Cap'n Warren's Wards

Kuhn accepted his associate's opinion with some reservation. "It is an odd piece of business, the whole of it," he declared. "I shall be curious to see how it works out." As for Mr. G

ord against Sylvester, as a lawyer, but he is subject to impressions. I imagine this Cape Co

p along." Sylvester explained that there were certain legal and formal ceremonies pertaining to the acceptance of the trust to be gone through with, and

disagreeable and his sister correspondingly miserable, had departed for the club. It was a time for confidences, and the wily Mrs. Dunn realized that fact. She soothed, comforted, and within half an hour, had learned the whole story. Caroline told her all, the strange will, the disclo

bed Caroline. "Oh, Mrs. Dunn,

w, indignation, pity, and unswerving loyalty. Desert them? Desert the yo

ed. "We are not fair-weather friends. And, after all, i

ask him for every penny. And whatever he says to do we must do. We're obliged to. Just think! if he decides to tak

e time to settle your father's affairs, and the bu

he will stay with us. And what shall we do? We can't introduce him to our friends, o

ied, but I believe he has a good heart. He is not

ay from ours. He is not used to society; he wouldn't understand that certain things and ways were abso

b-he was interested in politics, my dear, and some of his sayings were a trifle grotesque but very much to the point. He used to say that one could get rid of more flies with molasses than with a club. And I

, I'm sur

him with-well, with a club. He must be endured and made as end

alls freezing him out-make him f

adores him-but he isn't a diplomat. If we

l him somet

might insist on your going with him, which wouldn't do at all, my dear. For one thing, Malcolm would probably insist on going, also, and I, for one, don't yearn for rural simplicity. Ha!

y knees to him and be

his place. Correct him when he goes too far wrong, and ignore him when he gets assertive. As for

dragging you into it. It is bad enough that

e, people will merely say, 'Oh, it's another of her eccentricities!' that's all. Now, don't worry, and don't fret all that pretty color from your che

his convincing eloquence, bega

omatic. I really will. But Stephen-I'm n

incing of the encumbrance to that effect. And while he is at home

nk you sufficiently? What shoul

t me; not for many years, at any rate. Of course, there

n embrace, this affec

as not devoid of interest. Malcolm listened to the information which

instead of the two million you figured on, Mater! Two h

arply, "it isn't so much, bu

ne can get a

f isn't small, and, besides, the Warrens are a family of standing. To be connected with them is worth a good deal. There are infinite possibilities

of a girl," commented

to us, to you. But, for Heaven's sake, be careful! She is delicate and sensiti

th your compliments this evening. Wh

f your head, just as I always was of your father's. And here's on

l! Ho! ho!

him civilly; yes, even cordially, if you can. And don'

ed his legs, and gr

d bore, but, at the very longest, it'll last b

hundred and sixty-five day

on me. The old hayseed and I wi

conversation, nor was she in the least familiar; but she answered his questions, did not leave the room when he entered, and seemed inclined to accept his society with resignation, if not with enthusiasm. Even Stephen was less sarcastic and bitter. At times, when his new guardian did or said something which offended his highly cultivated sense of the proprieties, he seemed

for you I do it! If I had my way the old butt-in

at in his own room, reading a book he had taken

ptain. Caroline entered. Her un

mean. If I'd known you was comin' callin', Caroline, I shouldn't have been quite so

n-I suppose you might call it business. At any rate,

a was a trifl

ter what it's for. That's a real becomin' dress you've got on," he added, inspecting her admiringly. "I declare, you look prettier every time I see you.

or a moment without speaking. She seemed to have somethi

because you are our-" she almost choked over the hated word-"our guardian, and

isha nodde

sibility, and I so understand it. As I said to you when I told you I'd decided to take the job on trial, while I have it it'll be my pride to see that you or your brother don't lose anything. I intend, if the Almighty spares me so long and I keep on with the trust, to turn over, when my term's out, at

s the same that father used to give me, and it is all I

o do with the house

ll, of charity. It may amoun

see. Charity,

nie, has trouble at home,

in nodded

"that's the rosy-fac

e doctor's bill will be large. They are very poor, and I thought perhaps-" She hesitated, falte

too. I'm glad you came to me just as you did,

sk our own doctor to attend to the case, an

Go right ahe

ver to see them, and they

d the accident happen?

ere making some repairs at the factory where he is employed, I believe-and he had gone out to do the family marketing. He was crossing the street when an automobile, recklessly driven, so everyo

auto feller-did he help? Seems to me he ought to be

merely laughed, as if it was a good joke, put o

Moriarty or the folks around get

hat it was a big yellow

A yell

lar to the one Malc

m! Where di

ue, near One Hundred an

icholas Aven

nk you, Captain Warren," she said. "I will

diately. With his chin in his h

rnoon," sa

cle lo

afore you go too far. You have your doctor go right ahead and see to the old man, and you order the things to eat an

d short, turned

yourself. I should have known. However, my allowance is my ow

I ain't sayin' no about the

to 'figure,' as you call it. Oh! why did

ine, p

s head, heaved a deep sigh, and then, sinking back into his chair, relapse

eet, and inquired if a gentleman by the name of Mr. Malcolm Dunn was connected with that es

ak to him a minute or so. Just tell him my na

he departed on the errand. However, he did so depart, and returned followed by Malcolm himself. The latter, who had been misled b

a, rising and extending his hand: "H

ll right. He added he was glad to see his vi

, condescendingly. "Nothing wr

e fust-rate

hen? Is it pleas

s a pleasure to see you, of course; and I

in the first part of the captain's reply, it did not trouble h

s what I'm here for. Thinking of corn

lers don't deal in that kind of sass. I had a private matter I want

his old fellow certainly was a "card." He seated himself on the arm of the oak settle from which the captain

r mind, Captai

anced about him s

" he said, "that it was sort of private;

oom beyond. On the glass pane of the door was lettered, "Mr. Dunn-Private." A roll-top desk in the corner and three chairs were the furniture. Malcolm, after closing the door

it. Then he inspected the room and its furnishings with interest. Dunn drew

what's the trouble, Admiral? Better get it off yo

e and private. Got a stateroom all to yourself; name on the door, an

es

n the door outside, but there 'twas, 'Smith, H

mocking impatience. "What

re fixed on several photographs stuck in the rail of M

ired the captain, noddin

them into a pigeon hole. "Look here," he said, po

e the hint. His mind was evidently st

res, I s'pose, he

ther little point

so to me. Well, about that private matter. Mr

rom the desk. Then he burst into a laugh. "An automobile?" he repeated. "Captain, ha

y one of them things? Me? I wouldn't buy one of 'em, or run one

ll you mine

of the dratted machines. They're poor folks, of course, and they need money to help 'em through the doctorin' and nursin' and while the old man's out of work. C

oving too intricate for the unsophisticated countryman. He wished advice, and had come to him for it, possibly at Caroline's sugge

repeated. "Well, fire away. Anything I can do to help

ase. The captain eyed it d

offense meant, you understand. It's all accordin' to what you've been used to. Well, about the questions. Here's the first one: Don't it seem to you that the

ou know who did i

eld responsibl

tain

ap, he'd be glad to help the poor critter, providin'

. A sudden recollection came to him, an alarming recollection. He turned i

ppen?" asked Mr. Dunn, his

and Twenty-Eighth Street. It happened last Friday mornin

w paler, and then flushed a brilliant red

I understand how 'twas, of course. You never thought you'd done any real harm and just went on, thinkin' 'twas a good joke,

d Dunn, sharply, "did C

he spent any of her money, I thought you'd ought to know, because I was sure you wouldn't let her. That's the way I'd f

ace, his cigarette had gone out, and he threw the stump savagely into the was

h will it take to square things with th

why they should. I thought maybe I'd see to 'em and do whatever was necessary; then you could settle with me, and the whole business would be just between us two. Ou

finger tattoo by h

o me to get out as easy as I can. I don't want any n

arose and pic

But it wa'n't really my affair; and when Caroline spoke of spendin' her money and Steve's, I didn't feel I'd ought to let her. You see, I don't know as you know it yet, Mr. Dunn, but my brother 'Bije left me

alcolm, frowning heavily, su

ll not tell Caroline or S

in seemed

nn," he observed, mildly. "I told you this wh