Pearson, in
conversation with Mrs. Ruggles, casually imparted the information that
Captain Elisha was the brother of A. Rodgers Warren, late society leader
and wealthy broker. Also, that he had entire charge of the latter's
estate. Thereafter Mrs. Ruggles treated the captain as one whose rank
was equal to her own, and, consequently, higher than anyone's else
in the boarding-house. She made it a point to publicly ask his advice
concerning "securities" and "investments," and favored him with many
reminiscences of her distinguished father, the Senator. Miss Sherborne,
as usual, followed her lead. Captain Elisha, when Pearson joked him on
the altered behavior of the two ladies, merely grinned.
"You may thank me for that, Captain," said the young man. "When I told
Mrs. Ruggles who and what you were she almost broke down and sobbed.
The fact that she had risked offending one so closely connected with the
real thing on Fifth Avenue and Wall Street was too dreadful. But she's
yours devotedly now. There's an 18-karat crown on your head."
"Yup. I suppose so. Well, I ain't so sot up with pride over wearin'
that crown. It used to belong to 'Bije, and I never did care much for
second-hand things. Rather have a new sou'wester of my own, any day in
the week.
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