Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1917-03-01

his home town an automobile met them
at the depot. Wayne was dubious,
Vera anxious over the probable greet
ing OF Uncle Hiram, for his impulses
and mysterious ways were likely 10
take any whimsical turn. Their minds
were set completely aterest, however.
when they were ushered into the par
Tor of the Lee palatial home.
The best room in the house was
awarded them, a regal meal, smiles,
even jolllty from Uncle Hiram. Then,
seated in thescapacious drawing room,
he opened the ball.
"WeIl, nephew" he observed bright
ly. Tets get TO business. | offered to
buy your crop"
"Yes, sir" promptly answered
Wayne, "and / have brought it with
me-"
you've what?" demanded Mr.. Lee
in a startled tone.
"Fve brought the crop along with
me. It's in that big carpet bag in
the hall. III 60 and fetch it,
Uncle Hirams eyes dilated as Wayne
was gone for a moment, returned, and
opened the carpetbag. From it he pro-
duced, a shrunken, cracked, diminu-
tive squash.
whats that?' snapped Mr.. Lee.
"The crop. All there is to it, abb
solutely. I'd better explain, / guess"
smiled Wayne. You see, we planted
lots of stuff. With the exception OF
some quick growing vegetables, the sun
and the alkali burned up everything.
When the season was over. all that
was spared was this, our crop
But how did you manage TO liver
asked Uncle Hiram In self-condem-
natory way.
"Wel, | worked evenings shaving
the miners down at their camp" ex-
planned Wayne.
MY nephew a barber!" growled the
shocked Mr.. Lee.
"And | washed their Clothes" added
Vera, and She showed her pretty
brown hands with pride.
"A relative of mine "A washerwom-
an Sibdlisu DutIG Ill ulll lpu
dear" and he kissed the pretty brown
hands in question in turn. Pm going
to confess" he added. "Young lady, |
have misiudged you, but as it has
turned out, that wasn't bad start. Just
after you became engaged to Wayne |
heard a condensation you held with
girl friend, who repeated it. The lay
out you had for your high social life
after marriage was dazzling. 1t CON
WINGED me that you were a thought
less, extrayagant-"
Here Herer challenged Wayne
uproariously
'Wait till the last installment, young
man, and see how IL all worked out.
When you two eloped, l saw that if
you didn't start out right you'd run
into Il switch Now, then, you showed
sense, you made good. Pm proud of
my beautiful and dutiful niece-in-law,
and-I say, my dear, it was a bunga-
low you planned out so gayly, wasn't
it?"
"Oh, Uncle Hiram, that was just
foolish girls fond dreaml''
visions come true" pronounced
Mr.. Lee oracularly. There was a
white pergola, and a screened porch,
and-oh, you opulent dreamer IAN au-
tomobile."
you'll make her cry If you keep
on" warned Wayne
"She'll laugh afterwards" predicted
Uncle Hiram gayly. very well, look
at that"
He extended a photograph. 1t was
that of an exquisite little home,
And there was a pergola,
and an automobile stood In the gar
den roadway.
Wen go and see it tomorrow" an
nounced Uncle Hiram. 81 had my law
yer purchase it last week. Yours" he
added to Vera.
'Minew she uttered breathessly.
"And you can have your washing
done, and my nephew may discontinue
his barbarous procliyities, and"
But Yera's arms We're about his
neck, and her kisses silenced the fur
Their explanation Of the good old fell
low, who had given them their hearts
desire.