The Cairo bulletin., 1907-11-24

meekly bent forward, he blinked his
eyes in all humility.
why, john" cried Mary. whatever
have you got there in that bag?'
And as she said the words the bag
moved. John standing as still -
stone. his gaze fixed on the floor in
front Of him and giving no sign,
Good grief" cried Mary, gasping
for breath and turning slightly pale.
What on earth ails you, John?"
Nothing" said John
Then what is in that bag?"
"A hem said John
"A hem"
Yes said John.
"A dead one2''
No said John.
"a live one?"
Yes said John. and he gazed at
Mary at last in such pleading, visit
full way that she turned her head to
hide her look of pride
Now. they had rattle at the of
fee said John, growing holder at
Mary's silence. and | won it.
He placed his hat on chair.
1T is game fowl he eagerly add
ed.
He drew a iackknife from his peck
ct, placed the bag on the floor and
opened the knife to cut the string
that encircled the neck of the bag
They are very rare he added
again. flushing with pleasure at the
thought of his proprietorship in the
fowl and Mary's kindness to him.
Well" said Mary, speaking with
indulgence, put it down in the cellar
for the present, John. and we will see. .
And II ever happy man first hung
his hat up in that hall and then car.
ried paper bag down into the cellar.
humming a hymn under his breath
and walking softly as true gentle.
man should. it was our John the night
he brought the game fowl home.
Won't you have to build a coop for
it?" asked Mary after dinner.
Yes; shall | go now?T asked John,
rising from the table. The poor thing
viii have to have u coop: shall 90
now. Nary"
She nodded q gracious assent and
John tripped down the cellar steps
like a bride who is late to her we'd
ding, and when Mary went down a
little later and sat on the steps to
watch him work. Johns cup of happi-
ness was full and the chicken coop
grew beneath his hands like thing OF
magic.
There" said John, after the coop
had been finished and set outside, a
nest and perch placed In 1t and the
game fowl balanced on the perch.
Now, If she Is only good layer"
But 1t seemed as II that was the
very thing in which the game fowl
was most deficient.
Did the chicken lay an egg?" was
Johns first question every night.
And every night Mary made sympa-
thetic answer
No. John: 1t didn't"
Johns spirits dropped.
Perhaps" he said another night
she needs bigger nest"
They enlarged her nest.
Perhaps" he said the third night,
she needs a few oyster shells we'll
cracked up"
They provided her with that deli
cacy.
Perhaps" said John the fourth
night, she needs a run"
They tied a string to her leg and let
her run.
The fifth night John had no sugges-
ton to offer, but his manner was so
disconsolate when Mary told him the
news OF the chickens continued mac
ton that she could hardly restrain
herself from going right out and
boxing the game fowls ears. Stimuli.
taneously an Inspiration struck her,
and the next morning she made a
special visit to the chicken coop and
slyly slipped an egg into the. next
Il don't suppose the chicken laid an
egg" sighed John as he hung up his
hat that night.
Il don't know" said Mary, bustling
around: 1--WE been so busy to-day I've
hardly had time to turn around. Como
to think about IL. though. she was
cackling like anything this after
noon"
John rushed cut and almost simu!
taneouely rushed in again, triumphant
iy carrying the egg.
well. well," cried Mary.
Isn't 1t a large one," cried John.
aof all thingsl" cried Mary.
And how heavy il is" cried John
weighing it in his palm. i never felt
such a heavy
1t OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. o. but
II was an ancient egg,
Il wouldn't want 20 eat It, said
Mary, turning fiery red.
20. they're not for eating'' cries
John; they're for setting,
"Ggmy enough" said Mary.
YES" said John simply, shes a
......,.. F,xuIs