Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1918-05-31

You understand that it is something
other than mere curiosity which leads
me to ask"
"Of course, I understand" said the
girl hastily. "Thank you very much.
Perhaps by and by 1 can tell you ev-
erything. But we must see Mr.. Graves
first. Lob, don't ask me more now,
Mrs. Dunn"
The widow Of so astute a politician
as Mike Dunn had been in his day
could have scarcely failed to profit by
his teachings. Moreover, she possessed
talent of her own. With final pat
and kiss she prepared for departure.
After the pair had been shown out
by Edwards, on the way home in the
car Mrs. Corcoran Dunn lectured her
son severely.
"Have you no common sense?" she
demanded. Couldn't you see that the
girl would have told me everything if
you hadn't laughed like an idiot"
The young man laughed again.
"By Jovew he exclaimed, ut was
enough to make wooden Indian
laugh. The old jay with the barnacles
telling us about the advantages of a
sailors life. And Steve's face! Ho, how
His mother snorted disgust.
"Was it necessary to insult him the
first time you and he exchanged a
wordW
Insult him? Him7 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 himW
"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
important way he is connected with
the estate and those two children. If
the estate is worth anything, and we
have reason to believe it is, you and l
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
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 rugged 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 young girl?'
II am in mourning" replied his niece
coldly.
There, there! OF course you are
Tut, tut! How could l forget it. You
see, I've been so many years feelin' as
if l didn't have brother that I've sort
of got used to his bein gone"
II 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 | 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 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 ill 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
TIERS 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 their 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" unused the captain: az
see. Mr.. Graves didn't know about
your movin', then? You did it on your
own hook, so to speakp
Stephen answered promptly.
| "Of course we did, he daoIarod