Evening star., 1896-07-18
TOMS u AClE.
BY CHARLES g. D. ROBERrS.

Copyright. 1ssa. by the Baeheller Syndicate)
PART l.
Tom tore open the letter which had just
been brought in to him. He read 1t at q
glance, then threw 1t down on the table
with an energetic expletive.
Il beg your pardon!' said I. politely
Tom pulled vindictively at his budding
mustache.
muttered, for swearing over her note!
But would you be.-eve what she says?'
"Certainy," said /. with sweet serious
ness. Il would take your mothers word
against a million,''
OH he exclaimed, impatiently. You
know 1 don't mean that. Do shut up till I
tell your
/ threw away the stump of my cigar.
clasped my hands and assumed an attitude
of hungry attention.
Tom muttered something about my being
an idiot. but hastened to share with me
the tidings which had so disturbed him.
My oistinS Iished uncle. Professor Henry
Jerrold will be here tonight. Mother says
We must make it pleasant for him.
That's gaudy prospect. said 1.
What particular species of dry-as-dust is
he to be classified under? Tell me that, and
Ill tell you how to manage him.
'Oh. I'm aware you know everything
Bob was IN unkind reply. but this IS
too big problem even for your intellect.
It's % bad, w-th mother just comfor ably
out OF the way. and the little game all ar
ranged for toniSh., and the picnic to the
sand so nicely p-anned for tomorrow. We
can't take him We can't leave him Out.
les 100 rough. aitogetueri
But who he?'' L persisted. 1T may
not be as bad as you fancy!
Ei-'C - Of r1,A,,, -
some western college," said Tom. "a big
Son in h $ way. you know. There are half
d dozen of his books ovei that shelf
next to The frepace. Fascinating .h.ngs On
the calculus, anu surdS and comic sections.
All said !, rising iarsuidly and going
over TO The shelf in question. ..Mathe-
matlcs, L perceive! and very. very dusty!
Now, my dear boy. The case smplifies it
self amazingly. Have these books nicely
busted anu leave one of them lying this
table bt side your own easy chair. This will
make him feel at home and please him
greatly Ma he-G Gaticians are. next to scitn-
lists and musicians, the vainest of men.
Moreover. un.i .ise other professors, the pro-
lessons of ma hen,at-cs are. in a measure.
human They all drink whisky-usually
Scotch. Let him have the library here all
to htmself-and with pen. ink, paper and
WHISKY he'll be happy all night, till we tell
him It's time 20 go 20 bed. Mathematicians
generally sit up. lost in a problem till they
are tod lis lie time. We'n have our little
game in The breakfast roorn and tell him
ITS whist Aathematicians approve of
whist; but he won't want to play because
he'll understand that the party is made
upI'
Somew hat fatigued by this eloquent dis
sertation on n'ath, ma icans 1 flung myself
down on the broad lounge. AS for Tom he
bsamed upon gratefully.
'Od Il an, sa d he, you have a states
mans bran And what about the picnic
tomorrow
sufficient unto the day Is the evil
thereof. said 1. airily. wavins, ASIDE the
proeiem III devise some way of es cape
before the tine IS upon u.s.
Toms normal cheer of countenance had
now returned to him.
Get up. Bob SID he; Tets go down
to the club. 1 want to arrange something
about the p-cnic."
Now, 1t would nave suited me better to
stay on the lounge and think. love to
spend my mornings in luxurious:y tn mixing
OF what j WI DO some other morning. 1t