The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1907-10-02


they invariably turned to wonder
ing what jeremiah Sprankle would
do with his money when he died
Sprankle was a confirmed bachel-
or, owned to sixty-eight years, had
retired from business and lived in a
small town, where he could keep an
eye on his big Illinois farms.
quite right and sensible" said
his oldest niece, Mrs Greystock, "for
Uncle Jerry to live in a small place.
There would be no sense in his going
TO the expense of living in Chicago
when there is just himself. 1t would
be wicked waste of money, because
am sure the dear old man is far
happier in quiet, sylvan surround
tngs. We really must invite him up
to visit us, Tom. 1t is only right to
show him he has other relatives be.
sides Cassie Hakem. She hung to
him for five weeks!"
Mrs. Dennem, another niece, was
diplomat. Allie, dear" she said
to her daughter, who had golf en-
gagements ahead for month, 81
think you ought to run down and
VISIT Uncle Jerry. You must go to-
morrow-yes, | don't care If you
will be inconvenienced! He has actu-
ally written up for automobile cata-
logues. There's no use in his throw
Ing several thousand dollars to the
winds that way. After he has used
horses for nearly seventy years it
won't hurt him to keep on. OF
course, I'm only afraid the dear old
man would meet with an accident
IL he tried to run an automobile. You
go down and talk him out of it.
Don't forget that he likes three
Jumps of sugar in his coffee! Make
him as fond of you as possible,
child"
"All right Allie dutifully agreed.
''How much is Uncle Jerry worth
anyhow, mother?"
I'm surprised at you," said her
mother severely. ''As IL | thought
for a moment about dear Uncle Jer-
rvs money. Cassie Hakem and Til
Greystock may, but it is just his well
rare that interests me. Tell him
about the automobile that blew up
the other day. 1t would be much
more sensible for him to give us the
money to go to Europe on"
Il suppose his grasping relatives
will get it ALL" sighed jeremiah
Sprankle's chief acquaintance in the
town where he lived, Eben Smith.
He might just as we'll as not do
some good with it now. It'd be easy
tor himSto make me a present of that
eighty acres I've always wanted. He'd
never miss it,"
III old Sprankle only would come
down handsome grumbled the man
who was trying to start cheese fac
tory. He says he hates cheese, but
then little bit of money would helm
me so m"ch. What if he does lose
IT."
III Mr., Sprankle only knew how
smart Jennie is at the piano,"
mOurned - neighbor. 'He could af-
FORD to send her abroad to study and
never miss it. What on earth will he
You really ought to endow the
whole hospital, Mr.. Sprankle," urged
the 2OOth charity agent who had
tackled the man of means this year.
Il am SO fond of Uncle Jerry" re-
marked Cassie Hakem in the bosom
of her own family. ''IIe means SO
well and I'm sure is very kind. But
Tor the life of me i don't see why.
instead of hanging to his money so,
ne couldn't buy us that house and
throw in an automobile. OF course.
In time know well have our share
not that for the world would have
anything happen to Uncle Jerry. /
am sure he is good for many years of
iffe, and I hope he'll live to enjoy
them"
Never mind" Mrs. Creystock
sometimes said when financial strin-
gency prevented some desire. Some
day, perhaps. we can afford to do it.
I'm sure I don't know what Uncle
Jerry would do with his money II
ne didn't leave it to his nieces. And
we all think 50 much of him."
Some day." Mrs. Dennem often
remarked. I'VE shall build that house
we've always wanted. Not that ]
count on anything, but It is only nat
ural that most of Uncle Jerry's mon
ey should come to us"
With all this solicitude over the
existence of jeremiah Sprankle, the
old gentleman managed to peg along
until one day the families of is'three
nieces were thrown into widest ex-
citement and CONSERVATION. Still Un.
Gle Jerry had not succumbed to years
and illness and died.
He had written that he had just
married an. aspiring widow with five
healthy children.
"if he wasn't such riculous. iai