The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1903-08-27
UNCLE MARTINS MONEY.



S[ dullness of Sunday afternoon.
SSIn Mrs. Maloneys sitting room
there was the odOr Of strong tea, ana
that meant that Mrs Burns and Mrs.
Ryan had stayed over after mass Tor
dinner and were having friendly cup
of tea before they started homewafd
with Their husbands. The men them
selves were hanging about the village
somewhere. There had been silence for
some minutes-a heavy, thoughiful
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
tefnal uncle.
ITS perfect shame" she had SAID.
"Uncle Martin has good deal Oh
money saved up, am sure. He won't
spend 1t himself and he won't give
anybody else chance at 1t, and, Ike
as not, when he dies, he'll leave II 10
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 1t, you never
can tell. He's always wishing he had
money enough for trip to Chicago
But the Lord knows that 1t Is he that
could go IL he wanted to. Not chick
ncr child to hold him."
MS. MaIoney looked thoughtfu.ly 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, ard if he's in, give him little
visit. If he isn't"
"The key is under the docrmat, "
sad 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 saucefs, and
a 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.
Il don't believe it's that much" sad
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 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 FIR
ready change, less than dollar alto
gether.
Red in the face with hurry, and
little bit ashamed. too, they put things
back as best they could.
IL wonder where he has It, any
way"
"Do you suppose it is that he really
hasn't any, as he says?" said Mrs.
Burns.
"Pshawv said Mrs. Maloney, skep-
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 skimming the
soup, and she almost dropped the
ladle. After a few moments she
managed to control herself enough to
ask:
How much does be say he hadg"
zone hundred and fifty dolllrs. !
would have thought he'd have had
more" But Mrs. Maloney made nc
protest She was suddenly thankful
that the old man was satisfied with
that.
And then, think" went on hel
husband, "of the shame on the town
There hasn't been anybody in the jai
for more than FIVE years-not since
Mrs. Maloney interrupted him
whats Uncle Martin golng to d.
about hT'
Hes gone of to see II he can ge
some evidence. He has a suspicion
who II is; he's going to be gone unit
this evening, aud then he's to let IN,
know. He's"
A summons from the store came Jus
then. and Mrs Maloney was, fortu
nately. left alone.
"He must have seen US" she moan
ed. as she dropped into a chair.
After dinner she went out ard hitch
ed Jenny TO the road cart. telling he
husband that she was going for lii
tie drive. Once out Of sight, however
sb9 made Jenny ny.
There were tears and gnashing o
teeth In the Burns and the Ryai
households. but In the end the butt,
money was produced and. added d
what Mrs. MalOney had sSvei by odi
drsssmaklng Jobs In the vELge, Ia