Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1907-06-20

| paying up or even SlVlhB us ples
ent?"
81 shouldn't be surprised II he done
something for you" said Mrs. Pack
man, mysteriously. "He told me par
ticular to tell you to go down to the
Dragon as soon as you'd done your
supper, as he'd something to say.
"Tll CO." said Bert, pushing his
empty plate away. But IL he thinks
he'll get anything out of me he's mis-
took. He's had nine-and-six already,
and il he don't offer to return 1t Ell
show him up afore EN- all"
The bar parlor was full when Bert
entered it, but he found chair had
been kept for him. He had hardly
seated himself before his uncle rose
and, having secured attention by or
dering drinks round, addressed the
company.
my friends" he began, when
made up my mind to return to dear
old England | said to myself i will not
write to the old folks at home and say
I'm coming; I'll just drop in and see
how they will receive the prodigal.
Gentlemen, the welcome my nephew
| gave me to his home came from his
kind heart. He did not know whether
| was rich or poor pauper or million
aire. was his uncle, that was
enough
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 Jumps, some nuggets
from the celebrated Doemall mine,
which l discovered, and / should like,
in this room in which l 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 humps for all
to see.
1T is only worth about G100, but
as he wears 1t on his watch chain it
will at least remind him of his poor
old uncle"
The rest of the evening was 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
fact.
Shall you wear it on your chain,
Bert?" asked Mrs. Packman as they
gazed at it in the cold morning light.
mo fear. I'll take it round to
goldsmith's ! 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 l have no ready left" he
said, land as / have to meet my part
ner in the mine to-day, if you could
let me have a couple of quid should
be obliged. l could raise money on
these other nuggets, of course, but I
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,
land how's the show going? Is our
mug hooked?'
mot quite; but / think he'll. bite all
right. I've had lot of trouble with
him though. | pitched him the usual
yarn about our having to keep the
mine 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 he paid us half
value"
That's good" chuckled Uncle
Henry.
Yes, but | had to part with that
small specimen for a flyer, which
meant a clear ten for him, d-n him.
However, / 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 grin.
Given it away, Joe?" said his part
, ner sharply. What's your little
gamer
Couldn't help it," said Uncle
, Henry. exploding into roar of laugh
} ter. Best joke I've had for years and
besides l lived on it for fortnight
. and drew two quid this morning to
finish up with Not a bad return on
a tuppeny ha'penny lump of gilded
, lead Ell? 1t was this way and the
flimflamming 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
Gel and picked out the nuggets, but
his smile died away as he examined