Evening star., 1921-08-21

| Uncle Nels feels in an inside pocket
and mods.
.'Then we can trade, en-" suggests the
lady. You'll have to make It snappy,
though. for I gotta be back in Wash
ington by tomorrow morning. Come
| across.
She was crisp and easy worker. TN
say that for her. Uncle Nels acts almost
as though he's hypnotized, for he mods
| again and his hand was Just appearing
with the check in 1t when slid out Of
our booth and around in front of
sn the pair ,ns Business Of great astonish-
Hey" says he. ''You here. Trilby
| "All the time." says 1. "And your
favorite niece. too. Come, Inez; pry
yourself out and join the party.
AS for the fake princess. she looks
much annoyed. Say. what's the
! idea?' she demands. Were talking
business here"
Yes. know" says I. rive been
listening in. Cute little proposition
you've got. too; But say. I just want
Uncle Nels to take close look at a
sample of what he's buying before
the deal is closed. Show him, Inez."
| A ND 1nez holds out fair hand with
this cold cud resting in the palm
tooth marks and all. Uncle Nels
stares at it. pokes it around with one
| finger, and then takes a sniff
only tar" says he.
Same as the lump in the bag" says
/. Il can show you where l pried
this piece on with a fork. See?''
He has fairly good eyesight. Uncle
Nels. He saw the fork marks. and
Then the hand with the check went
back into his inside pocket.
"Ha. ha" says 1. grinning at the
princess. "Foiled again" )
Perhaps I shouldn't have done that.
She wasn't good loser. this lady
a member Of the Chinese royal family
she surely could swear fuently in
Manhattanese with quite marked
Irish brogue. Also she was inclined
| to make messy motions. The Chinese
boss came from behind the counter
had my bluff all thought out.s
down Ito fhs<1ont door to saii in.
Detectfsilc&non onetti. and if any of
| those persons try to stop me 1 give
! you leave to use 'em as rough as you
choose. Are you ready? Then here
goes"
She's about as frail looking. you
| know. as a super-dreadnaught; and
| when she sets her jaw that way and
plants her feet wide she does appear
more or less hostile. Anyway, they
how should they know that didn't
have a detective at the foot of the
stairs? Perhaps that seemed the most
lady with the black bag. Almost be-
fore 1 had started for the stairs she
was scuttling through a door at the
hn
man was shutting after her For
speedy exit it was quite a success.
The first thing we know they'd both
faded
! "come, Uncle Nels." says I. "it isn't
too late for you to show US that new
toy steamer. is ft?'
And it isn't until we're we'll on
our way uptown in a taxi he insists
on hailing that Uncle Eels makes his
great confession.
= each a h,s one e., Sf US by the hand Tin
"Well. wouldn't 90 as far as that.
says I. you're no Solomon. maybe,
but I've seen worse. Besides, you
were UP against smooth performer"
of money" he insists.
"Oh. expect you'd do as much for
U.s." says I, careless.
II X -
PUT he shakes his head and goes
- on: ITS what I get for being
selfish and living alone like I do. I
get lonesome and I talk to strangers
Always they try to get my money
away. have big place where live
eight, nine rooms. It's nice place,
too. Why you and Ines don't come
with me? Hey?
He says 1t pleading and plaintive.
For one thing" says I, 1--WE haven't
been invited before. And, anyway, it
all rests with Ines. She's your blood
relation, you know. So it's up to her
"You will, eh7s' urges Uncle Nels.
But ines isn't jumping at the offer.
young life and she wants to know
about 'em.
"Could I go by movies?" she de.
marda
"sure~ says Uncle Nels. Maybe
I get to like ,em myself. Theater
have have good 1 times tint % ana I don't get lone. M
Almost any girl but Ines would
beaming by then. Not 1nez. though.
Sp' up under ssisp The se entrance i light saw a
satisfied flicker in her big gray eyes.
"All right, we come" says she.
Maybe tomorrow. But don't wanna
see boats tonight I'm sleepy"
And that was all the enthusiasm
1tieE let loose when this long hunt Of
ours for her rich uncle ended 30
happy. She yawned. AS for me. I
WAS never more wide awake. l felt
as though ,I'd been shut in a room
for long time struggling with a
locked door that wouldn't open, and
that suddenly 1t had swung wide. l
was free to step out into q broad,
busy street. l wanted to cheer and
shout. For, Of course. I had no notion
Of settling down with Inex and Uncle
Nefs and going to the movies for the
rest Of my life. Hardly. Not that
had any program. But now that I
had landed Ines where she belonged
I knew was free to make one.
"You sleepy, too, Tri1by MayT asks
Ines. as we climbs the Front steps at
.Just as sleepy as a kid, starting
don't let me keep you up. rye got to
ret on 4 letter TO Barry Platt."
'sWhat you tell him ." demands 1nez.
''rhat he's q nice boy" says i but
that ~. princess connoisseur he's q
"You--you no like Barryf" asks
IL nnA out before morning."
says I, "BhA1i I Wake you up ana let
you know? No. thought not. Then
suppose we just lot It ride"