Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-06-29
The Argus Daily Short Story
Uncle Philemon's Ghost-By Clarissa Mackie
Copyrigated. 1911. by Associated Literary Press

vainiy employed in endeavoring TO
stare Uncle Philemon's Uncle Phile-
mon out of his disagreeable counte-
nance. What was his particular wild
oat that he must come back to see how
it fiourisheth?''
Horses" said Evans laconically.
"Extravagant, 1 suppose. and put
mortgage on the old home, is that
what the double uncle did|
yep"
"Then he's a double dyed old villain"
shifted Clarke. Ought to had his head
bumped. l suppose the other uncle,
his namesake, the last one, had to
work of the mortgage"
Right again."
"Wen, what's Philemon back again
for? Trying to raise some more mon
ey on the placer
"Give it up. He's been hanging
around the last three years now, doing
the same old stunt. You see, his father
had a beautiful stable of bloOded
horses, and at one time when the
old gentleman was away and young
Philemon was home you'd never think
that decrepit old gentleman ever was
young. with good red blood in him.
would yOuD. why, Philemon took ad
vantage Of an opportunity to dispose
Of the whole stable for large sum,
and after one wild night. when he en-
tertained a crowd of his half intoxicat-
ed companions at a princely feast, the
entire sum of money disappeared as
if it had never been. He awoke the
next morning sober as an owl and
could give no accounting of the trans
action. The horses were gone, and their
earnings went with them.
"Philemon's father was angry enough
because the young man could not recol-
lect what he had done with the money,
and it was finally concluded that what
he had not spent in entertainment he
had been relieved Of by his unscrupu-
lous companions. The money was gone
and Uncle Philemon's Uncle Philemon
was disgraced.
HE died a moderately poor man
land poor-and today the disappear
ance of the money is as much a mys-
terry as ever They say that the old
gentleman returns now and then, es-
pecially on the anniversary of the day
on which he made the unhappy deal
with the horse buyers. in order to make
a more thorough search for the miss
ing money. l saw him a year ago to-
night, and l hope yOd are scheduled to
be cured of your doubts" Evans light
ed his cigar once more and leaned COM
fortabIy back in his chair.
Clarke shrugged his shoulders and
turned over the leaves of a magazine
with careless Indifference.
mo objections to my potting at him
with my revolver he asked hope
fully.
"why, no-so long as you don't cut
a hole in the portrait" assented Ev-
ans. "Are you good shot?" he asked
as an afterthought.
"Am L? Ask Timothy Allen. /
knocked the button off his cap the
other day"
81 can trust you with Uncle Phile-
mon. then" said Evans, relieved.
Want somebody else in:" asked
Clarke. 81 can run out and ask one
Of your servants in you want me
to-" He turned toward the door.
'-They won't do at all-too much Of
the emotional about them. What we
need for these experiments are men Of
physical muscle as well as those Of
mental power. Understand
Trying to-" said Clarke helplessIy.
1--WE been thinking, Dan," went on
Evans thoughtfully, why wouldn't it
be good idea for you to step up to
the shade Of nv uncle and endeavor
to prove whether his guise is that of
I,lnc1 -
whether he's a combination Of
misty gray ehifons?" ended Clarke
disgustedly. "Pn not do it I'll take
shots at tim, though
Five minutes before u the clock
gave q little warning click. which was