Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1903-09-01
UNCLE MARTINS MONEY.

hydu 0aQ stay eu over dlleT HdSS Luz
dinner and were having a friendly cup
of tea before they started homeward
with their husbands. The men them
selves were hanging about the village
somewhere. There had been silence for
some minutes-a heavy, thoughtful
silence-after Mrs. Maloney's last re-
mark The good women were relatives,
cousins in the first degree, and Mrs.
Maloney had been talking Of their ma
ternaI uncle.
It's a perfect shame" she had said.
uncle Martin has e good deal of
money saved up, 1 am sure. He won't
spend 1t himself and he won't give
anybody else a chance at it, and, Ike
as not, when he dies, he'll leave 1t to
Father Shanahan for something or
other that he happens to take into his
head. Martins getting dreadful pious
in his old days, since he's been living
alone in the little house"
'He hasn't it in any bank at Fair
brooke" said Mrs. Ryan, because Pat
has asked"
Like as not" Mrs. Burns said, ''he
has it hid in the house somewhere.
He's that queer about II, you never
can tell He's always wishing he had
money enough for trip TO Chicago.
But the Lord knows that it il he that
could go if he wanted to. No, chick
nor a child to hold him"
Mrs. MalCney looked thoughtfully at
tire speaker. Il saw him get in with
the McGoverns after mass. He was
going out to the farm to dinner with
them. We might walk over to the
house, and if he's in, give him 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
away with the cups and saucers, and
q pair of shoes stood prominently on
one of the chairs. But none of them
had any eyes for these incongruities
to-day.
How much" said Mrs. Maloney,
do you think he might haveT as she
drew out a drawer of the old bureau
and began going through 1t.
"A thousand or So" said Mrs. Burns,
from the depth of an old rag bag.
II don't believe it's that much" 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 a
little bit ashamed too, they put things
back as best they could.
Il wonder where he has 1t, any
way?"
do you suppose it is that he really
hasn't any, as he says?" said Mrs.
Burns.
"Pshawg said Mrs Maloney, skep-
tically.
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 excitediy.
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 skimming the
soup. and she almost dropped the
Iadle. After few moments she
managed to control herself enough to
ask:
How much does he say he had?"
zone hundred and fifty dollars. l
would have thought he'd have had
more" But Mrs. Msloney made no
protest. She was suddenly thankful
that the old man was satisfied with
that.
And then, think" went on her
husband, .of the shame on the town.
There hasn't been anybody in the Jail
for more than 1--WE years-not since"
Mrs. Maloney interrupted him:
whats Uncle Martin going to dc
about itT'
He's gone Of TO see IL he can get
some evidence. He has a suspicion
who II is: he's going 10 be gone until
this evening. and then he's to let me
know. He's"
A summons from the store came just
then, and Mrs. Maloney was, fortu-
nstely. left alone.
He must have seen US" she moan
ed. as she dropped into a chair
After dinner she went out and hitch
ed Jenny TO the road cart, telling her
husband that she was going for lit
tie drive. Cnce out of sight, however.
she made Jenny fly.
There were tears and gnashing Of
teeth in the Burns and the Ryan
households. but in the end the butter
money was produced and. added TO
what Mrs Maloney had saved by odd
dreSsmaking jobs in the village. the
guilty women managed TO get the $50
together.
Toward six o'clock Mrs. Maloney
slipped into Martins little house and
mt the money into the tick. The next
morning early. when the Maloneys
were at their breakfast Uncle Martin
snneared. chuckling. 1t was in the
strs-. tick" he reported truthfully
enough. Moved about little.
guess I've made up my mind to take
that trip 10 Chicago. I am so glad
AFTER my scare that l feel Ike cele
brating. And you never can tell what
may happen" he went on. chucklins
anew. and looking aI his niece