The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1918-06-08


mistake. I have come on important
business. and"-
Hold ont" The captain held up
big hand. "Don't you say another
word. There's just one business that
interests me this minute, and that's
supper. Set right down here, Mr..
Graves. I'll try to keep you supplied
with solid cargo, and Abbie'n tend to
the moistenin'. Hope that teapot is
full up, Abbie. Hot tea tastes good
after you've swallowed as much cold
rain as Mr.. Graves and / have. -
Father, we thank thee for these mer-
cies set before US. Amen!
How's your appetite when it comes to
clam pie, Mr.. Gravesf"
Mr.. Graves appetite was good, and
the clam pie was good. SO, too, were
the hot biscuits and the tea and home
made preserves and cake.
At last, when all the biscuits but one
were gone and the cake plate, looked
like the desert of Sahara, the captain
pushed back his chair, rose and led the
way into the next room. Miss Baker
remained to clear the table.
"Set down by the fire, Mr.. Graves"
urged the captain. "NOthin' like burn
in wood to look hot and conf table, is
there? 1t don't always make you feel
that way-that's why I put in hot wa
ter heat-but for looks and sociable-
ness you can't beat log fire. Smoke,
do your
"Yes, occasionally. But, Captain
Warren
Here, try that. It's a cigar the
Judge gave nue. over to Ostable. He
smokes that kind regular, but If you
don't like it throw it away. He amt
here to see you do it, so you won't be
fined for contempt of court. I'll stick
to a pipe if you don't mind Now
we're shipshape and all taut, caPlate.
Let's see. You wanted to talk bust.
ness, believe" ,4t-e.4 ID ~. X.
Eyes, did. But before I begin ]
should like to be sure you are the
Elisha Warren came from New York
to interview. am an attorney. Have
you--had you a brother In business in
New YorkP'
"HeyT The captain turned and
looked his guest squarely In the eye
His brows drew together.
1--WE got q brother in New York, '
he answered slowly. 'Did he send yor
here?"
"Was your brothers name A. Rod
gers Warren"
"'A. Rodgers? No. His name Is
Abijah Warren, and-waitl His mid
die name is Rodgers, though. Die
Bile send you to mel"
"a moment, captain. Was your
brother a brokerW
"Yes. His Office is or used to be OF
Broad street. WHAT
you have not heard from him 10,
some timer
mot for eighteen years. He and
didn't agree as well as we might
Maybe twas my fault, maybe twas
his. have my own ideas on that. L
you're lookin' for Bile Warren's broth
er, Mr.. Graves, l guess you're come
to the right place. But what he sen
you to me for or what he wants-fo
he wants somethin' or he wouldn'
have sent-I don't understand"
why do you think he wanted some
thing?"
, Because he's Bile Warren and
, was brought up with him. When W
wa9 young ones together he went t.
school and / went to work. He 20
, the frostin' on the cake, and got tn
burnt part next to the pan. He wen
d to college, and went to sea. 'Twa
, later on that we Well, never min
! that either. What is IL he wants o
me after eighteen yearsp
He wants good deal Of you, Car
tain Warren, or did want it."
q did? Don't he want it now? ]
Bile deadT
, HE died ten days ago very suddenly
: In a way it was a great shock to u
all, yet we have known that his hear
was weak. He realized it too"
80 Bile is dead, heyT Captai
Elisha's face was very grave, and b
l. spoke slowly. "Deadi Wen, wei
. wellp'
He paused and looked into the fir,
Graves saw again that vague resen
y blance he had caught on the train, BIT
had forgotten. He knew now why b
{ noticed it.
Z Captain Elisha cleared his throat.
y well, wellp' he sighed. $50 BIZ
u has gone. / s'pose you think it's odt
maybe" he went on, "that I amt MOI
q struck down by the news. But,
. speak truth, he and | have been s
apart and have had nothin' to do wit
@ each other for SO long that-that-wel
e I've come to feel as if didn't have
; brother. And know he felt that wa
a yes, and wanted to feel SO. / kno'
that. There was time when I'd hay
+ got down on my knees and crawle
from here 20 New York to help Ri.
t Warren / lent him money to start
+ business. Later on him and wer