The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1919-09-11
The Test
B, + RADCLIFFE
b. VICTOR RADCLIFFE

Uncle JACK DdltOn from luELnSE
squandering his fortune" pronounced
ph~arisaical Harold Blair, his lawyer
and nephew.
you mean, have a conservator ap
pointedW i%nsinuated self-seeking John
Dwyer likewise a relative Of the per
son designated.
what do you propose to do, BlairH'
Arrange to visit the old spendthrih
en- masse, a special committee to r.
monstrate against his dissipating his
substance recklessly. Perhaps the
dread Of law I can inspire professions
ally will scare him and save our
ohem-respective inheritances."
"Just so. Fine idea. Let's try It.
And that evening Lawyer Blair visited
his uncle, and stating that he repre-
scented the quartette, delicately insinu-
ating the merits Of the occasion. #
Think I've lost my mind, l sup
poser observed Dalton grimly.
well, that's the construction most
folks put on the case" replied Blair.
"So?" muttered Mr.. Dalton, and he
was in a. dangerous mood, if his Wis
itors had only known 1t. 'Tipe-serving
crew that you are; I will afSe consid-
GRAFTON to your intruding upon my own
personal affairs. The entire crowd OF
expectant heirs and ,heiresses seems to
lack a quorum. Where is my half broth
er's daughter, Eleanor, and her hust
band, Joseph HowardY"
"Oh, we don't consider them near
Of kim" remarked Blair. 1--WE did ask
them to join us, but they refused to
comply"
"You don't say so !" Dalton mimicked
the speakers squeaky ones. "Well,
you all four Of you come here next
Saturday night at eight o'clock, and
I'll tell you what I have decided to
do. Now then, beat 1t, and leave an
~improvident old man alone with his
misery"
Saturday night the quartette
appeared at the lonely home Of the
cratic old bachelor. A great fire
blazed in the CRATE, chairs were ranged
against the wall. Between them and
the fireplace was a table with two
parcels upon 1t.
"My dear solicitous friends and rela-
tives," began Dalton with a certain
sardonic expression Of face, II have
decided to make a full and complete
confession Of my misdeeds. This"
and he opened n package, contains
over, one hundred thousand dollars In
mining stocks, oil stocks, automobile
stock not worth the paper they are
printed on. Wen get that out Of the
way" and he flung the heap upon the
blazing fire where it was quickly con-
sumed.
zone hundred thousand dollars !"
groaned Blair.
'This package" resumed Dalton.
and he took up the other parcel and
opened 1t, contains but-see for your
selves. Money-scads Of It'll coolies Of
It'll Look-view, gloat"
"Inasmuch as life is growing bur
densome to me because an avaricious
brood is after what I have left and
threaten to- take away my freedom, I
become a pauper! Whoop-whiz-
there she goes-ashes !"
Twenty thousand dollars" gloated
Dalton. "See it sizzle In the CRATE! !
Now, that I have disposed Of my for
tune ! am q pauper. I've given and
loaned to the last one Of you consid-
cradle amounts In the past. OF cours
You will be glad to have me live out
my few remaining days, move about
among you" But, q maddened, dis
gusted, discounted crowd, the pre-
cious relatives made their presence
scarce.
Jack Dalton moved into q wretched
room in a poor tenement house next
day. His erratic conduct was the cur
rent sensation Of the hour, but no
body thought Of q c~onservator now. It
was common gossip that he had Wis.
tied each member Of the quartette in
turn, asking shelter and help. -Four
decidedly cold shoulders was III the
subtraction she got.
He was pottering 9 the cooking
Of 4 sparse meal one evening when he
had visitors, Howard and his wife.
Howard held. the old MANS. hand sym
p~athetdcally and Eleanor kissed him
ana began % dy.
"You poor old man r. abe sObbed.
You. who started ~ - Appsekeeping
70 coma 10 ths but that viii econ
end. Uncle JACK. You IL 70 come to
our house ct once
:And live there . Welcome gpest for
the rest q your lfe," supplemented
Howard.
John Dalton went q Invited Often
during tie Arst month 9 Ill so5ourn
amid comfort and afochonats atten-
ton he would chuckle sayly to himself.
Then q day he vi down town for
several hours and actsd unusually
brsk and happy q he Joined Mleanor
and. Howard.
Children he said. II have Just
bean to my lawyer putting nv affairs
"a shape. / have placed N my liquid
funds II. bank sub5ect g your dir
m0aal NJ ena1 GkAkA 1AAa ~ 1nss