Cap'n Warren's Wards

called "freezing out" had begun, and the young people kept to themselves as much as possible. At breakfast Caroline was coldly polite, and her brother cold, although his poli

he Central Club. But he said nothing concerning his nephew and niece further than the stat

d, all under. When the folks who saw him tumble got to the edge and looked over, they saw a round, black thing sticking out of the mire, and, judging 'twas Lute's head, they asked him how he felt. 'I don't know yet,' sputters Lute, 'whether I'

g. Returning, he found that Caroline and Stephen had gone for an auto ride with the Dunns an

ng in the library, the butler

sir," said Edwards. "

w anybody who'd be likely to come visitin' me here in New York. Why, yes! Well, I declar

ptain's acquaintance of the previous

ptain Warren," observed Pearson. "I told you I meant it when I said ye

ad you came. Set right down. Lones

d. "Ugh! Let's talk of something else. Were yo

d ought to ask you to take somethin' to lay the dust, hey? I ain't made any inquiries myself, but I shouldn't wonder

u mean a drink," he said, "I

n't a teetota

t exact

n I; generally do, fur's that goes. But I'm f

here in New York, who are not c

on newspapers, folks up our way have the idea that this town is a sort of annex to the bad place. All right

g about the room. Its luxury and the evident s

nd me livin' in a p

such an aristocrat, Captain Warren. If I had, I might have be

e, I haven't got on my regimentals, and if you'd been on dress parade I might have felt bashf

, it

now. 'Bout as good as

There are few be

livin' in 'em economizin' to an

y ideas of economy are-well, different. The

laughed and r

, but my nephew and niece a

u're vi

n'. I don't know what you would call it.

s friend was silent, also, not kn

n' on?" asked the cap

ure it will ever be finished.

in' to be? Give me a gen'ral idea of the course you

ing. When I began I thought I had a good scheme

ve ahead! You said 'twas a sea yarn, and I'm a sort of specialist when it comes to s

, but becoming more interested as he continued. Captain Elisha listened

er sort of a cross between a prize fighter and a murderer. Fust day out of port he begins by pickin' out the most sickly fo'mast hand aboard, mashes him up, and then takes the next invalid. I got a book about that kind of a skipper out of our library down home a spell ago, and the librarian said 'twas awful popular. A strong stor

t you're talkin' about things you ain't ever seen. Now there's plenty you have seen, I w

I went awa

, he went to

s lost, with all hand

You remember him well; you said s

of the village where he spent his boyhood. Then, led on by the captain's questioning, he continued with his years at college, his experiences as re

y nothin' about such things, keep on rememberin' about your Uncle Jim. He was a man, every inch of him, and a seaman, too. Put lots of him into this her

was de

s mighty good of you. May I spring s

I'll be tickled to have you call, too; that is, if

s emphatic an

ften, do. I-well, the fact is, I'm likely to get sort of lo

way the stump of hi

e supposed to know about all there is to know of everything

on sm

fford to kno

ower, they say, but-but I cal'late knowledge of the

's none of my business, but-were y

er his brows, at his new fr

lemnly. "Ain't got any-er-tips, any sure

'sure things' leads me to believe that t

He made it so easy that, as the boys say, 'twas almost a

York to buck the stock market, it was time to sound a warning. But had he, on such short acquaintanc

as a successful speculator, was

dea of a gentleman was, but if he cal'lated to have his son a tramp in go-to-meetin' clothes, he got his wish. When the old man died, he willed the boy fifteen thousand dollars. Well, fifteen thousand dollars is a fortune to some folks-if they ain't economizin' in

tor shook his head. H

ptain Warren, that the majority of first speculators don't tur

in rubbed

ve got sort of in the habit of callin' folks by their first names.

hope you'll cul

Chase. Keep his profits! Why, when a feller is all but convinced that he knows it all, one little bit of evidence like that speculation settles it for him conclusive. Elk

won a

hat and some more

ou said it was t

thousand dollar gentleman, he was pretty average of a mess, but they tell me he make

ghed in sympathy. "Has he paid back

ralls. However, it's a satisfaction to some of 'em to watc

aptain Warren, I'm surprised. I sized yo

ve plunged. You see, old man Chase was a friend of mine, and-However," he added, hastily changing the subject, "we've strayed some off t

ur brother was a member of

k I knew about was on the hoof. Well, I have been acquainted with other breeds in

as instantaneous and electric. Th

ren was your br

some. Contrast between us a

ur brother-Tell me, is Miss

ephew. 'Tain't possible yo

the Avenue," he said. "But you said you were visiti

Why, what's the matter

I had better. It

window. It ain't the lateness that makes you want to leave so sudden. Is there some trouble betwee

r was pro

nd. I-I met Miss Warren. In fact, at one time we were well acquainte

a boy and at an age when he's pretty well satisf

dly. I'm sorry to cut my visit sh

e door. Captain Elisha

aid. "But I hope you'll c

ptain, that I appreciate your invitat

and I'd bet consider'ble on any member of his family. And I was kind of int

as much e

e is a reason, one which I may tell you sometime, but can't now-neither Miss Warren nor her brother have any part in it-whi

on doin' it, if you

s only a boarding house, and not a very good

in it. Good night, Jim. Thank you for callin'. S

my way. I-Some

n or his friend could move, Caroline, Stephen, Mrs. Corcoran Dunn, and Malcolm entered. Caro

e began. "I did not kno

line," explained her uncle, quick

ss Warren," said

t. Then her expression changed, and,

to see you. You must excuse me for not recognizi

lso exten

you again, Pearson. Haven't me

nds. He was embarrassed a

" he said. "This is an unexpected pl

ter of the Planet, Malcolm," said Car

Yes, I do. Met you at the

s formerly

coran Dunn," went on the girl. "Mr.

ough her lorgnette, and condescende

in time, weren't we? Do sit down. And if you will wait a min

opped in to see your uncle, at his invitati

interrupted Stephen,

n, surprised in his turn. "He and I made each other

im?" repeated Stephen. "

ietly, and ignoring the last speaker. "I didn't know you knew him, and I

rdon for interrupting. We had not seen you since father's death, Mr. Pearson, and I assumed tha

. Captain Elisha was about to speak.

ptain Warren, under rather unusual circumstances. We discovered that we had mutual friends and mutual interests. He asked me to call on him, and I did so. I did not know, until

hall. Captain Elisha laid a ha

t the kind to talk to the newspapers about the private affairs of my relations, and, if I'm any judge of character,

te side of the room. Suddenly the girl halted, turned, and, moving across to

ask your pardon. I should have known. I am ve

embarrassment was mor

en," he said. "I don't wonder you thought I

will continue to do so. Father used to speak so highly of you, and I'm sure he valued your friendship.

s reply

," he said. "You are ve

in Elisha, happier than at any time since his arriv

I feel better. That niece of mine has got the right stuff in her. After that in

lowly, "that it doesn't make it harder. I shall look for you at

ng was made to Edwards, whom he met

"a barn full of rats i

red the aston

full of rats i

r. I should think

It's a house full of mysteries

g from its envelope the letter yet unsealed, which he ha

, anyhow. Shall notify the lawyers in the morning. Necessity is one thing, and pleasure is another