Cap'n Warren's Wards

ut he's got more. Cold water and towels and soap are on the washstand over yonder; but I guess you've had enough cold water for one night. There's plenty hot in the bathroom at the end of t

eedn't hurry. Supper's waited an hour 'n' a half

urnished, so he presently discovered, by a steam radiator in the corner. Radiators and a bathroom! These were modern luxuries he would have taken for granted, had Elisha

stairs and narrow halls, its antiquated pictures and hideous, old-fashioned wall paper; as far removed as Miss Baker, whom the captain had hurriedly introduced as "my second cousin keepin' house for me," was from the dignified butler at the mansion on Fifth Avenue. Patchw

of the same name. There must be another Elisha Warren. Comforted by this thought, Mr. Graves opened his va

fire in a big brick fireplace sat Captain Warren in his shirt-sleeves, a pair of mammoth

ery time I go away from home I get into trouble, don't I?

Miss Baker, tartly. "

Abbie, you ought to know the diff

But if lendin' Tim Foster ain't gi

own that he wouldn't take a cent-as a gift. I offered to make him a present of

r-nothin' is bein' set to work. What possessed you to be such a soft-head, I don't know. W

th. But I knew Tim Foster's mother when she used to think that boy of hers was the eighth wonder of the world. And I promised her I'd do what I could for him long's I lived.... But it seems to me we've drifted some off the course, a

retty well scratched up, and that it's a wonder you a

nows, I

w! Then what's

t's what I'd do if I looked as m

' thing! Don't be so unlikely. You know what I

we got down yonder by Emery's corner. I asked him who he was looki

don't s'pose 'twa

ig

like, a warnin' that some

t back his hea

goin' to happen is that Pete Shattuck'll get his buggy painted free-

ave to be got ready all over again if.... Oh! Co

chair to greet his visitor, w

t down by the fire and make yourself comf'table. Abbie'll

doubts which had troubled him ever since h

re of your hospitality I feel I should be sure there i

ne business that interests me this minute, and that's supper. There's no mistake about that, anyhow. D

es on the walls, pictures which brought shudders to the artistic soul of Atwood Graves. A broad bay window filled one side of the apartment, and in this window, on

moistenin'. Hope that teapot is full up, Abbie. Hot tea tastes good after you've swallered as much cold rain as Mr. Graves and I

e. Conversation during the meal was, for the most part, a monologue by the captain. He gave Miss Baker a detailed and exaggerated ac

in' so hard you had to hold the reins taut to keep the h

e buggy with my foot to be sure I was in it. Ain't that so, Mr. Graves?... Here! Abbie won't like to have you set lookin' at that e

ion to what he says, Mr. Graves," she went on. "Some day he'll tell the

h had brought him to the Cape, and the probability of his havin

me to talk business is when you can't think of anything else. Wait till we get into the settin' room. Abbi

looked like the Desert of Sahara, the captain pushed back his chair, rose,

hot and comf'table, is there? It don't always make you feel that way-that's why I put in

nally. But, C

it, throw it away. He ain't here to see you do it, so you won't be fined for contempt of court. I'll stick to a pipe

ure you are the Elisha Warren I came from New York to

here a hundred and fifty years ago, or such matter. My dad's name was Elisha; so was my grandf

perhaps it i

house. I can tell you better if you g

another question, please. Have you-had

looked his guest squarely in t

York," he answered, slowl

her's name A.

arren, and-Wait! His middle name is Rod

ain. Was your b

-or used to be on B

heard from him

own ideas on that. If you're lookin' for 'Bije Warren's brother, Mr. Graves, I guess you've come to the right place.

hink he wante

the cake, and I got the burnt part next to the pan. He went to college, and I went to sea. He.... However, you mustn't think I find fault with him for th

l of you, Captain Wa

't he wan

hat you haven't heard. It seems that I

Bije

t was a great shock to us all, yet we have know

sha's face was very grave, and he sp

oticed it. Unlike as the two brothers were, unlike in almost every way, the trace of family likeness was there. This sunburned, retired captain

sha cleared

ay, I am, and, in a way, I'm mighty sorry, too. But, to speak truth, he and I have been so apart, and have had nothin' to do with each other for

ou," observed the lawyer, gently.

. It may come in handy if I ever want to paper the barn. But 'twa'n't business deals of that kind that parted us, 'twas another matter. Somethin' that he did to other folks who'd trusted us and.... Humph! this don't interest you, of course.... Well, 'Bije was well off, I know. His wife died way back in the nineties. She was one of them fashionable women, and a hayseed salt-herrin' of a bachelor brother-in-law stuck down here in the sandheaps didn't interest her much

n by his marriage," said Grav

id. Boy and girl, wa'n't they? I never saw em

y, Stephen, is a year younger. It is concerning thos

Hey?" he queried. "The children? You'

ou or wished to forget you. In spite of the estrangement, it is evident that his confidence in your judgment

s pipe fell

ldren to-to me! Mr. Graves, you'r

ane. I have a copy o

appeared at the door of the dining roo

at her in a dazed,

he repeated.

er, and I thought p'ra

id was holler, I'm surprised at myself. No, no! Run along out and shut the d

in your care until the youngest shall become of a

s children to me!... to me. Mr. Gr

ill be obliged to economize somewhat in their manner of living. But, with care and e

income, you say. W

stimate, about twenty to tw

His fingers touched it, but they did not close. Instead he stra

No, I asked you that before. But-but twenty thousan

ieve. Of course, we had no authority to investigate

ves his children five hundred thousand, half a million, and-and they'

xtracted therefrom a folded document, donned a pair

oncise. "'I, Abijah Rodgers W

art's true, are you?"

memory and understanding, do make, publish and declare this to be

ed to pay my just debts and funeral expenses

think likely?" ask

little beyond the usua

and suchlike. Well, I guess they won't

my estate, both real and personal, to my

"He leaves it to me? 'Bije leaves-say, Mr. Graves, there'

ase. If you'll be patient and not interrup

King Solomon and all his wisdom beat a

e survive me, in trust, nevertheless

hereof for the education and maintenance of

e's folks, I presume likely. Excuse m

phen Cole

n. She was a Cole. I sw

e, together with one-half of the accumulated interest, shall be given to her, and the trust continued for the education and maintenance

ary guardian of my said childre

r of this, my last will and testame

other, I direct that he be not required to give bond for the performanc

ars ago. Your brother, Captain Warren, evidently realized, although no one else seems to have done so, t

ith his handkerchief. Captain Elisha sat silent, star

and to ascertain whether or not you are willing to accept the trust and responsibility he has laid upon you. As yo

in't got to do this t

trustee, and guardian will be appointed. I realize, and I'm sure that your brother's children will

ou needn't worry about that. Look her

the will has be

they was overcome wi

roline and her brother when they learned of their uncle

pect them to rejoice. They have never seen you. In fact, I do

'Bije-'Bije-should leave his children and their money to me to take care of is passin' human belief, as our old minister us

aid. "The settlement of the estate must be taken

Well, what would y

n the lawyer returned

inconvenience, especially to one of your-er-settled and-er-conservative-I judge merely from what you have said-your conservative habits. The estate is large, the

f skill and knowledge could be hired, if

hat, under the supervision of the executor, cert

ke me. I unders

quired to spend much, or all, of the

ldren and their money and all-I understand that's what he does have-he could di

yance was plainly evident. "No-o. Of

guess you will. It's come on me so sudden, 'Bije's death and all, that I want to be by myself and think. I don't want to seem unsociable or lackin' in hospitality. The whole house is yours. He

erate on so important a matter. And, if you will excuse me in retu

you to your room, and I'll hope you'll have consider'ble more sleep than I'm

air by the fire and entered his bed chamber. Yet, when Atwood Graves cam

our minds. Then we can have the pancakes to take the taste out of our mouths, as you might say. And let me ask you one more

fth Avenue, and the family

ctor in the bank and trustee of the church. When I holler 'Boo,' the South Denboro folks-some of them, anyhow-set up and take notice. I can lead the grand march down in this neighborhood once in a while, and I cal'late I'm prettier leadin' it than I would be doin' a solitaire jig for two years on the outs

colored, though he didn't mean to, a

But I won't say sure I won't, because-well, because 'Bije was my brother; he was that, no matter what our diff'rences may have been. And I know-I know tha

you in

I cal'late to run down to New York some time durin' the nex