Cap'n Warren's Wards Part 8

"Thank you," said the captain. He sank into an armchair and looked curiously about him.

"So you are the late Mr. Warren's brother?" asked the lady, making her first lead in the game.

"Yes, ma'am. His older brother. 'Bije was ten year younger'n I am, Mrs.--er--"

"Dunn. I am an old friend of the family."

"That's good. I'm glad to hear they've got friends. When you're in sickness or trouble or sorrer, friends.h.i.+p counts for consider'ble. How are the young folks--Caroline and Stephen--pretty smart, hey?"

"_Smart_? Why, they are intelligent, naturally. I--"

"No, no. I mean are they pretty well?"

"Very well, indeed, considering the shock of their recent bereavement."

"Yes, yes. Of course. And they've moved, too. Movin's an awful job. They say three movin's are as bad as a fire, but I cal'late I'd rather burn up a set of carpets than _pull_ 'em up, 'specially if they was insured.

'Tain't half so much strain on your religion. I remember the last time we took up our carpets at home, Abbie--she's my second cousin, keepin'

house for me--said if gettin' down on my knees has that effect on me she'd never ask me to go to prayer-meetin' again. Ho! ho!"

He chuckled. Mrs. Dunn elevated her nose and looked out of the window.

Then she led another small trump.

"You say that Miss Caroline and her brother expect you," she said. "You surprise me. Are you sure?"

"Oh, yes, ma'am. I'm sure. When Mr. Graves came down to see me, last week 'twas, I told him to say I'd be up pretty soon to look the ground over. This is a pretty fine place the young folks have got here," he added, gazing admiringly at the paintings and bookcases.

"Yes," a.s.sented the lady, condescendingly. "For an apartment it is really quite livable."

"Livable!" Captain Elisha's astonishment got the better of his politeness for the moment. "Um! Yes, I should say a body _might_ manage to worry along in it. Was the place where they used to live any finer than this?"

"Certainly!"

"You don't tell me! No wonder they talked about economi--Humph!"

"What were you about to say, Mr. Warren?"

"Oh, nothin', nothin'! Talkin' to myself is a habit I've got. Abbie--my second cousin; I guess I told you about her--says it's a sure sign that a person's rich or out of his head, one or t'other. I ain't rich, so--"

He chuckled once more.

"Mr. Graves came to see you at your home, did he?"

"Yes, ma'am. At South Denboro. And he certainly did have a rough pa.s.sage. Ho! ho! Probably you heard about it, bein' so friendly with the family."

"Ahem! Doubtless he would have mentioned it, but he has been ill."

"Sho! I'm sorry to hear that. I was afraid he'd catch cold."

"Yes. I hope Mr. Graves's errand was successful?"

"Well, sort of so-so."

"Yes. He came to see you in connection with your brother's estate--some legacy, perhaps?"

She did not look at the captain when she asked this question. Therefore, she did not notice the glance which he gave her. When he answered, it was in the same deliberate, provokingly deliberate, manner.

"Um-hm. Somethin' of that kind, Mrs. Dunn. I can't help thinkin'," he went on, "how nice it is that Caroline and Steve have such a good friend as you to help 'em. Your husband and 'Bije was chums, I s'pose?"

"No, not exactly. The friends.h.i.+p was on my side of the family."

"So? Want to know! Your husband dead, ma'am?"

Mrs. Dunn changed the subject. Her husband, Mr. Corcoran Dunn--once Mike Dunn, contractor and Tammany politician--was buried in Calvary Cemetery.

She mourned him, after a fas.h.i.+on, but she preferred not to talk about him.

"Yes," she answered shortly. "It--it looks as if it might snow, doesn't it?"

"I shouldn't wonder. Have you any children, ma'am?"

"One--a son." The widow's tone was frigid.

"So? He must be a comfort to you. I s'pose likely he's a friend of my nephew and niece, too."

"Certainly."

"That's good. Young folks ought to have young friends. You live in this neighborhood, ma'am?"

The lady did not answer. She gazed haughtily at the trees in the Park.

Captain Elisha rubbed a smile from his lips with his hand and remained silent. The tall clock ticked loud.

There came the sound of laughter from the pa.s.sage outside. The hall door opened. A moment later, Caroline, followed by her brother and young Dunn, entered the library.

The girl's cheeks were rosy from the cold wind. Her hair, beneath the fur auto cap, had blown in brown, rippled disorder across her forehead.

She was smiling.

"Oh, Mrs. Dunn!" she cried. "I'm so glad I accepted your--Malcolm's--invitation. We had a glorious ride! I--"

She stopped short. Captain Warren had risen from his chair and was facing her. Mrs. Dunn also rose.

"Caroline," she said, nervously, "this"--pausing on the word--"gentleman is here to see you. He says he is--"

The captain interrupted her. Stepping forward he seized his niece's hands in his. "Well, well!" he exclaimed admiringly. "'Bije's girl, that I ain't seen since you was a little mite of a baby! Caroline, I'm your Uncle Elisha."

"Good _Lord_!" groaned Stephen Warren.

CHAPTER IV