Evening star., 1921-08-14

pushed into the corners. ana there I,
the middle Of the room were thes,
three whaling big white, porcelain
bathtubs. all connected with nickelet
pipes, ana all two-thirds full of water
Also. bending over the tubs wer,
Squinty and Uncle Nels. I'll hasten t,
add that they were more or les
white duck jacket he wore when h,
greeted us so coldly at the door. Blu
Uncle Nels was in easy negligee. Tha
is. he had on his trousers and suspen
ders. but he was in his socks and ha,
his shirt sleeves rolled up.
"What-what the deuce are the,
up to?" whispers Barry in my ear.
christening. baptism or a swim
ming lesson are my guesses." whis
pers back Lets watch"
They seemed to be poking some
thing around in the nearest tub. ant
though. we couldn't see. although
nearly got my head into the room il
the attempt. Finally Squinty elbow
Uncle Nels to one side and growls i'm
patient. Nah! You don't fix it lik,
told you
81 81 do, do So" 20 protests protests Uncle Nels. 49,,
herring head! Lemme show you"
Herring head you." comes bacl
Uncle Nels. SHOW. then"
At which Squinty reaches down ant
lifts out toy boat about foot Ions
and proceeds to jiggle some of tn,
machinery. Then he touches off
match and the thing starts whirrins
away merrily.
] "See?" he demands
| We'll. well" says Uncle Nels. Make
1t sail. No. lemme do it."
| "Ah, you" says Squinty. giving
him shove. watch me-"
* *x
A r which nudges Barry. "The
- boys don't get along very we'll
! eh?" says I. Ought to have more
than one toy between EN-"
'They have" whispers Barry. Look
on the floor and tables"
Sure enough. on glancing around I
could count more than a dozen model
boats of all descriptions. Some were
little sailing yachts. some were like
battlesh.ps. and others were torpedo
boats or submarines. All seemed to
be mechanical toys. Hence the three
bathtubs.
But the next thing we knew an
other squabble had started between
Squinty and Uncle Nels. The old boy
was insisting that it was his turn to
sail the little steamer and Squinty
was telling him he didn't know how
to fix it right. Uncle Nels had made a
grab at the boat and almost slipped
was SO absurd that I just had to
let out that chuckle. So before /
knew it they'd both rushed over to
the window and discovered us.
"Hah., says squinty. That red
"You're color h;Ipa parcey" ,.vs
l. Natural henna."
You. hey?' says Uncle Nels. "Tril-
by May! And Mr.. Platt. You come
to laugh at me, do you?"
Well. you couldn't expect us to
your says I. my. but you were
funny when you nearly got ducked
And as long as we're here. you don't
| mind II we come In. do you? Thanks
Pile in. Barry. Say. what's the idea
Uncle Nels? Did you have 'em fix
up this temporary yacht basin foi
Should I put 'em. out?" urge,
Squinty. who's been scowling at u,
| hostile.
$50 you could hog the playthings
eh?" says I. Say, Uncle Nels. who ID
bosses you around so free?! WIN
/ He-he's Alex" says Uucle Nels
! He was woods cook for me once, and
when I find him on the docks here
| hire him as man. But he-he gel
IT should say he did," I agrees
| fWhy don't you fire him. then?"
! Uncle Nels shakes his head. mo.
| body knows how to fix boats" sayi
he.
DooH" says I. "rn bet Barry ane
could make 'em go just as we'll
Go ahead. Give him the rum
'Uncle Nels hesitated. "You-yo,
laugh at me-" he objects.
| Honest we wouldn't" says I. "Ant
we'd let you do the sailing all b,
yourself. It's shame the way ht
bullies you, calling you names and
all"
out blue eyes flashing. "Herrins
head! Say, Alex. you get out. Quick
| Alex grumbled, but he changed his
man. EN-" says Uncle 7Neis. hangins
his head sheepish and pointing to ths
tubs.
/ ''oh. don't know" Says I. "1've
seen plutes spend their money OF
sillier things than toy boats; Chorus
SQudU6s tOF INSTANCE, ana Duy1ng
focks Of llmousines; and owning
half a dozen homes. This can't be
such an expensive fad, and IL it'i
something you're crazy about
"E yust like to do 1t, that's ALL
he. breaks In. when I was q boy
well, you don't understand"
"Go on" I urges. Lets hear II
and maybe I will"
He doesn't seem to know whether
to spill anything more or not. Sort
Of q. pathetic old party he seemed
standing there with his chin down
and his shoulders sagged, glancins
wistfuF and half afraid from Barry
to me. OF course. in his wooden socks
and baggy trousers, and with that tin
toy in his hands. he was absurd. But
couldn't help feeling little sorry
for him. Perhaps I gave him an en-.
couraging smile.
"well," he says. when I'm a boy
I don'tcplay at all. Never. Back In
Sweden, you know. All the time
work. In fish packery when / am
only nine. Then have to mend nets
BY twelve years I am sent, out in fish
boat. We go at night-row on oars
bail water. pull in heavy seine. Win.
ter and summer. No school, no play
So I run on to United States. work
in the woods-lumber camp I. save
money. I get in business for myself
have Some luck. They say I get
rich. So quit. Now I am old man