Evening star., 1932-05-01
.ElONt
By DAVID WILLIAM MOORE
illustrated By DOROTHY UREER

had added: Miriam, dear, hope you like
everything"
What Ed and Lucille didn't knowl Yet
weren't they going to find out? Oh, yes,
they'd find out all right.
Then a note from Ed that they we're
going to be home the following Monday It
was now Thursday. -Four more days. Uncle
George was scheduled to leave on Saturday.
At least this would be something. Uncle
George would be out of the way when Ed and
Lucille made their horrible discovery This
was, however. very small bit of consolation.
THEN, on Saturday Uncle George announced
that he was staying for another week!
Another week! He was going to add a wing
to the west side of the house, for a sun parlor!
And Lucille hated sun parlors.
Two more days until Ed and Lucille were
to arrive. Two more days until the execution.
Those were the two hardest days in the care
free life of Joe and Miriam Hamden.
However, they seemed to be the happiest
two days in the life of Uncle George Hamden.
How nearly the old gentleman came to being
poisoned or something, he never knew But
he had close call.
If the previous days had been hectic, Mon
day was a terrible nightmare Joe stayed
home from the office. Uncle George scurried
about in his usual idiotic way.
Any moment now the Wimbly Eight would
roll up, Ed and Lucille would hop out and
run in and then
But the minutes slipped by, as the agony in
creased. Tick-tock-tick- -tock-tick- -tocki Joe
paced back and forth through the house,
watching the six and seven clocks that sneered
at him.
This was the day of days. This was the
time for retribution, atonement, what have
you This was the day that the Uncle George
dream was going sputtering hence.
This was the day that Ed and Lucille were
II
Noon came O'clock O'Clock o'clock
and Joe and Miriam had begun to hope Ed
and Lucille had had a wreck and had been sent
to hospital, Yes that would help. Maybe
they weren't coming after all. But no, there
could be such luck.
Uncle George was just like a boy at the
dinner table I've got eight carpenters work.
ing on the wing, and know it will be done
by the end of the week. I'll arrange for the
painters to finish up after I've gone You
folks are going to have a delightful home
here"
Neither Joe Miriam could find even q
monosyllabe with which to acknowledge the
nauSeating news. But Uncle George didn't
seem to notice the misery. He applied him.
self eagerly to the food. He had worked hard
and he was hungry.
Then the doorbel rang. Joe hurried to
answer it. He had some sort of vague idea
about heading off Ed and Lucille.
But it was a boy with a wire. And Joe
grabbed it as a drowning man snatches at a
straw. He read: Dad has decided to give
the branch mangership here. How'd you
like to trade your Wimbly for our equity In
the house? Ed Jones'"
Joe handed the wire to Miriam, who had
followed him into the hall. He threw arm
about her and gave her a quick, desperate
kiss of relief. Then they went back to the
dining room.
Uncle George" said Joe I've just decided
that you're a wonderful man to have work.
ing a home. Why, just now looked
about realized how fine everything is. don't
know how we can ever thank you. Miriam
likes everything too. Don't you dear?"
"Oh. I think it's simply gorgeous, Uncle
George. You'll never know how we have
appreciated all you've done"