'Twon't be very heavy."
More reflection and finger tattoo by his companion. Then:
"All right! I'm in it, I can see that; and it's up to me to get out as
easy as I can. I don't want any newspaper publicity. Go ahead! I'll pay
the freight."
Captain Elisha arose and picked up his hat.
"That's fust-rate," he said, with emphasis. "I felt sure you'd see it
just as I did. There's one thing I would like to say," he added: "that
is, that you mustn't think I was stingy about helpin' 'em myself. 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 in charge of
his whole estate, and, now that I've decided to take the responsibility,
I've got a sort of pride in not wastin' any of his children's
inheritance. Good day, Mr. Dunn. I'm much obliged to you."
He opened the office door. Malcolm, frowning heavily, suddenly asked a
final question.
"Say!" he demanded, "you'll not tell Caroline or Steve a word of this,
mind!"
The captain seemed surprised.
"I guess you didn't catch what I said, Mr. Dunn," he observed, mildly.
"I told you this whole business would be just between you and me."
CHAPTER IX
Captain Elisha was very far from considering himself a Solomon.
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