The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1905-06-22
TWO TO MAKE A QUARREL.

! Ganderbeau is known in GrasswOld
as a particularly cantankerous in
dividual, but Binkford, who lives next
door to him, declares that he always
gets along with Ganderbeau all right.
Binkford has cheerful, happy nature.
The residents of the suburb laugh
when Binkford says this. The reason
! is that when Ganderbeau meets Blink
ford he looks more bilious than ever
and tries to take no notice of him.
Binkford denies that there is any
trouble between him and Ganderbeau.
''Trouble?" he says. "Why should
have trouble with him-or anybody
else?"
1t is good to have a disposition like
that
Ganderbeau came to the suburb first
He kept chickens, as he still does, and
traded the produce to Stenson, the
grocer. When B Milford moved in next
door and preceded to raise chickens
also Ganderbeau at first felt himself
much aggrieved. He found, however,
that Binkford had no intention of COM
peting with him at StensOn's, using all
his eggs for home consumption. Then
Binkford's extreme friendliness won
first his tolerance and then something
approaching regard. The two walked
together to the train in the morning,
and once Binkford induced his neigh
| Dor to take hand at whist on the five
| thirty. 1t is true he acted like the
dickens and accused Potter wrongfully
! of revoking, but it said a good deal for
Binkford's influence, nevertheless.
Ganderbeau kept his chickens in an
inclosure of wire netting at the lower
of 10 hoo1 rJ ar1 11nHnr
any circumstances allowed them to
roam. Binkford, on the contrary, al
| lowed his the run of his whole premises,
and the vacant lots at the back of the
house. In fact, Binkford's chickens
went all over the suburb. But they
always came home to roost.
The friendly relations between the
neighbors were maintained for some
months But one morning Ganderbeau
found three Plymouth Rock pullets
burrowing in the bosom of his azalea
bed. He instantly COMPOUNDED Blink
ford's shiftlessness in not providing
proper restraint for the birds, and,
picking up a lath, drove them out into
the alley after five minutes of nerve
destroying effort. If he had seen Blink
ford then the friendly relations would
have been severed forthwith, but he
had time to cool off little before Blink
fork came out.
SAY, Binkford," he called, "why
don't you keep your blamed chickens at
| homer"
"Oh, what's the use?" said Binkford.
'The poor things need little exercise
and fresh air.
you're mighty apt to lose some of
them if you don't, said Ganderbeau.
81 guess the people of this suburb are
| toerably honest out of business hours, ;"
said Binkford. ''I'm not afraid"
you'll need to be if you don't keep
them out of my yard said Ganderbeau'
''They were in here this morning
scratching up my beds"
rs that so?" said Binkford, in tones
of commiseration. Say, that's too
bad. See here, Ganderbeau, if they get
in again don't you hesitate to drive
| them out"
81 won't" said Ganderbeau, grimly
| They got in again and he drove them
out. He mentioned the circumstance
to Binkford. who expressed his deep
| regret and his admiration OF the flying
powers of the chickens at the same
| time. Nevertheless, he nailed upright
strips along the length of his fence and
| GUltt Ills llelSllUOl CllnV HC w do SoAlIuCllt
that would keep them out.
The next morning the pullets were
scratching away among Ganderbeau's
azaleas as energetic as ever. Camden
beau suggested to Binkford that he
should forthwith clip the wings of his
predatory birds and get them inside an
Enclosure of netting-"or carbonized
steel bars, darn'em, if that won't do,
he concluded.
'I'll see them jiggered first" said
Binkford. They don't deserve such
luxuries. III wiring their necks first
if can find out the guilty ones
''1'll do it for you,' said Ganderbeau,
threateningly. But Binkford only
laughed in his good natured way.
The next morning as Binkford was
carrying his furnace ashes through his
back yard something fell with a dull
flop at his feet, and at the same time
Ganderbeau's voice called over the
fence in .rasping accents: ''There's a
chicken dinner for you, Binkford"
Binkford set down his ash pail and
picked up Plymouth Rock pullet with
its neck Wrung. He looked at the
chicken and then he looked at Gander-
beau, who was scowling over the fence
at him. But, being very good
natured man, he said pleasantly:
''Thank you, old man. This is very
| kind of Won - Then ha took tho