The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1889-09-05

ever get this letter." And he burned
it carefully, and q night OF. two later
took an opportunity OF throwing the
coat itself overheard. Nov 1 am
really all right" he reflected.
There was great hue and cry in
London when it was reported that Sir
Toby Bunskin had actually disappeared.
Half the detectives were employed to
look for him. advertisements were In
serted by the score, even placards were
posted on the boardings; no exertion,
in fact, and no expense were spared to
discover his whereabouts But not the
slightest result followed until the news
arrived from America that Sir Toby
had jumped from an Atlantic steamer
and had, of course. been drowned, leav-
ing behind him. no doubt for purposes
OF Identification, a coat, in the pocket
OF which was pocket-book containing
cards and private papers obviously be-
longing to the unfortunate BarOnet. 1t
was nine.days' wonder, but as no one
cared a straw about Sir Toby when
alive. people soon got tired of specu-
lating us to the cause which had
prompted the crash act" And rs soon
as certain necessary legal formalities
had been complied with. Jack Bunskin,
found himself Sir John Tobias Bunskin,
Baronet, of Bunskin Hall and Gros-
venor Square, and the possessor of a
substantial rent-roll and a goodly sum
of ready money. Now, it was not very
likely that Jack should feel any pro-
found grief for his uncle. The manner
ofthe old mans death certainly shocked
him considerably, but the pleasures
and duties of his new position speedily
banished the unpleasant subject from
his mind.
He had, too, plenty of things to look
after. His creditors, of course, came
down upon him in a hungry horde, and
the amount of p9st-obits which he had
to pay off was quite alarming. More
over. he had no intention of leading
the sober and quiet life that had suited
his uncle. He bought a yacht, started
a small racing-stud, and began to dab
bic in city companies-all of which
things demand considerable amount
of time and attention, not to mention
money. So a couple of years passed.
Jack. in common parlance, went the
pace to the best of his ability; got him
self elected NJ. r. for one of the divi-
sions of Fallowland, and finally became
engaged to Miss Hilda Grains, only
daughter and heiress of the late Sir
John Grains, Nj. p, the well-known
brewer and millionaire. There was, of
course, very grand wedding, and, in
due time, the happy paired returned to
London from prolonged honeymoon
on the Continent. When Jack had fin
ished examining a pile of letters and
other documents, he inquired of the
family butler whether he had any spe-
cial news to communicate. for that in
dividual looked like man burdened
with a guilty secret.
ats my dooty to tell you, SIR" said
Mr.. Flaggon, mysteriously, las an old
gent as been calling here every day
for the last week and says he must see
you.'
lis that all?'' queried Jack.
''No, sir-fact is, sir, that he says
he's your uncle.'
My uncle! What miserable nom
sense! Why, the fellow must be a
lunatic or an impostor!''
Just SO, sir; but we can't get rid of
him, and I didn't like to give the poor
old idiot in CHARGE
''Quite right, Flaggon; next time he
comes I'll see him."
Oddly enough, half I'm hour AFTER
wards, the old gentleman returned,
and Mr.. Flaggon promptly ushered
him into Sir Johns study.
''Well, my man. said the new baro-
net, land what can l do for you?''
Jack said the stranger, do you
mean to say that you don't know me?
I'm your Uncle Toby-I am, indeed,
and not a blessed soul recognizes me!'
This is driveling nonsense!" he
said; "but if you are my uncle, how
the deuce do you account for the fact
that you were drowned in the At
lantic?''
Il wasn't drowned; it was another
passenger, and Sir Toby confessed
the story of the change of coats, which
had induced every one to believe he
was dead.
but what on earth have you been
doing for more than two years."
II went honting bears and things in
the Rocky Mountains" said Uncle
Toby, in sepulchral voice. 1--WE lost
our way, wandered about for days, and
were eventually captured by the Objib-
eboo Indians. Couldn't get away. or
oven write"
20, indeed! Is that why you have
tattooed your face SO elegantly?" asked
Jack.
II didn't tattoo myself-they did it
for me- walled Sir Toby. My face
is nothing to the rest of me. I've got
a pine forest. a lake and range of
mountains on my back: three rattle
snakes on each arm; my chest is cow
cred with tomahawks, arrows and
pipes; and there are opossums, ter
apins and all sorts of beastly animals
on my legs!'
''Dear me! BY the way, what's be-
come of your left carp
well, you see, Red Blanket, the
chief. you know, took great fancy to
me; but sometimes he used to get drunk
and throw things about. He cut nearly
the whole of my ear off with toma-
hawk one day" =
You must have had rollicking
time!''
Don't laugh, you vagabond!" cried
Sir Toby, waxing wrathful. Look at
my head! That was done by Blue
Braces, another chief: he tried to scalD