Evening star., 1921-06-12

sons and we got to nodding friendly
| to a few of 'em. Inez was especially
taken with Mrs. Marvin. She's a
prize listener. Inez, and, while at first
shed sit with her ears and her lips
shut. at last she got so she'd chatter
| away rolksy. saying almost a dozen
words during a half-hour session.
And 1t must have been once when
was enjoying her one-day engage
ment as a movie actress, that she
shattered all her speech records and
conf1ded in Mrs. Marvin the full de-
tails OF her wonderful run of luck.
didn't guess it at the time, but it
came out a little later.
To be exact this was the third day
OF our big loaf after I'd convinced
lnez that with a whole hundred dol
lars to the good there was no need
that we wouldn't care for. 1t seemed
to worry Inez to be without any
| regular work. even for a short time.
but I persuaded her that the wheels
Of commerce would spin along just
the same II we kept our hands off
for little while.
So on this particular evening we
were lingering over the dessert
canned peaches and bakery jelly
ROLAND chatting with Mrs. Marvin,
announcement
| "Gennlemen to see Miss Petersen -
SAYS she. "He-he's her uncle
''Wha-a-t- says 1. What makes
you think he's her uncler'
"He-he got whiskers." demands
Inez.
''Mustache." says Ruby. Funny OF
gink. Tall hat, cane an ALL"
The rich uncle at last!' says Mrs.
isn't that splendid~
AS usual. Inez is taking it calm,
or seems to be. The real facts are.
though. that as yet tho idea has only
begun to percolate down through the
| bony part
| "Uncle Nels?" asks Inez. turning
to me.
That's the rumor,' says I. But
| II 1t is, he must have second sight
or be mighty clever with the ouija
| board. How could he know you were
here? Where have you parked him,
Ruby?''
Front parlor.' says Ruby. HE
| gotta big hox of candy"
"oh." says 1nez. That's Uncle Nels.
| sure! 1 must fix my hair"
| "Of course" chimes in Mrs. Marvin
| "And hadn't you better change your
| blouse for that fetching champagne
| colored net affair? You want to look
your best, you know"
Sure" says Inez
-An right" says L You help her
doll up, Mrs. Marvin. while I hold
Uncle Nels in the parlor."
| I'll admit was q bit excited myself
It was natural enough. for long ago
I'd given up ever finding this rich
uncle that inez had talked so much
| about I'd almost come to believe he
| was myth: and here, just as we're
wondering what we'll do next, he ap-
pears like a bolt from the blue, or
he'd come in hts limousine. AS went
through the front hall I took a peek
| outside. but I couldn't locate any
| classy motor.
| And when spots this freaky look
ing old boy sitting on the edge of the
lid balanced on his knees. was some
| disappointed. OF course. knowing
that the Petersen family had been
shipped into Minnesota with yellow
| immigrant tags tied to 'em only a
| generation ago. I wasn't looking for
/ any snappy dresser like Bob La Fol-
| lette or Charles Evans Hughes. Still
!! why should retired lumber plute
! wear a shiny black frock with the
silk facing showing soup spots. and
ette smoke? But for all that he's
| we'll up on the fond uncle lines. I'd
| no sooner poked my head in the room
| than he jumps up prompt, dumps the
| ancient lid and the candy box on the
sofa and 9Psns ssa, his fn.a aF"s s.y. h. and
L
had to block OF an impetuous clinch
by showing him away with both hands
|INRoNG number" savsL Say. take
w another look and then tell me
II have any Of the earmarhs Of q
Petersen?"
.But-but, I was informed" he be.
! gins, ''that@
"oh. she's here. all right" says
"IneTn be down in q minute. Tn
just her friend. Trilby May Dodge
So you're her lost Uncle Nels. are
your
Fl have that honor" says he.
Nov that's putting it real polite
mot at all" says he. Dear Inez
always was my favorite niece. and
was not a bit surprised to learn thai
she had developed into fascinating
and talented young woman
"Eh." says l. staring at him. where
do WSy X91 get .tS. sast SeD'1 do, =, it not tru,
But Just then Ruby sidles in from
the front hall and starts wigwaggine
excited. with most Of the whites Of
her eyes showing.
myself. and slips out to see what haa
worked her up to such a state.
And I finds her holding back Slim
neat-dressed. pink checked old party
with white hair and red necktie.
well. Ruby" I whispers. "who''
this?"
"He-he's Uncle Nels, too," STAN
ss sWharsss-ats asks s.spy. AN
other. Sure you haven't got /
twisted? Here, let me talk to him
Who is it you're looking for, Mis-
ter"