Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-06-23

Il vum!" exclaimed Mr.. Bunker.
his eyes beaming. AN I was just
sayin' to my wife how nice it would
be to own lot over there in Jersey
out of New York when this hot
wouldn't want to sell that lotto
4 have an offer of $4,000. If Mr.:
Trebbs don't live up to his option"
said Mr.. Lonigan.
Il might go as far as to pay
$4,000" said Mr.. Bunker. me and
ma likes New Jersey"
well, in that case, Of course" said
Mr.. Lonigan- eff that's how you
feel. I'm not going to wait for Mr..
fall in"
Mr.. Bunker, to secure an option.
gave Mr.. Lonigan the two hundred
dollars he had meant to give to Mr..
Trebbs. He inquired closely regard
ing the location of the lot, and the
greatest precautions. The place was
utterly deserted, but he carried a
spade and a few minutes were enough
to assure him that there was ice. He
chuckled to himself. No man was
ever happier than Mr.. Bunker. If Mr..
ice mine was Mr.. Bunker's; and if Mr..
Bunker would work the stock-and-
bond game and get the ice mine, any
way.
Trebbs did not appear at the board
ing-house that night, and not until
noon the next day. He was apparent
ly in condition of extreme nervous
ness. He had the air of a man who
has been trying in every way to raise
money, but without success. AS even
ing approached he became more and
more distraught After dinner he
spoke to Mr.. Bunker.
I've been expecting a man to come,
he said. II wrote to man I thought
would help me. He is man I ought
to be able to borrow a few thousand
dollars from, but he hasn't come. I've
got to go out. I've got to find him."
Mr.. Trebbs did not come back. He
never came back.
The next morning Mr.. Bunker went
to Mr.. Lonigan's office with three
thousand good dollars and bought the
New Jersey lot. Mr.. Lonigan, in SELL
ing it, said he really thought Mr.. Bum
ker was paying more than it was
liked the view, or something. 1t was
none of his business. anyway. Fifteen
minutes after Mr.. Bunker left the Of
fee Mr.. Lonigan had packed his stock
of used postage stamps and had dis
appeared forever.
MD, Sdlu MI. ouHhCE a WSCh idICk
when, after a visit to New Jersey. they
were returning to New York. II amt
goin' to scold you a bit 1t amt your
fault there wasn't nothin' on that lot
today but a lot of muddy dirt Ice will
melt. ma, and you or me can't keep it
from melin'."
NO, Jabez." she said meekly.
"But I've been bunked, ma"
yes, Jabez." she said meekly.
It was on their return to the board
ing house that Mr.. Bunker found a
contrite letter from Mr.. Trebbs. beg
ging his pardon and explaining that
Mr.. Trebbs had not wanted to bunco
Mr.. Bunker and that Mr.. Trebbs had
never been a f1rst-class bunco-man
and that Mr.. Trebbs had not done any
bunco-work for twenty years The
letter ended: your wife put me up
to it,
Mr. Bunker read the letter and look
ed at dear old Mrs. Bunker over the
tops of his gold-rimmed spectacles.
He smiled quizzically and then walked
to her and kissed her.
MA" he said. 1--WE sort of enjoyed
bunkin' these New Workers.; 1t comes
SO easy; but when you start in bunkin'
your old husband. reckon it's time
we went back to Oroduna, Iowa. New
York amt no place for you. mai"
THE END.
Copyright. 1918. by Mcclure syaditate)