The Columbus journal. (Columbus, Neb.) 1874-1911, 1911-01-18

Eecklace. Clara J. thought l had
bought 1t with the money I couldn't
produce on pay days, but the missing
numbers were really in the jeans OF
the race-track bookies, and hadn''
the hear: to confess it. But glim'
bier c; hope was shining. for UnclS
Peter had offered 20 buy the place
from me. He liked II.
Early one morning I broke camp
and took the trail to town, determined
never to come back alive unless
Bunch agreed to sell the plantation to
Uncle Peter
The old gentleman had crow ded his
check for $4,000 into my trembling
hands the night before with instruc-
ItioRs 10 deposit 1t in my bank. and
at my convenience 1 was to let him
have the deed to the place.
I soon located Bunch. and to my sur
prise found him more inclined to josh
than to jolt.
"Ah! my friend from the BUSH" he
exclaimed: ARE you I'm town to buy
limitation coal, or is it to get a der
rick and hoist your home affairs away
from my property? Why don't you
take a tumble. and let go?"
Bunch" said. believe me. this is
the cruelest game OF freeze-out I ever
sat in. My throat is sore from sing
ing. Father, dear father. come home
with me now!' and every move l make
nets me q new ornamentation on my
neck. Why didn't tell the good wife
that the ponies put the crimp in my
pocketbook. instead of crawling into
this chasm OF prevarication and
.trouble?"
You can search me-" Bunch an
swered. thoughtfully
And that phony wire you sent me
yesterday almost gave me a plexus."
I said, bitterly. Bunch had wired me
that the two queens" were coming.
meaning his sister and niece. and it
had spoiled the day for Clara J.-and
me. To make it worse. two Swedish
cooks had followed the wire, and |
hadn't known the difference! Tab
leau,
Bunch biinked his eyes solemnly,
but when I told him all about the
trouble his telegram had caused he
simply rose up on his hind legs and
laughed to a sit down.
Well" he gasped, after a long fit of
,cackling. sister did intend going out
to Jiggersvilie and the only way |
could stop her was to suddenly dis
cover that her health wasn't any too
good. SO 1 chased her off to Virginia
Hot Springs for a couple Of weeks"
After all. Bunch had his redeemins
qualities.
p. 81 sent you that wire before 1 took
sisters temperature" Bunch eS-
lplained, "and l quite forgot to send
another which would put copper on
the queens" Once more he laughed
luproariously.
"Oh. quit your Kidding" begged.
and then. suddenly. Say. Bunch. will
you sell the old homestead"
Bunch stopped laughing and looked
me over from head to foot. rs this
on the level or simply another low
itackle?"
It's the goods" answered. Il SIM
ply can't brighten. coax, scare. drive
or push my home companions away
from your property, so I'd like to buy
1t II you're game enough to cut the
cards"
:, Been playing the lottery" he snick-
cred.
!: mo, l have the Pierponts. all right,
all right" l replied; will you put
$4,000 in your kick and pass me over
the baronial estate?"
Fourteen thousand" Bunch repeat
ed. slowly. Sure. will. II you can
Morgan that amount I'll make good
with the necessary documents, and
then you and your family troubles
may sit around on fly paper in Jig
Igersville for the rest of your natural
lives for all l care"
explained to Bunch that l wanted
the deed made out In the name Of
Peter Grant for the reason that Uncle
Peter was a bigger farmer than /. and
in short order the preliminary ar
Irangements were completed to the sat
Iisfaction and relief of both parties
concerned.
That evening I went back to Jig
gersville feeling as light as a pin
feather on a young duck.
Uncle Peter would have the proper
ity; Bunch could buy his sister another
castle. and I was ahead Of the game
just $4,000, more than, enough to
square me for all the green paper I
had tern up at the track.
Two days later Bunch had a certi-
fed check for $4,000 and Uncle Pc
ter was the happy owner of the coun-
try estate.
A week later the second anniver-
isary of our wedding would roll around,
and although Clara J. was a trifle
hard to win over. I finally coaxed her
to let me have Bunch out to spend a
few hours with US on that occasion.
At the appointed hour Bunch ar
rived and Clara J. greeted him with
every word Of that telegram darling
forth darkly from her eyes
Mrs. John" said Bunch, I'm SIM
ply delighted to know you. I've often
heard your husband speak well Of
you"
She had to smile in spite of herself.
Mrs. john" Bunch went on. with
6plo ,tiid assurance. you should be
.pror.! Of this matinee idol husband of
yours for. to tell You the truth. he's
all tire goods-he certainly is