The Globe-republican. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1889-1910, 1903-08-13

TX ri strong tea, and that mean
that Mrs. Burns and Mrs.
Ryan had stayed over after mass 70
dinner and were having friendly Gu
Of tea before they started homewar
with their husbands. The men them
selves were hanging about the vlllag
somewhere. There had been sllenc
for some minutes-a heavy, thought
full silence-after Mrs. Maloney's las
remark, The good women were rela
tives, cousins in the first degree, an
Mrs. Maloney had been talking Of thel
maternal uncle,
"It's q perfect shame" she ha,
said. "Uncle Martin has q good dea
Of money saved up, am sure. H
won't spend 1T himself and he won
give anybody else a chance at 1t, and
like as not, when he dies, he'll leav'
1t to Father Shanahan for something
or other that he happens to take int,
his head. Martins getting dreadful
pious in his old age, since he's beer
living alone in the little house"
"Te hasn't 1t in any bank at Fair
brooke said Mrs. Ryan, because Pa
has asked"
Like as not" Mrs. Burns said, "ht
has it hid in the house somewhere
He's that queer about it, you never cal
tell. He's always wishing he hat
money enough for a trip to Chicago
But the Lord knows that it Is he thai
could 60 if he wanted to. Not chick
nor a child to hold him.
Mrs. Maloney looked thoughtfully Al
the speaker. 81 saw him get in will
the McGoverns after mass. He was
going out to the farm to dinner will
them. We might walk over to the
house, and il he's in, give him a little
visit. If he isn't"
"The key Is under the doormat,"
said Mrs. Burns.
And over to Uncle Martins the good
ladies went. He was not at home,
and the key was under the mat. The
house. though generally clean, had the
air Of being managed by man, which
women see at once. The pipe was laid
away with the cups and saucers, and
a pair of shoes stood prominently on
one of the chairs. But none of them
had any eyes for these incongruitles
to-day.
"How much" said Mrs. Maloney,
do you think he might have?" as she
drew out a drawer of the old bureau
and began going through it.
"A thousand Or So" said Mrs. Burns,
from the depth Of an old rag bag.
II don't believe it's that'mlch," said
Mrs. Ryan, as she went through the old
cans and jugs stored away In the
closet.
They were so busy that they did not
hear a step outside, just as the three
of them concluded to look through the
cornshucks in the tick,
But all their digging brought forth
nothing but few cents laid away for
ready change, less than a dollar alto
gether.
Red in the face with hurry, and n
little bit ashamed, too, they put things
back as best they could.
II wonder where he has 1t, any
way?"
"Do you suppose It is that he really
hasn't any, as he says?" said Mrs.
Burns.
"Pshaw!" said Mrs. Maloney, scep.
tlcally.
The next morning, however, Mrs.
Maloney was to have more exact
knowledge as to the amount Of Uncle
Martins money. Her husband, who
was the village constable, along with
being the biggest storekeeper, came
in to her excitedly.
"Uncle Martin was Just In the store,
and he says somebody has stolen his
money. He says there were signs Of
somebody being in his place when he
came home yesterday evening, and he
thinks he can find out who 1t was"
Mrs. Maloney was Swimming the
soup, and she almost dropped the
ladle. After few moments she man
aged to control herself enough to ask:
"How much does he say he had?"
Zone hundred and fifty dollars. |
would have thought he'd have had
more" But Mrs. Maloney made no
protest She was suddenly thankful
that the old man was satisfied with
that. h
"And then, Think went on her hus-
band, "of the shame on the town.
There hasn't been anybody In the Jail
for more than five years-not since"
Mrs. Maloney interrupted him:
"What's Uncle Martin going to do
about III"
Hes gone off to see II he can get
some evidence. He has a suspicion
who 1t is; he's going to be gone until