New Britain herald., 1927-01-12

he had come to believe that his par ent might have been little biased in the matter; that to know oneself thoroughly was to know the other fellow pretty well also.
 He was broad-minded enough. however. to realize that his was just a theory. too, and one that might not in the last analysis stand the acid test. At the same time he had found that it usually worked out about as he had figured and was q fairly safe doctrine to follow, or dinarily.
 Hence 1t was that when his two pretty nieces came into his private sanctum for the third time that August afternoon to wonder why Molie hadn't sent some special word for them to come to Camdenville to meet Jim. Uncle John Clayton de- cided that the occasion called for a brief discourse or human nature.
 Why" Betty had asked him, do you suppose it is that We haven | been told 10 meet the train they re bringing him on? Don't you sup nose they want us to see him?'
 "I don't know. Of course,' John Clayton told them very gently, Just what kind of letters you girls have been writing to Mollie. but from her last letter to you I believe I could make A pretty fair guess. And l am quite sure, providing my guess IS correct and I were in AIollie's place, that I should have done just about as she has done-left it up to you entirely.
 "Now, that" he added with friendly smile, lis just tip, as they say at the horse races, but 1t is q tip which. if digestcd carefully, may bring two charming young la dies know, who have been breath ing very rarified atmosphere late ly, down to earth again.
 John Clayton. it may be guessed, had been reading between the lines of some letters from Mollie. He had a measure of ability along that line. Not only that, but he could admins ter a gentle rcbuke when he con sidered that the circumstances war ranted il.
 Margaret and Betty had been thinking a little too much Of them- selves. John Clayton felt, and not enough ofN some others whom he considered entitled to great deal of thought.
 The twins stared at him in some surprise. This was the first time he had ever given either of them the slightest reason for thinking they could possibly be anything but per lection in his opinion.
 "Why. surely you, you don't mean, do you, Uncle John,' began Margaret wonderinsly. that you really think Betty and 1-that we are - that we could" her voice trailed off into an inarticulate gur- gle, while the dark eyes looking up into his grew misty with threat Of tears.
 Uncle John. however. as the girls were beginning 10 learn. had q way usually of finishing what he started. Tears. he had discovered years De- fore. frequently were womans pest weapon both in defense and attack. And he had been through the sca'd of too many emotional sllirmishes To let a little thing like tears bother him very much. But Uncle John was diplomat as well as a hard boiled old bachelor, and he knew how to skirt thin ice, too.
 or course not. of course not. he made answer in soothing accents, the while he patted the russet head affectionately.
 "That is." he added Qualifyingly. "I don't think either Of you would or could intentionally hurt Mollle or Prof. But you know" he went on' slowly feeling his way that thoughtlessneSs often carries a hurt that is even more pernicious in Its lasting effects than downright 1n- tent is. If I didn't know that Just 10 call vour attention to these things is all that is necessary l should be worried grievously.
 And now, he added. they had pet ter go talk it over and dcclde Tor themselves the best thing to do.
 As a result of this little confer once, Nurse Martha Dalton in Canl- denville was telephoned that same afternoon and asked to get the FL well house ready for the homecom- ing. The girls, she was informed, would be in Camdenville the next day. on the evening of which Prof and Mollie were due to arrive with Jim ElWell.
 And remember" was John Clay tons parting instructions 10 the twins at the railroad station in In