Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1901-11-22
ana hid his ragged shoes and gave lis

ana hid his ragged shoes and gave his
wiry hair smoothing toss.
She folded snowy tablecloth over one
end of the table. She set out delicate
china plate, silver fork and napkin.
"Gingerw gasped Bill, "when I tell this
to the gang, they'll say I dreamed it!'
And then the gentleman in Bill came
to the surface. He could see, through an
open doorway, the pantry, and what 1t
held, one piece OF pie. one piece OF cake.
"All she's got, and she's getting it for
me~ breathed the spying Bill. "Mebbe
her to-morrow's feast. Nixy!' aspirated
Bill, his heart swelling up, and he felt
more of man than ever.
Lady" he said, as she set the food
before him-and he was as solemn as
an owl-''the last thing my doctor says
to me afore I took this here tower for
me healt', was to avoid rich yittals. I'm
obliged, but
There's plain bread and butter, sir.
| then" suggested Mrs. Daintry, with an
amused SMILE
Twelve got toothache! Thankee,
ma'am, but I've mistook my capacity.
and"
Bill bolted. The widow stood looking
euriously after him till his tattered figure
disappeared beyond the fence.
| "Perhaps-perhaps,' she murmured
sadly, my boy is like that to-dayw
At 8 o'clock that night Mrs. Daintry
heard noise at the. rear of the house.
She went to the kitchen door. A man
was prying up the pantry window. 1t
was her tramp visitor of the afternoon.
Have you come to rob?" exclaimed
she.
mo, ma'am, have notv' promptly re-
sponded Hobo Bill. 81 came to bring
| you present-for your kindness to me
this p. m. saw you had no tur-
key for Thanksgiving, ma'am, SO I've
brought you one."
| And, sure enough. Hobo Bill swung his
left hand around, holding as plump fowl
as ever graced kings larder.
Mrs. Daintry was speechless. This
was more singular than the mans be-
havior Of the afternoon.
Il was trying to sneak 1t into yer pam
try as surprise, ma'am," suggested Bill,
persuasiyely.
"But cannot accept it"' declared the
widow; ''that is, without paying for it,
and have not the money to do that"
Madam" said Bill, with dignity; this
is a gift"
But how did you, poor man, get it?''
Worked for it, marm," lied Bill, un-
blushingly; "cut two cords of wood for a
farmer. Had no money; paid me in
turks. Four Of 'em. Gave the rest away
This is the last. There you are! Good
evening, marm."
Hobo Bill flashed away like spirit
leaving the astonished widow lost in moro
CONSERVATION and bewilderment thar
ever.
i Mrs. Daintry thought a good deal over
her strange gift Thanksgiving morning
She finally concluded she had better cook
the turkey, hoping her erratic benefac
tor would be along during the day to par
take of it.
She tried to be cheerful and thankful
but many tear fell by the time ths
turkey was cooked.
There came tap at the rear door abou
o'clock. The cook from the big house
stood on the step.
"Oh, Mrs. Daintry, excuse me, ma am,
she said, ''but could you loan me little
, cinnamon. They've run out, and"
She stared at the handsomely Drowned
fowl, done to turn, for she knew th'
widows hard-scraping experience of th'
last year or two.
Certainly" assented Mrs. Daintry, al
ways accommodating, although she hat
} no reason to favor the big house, or any
! of its inmates
| What nice turkey you've got," pur
, sued the cook. Eve have none to-day
l "Indeed| observed Mrs. Daintry. IL
, surprise.
Eyes, ma'am-it was stolen"
"Stolenv' echoed the widow. with I
/ start.
And then she guessed all. as the cool
j went on to tell how the discovery of tn,