The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1910-07-26
Uncle John S Iavern
BY M QUAD
Copyright, 1910, by Associated Lit
erary Press.
BY M QUAD

| tavern3eeping easy and profitable 1t
| wasn't six weeks before he learned 10
the contrary. II was easy enough. for
he had nothing to do. bur he looked IN
vain for the profits
One summers day Uncle John sat
doing and thinking It was hot day,
and the town WAS dead Nothing
buzZed bu, the tiles Encle John
would have been asleep in five min
utes more hui for the arrival Of q
stranger On foot T1ie arrival was
dusty and ragged If he wasn't a
tramp then Uncle John never saw one
He was motioned to 60 arounl to the
kitchen for cold bite. but he sat
down and said
~ little business faIs with you first.
and then III take-fhe best room in the
house and eat my meals In the dining
room
q can't hire no tramps," said Uncle
John.
But It may be that shall hire you.
Lead the way"
The fellow had compelling way
with him, Uncle John led the way
upstairs, and he picked up his bundle
and followed. AS they entered room
he locked the door on them and then
sat down for talk.
When the talk was finished he
brought shears and razor and cut the
strangers hair and shaved him. Then
the old bundle was opened and fair
" decent suit brought out. What it
lacked was supplied by mine host Re-
sult-a decent looking guest instead
Of disreputable tramp. He appeared
downstairs just after the train came
in. and Mrs. White thought he came
by It So did the villagers who stray
gled In after supper for q glass of beer
and bit Of gossip. John Taylor had
arrived-best room in the house-paid
week In advance-no doubt man Of
means-was mum as to his business
probably had some big enterprise on
hand. 1t was two weeks before the
nature of that enterprise was learned
Uncle John had to sell horse first.
and advertisements had TO be written
and placed. 1t was also necessary for
the editor OF the local paper to make
writeup. The advertisement inserted
In various newspapers read:
"A would be philanthroplst stands
ready to make a gift of 100000 for
the best interests Of society, but would
like personal advice. No letters. Shall
it be colleges. schools, asylums, hos
pitfalls. homes or gifts to widows?
Then the name of MT. Taylor and
the village were given. Uncle John
was running a ten room tayern-that
is, only ten out Of the forty rooms
were furnished. He bought, hired and
borrowed furniture for the other thirty
rooms. He bought crockery and cut
lery and hired a cock and q waiter
He ordered extra kegs Of beer and
raised his rates from ST. day to just
double 1t took sand TO do ii. Mrs.
White was not let into the secret, and
she almost went crazy.
One day ten strangers got of at the
depot and asked for Taylor. The next
day there were twenty. On the third
day Uncle John had to distribute his
guests around among the villagers. He
was here, there and everywhere, look-
Ing for Judgment day. As for Mr..
Taylor, be was cool--cool and smiling.
He had Office hours from a. m. to 5
p. N. He gave each patient one
hour That made eight per day. The
rule was rigid. and the others must
wait. Therefore a conner might have
to wait five or six days for bis inter-
view. Meanwhile he had to eat and
sleep and pay 81 per day.
Strangers who knew just how that
million ought TO be expended to do
the world the most good kept coming
BY every train. There was 10 other
tavern; there was no other Mr.. Taylor;
there was no other place I'm town
where beer and cigars were sold Col
Ieges hospitals. asylums and every
sort Of public institution sent repre-
aematives Politicians came 10 get
thar million 10 start reform. Men came
who wanted to found new religions.
Widows wanted cash. and townships
| and counties wanted highway i'm
rrovements For twn months they
came and went. They slept where
they could and ate what was get be.
| fore them Then the tide began TO
| thin out. and there was more adver.
Using. This time the advertisement
| read:
| ANY inventor having good thing
or any person having an idea that can
be turned into cash will end man and
money ready"
| And then 1t was the rush all over
again. Inventors brought their models,
| and there was n barn full Of them.
Others brought their ideas. and they
were too numerous 10 be listed. For
five long months Uncle Johns tav'
ern hadn't room or a place at the
table to spare. Then along came a
man 70 buy him out.
Sell and yet OUT advised Mr. Tay'
Tor.
The advice was followed.
Now We win agure up and whack
up"
II was done. Mrs. White smiled.
Uncle John rubbed his hands, and
the stranger grinned Uncle Johns