The sun., 1903-05-03

sm4s;hcd Sa4 p your rod to p'"o's trying to driv'
=, J5.s ,s .hsn sppssr.s,d I'd around Tie come.
with a prompt and imperative demand.
What you fellers tryfn 10 do KILN
my henf' he said. That's what want to
know"
WHO'S tryin' to kill your dum'd old
hem said Jackson. THAT'S what I want
BY gee. II looks as II you are" exclaimed
for"
Yes" said Sherman. cheerfully. from
the security OF the doorway. That a
you trying to kill this entleman's henp"
If wish could kill her. exclaimed Jack.
son, before she finishes this rod
We'll, you'Il kill her all right" put in
the farmer. "an' she's the very best hen
I've got"
Looks it," said Sherman ANYBODY
| hen."
Il tel! you aint' trying to kill Your old
hen. you numskull,' said jackson TO the
farmer, Cant you see I'm trying to save
round behind her and shoe her toward me
| instead of stan'in there and sayin I'm
| tryn' to kill her maybe we'd get her OF
| that hook some time tonight.
Cant see why you should want TO kill the
.
"You ought to be ashamed Of yourself.
catching poor innocent hen that never did
any harm in her whole life"
"Iwish it was your rod she had, that g all, y
replied jackson. @1t's a power of help
from me you'd have saving IT,
All the time jackson was Working with the
reel. and the squawking f1uttering, scan
dalized old hen was slowly coming in.
You'll find ont some time, Lon" said
Sherman, that 1t isn't safe to treat res
spectacle old party like that"
Yes, BY gee, and soil you," shouted
jackson. "Therell be turn in this lane
sooner'n you think"
At last, more because her violent struggles
had worn her out than for any other reason. l..
the old hen gave up the. fight. jackson
dropped the rod and with a good jump
landed sauarely and caught her.
Now" he said, well get this rod safe
the first thing"
IIe took out his knife. forced the hens
bill wide apart. and with single little snip
Of sharp blade cut out the fy from under
Instantly the hen ran away with loud
cackling and great to-do.
There" said jackson, your hen amt
dead and she won't die Don't you see how
We'll, think | ought to be paid for the
hen, any way, said the farmer. 4Shes the
best hen I've got. and she's bound 10 die. /"
"Oh, pay the man for his hen, Lon. said
Sherman What do you want to treat a
poor farmer that wav for?"
"She Plvmout Rock and the beet I've
got and think ! ought to have a dollar"
said the farmer.
Plymouth Rock like thunder" said
jackson. She's just plain mopgrel hen
and fifteen cents is big price for her"
Il tell you she's a Thoroughbred pro-
tested the farmer. There amt her equal
in Sullivan county
i thought you were hen fancier, Lon,
said Sherman. ANY man who knows any
thing about hens could see she was Ply
mouth Rock and good one at that. Why
don't you pay the man like sport?"
jackson, went down into his pocket and
paid. Then they started back to the brook
and Sherman had to keep moving lively to
keep up. Neither said a word. jackson
was too angry to speak and Sherman
Judged that it was no time for interruptions.
They were nearing the st ream, and jackson
was looking at the gaudy fly that had caused
all the trouble. when Sherman flshed half
dollar out of his pocket and held it out.
There, Lon, he said. Il reckon got half
the fun out OF that CIRCUS and ought to stand
half the expense"
jackson looked up quickly at his tor.
mentor. Then he took the profYered coin,
drew far back and with all his might sent
the half dollar whirling up the stream to the
big pool, where 1t dropped With a plunk
Then he turned to his fishing.