The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-05-20
s1INGY UNCLE GRAVES
By ELIZABETH scHoEN COBB.


81 hope he enjoyed his stay WIN
u.s." murmured Myra.
said he'd had the best time in MS
life" declared Elwyn. why, Myra,
you've been crying!" and he stared
dolorously into her eyes.
Il peeled some onions" she lame
ly explained. 60
yes. hours ago, for dinner. See
here, Myra, my uncle
"Our uncle" corrected Myra. /
well, | am afraid you are sort Oh
disappointed.
why should l be, dear"
ITO be plain, Myra. think you nave
reason to be. Uncle Graves Is ouo
and all that, and | am no beggar, Du'
he must have seen that with my De
ing out Of work We are pretty wei,
pinched. You have had to turn all
kinds of hard corners to make Things
appear comfortable He might have
given you some kind of little pres,
ent. Frankly, I expected it, ana
don't want you to think my relatives
are mean and stingy.
Uncle Graves." exclaimed Myra'
"Oh, no, dear. l really enjoyed MS
company. l will say truthfuiiy that
hoped he would help you along tribe
until you got work again But maybe
he has troubles and is hiding them
just like ourselves"
well, maybe" assented ElWyn ou'
biously, "but always thought that ne
had plenty of means"
"He must lead lonely life, went
on Myra sympathizingly. Then too
he has been SO disappointed in that
nephew of his, Bruce Wayne, who has
gone to the bad utterly, they say,
II am very glad you take 1t that
way" said Elwyn 81 was caring only
| for your disappointment"
81 am the happiest woman in the
world with you by my side!" declared
Myra brightly. Now then, to get
down to practical everyday life, sir!
Put on an apron and help me get
the table cloths and napkins we bor-
rowed from mother ready to do up.
"U-um!" observed Elwyn, glancing
in at the pantry. mot much left to
20 on, Ell, dear? Sugar-pretty low.
Flour-why, there isn't more than two
bakings left" and Elwyn snapped open
and then snapped shut the -four box
near the open window.
WELL by the time two bakings are
over and done with you may be back
at work and all kinds Of good fortune
come to u.s." chirped Myra hopefully.
Come, sir, to work with your down
trodden, abused helpmeet! You dear
est, dearest darling!" and Myra gave
him q kiss that echoed through the
house, and both pitched into the work
before them as II it was jovial fun.
Crouched under an open side win
dow, wide awake and safely sheltered
Sammy Jones listened intently to all
that had been spoken within the house
Now he darted away. He made fol
the railroad depot There, his train
gone, and half hiding in Swallowed
corner, was artful Uncle Graves.
WELL" he challenged. did you carr
that dollar?"
i've tried to-" answered Samm.
and proceeded to detail all that he hat
overheard at the cottage.
Uncle Graves chuckled serenely
Then he took a package from hi
pocket. For two minutes there was ,
low-whispered conversation between
the precious twain.
IT think I will make some hot bis
cults for supper" announced Myra a
the cottage an hour later. There
} some of the honey left and 1t will
taste good. Mercy"
Myra uttered sharp scream, Elwyl
rushed into the pantry to find he
staring down into the -four box.
There lay package. 1t bore the IL
scription: For my dear niece, Myra.
! She trembling with excitement, L
: wyn half guessing and eager as h
opened 1t, the eyes of both dilated t
, their widest.
There were ten crisp new twent
a dollar bills and a note It was signe
Uncle Graves and 1t ran:
' This will be placed by an emissar
where you will be sure to find 1t. Ths
\ emissary is hired to report to me no
I you regard stingy old Uncle Grave
i after l leave"
1 Grand old Uncle Graves!" vote
!. Elwyn gratefully. "He stopped over
: train to carry out this little plot tn
Z second train has gone. or I'd run aft,
;. him to tell him what happiness he he
: bestowed upon u.s."
n The cycle Of good luck once starte
# things seem to move all one way. /
d least Elwyn and Myra found this
q be true. Elwyn got work the ne,
d day. The little nest egg left in Il
!. flour box became the sure start of
If promising bank account
To add to all the right roya! fortur
that had come to them, in about
: month Uucle Graves made them a fl
i, ing visit
Of Il am on trip to get that gracele
ID nephew of mine out of trouble again
n. he explained. Il think will check b
70 70 mad career this time, though
Of Elwyn looked inquisitive and My
~ interested
ly II shall tell him that at the end
M NJ each year live he will get thousal
he dollars. provided he has behaved hi
ne self, That will make 1t to his intere
O. to help prolong my life, see? IfId
, he gets nothing. I've made new W
e. leaving what have to"
n There was a merry twinkle in I
| ouoc nf Irpola