The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1918-08-03
CHAPTER XIII.
A Rock or q Lighthouse.

that which centered at Mrs. Hep
tons boarding house. Within a week
he was as much a part Of it as if he
had lived there for years. At lunch,
on the day of his arrival, he made his
appearance at the table In company
with Pearson, and when the landlady
exultantly announced that he was to
be zone Of our little party" thereafter
he received and replied to the welcom-
ing salutations of his fellow boarders
with unruffled serenity.
The captain paid frequent visits to
the offices Of Sylvester, Kuhn & Graves
In Pine street. Upon the senior part
ner, whom he esteemed and trusted not
only as a business adviser but friend,
he depended for information concern
ing happenings at the Warren apart
ment.
Caroline sent him regular statements
OF her weekly expenditures, also bills
for his approval, but she had written
him but once, and then only brief
note. The note brought by messen-
ger accompanied package containing
the chain which he and Pearson select
ed with such elaboration and care at
the Fifth avenue jewelers.. Under the
existing circumstances, the girl wrote,
she felt that she did not wish to accept
presents from him and therefore re-
turned this one.
After Pearson had departed one morn
ing Captain Elisha put on his hat and
coat and started for his lawyers Office
Sylvester was glad to see him and in
vited him to lunch.
"No, thank you," replied the captain.
Il just run down to ask If there was
anything new in the offin'. Last time /
see you, you limited you and your mates
had sighted somethin' or other through
the fog, and it might turn out to be a
rock or lighthouse, you couldn't tell
which. Made up your mind yet?'
Sylvester shook his head. mo" he
said slowly, ut is still foggy. We're
busy investigating, but we're not ready
TO report" ".-
"Humph! Well, what's the thing
look like? You must be little higher
to it by now"
The lawyer tapped his desk with
pencil. Il don't know what it looks
like" he answered. "That is to say,
DON'T can't believe it is what it ap-
pears at this distance to be. If it is it
"a the most ..
He paused. Captain Elisha waited
for him to go on and when he did so
asked another question.
'The most what?" he demanded. "Is
It likely to be very bad? Amt discov-
cred any more Of those Cut Short bonds.
have your"
The bonds to which he referred were
those of defunct Short Line railroad.
A large number Of these bonds had
been discovered among A. Rodgers
Warren's effects. Part of his tangled
assets" the captain had termed them,
differentiating from the tangible" va
riety.
"Abhie, my housekeeper, has been
writin' me-" he went on, about havin'
the SEWN room papered. She wants |
my advice concernin' the style of pa
per. Says it ought to be pretty and
out of the common, but not too expen-
siEe. l judge what she wants is some
thin that looks like money but amt |
really worth more than 10 cents a mile. |
Eve been thinkin' I'd send her a bale |
or so of those bonds. They'd fill the |
Dill in those respects, wouldn't they?" |
Sylvester laughed. "They certainly |
would, captain" he replied. "No, we
haven't unearthed any more of that |
sort And, as for this mystery of ours,
I'll give you the answer, If it's worth |
giving at all, in a very short time. |
Meanwhile you go home and forget it."
We'll, I'll try. But 1 guess it sticks
ont on my face like a four days tooth
ache. But / won't worry about that. |
You know best whether to tell me now |
or not, and-well, I'm carryin' about |
all the worry my tonnagen stand as
It's"
He drew a long breath. Sylvester re-
garded him sympathetically.
You mustn't take your nephew's |
and niece's treatment too much to
heart" he said.
"Oh, don't-that is, ! pretend / |
don't. And I do try not to. But I |
keep thinkin' and wonderin' If 'twould |
have been better if hadn't gone there
to live at all. Hi hunt A man of my
age hadn't ought to mind what a
twenty-year-old girl says or does, 'spe-
cially when her kind, advisin' friends
have shown her how she's been de-
ceived and hypocritted. By the way,
speakin' of hypocrites, suppose there's |
Just as much 'Dunnin' as ever goin'
on up there"
"Yes; little more, If anything, I'm
afraid. Your niece and Mrs. Dunn and |
her precious son are together now so
constantly that people are expecting
well, you know what they expect"
81 can guess. l hope they'll be dis
app'inted."
$50 do l, but must confess I'm fear
full. Malcolm himself isn't SO wise,
but bis mother is''-
"a whole book Of Proverbs, hey?
know. She's an able old frigate.
did think ] had her guns spiked, but
she turned 'em on me unexpected.
thought + had her and her boy In a
rlava hitch kuaw uomnthfu1 that I |