Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1921-09-22
Uncle Peters
Tin Box
By HAROLD sINcLAIRE
20. lssl. Western Newspaper mon.


Dawsonl"
The owner of Hillside farm spoke
the words vengefully. His fist was
clencbed, his face distorted, anC
youth, prosperity and the possession
OF broad, fruitful acres seemed to have
no force to subdue his angry mood.
If l may make suggestion" OBJ
served his insinuatlng companion
Lawyer Dole, Il don't think I'd make
my life miserable over q trifie. Why
what more do you want than what
you've got, Tom Lacey? The favored
heir of old Peter Babson married tc
the handsomest girl in the district
"BahW shouted the other ragefully
What is she or the money to me
against the only girl ever loved?
tell you, Dole, was robbed of Leila
Dallas. When that handsome wife OF
mine, as you call her, gets in her tan.
trums, and | realize what I've lost, II
about sets me wild. Here Dawson has
settled down right under my nose,
fairly Haunting his success In winning
Leila"
Il reckon 1t 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"
IN drive the Dawsons out of the
neighborhoodI r. muttered Lacey darlly.
For young man with fairly grow
inU On L q
in an unthankful and dangerous~mood
He had nursed his one grievance till
1t began to tinge everything he did
with somber and tragic gloom. He
and Mark were> cousins. They had
both courted pretty Leila Dallas. CeH
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. .Ail thereon" was little indeed
Ia broken-down cottage. a few farm
implements, and d great gnarled apple
tree past all bearing and dead at 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 I'M
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 bench under the old
apple tree.
Its pretty bad, Mark. l must con
less, she was saying. ''The whole
work of a season gone Don't fret
about it, dear. We VIII begin all once
again"
Early in the spring at seeding time
some one had tampered with the we'll
titled 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 viii 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
bad idea to get the old apple tree out
OF rhe 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 a 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.
1.-THE snow is too deep to work in
the woods today" said Mark to Leila
one bleak wintry morning. Il believe
I'll tackle the old apple tree"
Eyes, 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 timesI"
In suspense and wonder Leila stared
as the box was placed on the table.
Inside was a letter telling all about
it, and-banknotes banknotesl bank
notes
Uncle Peter had selected a queer
hiding place for the little fortune he
had put by in ready cash for his young
nepnew. The inclosed letter set
tied all questions as to legal owner
ship.
'Why, we are rich |" breathed Leila,
marvelingly.
II always was rich with such
treasure as you; and now" said Mark
tenderly, with the money to give you
luxury as well as comfort, wouldn't
trade with multi-millionaire"
Mistaken Identity.
Mother latter visitor had GOMEZ
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