The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1882-08-23

in half an hour with suspiciously red
eyes, which might have come from
walking in the wind.
The invalids were to come down to
dinner, on Thanksgiving day.
"Do You suppose we can manage
that turkey, DIP" said Meta, appre-
hensively surveying the sprawling
specimen which the griuning market
boy had just deposited on the kitchen
table.
"Td like to see the turkey that I
couldn't msnage-With plenty of stale
bread and seasoning" replied Dill, vain
gloriously, pinning up her sleeves,
and going brlskly to work.
Meanwhile, Monte, busting the par.
lor, communed with herself. Throwing
down the duster, she said, 81 will tell
Dill It's mean not to |" and, opening
tie door, she called her sister.
els it anything specialP I'm up to
my elbows in crumbs, bat I'll be there
in three seconds" said Dill.
Monte took from her apron pocket an
advertising slip from the principal
daily paper of the town, and passed it
to her sister. It ran thus
"Sorry. Very. Will N. please call
at 55 State street, if agreeable.
"L. MURDM."
What does it meanp We don't
know any such person." said Dill.
Monte made q low-voiced, but ex-
citing communication, at which Dill
jumped up and down, clapping her
hands wildly.
"Oh, it's too splendidl Did you go ?
But of course you did |"
Certainly. That's what made me
late on Monday night And this after
noon at dinner-time-" Then followed
another explanation which increased
DIS delight, till sudden thought
struck her: "But, will it be the best
wayp Would DR.. Griscom allow it? It
might do harm"
"Not a bit of it. I made sure of DR..
Griscom's consent. He said it would
make them we'll sooner than anything
else. We won't tell Meta till the last
minute. Now We must hurry, or we
shan't get down in time," and Monte
gave her duster fresh whisk.
Dill went back to turkey -stuffing with
her thoughts in whirl. "1t is per-
fectly splendid plot Nobody would
have thought of doing it that way but
Nonie-the darling!"
In the midst of vigorous tussle with
the unweildy bird, the girls, weak with
laughter and exertion, did not hear the
kitchen door open and shut. A familiar
voice exclaimed: 81 was jest bound I'd
come and cook the Thanksgivin' dinner
for you, anyway. Haint them poor sick
folks most dead, with your tricks and
capers?"
They few to embrace the welcome
intruder.
"Oh, you blessed old Joanna. How
angelic of you to come 1t will be
great comfort to have it off our minds,
but we could have done it ourselves"
They gymasted joyously around the
old kitchen, while Joanna, smiling odd
ly, took off her shawl and bonnet and
went systematically to work
The dinRer-table was spread in the
back parlor, that being the warmest
room, for father AMI mother. Very
carefully and lovingly were they pro-
tected from possible draughts and led
down to the little bower of comfort
prepared for them. The "Dodgers"
had had new inspiration since Joanna
relieved them of the dinner problem.
Buying few spruce wreaths they
erected a dome of greenness-" fear
fully and wonderfully made" - just
above the two arm-chairs, trimmed pic.
lures and festooned windows, as if it
were Christmas. One far corner was
mysteriously curtained off by DiPs old
shawl, from behind which came the
thrilling sound of tack-hammering and
occasionally stage whisper.
A little bell tinkled and the three
girls emerged, carrying in their belts
oficial-l boxing documents sealed with
red wax and tied with ostentatious pink
tape. Joining hands they danced a
most unheard.of Jig, and, to a weird,
Macbeth like melody, sang the follow
ing lines:
"We're the 'Artful Dodgers three,
Maids of plot and mystery.
What we've done you soon shall see.
Beware Oh, take care !"
1t ended with wild waving of the
aforesaid documents. Monte then laid
in her fathers hands her envelope
superscribed, Bookkeper Monte pre-
sents an installment of salary, with
compliments" He broke the seals, ard
the crisp bills fell out, with a refreshing
rustic. Before he could ask a sin le
question, in his surprise, Dill and Meta
danced up witha joint package for their
mother. It contained no moHey-only
half-sheet of foolscap scrawled all
over with the following calculations
| (Dll hated to make fgures-they
usually resembled giraffes and camels,
on a small scale;
"Wages saved by doing without
Joanna three weeks $2.50--with love
from Dill and Meta"
Dill now presented her individual
packet to her father, saying, with a
little choke and tremble in her voice I:
"Don't scold, please, 1 wanted to do
something besides helping with the
housework."
Doctor Griscom's receipted bill