The Wilmington morning star., 1941-02-28
CHAPTER TWENTY-oNE

piping out those stern angry words,
''What's all this to-do?" when we
had thought him peacefully sleep
ing.
Not since the day my notes were
stolen had Captain Essex left his
apartment on the second floor. The
family. was worried about him, the
doctor grave and cautioning.
1.-The cold could be disregarded,
except for his age," he said. "As it
is, he must be given the utmost
care. See that he is not disturbed
in anyway. He is too old to recover
strength easily. Rest and quiet are
the best res ;oratives we can give
him.
And that dictum was carefully
obeyed.
Everyon' with the exception of
Miss Althea, went to his rooms
once a day with CHEEKY smiles and
any item of news it was thought
would interest him. In spite OF
anxiety and concern, each face
carefully wore carefree air. Now,
for all the care exercised, he had
awakened, heard or sensed the dis
turbance below, and made his way
on lottery feet down the long
stairs.
Mrs. Gould was the first to re-
cover. She stepped quickly forward
to shield from his view the man
on the couch, but she was too
late. The cane thumped angrily.
II said what's this to-do?" His
voice, for all its weakness, held
its accustomed note of command.
"And who's on that couch?"
He moved forward, but Mrs.
Gould held her stand.
''Oh, Father, why did you come
downstairs? I was going up to you
in a moment.
''Humph! When I hear fool
woman shifting and tee-heeing in
the middle of the night and foot
steps tearing up and down the
stairs, it's high time I was on my
feet. Now" to Mrs. Gould, 'get
out of my way before I whack you
one"
Mrs. Gould, so far, had seemed
to me absolutely without the spirit
and determination which fired her
father and sister. Now she proved
her right to claim the same daunt-
less blood.
Disregarding the threatening
cane, she stepped forward and,
still keeping in line with the couch,
slipped her hand under her fathers
arm.
I'VE have some bad news for
you, Father. Sit down and we'll
tell you about it.
Cary, following his aunt's lead,
came up to his grandfather.
''You know, sir, we're helpless
without you, but we hated to wake
you at night" AS he spoke, he
pushed forward a chair. 'Sit down,
sir. please, and We'll tell you about
it,
''Humph!" The cane was planted
more firmly into the deep pile of
the carpet, and the captain ignored
their efforts to guide him to the
chair.
You don't have to tell me
much" he snorted. ''Unless Jabez
were on that couch, he'd be here
looking out for the rest of you.
Think I can't see that somebody's
been prying the mantel apart? You
must think my eyesight's almighty
bad! Now, get out of my way, and
let me see just how bad he's hurt"
In silence, Mrs. Gould and Cary
stepped aside and the captain,
leaning heavily upon his cane, ap-
preached the couch. His face lost
its grimness, grew gentle and pity
ing.
Poor Jabez,' he said sadly.
''Poor, poor boy
Hayes fingers closed upon my
arm. I thought the shiver which
passed through her was a sup
pressed giggle. She always sees
the fun in everything, and it had
been laughable, for all it's pathos
to hear Captain Essex call old
gray-haired, wrinkled Jabez boy"
I gave her sharp glance. It was
not laughter, but tears, which gilt
tered in her eyes.
Now briskly, what have you
done for Jabez?" Unsteadily the
captain turned from the couch and
sank into the chair Cary had prof
fered such few moments before
He clasped his hands on the top of
his cane and fixed his eyes on ia
bez.
''Bathed his head, drawn the
lips of the cut together with stick
ing plaster, and bandaged it." Cary
didn't waste words.
The captain frowned. That's
well enough, but why haven't you
called the doctor?" His tone was
impatient.
I'VE tried, sir. Found the tele-
phone was out of order, so Mark
has gone for him. He should be
here in a few minutes
"Good boy!" The frown
smoothed itself away from the cap
tain's face. He leaned YEARLY back
against the cushion, allowing the
cane to fall against the chair arm,
and smiled ruefully at Cary.
81 couldn't understand what you
were doing with that truck" He
gestured toward the first aid kit
still spread out on the chair seat.
why you hadn't called the doctor
at once. Now I see you were doing
the best you could. What's the
story hnv2o