Smyrna times., 1906-09-26

gloomiy.
is that particular breed?'' inno-
Gently.
Jim Curtis! Don't you know that
You must have hen that wants to sit?
i3u can't make one hatch eggs if she
DOESN'T want to-
We'll, | can buy an incubator" I'M
dauntedly.
You'd be four or five days late by
the time you could Order one and have
1t shipped here. And tomorrow is
Sunday. Oh" she cried understand
ngly. pa had it all planned-that's
the reason he wouldn't see you until
tonight
Il know, Flower" with sudden in
SEPARATION, ''I'l make an incubator.
Come out and show me one of your
fathers, so l may get an idea of the
principles involved. Conner
Slightly encouraged, Flower led the
way. Meeting her father, she asked
coolly: Have you any objections to
my showing the incubators to Jim, pa?
He's going to make one to hatch those
eggs
Preston Srinned.
NO objections. Not in the least. Go
ahead! Show him all about 'em, and
tell him everything you know. 'Twon't
burden his brain none. He might put
the eggs into cold storage while he
builds the incubator.
On Tuesday of the third week the
autocrat remarked sarcastically: 81
saw Jim this morning, Flower. l told
him if he brought the chickens I'd an
nOunce the engagement in the county
paper an give you $500 for weddin
folder0ls."
Flower set her red lips in a firm
straight line. She had not inherited
all her characteristics from her sub
missive mother.
Lend me your pencil, pa. 1 want to
make out a list of wedding fOlde-
rolls"
Saturday evening came, but Mr.. Cur
It's did not appear.
where's the bug professor, Flow
err asked her father tauntingly.
Hes wrapping the chickens up in
cotton so they can't take cold" re-
torted Flower spiritedly.
The old man smiled grimly, but the
smile died away as Curtis entered the
room.
I'm little late, Mr.. Preston" he
said cheerily. but here are your birds
He handed the autocrat a fiat wood
en- box, which the latter opened with
trembling fingers. He. removed a sheet
of cotton, displaying a number of
fluffy, sleepy, peeping chickens.
''There are eighteen" remarked jim
carelessly, -four more than you asked
for, but l put them all in for good
measure
Them chicks didn't come out'n the
shell today" he declared with convic
ton.
NO" answered Jim quietly. "They
came out Thursday
Josiah gazed at him in actual con
sternation.
81 hope, Mr.. Preston" courteously-
Il hope there is no doubt in your min(
that these chicks came from the egg
you gave me?"
Josiah shook his head mournfully.
NO." he said slowly. They're al
right. know the strain
He sat in silence bordering over tn
mystery.
GLOW doth the little busy bee i'm
! prove each shining hour" suggested
+; Curtis, smiling. Bugs are good 70
many things, Mr.. Preston"
The autOcrat sprang up excitedly.
jumping gingerbreadr' he exclaim
l ed. "Pll bet dime you Matched Their
eggs out in the beehive"
: Jim laughed pleasantly.
r 81 surely did. Mr.. Preston. Whe
l. Flower showed me the incubators tire
J, weeks ago tonight. observed that tn
temperature was similar to that in m
8 beehives. l verified this on reachin
: home by placing thermometer in
q hive. So l put the eggs in the uppe
II section of the hive. separating ther
r from the working apartments of tn
a bees by cotton cloth. l was posftiv
they would hatch, but you may imagin
il my surprise when they began chippin
= the shell in nineteen days"
!, Il guess I'll put 'em in a brooder
! said Josiah, recovering himself som'
what. "These chicks has cost me $3C
too expensive to be allowed up diss
patin' at this time in the night
He bore the precious peppers ava.
muttering wOnderingly:
y Bugs! Hatched by bugs! And tU
f. days ahead of timer
!" Later the autocrat announced in Il
county paper the engagement of b
. daughter to the brilliant young SC
- enlist, james Curtis