Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1881-04-07
the missing fowl They'll beat out OF
sight all the sighs ever heaved over the
flesh pots Of Egypt" chuckled Sam.

the missing fowl They ii beat out oi
sight all the sighs ever heaved over the
flesh pots Of Egypt" chuckled Sam.
"He hel he I" giggled dick.
Hawl hawl" gruffawed Sam
Let's do it, said one.
"Agreed ." returned the other.
After laying their heads together for
half an hour, plan was matured, and the
two separated in great glee.
The deacon's turkey roasted In the wood
house. which had a shutter opening on an
adjacent alley, and fastened by hook
and staple inside. On visit which Sam
Whipple made TO the premises on Wednes-
day afternoon, under pretext of borrow
ing the deacon's sawbuck, he managed
slyly TO undo the hook, thus leaving the
way clear for the nights operations.
At safe hour after dark, the conspira-
tors started on their erraRd, first casting
lots to decide which should enter the wood
house and bring of the prize, and which
should kt ep watch-the former task fall
ing TO Sam, and the latter to Dick.
you stand here. said Sam, as they
neared the mouth of the alley.
Dick took his station, and Sam, advan-
cling stealthily. soon reached the shutter,
which he had no difficulty in opening.
Then climbing in he was not long in find
ing the object of his search.
"Put put !" sqawked the turkey, an
flop. flop went his wings, as Sam graspes
his legs and pulled him down from hid
perch.
After sharp scufie, Sam was trium-
phont nd hald hio svnhhlarchiN ~ faus
one arm and securely gagged with the
other hand.
The noise of the struggle had aroused
the deacon's dog, who growled and bark
ed fiercely; but Sam kept quiet and soon
all was still.
'Is that you Dick?' he whispered, as
he heard steps approaching softly outside.
"Yes" was the answer in the same
tone.
Here, take him." said Sam, passing
out the turkey, which the other received.
Then climbing out himself, which took
little time, for he moved cautiously, he
looked about for Dick, but neither he nor
the turkey was in sight. He walked up
and down the alley, but the search was in
vain.
"Well, call that shabby trick ~ NUT
tered Sam-''after my taking all the risk,
too. But maybe he'll turn up all right in
the morning. He had better, tell him J"
So saying, Sam walked sulkily home.
Next morning, bright and early, he
started in search of Dick, whom he met
shortly apparently on similar hunt for
him.
Where's that turkeyi was SANS first
question.
"Wherc is he yourself 2" retorted Dick.
81 handed him out 70 you, returned
Sam.
'You didn't" replied the other When
the dog barked lodged round the corner.
When came back, went up TO the wood
house, and called you as loudly as dared,
but you had gone"
That's too thIn," sneered Sam.
"What do you meant"
"That you've turned traitor, and made
away with the turkey"
"That'sa lie -
For the space of three minutes there
was d rapid and promscuous motion of
four fists, at the end of which time Sam
hauled off with blackened eye, and Dick
with bloody nose. Both seemed to have
had enough for the present and went their
respective ways.
When at the appointed hour they seve-
rally entered the deacons parlor-each
fearing that if he stayed away he would
be liable 10 susplcion-Sam had concealed
his damaged optic with pair Cf goggles,
worn he said, for sore eyes, brought on
by excessive study, and Dick accounted
for his swollen nose on the ground of a
violent catarrh.
The deacon, so far fir lm appearing chop
fallen, looked unusually cheerful, and
when the guests walked in TO dinner, what
was Sans and Dicks astonishment to see
at the post of honor on tie table the finest,
fattest, and biggest turkey that eyer
aroused mortal heart To thanksgiving.
81 tell you what, friends" said the dea-
con; when Le had finished saying grace,
we have more to be thankful for than most
of you are yet aware OF. You don't know
what narrow escape we've had from
losing the best part of our dinner. Last
night l heard the dog bark, and going
down the alley back OF the wood house,
found the shutters open. Somebody inside
whispered lis that you Dick a. Yes"
answered; for you know my name is Rich
ard ''Here, take him." said the other
handing out turkey, which quietly took
and bore away"
The mystery between Sam and Dick was
thus cleared up, but happily not, as we
have seen, till they had sufficiently pun
ished one another. From twinkle in the
dcacon's eye they more than half suspected
that he knew al. At any rate, neither
Sam nor Dick ever ventured again to visit
Edith Turner, the daCon's pretty daughter
who, six months after, married another,
let us hope, better man.