The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1921-04-27
Uncle Peters
lin Box
By HAROLD sINcLAIRE

". .s-i. es.ern Newspaps.
IN get even with him-if it takes
twenty years III have it out with Mark
Dawson !"
The owner of Hillside farm spoke
the words vengefully. His fist was
clcnched, his faces distorted, and
youth, prosperity and the possession
Of broad, fruitful acres seemed to have
no force to subdue his angry mood.
IF l may make a suggestion" OBJ
served his insinuating companion.
Lawyer Dole, Il don't think I'd make
my life miserable over triile. Why,
what more do you want than what
you've got Tom Lacey? The favored
heir of old Peter Babson married to
the handsomest girl in the district"
"Bah!" shouted the other ragefully.
what is she or the money to me
against the only girl l ever loved?
tell you. Dole, l was robbed of Leila
Dallas. When that handsome wife of
mine, as you call her, gets in her tam
trums, and | realize what I've lost, it
about sets me wild. Here Dawson has
settled down right under my nose,
fairly Haunting his success in winning
Leila"
Il reckon it was the only place he
had to settle down in, Lacey. The girl
liked him best, and naturally married
him. They're poor as church MICE"
I'll drive the Dawsons out of the
neighborhood y muttered Lacey darkly.
For a young man with fairly grow
ing prospects in life. Tom Lacey was
in an unthankful and dangerous mood.
He had nursed his one grievance till
it began to tinge everything he did
with somber and tragic gloom. He
and Mark were cousins. They had
both courted pretty Leila Dallas. Ger
tainly the little lady had given Tom
no cause to suppose she favored him.
When she married the man of her
choice, however, Tom felt bitterly
wronged. He refused to even notice
the happy pair.
Old Peter left Tom the big home
farm and some comfortable invest
ments. To the surprise of everybody,
all that Mark was awarded was 1.-The
River lot" with all thereon" the will
read. "AlI thereon" was little indeed
"a broken-down cottage. few farm
implements, and great gnarled apple
tree past all bearing and dead ut the
top.
Tom Lacey had uttered no idle pass
ing threat to Lawyer Dole. 1t was
early spring when he made it. He
had men in his employ mean and un-
scrupulous as himself. They be-
came willing tools In his schemes of
low revenge. Its result was made
very patent to brave. patient Mark and
his loving helpmate, Leila. at harvest
time.
1t was evening tide, and husband
and wife sat on a bench under the old
apple tree.
Its pretty bad, Mark. / must con-
fess," she was saying. 1.-The whole
work of season gonel Don't fret
about it, dear. We Will begin all once
again"
Early in the spring at seeding time
some one had tampered with the we'll
tiled fields. Some one had put in
mustard seed and that Of tagly weed,
and had choked out the wheat, oats,
buckwheat and rye.
"The whole lot isn't good enough
for bedding" said Mark. I've got a
chance to chop wood in the forest half
the winter. That will keep the wolf
from the door till springtime, any
how"
Yes, DEAR" said Leila soothingly
land can help out with some sewing.
Speaking of chopping. 1t might not be
a bad idea to get the old apple tree out
of the way"
Il suppose it will topple over some
stormy night and hit the house If we
don't" replied Mark.
Mark tried not to think hard of dead
Uncle Peter. Still, he had reason to
expect better share in the estate
than he had received. More than once
that relative had shown him small
tin box filled with great heap of
stored-up banknotes, with his own
name scratched upon the box
The snow is too deep to work in
the woods today" said Mark to Leila
one bleak wintry morning. II believe
Eli tackle the old apple tree"
Yes. the fuel supply is somewhat
low" answered Leila. Finally there
was crash.
Leila rushed to the door just as
Mark came tearing into the room.
''Oh, Leila!" he gasped. "Seel The
bcx-the tin box. My name scratched
on the cover. Exactly the one Uncle
Peter showed me SO many timesl"
In suspense and wonder Leila stared
as the box was placed on the table
Inside was letter telling all about
ii, and-banSnotesl banknotes! bank
notes
Uncle Peter had selected queer
hiding place for the little fortune he
Il =, Il. r.. III.