The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1923-12-26
When Tony
Interviewed
By MARTHA WILLIAMS

an impish boy, requires insight plus
lively faith. Possessed of reasonable
insight, but wholly lacking faith. Alice
set down Tony, her small stepnephew,
as the browning misery Of miserable
summer. She had hated him vica-
riously before seeing him-what right
had woman with a son seven years
old to take captive her fastidious
brother? Jere had scoffed equally at
widows and wooing since he was nine
teen. A concrete reason, of course,
for the scoffing-it wore petticoats-
frilly Ones-Owned a baby stare and
an acquired lisp. In the lightest, most
fetching half mourning for husband
killed in the first honeymoon, she had
annexed Jere casually, played on-and
with-him to bring to bag her real
quarry, the semi-senile Senator Core.
Instead of making becoming haste to
die, the senator lrad retired from pub
lie life-from everything but taking
care of himself. BY consequence Mrs.
Core had had bitter reason to rue her
bargain. He might live to be ninety
liberty was a high price to pay for
twenty years more of luxury and slav-
cry. Moreover she would get almost
nothing in fee-only a fair annuity.
charged upon the big fortune which,
devoted to pompous charity, was to
keep in remembrance the name Of
Core.
Jere quit hating her when that came
to his knowledge Indeed, he had only
thought he hated her for longish
time. Alice had known the fact, but
had been too canny to mention II.
Jere, ten years older, was her para
gOn. Judge what she suffered when
he married an almost nobody, neither
rich nor poor. plain nor handsome
indeed merely an average person. ex-
cept for the boy, Tony.
He had been, since he was weaned,
the best pal of bachelor uncle, whose
conception Of the universe was that it
existed for Tony's behalf and benefit.
Tony began riding to hounds at four
on no pony, If you please, long-strid-
ing hunter. full man size.
Even then he swOre good mouth
filling oaths"-at five he played such
poker even the veterans used him re-
spectfully little later he scandal
lied the neighborhood by saying to a
visiting minister who had insisted upon
holding family prayer:
"Mr. Man, you talk too long. God
tells me he don't like 1t any better'n l
do" And on top of that, to two young
women pretending to quarrel over him,
he piped in blase voice: "Stop talkin'
foolish. Jinny's too fat and Lou too
scrawny l won't even look at any Of
your grandchildren"
AS a make-weight, he had friends
1egions Of them-the servants. the men |
on the farm, the poor folk round about, |
to whom he was often his uncle's al |
moner. And to none Of them was he |
ever rude or saucy. This partly from |
q naturally good heart partly also from
Uncle Bills gospel, "A gentleman al
ways helps the under dog"
He was straight. long-limbed, up
headed, unchildishly wiry his fair skin
massed with freckles; his hair sun
bleached to the color of tow. Supple
as a kitten, active as flea, he looked
the part of terrible infant so perfectly
Alice smiled grimly at sight of him,
feeling her misliking so entirely justi-
fed. Clearly the imp was not psychic.
In about seven minutes after he began
staring at her, he said musingly:
Aunt Alice Well! don't so much
mind Uncle Bill has got to marry
now. Nanny won't be there to take
care Of US, and IL he took anybody
else I'd have two aunts to poster"
There his new father swooped upon
him, chuckling hard. and bore him
away. in spite of kicks, poundlngs
threats Of biting, saying over his
shoulder: "Alice. Bill is coming next
week. He amt quite so sudden as
the head of the family" giving Tony
a bear hug; "but he's mighty well
Tony broke"
Apparently" from Alice at her
lciest: 81 hate to disobige-but the !
ments," flushing lovely red, and
away her eyes. Be sure then
a hubbuh broke out-a girl who has +
D dotIng father, a critical brother, two =
rich maiden aunts. and an official fairy ;
yOdmother sets up mighty pother, G
)y such an announcement. u
"Who is hep Jere demanded. set
ing Tony on his feet. Instantly that c
,Oung person clinched fists and stood O
'orward, the very moral Of an angry v
bantam. what business had you to
make 'rangements?" he demanded s
hrilly: "You might a-known we had e
hings all fixed-Uncle Bill and meT' ii
Alice smiled inscrutably, and walked
o the other door. stopping there to
ay to the assembled family. "Save
our breath by asking no questions. G.
CONTENT yourselves with knowing. h
QUILL have wedding cards in good a
ime" le
Being gentlefolk, there the matter W
ested. Uncle Bill came, saw but did
ot try to conquer. though Alice adj NJ
litted in the privacy of her own hear a,
ny, he was a fine man, easy. gracious. %,
oI;,I,tf,,I1x xx-hfpciool in Spoacb 4.