The Meeker herald., 1907-07-13
THE TRAVELS
OF A GOOSE
(copyrieht. BY Daily Story Pub. Co.
sy eEoacs T. pARDY.

of the Chicago firm of Dodd & Co,
dealers in agricultural implements,
was man of massive appearance
and immense dignity. His en-
ployes looked upon him with awe,
for the great man was something of
a martinez and his frown carried
conviction with it.
Therefore, much surprise and no
small amount Of envy was created
in the breasts of the members of the
Office staff, when it became known
that the boss had given young
Christopher Gunnel a present in
the shape of goose Of exceeding
plumpness. Still, if the gratifed
recipient had been aware of the real
reason for his employers generosity,
the chances are that he would not
have felt fattered. The fact of the
matter was that the goose had been
bestowed upon the senior partner
by an ancient country customer. As
Dodd was bachelor and dined
nightly at his club, such gift lay
like the proverbial white elephant
on his hands, but diplomacy forbid
him to refuse it. When the bucolic
gentleman had departed Gunnel en-
tered the sanctum of his chief with
several papers which required the
latter's signature. Dodd, who was
reclining in his chair gazing with
extreme dissatisfaction on the cor
pulent form of the goose as it lay,
wrapped in brown paper on his roll
er-top desk, took the documents and,
as Christopher turned to go, called
him back.
'sThere's bird there, Mr.-er-
Gunnel," he said, pointing to the
obnoxious package, chat you can
have"
Proud as young Gunnel was of
the favor conferred upon him, he
felt somewhat at loss to decide
what he would do with it. Living as
he did, in, a small room, and eating
at restaurants, Chris could hardly
help viewing his employers gift in
the light of handicap. But sud-
denly an inspiration dawned upon
him. He would take the goose to
Mrs. Sloan, who would certainly APP
preciate it. And whatever suited
the mother would assuredly meet
with her daughter Kitty's approval.
The Sloans were old acquaintance.
They resided on the south side of
the city in a snug little cottage
where Chris always found a pleasant
welcome, although he had SO far
proved unsuccessful in his attempts
to establish himself in Kitty's eyes
as an accepted lover. For Miss
Sloan was something of coquette
and fund delight in causing the de-
voted Christopher to suffer the
pangs of jealousy. Also there was
rival sutton, one Jack Bulger.
1t was seven o'clock when the
goose and its proprietor boarded an
elevated train. The night was wet
and dismal, the wind blowing with
ever increasing vigor, driving the
sleet sharply around the street cor
ners. In spite of all his endeavors
to shelter his treasure from the fury
of the elements, the paper wrapper
around the goose had became soft
and pasty from the effects of the
rain, and during crush on the sta
ton platform, it was badly torn, re-
yealing the carcass of the fat fowl in
all its pristine beauty. Neverthe-
less Chris pushed manfully forward,
unheeding the ribald comments of
those about him. A vacant seat be-
side his own permitted him to de-
post the goose and he addressed
himself to the perusal of the evening
paper. Deeply interested he was
suddenly interrupted by the hoarse
tones of the guard calling FIFTY
first street," Chris sprang hastily to
his feet and left the train. Halfway
to the exit hideous conviction
seized him. He had left the goose