Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1918-05-17
CHAPTER u.
The Will Of Abiiah.

"">HIs is your room, Mr.. Graves
said Miss Abigail Baker, plac-
ing the lighted lamp on the
bureau. "And here's a pair Of socks
and some slippers. They belong to
Ellsha-Cap'n Warren, that is-buthe's
got more. Cold water and towels and
soap are in the washstand over yon-
der, but l guess you've had enough
cold water for one night. There's
plenty hot in the bathroom at the end
of the hall. You needn't hurry. Sup
per's waited an hour and a half as tits.
'Twon't hurt 1t to wait a spell longer"
She went away, closing the door aft
or her. The bewildered, wet and shiv-
ering New Yorker stared about the
room, which, to his surprise, was warm
and cozy. Radiators and a bathroom!
These were modern luxuries he would
have taken for granted had Elisha
Warren been the sort of man he ex-
pected to find-the country magnate,
the leading citizen, fitting brother to
the late A. Rodgers Warren Of Fifth
avenue and Wall street.
But the Captain Warren who had
driven him to South DenborO In the
rain was not that kind of man at all.
His manner and his language were as
far removed from those Of the late A.
Rodgers as the latter's brown-stone
residence was from this big, rambling
house, with it's deep stairs and narrow
halls, its Anticipated pictures and hid
eous, old fashioned wall paper; as far
removed as Miss Baker, whom the cap
tain had hurriedly Introduced as my
second cousin keepin' house for me-"
was from the digni6ed butler at the
mansion Oh Fifth avenue. Certainly
this particular Warren was not fitted
to be elder brother to the New York
broker who had been Sylvester, Kuhn
e. Graves client.
It could not be; it could not. There
must be some mistake. In country
towns there were likely to be several of
the same name. There must be another
Elisha Warren.
Meanwhile Miss Abigail had descend
ed the stairs to the sitting room. Be-
fore a driftwood fire in a big brick fire.
place sat Captain Warren in his shirt
sleeves, a pair Of mammoth carpet slip
pers on his feet and the said feet
stretched luxuriously out toward the
blaze.
"Abbie," observed the captain, "this is
solid comfort. Every time I 60 away
from home l get into trouble, don't I?
Last trip I took to Boston I lost $50,
and
Lost It'll" interrupted Miss Baker
tartly. "If lendin' Tim Foster amt CIV
in it away, then I miss my guess"
"Well," with another chuckle, "Tim
don't feel that way. He swore right up
and down that he wouldn't take a cent
as a gift. I offered to make him a
present of $40, but he looked so shocked
that I ~apologized afore he could say
no."
Eyes, and then lent him that thirty.
Shocked! The only thing that would
shock that good-for-nothin' Is bein' set
to work. When you get back a copper
OF that money I'll believe the millen-
NUNS struck, that's ALL"
AAuh "Ch, II hCip yOu DClltFO II
that is, If I have time afore I drop
dead Of heart disease. What I started
to say was that every time 1 go away
from home I get into trouble. Up to
Boston twas Tim and his loan To
night it's about as healthy a sou'wester
as I've ever been out in. Dan fetched
in the team, has heT"
Twas. ffSa ~ thu o&nhIn IT, o.-a Az
buggy dash is pretty well scratched up
and that it's a wonder you and that
Graves man want killed. Who is he
anyhow"
Land knows; I don't"
"You don't knowl Then what's he
dom hereT"
"Changin' his buds, I guess. That's
what I'd do If I looked as much like a
drowned rat as he did"
Elisha Warren, II you amt the
most provokin' thing! Don't be so un.
likely. You know what I mean
What's he come here to this house
for?"
Don't know, Abbie. I didn't know
- he was comm here till just as we got
down yonder by Emery's corner.
asked him who he was lookin' for; he
Baid Elisha Warren and then the
tree cayed In on US. Oh, come right
n, Mr.. Graves. I hope you're drieI
now"
Captain Warren sprang from the
chair to greet his visitor, who wa.
standing In the doorway.
"Yes, come right In, Mr.. Graves" hi
Urged cordially. "Set down by the
ire and make yourself comf'table. Alb
bell have somethin' for us to eat In @
lily. Pull up a chair"
The lawyer came forward hesitat
ngly.
'Thank you, captain" he said. 'Bu'
psfore I accept moro Of your hospital