Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1918-01-29

ping to the desk she rang DELL Tne
butler appeared in the doorway.
Edwards, said Miss Warren, "this
gentleman" indicating the captain, 'is
to be our guest for the present You
may show him to his ro0m-the blue
room, I think. II 1t Is not ready see
that 1t Is made So"
"Yes, Miss Caroline" replied Ed
wards. Retiring to the hall, he return
ed with the suit case.
"Will you wish to go to your room
at once, sirT" he asked.
"Why, I guess might as well, COM
modore," answered Captain Elisha,
smiling. Little soap and water won't
do no harm. Fact is, feels II twas
q prescription to be recommended. You
needn't tote that valise, though" he
added. "'Tain't heavy, and I've lugged
it so fur already sence got of the car
that I feel kind Of lonesome without it"
The butler, not knowing exactly how
to answer, grinned sheepishly. Captain
Elisha turned to Mrs. Dunn and her
son.
"Well, good afternoon, ma'am," he
said. "I'm real glad to have made your
acquaintance. Yours, too, sir" with q
nod toward Malcolm. "Your mother
told me what a friend Of the young
folks you was and, as I'm sort OF actin
pilot for 'em just now, in q way Of
speakin', any friend Of theirs ought to
be a friend of mine. Hope to see you
often, Mr.. Dunn"
The young man addressed smiled
with amusement not at all concealed,
and languidly admitted that he was
charmed"
When the captain finally departed,
preceded by Edwards and the suit
case. Stephen Warren threw himself
violently into a chair by the window.
Young Dunn laughed aloud. His moth,
er flashed an indignant glance at him
and then hurried to Caroline.
"You poor dear" she exclaimed, put
ting an arm about the girls shoulder.
"Don't mind US, please don't. NAL
colin and l understand-that Is, we
know how you feel and"-
"Oh, but you don't know, Mrs.
Dunn" cried Caroline, almost In tears.
"You don't understand. It's g. much
worse than you think. IL Oh, why
did father do It? How could he be so
inconsiderate"
"There, there" purred the friend OF
the family. You mustn't, you know.
You really mustn't. Who is this man
This uncle? Where does he come from
Why does he force himself upon you
iii this way? l didn't know your poor
father had brother"
Neither did we." growled Stephen
savagely. Malcolm laughed again.
what does it all mean, dearT'
begged Mrs. Dunn. "You are In trou-
BILE, I'm sure. Don't you think We
Malcolm and might be able to help
you? We should so love to do 1t. II
you feel that you can confide in US, II
It isn't secret
She paused expectantly, patting the
girls shoulder. But Caroline had
heard young Dunn's laugh and was Of
Tended and hurt. Her eyes flashed as
she answered
ats nothing" she said. "He has
come to see us on matter Of business.
l believe. / am nervous and-foolisll,
l suppose. Mr.. Graves will see us
soon, and then everything will be ar
ranged. Thank you for calling, Mrs.
Dunn, and for the ride"
It was a very plain hint, but Mrs.
Dunn did not choose to understand it
as such.
You're sure you hadn't better tell
me the whole story, dear?" she urged
II am old enough almost to be your
mother, and perhaps my advice might
No2 Very we'll. You know best, but
You understand that it is something
other than mere curiosity which leads
me to ask"
"Of course, 1 understand" said the
girl hastily. "Thank you very much
Perhaps by and by can tell you ev-
erything. But We must see Mr.. Graves
first. I-oh, don't ask me more now.
Mrs. Dunn"
The widow of so astute 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 a final pat
and a 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 Jove!" he exclaimed, 1T was
enough to make a wooden Indian
laugh. The old jay with the barnacles
telling us about the advantages OF q
sailors life. And Steve's face! Ho, ho!
His mother snorted disgust.
WAS It necessary to insult him the
first time you and he exchanged a
wordT
Insult him? Him? Ha, hal 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 your"
g" intend cultivating him for the
PRESENT."
"Cultivating himT
"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. II
the estate is worth anything, and we
have reason to believe 1t is, you and !
must know 1t. II It isn't 1t 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.
- 4ho cot,nd 0f hQr 0fQn