The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-12-10
The EVENING STORY
What Uncle Jim Did.
By Bryant C. Rogers


the west and had come back to his
visit. He wasn't wreck by any means
| On the contrary, he was a spry, observ-
ant old man, and while he planned to
| loaf around for while, he also planned
| other things. He had been at the house
for couple of weeks when he sat down
for talk with his sister.
Say, Mary" he began, IT don't like
the way your boy Robert cavorts
around
He is Worrying US some." she ad-
mitted, with sigh.
"Twenty-three years old and playing
the fool!''
Yes, he's foolish in some things, but
youth doesn't look as life as middle age
does"
His father has talked to him?''
Scores of times
And put the CAD on him?"
why, James, you can't whip young
man of his age!
st licked my son Ben the day he was
twenty-seven years, old, but that was
out in Montana. I 'spose you have diff
ferent customs here in the east"
Robert isn't much different from the
other young men of the day. Most of
them have to sow their wild oats. We
are in hopes he will steady down soon.
You wouldn't have us turn him out
doors, would your"
His father should cut off his in
come"
But he has money himself, left to
him by his aunt"
Got in with the high-fliers and going
the pace Father advises him and is
called a back number. Mother advises
him and is laughed at. Isn't wicked,
but foolish! Isn't thinking of the fu-
ture, but how to make an ass of him
self. When he has squandered his last
dollar he'll turn confidence man or
gambler"
James, don't draw any such gloomy
picture as that. You are putting the
case too strong. Twice Robert has
come home intoxicated, and once he lost
$500 in gambling house. Even United
read of their losing thousand dollars
on a hand Of poker"
HAS he been in love YETI" asked
Uncle Jim, after a pause.
Yes, at the age of eighteen. The
girl Tilted him for another, and then
lessness. He took 1t awfully hard
said he could never love again, I
s'pose?'' 4
YES"
And that women were all deceiv-
ers?"
Yes"
"And that there was nothing more in
life for him?''
you must have been there, James,"
laughed the sister.
Sure pop!''
land what cured your
1.-The hair of the dog. In other words.
as soon as ceased to moon around and
got my appetite for pork and beans
back, I began to look for another girl
to fall in love with. I found her and
married her"
But Robert is so dead-set-"
IND oh hi hniT
dead-set. Things may happened to
bring a change of mind in fifteen min
utes.''
James, have you got a plan?" anx-
iously asked the sister.
"I have, or I wouldn't be wasting
words over the young cub. I have
planned for him to fall in love again
and steady down and marry"
But with what grip
II don't know"
"And when?"
Don't know All know about It is |
that I'm going to take Bob in charge
for while and see what can do with !
him. You and Henry keep hands off !
and don't pretend to notice anything"
The mother was ready to agree to
anything but she was sure that Uncle i
Jim would back up against trouble as
soon as he could get the young man to
sit, down for talk. Robert liked him !
as an uncle, but the chances were
against his accepting him as an adj |
wiser The chances that he would or I
wouldn't, did.I't seem to worry the old |
man. however. He got up next morn |
ing to say to the sister:
ct want that pony and phaeton of |
yours to do little driving around the |
country. I want to know where am /
at"
He drove to the four pofzSts of the |
compass, sometimes being absent all |
day He drove to the village and hug |
around the postoffice for two hours at
a time, though he made no inquiries |
for mail. He drove to the depot and /
kept an eve on the passengers going off !
them.
Are you looking to buy a farm %
queried the puzzled sister, one day.
Nope was the brief answer.
"Just driving, eh?'
Just driving and keeping my eyes
peeled"
For what?"
you'll know when I and her.
And one day he found her. She was
alone on the highway. and she also
they met and slowly passed Uncle Jim
gasped out:
''waIl. by the Lord Harryr'
And he checked his horse and called
to the girl:
running back
Loose wheel on your phaeton. That's
mighty keerless of some one"
He took hold of a fore wheel and
shook at it, and the girl watching him.
said:
why, it doesn't wobble at ALL It
can't be loose"
THAT'S funny. Ny eyes and ears
deceived me. All right-a1 right. Nice
pony you have there"
at think So"
do you drive out muchE"