The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-06-27
UNCLE JIM'S LODGER.
How One Guest Paid for the
Whole Venture.

was awe with expectation.
Hotels were engaged, boarding and
lodging houses spoken for, private
homes solicited, tents put MP here,
| there. everywhere mo preparation was
| counted too great; for the old stories OF
fabulous prices for almost any accom-
mediation were Oh their rounds, stories
that grew as they travelled until it was
small wonder Uncle Jim, always credu-
lous, always hopeful, was moved to
make his fortune, while ''fortins was
in the way"
! He had worked day and night to have
! his tent finished, now all was in readi-
ness. The six hundred cots were
stretched in long double rows, three
tiers high, waiting
He had not gone to headquarters, as
his friends advised, to have a post
| assigned him. Oh, no, that was not
Uncle Jim's way, and he had laughed
his jolly eyes almost out of sight at any
suggestion of risk. Risk, indeed! with
all those thousands coming. He would
show them.
What if the weather had been sitting,
and the hot sun brought a headache
more or less? What if the old shout
ders were cramped by the unaccus-
toned STOPPING? What, indeed-Uncle
Jim was going to make his ''fortin''
Guess you can get ready, mother,
you an Kate. Guess you can go on
that holiday trip O. yours. that's been
hangln' fire this three year.
''Katie'll need some finery, won't she?
She shall have it. She shall now. You
jest wait all O. you. I'll show you. Dot
here'n have to see the town. We can't
have her goin' back home 'thout seem
them sights. Dot, my gel, you jest
wait. You jest wait - Uncle Jim'll
show you. He amt business man for
nothin'"
1t was the muster night, the eve of
the day of parade. From east and
west, from north and south the vet
Grams poured into the waiting city.
Kate, with her mother and Dot, were
at the tent in a little sheltered place,
for Uncle Jim had assured them it
would be a wonderful sight to see the
rush to secure his cots.
''Guess them posts must have been
spoke for" he explained as company
after company marched by, with never
halt before his spacious camp.
Jest watt he said, ''bv an by the
rush'll come. It'll be a great sight, l
tell you, to see them soldiers come
pushin' an crowdin' to get bed
Uncle Jims thumbs sought the seclu-
sion of his waistcoat pockets, and his
chest heaved with pride as he glanced
over the great place that as yet no one
had come to claim.
AS night wore on. and still no one
came, his wife and daughter looked at
each other and were silent. They had
waited for other schemes to have as
grand climax as the one now hoped
for. The climax had come, but it had
not been grand, and their hearts grew
anxious as they watched Uncle Jim
bent figure in the opening of the tent.
For Dot it had been disappointment
enough that there had no rush for the
tent, with out seeing the trouble gath
ering in her aunt's eyes and in Hates.
The tears came. Kate drew her to what
she said. with choking little laugh,
was 1.-The loveliest place in the world to
cry" and held her close.
1t was something to have Dot in her
arms. Dear little Dot, sobbing away
her childish grief that was only the
grief of others.
'Madge," said Kate, softly, show
much will father lose if-?"
The mother did not answer this I'M
finished question. She had lived
through so many ppointments she
felt almost hard. Why should he have
ventured all they had saved worse, all
he could borrow-in such a reckless
fashion? Why should he always do so?
Why, why, why would he never listen
to advice?
Here was ruin. They must begin all
over again-begln in debt. ''In debt"
All the old weary scheming to pay off
she hated it.
She rose and drew her shawl over her
shoulders. Seeing the movement her
husband came toward her, his hat over
his eyes.
Guess you women folks better get
home now, and get to bed. They'll be
comm in ali night, s'pose. I'll Jest
wait SOS to be on han when the rush
comes"
why, Dot! Is Dot cryin'? Kate.
my gal, you jest take EN- home and put
'en both to bed. They're all tired out,
Nudge an Dot. But don't you give up,
any o you. Well have that fortin' yet.
You jest wait. I'll show you-Uncle
Jim amt business man fer nothin'-
hey, Dot?"
The following morning Dot slid down
the balustrade, bounded to the floor
and dashed into the dining-room with
eager questioning.
Did they cojhe?
where's ncle jim?
'Nhy didn't you wake me?
Say, why doesn't some one say some
thing?
Where is Uncle Jim?"
Down at the tent. Now don't wor-
~, dear Nudge has headache" an
swered Kate.
We'll. did they Gomez persisted the
child. Wont you just tell me If they
cameo"
Mono one came, Kate said, quiet
y.
Her father had hurried in early in the
morning to say he had Knocked to-
gether" platform from which the
gals and Nudge" could see the parade.
He had tried TO drink the coffee Kate
had brought, tried to joke with her over
his empty tent, but Kate knew.
She had little heart for sightseeing,
but al least her father should see they
were grateful It was 20 be merry