The National tribune., 1901-05-23

which they had scattered, and from these
started in to make beef-tea-
Foster Walsh was momentarily torn
by c0ntending emotions. When there
would come faint flush of color steal
ing into Angus's wan cheeks, his hopes
would soar, and he would kneel and lift
his voice in thanksgiving. When Angus
would sink away again he would be
swept with uncomfortable rage, and rush
ing out fling a frebrand into the first
cabin or shack he came to.
Uncle Ephraim, Pete, and Sandy gal
loped out into the country with eyes on
the eager lookout for signs Of chickens.
The prospects were poor. 1t was q coun-
try given up to the poor white trash
whose only poultry were the scarce wild
birds of those sandy barrens. Only an
occasional house was seen where it look
ed as if people had attempted to raise a
little flock of chickens in spite Of the
owls, hawks, foxes, minks, and wildcats.
Where there were signs that the pOul-
try had managed to survive these, it was
found that they had succumbed to the
host Of new enemies from the hungry
guards about the prison.
They went a mile farther, to get out
of easy range of these, and came to a
house showing little more thrift. There
were no chickens running around any
where.
But dar's bin some chickens roosting
in dat dar CEDAR" said Uncle Ephraim.
IAN monty lately, toe" he continued, as
some chickens somewhar. See dem aig-
shells dar."
Where can they be-" said Sandy and
Pete, straining their eyes in every direc-
ton for sign of feathers, without catch
ing sight of any naughty chantieleer
bravely leading his clucking troop ateld.
They looked through the grounds, polk
ed under the lilac bushes, investigated
the stable and cribs, and searched the
hay-mow and fodder stack. in hopes that
they might find a hen on u nest.
All in vain.
sisted Uncle Ephraim. See dar, whar
dey cPared DER coffee dis mornin' wild
an aig."
They looked and saw where the coffee
pot had been emptied after breakfast of
its crusts of bread, bits of parched sweet
potatoes, parched wheat, and other poor
substitutes for the coffee-bean. In the
midst of the grounds" was a perfectly
fresh egg-shell.
And here's sure-enough chicken
track in this damp spot by the well.
said the sharp.eyed little Pete. Lets
inquire in the house"
Might be as WELL" said Sandy, sar-
any chickens, We might try to get them
honestly Nice lot we're getting to be-
Madam" he addressed the woman
who came to the door, I'VE want very
much to get some chickens"
You do" she answered scornfully. 81
gathered as much from watchin' you pi-
routin' round the roosts and the hens
nests. 1 didn't s'pose you'd come cleo
tiOneering, or to give war widow a
nice surprise by gettin' in her Winter
wood. Well, you kin jes' mosey on. 1
haint nary sign of a chicken left. You
rHG n hn hUl dAn0
stole every one 1 had afore you'd bin thar
week. Jes' mosey on, now, afore l set
the dogs on you"
That the woman should mistake them
for some of the prison guards was not
unnatural, as she had never seen any I'm
ion soldiers, and the Georgia Reserves
wore any clothes that they could get.
I've need some chickens awfully, ma
am" pleaded Sandy, ''fOr some poor dy
ing men down at the prison. They'll die
unless we can get little broth for them"
"Old story" she snapped. Done
it once. Never seed sich men as them
down thar at the bull-pen to be dying
for want of chicken cruel. You'd think
the whole army lived on chicken cruel,
and died jes' as soon's the supply shst
down. You'd think that I'd bin appoint
ed to raise chickens fer their greul. But
l amt. I've got enough to do to raise
plain corn and yams enough to keep us
alive till my ole man gifts back from the
army. Go off, now, l tell you agil. haint
no more time to waste on you. You done
seen for yourself there haint a feather
on the place."
Her determined assertion convinced
Sandy, even in spite of the egg-shell in
the coffee grounds. and he was about
turning away to 60 on further, when
Pete saw muddy remains of a chicken
track on the porch. This gave him an
idea. He drew nearer the door, as if in
terested in the colloquy between his part
ner and the woman, which was growing
hotter every minute, and peeped in. There
was a bed on the opposite side of the
room, and round it a valance. Present
ly he saw a motion against the valance
which convinced him that his idea was
correct. He gave little signal to San
dy to keep up the row with the woman
and draw her out little ways from the
door. Another signal to Uncle Ephraim
brought that worthy close to his side.
''The hard-heartedness of you low
down sand-hillers is just awful" said
Sandy, and the woman's face flushed
with anger at the epithet with which she
had become only too well-acquainted
since the arrival Of the Georgia militia |