Omaha daily bee., 1922-02-26
%/x.~z,~,u1s.I II
TWELFTH AND LAST INsIAiI.MENT.
Uncio .Jerrv stirs FIN In.

swift and glorious changes Of niidsum'
msr In that region. when the atmos'
phsre. having been wnshed and puri'
nsd by tho rain. calls forth the northwest
wind. which dries and infuses tho stmos.
phers with 4 sort OF electrical energy.
Looking from his window. II seemed TO
Matt that every leaf and flower and blade OF
grass had undergone = sort Of fairy care
which had brought out oolors so brilliant as
TO be pri,r.stie. and that every naturai
object contributing Its drop TO tho food OF
beauty was sweeping the landscape and sea.
keapo with q radiance which thrilled.
In this glittering vibration tho most ordi.
nary objects took upon themselves that
quality OF beauty which thrills the hearts
of children with a sort OF e1uberant delight
morning to absorb tho scents and colors OF
that gladdest day OF all. which should be
today. Yesterday Is shot always with its
memory Of regrets. and We really never
reach tomorrow. which is a doubtful neeting
thing. The glorious day. the wonderful day.
il today. when 1t is carly and before We have
had time to mar II with our errors. great
or small.
Matt, having In many ways preserved in
himself tho soul OF a child now profited by
that Joyous rush OF juvenile sensation which
Ia when tho forces are on the upward curve
OF the parabola and the eager mind is seeing
one after tho other or lovely images. He
was one Of those soldiers who has viewed
by tho contrast OF these frightfulnesses to
swcet and happy things. 1t is in the nature
Of sonne individuals to be cast down by
dreary aspect, and It is In the nature OF
others to see by virtue OF this dreariness
something gladsomo and delightful, just as
being whirled in swift train through
vicinity OF filth and dirty snow and foul
streams and blasted trees and vegetation
decayed BY the poisonous products of factory
chimneys we think less Of that than the
sweet LONELINESS of our destination. The
train rushes past and leaves the dirty sub
urbs and carries us to the fresh outer coun-
try where wo are to greet the things which
most We love.
ieft Matt and 1t WIS now with that feeling
Of expectation with which he greeted tho
new day. And, strangely enough, or perhaps
naturally enough, because he was young and
much In love, It was impossible for his mind
to grasp the idea OF leaving Nancy without
aome sort Of token to cherish. Being rested,
he saw their adventure less in the light Of
q fasco than in little flashes of sentiment
which made It bright
But the best that he could hope for was
kind word or two and the touch of the hand
and a look from her dazzling blue eyes
which might give him spark Of hope for
the future.
Then finally he went down to find the
touring car standing at the door and Murphy
with q glowing face such as should be worn
by q faithful retainer when washed by
sudden wave Of glad events in the family
which he serves. Murphy was one of the
old time Irishmen whose lexicon OF duty
contained no such word as bolshevism. He
was pleased and proud to serve "rale quail
ity," and he did not bother to prefix an &c !"
to this latter word The fanily's fortunes
were Murphys fortunes, and their misfor.
tunes would never have sent him seeking
another place. He had driven Uncle Jerry's
notting horses before he drove his cars, and
Uncle Jerry's marriage had not aroused
his jealousy because he believed that May
had saved the life Of the master to whom
he was so devoted, and he was partisan to
Nancy because he much approved her own
skilled driving of the latter day slackers
who assisted in the running Of the household
machinery.
GOOD morning, sor." said he to Matt.
Sand where to, sor?"
"Railroad station, Murphy" Matt an.
swered. "My little job is finished. and
an or"
"Sure, now Mister Matt, you're not LAWN
Hs," said Murphy with concern.
.'Fraid so, Murphy" Matt answered.
swhat with Mr.. Gates and Constable Todd
and Detective Donovan and Luke Simmons,
this place Is apt to be too hot to hold me. I
can stand abuse, Murphy, but my sensitive
soul shrinks from ridicule." He stepped into
the car.
"Then where Is your luggage, SORT" Muir
ply asked.
"Here." said Matt. and laid the extin.
xuisher on the back seat beside him Step
On it, Murphy, before anybody comes"
But as had happened once or twice before,
be was little late in obeying his impulse,
for at that moment Nancy, looking rather
like one Of the large white roses in full
bloom, under the break Of the stoop. came
railing around the corner Of the house,
rolden hair shimmering, white arms flashing,
white stockinged ankles twinkling. and called
to Murphy to wait. She shot at Matt
look which was half defiant and half some
thing else-
well. where are you going nowr' she
demanded.
"Down the road piece" said Matt.
"Iu 80, too," said Nancy.
swhere have I heard that song before?"
said Matt. "and where are May and Uncle
Jerry7"
Gone over to the Gates" said Nancy.
"Uncle Jerry means to champion Sam, and
May has gone along to render first aid to
the injured. I'm going to back up Sylvia.
You're going. too?"
mo, I'm not" Matt answered, she
stepped In beside him and settled herself nom
ehalantly in the cushions. But I'll lend
you the e1tipguisher If you like. Only I've
Grained out the ammonia and reloaded her
ror IRE with an extra charge I had. One Of
the many features in which this admirable
invention excels others Of the sort is that
you carry the makings in powder form, and
all you have to do is to add water. No bulky
tins Of fluid contents Well, guess we're
al here, now. Unhook her, Murphy"
They started OF, and as they rolled out on
to the turnpike Nancy said: $50 you
thought you'd sneak OF without word of
good-by to anybody"