Evening star., 1921-06-26
TRILBY> CALLS IN A FRIEND

- I'VE Inez three or four days to
q = chew over a proposition and
l. she'll generally come through
with some appropriate remark.
She had about gone the limit when sne
surprises me with this one. just as we re
t.,k,;nr our prune whip dessert at MISS
Wellby's.
"why Uno!e Nels no come arouno'
eh?' she asks.
.uow should know" says l. Hes
rour uncle, not mine. What's your
guess?" ,
"Mavbe." says Inez, thouShtfuliy
reacbing for piece of layer cake l
had neglected maybe he forget
where we live"
Not that old bird" says I. Those
xashed-out blue eyes of his may not
seem very active, but they take IN
lot. was watching 'em while ne
was with us the other day and they
were busy every second III pet ne
didn't miss a detail about either OF
us. lnez. from your new strap pumps
to the batik freckle design across my
nose. BESIDES. l saw him jot down
the street number Oh the back or an
envelope. oh, he's got US placed ali
right" . having RICH
-"WhatS the SOOu, tlieH, hnNi'e -'
uncie?" demands lnez;
Say, ditch that Edison question
naire stuff. will you?' says l. I'm no
ignorant college grad. But aiio~ me
to suggest Inez. that you dldnt Know
he was plute uncle at the time. Not
until I'd trailed him up and made
report. And you didn't treat hlm as
one, either. So he might have oeen
peeved. Anyway. he's queer oid
boy and there's no telling what lie II
do if anything. Weren't hgurlns on
cashing in on him SO quick. were
your
Inez shakes her head. But people
ask if I find him yet?'" SAYS she.
:, II know" says ]. The general
impression among the boarders. since
that squad of false alarms shoWtu .h,a
up. seems to be that we invented thls
rich uncle tale just to make ourselves
popular.::. u,., mo
They think We faxed an Uncle Nels;
saws |. "It's natural enough. You'd
talked a lot about him. and then all
that is printed in the papers. and sun
no uncle appears. Here comes that
Young reporter person now: Barry fiatt,
" no gave you the free advertising. Let's
see if he springs it,"
oh, yes. he did. All the opening
" | gave him as he drifted by was
roll Of the eyes. and he promptly turns
, to camp down in an empty chair at our
table.
We'll. hows the heiress getting along
with her uncle hunt he asks.
'Tell him. Trilby May" urges lnez.
YES, do" says he.
Wouldn't ! be the simp if ! did:
says I. "Say. Barry boy, do ! look like
a human bulletin board? And you know
we haven't signed any contract to let
YOU write US up in your paper once
week. So check out. old dear. check
OUT
He's no hardened wretch. though. even
II he is a bit careless about what he
Knocks off on his typewriter. might ,,
have guessed that by the slick light hair
and the mild eyes. He has soothing.
confidential way Of talking s: to you. hat too,
fellow is holding onto his. job with his
pyelids he's liable to grab anything.
You see, was trying to make good with
the city editor. and that lost uncle story
of yours looked like sure fire hokum. II
was, too. l was due to be let out last ,
nav day, and they let me ride On the
strength of it. That and the follow-up ,
story about the nine volunteer uncies
got me a good mark. OF course, 1t did
ycI certainly handled the thing well.
Think so?" says !.
brilliant dome work. I call 1t. i
says Barry. That's what 1 told the !
other boys. and you saw what they
s'e "oh. yes" says 1.e@7@Especially that
line about my having Portia looking /
like a tongue-1ied old maid. Do you
know, Barry. I'd Just as soon omit
being written up like that AGAIN.
NO fear" says he. Not unless you
break out in an entirely new spot.
shot the Uncle Nels yarn for all IT
was worth 1t would be old stuff |
now. and I was only asking about !
him-well. just to make talk You
thought him up. I SUPPOSE?
Thought who up?" l demands.
why. the rich uncle. says Barry.
Thanks for the left-hander." says
I. but I did nothing of the kind. 1
haven't that sort Of mind. Miss Pc L
tersen's Uncle Nels is just as much OF
a live one as you are.
Really" says he. "But-but you
haven't got track of him. have you?'
Not for publication. understand,
says I.
"Oh, certainly" says Barry.
Then" says l. "Inez may let off
come of the indignation she has bot