The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1922-11-30
Uncle Tinothy's
Flight
By JUSTIN WENTWOOD

win home at the news Aunt Martha
had brought
"What sort of womanT asked
Cousin Kate.
IAN impudent slip of girl, who
orened the door to me and SAID as
bold as brass that she was living there
to take care of Uncle Timothy who'd
adopted her. | tell you, | gave them
both tongue-lashing "
1--WE must save poor Uncle Timothy
from such a fate as that" said Cousin
John.
"And heaven knows how many thou-
sand dollars he makes from his paint
ngs," said Aunt Anne
The plan Of campaign was qickly
arranged. Meanwhile
Uncle Timothy was very happy in
his two.room fiat. He was famous
painter, but none of his family cared
very much about that. They did know
he made great deal of money. But
vhv did he choose to live like that?
II was bare old place, and there
we're canyases all around the walls.
Frequently a purchaser came to look
Iaf Uncle TimOthy's paintings. He
would offer $1,000 and the old man
would shake his head and groan, for
he could never bear to part with any
of his works The purchaser would
carry ii off by force or strategy, and
Incle Timothy would thrust the check
inside the cover Of his tattered arm
chair and forget about 1t.
Sometimes. when he was desperately
hard up for rent or food he would
Iprowl about, wondering where his
money was. He would shake out some
Of his books and then a check would
fly out and he would cash it at the
grocery store. where he was known,
and all would be well for weeks.
one day a pale, thin girl of about
seventeen tapped at his door. "Do you
want a model?' she asked.
"Get OUT" snapped Uncle Timothy.
Here! Come here! Is that hair real?
Come here SIT over there! If you
dare to move III strangle your
Annicc, the gutter-waif stayed She
looked after the old man. She occu-
pied the next room, and their relation
ship was that of grandfather and
grandchild. Annice cooked for him.
collected his money took his clothes
out Of the bath-tub and hung them on
hooks, and had hat in every corner
50 that he should know where to find
one when he went out.
The Baldwin family descended one
morning en- masse. Annice was flung
out of the studio, and bewildered Uncle
Timothy packed into a taxi. His paint
lngs were removed by express the
same afternoon.
For six weeks Uncle Timothy sat In
81 neatly papered room with brand-new
nSlaIment furniture, trying to paint,
Sometimes a visitor was shown In.
The Baldwins were very proud Of
Uncle Timothy. Besides. they had
found $1,000, which they had invested
for him.
Uncle Timothy felt like a captive
bear. They fed him on grape-Julce and
bacon and eggs for breakfast, hot
Joints for dinner, and nice little sup
pers. His stomach could not stand
regular meals. Uncle Timothy had
chewcd bread when he was hungry.
They gave him sheets, and he missed
the warm feel of blankets next to him.
They bought him pajamas, and Uncle
Timothy was afraid of them-they re-
minded him Of graye-clothes. Aunt
Kate made him wear them, too.
He jumped when the steam radla'
tor Kissed, and above all he hated the
furniture
No, he hated the bath-tsb worse than
that Every morning they led him
there and locked him In for ten min
utes, and be had to put his head I'M
der the faucet,
Uncle Timothy grew crafty. 81
don't know how ! ever endured 1t be-
fore ! lived like civilized folks" he
said.
After that they stopped locking him
Ia n night He was allowed to 90 out
for walks, with little Emanuel to head
hm off the district where he used to
live. ON one Of these walks a taxi
stopped near them, and young girl
got ont.
"Oh, please, can you tell me the
way TO Sharplcss street," she asked
Uncle Tim.
Uncle Timothy awakened from a
trance. "What did YOU say. my dear"
hr murcred vaguely. Little Emanuel
hogan to be suspicious, and pulled at
Inclc Timothy's arm, "Come away,
uncle" he pleaded
Here you" snapped tnclc limo.
thy. "Whcrc did you get that hair?
SIT still. or I'll murder you Where's
my paint brushesf
And. shaking Off little Emanuel he
| sat down In the taxi
"lIerel The studios moving RlnsS
what? why. it's YOU. Annicp"
Anncp was crying With delight
1--WE got studio for yon--a new one"
she whispered And $1,000 on Of
your chair And we can get your
paintings back If--you like 10 marry
mo. lust so that can look after You"
"All right don't bother me-" said
Uncle Timothy "Dont move your
head Where's that d turpen.
timer