The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1915-10-30

Il say finally observed Frank.
why don't you come down to the
house once in awhile2'
1--we been pretty busy getting
things shipshape for the winter rath.
err lamely explained jed. flushing up.
Especially the last month, for uncle
10 coming on his regular quarterly
visit, you see."
Well, Nettle invited you to her
birthday party and was quite put out
because you did not come. Hellol"
Frank gave a start and a stare at
something he had lot noticed before
"a figure standing in the dim corner
of the room. Jed was grateful that
the conversation had changed. He
could not very we'd explain to his
friend that grinding poverty had not
admitted Of his buying a decent suit
Of clothes for over two years. and
the old one were not presentable for
a social function.
Why, yes" he fastened to say, aris-
ing and taking up the lamp and H.
Eliminating the obscure corner of the
room. IT'S uncle's old uniform
stuffed"
Il declared" remarked Frank in
genuine admiration. 1T looks fine.
Talk about old armor-here's the real
thing-something timely and naturall
With that old gun and the flag spread
above the uniform, on mighty fancy
cid Uncle Abner was about to spring
out in the full glory of the battle
field"
Il thought it might please him,
said Jed. Il stuffed the coat with
straw and the rest of it with sand.
I'm proud of Uncle Abner, l can tell
you, Frank" continued Jed.
Who wouldn't be-" replied Frank.
Il hope he'll make his visit while I'm
here"
oh, yes, he is due to arrive day
after tomorrow declared Jed.
I'd just love to have him once
more go over that splendidly thrilling
story of how he saved the day at Pea
Ridge. l say, Jed, I'll come Saturday
evening, and I'll bring Nettie. You
know your uncle always made a pet
of her."
Jed tiuttered like a timid school
child. To see Nettie again-to have
her under the same roof! How he
polished up the old tinware the next
day! How he planned a meal out of
the ordinary for those cherished
guests, and when his uncle arrived the
old fellow was wild with delight to
give his favorite a glad reception.
Frank Wilder was a mining engi.
neer in the city and an agreeable
and instructive talker. Both Ned and
his uncle were arrayed in their best
and he house spick and spar when,
Saturday afternoon, Nettie and her
brother drove up from their home,
five miles distant.
Nettie was ardent in her praises Of
the orderliness and system of this
typical bachelors hall. She insisted
on helping Jed prepare the meal. 1t
was the happiest moment of his life.
to view her dainty figure fitting about
the kitchen, keeping up a string of
pretty talk, all charming nothingness,
but the sweetest of music to his eager
ears.
1t was after supper that Uncle Alb.
ner, in fine spirits, was induced to re.
cite the Pea Ridge incident. In his
excitement he used an old saber to
illustrate an onslaught on the enemy.
Alas! as an accidental swoop and dip
came, the steel blade swept across the
knees of the sand-padded uniform. A
black flood poured forth. All hands
laughed at the ludicrous incident.
why, where did you get this stuff 2"
suddenly inquired Frank, who had cas-
ually picked up a handful of the sand.
The hill is full of it," explained Jed
Sort of iron pyrites, isn't it?"
"Pyrites!" shouted Frank, quite ex-
cited. why. it's tungsten. a good quail.
ity, focused for hardening steel and
worth fifty cents a unit"
What's a unit?" p%ropounded Uncle
Abner.
Twenty pounds"
Why, we've got IONS of it,"
Then you're rich!" declared Frank.
I'm chemist enough to know the value
of this stuff"
His opinion was correct and within
a week brought results. A steel COM
pany bought the old place for a big
sum and Uncle Abner did not have to
! go back to the Soldiers home.
They built a new house and Frank
was a welcome visitor, and Nettie,
too. And finally, in the course of
time Nettie came to the home to stay
and help Jed do the cooking for the
rest of his life.
Copyright, 1915. by w. G. Chepman)