Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1921-08-10
UNCLE'S ESTATE
BY VIVIAN BURBANK.

his tie once more, drew. in his under
lip, and then let it roll back with
something like smack, clicked his
heels together, and, when the door
finally opened, Willie was at his best.
Il have something Of interest"
mo, thank you,' answered the come
~ looking woman in crisp, high
pitched voice. The door would have
gone to with bang only-Willie's
foot was there.
my dear madam"
Don't you dear madam me-"
1T will take just few moments to
EXPLAIN
And haven't any few moments to
spare listening to you explain why l
should use the kind of soap you got
there, or the shoe-blacking, the
brushes, holders, extracts, furniture
polish or anything that you got in that
rusty-looking valise.
I've bit a lot Of times, but l told
Aggie just the other day, when some
scamp sold me some useless eggless
stuff that wouldn't feed to the hens,
that l was done! And that amt the
first time I've been stung, either. One
Of those smooth, oily gents came to the
door not long ago with one Of them
vacuums. Fool that was, lets him
in; we'll, he did clean the parlor rug,
and me a-telling him all the time that
! didn't want the pesky thing. What's
more, was foolish enough to get him
the glass Of water he asked me for so
nice like, and Aggie and me has been
looking for things ever SINCE"
III you will but listen"
I'll do no such thing! II l hadn't
listened to the phony photographer
that came here and took the only pic
ture Of Jim, my first husband, APRON
Using he'd bring back such a swell pic
ture, the copy Of the one I gave him,
only in colors, and big gold frame.
I'd still have the So paid on account.
1t amt that want to be hard on you,
my man, but just won't buy anything
! don't want"
But I don't want to sell you any
thing"
"Humph-that's what they all say.
That's the very words the woman said
when she left the trial bottle of wash
ing fluid, and glory be! 1t warn't
week before she was back looking for
the 80 cents she said I owed her for
the stuff. I've been the laughing-stock
Of this family long enough"
Willie Mcintosh mopped his brow
and said something under his breath
that wasn't one bit like Willie. Once
more he tried to get in a word edge
wise.
Sarah Matilda Waite Witherspoon."
You're clever, young man! You're
clever! The whole name, too. They
tell me that's great trick you fellows
got-getting our names from the neigh
bors. l can't say that I ever thought
] owned real pretty name, yet l do
say that it has rather certain dignity
to it, for all that! Great heavens,
woman my age standing here banter
ing words with a peddler. Ought to
know better. You just trot along. l
amt gonna buy a cOpper's worth of
any smooth looking man with valiSe.
That's as true as-as true as I'll never
come into a copper of Hiram Maddi-
sons money-though by rights I ought
to-and, may yeti"
"I-wait minute-that's it"
shouted Willie
ut is, is it? So you're another one
of those fellows that got wind of me
likely to come into Uncle Hiram's
money, Ell? Now, what kind of stocks
would you suggest that buy? That's
if I get it-just if 1 get it,
Eyes" gulped Willie, that's"
Eyes, nothing!" went on Sarah With
erspoon, placing a plump hand over
each generous hip, 'He amt dead yet
I've waited so long now, that l just
know that it will go to foreign mis-
sionS"
"No-no-listen Sarah"
Don't you call me Sarah. Just who
do you think you are?"
Willie, nigh exhausted, took off his
hat. put down his valise. slowly fun
bled in his vest pocket and drew out
little white card.
"My card"
civilian Macintosh" read Sarah,
aloud. mot Uncle Hiram's lawyer?"
1.-THE same, at y0ur service"
'My land! Why didn't you say so?"
Pardon me, but why didn't you give
me chance? Your uncle has passed
away"
you don't say! How sudden! Poor,
dear Observation-Disclosures you
happen to know anything about-the
money!"
1.-THE late Hiram Madison went
through his money. AS you are the
only living relative, I've come to you
in regard to settlement of some of the
late Hiram Maddisons bills, etc."
Here Willie coughed and took his
time. Well he knew that there would
be no further Interruptions for few
moments, anyway; as Sarah Matilda
Waite Witherspoon lay at his feet in