The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1912-08-01
UNCLE RaLPH's BROWNIE.

Uncle Ralph was an uncle Of Mrs.
Snow. but he wss not much older
than she was. Many years ago he
had gone 10 Montana. He had ex-
pected TO make his fortune in the
mines, but be had not had very good
| luck. Still, he had stayed on and on.
working and hoping. All the time
he had been writing TO Mrs. Snow
and the children often. He told
funny stories. Many OF these stories
were about his wonderful Collie dog.
Brownie. The children wanted TO see
/ Brownie almost as much as to see
Uncle Ralph.
Every little while. Uncle Ralph
would send a box Of presents to the
children. He had never seen them,
but they had sent photographs back
| and forth so often, that they felt
sure they would know each other
when they met. Many photographs OF
Brownie, too, had been sent to the
| children. They were sure they were
going to know Brownie the very first
minute.
1uCAC W oo q 81 cot bAAAC SdS
what train to take to get to Uncle
Ralph's. He lived at Tentacle-a
| tiny mountain village, twenty miles
up from a railroad. Traymore was
! the nearest railroad station to him.
| But the express trains ran over an
| other road-what was called 1.-The
Short Cut a new track, not yet en-
tfrely finished, but still so that it
could be used. Axtell, on the Short
| Cut" was the most convenient sta
ton for the Shows to come to. 1t
was finally arranged that Uncle Ralph
should come down to Axtell, and they
would all spend the night there and
have a good visit.
In point of act Uncle Ralph was so
| impatient to see them that he arrived
at Axtell three days before the Shows
were due there.
This made some confusion, as you
will see.
For, at the last moment, Mrs. Snow
decided to go to Traymore, instead
of by the "Short Cut to Axtell, so
she telegraphed to Uncle Ralph at
Tentacle. But, as we know, Uncle
Ralph was quietly waiting up at Ak
tell, and never got the telegram at
all.
Behold, the train drawing into
Traymore! Out tumble two excited
little girls, and their excited mother.
The porter followed. carrying their
bags.
'Set them right down." said Mrs.
Snow
Yes, Uncle Ralph will take them"
cried the children.
But no Uncle Ralph was there. Off
went the train, and the little group
felt lonely enough, in the strange
wild country-for there were only
dozen or SO shanties in the whole vii
lage Of Traymore.
AS they stood there looking gloom
lily around, Nannette's quick eyes
spied dog prowling about a stage
coach which was standing not far
away.
Brownie!"
| cit does look like his pictures,"
admitted Mrs. Snow. LET us ask"
They walked over to the stage
coach. The driver was just mount
ing the box.
Yes, that was Mr.. Ralph Kane's
"Brownie.'
But where is Mr.. Kane?" asked
Mrs. Snow.
"Brownie!" said the stage driver,
sternly, ego over there and lie down
under the shed-clear over-clear
over II say! There now stay
there!"
"You see," he explained to the
Shows, in low voice, 'Mr Kane told
me not to say before Brownie where
he was. He's gone to Axtell to meet
it, he'd be in Axtell, too, as quick as
he could get there"
ooh, Mr.. Kane has gone to meet
u.s." cried Mrs. Snow, explaining in
her turn to the stage driver. "He
could not have received our tele-
gram"
| "Probably not assented the
! driver. Telegrams are mighty I'M
certain around here. And now you
can't send any kilograms up Axtell
way anyway. for dam broke out up
there, and all the poles went down
| for miles"
But we can't stay long" cried
Mrs. Snow, "and we wouldn't miss
/ seeing Mr.. Kane for the world
| What shall we do?"
| The driver scratched his head.
"You might tell Brownie that he's
at Axtel- tie a note to him
and Mr.. Kane'd get it before dark to-
night" ct was then about o'clock
''Really?" breathed Mrs Snow.
t'I'd be willing to bet most any,
thing on it," said the driver. "He is
so crazy to find his master that he
/ hoe rim