Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1919-11-28
Uncle Jake's Best
Joke
BY JANE OSBORN
(SeISriSAt. 1919. by the Mcclure News
paper Syndicate.)

Copyright. 1919. by the Mcclure News
paper Synticate.)
Naud pGuted-not the piQuant, arch
fout Of her courtShip DAYS lou, the
Sp"ilcd-child pout that she dared ~
indulge in now that she was really
truly married to tie embodiment. i'm
her eyes. of all masculine charms AMI
rirtucS-No,lney Blaine.
Il think you are mean old thing
she announced with some heat ".To
nave TO have him along with us. He'll
just spoil everything. 1t isn't that
don't like him. but he is such q dread
full Joker"
The joker referred to was none 9th.
or than Rodney's uncle, Jacob Blaine,
slightly built hut erect old gentle
nan. who at three score and five had
given up business and determined to
lead the rest of his days in the omen.
IL he had none of the crotchets which
are sometimes aScribed to those of adj
rnncinE years he had some of the
folbles that had been characteristic of
his boyhood. Nothing pleased him bet
ter than 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
tho Rodney BlaineS had made arrange
ments to depart from the city for the
woods. where Rodney owned n small
mountain cabin
tie had just announced his inten-
ton of encouraging Uncle Jake to oc
cupy a>Smaller cabin not many rods
from theirs which he would make the
headquarters for his fishing and out
Ing trips; and he would share the
company of his nephew and niece in
many of his hours Of inactivity.
well, my DEAR" Rodney assured
his wife. lit isn't at all as If he were
critical or intended to interfere with
you in any way. There is no one else
he likes so we'll as you---and me. He's
the best sport in the world and what
If he does pull off a practical joke
once in while? rather like his
Joking"
and her eyes snapped fire as much as
eyes as blue rs hers ever could snap
fire.
And BESIDES" said Rodney, rs he
went or inspecting the fishing para
phernalia that he had recently pur-
chased ms preliminary to the Socn-
ton in the woods, besides, uncle has
wil!ed everything he has to us. That
shows that he is devoted to u.s."
Maud ut this accused her husband
of being mercenary. though had any
one else made this accusation size
would have ragged indeed.
The result was that Uncle Jake
went with the Rodney Blaines, and
this was not because Rooney 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 anu
that she was sorry that she had shown
such prejudice and would try to feel
us strong attachment for Uncle Jake
. rs 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 at home
and informed Maud that her husband
had been violating the game law and
would have TO serve life imprison-
mcnt. Maud, in spite of her ardent
suffrage principles, was quite igno-
rant of the law and before she recog-
niZed Uncle Jake in the heavily
falSe-bearded person, she had offered
him her entire worldly wealth If lie
would so 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 hook attach itself to n little pack
the brook and which proved, after
Maud had eXcitcdly angled for five
minutes, to contain can Of sardincs
ii dclicacy for which she had de
ciGcd aversion and OF which Rodney
and Uncle Jake, not knowing this, had
set in Il large supply.
Mild and even stupid jokes both of
thcse-yet Maud allowed herself to be
annoyed by them.
iiS - wal III hltHH why's, she
told Rodney, the evening after the sar-
dine episode, "but so long as he jokes
1 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 I'm
so attached to him. If he hadn't been
joker, you'd now be Mrs. Somebody
else and I'd be disconsolate old
bachelor"
1t was In midsummer and Maud
kha nj nj, r. old Maud ,vb<, ,~o,,+