"that I ain't more struck down by the news. In a way, I am, and, in a way, I'm mighty sorry, too. But, to speak truth, he and I have been so apart, and have had nothin' to do with each other for so long that--that, well, I've come to feel as if I didn't have a brother. And I know he felt that way. Yes, and _wanted_ to feel so--I know that."
"I wouldn't say that, if I were you," observed the lawyer, gently. "I think you're mistaken there."
"I ain't mistaken. Why, look here, Mr. Graves! There was a time when I'd have got down on my knees and crawled from here to New York to help 'Bije Warren. I lent him money to start in business. Later on him and I went into partnership together on a--a fool South American speculation that didn't pan out for nothin'. I didn't care for that. I took my chance same as he did, we formed a stock company all amongst ourselves, and I've got my share of the stock somewhere yet. It may come in handy if I ever want to paper the barn. But 'twa'n't business deals of that kind that parted us, 'twas another matter. Somethin' that he did to other folks who'd trusted us and.... Humph! this don't interest you, of course.... Well, 'Bije was well off, I know. His wife died way back in the nineties. She was one of them fashionable women, and a hayseed salt-herrin' of a bachelor brother-in-law stuck down here in the sandheaps didn't interest her much--except as somethin' to forget, I s'pose. I used to see her name in the Boston papers occasionally, givin' parties at Newport and one thing a'nother. I never envied 'em that kind of life. I'm as well fixed as I want to be. Got some money put by for a rainy spell, comf'table house and land, best town on earth to live in and work for; I'm satisfied and always have been. I wouldn't change for nothin'. But I'm nine year older than 'Bije was--and yet I'm left alive. Hum!"
"Your brother had two children by his marriage," said Graves, after a moment of silence.
"Hey? Two children? Why, yes, I remember he did. Boy and girl, wa'n't they? I never saw em. They've growed up by this time, of course."
"Yes, the eldest, Caroline, is nearly twenty. The boy, Stephen, is a year younger. It is concerning those children, Captain Warren, that I have come to you."
Captain Elisha turned in his chair. "Hey?" he queried. "The children? You've come to me about 'Bije's children?"
Graves nodded. "Yes," he answered, solemnly. "That is what I meant by saying your brother had not forgotten you or wished to forget you. In spite of the estrangement, it is evident that his confidence in your judgment and integrity was supreme. His children were his idols, Captain Warren, and he has left them in your charge."
The captain's pipe fell to the hearth.
"_What_?" he shouted. "Left his children to--to _me_! Mr. Graves, you're--you're out of your head--or I am!"
"No, I'm perfectly sane. I have a copy of the will here, and--"
He was interrupted by Miss Baker, who appeared at the door of the dining room. "Did you want me, 'Lisha?" she asked.
Her employer stared at her in a dazed, uncomprehending way.
"Want you?" he repeated. "Want you?"
"Yes; I heard you holler, and I thought p'raps you was callin' me."
"Hey? No, I don't want you, Abbie.... Holler! I shouldn't wonder! If all I did was holler, I'm surprised at myself. No, no! Run along out and shut the door. Yes, shut it.... Now, Mr. Graves, say that over again and say it slow."
"I say that your brother has left his two children in your care until the youngest shall become of age--twenty-one. I have a copy of his will here, and--"
"Wait, wait! let me think. Left his children to me!... to _me_. Mr. Graves, had 'Bije lost all his money?"
"No. He was not the millionaire that many thought him. Miss Warren and her brother will be obliged to economize somewhat in their manner of living. But, with care _and_ economy, their income should be quite sufficient, without touching the principal, to--"
"Hold on again; the income, you say. What is that income?"
"Roughly speaking, a mere estimate, about twenty to twenty-five thousand yearly."
Captain Elisha had stooped to pick up the pipe he had dropped. His fingers touched it, but they did not close. Instead he straightened up in his chair as if suffering from an electric shock.
"Mr. Graves," he began; "Mr. Graves, are you cra--. No, I asked you that before. But--but twenty _thousand_ a--a year! For mercy sakes, what's the principal?"
"In the neighborhood of five hundred thousand, I believe. Of course, we had no authority to investigate thoroughly. That will be a part of your duties, but--"
"S-shh! Let me soak this into my brains a little at a time. 'Bije leaves his children five hundred thousand, half a million, and--and they've got to _economize_! And I'm.... Would you mind readin' me that will?"
The attorney drew a long envelope from his pocket, extracted therefrom a folded document, donned a pair of gold-mounted eyeglasses, and began to read aloud.
The will was short and very concise. "'I, Abijah Rodgers Warren, being of sound mind--'"
"You're sartin that part's true, are you?" broke in the captain.
Graves nodded, rather impatiently, and continued. "'Of sound mind, memory and understanding, do make, publish and declare this to be my last will and testament, in manner following, that is to say:--
"'First:--I direct my executor hereinafter named to pay my just debts and funeral expenses as soon as maybe convenient after my decease.'"
"Did he owe much, think likely?" asked Captain Elisha.
"Apparently not. Very little beyond the usual bills of a household."
"Yes, yes. Grocer and butcher and baker and suchlike. Well, I guess they won't have to put in a keeper. Heave ahead."
"'Second:--I give, devise and bequeath all my estate, both real and personal, to my brother, Elisha Warren, if he survive--'"
The captain gasped. "To me?" he cried, in utter amazement. "He leaves it to _me_? 'Bije leaves--say, Mr. Graves, there's some mistake here somewhere, sure! And besides, you said--"
"Just a minute, Captain Warren, if you please. If you'll be patient and not interrupt, I'll try to make the whole matter plain."
"Well, if you can do _that_, you'll have King Solomon and all his wisdom beat a mile, that's all I've got to say. Go on."
"'To my brother, Elisha Warren, if he survive me, _in trust_, nevertheless, for the following purpose, to wit:--
"'To invest the same and to use the income thereof for the education and maintenance of my two children, Caroline Edgecombe Warren--'"
"Edgecombe? Named for some of his wife's folks, I presume likely. Excuse me for puttin' my oar in again. Go on."
"'And Stephen Cole Warren--'"
"_That's_ his wife, sartin. She was a Cole. I swan, I beg your pardon."
"'Until the elder, Caroline Edgecombe Warren, shall have reached her twenty-first birthday, when one-half of the principal of said estate, together with one-half of the accumulated interest, shall be given to her, and the trust continued for the education and maintenance of my son, Stephen Cole Warren, until he shall have reached his twenty-first birthday, when I direct that the remainder be given to him.
"'Third:--I appoint as testamentary guardian of my said children my said brother, Elisha Warren.
"'Fourth:--I appoint as sole executor of this, my last will and testament, my said brother, Elisha Warren.
"'Fifth:--Imposing implicit trust and confidence in Elisha Warren, my brother, I direct that he be not required to give bond for the performance of any of the affairs