Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1907-06-06

Everyone turned and stared at Bert,
who shifted uneasily in his seat
Il have here" continued Uncle
Henry, producing from His pocket four
small yellow lamps, "some nuggets
from the celebrated Doemall mine,
which | discovered, and should like,
in this room in which first met him,
to present to my dear nephew, Bert.
one Of these nuggets in remembrance
OF my homecoming"
He held up one OF the Jumps for all
to see.
ut is only worth about 91O0, but
as he wears it on his watch chain 1t
will at least remind him OF his poor
old uncle"
The rest of the evening was a con.
fused dream to Bert, and it was not
until he awoke the next morning and
drew the nugget from under his pillow
that he was fully assured it was really
a fact.
'Shall you wear it on your chain,
Bert?" asked Mrs. Packman as they
gazed at it in the cold morning light.
''No fear. Eli take it round to a
goldsmith's I know in Cheapside first
thing when get there. and sell it, and
I'll telegraph to you what he gives"
AS Bert prepared to start for the
city his uncle drew him aside.
Il find | have no ready left" he
said, land as l have to meet my part.
ner in the mine to-day, il you could
let me have couple of quid l should
be obliged. I could raise money on
these other nuggets, Of course, but 1
don't want to part with them. Thanks.
Bert, you won't regret it, for you
haven't heard the last of your old
uncle yet. Good-by, my boy"
Some three hours later, in back
room in Bloomsbury, Uncle Henry
was shaking hands with his partner,
a sharp-featured, clean-shaven man
with shifty eyes
well. old pard," said Uncle Henry,
"and how's the show going? Is our
mug hooked?"
mot quite: but I think he'll bite all
right. I've had lot of trouble with
him though. l pitched him the usual
yarn about our having to keep the
mine a secret, and of course he
thought we'd pinched the Jumps and
that he's got fancy strike, as we
couldn't make fuss if be paid us hall
value
That's good" chuckled Uncle
Henry
Eyes, but I had to part with that
small specimen for flyer, which
ltmeant a clear ten for him, d-n him.
However, I reckon it's all right now.
He's to be here at two o'clock to meet
my partner and make bid for the
rest Of our specimens. He insisted on
selecting one to be tested by pal OF
his. who is a jeweler in Oxford street,
but I'll see to it that it's the real one
he chooses and then we'll just bang
the buffers into him and clear"
I've given one of 'em away" said
| Uncle Henry, with a grin
Given it away, Joe?" said his part.
ner sharply Whats your little
game?"
Couldn't help it," said Uncle
Henry, exploding into roar of laugh.
ter. BEST joke I've had for years and
besides lived on it for a fortnight
and drew two quid this morning to
finish up with. Not bad return on
a tuppeny ha'penny lump of gilded
lead eh? 1t was this way" and the
fiimfamming Of Bert and his wife was
soon.described
Here are the Jumps" said uncle
when he had recovered sufficiently to
speak, and he threw a parcel across
the table. The partner undid the par.
eel and picked out the nuggets. but
his smile died away as he examined
them.
That's fine yarn Of yours" he
said slowly, "but it won't wash, my
boy. You'll just shell out at once"
Shell out? What do you mean ?''
asked uncle checking himself In the
midst of a guffaw.
Il mean said the other grimly.
that these are all buffers and that
you'll have to produce the real one be.
fore you leave this room"
What" gasped uncle, hastily grab.
bing at the nuggets. One glance was
sufficient and he dropped them with :
groan.
Good Lord! I've given him the only
good onep'
I've got eighty-three pounds, ten.
and.seven for uncle's nugget. Bert J,
read the telegram received that morn.
ing by Mrs. Packman.
And she took down the faded por.
trait OF Uncle Henry that adorned tho
wall. reverently busted it and polished
the glass and placed it carefully in
the center ostha best table. the place
Of honor.