The captain cleared his throat. “What’s the rest of the arithmetic?” he demanded gruffly. “I don’t think much of that first division.”
But Madge was hardly listening. She was biting the end of her pencil. “Six doesn’t go into five thousand just evenly,” she replied thoughtfully, “but with fractions I suppose we can manage. You see that will be eight hundred and thirty-three dollars and something over for Miss Jenny Ann to put in bank to take care of her if she ever gets sick, or has to stop teaching; and the same sum will pay for Phil’s first year at college and for Eleanor’s graduating at Miss Tolliver’s, so uncle won’t have to worry over that any more. Then my little Fairy Godmother can go to some beautiful school in the country, and not be shut up in a horrid home with a capital ‘H,’ which is what Philip Holt has persuaded Mrs. Curtis ought to be done with her. And Lillian can save her money to buy pretty clothes, because she is not as poor as the rest of us and dearly loves nice things, and——” Madge’s speech ended from lack of breath.
The captain rubbed his rough chin reflectively. “Oh! I see,” he nodded, “I am to get half of the money and you are to get a sixth of a half. Is that it?”
Madge and Captain Jules Started Their Discussion Alone.
Madge lowered her voice to a whisper. “Dear Captain Jules,” she said in a wheedling tone, “you’ll help me, won’t you? The girls and Miss Jenny Ann declare positively that they won’t accept a single dollar of the money. I shall be the most miserable girl in the world if they don’t. Why, we four girls and Miss Jenny Ann have shared everything in common, our misfortunes and our good fortunes, since we started out together. If any one of the other girls had happened to discover the treasure instead of me, she would certainly have divided it with the others. Phil, Lillian, Eleanor and Miss Jenny Ann don’t even dare to deny it. So they simply must give in to me about it.”
“Well,” continued the captain, “I am yet to be told what Madge Morton means to do with the one-sixth of one-half of her wealth when it finally gets round to her.”
The little captain’s eyes shone, though her face sobered. “I am not going to college with Phil, though I hate to be parted from her,” she replied. “Somehow, I think I am not exactly meant for a college girl. I believe I will just advertise in all the papers in the world for my father. Then, if he is alive, I shall surely find him. With whatever money is left I shall go to him. If he is poor, I will manage to take care of him in some way,” ended Madge confidently.
“You will, eh?” returned Captain Jules gruffly. “It seems to me, my girl, that this is a pretty position you have mapped out for me. I am to take half of our find—nice, selfish old codger that I am—while you divide yours with your friends. I am not going to take a cent of that money, so you can just do your sums over again.”