Putnam patriot. [volume] (Putnam, Conn.) 1872-1962, 1915-10-15
STIhGY UNCLE GRAVES
BY etlzAeETH scHoEN COBB.
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Copyright. 1915. b. ". &. chapman1
We'll. I saw Uncle Graves safe to
the depot al right"
= hope he enjoyed his stay with
US" murmured Myra-
Said he'd had the best time in his
life" declared Elwyn. Why, Hyra.
you been crying" and he stared
doloroualy into her eyes
sI-I peeled some onions. she lame-
ly explained
yes. hours ago. for dinner. See
mere. My.a. my uncle"
eOur uncle" corrected 8yra.
'sWen. 1 am afraid you are sort OF
disappointed"
why should I be. dear2g
ITO be plain, MIRA, think YOU have
reason TO be. Uncle Graves is odd
and all that. and | am no beggar. but
he must have seen that with my be
ing out Of work We are pretty well
pinehed. 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. l expected it. and |
don't want you to think my relatives
are mean and stingy."
Uncle Gravesi7 exclaimed Myra.
oh. no, dear I really enjoyed his
company. | will say truthfully that
hoped he would help you along tritie
until you got work again. But maybe
he has troubles and is hiding them
just like ourselves"
well. maybe" assented Elwyn du-
hiously. but | always thought that he
had plenty Of means"
"He must lead a lonely life" vent
On Myra sympathfziugly Then. too
+ he has been so disappointed in that
nephew Of his. Bruce Wayne, who has
gone to the bad utterly, they say"
7 am very glad You take it that
way" said Eiwyn Il was caring only
for your disappointment"
y am the happlest woman in the
world with YOU by my side. declared
j 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 Dor
rowed from motker ready to do up.
"U-um,7 observed Elwyn. glaneing
in at the pantry. Not much left to
go on. eh, dear2 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 a kiss that echoed through the
house and both pitched into the work
before them as if ii was ioyial fun.
Crouehed 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 for
the railroad depot There. his train
gone ard half hiding in Swallowed
corner. was artful Uncle Graves.
Well, he challenged. did you earn
that dollar?"
I've tried to-. answered Sammy
and proceeded to detail all that he had
overheard at the cottage.
Uncle Graves ehuckled serenely.
Then he took a package from his
pocket For two minutes there was a
low-whispered conversation between
the precious twain.
Il think viii make some hot bis
cults for supper" announced Myra al
the cottage an hour later. There's
some OF the honey left and it will
taste good Mercy,"
Myra uttered a sharp scream. Elwyn
rushed into the pantry to find her
staring down into the flour box.
There lay a package. Il bore the in
scripuon; For my dear niece, Myra-"
she trembling with excitement FL
wyn half guessing and eager as he
opened it, the eyes of both dilated TO
their widest
There were ten crisp new twenty
dollar bills and a note It was signed
Uncle Graves and it ran:
This viii be placed by an emissary
where you will be sure to ind II. That
emissary is hired to report 10 me how
Won regard stingy old Unele Graves
after I leave.
Grand cid Uncle Gravesi" voted
Tlwyn gratefully. Tie stopped over
train TO carry ont this little plot Tho
/ second train has gone, or I'd run after
him TO tel him what happiness be has
+ bestowed upon us
The cycle Of good luck once started,
things seem to move an one way At
least Eiwsn ard Myra found this to
De true Elwyn got work the next
day The little nest egg left in the
/ flour box became the sure start of
/ promising bank account
To add 70 all the right royal fortune
that had Gene TO them, in about a
month Uucle Graves made them a fly
ing visit.
= am on a trip 10 set that graceless
nephew Of mine out Of trouble again.
he explained 4 think I viii check his
! ~