Evening star., 1921-08-07

would have to go through Barry Platt,
I suppose, as the old boy hadn't oeen
near us since that first n1ght, out
maybe Barry would bring US PACK
some kind words. For they looheo
rather good, those figures.
And then the door creaked and IN
trickIed Uncle Nels himself Hes Hes
soruced up quite lot. Tor MIN. ~
course he's still baggy ABOUT e .o
knees, and there's the same stump "
his shoulders but he's had MS Iaee
and neck shaved. he's sporting a new
rmhber collar, and he's discarded Ine
fadsd old lumberjack's cap for a par
rajn straw hat that rests secure VI"
his ears. ., Trail
;ng behind is a wide-faced party WIN
hutton nose and Cordovan tan
COMMISSION. A heavy set. younstsn
sort of person who sWays Ilo t;s
knees up as he walks ana WEI
nranared to butt his way through
anatb;no And there's no oouoe
abnut his having hailed from near
Stockholm originally. Il
xk r
t117HERES Inez?" demands Uncle
"oh. she's upstairs" says l. AS
usual she's getting ready to go to
q movie matinee"
Uncle Nels shakes his head. MOVIES
in daytime." says ne.
ITS then or not at all" I explains.
"she has to hold down the goddess
throne all the evening. you know.
"Huh-' says he. Foolish! girls
should work or-or get married. tba tha
stranger Somehow that gave me
hunch. ,d;dateo~
This" says he. with an eiooM iand seSd
+, t9re mins' ,.his Niss Hseg gonng nng'e feiler:
II might be an accurate description
and it might not. I've seen EN-
younger and 1 think | couid PICK 1nv IIv
wasn't crazy about the airpiane
ears or the way his nose finished, or
tbe stupid look in the baby-blue eyes;
Perhaps Uncle Nels got mint Oh I'LL
'".Hi HE m makes good man for Inez."
"Yeso" saws L. Whats he captain
.Tueboat," says Uncle Nels. But
Rio and Argentine line. 1 own shares
And that seemed to sketch out the
whole plot of the piece as clear az ~ IL
he'd talked for an hour: He's pretty
we'll set in his mind. Uncle Nels Is.
and ever since we'd found MIN ne
hasn't seemed satisfied that Inez was
indulging in her share OF manual
when he bought the Cave for us. He
did it because he had the cute 1dea
that his husky niece would 40 tne
, cooking; or the dishwashlng. at least
on her. he had switched to this new
scheme. He would marry her on.
WELL that might not be such
w mad move. either. 1 should miss
her a lot, of course. but I couldn't
see that it was going to spoil my
whole life Besides. maybe 1t was
lust what Inez would like. once she
got into it, AS the blushing bride
of a freight boat captain she would
probably travel around lot. Rio
and the Argentine! Perhaps to Japan
and China! And for girl like 1nez
this Cap'n Knute might be the ideal
hubby. Neither of 'em would talk the
other to death. anyway.
Say, l think you've said something
now" says l. Sound and steady, is
Hes nice feller." insists Uncle
Nels.
/ took another look at the captain
1-e diu seem substantial. especially
about the legs and through the chest
Wore his cheek bones a bit high, II
was true. and the lower part Of his
face tapered off kind of abrupt at the
chin, like a piece Of pie; but those
were mere details.
Yes" says /. Il should say he might
do I'll help you fix things up"
Which was where Cap'n Knutt
breaks his spell of silence. Aye
Aye, LAX to see your Inez first" sayi
he.
"Oh, naturally" says I. You're moi
going to be rushed to the altar on any
sealed bid proposition. Then there,
Jnez to be considered. too. You've got
to convince her that you're the only
guy
Huh" grunts Cap'n Knute swell.
ing out his chest and going through
other motions peculiar to the conquer
ing male.
"Yes. I understand" says I. "Yor
rather fancy yourself. don't you?
take it that the girls you've met 81
far have been in the habit Of making
a fuss over you without any prelm
inaries. Those water front belle!
would. And you're an impressive ant
important party-on your tug boat
You snap your fingers for somebody
to come. and he comes. You yell tt
a deckhand to stick out a bow lint