The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1919-09-04
Uncle Jake's Best
Joke
n
Copyright. 1919. by the Mcclure News
paper Syndlcats.)
BY JANE OSBORN

| pout Of her courtship days but the
spolled-child pout that she dared TO
indulge IN now that she was really
truly married to the embodiment, In
her eyes, of all masculine charms and
virtues-Rodney Blaine.
81 think you are mean old thing
she announced with some heat. ITO
have to have him along with us. He'll
just spoil everything. II isn't that
don't like him. but he Is such a dread
full iokerl"
The joker referred TO was none 9th.
or than Rodney's uncle, Jacob Blaine.
n slightly built but erect old gentle
man, who at three score and five had
given up business and determined TO
lead the rest of his days In the open.
| If he had none of the crotchets which
are sometimes ascribed to those of ad-
! vancing years he had some OF the
folbles that had been characteristic OF
his boyhood. Nothing pleased him bet
ter than a practical joke, though his
jokes were always of kindly nature
and, so far as any one knew, they had
never caused any one real discomfort.
But Maud took herself. and above
all she took Rodney, amazingly seri-
ously. Now that summer had come,
the Rodney Blaines had made arrang,
ments TO depart from the city for the
woods, where Rodney owned small
mountain cabin.
He had just announced his inten.
tion Of encouraging Uncle Jake to cc'
cupy = smaller cabin not many rods
from theirs which he would make the
headquarters for his fishing and out
Ing helps; and he would share the
company of his nephew and niece I'm
many of his hours of inactivity.
"well. my DEAR" Rodney assured
his wife. ut isn't at all as II he were
critical or intended TO interfere with
YOU in any way. There is no one else
he likes so well as you-and me. He's
the best sport In the world and what
II he does pull of practical joke
once In while? i rather like his
joking"
Like his jokingi" echoed Maud,
and her eyes snapped fire as much as
eyes as blue as hers ever could snap
fire.
"And besides" said Rodney, as he
went on inspecting the fishing para.
phernalia that he had recently pur.
chased as preliminary 10 the veca.
tion in the woods, besides, uncle has
willed everything he has to US. That
shows that he Is devoted to u.s."
Maud Mt this accused her husband
of being mercenary, though had nny
, one else made this accusation she
, would have ragged indeed.
The result was that Uncle Jake
went with the Rodney Blaines, and
J this was not because Rodney acted
contrary to his wife's pleadlngs, hut
} because after having protested and
pouted she assured her husband that
he was right as In all other cases aud
that she was sorry that she had shown
such prejudice and would try to fee
| fs strong attachment for Uncle Jake
us did her husband.
Then she regretted her good nature
First he disguised as possible game
warden and called at the cabin one
day when Rodney was not ut home
j, and Informed Maud that her husband
had been violating the game law ant
would have to serve a life imprison
ment. Maud, In spite Of her ardent
suffrage principles, was quite igno
rant Of the law and before she recog
{ nized Uncle Jake in the heavi,
false-bearded person. she had offeret
him her entire worldly wealth II IN
would go away and say nothing to the
authorities concerning Rodney's guilt
Then on the day that she went fish
Ing with him he contrived to have
. her book attach Itself to little pack
age that he had brought with him tt
! the brook and which proved. after
Maud had excitedly angled for five
minutes, to contain can Of sardines
"a delicacy for which she had a de
clded aversion and Of which Rodne,
and Uncle Jake. not knowing this, hat
. set In large supply.
Mild and even stupid jokes both OF
these-yet Maud allowed herself to b'
, annoyed by them.
II | Iic utsii MANY Waypt DIV
told Rodney, the evening after the sar
dine episode. "but so long as he joke:
cannot stand him."
II wasn't going to tell you," Rod
ney replied. "but you see It is Just be
cause Uncle Jake does Joke that Tn
so attached to him. If he hadn't beer
joker. you'd now be Mrs. Somebody
else and I'd be dlsconsolate ole
bachelor"
II was In midsummer and Maud
|, the eighteen-year-old Maud who pout
ed very archly then and still wore hel
curls merely tied at the back Of her
neck instead Of in the present psych,
was four or Ave hundred miles
. away from Rodney. who was working
In the city in the Office Of the Uncle
Jake who had not yet found occasion
to retire.