Cap'n Warren's Wards

rter to nine Caroline, entering the library, found S

en, looking about the room,

hasn't. At least, I haven't seen him and I haven't made any inquiries. I shall m

and turned the page of th

ved, Miss Carolin

come from his room?"

ne. That is, I h

the paper on th

grin, "A sudden thought strikes me, Sis

How ca

ut we shall miss him.' Come on, Caro; I'm hungry. Let the old hayseed sleep. You and I can ha

y knock at Captain Warren's door

rry on our account. Come, Caro, come! You're not

wish to follow complicated by a feeling of duty to a guest, no

there, mis

e? Not in

t answer, so I looked in and he wasn't ther

you haven't

nce half past seven, and I can't und

the library. A moment afterwards Captain Elisha strolled i

got in without ringin'. Well, you see, I'm used to turnin' out pretty early, and when it got to be most seven o'clock, I couldn't lay to bed any

ready now

I should think so. It's way into the forenoon. You

st hour is nine. Pardon me for negle

Now you trot right out

ur brea

ks was late sleepers, and I wouldn't want to make any trouble, so I found a little eatin' house down below here a ways and had a cup of cof

was too astoni

o get out than it did to get in. I had the gen'ral points of the compass, and I guess I could have made a pretty average straight run for home, but every time I wanted to cut acros

m, where he left his coat and hat, returned to the library, pick

ery wish, and had never had to think or plan for themselves. As to the size of the estate, they knew nothing more than Mr. Graves had told them, which was that, instead of the several millions which rumor had credited A. Rodgers Warren with

Graves didn't know about your movin', then?

answered

did," he decla

sible thing to do, I should say. Di

who replied. "We aren't kids. We're old enough to

friends might have helped along. This Mrs. Dunn now, she kind of hin

Malcolm have proved their friendship in a thousand

ver pay, I know that. Mrs. Dunn foun

e and I found

sed in the newspaper, was it; or was th

move, and she has a cousin who is interested in New York

his own,

re you so particular

uncle's questions as impertinent intrusions

-what do you call it-South De

isha laugh

drove up. And I doubt if there's many new ones built since I left. It's a mighty fine l

d a year," answere

broke off the whistle in the middle

nd eighty odd a month. Say, that cousin of Mrs. Dunn's must wan

aughed sc

been counting, C

mornin' when I got up. I w

e boy. "Did you think the twenty-two hun

didn't

y-four hundred, but, thanks to Mrs. Dunn, who explained to

observed her brother in supreme dis

d Captain Elisha, heartily. "She's pretty

esume

t how much is s

ow. I never

next door neighbor's wuth, and he'll tell you within a hundred, and how he got it, and how much h

n. There was no reason why Caroline should blu

red, resentfull

hat's his

th a produce exchan

f the

osted, or as curious, concerning our friends' p

ot. Well," he went on, rising, "I guess I've kept you young folks from your work or-or play, or whatever you was going to do, l

lf past one," a

ne at

likely I'll be back for luncheon. If I ain't, don't wait for me. I'll

given, he boarded a train at the nearest subway station, emerged at Wall Street, inquired once more, located the street he was looking for

nd gorgeously appointed sky-scraper. When Captain Elisha entered the firm's recept

to see?" asked t

hat and wiped his forehe

p in one of those express elevators of yours, and I kind of feel as if my boots had got tangled up with my necktie. Wh

ied the bo

n the sick ba

home. Got

ad. Mr.-er-Sylve

. Won't one of the clerks do? What

ha Warren of South Denboro-better write it down-called and will be back about half past twelve or thereabouts. Got it, have you? Hum! is that Elisha? You don't tell me! I've been spelli

indignant office boy thr

is locality, and the changes were many. Soon, however, he began to recognize familiar landmarks. He was approach

ners were plenty, but the captain missed the old square-riggers, the clipper ships and barks,

ss, and along them were furled royals and upper topsails. Here, at last, was a craft worth looking at. Captain Elisha crossed the street, hurried past the c

crates and boxes at the further end of the pier, evidently the last bit of cargo waiting to be carted away. The captain inspected the pile, recogni

is one. To begin with, her size and tonnage were enormous. Also, she was four-masted, instead of the usual three, and her hull and lower spars were

She was decked over aft, and, as the captain said afterwards, "her cabins had nigh as many stories as a house." From the roof of the "first story," level with the bulwarks, extended a series of bridges, which could be hoisted or lowered, an

astonishing. He was standing by the wheel, near the companion way, wishing that he might inspect the

ng fellow, whose general appearance and lack of sunburn showed quite plainly that he was not a seaf

ir?" he asked, in broke

s been some time since I trod the quarter-deck of a square-rigger, and I couldn't resist the temptation o

eplied the st

om?" asked Ca

apore

o all

s,

for ano

e load for M

Have a good pa

r. She g

't think I'm crowdin' in where I don't belong. I was just tellin' the doctor here that it ha

sked the youn

such a whale of a craft as this, though. Didn't hav

k. I'm a land lubber, just scouting round, t

e seen what she could do in a full-s

" replied

ose. Well, if it ain't against orders, I'd kin

grinned. His compan

of the consignees, and I'd be glad to show you the

the tour of inspection began. The steward remained on deck, but the captai

nt. Aboard her we had to walk sittin' down. There wa'n't room in the cabin for more'n one to stand up at a time. But she could sail, just the same-and carry it, too. I've seen her off the Horn with studdin' sails set, when craft

e's eyes

ife, but I can understand just how you feel. It's in my blood, I guess. I come of a s

lors in Belfast. I sailed under a Cap'n Pearso

was named for him. My na

t to tell you that your Uncle Jim was a seaman of the kind you dream about, b

hands and laughe

glad you knew Uncle Jim. As a youngster, he was my i

h yarnin' about. So you ain't a

nd eating at a third-rate boarding-house table living. However, it's my own fault. I've been a newspa

stions, but he had not the slightest idea what "free-lanci

e, but the only way to find out whether it's chronic or not is to experiment. That's what I'm doing now. The thing I'm at work on ma

ha patted hi

I've changed my mind. I don't know's you'll believe it, but I've just found out, for a fact, that some painters get twenty-two thousand dollars for one pictu

he said. "Few, at any rate. I should be satisfied with cons

y livin', and I ain't exactly boardin', b

d hurried out of the cabin. Captain Elisha lingered for a final look about. Then he follow

own to the main deck below. At the top of one of these flights stood young Pearson, cool and alert. Behind him half crouched the Japanese steward, evidently very much frightened. At the foot of the steps were grouped three rough looking men, foreigners an

e matter?"

ed without tur

ull, and come back to square a grudge they seem to have against the steward. I'm te

sulting together. On the wharf were half a doze

earson, "we'll be all right. The wharf watchman has g

for their belts behind, evidently intending to follow suit

edro! Give him wha

the cabin. Pearson did not move; he even smiled. The next moment he w

d, sternly. "W

ted addition to their enemies forces, hesitat

he said. "They

three below. "What do you mean by this? Put down that knife, you lubber

resist, or because they recognized the authority of the deep sea in Captain Eli

ean by it? Why, I'll have you tied up and put on bread and water. Ov

The performance would have been ridiculous if Pearson had not feared that it might become tragic. He wa

the cops!

e "mutineers" were over the side and running as fast a

orge!" excla

a dream. He stood still, drew his hand acr

eclare the sight of that gang set me back about twenty years. They-they must have thought I was the ne

Why, you're the mate that handled the mutinous crew aboard Uncle Jim's bark, the Pacer, off Mauritius, in the typ

"So he told you that, did he?" he be

nstant later a big and very pompous police officer leaped to the d

s you, is it? Well, you're too old to be gettin' drunk and fighti

laid a hand on t

" he announced. "Will

tain Elisha. "Under-My soul and

in'. Come on, or shall I-Hello,

ad steppe

" He drew the officer aside and whispered in his ear. After a rather l

y tellin' all them

astonished watchman.

aptain Elisha, "was fightin' and murderin'. I ask your pardon, sir. 'Twas thi

fore him and tongue-lashing him all th

f it hadn't been for you I'd been took up. Yes, sir, took up and carted off to the lockup. Whew! that would have looked well in the

aper training and acquaintance has its adva

thank you

g you handle those fellows for a good deal. And besides, y

astily pulled out his

go to lunch with you, but I do wish you'd come and see me some time. My address for-for a spell, anyhow-is Central Park West

n was eviden

warn you, Captain Warren, that I shall p

m afraid my yarns'll be pretty du

y and good luck. I sh

ight; do.