n old woman--Aunt Hepsibah Tucker, her name was--she's
dead now. The pride of Aunt Hepsy's heart was that she took nineteen
bottles of 'Balm of Burdock Tea' and the tea folks printed her picture
as a testimonial that she lived through it. Ho, ho! And society big-bugs
appear to have the same cravin'."

"Some of them do. But that of your niece was obtained by our society
reporter from the photographer who took it. Bribery and corruption, of
course. Miss Warren would have been at least surprised to see it in
our supplement. I fancied she might not care for so much publicity and
suppressed it."

"Um-hm. Well, I guess you did right. I'll thank you for her. By the
way, I told Caroline where I was cal'latin' to go this mornin', and she
wished to be remembered to you."

Pearson seemed pleased, but he made no comment. Captain Elisha blew a
smoke ring from his pipe.

"And say, Jim," he added, embarrassed in his turn, "I hope you won't
think I'm interferin' in your affairs, but are you still set against
comin' up to where I live? I know you said you had a reason, but are you
sure it's a good one?"

He waited for an answer but none came. Pearson was gazing out of the
window. The captain looked at his watch and rose.

"I guess I'll have to be goin'," he said. "It's after twelve now."

His host swung around in his chair. "Sit down, Captain," he said. "I've
been doing a lot of thinking since I saw you, and I'm not sure about
that reason. I believe I'll ask your advice. It is a delicate matter,
and it involves your brother. You may see it as he did, and, if so, our
friendship ends, I suppose. But I'm going to risk it.

"Mr. Rodgers Warren and I," he went on, "were well acquainted during
the latter part of my newspaper work. I was financial man on the
_Planet_, and some articles I wrote took your brother's fancy. At all
events, he wrote me concerning them in highly complimentary terms and
asked me to call and see him at his office. I did so and--well, we
became very friendly, so much so that he invited me to his house. I
dined there several times, was invited to call often, and--I enjoyed
it. You see, I had few friends in the city, outside my journalistic
acquaintances, and I suppose I was flattered by Mr. Warren's kindness
and the fancy he seemed to have taken to me. And I liked Miss
Warren--no one could help that--and I believed she liked me."

"She does like you," interrupted his companion, with surprise.
"Caroline's a goo