"I took the liberty of askin' him, Caroline," observed Captain Elisha
quietly, and ignoring the last speaker. "I didn't know you knew him,
and I used to sail along with HIS uncle, so he seemed almost like own
folks."

"Oh!" Caroline's manner changed. "I presume it was a business call," she
said slowly. "I beg pardon for interrupting. We had not seen you since
father's death, Mr. Pearson, and I assumed that you had called upon my
brother and me. Excuse me. Mrs. Dunn, we will go into the drawing-room."

She led the way toward the apartment. Captain Elisha was about to speak.
Pearson, however, explained for him.

"Miss Warren," he said, "if by a business call you mean one in the
interest of the Planet, I assure you that you are mistaken. I am no
longer connected with any paper. I met Captain Warren, under rather
unusual circumstances. We discovered that we had mutual friends and
mutual interests. He asked me to call on him, and I did so. I did not
know, until five minutes ago, that he was your uncle or that you and
your brother lived here. I beg you won't leave the room on my account. I
was about to go when you came. Good evening."

He bowed and stepped toward the hall. Captain Elisha laid a hand on his
arm and detained him.

"Just a minute," he said. "Caroline, I want you and Steve to know that
what Mr. Pearson says is exactly true. I ain't the kind to talk to the
newspapers about the private affairs of my relations, and, if I'm
any judge of character, Mr. Pearson, knowin' you as it seems he does,