The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-05-15

the party. and she teased 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 IL seemed to me
l heard family the sound Of breaking
glass off in the darkness somewhere
TO quiet Aunt Martha | suggested
that possibly Uncle Peter might be on
the 10:09 train and Id walk down the
road bit to meet him.
Just outside the gate | did meet
him. trembling slightly, but under a
big brace
John. is that you?" the old fellow
asked. "Oh! I'm so grateful to you
l 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 80 sick! When | woke
mp on the sofa In your house q few
minutes ago nearly tainted with sur
prise, but the presence of that man
Lawrence brought II 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.
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 calmeG
him down. mot a soul is wise,"
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 III 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 q telegram
for Aunt Martha.
Busy Bunch!
Aunt Martha opened the message
and read 1t with wild-eyed astonish
ment. Then she looked nervously at
poor Uncle Peter and handed the wire
to me. Read 1t aloud" she said.
1t was dated New York and read as
follows
Mrs. Peter Grant.
Am unexpsc..diy S detained siosseb at Biz r. Wal
dorf BANQUET Of Bankers and Brokers
association. ass; Wine Moving like water. bu,
Snd w xitd xeteP Sa on ary cin land Teri TsrTapn ducks
but owing TO my dyspepsia will stay on
no prune wagon. Am down for q speech
TN morning train May telephone you
later. Good night PETER
When l finished the reading Uncle
Peter crouched down in the arm chair
and looked like eighty cents in bor-
rowed money. In his daxed condition
he firmly believed himself the author
OF that awful telegram, and he await.
ed the Anal blow in trembling silence.
was getting the pan of tho fire to
cook up some kind Of a stand.on for
the battered old man when suddenly
the telephone bell In the hall rang
and Aunt Martha answered It,
Yes" she said in the phone.
What? Yes. this ia Mrs. Grant!
What! Oh! OH" she screamed,
dropped the receiver. and rushed back
into the sitting room.
"Oh! OH" cried tho old lady, "a
man on that telephone said, Is that
you. Martha? Well. this Is Peter! Are
you all right, my dearT Oh! Oh! Am
losing my senses?"
Clara J. tried to calm her while
jumped to the phone. Like light.
ming II flashed over me that this was
more Of busy Bunch's work In his ef.
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 Bunchs
voice cane back to me. linis is Peter.
Uncle Peter"
| put my hand up to the transmit
ter and whispered, Cut 1t out, you
dam fool. Uncle Peter is sitting in the
next room!" and then heard Bunch
yell. Jumping Beeswax!" and dror
the receiver. l knew he was running
like q whitehead
Then | continued oyer the phone
loud enough to be heard mile
What's that? Who? You claim tc
be Peter Grant You scoundrelt
know your voice; you are Barney Sui
livan. and you're trying to blackmail
my generous, peace-loving uncle!
What! Louder! What. Well, you
can't pull that on me, Mr.. Barney Sui
Ivan. You wanted to get up a mys
terry in our quiet family and have
some OF us pay you money to explain