The daily Alaskan., 1908-09-25
A FatherIy Interest.
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[Copyright, 1908. by T. c. McClure.l
 Mir. Joseph Saunders was mayor of certain town in England. He was also a married man with a wife and three children. He was also ffy-nve years old and a man of dignity. He was also president of three or four boards, had character for problty ap l was looking longinsJy forward to the time when he should make his appear ance in the house of commons. Mir. Saunders had business in London. When that business had been conclud- ed he had business at Dover. He was waiting for his train in tue London depot when he was approached by two females. One was a lnotherly woman of forty and the other d girl of about twenty. The former looked anxious, and the latter was weeping.
 Mir. Saunders asked what was the matter.
 Its this way, sir" began the elder ly woman in q buslnesslike way. q am Mrs. Baxter of the Framingham School For Girls. This Is Miss Ladue of Paris. She has been attending my school to secure an English education. She has news that her mother Is very III. Some one should have come for her, but has not. She goes to Dover and takes the boat If she could go under your charge, sir
 Of course Mir. Saunders was only too happy. and SO forth On several occa- slons bis mother had been very i'll, and he knew how it was After the train had moved awa% and after Miss La due had wept for quarter of an hour he got surprise. The girl lifted her veil anl exhibited laugh Ing face and called him Uncle Jim"
 It was an English face, and her words were English. The honorable stared at her for long minute and then said:
 You are up to some sort of game and have rung me into It."
 Yes, you are my Uncle Jim until you have seen me safe aboard the boat at Dover. Now, don't be impulsivc and declare that you won't and all that. We selected you because of your age and dignity, my dear uncle. You have q fatherly look. You also have an eX- prcsslon of innocence lurking about you. AS your niece shall pass un- questioned"
 His honor leaned back in his seat and refused to answer He was in a swca,. He had been forced into a situation that might end In his down fall, and he realized that it must be handled with care.
 "I will get off at Gravescnd,' he said after awhile.
 "I beg your pardon, uncle, but Dover Is your destination" she pleasantly replied. "I hope you are not becoming abscnminded as you grow old You are to see me on the boat you know
 "No; will not do It"
 "Yuun do it like a little lamb, sir, and l shall be very proud of my old uncle. What funny stories can you think of? l know you must have n keen sense of humor. So have l."
 Woman, do you know who l am:' thundered the honorable, springing up.
 My Uncle Jim, of course" she smil- ingly replied. q can so arrange it that the papers will say that you kind ly escorted me on this trip. Have aunty and my cousins asked about me lately"
 His honor realized his helplesSneSs and leaned back and groaned in de- spalr. He had blundered Into ia therly trap and knew that the girl had all the advantage and would keep it.
 What Is thc-thc crlme?' he asked after awhile.
 Why, Uncle Jim! How dare you charge your niece with crime? l wouldn't have believed 1t of you"
 But you are fleeing out of England and fear arrest"
 "Oh, but cant one flee without being q criminal? Suppose am in love with q Frenchman and owing to my fa- thers surveillance must go to Paris like q fugitive to marry the man of my choice"
 "Humph| grunted the honorable.
 The girl removed her hat and laid her head back and seemed to sleep. At Rochester a couple of men whom he suspected to be officers of the law looked in. At Canterbury two more repeated the performance. Between Canterbury and Ashford the young lady woke up and said
 "Good Uncle Jim, the sober second thought Is the best You will see me and my luggage on the boat and then go where you will"
 Hanged if I dO" he said to himself, but up rose a vision of his family, of his mayoralty, of his political ambi' tlons. and he groaned like a man in pain. When the train ran into Dover the girl took Uncle Jlm's arm and went with him to see about the lug gage. She "uncled" him in the hear ing of fifty persons. He gave orders, bought her ticket and sat with her on the boat until the all ashore bell rang. She waved her handkerchief to him as he stood on the wharf, and as he