Ho, no! Is that seat OF
Bije's part Of the $4,000 you fgger
he's leftT'
Eyes; in way it is. To be truthful.
Captain Warren, we're not sure as to
the amount of your brothers. tangible
assets. Graves made a hurried exami.
nation Of the stocks, bonds and memo
randa and estimated the total, that's
all"
Il see. Well heave 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 l if he is not--and begin a
careful examination Of the stocks,
bonds, assets and debts of the estate.
This must be done first Of ALL
"0eaves limited there want any
debts to amount to anything"
$50 far as we can see there are none
except few trifiing bills"
"Yes, yes. Hunt" Captain Elisha put
down his coffee spoon and seemed to
be thinking. He shook his head. 81
was puzzled afore left home, and I'm
just as puzzled now"
what puzzles you, il may ask?"
Everything. And, If youth excuse
my sayin' so, Mr.. Sylvester, l guess it
puzzles you too"
He returned his hosts look. The lat
ter pushed back his chair, preparatory
to rising.
SIT is all so perfectly simple on the
face Of 1t, Captain Warren" he said.
"Your brother realized that he must
die, that his children and their money
must be taken care of; you were his
nearest relative; his trust in your hon
eGsy and judgment caused him to over
look the estrangement between you.
That's the case, isn't it?''
'Yes. That's the case, on the face of
1t, as you say. But you've forgot to
mention one item"
whats thatp
'Biie himself. You knew him pretty
well, can see that. So did l. And /
guess that's why we're both puzzled"
The big lounging room of the club, |
on the first floor, Fifth avenue side,
was almost empty when they entered
1t. The lawyer drew two big chairs
near the open fire, rang the bell and |
ordered cigars. After the cigars were |
lighted and the fragrant clouds Of
smoke were rising he reopened the con-
versation. And now, In an easy, diplo-
matte way, he took his turn at ques-
tioning.
Meanwhile the room had been filling
up. Around each Of the big windows
overlooking the avenue were gathered
groups OF men. young and old, smok-
Ing, chatting and gazing idly out. Cap
tain Elisha regarded them curiously.
'This amt holiday, LIS it?' be asked
after awhile.
'No. Why7"