The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1906-10-26

Mine of Dave Harper's chickens
were stolen last night, so | hear,
said Dan, coming in with the wood
one pleasant summer morning. The
raids are getting pretty near home,
Dot"
Dorothy looked up from the cook
ing stove. Yes, I'm expecting the
thieves" she said. They're coming
10 this corner of the township, Of
course. Ny white Leghorns aren't t
any safer than other peoples chick
ems. But" and she Strengthened her
slim seventeen-year-old figure with a
lift of her small head, I've thought
out a plan If they do come"
Burglar alarm" suggested Dan,
with brotherly contempt. They cut
the wires of the one at Aliens be-
fore taking the chickens. They've
poisoned three dogs, so Bruce would
be of no use. What can you do, when
every farmer round has been beaten
so far?"
I'm not planning TO keep them
from taking the chickens" replied
Dorothy, mysteriously. They're
bound to do that. Ny idea is diff
ferent. You needn't laugh! 1t is
an idea-only l don't know whether
it will work or not, until after"
After they steal the chickens?"
said Dan, laughing. What good will
it do then, Dot? Girls aren't a bit
practical"
Lots Of things have TO be theory
before they're practice" returned
Dorothy. wait and see."
That afternoon Dan heard a great
cackling and commotion among the
chickens. Dorothy was treating thcm
to some of her notions" as her
brother expressed it,
You'll have complexion washes
for those pullets of yours next" he
said teasingly, looking in on her as
she stood beside pail of some sticky,
paint-like substance, dipping each
Leghorn's legs in it, amid of chorus
Of protesting clucks and squawks.
What is it? Tar? \ specific for
loss of appetite, and keeps the feath
ers from falling out, l suppose? But
it looks bad, Dot, TO turn those in
nocent and inexperienced chickens
into blacklegs, even if it does keep
them from having the pip"
1t won't strike in," said Dorothy,
methodically and busily catching and
dipping the Leghorns.
They were plump, pretty creatures,
the best flock, although a small one,
in the neighborhood. Dorothy had
taken infinite pains with them, as
Dan knew, and kept every remedy
and mixture on the market for them.
The meamess of the chicken thieves
came over him as he saw his sister
among her petted dock.
Il declare, those fellows ought TO
be shot, stealing honest peoples
chickens" he cried, warmly.
If they steal mine something will
happen" said Dorothy. She set down
the last Leghorn pullet TO shake out
it's ruffled feathers and walk off on
it's Minorca hued legs
1t will happen 10 the hens, not
TO the thieves, I'm thinking. In an
other week, Dot, you'll probably not
have a chicken left to try toilet prep
arations on. Cassandra was no
chicken herself-I'm not sure that
she ever saw a chicken-and I'm not
dressed for her part, but I'll be Cas-
sandra on this occasion. / prophesy
disaster, and | have faith that my
prophec.- is the true Cassand.a
kind"
IL certainly was. Two mornings
later the chicken yard lay desol-te-
not one cherished Leghorn left. There
were wagon tracks IL The lane, in
the soft places left by the raiD- But
they told nothing. and were soon .ost
on the beaten hignroad. \ piece of
newspaper was found near the gate.
But II was only 5crGp OF the local
paper, the Warrendaie Gazette, and
had no identifying mark whatever.
Dan said Dorothy, will YOU let
me have the light buggy and Rex?'
What for?"
"Never mind"
Don't you want me 10 20 alongo"
"No, thank you" Dorothy disap-
peared into the house. She drove
of FIVE minutes later with mysteri-
Gus box, carefully brought out and
packed under the seat by her own
hands.
I'm going 10 take dinner at Cous-
in Mary's, in town. she said. and
Dan was left to conjecture her errand
as best he might. OF two things,
. owever. he felt equally sure. One
was that she was after the chicken
thieves: the other was that she
would not fnd them.
DOT might as we'll be going 10
sewing circle; but then. it diverts her
mind from her loss, said the young