The Jasper news., 1918-07-18
CHAPTER XVllI.-Continued.


~
"But you have. Not In words, per.
haps, but you have told me. / know.
Please go on and tell me all. If you
don't" with determination, 81 shall
make Uncle Elisha tell me as soon as
he comes. / SHALL"
Sylvester sighed. "Well, by Georgep'
he repeated feelingly. "I'll tell you
one thing, young woman, you're vast
ing your talents. You should be a
member of the bar Any one who can
lead battle SCARED veteran Of cross
examination like myself into a trap
and then spring it on him, as you have
done, is gifted by Providence. l ought
not to say another werd on the sub
juct," he declared emphatically. what
Captain Warren will say to me when
he finds this out is unpleasant to con
slider. What is it you want me to tell
you?"
Everything. l want you to sit down
here by me and tell me the whole story
from the beginning Please"
He besitated moment longer and
then, his mind made up, returned to
his chair, crossed his legs and began
Here 1t is he said.
Caroline. about twenty years ago OF
such matter your father was com
paratively poor man-poor, | mean
compared to what he afterward be
came. But he was clever man, an
able business man. one who saw oppor'
tunitics and grasped them. At that
p1Nt nft
America for
~ know" she interrupted. THE
Akrae Rubber company was formed
You told Steve and me all about that
What want to know is"-
wait | did not tell you all about
1t. | said that another man invested
$4,000 with your father to form that
company. That man, so we now
know, was your uncle, Captain Elisha
Warren"
Il guessed that. OF course 1t must
lave been he"
ut was. The captain had saved
some money; also at that time he idol
lied his brother and believed in his
shrewdness and capability. He invest
ed this $4,000 on Rodgers Warren's
word that the investment was likely to
he good one, that and to help the
latter in business. For a few years
the company did nothing. During thai
time your father and uncle disagreed
concerning another matter, quite un
connected with this one-and they did
not see each other again while Rodgers
lived. In that long period the Akrae
company made millions. But Elisha
supposed it to be bankrupt and worth
less, because-well, to be frank, be
cause his brother wrote him to that eff
feet.
"Now we come to the will. Your ia
Their, Caroline, was not a bad man a
heart. He realized how he had de
frauded the brother who had been 81
kind to him, and he kept. promising
himself to some day repay the money
he had taken. To insure that he pu
that note with the other papers of thu
company. If he did repay it could b
destroyed; If he did not, If he SHOULD
die, it would he there to prove-what
1t did prove. But always in his mint
was the thought of you and Steve. tn
children he loved. He had quarrele'
with his brother, 1t is true. He ha,
cheated him, but restitution for tina
cheat he had provided. But wha
would become Of you, left-in case h
died without making restitution-pen
niless? He knew his brother, as
said, knew his character, respected hi
honesty and believed in his conscien
tiousness and his big heart So h
made his will, and in it, as you know
he appointed Elisha your guardian
He threw his children and their futur
upon the mercy and generosity of tn
brother he had wronged. That is hi
reason, as we surmise it, for maxim
that will"