Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1903-08-28

IN dullness Of Sunday afternoon.
SIn Mrs. Maloney's sitting room
there was the odor Of strong tea, ana
that meant that Mrs. Burns and Mrs.
Ryan had stayed over after mass for
dinner ard were having 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
siIence-after Mrs. Maloney's last re-
mark The good women were relatives,
cousins in the first degree, and Mrs.
Maioney had been talking of their ma
te.nal uncle.
IFS a perfect shame" she had said.
Uncle Martin has good deal OF
money saved up, am sure. He won't
spend it himself and he won't give
anybody else a chance at it, and, like
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 it, you never
can tell. He's always wishing he had
money enough for a trip to Chicago.
But the Lord knows that it is he that
could go if he wanted to. Not chick
nCr child to hold him."
Mrs. Maloney looked thoughtfuly at
the 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 coed
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
pair of shoes stood prominently on
had any eyes for these incongruities
t5-day.
How much" said Mrs. Maloney,
ssde 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.
I 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 Fl +
ready change. less than a dollar alto
gether.
Red in the face with hurry, and q
title 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
'sPsEaww said Mrs. Maloney, skep-
tically.
The next morning, however, Mrs.
Maloney was to have more exact
knowledge as to the amount of Uncle
Martin 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 pace 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
ladle. After a few moments she
managed to control herself enough to
ask:
How much does he say he had?'
Zone hundred and fifty deu!rs. 1
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.
''And then, Think" went on her
husband, '.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:
s'Whats Uncle Martin going to do
about it?"
He's gone off to see if he can get
some evidence. He has a suspicion
who it is; he's going to 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.
nately, left alone.
HE must have seen u.s." she moan.
ed, as she dropped into a chair.
After dinner she went out ard hitch
ed Jenny to the road cart, telling her
husband that she was going for a lit
tie drive. Once out of sight, however
sbo made Jenny fly.
There were tears and gnashing of
Yeeth in the Burns and the Ryan