1939-11-24 — Page 16

SHORT STORY

THE CHINA MAIL, NOVEMBER 24, 1939'

UNCLE'S FORTUNE By JOHN L. CARTER

CHAPTER 1.

"I think you'd be making a great mistake to retire, Uncle," said James Beale with gentle firmness.

"Well, James, it seems to me that now's the time for me to take it easy- like," said old Jarvis just as firmly.

"But, Uncle!" protested Maggie Beale, "where would you be without the little shop to occupy your thoughts? In your grave within the twelve-month, most likely."

Mr. Jarvis felt a wave of alarm at the gloomy suggestion. But he pulled himself together and told himself that they needn't try their tricks on him. "Look here. I'm not a fool!" he cried. "And you'll have to act different if

you want me to leave my money to

you.

That's al and he went out, slamming the door behind him.

"That's your clever ways!" growled James. "He'll be weeks and weeks getting over it."

"It wasn't my fault." snapped Mag- gie. "It's his nasty suspicious mind." And now the door opened a couple of inches.

"Can I come in?”

It was Cecila Green, who had been in the same dress-making establish- ment as Maggie. Neither of the Beales trusted Cecilia, who had once deliberately set herself to win James in away from Maggie. That was their courting days. She had ended in making fools of them both. They still feared her.

Maggie

"Why, it's Cecilia!" cried fulsomely. "Come in, do!"

"You two look as gay as a pair of tomb-stones!" said Cecilia drily.

"What's up?"

"Why uncle says he's thinking of closing his shop and retiring!" pro- tested Maggie.

They walked along without speak- remembered that this lonely girl had Cecilia for a stroll, and I shall bring

ing for a little while.

"I say, Miss Green," said old Jarvis at last. "Do you think I'm in rights to retire?"

Maggie waited until his steps had. died away.

1

neither lover nor uncle.

her here to tea. See you treat her "Yes," she said shyly with her head properly too!" my down, and quickening her pace.

"She'd have to be an orphan, or "Mr. Jarvis, I've often thought of something of that sort, or I wouldn't you and wished you'd give up slaving impose on her." and toiling for others as I've said to Maggie many a time."

"Have you really?" he cried in de- lighted surprise.

"It's a shame for you to be cooped up in that shop all the best days of your life!" said Cecilia passionately.

"She is," said Cecilia.

Old Jarvis was still not sure of his ground. He did not want to have her laugh at him.

"Could you give her a message?” "Hadn't you better ask her your self?" said Cecilia very softly.

Still not quite certain, he went on

"Maggie minds the shop for me sometimes," he admitted. "But I another tack.

*I should be making myself never ask her unless I'm obliged."

"Well, you see, Maggie's married, ridiculous, I'm too old. Imagine your-

and naturally she thinks of no one self marrying a man like me!" but her husband,” Cecilia pointed out. Cecilia lifted her eyes and met his suppose I should be the same if I with what he thought was as modest she paused: then and brave a look as ever a girl had was married” said, "What was Mrs. Jarvis like?" given a man.

· That gave old Jarvis a start.

"I never was married, Miss Green," as

he said with a sigh. "I begin to wish

I had been now.".

Cecilia stamped her tiny foot.

to ask you,

"I should like it, if he was as nice you are, Mr. Jarvis," she said simply. "Any girl would.".

He took a deep, fortifying breath, "Well now, if I was what would you say?"

Cecilia turned and looked at him, shaking her head slowly.

"If I was sure you weren't joking. "But there's not a soul who would I should say I was the luckiet girl miss me," he asserted.

"I won't have you talking as though you were too old to do anything but die!" she said. "It--hurts.”

Old Jarvis was thrilled.

"But there's not a soul who would miss me," he asserted.

in the world," she said.

"Well, I do ask you, then," he said' boldly. "Do you really mean it?"

For answer "Oh, isn't there, indeed! Why, if

she slipped her hand you want a wife there's not a girl in through his arm, and gave a little, triumphant the whole town but that would jump happy, or shall we say, at you!"

laugh.

Her words were like balm to his wounds.

No, no! It's too late now Miss Green," he said stoutly. "Besides, it

wouldn't be fair to her,”

The

"I shan't get her tea ready! Let the little cat wait on herself!" she cried. "Well, and what are you going to do?"

"Do?" said James gloomily. "We've got to remember that half a loaf is better than no bread, You just take no notice of your feelings and get that tea ready and be sharp about it. And just when your uncle comes back, treat him like an angel of light. Arid Cecilia the same. We can't afford to fall out with your uncle-damn him!" CHAPTER IV.

In spite of Maggie's threats, she had. tea quite ready when the lovers. arrived.

"Come in!" cried James cheerily. "Sit down here, Uncle."

When he had settled him in the big. Windsor armchair, he got a hassock and put it under his feet.

"There!" he cried, "that's better!" Maggie also rose to the occasion. "Oh, I am pleased, Cecilia!" she said, much to that young person's sur-

prise. "I admit I was a little jealous at first. You see, Uncle is dear!"

such a.

"You seem to be taking it better now," grunted Jarvis. "Oh,

you'll get used to it. James'll have to work. a bit oftener, but he won't mind that.” This was rather a damper, but. James, controlling himself, clapped. Jarvis on the back.

CHAPTER III.

"I believe you'd get fun out of a following Sunday Maggie coffin!" he laughed. hurried home with news.

“I'm glad you can laugh, James,” "Uncle!" she cried faintly. "They're said Jarvis, in a tone that made James. putting up your banns with Cecilia!" stop all at once.

Old Jarvis kept entrenched hehind his Sunday paper.

"And why should they not?" said calmly.

Cecilia then told them of all the pretty things that Jarvis had bought. he her during the past week; and at last

Maggie's burning jealously flared. forth.

"It's a pity he can't show a little: natural humanity to his own niece!"" a she flared.

"What!" gasped James. "They've put his banns up at the church!" said Maggie weakly.

James, reckless of results, gave coarse laugh.

She waited a moment, and then en- quired in a voice as soft as the cooing "And why shouldn't he?" asked

of the dove. "To who, Mr. Jarvis?” Cecilia. "I'm sure that the bits of

Old Jarvis had to clear his throat. odds and ends he sells hardly make

"Why, the girl I was thinking of.” up for the cigarettes James smokes."

"It's a shame that some people have "But if he hasn't the shop to keep to be so lonely," said Cecilia. "For him occupied he'll be spending money, instance, Maggie gets married and has right and left, and it'll be all gone, by a nice home and knows she'll have a the time he dies," objected James.

lot of money to spend as soon as "Fancy him getting married!” he Jarvis. "Now listen to me, Maggie "And it's always been understood

you're dead." She waited a moment cried. "The beauty!" that I come into uncle's fortune,”

for that to sink in. "And there's "And why not, indeed?" cried Mr. cried Maggie.

poor me, still slaving away at mak- Jarvis, nettled in spite of many firm ing dresses, without a single friend in resolutions not to be drawn. the world, and not a soul to be fond of me."

"How much did you say your uncle has?" enquired Cecilia.

"About four thousand pounds and this cottage." said Maggie.

"Good afternoon, Miss Green," he said. "Pleased to see you."

"Oh! thank you I'm sure, Mr. Jarvis," said Cecilia, giving him grateful glance.

"What do you say?" thundered

and you too, James..One more wrong word and I turn you out homeless."

"I don't care!" whimpered Maggie. "She's been poisoning your mind "Why not, indeed?" repeated James, against me." You're a bit young, p'r'aps, but you'll "Oh, what a liel" said Cecilia. "I, "And so long as he touched nothing fond of me?" said Mr. Jarvis frown- more immoderately than ever.

"Don't you really think Maggie is grow out of that." And he laughed Who's got him to promise not to turn you out! Have I ever done anything but the interest we never made the ing.

Old Jarvis, remembering his re- against either of you? I've never told slightest objection," said the outraged "Maggie would be fonder of you if solutions, made no reply, but buried James of your goings-on before you James, "And now he talks of going she could get the thought of her ex- himself in the week's news.

were married, nor have I breathed a fishing!"

pectations out of her head,” said "The little cat! Poor thing! My word to you about the way he's tried Just then Mr. Jarvis entered through Cecilia. "You see she has to look to poor uncle!" wailed Maggie apparent- to carry on with me since. How dare the shop.

the future. That's why she wants ly addressing no one.

you?" you to keep on with the shop. She "Won't she lead him a dance!" "Shame on you, Maggie!” cried: knows you'd spend more if you had chuckled James.

James, with an abjectly conciliatory: nothing to do all day."

"I wonder what my poor mother up look at Cecilia. "I've been wondering, myself," said in heaven would think of it?” cried. Jarvis in a shocked voice.

Maggie. "She'll feel the stain on the Shall I tell you what you ought to family.”. do?" said soothing little Cecilia. "Silence!" roared old Jarvis, rust- "Well you ought to take a nice little ling his paper. After all, revolutions cottage, by the river. Then you could had their place. sit and fish. all day, 'and your little "The question is, uncle,” said James, wife could bring your dinner down with a cunning look and in a con- to you, and sit there and listen to you spirator's tone, "How can we manage telling her all about the, fish," Cecilia to get you out of this mess? Oh, but clapped her hands with delight at the Cecilia's 'sharp-sharp as they make picture of his happiness. "Oh, would- 'em." n't it be lovely!"

"Don't mind me; I'm not listening," "Yes," said Cecilia amiably. Old Jarvis had followed her with said Jarvis witheringly, superbly. "Maggie's one of the lucky ones! I some satisfaction until she spoke of "It's about time you did, then," wish I had an uncle," she added wist- his wife. That flustered him; it snapped Maggie. "You don't think, fully. "Well, I must be going now." made him flush. The idea was not for an instant, that she's marrying you

"Wait a minute, Miss Green," cried distasteful, however. old Jarvis. "I'll see you home."

"But I mustn't think of marrying," glass to know that! She's after your he said, deliberately flying around the money-and mark my words if you candle. "I don't know any women of don't find yourself dead in bed one of my own age, neither."

these mornings! She's not the sort to wait long, isn't Cecilla."

"I suppose they've told you," he said grimly.

"You mean about retiring? Yes, I should think it would be rather nice," she added shyly.

#

"I mean it to be, Miss Green. I'm not without money. In my young days we learnt to save."

"James and I are very grateful for all you've done," put in Maggie, "And all you've promised."

CHAPTER I.

1

for love! You've only to look in the

"You shouldn't have troubled, Mr. Jarvis," sald little Cecilia as soon as they reached the street.

"You don't want a middle-aged "Oh, it's nothing," he said. "Noth- woman!" protested Cecilia. "She'd be "Not another word!" roared Jarvis. ing at all."

"But it is," she insisted. "You are your prime.

an old woman before you'd got past "She'll soon kill him off, poor old. You want somebody chap!". James whispered loudly over always so very kind to me," Cecilia young at heart, like yourself. I know Maggle, appeared to be deeply moved. "You lots of girls who'd fove to marry a "And won't she play ducks and see I've nobody. Maggie, being good man of the world like you."

drakes with his money!" she looking, got a husband easily enough "How do you know?" he demanded, pered back, and then she has you.”

He was in a delicious state of intoxi- "Maggie's not a patch on you," pro- cation, and the candle seemed to be Jarvis. tested Jarvis impatiently. "You're a the very fine of immortality and bliss, "That's all very well," said James fine set up lass and T shouldn't be "Because - because I do know," nastily," "But where do we come in?" speaking the truth if I said different." faltered little Cecilia, who was in no

Cecilia sighed.

watanway connected with the saint of that "I know I'm not really, but it's nice. name.

of you to say so,” she said pathetical- "Do you know anyone ing par ly.

ticular?" stammered old Jarvis,

whis-

"I told you to stop it!" shouted old,

"You'll go, put of that door, if you don't be careful, roared old. Jarvis. 've made up my mind, and you can't nge me, not if you talk'till Dooms-

going on now

aka

"I've had enough of this!". roared. old Jarvis.." "Now listen here. I'm moving into the country."

"Never!" cried James. "What about:

(Continued on Page 17)

1 MEAN IT! I WANT THE BABY POWDER THAT FIGHTS GERMS

MENNEN

RED PORA/DAR