The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1900-07-20

him home with it.
The couple left the ship and proceed
ed down the East India dock road side
by side, the only incident being a hot
argument between a constable and the
engineer as to whether he could or
could not be held responsible for the
language in which the parrot saw fit to
indulge when the steward happened to
drop it.
The engineer took the cage at his
door and, not without some misgivings,
took it up stairs into the parlor and set
it on the table. Mrs. Gannett, simple
looking woman with sleepy brown eyes
and docile manner, clapped her hands
with joy.
"Isn't it beauty?' said Mr.. Gannett,
looking at it. 81 bought it to be compa-
ny for you while I'm away"
you're too good to ME, Jem," said
his wife. She walked all round the cage
admiring it, the parrot, which was of
highly suspicious and nervous disposi-
ton. having had boys at its last place,
turning with her. After she had walk
ed round him five times, he got sick of
it and in simple, sailorly fashion said
so.
"Oh, Jemv' said his wife.
ITS a beautiful talker," said Gan
nett hastily. land it's so clever that it
picks up everything it hears, but it'll
soon forget it.'
at looks as though 1t knows what
you are saying" said his wife. "Just
look at it, the artful thingw
The opportunity was too good to be
missed. and in few straightforward
lies the engineer acquainted Mrs. Gan
nett of the miraculous powers with
which he had chosen to endow it.
"But you don't believe II? 2? said his
wife, staring at him open mouthed.
81 do" said the engineer firmly.
"But how can 1t know what I'm do
ing when I'm awayT persisted Mrs.
Gannett.
"Ah. that's its secret" said the engi-
neer. "a good many people would like
to know that. but nobody has found
out yet It's magic bird, and when
you've said that you've said all there Is
TO say about it."
Mrs. C;..:-:iett, wrinkling her fore
head, eyed the marvellous bird curl
ously.
You'll find it's quite true" said Gan
nett. when | come back, that bird'll
be able to tell me how you've been and
all about you. Everything you've done
during my absence"
ero AZ ;o,1cp, cold tho ocfaniShod
Mrs. Gannett.
'If you stay out after of an even
ing or do anything else that | shouldn't
like, that bird'll tell me-" continued the
engineer impressively. It'll tell me
who comes to see you, and, in fact, 1t
will tell me everything you do while
Pm away"
"Well. it won't have anything bad to
tell of me- said Mrs. Gannett COM
posedly. unless it tells lies"
st can't tell lies" said her husband
confidently, ''and now If you will go
and put your bonnet on we'll drop in
at the theater for half an hour"
1t was a prophetic utterance, for he
made such fuss over the man next
es that they left, at the urgent request
of the management. in almost exactly
that space of time.
You'd better carry me about In
bandbox," said Mrs. Gannett wearily
as the outraged engineer stalked home
beside her. "What harm was the man
doing"
"You must have given him some en-
couragement," said Mr.. Gannett fierce
ly; "made eyes at him or something.
A man wouldn't offer to lend lady
his opera glasses Without
Mrs. Gannett tossed her head, and
that so decidedly that passing stran-
ger turned his head and looked at
her. Mr.. Gannett accelerated his pace
and. taking his wife's arm. led her
swiftly home with a passion too great
for words.
By the morning his anger had evap-
Grated. but the misgivings remained.
He left after breakfast for the Cur
lew, which was to sail in the after