The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1911-04-22

20 unusual for Uncle Peter to be away
without her. Clara ]. was the life OF
the party. and she leased the old lady
into better spirits.
Ten o'clock and still no telegram.
Aunt Martha now had Uncle Peter
waylaid by robbers somewhere and I
could see cloudy weather In that
household pretty soon If Bunch didn't
get busy with the wires.
A few minutes later It seemed to me
l heard family the sound of breaking
glass OF in the darkness somewhere.
To quiet Aunt Martha l suggested
that possibly Uncle Peter might be on
the 1900 train and I'd walk down the
road bit to meet him.
Just outside the gate l did meet
him. trembling slightly, but under q
big brace.
John, is that your" the old fellow
asked. "Oh! I'm so grateful to you.
| don't know what came over me this
afternoon. It's so unusual for me to
do such thing-oh! how my head
aches and I'm so sick! When woke
mp on the sofa in your house a few
minutes ago nearly tainted with sur:
prise, but the presence of that man
Lawrence brought 1t all back to me.
Say, John, he has the most marvellous
capacity | ever heard tell Of Oh!
how my head hurts, and feel so sick!
l found the door locked and I'm afraid
/ broke one of the windows before
got out. Is Aunt Martha worried
about me?"
/ opened the salve box and Gained
explained. Just tell them you were
detained at the race track looking
over some horses that you suspected
were not being treated humanely, and
that will square you, sure"
John. my boy!" Uncle Peter MUIR
INJURED as we drew near the door.
You've saved my life and I'll not for
get it."
The prodigal was warmly well
coined. The explanation of the cause
of his delay was eminently satisfac-
tory to all concerned and joy would
have gone into the reigning business
then and there had not the rural mes
senger boy butted in with a telegram
for Aunt Martha.
Busy Bunch!
Aunt Martha opened the message
and read it with wild-eyed astonish-
ment. Then she looked nervously at
poor Uncle Peter and handed the wire
to me. Read it aloud" she said.
1t was dated New York and read as
follows:--
Doves Nest villa, Ruraldene. N. Y.
km unexpectedly detained at big Wal
dorf banquet of Bankers and Brokers'
viii Keep ON dry ne land T% rerrapin' e ducks
and wild game flying around the room,
but owing to my dyspepsia will stay on
about midnight. so don't expect me hon,s
till morning train. May telephone YOU
later. Good night. PETER.
When | finished the reading Uncle
Peter crouched down in the arm chair
and looked like eighty cents in Dor
rowed money. In his dazed condition
he firmly believed himself the author
of that awful telegram, and he await
ed the final blow in trembling silence.
was getting the pan off the fire to
cook up some kind of stand-off for
the battered old man when suddenly
the telephone bell in the hall rang
and Aunt Martha answered 1t.
Yes" she said in the phone.
What? Yes, this is Mrs. Grant!
What! OH OH" she screamed,
dropped the receiver, and rushed back
into the sitting room.
"Oh! OH" cried the old lady, "a
man on that telephone said, Is that
you, Martha? Well, this is Peter! Are
you all right. my dear?' Oh! oh! Am
losing my senses?"
Clara j. tried to calm her while
jumped to the phone. Like light.
ming it flashed over me that this was
more of busy Bunchs work in his eff.
fort to square Uncle Peter, who now
sat doubled up in the chair watching
us all with eyes like saucers.
"Hello!" / said over the wire: who
is this talking?" and then Bunch's
voice came back to me. This is Peter,
Uncle Peter!"
| put my hand up to the transmit
ter and whispered, "Cut it out, you
dam fool, Uncle Peter Is sitting in the
next room!" and then heard Bunch
yell, Jumping Beeswax!" and drop
the receiver. knew he was running
like a whitehead.
Then continued over the phone
loud enough to be heard mile,
What's that? Who? You claim to
be Peter Grant! You scoundrel!
know your voice; you are Barney Sui
Ivan, and you're trying to blackmail
my generous. peaceloying uncle!
What! Louder! What. Well, you
can't pull that on me. Mr.. Barney Sui
Ivan. You wanted to get up mys
terry in our quiet family and have
some of us pay you money to explain
lin on! That telegram gag didn't
work, Mr.. Sullivan! Just because my
uncle was kind to you-whatl Why
I'll have you pinched for this Oh. go
to the devil my uncle isn't afraid OF
you! Back to your kennel, back! lie
down Won had dogi" and with fhic I