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A LIT'rLE
BRASS RING
Dy J. J. DELL.
( Coflyrlcht , b , . JOIl1I n , Bowlcs , )
"nut , my denr I'dln , " Imld I , mlllJlr ,
flU YO\l Insillt on havlug Hoveml tltrln s
to YOllr bow , ) 'OU mUKtn' ! . he Hllf/.rhwd / .
if you havl ! entun Iln1llH. ! "
"I wlAh ) 'OU wonlrl nlleak Illolnl ) ' , "
tlho retorted , with ( ) IIIC Iletlllancl"
"WOIl , then , IC ) 'OU will Ilirt with
halt.n'llozen CellowH , ' ( ) U- "
"lIow dare YOII ? " Hhe mlmt IndlJ ; ,
IInnUy ,
"YOII nslred mo to Rpeak Illnlnl ) ' ,
Lrdln. . "
" ' ' allll hor-
"And YOIl wel'o IInll'rtlnont
rltJl-untrllthflll. ] ] aIC.a.dozen fellowH !
Oh ! how dare ) 'ou ? "
"I 1)\lIe"o \ 11\I'e \ ! lire ollly Hlx , Pm ) '
forglvo 1110 , "
"Oh , ) ' 011 ] n8ulllllg thlngl"
"Well , there ma ) ' he 11101'0 that. I
don't lenow nhoul. SUII , lIlx Is ) llenty
to fie nahnl1Jed of , "
"I'm lIot Ilshamedl I haven't dUlle
Itnythln , ; to ho ashllmed or : 1 wlllh
' , you woulrl go aWIlY. "
'IBut you nsltCl1 mo to cornu In and
have IL eUl ) of tea , WIll'IH \ Iho tea ? "
I domnuded ,
"You're the cllOeklost hey I ever
met , " nho remarltod , Hmlllug grudg-
Iugly , "I'm no HOf'r ) ' mother IHII't In. ' '
"I'm not goln , ; to he violent , " I mi'
tluretI her ,
' 'It'lugol YOII know Iulto well I cOllld
got ono ot the IIIl1lrls to ( Jilt YOII oul.
So , bolmve ! "
"I'vo been ) lilt out ( 'nollgh alrCluly
thlB weolt , " I returned , "I hnd n visit
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UWhy Did You Give It to Me ? "
Crom Bm Carraway on 'fuesday night. "
"Oh ! " said L'tIla ,
"lIo W1W looking uncom111on seell ) ' , "
"Oh ! " said Lydia agllln ,
"lIo's going err to western Austmlln
on Saturday , "
"Oh ! " said IYdla a third time ,
"Do ) 'OU Imow why , I..ydln ? "
' ' 'How should I ] mow ? , , , lIo's n
nlco boy , " she murmured ,
"Yca ; but ho found ho 'wasn't nlcc
cnough-for you , LYdia , Ho told me
all about It. "
, ! I' ho' wrotchetI creature ! "
"That just describes him , poor chap. .
Howo\'or , ho'a so bad q.t present that
I fancy ho'll soon get ever It , U'E
qneer how fellows como nnll toll m (
( ) ( their troubles In conncetlon will :
'ou , Lydia , " I remurlwd mllsln I ' .
"It's almphorrlll \ ! "
"I suppose It.'s because I'm a sym
pathetic sort of being nnd have knowI
you'so long , "
"Indeed ! "
"I orton wonder , thouGh , wh t. the
would thlnlt If UIO ) ' Imow tlmt you anI
I had once been engaged , "
"Rubbish , Paul ! "
"Oh , but wo were ! ' I'vo stili got. tIli
ring you returned to me , though
burned the letters , "
"Tho ring came out of Aunt ' "
1a \ I' ) :
wedding cake , " said LYdIa , laughing I
lIttle , "Wbat 8l11h.'s0 wore , Puul
'Vby , ) 'ou ha n't leCt. school , "
"I was 17 when the engageIUent W3
1Jroken art , Do ) 'OU remember why WI
.quarreed . ] ? "
"N-no , " BaltI 1.ydla" blushing ,
" 'You do remember , You werc ron ,
ot cllmbln , ; trees , -nntI 1 forbade YOI
And as you refused to climb down ,
to speak , we ) larted , actor you ha
shied the ring at.mo. So all was ovc
hetween us , L'dla , "
"How fo01lsh it waa ! "
"you can therefore understand ho'
s'IDvathelic I 'feel towards fellow
who ] eve In vain , I had a ] mlnful II
tCI'Vlow , " I went on , "with another I
) 'our-a-vlcUms yenterda ) ' . "
"Oh , talk about somethIng else. "
"I've nothing else to talk about ,
met him at the club , lIe had. bee
drinking heavlly- "
"Paul ! "
"And his Urst remark was to the e
leet that nine calls In an arternoo ,
tnCant more tea.drnklng ] than Wtl
good tor man or beast , Talkln (
tea , when Is mine comIng ? "
" 1It1IUedlately , f am thankful t
any , "
"Are you thirsty , too ? "
uNoi I'm loncing for you to .
away , Here' Jane at Inst , "
When wo were alone again I I
Hamed : "Well , Lydia , I was gain& ,
tell ypu about the tollow I met at tJ
club , "
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" 1 > I'II dOll't trulahlu ) 'oursl'lr , "
" ' 1'110 culln ho hlltI hoen mllkln WC > rl'
fllrl.w11 OIIl'I1 , ht'l'IIUIIl ! III ' , Is going
IIWlL ) ' IIIHO. Jll' mcnllolll'd ' that , hI' hod
IIl1ltl'd YIIU tll gll with hll1l , 1In IIl'el1lS
to II II Vl' gel II deroul 1I)1(10111111l0lll ) ( III
CHllndll. "
"I 110\1' thollght thllt Jo'rndd ) ' Brown. .
would hll vo hrolltlwll- "
I
"Ills'olco W1W a trlllc husky , hilt
IlmhllpH It wnll Lllo tcn , Another picco
oC suglil' , IIII'm\ \ ( ! , , , , 'flmnlts011 ,
IIrowlI dldn'l hlllll1l' 'Oll , IYllla , "
" } Jeer lJU ) ' ! "
"lie oub' salll YOII were IL heartlc '
11I1I1 ' 111'1 , and- "
"I elln HIIIHlrIJ ) 'OU , Pnul , that he
novel' had IIn ) ' uIICOUrnel1lont from
IIW , I I ollhln't hcar him , "
"Sol11l'how , I HlwoYII hlLd an Idel\
Illat011 JIlted hlm-llot so well , ) ler.
'
Imllll , aH M UfI'lI ) ' orIlIlorHon , or Mer-
edllh , or- "
" ' ' I1ICILIII ] ) ave
"You'ru ILwCull ) you
IllIlshed > ' 1111 ; ' tea ? "
"Y ! ! ! ! , tllIlnlt ) 'ou , , ll1st relLd ) ' ror my
( weonll , ( : Ufl , L'dllL , But nbout
Bl'Own- "
"Ir ) ' 011 Hllr anoUHJl' word Hhout
BrowlI , 1L1I'hodr \ elsc , I'll leave ) 'OU ,
Ind\'II , I will ! Whut. rhht IlILvc you I
10 dlnclllls-a-theso sort of things ? "
" "hrl'O hllllllll , ] _ ) 'dla , Whal rlgn\ ,
dill ) ' 011 Ha ) " ! ' 1' lit' I'Ight-lIhem ! of a
rejectorl 11I\'I'r ! "
" 1i'lddlc-tlcla ! ! ! 'fake yoII' \ tca , antI
he Iulek , , "
" 1Il'I'l1I hOHIIllal1l y ! " aald I , taltlng
the Imll from her , "Do you trellt. all
yoII' \ lIIalo J rlendslite \ Utili , Lydtn'l"
"No : I treot thelll ns gentlemen , "
slw rotorted.
"Yoll nll'/m / ? " I aRked , slung b ) ' her
to\II' \ ,
"IIIOUII \ thot none or III ) ' male
f'rlcntlB , us ) ' 011 Iall : Ih011l , would tall ,
nH 'Oll huv ! ) done , "
"No ; l'ueh woulll talk abollt himself ,
I SI1I1I"1 W , You have an unrortunate
wur or mllkln men conceited for a
w..Jlt 01' two , J _ llIa , "
"Oh ! " \ ,
"Anll 1'11I gettlllg rather tll'ed of
mQolln fl'lIow wholll YOII have JlCted
Inlo Iho Kovonth IWlwen and then
droJllCd. ) PleulIl' let. lIIe go on-I've
nl'arly IIlIlshed. 11' I'm not Rllealtlng
the truth ) 'OU mm contra lct me ufter-
wards , ] 'vo hurl t his bottled up for
monthH , anll I can keell It no longer ,
I llIn'l : utaud hl.'arln men culllllg 'ou
a I1Irt. It'll lIorrlhlu 10 n\O who ha\'o
ItI1n\\'n ) 'OU IInll heen f.fl'lpndly with
you nelll'l ' all ) ' 0111' lIfo. ] wish to
gOOII1H'sS : 011 harl a brother , or a-a
hushanrl , You- "
SIll' Interrupted 1110 by rising sud ,
donl ' aIII \ faring nil ! , BOI' OYOII were
VI.'I'Y hl'lght , 'hut her race WIIS llale ,
"IIIuln't ) ' 011 hetter go now ? " she said ,
cold ! ) ' ,
I Ilut rlown mr CIIII and 1'0so. "You
WOlI't IIstl'n 10 'me , ] J'dla' ! " I said ,
sadl ) ' ,
"Mr llUtienec 11\ rather limited , and
YOII\-or-convorsatlon \ Is rather dul1. "
"A nd ) 'Ol1l' conscience ' ! "
" ] s none or yoIIbUBlness \ , : '
Wo looked ut ono another , and at
Inst hcr e'es drotilled ,
"I'll go , Lrdla , " I said , with an ef ,
fOl't , "And I won'llntorfere ngnln. In
fael , I won't meet. ) 'ou again , If I can
hell ) It , "
"Vcrr well , " she mUl'mured.
1 t\ll'nell from her without even a
, formal farewell ; hilt ut. the door a
qlleer Idea occuned to me , and I re-
I Iraced IIIr stolls , ho was standing by
the hearth , 1001.lng Into the fire , as I
etached sOl1\ethlng \ from lhe end of
my watch.chllin anll slllilled Illnto her
hund ,
" \ \ 'hut'lIhls ? " Hhu exclaimed ,
"A rollc of 'ollr 11rst. t1Irt.n.Uon , " 1
rcl1011. ) ) "All ) 'OU can see , the gilt Is
off It. Pul It 11\ , the fire , I'vo orten
Intended to do 110 , hnl alwlL'K lackell
the courage , "
For lL moment she hent. ovel' the
I little brasil ring with It.q glass Bnd
tlnHel ruh ) ' , lOll IIserl to bo too big
I for 1\Ie \ , " she whlslc'ed ) , as It to lieI"
11011.
"Yes ; I romCIubm' It came off vor ) '
aasllr , " I muttered , and somehow ]
shhed ,
She glanced UII at mo , and looked
down agnln.
"Pnt. It In the IIrt ) lIud I'll got awuy , "
Bald J.
She HIIV ! ! a quom' IIltle laugh. "Ii
s1l1l1)ed ) Q\1 \ to m ) ' linger just now-se
sllor \ Itnnd ! I cnn't gel It off. "
"Lot'me nen It , "
She hold uII her loft hanll. atHI 1 sa\\
the glal's : rllIly wlllking freely on tlH
third 1I11I or ,
"I.et 1\10 \ trr , LYdia , " I whl llol'el
softJ ) ' , In silito of 1\I'lIe1f \ , A 1111 qlH
laughed naln ! , and ' ; I1VO mo hel' h UHI
But the ring wan tight and could no
ht ! removed withollt. hurting her ,
"Won't It come off' ! " she awI : ; :
quieti ) ' ,
"I don't wnnt to hurt ) 'OU , "
. .
Don't you ? " she said dreamll ) '
And then , "Oil , Paul , Paul ! " she cried
"Why did rou give Il to mo ? "
"Iydla ! "
"I t makl's me remcmbel'- "
"What , Iydla ! "
"Oil , jllst'er.thlng worth I'omen ,
'S bcrlng , , . . Paul , you mustn't Ids
11m ) ' hands , you mllstn't-oh , let. III
) f so ! "
Silo moved n. IIltle away trom m
and leant. her arms on the mante
1 11leco : tnd hid her tace , 1"01' a Ion
'n ' time , ns It seemell , tho"o was Hllenc
In the room ,
"L'llIa , " I whlsered ) ) at last , "YO\1'\ \ '
t- found me out , Whnt am I to do' ! "
n I had to walt tor my ILIlHwel' , hut
LS came , She did nol 11ft her hend , b\
) ( bhe stretched her bllntI towards In <
, and when wo were cloltogeUler sb
:0 : nighed , "I.ot DIe keel ) the rlns , Paul
Lifetime Spent In Mill , .
:0 PICt.two years use , Mrs , Me\ls \
Hodgdon , of Saco , Mo" a weave
wout to worlt In cotton mill and It [
' 0boon tolllnl ; every wookda ) ' slnc
to Ffty years of thlll limo she hils bee
! lo a weaver In the cotton mills ot Snc
wh ro she Is nt prosent.
oj
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I 7.r..r.r..r..r.r.r.rJ".r.r..r.r.r..r.rA' =
; VENGEANCE I
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i
, I
By BURKE JENKINS.
O".r.r.rA .r.-.r..rwC .r.r.r..ccr.Qj ) 'I
( Copyright , by JOlc1h D , lIowlt'8 , ) '
hOl\t' '
Straight u ) ) the shlmmor ot \
rose from IIcorchln ( ; sand , \mt1eck(1(1
b ) ' lL 11111111 rll I or wind , A bllsh'rln
111111 utili beat Ulon ) the buck at UIO
t\'l\\'cler headed weAt ; for It wn.o ; nut
yet nOOll ,
'l'Ill ! aqUtl1klnJ. ! : stlrrlll\-loaUlOrt'
clmred rall\lnl ) ) ' agllinst the cowhhlo
bootleEs In the monotuu ) ' o ( the little
llUn"tI ) lnce , while sllln holster lLnd I
rclt'co\'CJ'ed cnntecn th\IIulletI the Ulllh I
with occaslonnl IrrelIlnrlt ( ) ' , Thu ) lnck
animal , head l'xtCluled In unwlllln
lead , and out or time to the mount ,
clotlCred stones In woarlell ehunl- !
ness. .
'l'he horseman wore a blue fianncl
IIhlrt : , two bllttons open nt. the throat
unt ! sleo\'e'rollcd to tho\ elbow , ro\'oal.
InJ ; u thick chest nnd forearms , decl'- '
I ) ' hrowncll ant ! sinewy ,
Occaslono.lly , at 0. stllmble o ( the
little hClUit that seemed to feel the
heat , Iho man wOllld jerk him nl\ and ,
fOl' u moment , would 1)0 somewhat I
nhnkl'n rrom the lhoughts which set :
the broad upper 11) ) ) In lines of tension ,
'rho dust , finc'IIowdered and allmll
white , rOllc and settled Into the \'er ) '
weave of the clothes ,
'I'he slln IJn setI overhead antI beb'1Ul
to look undOl' the hat brim. It. wns
all'cady ) lIlSt. tlmo for t11C mltI'da ) ' .halt.
No IIllOt differed from another BUm-
clentl ) ' to mark ILn ) ' distinction as a
resting llaco with the IntIlfferenco
) ; so , I
of worn custom the traveler' grunted
IL halt and awun , ; himself slowly Crom
It 'vV .1S Not Yet Noon ,
the sUddle , lIe flung the brdlo ] lines
fOl'ward over the head of the 11ttlc
lion ) ' that , head rIown and rooted to
the untied lines of command , stood
ImntlHg' , hellows.sIdcd and with ) llIlsat-
In nostrils ,
With a stiffness of slep rernlnlscent
of the saddle , the man went baclt to
the pact : unluml and unfastened two
mOl'\'I\ls \ \ , Into tach of these feedlnJ ;
blLS's he Iiollred a measure of corn nntI
UlOn sllPlled them over the panting
noses , 'rhe beasts crunchetI away at
thu tmlns Instlnctlvel ) ' , but with lIltle
'
of the ZOHt of appetlzed enjoymenl.
110 loosened the cinch girt and drew
off the heln'y sndtIlo tree , nung It. be.
sldo the h rso and removed the damp
blanket. heneath which the hall' la ) '
wet and plastered , wllh the edges
foamed , Ho stroked the hot back and
examined where the saddle hatI
goalled ; then he turned'lLnd tooK from
a naddle-h\l \ a half.dozen biscuit and
seated himself Turltrasl-on , alongsldc
the tl'all ,
, 110 munched this dry Codder , which
cJuu to the teeth , and strove to wash
It down b ) ' applications of the canteen
I of watOl' , alkall.whltenod qnd catting ,
'rhepowtOl' I noclt tasted billol' and
the gllrgle lent. uo rerl'eshment.
'fho sun was atltu hottest. He took
) off the broadbrlmmed fell hal , which
wall swmted through to the unraveled
ribbon , and fanned his redhandel
forehend. The hraln was becoming
numb to I'eason and taking on the tlru
of the desert.
lIe Jot to his feeL with a curse , tool :
the mOl'rals from the horses aUll ,
tnrowln out the few remaining
ralns , restored them to tbe lJUclt ,
, Mountln again , ho ) lulled down the
I : hat brIm and kept on toward the sun ,
now an , houl' toward setting' , 'I'he
couutr ) ' l'ol1ed with the Inee sant
waves of the ) lrahio , hIund \ ] divide
with here and there the gnarled lUes
I' qllito bushes , thoru ) ' nnd forbhldln : ;
s deep , strongl"l'ooted , and almost cov
a ored by the t\nd Htorms when UH
wb..1 Id blow ,
o A qulclt JUUll ) besldo the 1rall jusl
I _ ahead startled both horsa and rider
. . nnd the Illalns jack.rabblt mUllo ott , t
lronk or swift , gray un alnllness
'I'hon , aaln ! , only the mufiled thud
thud of the hoers In Hond came to con
sclousnoss ,
'rho rideI' , hood bent In \I. \ sorl 0
alaUl ) ) ' , WI\S mocluwlcall ) ' droning 0\0
an oltl tune to the , rh'thmlcnl stolJ
And aU the UmQ the aun stili dazzl
down uI10n him and the demon of UII
lone prairie WIUi stili worklug , 'I'h ,
lrall led on In Its tn.lntnesll ,
in Horse I\nlt rhlel' tolped ) a rlso , j
1' , dlvldo ofInlslal br(1th IllY berot"
LS thplU , A change came ever both mal
0 , and br.'Sat , l aeh had spied a chlmII 0
III tree8 ; an oasis ot welcome shade and
0 , 1U1l'bo , water E\'en the IIaclt anime
q llcke.ed pace.
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' '
. , , '
I 'l'horo , 111 U nest of grebn , t.rlcklcd
a spring ,
lIu sprung from his horse and hur ,
jed his foce In the coolness , Unsnd.
IlIln , ; hlB mount. , he toolt the paclt
f\'Om \ the other pony and led them , t.o
Iho wuter , The worn animals dranlt
tlll'lr nil , the undulations of swallow.
lug l'unnlllJ ; rlppesII' ] ' their tired
noells , Even aCter they hatI enough ,
Ilwy Itept their noses In the apprecl.
ntl'd' nectar , loth to Icave , and with
t' 'l'8 halt closed In contentment ,
IIlIslod nt IIremaltlng , the mun
( 'au ht sight oC a slIeck thnt was
Ill'l\dlllg towards the clump ot trees
from UIO west , I.eadlng his horses
1\8hlo , he RtlUl1petI out. the now blaze ,
tlrew a CoIL -t5 nnd wnttod bohlnd a
ra\'orlng shelter ,
'I'ho nowcomel' came moro plainlY
Into vlozlgzagglng along the al.
mo t IndhcernltJlo ; way , Trails umt
k/lll un'whel'o me novel' atrnlght.
'I'ho Coutm'l's of the man In waiting
tl\nl1lonod. 'rhe man from the west
"wung I\lolIg In the easy abandon of
uno who has Cound IL gootI berth ,
Within 50 feet of meeUng the hid ,
den ) lack lmJrnal cOllghed , The newcomer -
comer slralghtened , drew , antI SClLl1netI ,
The mon In ambush bolstered his
\\'eOIOn ) , stupped with easy nonchal ,
ance Into \'Iew and sang Ollt :
"Helgho ! You shore travel might ) '
quiet. Come on Ul , JIISt. bllllding a
tJlazc , AIIflred fine 'lay' for the night ,
ain't It ? "
'I'ho other's altltudo eased and he
rude on UII , foUowed b ) ' IL pncl"welght-
l'd IIurro ,
"Ga\'o me SOI't. of a jell , " said ho ,
"YOII Imow , I didn't see ) 'OU at all , "
"lIo.\'on't been here long myscJr , "
was the answer from the 1Ips Utat had
not yet lost their dotermlnetI sot , al.
though the tone of volco was genial
and the welcome had lhe note of
heartiness ,
' 1'he new II1l1n dismounted and jan.
gled his way up to the other ,
"Shake ! " said he ,
The other stretched out his hand ,
" 'I'om 'Vorth ! It exclaimed'Lbo ar-
rl\'al.
"Yes , but , bow the devil tIld you
Imow It ? "
"Why , I'm JIm 'I'hron : ; . Don't
know me In this growth , eh ? Remem.
bel' when I gllve you that scar with
Jemima's chicken hatcl1el when wo
were Idds ) llaylng Indians back yon-
derT' ,
Tom's IIrm mouql suppled , and he
smllell In quiet reminiscence ,
" \Vell , " sad ! ho , "I'm more surllrlsed
than you are , for 1 sure wasn't expectIng -
Ing to 11100t-'OIl , "
'l'he ' hustled allollt frylng.paInnd
corree , and , with the accomllaniment
of the neal'.b ) ' crunching beastB , they
sat aboul thell' meal ,
"Sa ) ' , 'fom , l'\'o been through it , I
t01l you ; but I'vo got the dust at
last , "
Jim drew from his shirl a bas and
fingered Its ye1l0w contents.
"At the mines , " he explained , "Moro
In the puck , too , " polntln ; ; to whore
It la ) ' ,
"Te1l mo all about It , ,11m , " said
'I'om , thumbIng and lighting a we1l-
crusted pipe , "H's heen al least seven
'ears since I've seen you. "
Qlliet had como upon him and ho
lay hack In attentive attitude ,
" 'Veil , " began ,11m , "I ran awa ) '
west before you did , Ups and downs !
Of course , most downs , Then I struck
Pa1to hack here a strll ) , Prett ) ' decenl
ploce , ver hit It ? "
"Just como Crom there yesterday , "
lirawled 'rom In answer ,
" 'rhen you know It. We11 , 1 rioted
around the place a little tl1I I feU in
love with as prott ) ' a girl as you ever
did sec. Such a face-hand-fool ! "
"So ? " sml1ed 'rom.
"Yep , I didn't have any whorewlth ;
so the old man-nlco old chap , too-
told me If I'd huclt up 'and win out I
coultl have her , "
"She love you , , too ? "
"Said she did. J\nyway , she prom ,
Ised both the old man and mo she'd
marry 11I0 when I came b ck , 1 struclt
for the mines , and , br Gad ! I've won
out , as you see , and back I go. Wen ,
del' I'm a IIttlo jo'ful ? "
"I should sur nol. Ir hand on It ,
Jim , "
'I'he ) ' spread out their hlanltets , feel
to the d'lng IIro , and adjusted lh
hIgh can tied Daddies for I11110ws , .Tlili
was the first. to reach that quiet preceding
coding sleep , and just before he s1l
from con clousness he murmured
girl's nalllO ,
'rhe sting of that name , so unexpect
ed , brought Tom to a sItting posture
'l'he risIng moon , In pralrlo clearness
shone on his hlanched face ,
'Ho quletlr 1Irhted a match and
, plpo between Imecs sat until the gra )
dawn that chl1ls the toes , Little b )
lIttle thu.t old , grim determination sel
I tied ltf1clf hac Ie Into those hard IInm
, of IIxlt ) ' ,
As the red st.reaks tlrst appeared 111
ro e calml ) ' , drew a servlce-worI
, shcath.lmlfo and stelilled ovel' lowarl
lho sleoiling man. Jim moved and t1-l1
, hag of gold.dusl fe1l Crom hlH shirt
,
front.'om \ reached for It and tOSSOI
It aside , It fell near a grazing Iiony
'fho a.nlmal snurred at the 11Ouch , thel
tUnlP.t1 asldo and c1lpped ana the
,
mouthful of grass ,
J Im' sblrt lay IJartlr ellen and th ,
Imlto Ieamed close.
The nexl second Tom stepped quIet
h' ILway ,
Tom gazetI long at the spokes of th
rlslnc Blln , Lho lmlfo stl1l elenchel
I , Ho rolsod Itlo his own blue shIrt , 'I'h
point pai'lod the wean : , lIe slopped ,
With culln deltberntlon he stroke
the hlade ncross hi. breeches an
sht'.ntholl It , Ho went und started
t1re. 'rho ponies looked Interested ,
After whllo 'rom stepped ever t
the hag of sold , hrought It back an
la ) ' It besldo qulct-faced JIm , Then h
tapped the shoulder of UIO sloeller ,
"I say , Jim , old mnn , the colfec'
bolllns , "
. . . . .
- - - - . . " " " " , - - - - - - - -
THE PRODICAL
U.NCLE
. / , . .
Dy PHIL ARP.
( Co17rlcht , by Joseph D. Dowie ! ! , )
" lood , " saltI Mr , Packman , orncu.
Jarly , "III lhlcker nor water , "
"I don't agree with ) ' ( \U , " said lhe
Inndlord , who , as a rising mon , was a
gootI deal harassed b ) ' Impecunlo\111
bllt thlrBt ) . relatives , "I didn't , ask for
my rolntlons ; they was arrDcd for
me-unbeknown as ) 'OU might say-
and 1 don't hold myselC responsible
for 'em , Fnther and motJlCr. at course ,
Is dIfferent , "
"The family tie , " said Mr , Packmnn
solemnly , "Is the foundaUon oC society -
ety , I maintains we a11 has IL duty to
our relations antI them to us , 1 haven't
num ' relations , I'm sorry to say , "
"You'd be more sorry If you had , "
Interrupted the landlord ,
" ] 'd bo proud to own 'em , " suld
Packman , vlrtuousl ) ' , "There's my
Uncle Henry-Henry Albert rJ.ckman ,
I've never seen him , but his picture
hanS's In our best room now as you
can see for yourself an ) ' time , lie
went to Austra1la afore 1 was horn
end hasn't been heard of for 20 years ,
but If he come to mo to.lghl and said ,
'I'm ) 'our Cather's brother , but I'm n.
poor man , ' I'd say , ' 1\1) ' homo la yours ,
uncle , whether rIch or poor , ' I'
'l'ouched hy such a proof of family
affection , the grocer Impulsively stood
drinks nil round , While the landlord
was filling the glasses a short , thick.
set , bluckbearded man , a stranger to
the company , who had been sitting In
a corner near the door , and taldng no I
- ,
IIVOU'/J / Just Shell Out at Once , . .
part In lhe tIlscusslon , crossed the
room and sat down by Packman ,
"Is your name Packman ? " he asked.
"Yes ; wh ' ? "
"Then I'm your Uncle Henry , " said
the strangm' , holdIng o lt a larse and
halrr Ilst. ,
Packman stared at the stranger as
If fasclna1ed , and In silence a110wed
his hand to be wrung , '
"You're just like my poor hrother , "
said the unclc , claplling him on the
back. "I spotted ) 'OU when I first came
Into the room , and when 1 heard thIs
gentleman , " and he nodd d to the
landlord , "mention the name , I said to
IDyself that's my nevvy for a dol1ar , "
" 1-1 must bo lhlnldng of stepping
home , " saltI P1.ckman ; wealtly ,
"Oh , you must not talte your uncle
away before he's hatI a tIrlnk with
mo , " said the chomfst. "Ot course he's
going to stop with you , Packman ? "
"I shoultI be very glad , " stammered
Packman , "nut-bul It's only a 1lttlo
place , uncle-and 'ou-you won't
nnd It vcry comfortable , Ono can't
do much on 30 bob a week , wblch Is
all 1 gets , antI what with tram fares
to the clt ) ' anll - "
" less ) 'OU , I'm used to roughing
It , " said uncle , heartll ) ' , "Just a corner -
ner to doze In and some grub reg'lar
, Is all I ask. ow we don't want to
break up yet. , novI'm going to have
a drOI ) with this gentleman to celebrate -
brato being homo again , I haven't
heen In such pleasant company slnco
I landed at Sydne ) ' 20 years ago come
last Xovember , "
Dnel Henry had his drink with thc
, chemist nnd followed Jt. up wllh many
more with each ot the rest. of the com.
,
) ) any In turn ; delighting them the
, while with moving tales oC weird ad ,
ventures. So entertaining was he that
, It was wel1 artOl' midnight beCore
r
uncle and nephew reached the latter's
home ,
Uncle made himself so agreeable at
breakfasl the next mOI'nlng that when
Paclmll\I1 , as his wife heltled'hlm 'Into
his coat in the Iml1 , humbly suggested
telllng uncle ho must go , she would
not hear of It.
"Of course he must stop here-
where should he go It not to his
nellhew ? " ,
"Aunt Mntllda , " f usgested Pack.
man.
"The Idea ; what next ! Her , Indeed !
Wh0 couldn't send him awa ) ' alter
o t'oIIIln ! ; al1 the way from AU tralla ,
, \nd , besides , who knows but. what ho
mayn't lurn out to bo a mllllonalro In
disguise ? "
"lIo don'l look It , " said Packman ,
doubtrul1) ' ,
l ! "Neither did the ono In the sOOr ) ' In
Horne Bits. Yon ne\'or knows , "
II For two weeks anll a da ) ' had Uncle
d Henry enjo'ell his nelhow's ) hospital.
a Ity , when t.ho latter got homo rather
, nte In the cvenlns to find thal uncle
o had alrend ) ' had hIs supper and gOUt ,
d Olr to tbo Green Dragon.
o "Ho's going tomorrow , ho tolls me , "
sohl Mrll , Packmnn , as she Intd 011\ \
's ' her husband's meal ,
"WolI , that's a blesslug , " Bald Dert.
- - - - -
- - - - -
. . [ "
/ i :
- -
: "I BUJllioso ho lint sny nothing'nbout . , ' J
paying Uor ) even glvlnf ; us n pres-
l'nU" _ ' i
"j Hhouldn't bo surprised I ( ho ! lOM \ ' : , ,
" Mrs , ! 'ack. l '
something for you , saltI )
man , mysterlousl ) ' , " 110 told mo ] mr.
Uculal' to tell ) ' 011 'lo go down to the
Draon' , soon as you'd done ) 'our
sUPller , liS ho'd Homethlng to' say. "
"I'll go , " said 110rt , ) ltlshtng hl8
Oll1pt ) . IIlnte aWlL ' , "nut If he thinks
ho'll get nnythlng out of 010 ho'a mistook -
took , Ho's had nlno.antIslx already ,
and IC ho tIon't , otter to return It 1'1l
Hhow him up afore 'om all. "
'rhe har parlor was full when Bert
entered It , but he found a ebntr had
I tJeen kept for him. He hatI hardly
seated hlmselC before bla unelo rose
and , having seeuretI' attention by or-
derln drinks round , addressed the
, j
compan ) ' ,
" 1\ly frIends , " he began , "when 1 _
IIIade UI ) III ) ' mind to return to dear
I old 1 nsh1l\d \ 1 lIald to myself I will not
I wrlto to the old Colks at homo antI any
I'm coming ; I'll just droll In antI see
Iw \ they wllJ receIve the prodigal. k
Gentlemen , the welcome my nopJ10\Y I.
gave me to his home came from hlB
klntI heart. He did not know whether
I was rl h or 11001' , 'pauper or millionaire -
aire , I was his uncle , thnt was
enollgh , " , ,
Everyone t.urned antI stared al Bert , . . . . ,
who shifted uneasily in his seat.
"I have here , " continuetI , Uncll )
Henry , producing from bls pocket four
smnll yel10w lumps , "somo nuggets
from the colebratetI Doemal1 mIne ,
which I discovered , and 'I shoultI Jlko ,
In this room In which 1 first met him ,
to present to my dear nephew , Bert ,
ono of these nuggets In remembrance
of my home-comfng , "
He held up ono of the lumps for aU
to see ,
"Il Is enl ) ' worth about .c 100 , but
as he wears It. on his watch ch'aln It
will at least remind him of his po 0\ "
old uncle , "
'rhe rest of the ovenlng was a confused -
fused dream to Bert , and It was 'not
until he awolte the next morning and
drew the nugget from uuller his pfl10w
tl1at he was ful1y assured Il was really
a Caet ,
"Shall you weu' : It on your chaIn ,
Dert ? " asked Mrs. Pacltman as they
gazed at Il in the cold mornIng 1Ight.
"No fear , I'll take It round to a
goldsmith's 1 ] mow In Cheapsldc firstt
tblng when 1 get there , and seU ll , anll
I'll telegraph to ) 'OU what he gives , "
As Bert prepared to starl for the
'
city his uncle drew him aside ,
"I IInd 1 have no 'ready' left , " ho
sahl , "and as 1 have to meet mj' partner - . . . . . ,
ner In the mine t6.daj' , if ) 'Olt could J
Jot me have a couple of qultI 1 shollld
be obliged , 1 could raise money oil. " -
these other nuggets , of coursc , but I "
don't want to part with them , Thanks , , }
Bert , you won't regret It , for you
haven't. , beard the lasl 'of your old
uncl : ret. Good.by , m boy/ ' ,
Some three hours later , In a back
room In 1lI00msbury , Uncle Henry
was shaking hands with his partner ,
a sharp.featured , clean-shayen man
with shifty eyes.
" \Vol1 , old pard , " said Uncle Henry ,
"and how's the show going ? Is our
' " . _
mug hooked 'f" . "T
"Nol quite ; but I lhlnk he'll. bite all
rIght. I've had a Jot of trouble wIth I
' "
hIm though , 'I pitched him the usual
) 'arn about our having to keep the
mlno a secret , and of course he
thought we'd pinchetI the lumps and '
that he's got a flUlcy strike. as we
couldn't make a fuss If he paid us halt
value , "
"That's good , " cbucltled Uncle
Henry ,
"Yes , but ] had to part with that
small specimen for a fiver , which
meant a clear ten for him , d-n hUn ,
However , I reckon It's all rIght now ,
Ho's to be hero at two o'cloclt to meet
my partner and make a bid for the
rest of our specimens , He Insisted on
selecting one to bo tested by a pal of
his , who Is a jeweler In Oxford street ,
but I'll see to It thal it's the real ono
he cnooscs IUltI then we'l1 jusl bang
the dulTers Into hIm and clear , " ' : ,1
"I've given one ot 'om away , " said : :
"
Unclc Henry , with a grin ,
"GIven It away , Joe ? " said his part-
n r sharlly , "What's your IIttlo
game ? "
"Couldn't help It , " saltI Uncle
Henry , exploding Into a roar of laugh-
tel' , "Best joke I'vo hatI for : rears and
besides I 1Ived on It for n. fortnight
and drew two qult1 this morning to ,
finish up with , Not 'a bad return on
a tuppeny ha'penny lump of glided
lead eh ? It was this way , " and the
IIImflammlng of Dert aud hIs'wlfo was
flOOU described ,
"Here are the lumps , " said uncIa
when he had recovered sumclenlly to ' . '
slleak , and ho threw a lCIrcel ! across { , , '
the table , 'I'he partuCI' undId the parcel -
col and picked out the nllggets , but
his smllo died ILwa ) ' as ho examl'Iled "
lliem , I
"That's a Ilne ) 'aru of yours , " be ;
said slowl ) ' , "bllt It won't wash , my "J ; .
hey , You'l1 just shell out at once , " )
"Shell out ? What do you mean ? " : ,
aslted uncle checltlng hl"mseU In the
midst , oC n guffaw ,
"I meau , " uald the other grImly ,
"thal these are all duffers and that
) 'ou'll ha\'e to produce the real one be-
tore ) 'ou leave this room , "
"What ! " gaslled uncle , hastily srab , I
hln : . ; at the UUggotH , 0110 glance wa6 '
llmclent antI he dropped them with a \
groau ,
"Good Lord ! I'\o glvcn him the only
good ono ! "
"I've got elghty-lhreo pounds , ten.
andsoyen tor unclo's nugget , Bert , "
rar ) the
telegram reoelved Uiat morn.
! ng by 1011's , Packman ,
And she took down the taded 1\01"
trait of Uncle Henry that adorned the
wnll , revorenllY dusted It and polished
the glass and placed It carefully In .
the center of the b < . > 1st tabh ] , Ute place - '
ot honor.