The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1913-05-29
UNCLE LUTHER DOWELL
AND HIS WOODE LEG

the corner and stirred the Goals into a
bright glow. Then he bent over 70 warm
his hands. x G IA
Jonathan Dowen came down the lane
between his prosperous fields. on his way
TO own. Little Dick was with him. When
Uncle Luther saw them. he went to the
door and beckoned.
Come in. Jonathan, come In. he called.
His face shone with pride. and he told
with 9everish eagerness OF the new honor
which the day had brought him.
Nonsense" interrupted Jonathan. tes-
tily: don't you know, father, that you're
gettin' too Old an feeble to take part in
such things7 You Amt able to walk to
the graveyard an back. an you're only
stirrin' trouble between the families.
Uncle Tommyli never forgive you
The end OF theS lane was the end OF
Dicks little world. and he turned and
loitsred back. humming a tune 70 him
self, as a child will. or a sudde he re-
called how Uncle Tommy had looked when
they were boys together.
J like Tommy, exactly he said.
half aloud. gazing fondly at the little fell
low. Their he bent over stiffy and beck
oned. y.
Come see gran'pa," he said. smiling en-
| ticingly,
Dick crossed his hands behind his back,
Ind looked at Uncle Luther soberly. He
was q sinny-haiTed little fellow, with blue
eyes and puckery red lips. n he stood
| full in the bright May sunshine, ~.s.@
Uncle Luther regarded him seriously.
IL told EN- / didn't want to march" he
said, protestingly. II said Tommy'd do
IT betteF'n / could; but Captain Enoch,
ner any of EN- wouldn't listen TO me.
Don't 90 way, Dicky, don't 90 way, an
leave gran'pa," beseechingiy
But the little, boy was edging way; he
didn't understand. and he was afraid.
Don't go way" said Uncle Luther,
Eagerly; "oome an see what grAn'pa got
for Dfckey." aals.@ Jn T.
He turned and hobbled painfully across
his shop. He put on his spectaclss, and
opened a drawer In his workbench. n
In It's depths he our a stick oR hore-
hound candy. Dick stood with one pudRy
hand resting on the door frame, pSeFtnW
into the shop with wide eyes.
Candy" announced Uncle Luthsr ex-
| pFessively.
Dick drew q little nearer, glarcing from
the candy to his grandfather's wrinkied
face. Uncle Luther waved the stick like
a wizards wand, and lured Dick nearer
and nearer until a dirty little hand closed
over the candy. Then he reached out sly-
ly and cautiously n gathered Dick N
hts arms. E.s '#T
Amt you goln' to kiss gran'pAfr he
asked eagerly.
Bit the little boy wriggIed away and
ran out OF the dooE. Uncle Luther
watched him lettering up the lane In the
sunshine, sucking his candy, until she
vision blurred in his dim old eyes Then
he returned TO his brazier. He sat down
and drew his chair almost over II He
bent double. with his elbows on his knees
and his head resting on hts hands, and
there he sat alone FOR a long time. Final
" he Strengthened up. The subtle warmth
- aaLEEn-- 49, a.a AAAlHaoha al hNwE knAxr
He leaned back in his chair, his head
dropped over to one side. and his work
worn old hands lay palm upward on his
knees He was fast asleep.
the brazler under him continued to glow,
and send its CHEEKY comfort stealing up.
around his chair. It had q frlendliness'
and hearty warmth that were more than
the kindness OF many Of the old mans
friends. ....... s H. u
The dusk OF evening came down and
filled the corners with shadows, And pres
emily a glow that was not all In h bra
zier began to illufnine the eenter Of the
room Al thin, waveringl mist OF smoke
Ecurled upraround the old man. and crept
silently along the dingy, ceiling, A mo-
ment later there was q sharp burst Of
iarae, that disappeared as suddenly rs II
came. The old mans trouser-leg rested
against the hot braier, and the fine FIRE
gnawed and sparkled In the heavy cloth
A few shavings on the Uttered moor OF the
shop were ,crisplng with sudden wlsps OF
fame, the chair legs were on IRE.
But Uncle Luther slept on, wholly un-
conscious OF his danger, MI
Jonathan Dowell. returning from the
village. saw q sinister glare In the shop
windows. He rushed into the room,
seized the old man. and lifted him SWIFTLY
to one side. Then he beat out b hre
with a gunny sack. a3
Uncle Lnther sat up, trembling and ter
Ttied His wooden leg wal gone, II had
burned almost to the stump, and the
charred remains were still smoking.
Jonathan Dowelrs voice ana with
anger. Ef5 @4 is @
''What woa't you DO next, fatherT' he
said. You've set yourself ON nre, and
nearly burned up the shop. That wooden
leg OF yours cost me just $50. a it'll be
a long tins before i can afford smother"
And then he saw dlmly the agony In
his fathers face, and he softened. He
was not q bad man, nor even q harsh man,
only thonghtless. You must learn 70 be
more careful father, " he said gently. and
yet insistently, ne II he talked 10 A-child-
Uncle Luther was glad when his son
went away. He crept 70 his little back
room like a wounded dog, and lay down
on the bed. Old age had made him slow.
and he could not realize at 1irsf the full
magnitude OF his disaster; but he knew
that he had deeply angered his son.
"Too bad to trouble Jonathan am his
wife" he muttered. Cory Is 90 thrifty
an particular. I'm careless, I know It.
I'm gett1n' old" And then after a time
his mind reverted to the earlier interests
of. the day, and he said aloud: u wisht
Tommy'd got IT."
News travels quickly In a small town,
and the next morning the sympathetic and
the curious came to condole with Uncle
Luther, and to examine the remains Of the,
$50 leg, and to point out where the IRE
had charred the chair. They went about
solemniy, as at a funeral. CHANGING side
ways from the corners OF their eyes, and
yet not missing anything.
Among the very FIRST 20 call WA Captain
Enoch Bradley, who was = hearty, warm
blooded. irascible old fellow. and his bluff
sympathy went far TOWARD solaetng Uncle
Luther In his afhiction. Xxx.
""rwan't SO bad as II you hadn't lost n
| before" he eomforted.
But Uncle Luther had no mind for trest-
ing his ioss frivolousiy. The years had
crushed all OF the humor out OF him, and
left him only tragedy. ~ n.
Il was thinkin'." he said, that now I
can't march, p'raps y~ou--p'raps Amery-~
might let Tommy have it."
Captain Enoch f-owned darkiy, but
Uncle Luther hurried on; #4Ns. "
He's more commander than I be. ar
$3.50 -u.. .,~- I'm IA an. Aata haA