The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1904-04-21
UNCLE MARTINS MONEY.

In Mrs. Maloney's sitting room
there was the odor OF strong tea. and
that meant that Mrs. Burns and Mrs
Ryan had stayed over after mass for
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-sfter 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
ternal uncle.
It's a perfect shame" she had said
Uncle Martin has a good deal OF
money saved up, l am sure. He won't
spend ii himself and he won't give
anybody else a chance at 1t. 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 1t, you neve
can tell. He's always wishing he had
money enough for a trip to Chicago.
But the Lord knows that II is he that
could 90 IL he wanted to- Not a chick
nor a child to hold him."
Mrs. Maloney looked thoughtfully at
the speaker. II saw him get In with
the McGoverns after mass. He was
going u TO the farm TO dinner with
them. We might walk over to the
house. and il he's In. give him a little
visit. IL he isn't"
The key is under the doormat,"
said Mrs. Burns.
And over 10 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 a 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 i~ncongruities
How much.- said Mrs. Maloney,
do you think he might have?" a. she
out a drawer OF the old bureau
md began going through it.
"A thousand or So" said Mrs. Burns,
rom the depth OF an old rag bag.
Il don't believe It's that much" said
Mrs Ryan, as she went through the
I'D cans and jugs stored away in the
.loset-
They were so busy that they did not
a step outside. just as the three
4 them concluded to look through the
'~ornshucks in the tick.
But all their digging brought forth
but a few cents laid away for
eady change, less than a dollar alto
Red in the face with hurry. and q
tile BIT ashamed. too. they put things
ack as best they could
II wonder where he has It, any
d,
DO you suppose it is that he really
any, as he says?" said Mrs.
urns. ,
.Pshawr" said Mrs. Maloney, skep- :
,
The next morning. however, Mrs
was to have more exact :
lowledge as to the amoun Of Uncle
money. Iier husband, who
as the village constable, along with
ling the biggest storekeeper, came
to her excitedly.
Uncle Martin was just In the store,
ID be says somebody has stolen his
.ney. He says there were signs Of
melody being In his plsce when he
me home yesterday evening, and he
he can find out who II was"
Mrs. MaloDey was skimming the
and she almost dropped the |
die. After a few moments b |
to control herself enough to |
k: |
How much does he say he had?" |
One hundred and fifty dollars.
,uld have thought he'd have had
,re." But Mrs. Maloney made no
She was suddenly thankful
At the old man was satisfied with
At. I
And then, think" went on her +
sband- "of the shame on the town. Y
ere hasn't been anybody In the jail
more than five years-not since" II
Irs. Maloney interrupted him.: /
hats Uncle Martin going to do
put itT'
He's rome OF to see II he car get
ne evidence. He has a suspicion
o It is; he's going to be gone until
J evening, and then he's to let me
w. He's" -
summons from the store came Just =
n, and Mrs. Maloney was, fortu- ia.
ely, left alone. fig
he must have Seen U.S." she moan an,
as she dropped into a chair. prt
fter dinner she went out and hitch Wi
Jenny to the road cart, telling her ing
that she was going for a lit fri,
dxivs. Once out Of sight, however, die
made Jenny ny. haI
here were tears and gnashing Of hin
b in the Burns and the Ryan tim
schools, but In the end the butter ion
ley was produced and. added to In
t Mrs. Maloney had saved by odd X
fohs In fh~ vflIa0a Tho cos