The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1915-05-11
STIMGY UNCLE GRAVES
BY ELIZABETH scHoEN COBB.

|
u.s." murmured Myra.
said he'd had the best time in his
life,' declared Elwyn. why, Myra,
you've been cryingl" and he stared
dolorously into her eyes.
IL peeled some onions" she lame
ly explained.
Yes, hours ago, for dinner. See
here, Myra, my uncle"
Our uncle" corrected Myra.
"Well, ! am afraid you are sort OF
disappointed.
why should ! be, dear"
ITO be plain, Myra, l 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 we'll
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, ] expected it, and /
don't want you to think my relatives
are mean and stingy."
Uncle Graves!" exclaimed Myra.
"Oh, no, dear. | really enjoyed his
company. | will say truthfully that |
hoped he would help you along trifie
until you got work again. But maybe
he has troubles and is hiding them
just like ourselves"
We'll, maybe assented Elwyn du-
biously, but | always thought that he
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"
Il am very glad you take it that
way" said Elwyn. Il was caring only
for your disappointment"
Il am the happiest woman in the
world with you by my sidel" 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-uml" observed Elwyn, glancing
in at the pantry Not much left to
go on, eh, dear? Sugar pretty low
Flour-why, there isn't more than two
takings left" and Elwyn snapped open
and then snapped shut the -four box
near the open window.
We'll, by the time two bakings are
over and done with you may be back
at work and sll kinds of good fortune
come to usl" 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 it was joyial 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 for
the railroad depot There, his train
gone, and half hiding in shadowed
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 chuckled serenely.
Then he took a package from his
pocket. For two minutes there was a
low-whispered conversation between
the precious twain.
+Lt,lr x.,sIl vaa1y1 cnr,a hot hfc.
cults for supper" announced Myra at
the cottage an hour later. There's
some of the honey left and it will
taste good Mercy!"
Myra uttered sharp scream, Elwyn
rushed into the pantry to find her
staring down into the -four box.
There lay package. 1t bore the in
scription For my dear niece, Myra."
She trembling with excitement, FL
wyn half guessing and eager as he
opened 1t, the eyes of both dilated to
their widest.
There were ten crisp new twenty
dollar bills and note. 1t was signed
Uncle Graves and 1t ran:
This viii be placed by an emissary
where you will be sure to find it. That
omissary ie hired to report to me how
you regard stingy old Uncle Graves
after | leave"
Grand old Uncle Graves." voted
Elwyn gratefully. He stopped over a
train to carry out this little plot. The
second train has gone, or I'd run after
him to tell him what happiness he has
bestowed upon us"
The cycle Of good luck once started,
things seem to move all one way. At
least Elwyn and Myra found this to
be true. Elwyn got work the next
day. The little nest egg left in the
flour box became the sure start of a
promising bank account.
To add to all the right royal fortune
that had come to them, in about
month Jucle Graves made them fly
ing visit
Il am on a trip to get that gracelcss
nephew Of mine out of trouble again"
he explained Il think will check Ms
mad career this time, though
Elwyn looked inquisitive and Myra
interested.