The Tomahawk. [volume] (White Earth, Becker County, Minn.) 1903-192?, 1920-06-03
BLUFFING
UNCLE JAMES
By H. LOUIS RAYBOLD

q. 1920, by Mcclure Newspaper syndicate.)
. Phillip Merrill threw down the let
ter in disgust. "What the! Why
the" He refrained from complet-
ing his sentences in Difference to his
secretary, Miss Cowles, who sat watch
ing him in establishment.
my uncle absolutely refuses to lend
us that money which would put us on
our feet, unless-well, read for your
self his idiotic fOOlishneSs" He
thrust the letter under her nose, and,
hands in his pockets, began neces-
sarily limited walk up and down his
small office like the pacing Of an
angry lion in his cage.
Marjory Cowles read through the
letter twice with businesslike preci-
sion:
"My Dear Nephew:
II was interested in your statement
Of the assets and liabilities of your
business Of the moment. But I do not
forget that you have been enthusiastic
over various other enterprises. When
you give any evidence of settling
down, by getting married, for instance,
I shall be more convinced Of your Sc
robustness, and be glad to help you.
BY the way, if you are married, let me
know. 1t might alter the case. Your
affectionate uncle, James B. Chase"
"I'm sorry, Mr.. Merrill" she said,
then added with a sigh: IF only he
could have seen his way to making
the loan, it would have meant such a
lott"
"a lotw echoed Phillip. "Why, it
would mean all the difference be-
tween pulling through and going I'M
der!"
Marjory Cowles had been associated
with the Goodfit Tire company since
its incipency, and had been through
so many Of it's ups and down that she
had acquired some Of the privileges of
a partner without it's responsibilities.
Now she pondered the situation with
half-closed eyes, her pencil tapping her
firm red lips.
"There-there isn't anyone you
would want to marry on short notice"
She hoped her employer didn't hear
the beating of her treacherOus heart
as she waited for the answer she had
been longing to know ever since her
discovery that Phillip had the most
attractive blue eyes Of any man she
had ever seen.
"Indeed there isn't!' declared
Phillip so emphatically that her heart
beat faster than ever.
Marjory was about to remark that
his uncle was evidently eccentric, when
Phillip gave positive shout. II have
it! And he deserves it for being so
peculiar and tightfisted. Please take
this letter." And he was debating be-
fore she had picked up her pad and
pencil.
Dear Uncle James: You want to
know if 1 am married. WE'LL am I?
I wish you could see my wife CHATS
true enough, Miss Cowles. I wish
he could, and tell me what she's like.)
If you will reconsider the making of
that loan, I assure you that you will
never regret it. Yours, Phillip.
"P. S.-If the wife knew 1 was writ
ing this I feel sure she would send her
love-"
II am going out for lunch now. Get
that letter off as soon as possible,
please" And Phillip took down his
coat and hat and went out.
Left alone, Marjorie sat for a mo-
ment idly wondering how the affair
would turn out, and absent-mindedly
testing one of her pencils with scrib-
bling on a sheet Of typewriter paper
lying on the desk. Then she rose'
Strengthened things out and took from
her drawer the few sandwiches and an
ample which made up her midday
meal. after which she got down to the
business Of getting off that letter In
time for the mail.
Three weeks later Philip sat at his
desk figuring the extent Of his smash
I'D about to occur, and wondering why
he had not heard from his uncle, when
he was interrupted by the jangle of
the telephone bell.
"You take 1t, Miss Cowles," he said
morosely.
Marjory took down the receiver,
then almost dropped it. Ills Uncle
James? Tll-Tll tell him."
But there was no need. Phillip had
risen and stood as one petrified. His
Uncle James come all these miles to
Investigate the business! That meant
almost surely that he would loan the
money. Joyfully he took the receiver
from Marjory's hand, not observing
the strange thoughtfulness Of her ex-
preston.
"Uncle James! I am pleased -
How long you here for?-Fine!
Simply ne!-My wife! My wife!
.-Oh-er-yes, yes, yes, very well, very
we'll put you up there-all right. Yes,