The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1907-01-16

home and put her right to work." with
twinkling eyes.
There's very little chance Of your
being able to get a sitting hen,"
gloomily.
- "Is that particular breed?' inno-
Gently.
"Jim Curtis! Don't you know that
you must have hen that wants to sit:
You can't make one hatch eggs If she
doesn't want to-
"Well, can buy an incubator" un-
damtediy.
You'd be four or five days late by
the time you could order one and have
it shipped here. And tomorrow Is
Sunday. Oh" she cried understand
ingly, pa had it all planned-that's
the reason be wouldn't see you until
tonight ..-...-.-
Il know, Flower" with sudden In
spiraton, I'LL make an incubator.
Come out and show me one Of your
fathers so I 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 grinned-
''No objections. Not in the least. Go
ahead! Show him all about 'enl, 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: 1
saw Jim this morning, Flower. told
him If he brought the chickens I'd an
nounce the engagement in the county
paper an give you $500 for weddin'
folderols."
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. want to
make out list of wedding folde-
rolls"
Saturday evening came, but Mr.. Cur
tbs did not appear.
where's the bug professor, Flow
er:' asked her father tauntingly.
"He's 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.
sI'm a little late, Mr. Preston" he
said cheeri!y, "but here are your birds"
He handed the autocrat a fiat wood.
en- box, which the latter opened with
trembling fingers. He removed q sheet
of cotton, displaying number Of
fluffy. sleepy, peeping chickens.
"There are eighteen" remarked Jim
carelessly, -four more than you asked
for, but put them all In for good
measure"
Then 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.
II hope, Mr.. Preston" courteously-
II hope there is no doubt in your mind
that these chicks came from the eggs
you gave me?''
Josiah shook his head mournfully.
"No," he said slowly. They're all
right. know the strain" 80.
He sat in silence pondering over the
mystery.
GLOW doth the little busy bee i'm
prove each shining hour" suggested
Curtis, smiling. Bugs are good for
many things, Mr.. Preston"
The autocrat sprang up excitedly.
Jumping gingerbreadv' he exclaim-
ed: "I'll bet dime you hatched them
eggs out in the beehive"
Jim laughed pleasantly.
Il surely did, Mr.. Preston. When
Flower showed me the incubators three
weeks ago tonight, I observed that the
temperature was similar to that in my
beehives I verified this on reaching
home by placing thermometer in
hive. So I put the eggs in the upper
section Of the hive, separating them
from the working apartments Of the
bees by cotton cloth. was positive
they would hatch, but you may imagine
my surprise when they began chipping
the she'll in nineteen days."
Il guess I'll put 'em in brooder,"
said Josiah, recovering himself some
what. These chicks has cost me $500
too expensive to be allowed up dissi-
patin' at this time in the night"
He bore the precious peppers away,
muttering wonderingly:
Bugs! Hatched by bugs! And two
days ahead of timer
Later the autocrat announced in the
county paper the engagement Of his
daughter to the brilliant young SCI
enlist, James Curtis