The Coolidge examiner., 1933-09-29
UNCLE BILLY
SERVES HIS
PURPOSE
s.
BY Howard Wright
G. by Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate.
WNU Service


tain station, and the slim young
man had climbed in after his lug
gage and taken his place by Wv
ian's side in her car. Il wanted you
here because l thought you would
understand-perhaps."
She gazed at him thoughtfully
with her gray-blue eyes.
Tommy started, and his brown
cheeks REDEEMED a little. He had
never thought of being In love with
Vivian. That Is to say, he had
never thought of 1t for more than
few days at a time. 1t was one
Of Tommy's most winning charcter-
istics that he had thought of be-
Ing in love with almost every girl
he knew.
AS for Vivian, she had never,
Tommy knew, thought for more
than three minutes of being in love
with anyone in the world.
Yet, thought Tommy, IL he had
been mistaken, and Vivian had taken
his friendship for something more
serious, he would be game.
That was another of Tommy's
strong points.
He had always resolved not to
dlSappoint any girl who took him Sc
rlously. But up to that sunshiny
day in July In his twenty-sixth year,
no girl ever had taken him Sc
riOuSly.
"Good for you, WV" said Tommy
pulling himself together with the
air OF a man who walks bravely
to the hangman's moose II need be;
glad you sent for me. Hope / can
help you. What's the troubleT
"Well, l need advice" said Vivian
gravely. Il wanted some one disin-
terested, and that l wasn't interest
ed in a bit, to give me the advice.
That's why l asked you up for the
two weeks Of your vacation"
Tommy's lately formed resolution
received jolt, but Tommy's love OF
adventure came to the rescue, and
Tommy said:
Guess I'm the right man, Vivian.
State your case and I'll see what I
can make of it."
Vivian sighed with relief.
You see." she said, ''the doctor or
dered Aunt Sally up here for a COM
plete rest, and Uncle Billy asked
me to come along to be company
for them both. Aunt Sally's bet
ter; but | don't dare say a word to
her for fear 1t might upset her.
Tommy"-Ylvian looked uneasIly
into the leafy forest to the right
and left OF the narrow, winding
road. Il think Uncle Billy's going
crazy"
Il say, I'm sorry to hear that"
said Tommy in unfeigned alarm. "a
nice place for you to be, with an in
valid aunt and lunatic uncle and
few ignorant servants, at least a
hundred miles from any place In
these Internally lonesome woods
1t is an imposition"
"The woods are nice" said Vivian,
shakily. "but sometimes | get aw-
fully afraid. 1t was good of you to
come, Tommy"
There were tears In Vivian's
wide eyes, her wind-blown hair flick
cred across her pink cheeks, and her
lips quivered wearily.
Tommy decided then to see Vivian
through her troubles. even II the
decision meant spending his pre-
cious vacation playing tag with a
lunatic.
"What am to do. Vivian? Sort
of watch him to sec he doesn't get
away?"
"Oh. no. Not that. All you have
to do is TO humor him-answer his
questions. He asks questions from
morning to highland such ques-
tions. It's been awfully hard"
Il should think So" said Tommy,
feelingly. well. stop worrying. I'll
do my best to help you"
Tommy was in no unexpectant
state of feeling when he saw WV
ian's Uncle Billy coming up the
path from the woods while he
lounged on the yeranda waiting for
Vivian to dress for dinner.
"HeIlow said Uncle Billy. $50
you're Tommy Green, are you? Glad
to, see you, young man. Hope you
can cheer Vivian up a little; she
seems to be moping. Woods are too
big, l guess. or else she misses
young company"
Tommy looked stealthily from the
corner of his eye, murmured mean
ingless assent, and noted that Wv
ian's uncle was big, healthy nor
mal-looking sort of man, for all his
oddity.
His white flannels set off his
ruddy color to advantage and his
color in rurn contrasted pleasantly
with his keen, kindly blue eyes.
whats your businessY' asked
Uncle Billy, as if no time could be
lost.
Law" said Tommy.
That was the beginning.
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