The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1903-01-07
WALTER BLOOMFIELD

'snr B3sSrns soas
self with much care. though hastily
Needless to relate my uncle was up be
fore me and had already breakfasted
I found him standing by window II
the room where he had received MI
on the previous day, thoughtful,
twirling cheque around his fingers
An opened letter lay upon the table.
After the usual brief salutations my
uncle bade me to breakfast withou
loss Of time, a command I was no
slow to obey. as he informed me tha
he was in receipt Of an unsatisfactory
communication. the nature Of which
he would explain on my return.
When I re-entered the room abou
fifteen. minutes later. my uncle wa.
standing In the place where I had lef
him. his hands clasped behind, ant
staring vacantly at the carriages a:
they swiftly passed up the avenue to
wards Central Park. I was much
Impressed by the evident change which
had been wrought in this extraordln
ary man in but q few short weeks
Two days ago, and I could not have
conceived any circumstances thst
would have induced Samuel Truman
to remain quiet and pensive FOR ~
long as a quarter Of an hour.
"Ahr' exclaimed uncle Sam, sudden
ly turning upon me In his old energetic
way; '.read that letter. Ernest, and
tell rne what you think Of it."
examined the contents Of the en-
velope to witch my uncle pointed, 'nd
found they consisted Of a cheque or
Drexel's Bunk for four thous Ind
two hundred dollars, drawn by Evar
Price In favor Of my uncle. accom:fan
led by a few polite words from that
gentleman. stating that he forwarded
the said cheque in satisfaction Of al
claims, and awaited . receipt for tht
same.
well" I said, as I replaced the let
ter and cheque In their envelope, ~
think you are to be congratulated. Mr.
Price can't do you any further harm
and you have recovered your money
That's true" admitted uncle Sam
but I'm baked Of my revenge--fol
the present No matter; all things
come to those who wait IL they bt
furnished with watchful eyes. Mean
while It 10 pleasant to contemplate ths
awful vacuity Of that humbug's purse
now that he has disgorged those few
dollars"
Perhaps he has borrowed the money
to lay you," I suggested.
II don't think anybody would lend
him 50 much now he has no connection
with the Investors Guide; but may
ascertain that later on. I have sent
him q receipt, and the cheque I will
give to you. 1t Is an open cheQue,
and when ! have endorsed 1t you can
cash It at Drexel's, in Wall Street,
which Is quite close to my Office"
I was about to thank my uncle for
his generous gift; but he would not
listen to me, and went on to say that
he was In momentary expectation Of
the arrival of Mrs. Truman; that she
had promised to come to him ut the
Windsor Hotel and to return with him
to their house in Thirty-fourth street.
Connie" he added, as he consulted
Ills watch. "is at Orange; and II you
start for that place within an hour
and bring her Oh at once to New York
you viii find on your return your aunt
and me in our proper places, and oil
things fixed comfortably"
This was delightful information, Ia.
finitely more pleasing to me than the
Of the cheque which I had
Just placed in my wallet Uncle Sam
noticed my satisfaction and remarked
upon 1t, bidding me never to needless.
ly complicate my affairs. for that waZ
lies Perplexityr handmaid to Madness,
but always TO prefer simple courses,
and then small things would never
lose their power to please. Having
expressed himself thus. he reclined
upon q settee with his feet superpesed
on the back Of a chair. and lit his first
cigar for that day.
II suppose I shall experience NO diff.
ficulty in finding Belle Vue Cottage
when I arrive at Orange"
Not the least in the world" said
uncle Sam; everybody in Orange
knows It."
Then I will start at once"
mo, don't 80 till your aunt comes;
she can't surely be many minutes VI
said uncle Sam. consulting his watch
for the twentieth time in an hour
"Ah! here she comes" he exclaimed
as the door slowly opened and my
aunt entered the room.
Yes, 1t was my aunt who entered; but
not my uncle's wife. the gentle lady
Gertrude. No; 1t was my mothers
only surviving sister. the companion
of my childhood, the woman who had
caused the unhappy family division OF
which I had so recently learned. II
was Annie Wolsey.
why have you. come hereT asked
uncle Sam in husky voice. suddenly
springing to his feet.
Annie Wolsey closed the door rs de
liberately as she had opened It, and
leaned her back against it-perhaps
for the support 1t afforded. for she was
ghastly pale. and seemed unable to
close her colorless lips to give utter