The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1917-02-03

home, did your inquired Mr.. Lee, and
HIS face showed actual expectancy and
pleasure.
Eyes, they will be here next Mon.
day"
Good nodded Mr.. Lee with unc-
ton. And you have attended to
other details l directed?"
Entirely" replied the lawyer.
Better still - quite chirped Mr.. Lee,
and he smiled all over his face. MY
system has worked, 1t seems" he
chuckled. I'm proud of it's success,
for it has made a man of Wayne and
II loyal. sensible little woman of Vera
When Wayne and Vera arrived ut
his home town an automobile met them
at the depot. Wayne was dubious,
Vera anxious we the probable greet
ing of Uncle Hiram, for his impulses
and mysterious ways We're, likely to
take any whimsical turn. Their minds
were set completely at rest, however,
when they were ushered into the par
lor of the Lee palatial home.
The best ~ in the house was
awarded them. Il regal meal, smiles,
eve jollity from Uncle Hiram. Then,
seated in the ]capuciouS drawing room,
he opened the ball.
"Well, nephew" he observed bright
~. lets get to business. l offered to
buy your crop
Yes, sir promptly answered
Wayne, and l have brought it with
me-"
You've vhut?' demanded Mr.. Lee
in a startled tone.
I've brought the crop along with
me. Its in that big carpet bag in
the hall. I'll 90 and fetch it."
Uncle Hiram's eyes dilated as Wayne
was gone for Il moment, returned, and
opened the carpetbag. From it he pro
duced, Il shrunken, cracked. diminu-
tive squash.
whats that?" snapped Mr.. Lee.
The crop. All there is to it, alb
solutely. I'd better explain, l 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, Il crop"
But how did you manage to live2"
asked Uncle Hiram in II s]elf-condem-
natory way.
"WcH, l worked evenings shaving
the miners down at their camp eX-
planned Wayne.
My nephew a barber - growlel the
shocked Mr.. Lee.
And l washed their clothes" added
Vera, and she showed her pretty
brown hands with pride.
"a relative of mine a washerwom-
an" groaned Uncle Hiram. You
dear - and he kissed the pretty brown
hands in question in turn. I'm going
to confess he added. Young lady, l
have misiudged you, but, as it has
turned out, that wasn't a bad start. just
after YOU became engaged to Wayne l
heard a conversation you held with a
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 Il thought
less, eXtravagant-"
Here! Here" challenged Wayne
uproariously.
Wait till the last installment. young
man, and see how it all worked out.
When you two eloped, 1 saw that if
you didn't start out right you'd run
into Il switch. Now, then, you showed
sense, you made good. I'm proud of
my beautiful and dutiful niece-in-law,
and say, my dear, it was a bunga-
low you planned out so gayly, wasn't
it?"
"Oh, Uncle Hiram, hat was just a
foolish girls fond dream
"NisiouS come true" pronounced
Mr.. Lee oracularly. There was a
white pergola, and a screened porch,
and-oh, YOU opulent dreamer an au-
tomobile.'
You'll make her cry if you keep
on warned Wayne.
She'll laugh afterwards predicted
Uncle Hiram gayly. VERY well, look
Mt that
He extended a photograph. 1t was
that Of an exquisite little home, Il
bungalow. And there was Il pergola,
and an automobile stood in the gar
den roadway.
Wen 20 and see it tomorrow an
nOunced Uncle Hiram. Il had my law
yer purchase it last week. Yours he
added to Vera.
Mine - she uttered breathlessly.
And you can have your washing
done, and my nephew may discontinue
his barbarous procliyities, and
But Vera's arms were about his
neck, and her kisses silenced the fur
Their explanation of the good old fell
low, who had given them their hearts
,lngArn