Show a 3 Uncle Luther Dowe l s Wooden Leg Lei LeiBY i JI II JI it it I BY RAY STANNA BAKE If IE IE tf If IE 2 Tommy Tomm lovell and Uncle U I Ler r Dowell u re rt twins only f 11 i ate and patriot in hi every t weN we e R as a si dir r r rent nt as us Hark i u k I 1 whit lilt jr ir r hot and I hi 1 Liu Uncle le it iw n P aa short I ort and d and bald ba d 0 of i a twinkle twi kle i J i IllS jus 7 s and nd a certain In ir tj 1 that quite age e Ms 1511 b f d rn two good stout stubby Kg they were a bit aud Off aa 10 that he be thumped smartly with bis heel when be he walked What Uncle Tommy lacked Jaek d of f reach i iture ing nature ture standard of a man mn Uncle Luther made up He was wa gaunt aunt and antS and so IiO ipa spare pate e that one to hear he r him bim rattle in hta hia old I be clothe cLothes Uke like withered peas in a pod It PIne trouble lines line mapped UI his bf I forehead and his ht hi beard wa watt thin sod and andray d I ray y When n be he walked he be lurched lure at very every step and bore ore he heavily on hi his bi cane for he had bad left toft his good GOd right leg Iq legon legon I on D the te bloody Mopes dopes at Chickamauga 1 md eNI for fr f l nearly 11 thirty year ye he lIe had bad painfully about on ou a wooden 1 e Tommy was bluff blue and prosper pros r on He lived flied in a comfortable bouse in ia Wept W Alden and when laen all aU of his bi children came me home for foi Thanksgiving T I dinner Uncle Unde Tommys Tommy wit wife Ite put all the pare in the dining table and carved two turkey turkeys Uncle Luther had a v lit tie across croe the county line in the ad adJoining Joining town of Amery where he sold soldered 14 ered leaky milk pans pana and tinkered clocks doek It wa w was next the lane tone in Is the further corner comer of hi bl his son eon Jonathans land sad and he made up his own bed and Dd reeked cooked his meals mea In the little room main In Intile n nt I tile t th rear 1 He Me seemed at least lea t twenty vesT tear eare older than Uncle Tommy and lie fee bad become querulous and nd qUeI so 0 than Jonathan and nd his hie thrifty wife groaned mad under the responsibility of looking moldS after him And ADd that tt shows how bow two brothers who o have baen Ie boys bolt together men mea to together esther gether 1 and may my drift apart rt rt Per years Uncle Tommy and andr r trade Luther had bad not met except at atIt fathering It of old soldiers and these a w not pleasant meetings meeting For the two ewe Unto towns albeit they the lay out t on onUI the UI wide Minnesota prairie with only 5 an l IY line fine between them tm could Id l net naive agree It Jt waft wali u the kind of dissen dlen dl en aon that grows grow 0 rank and strong tro in la lit little littie tie tle communities where there are few e Interests interest to occupy the inter intervals vals vala of attention And the old aid soldiers tw t it I up and fought it out as a vail vali valiantly valla T antly a Oy Uy aa as they had hd marched on Vicks Vicka bg They TIle might have ve had bad a Grand pow post with Ith reminiscent camp t SOd and they might have bae had bad Fourth of Job celebrations celebration cel and nd Memorial day parades but a ae certainly as Uncle Tommy led the boots hoste of West Alden in tn inon on one UDe direction Amery and nd Captain Captan Enoch Bradley could be depended upon to march in Ia exactly e the opposite oppe di dl direction diM rk e 4 M for tor Uncle Luther he be always Fa fol tel followed lowed Uncle Tommys procession wherever ever eer It might lead Again Apin and again pin r the tile oW eId soldiers of the two town to met metin in 15 the Interest Interests of harmony Uncle I Tommy To would woud come CONe to preside and Uncle Code Luther would Guld second the mo motion moi i I tion nL and then tile they all would slump ump oil oft 01 into the quagmire of dissension nalon At the fires of a stirring stirn pUt pst Nue hta s up in Uncle Luthers faded failed 7 shoulders shoulder vou sUf j bi ew a faint fatt flush would steal tf InTO i I ULl rg ht 1 y head a as if in time tilDe rne Lo tt ale that thai none non but hut he could hear he r o dome i times t the tear tara mme came up uy to hi his bis ey I Ia and a 41 tile the boy who ho was fortunate enough enouch to bear him laim talk thrilled with the quick pride p of or i strife and longed to shoulder a carbine carbIn and march away awa to the mu music sic ic of or fife life and drum Per For two years year the town tow had bad held Memorial day services service but they had bad been beeB mournfully dispirited Uncle Tommy T by sheer force of character bad been bean marshal bal of the day and Un Us Unde de rie Luther and a few straggler from Amery had marched with the tile parade but tt Captain Enoch and anti It h supporters 18 III toad by with gloomy loom forbearance and aad ff f r eJ pj n li w ward jid jt il en 1 I m nT r vas was really little need of vf Memo Memorial Memorial rial lay day except m in the ab abhi hi iiI 1 rait rad The cemetery y where the dih db dI cord of the tb two town tow was wag buried burled lay layon i ion on a bare prairie knoll set around with I precise pr cise row rows o tot cottonwoods ton woods s that languishes half alf the summer with thirst and whipping winds wind and dust and it contained no soldier soldiers graves But Uncle T mm s parades Jrade marched up UI the road roaf t the th cemetery rv gate and back again agahi and Uncle I LuthEr felt folt that I the count r dead wherever th theY y might wight lie He h been honored I On in the he thir hir i 1 r the he old soldiers soldier met I again thou determined to be I j in n minutes minute time ln en I de dr Tommy w a 4 Damping on the pine fline table ble with bin hta cane aHe and nd several of the theother theother theother other old soldiers w were ere clinging to cap captain i itin tin tain tab coattails coattail while the th two men glared an aed threatened And then Captain Ca n Knock executed a well flank flack movement routed UIO Tommy Y Yan and an ran up the Amery colors color A few minutes later his biB faction ac se tg with the right rl t of might had bad upon all the important features feature of et the tile par sor parade r t ade e ad And AUd to further rout Uncle Tommy TO and 04 his b retainer reme they appointed appel Luther to the file ie honored position po of mar marshal thi sMI of Ot the t tAt day At first OrM Uncle Luther was wag dumb with willa willaa astonishment a He had aa as good right to be he marshal marI aa as a Uncle Tommy They had belonged belo Pd to the same regiment and both had hd reached the rank of corporal U Luther Lother on one leg ee and Tommy on two tw But Uncle Unde Luther al l ways waya 1 had deferred to Uncle Tommy as asif asIt asit It if he e bad had Wen been an older brother and it seemed seamed to his him hi hardly short hon of sacrilege ge to is appear 1 aa a Uncle Tommy Tommys s rival So 80 Soh Sobe 1 h he be to hi b his feet and held field up u a alean alean alean lean finger te tt t catch Captain Enoch Enoc Enoche h s sI eye e I eyel I l rather have ba ve Tommy have ba ve the th t hf plate place he faltered fU hes bes lie better eUe I fitted I for U tt than titan I 1 be beRut Rut But Uncle Unde Tommy was aa storming I down dawn the room ruomi Keep p it Itt he be roared and h he be went out slamming 1 nc the door after him I Uncle Luther followed him a few fw sup steps wistfully IY and then he be dropped beck back in his hia seat eat and listened dumbly I w W e Captain Enoch and aNI the Ule exultant planned tile the detail details of the i II Iut I ut If a Amery turn ham this year eAr gloat j I jed ed Captain caP Enoch J Uncle Unde U Luther l walked up the road I atone alone His Hia tP WP wa was W brisker than usual and there wa was a brighter gloam in his I eye He could out not help feeling proud that be lie had been bee honored There were other men mea in Amery 0 who would have Ite served better in his place pla ebe he knew that well wen enough for fec be he was a old and he walk easily but he wa was glad Iad with the joy of appreciation For BO so I Irua many rua n y years yean be had been an n unnoticed crippled tinker et and nd when beD at lt rue rec recognition dune cino to Mm him m even at the tile e pens pense of his Ide more mote fortunate t brother haMber h could nt pot help belp exulting I 1 Welt I fought abt fo fer ier it he mumbled an 1 I bled fer it Id r hoth ray legs leg Ie if necessary eary nece they know knew that U at Then after a pause he said lei aloud But I w wisht Tommyd got cot It ItHe ItHe ItHe He opened the door do r of ot his IJ YUle shop p and nd went m rn In His Hia eyes swept the fa ta of the room roam the tile hon on the t waN waH aIt the blear Mear 1 OW the t pots fId aad pan all th ii de childhood lie ll Hews WM w d fbi Worn Wont mIL tl t ng nc with the un unwonted wonted ex of the meeting Out Outside Outside side aide the t sun awl shone Mone on the grean grom peal prairies prairies ries rio and there was a warm dust duet dustIn In the road 4 but ut Uncle Luthers blood was a thin and cold and be h shivered in inthe Inthe inthe the damp interior of the shop So he be brought broucht his bis soldering braster brasler brU r from the corner comer and stirred the coals coal into a abright abright bright brt glow Then he be bent heat over oyer to wOrm warm hi hands bands Jonathan DoweR came down the lane laae between hie bM prosperous folds field hl on his histo way to town Little Dick was with him hini When Uncle Luther saw w them he be went to the door and beckoned Come in Jonathan n Come In i called a lied Hit His face shone bone w Hb Rb pride and he told Hh feverish ieh ta tag erness of the then new n w honor the he da day had brought him Nonsense interrupted Jonathan testily Don t you know father lather that ut youre get gettin tin too old and nd feeble to take part in such uch things You aint able to walk to graveyard an aI back and nd andou Youre ou re only up u trouble between en the families I l EcIe never neer forgive forgie 1 e you I 1 know kno jt it t he faltered altered hi I 1 know It 11 Jonathan Tamm d ought to have hae It Itt t j told em ern ap I said id Tommy T 4 ought to toha toha toha ha It a it The end of or the lane YM ras M he end of 0 Dick Dicks a little world and he neo turned U ed and loitered back humming ming a tulle tu to him himself himself self as s a eAt will I Luther stood in the t It 4 v and a nd ed him wistfully pf e n he recalled r how U Tomo when they were wee beys across his shop shor He put ri big b pec tad and opened a drawer In his It ItI 1 I bench Jh nod and in in ii its ita depths he found a ai stick of or horehound candy cand Dick Di k stood 1 I with one pudgy hand band resting on the tI e ei i i 1 door frame peering erin t into the shop bP with I wide eyes ees 1 i Candy t d announced I Luther Lather i expressively ely drew a little nearer arerI glancing 1 from the candy to hi We his grandfathers I wrinkled face rn Luther a bed ed edI the tn k like a It wizards wand and ad ra I lured lurt Dick lisk and nearer ilter until ai aj a i j ditty little hand closed user over the cindy candy c dy t i Then Theil he lie reached cached rea i hf out Jut and FU can P canI I II j I gathered Dick in his bis arn arnt I t I Aint you goin acm u to kiss kis he be asked eagerly But the little tn I buy y v wriggled away aa and andi nd i ran out of the door Luther Lather I watched him loitering up the line lane in jn inthe the ue sunshine his candy until n nI the vision bluntest bI u In lis dim old eyes ayes I Then he to fie Ji e eat sat I dow down n and drew A 1 ff I I i jV 1 V 1 0 if JM TO ro r Jus like Uke exactly acty he be Nt halt hah stog fondly f ly at the little fellow 0 Theft le be bent t over o er him stUBy and beckoned Come Coe e see n he be si Id enticingly s I Dick tek crossed e his It hand a Ii behind hii hl back and aad looked Io at farther seer ly Be JIe was waa a soupy little litt fel 1 lI ni Tips lIJo I De May hay sunshine 11 Lube regarded him bint seriously I 1 told em I L t want to march marc he be said Id 41 lI I eat sI Tommyd do it I 1 could But ut at Captain Enoch see ner any ny of em e w uld listen to tome tome me inc ont t 90 go way Dickey ke dont go JG goway goway way an n leave n beseechingly be But the little boy hoy Was edging away he be understand und and Ond he be was wa afraid Dont go way sold ad Uncle Luther ther eagerly come an 11 ee s what got pt for Dickey He turned and hobbled bobbled painfully JM He H f bent t double with his elbows elbow on Me his knees kne and Pd h hta head bead reeling on hi his hands bands and aad there he be eat sat atone alone for a tone long longtime time Finally Re straightened ed up V Vaude The b aude warmth of the fire tire had stolen tI through all his body He leaned back bock bockin in iii hi i Ms bead drooped d over vel to toone t tone one 01 aide side and his bis it 1 paint paim pw his JJ w sat c Tt The e un under t wend ita comfort eort stealing uy roand KlaIt It U Jd 4 a friendliness frie and hearty warmth that were more than the kindness ef of many of the old maps mans friends friend The dusk of evening came down sad filled the Lb corners with th dow ow And A I presently a glow that was not all in inthe Inthe Inthe the brasier brasler began to illumine the center of the room A thin wavering met of smoke amob curled up around the old man and crept silently along the dingy din cell ceil ceiling lug Inc A moment later there wa ws w wb a sharp burst b of flame ae that disappeared ed aa as sud suddenly denly deiy aa a it came The old mans mh trou troia trouser ser per ll r leg rusted reeled against the hot b t brazier r and t tl inc be fire re gnawed and sparkled pa in lit the Ibe e heavy cloth A few shavings on 1 the littered Uttered floor of the shop shoJI were tr l ing with sudden wi wisps rs o of flame the chair hair legs Wf err vere rf on MII tiu J Hut But ut Unde Luther slept on wholly Scions of or his danger Jonathan Dowell returning lom the saw a sinister glare in the shop hop windows window He rushed into int the th ther room r r om seized the old man and lifted him swiftly to one side Then he heat hea t tut out ut the fire lire with a Untie Uncle Luther sat up trembling amI terrified His wooden l leg g va was Rout guilt It Ita had t burned almost to the and the charred remains were still Ing g Jonathan an Dow Do Dowells ells voice Oi rang with fter 1 Whet What w on ou t you do next net father be h said Id You Youve re set yourself on en Ire slid ami nearly burned Up Ute the Mop That Wooden n tog leg of 01 ia cast ceat me Just ISA and a tl It be ha a long l time before I 1 cap can another AM AJ d then ten be l saw paw dimly the agony In ui b father taOM n be He tie was a not a bad hod matt aap ner even en a harsh harshman man only thoughtless tb You Ton must team to be De mere inert me careful father f he M held said ld gently and yet insistently aa as If Ifta he tallied talked to a child 4 mcie Luther Lu was glad Iad when his hie son tt ta away He Be crept to hUttle h little back backa ream ilke a wounded dog doc and anti toy Iny down q n the bed OU i m had made 1 him stow sad and be Ia could net use reuse at first ant III mm his r but wt buthe he tile knew GIe that he be b had bad deeply angered I his Jda hi son no Too Too bad to trouble trobIe Jonathan an his hie wife wire he muttered Cory to so se thrifty n Q Im careless I know DOW it it Im rm gettin old And then thee after a arime rime time his mind reverted to the earlier interests interest of the day and he lie said Aid aloud alou l I wish sh Tommyd got pt it News N travels travel quickly In a small mall smalltown smalltown town and nd the next morning momma the sym sympathetic pathetic and lid the curious came eam to con condole conle conle dole le with Uncle Ucle Luther and to ex ox examine amine the remain remains of at the ollar j leg and atad to point out where the flee fire had bad charred the chair They went |