The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1920-05-07

Bluffing Uncle James.
By n. LOUIS aaIpoLp.

Office like the pacing OF an angry
Marjory Cowles read through. the
letter twice with business-ltke preci-
sion:
my Dear Nephew:
Il was interested in your state
ment Of the assets and Liabilities
OF your business Of the moment.
x But | do not forget that yon have
been enthusiastic over various
other enterprises. When you give
any evidence OF settling down, by
getting married, for instance,
shall DO more convinced Of your
seriousness, and be glad to help
you. by the way, Ii YOU are mar
ried, let me know. l. Eiish: alter
b the case. Your affeclioaa.e uncle.
JAMES u. CHASE"
"I'm sorry, Mr.. Merrill she said,
then added with sigh III only ne
could have seen his way TO making
the loan, It would have meant such
"a lott" echoed Phillip. Why, IT.
would mean all the difference between
pulling through or going under!'
Marjory COwles mad been associat-
ed with the Goodrit Tire company
since its incipiency, and had been
through SO many OF its ups and downs
that she had acquired some OF the
y privileges OF a partner without IT'S re.
situation with half.clOsed eyes, her
pencil tapping her firm red lips.
rThere-th isn't any one you
Z; would want to marry on short notice.
Il She hoped her employer didn't hear
n the beating OF her treacherous heart
as she waited for the answer she had
s been longing to know ever since her
discovery that Phillip had the most
attractive blue eyes Of any man she
Y had ever seen.
Indeed there isn't!' declared Phil.
lip; 80 emphatically that her heart
4 beat faster than ever.
Marjory was about to remark that
{ his uncle was evidently eccentric,
when Phillip gave q positive Shout. II
have II! And he deserves it for being
4 80 peculiar and ttght-listed. Please
take this letter. And he was dictat-
4 Ing before she mad picked up hef pad
and pencil.
Dear Uncle James: You want
to know II am married. Well.
am 1! wish you could seq my
1 wife CHATS true enough, Miss
= Cowles wish he could, ana tell
me what she's like.) II you will
reconsider the making OF that loan
II !! assure you you vii! never regret
I. ''PHlLLIP."
tsP. S.-If the wife knew | was
Z writing this feel sure she would
|s,s send ner love-
y am going out for lunch now. Get
p that letter Oh as soon as possible,
Please And Phillip took down his
1 coat aud hat aid went out.
Is Lott alone, Marjorie sat for a mo-
Meut Idly wondering hoy the affair
Y would turn out, ana abSent-mindedly
s5lesttng one OF her pencils with scrib-
( blings on sheet OF typewriter pape!
lying on the desk. Then she rose,
5straightened things out and took from
her drawer the few sandwiches and an
apps which made up her midday
meal, after which she got down to the
\ business Of getting of that letter in
time for the mail.
Three weeks later Phillip sat at his
desk figuring the extent OF his smash.
up about to occur ana wondering why
y he had not heard from his uncle, when
he was interrupted by the jangle OF the
telephone bell.
&c. SVu tdh0 ~, MlSo SONieS, uS SoAu
mprosely.
IMariory took down the receiver,
then almost dropped 1t. His Uncle
James? Tll-I'll tell him"
But there was no need. Phillip had
risen and stood as one petrified.
His uncle James come all these miles
Ito Investigate the. business That
{ meant almost surely that he would
4 loan the money. Joyfully he took the
receiver from Marjory's hand, not OBJ
serving the strange thoughttulness OF
her expression
Uncle James! am pleased!"-
How long you here for ?"-E'Fine!
Simply fine!p-"My wife? My wife!"
on, er-er.yes, yes, very well, very
wal very, very well yes
o. course-er, we'd ask you to stay
with US, but we've only two rooms
Yes, two rooms, but there's an ex-
cellent little family hotel near. Well
put you up there. All right. Yes.
GONE right up"
Phillip turned from the telephone
with so woe-begone an expression that
Is Mariorie's heart melted within her.
NY uncle is coming up, will be here
Iproduce wife in that time?" Phillip
paused with the despair Of one whose
game is up. Then, II say, Miss
Cowles, you wouldn't-oh, it's a crazy
scheme-but would you consider be-
ing my wife"
Marjory couldn't resist. This is
so sudden!" she said quite sober.
ny, then didn't know whether TO be
More chagrined or amused at the look
lot alarm on Phillips face.
sOh, didn't mean really-that is
oh, just pretend you're-er-my wife,
while Uncle James is here this morn
Ing. After that I'll undeceive him,
But II he'll only go over the works first
and see what first.rate proposition
1t Is, he'll forget this wife business
and loan the wherewithal" ]
Marjory debated within herself.
Playing the part of a make.belieye wife
to the man you're in love with might
have its tragic moments. But, be
cause she was in love with him, "All
right" she said at last, "for the sake
Of the business, will"
N You're brick, Miss Cowles!" he
g:aspcd her hands gratfully. Then, as
The color mounted slowly in his cheeks,
Hell think I'm a earned lucky dog!r
Z he aided. Is was lite first personal
note that had ever crept into their
CONDENSATION.
Hall an hour later Uncle James ar
rivel-a tai Individual with keen,
Swapping eyes. He greeted his nephew
affectionately, then turned 10 the girl
rs Phillip said, little awkwardly,
"My-er-wife. She Is putting her
Nchnulfler tn tho wheel ton for a