The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1917-08-04

dispense with his further duties wheI
he reported at the office.
III Uncle Bill were only here he
would help us out" more than once
Nellie had longingly said. II wrote
him when father died. his own brother
And he wrote back from out West,
where he owns great ranch, not to
make move until he came on. But
the weeks went by and / didn't hear
from him, and 1 don't know but some
thing has happened to him, or he
| changed his mind. He's rich, too, and
was always favorite of his"
"Oh, fancy Wen be able to get
along without Uncle Bill" said Ned,
but they found this not so easy as he
fancied. They arranged with their
landlord to leave at the end of the
month. Meantime Ned daily looked
for work and Nellie went house-hunt-
ing.
"I've found two rooms" she report
ed one day. ''They are In a poor
neighborhood and none of the con-
veniences we have here, but the other
tenants seem quiet and respectable.
I'm pulling you down, Ned! she
choked up tearfully.
"Yes, down to sense and reason"
admitted Ned cheerfully. 'You see,
l hadn't ought to have splurged until
l was sure of my ground. Two rooms?
Delightful! We can't get far apart,
don't you seer"
The laugh sounded jolly, but at heart
Ned was oppressed. He had met with
little success in seeking new employ
ment. There were some further pros
poets, but even these at very much
less compensation as compared with
his former position. When NOV
ing day came he counted over his
very little store of surplus cash quite
anxiously. A family was moving in as
they were moving out. Some of their
furniture was carried out into the side
yard as an accommodation to the new
Corners.
Il don't see why the moving men
don't come" said Nellie. ''They prom
ised to be here two hours ago. I'll
go down to their Office and hurry
them, believe"
"All right, I'll keep guard here"
suggested Ned.
He threw himself into an easy chair |
and waited patiently. He watched the
passers-by in the street idly. Then he
became amuSedly interested in q be-
logged and unsteady individual, who |
NalfaH jIIct do nf hn RI orr,-n
md went through his pockets as if
looking for something, failed to find it,
the traps in the yard and
made toward them. He selected a
chair standing near a table. Ned ap-
)roac hed.
"S-summer garden?' voiced the in
ruder.
"Oh no" answered Ned indulgently.
Tired, are you?" he added accomodat-
ngly. REST a bit, it will do you
rood"
you know I'm not tired" observed
lis muddled, but shrewd guest. "Tve
lad thirty days of meeting old friends
III the way from Nevada to here. Bad
hing Had to celebrate at every ;
own visited. You see my c-condi-
ion. If you have a pencil and paper
viii you do me favor?"
Sure" announced Ned promptly.
Then draw me out a pledge, a tenn ;
erance pledge. See? I'm in earnest.
m looking for relative and lost the
ddress. I don't want to find her in
his c-condition."
Accommodating Ned drew up the s
ledge. The man signed it. ,
"Why, Uncle Bill shouted Ned
and grasped the hard {
ned palm of the penitent
"Eh? Whazzat? Who are your"
I'm Ned Morris, your niece's hus-
and. She was expecting you She =
i'll be back soOn.'
"Thasso? Say." cried the sturdy !
'esterner, getting to his feet, ''get me I
the pump, will you? And see if the /
I'D water won't brace me up, so can
eet Nellie all right"
you see," more nationally added
ncle Bill after his ablution. eIye 2
me after her and you, too, now that Y
e's married, to have you come out :
Nevada with me and share the
Opb with mo fiffy-fiftv i,,e,t fn,. J-oo,,