The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1890-12-10
SINGLE TAX DEPARTMENT.
A MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE
IcnNrINI1En FROM LAST ISSIIE

CONTINUED FROM LAST ISSUE.
''Better keep good place while you've
got it, said the boss. "You are entire
ly unskilled, and you have been so inn
provident, eating up all your wages from
day to day, that you have nothing to fall
back on if you don't get work. "
''Well," replied Mr.. Fassett, iii
can't got work for somebody else, guess
can hunt for worms and corn on my
own account, can't I?'
Eyes. if you can find place to hunt
for them"
''Must be plenty of places. Why, l
know all this country. Its full OF corn
fields, and I'm poor sort OF crow II
can scratch up enough to live on"
The boss crow was astonished at MIR.
Fassetts simplicity.
Why" said he, "there amt corn
field in days flight where you'll be al
lowed to scratch. hire this field; that
one belongs to another crow; that one
Wonder to another; that one to a crow
corporation, aud so on. The trouble is
that this country is crowded with
crows"
81 used to think SO myself said MIR.
Fassett, land I hired a man to shoot
them; but since I've been crowat
doesn't seem to me that there are very
many. Why, never see any flock but
ours in this tield?"
! "Of course you don't. ! have to pay
old Roger Rock good round sum for
this field, and / would be a fool to let
anybody but my own crows come here.
Andif you amt going to work for me-
'.Who is Roger Rook?" Qui interrupt
| ed.
''Roger Rock! Roger Rock! Don't
know Roger Rook!" exclaimed Outs
boss in establishment well, l declare!
Why, Roger Rock belongs to one OF the
best families. He can trace his ances-
try back ever; so far. He owns all the
best nest building trees in that forest,
he and Jim Crow, and he owns corn
fields till you can'trest. Inherited them,
you know. But say, if You amt going
to work for me any longer want You to
leave my property. don't allow any
tramps around here"
SWELL" said Mr.. Fassett, firmly, I've
had enough of this, and shall leave"
"Where'll you roost to-night?' asked
the boss "Can't let you stay in my
tree, you know
.I'll find roost," replied Mr.. Fassett;
and saying goodbye in a friendly way
to his boss, he rose upward and scared
away
.'In my eye, you'll find place t.
roost,n croaked the boss, as he returned
} to his work of experimenting the opera
lions OF the flock in his field.
Poor Fassett! Little did he realize
} what he had done.
!. After flying till he was tired, he head
ed for large tree in the middle OF thu
forest. To his surprise he found it
branches filled with crows. They look
ed suspiciously at him, and he over
heard occasionally q word that sounded
like ..spy." For time no crow cam
near him; but after while one old fel
low walked toward him sideways alon
!. the limb OF the tree.
'Where'd you come from?" the strar
ger asked.
"Just gave up q job," replied Out
s'What at?" the other persisted.
''Watching worm preserve. =
Why'd you give it up?'
Got tired working for another fello
for grub and roost," said Qui.
: The conversation continued caution
. ly for time on the part of the strange
: but after awhile with greater freedom
:. Out found that this was q meeting
!, crows, who, like himself, hadquit worl
a ing because thoy wore not satisfied wit
,. tho pay. They had managed amor
Z them to make up little pile OF cor
- with part of which they hired Il
~ tree whore they were roosting. livil
e on the remainder
- s'But our funds won't hold out long
20 said tho old crow. land as there are
ID many crows out of job am afraid Y
10 shall have to give in and 60 to work. =
9 "INhy do you want funds?' Qui aske
10 "Wby do we want funds?" exclaim
:, the old crow. SWELL, we want funds
~ cause we've got to have something
10 cat and place to roost."
e. Surely you don't need funds on tn
II account You can scratch for worl
%. and corn, can't you?'
4 "Some of us can. but some OF US on
=. know how to build nests. Some ca
-, even do that; they have gathered M
- materials all their lives, and oth'
have done nothing but make up the n
=, terials for the builders"
20 .srhat's right said Fassctt.
=. think / can get you out of your trouh
=, Now, if you -"
~ Hold on!' interrupted the old CT
~ in excitement. Hold on! Halo,
W. W. lows, say, here's a chap what says
~ can get us out OF our fix. Shall we
-, him in and hear what he has to say?
~ .sWhats his line?" was croaked Fl
the crowd.
r. used to watch Worm preserve, !"
-. sponded the old chap
"Naw, we don't want any O them
"a tective thugs among us"
~ .sTell thum," said Qui, that ] a
AZ ~ lawyer"
~ VI "Oh thunder nor spluttered
wv stranger. They're down on law.
p.' worse'n the devil. Let me attend
=. this"
.. Outs new chum went among the fl
n0' leaving Qui alone. There was g.
commotion and croaking, but the
ny crow carried his point and Qui was in
was