Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1905-08-13
HAYDEN BROS,

against the wall at the time. and looking
at the geese which were waddllng about
round my feet and suddenly idea came
into my head which showed me how could
beat the best detective that ever lived
My sister had told me some weeks be-
fore that 1 might have the pick of her
geese for Christmas present, and l knew
that she was always as good her word.
/ would take my goose now, and in II 1
would carry my stone to KiIburn. There
was little shed in the yard and behind
this drove one of the birds-a fine, big
one, white, with barred tail. 1 caught
1t and, prying it's bill open, 1 thrust the
stone down its throat as far as my finger
could reach. The bird gave gulp and 1
felt the stone pass along it's gullet and
down into it's crop. But the creature
tapped and struggled. and out came my
sister to know what was the matter As
l turned to speak to her the brute broke
loose and huttered off among the others.
a" Whatever were you doing with that
bird. Jem?' says she.
Well said l, you said you'd give me
one for Christmas. and was feeling which
was the latest
" Oh says she, we've set yours aside
for you-Jem's bird we call 1t. It's the
big white one over yonder. There's twenty
six Of them, which makes one for you, one
for us and two dozen for the market
&" Thank you. Maggie says /; but If it
is all the same to you. ia rather have
that one l was handling just now
g The other is a good three pounds heav-
Ter, said she. and we fattened It expressly
for YOU
4" Never mind. I'll have the other and
III take It now said I.
huffed. Which IL II you want, then7
" That white one with the barred tail,
right In the middle OF the flock
:" oh. very we'll. XIII It and take IT.
well, did what she SAID, Mr.. Holmes,
and I carried the bird all the way to Kill
burn. I told my pal what had done, for
he was man that II was easy to tell a
thing like that to. He laughed until he
choked. and we got knife and opened the
goose. My heart turned to water, for
there was no sign OF the stone. and knew
that some terrible mistake had occurred.
left the bird, rushed back to my sister S
and hurried into the back yard There was
not bird to be seen there.
" Where are they all. Msggie7' cried.
+" Gone to the dealers, Jem.'
Which dealer'sT
" Breckenridge Of Convent Garden
But was there another with a barred
tail?' asked, the same as miner"
Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed
ones, and l could never tell them apart
We'll, then, OF course. I saw II all, and
l ran on as hard as my feet would carry
me to this man Breckenridge: but he had
sold the lot at once. and not one word
would he tell me as TO where they had
gone. You heard him yourselves tonight. 4"
There was long silence. broken only
by his heavy breathing and by the meas
uTed tapping OF Sherlock Holmes finger
tips upon the edge OF the table Then my
friend arose and threw open the door.
Get OUT" said he.
What sir! Oh, heaven bless you!"
No more words. Get outV
And no more words were needed There
was a rush. clatter upon the stairs the
bang OF door and the crisp rattle OF
running footballs from the street.
After all, Watson" said Holmes, reach
ing up his hand for his clay pipe. Il am not
retained by the police to supply their de-
hclencles. II Horner were IN danger IL
would be another thing; but this fellow
VIII not appear against him, and the case
must collapse Besides. II is the season OF
forgiveness"
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