The Washington herald., 1907-08-05

ty counted anxiously. surveying her
flock OF hens Il can't make out any
more-but, dear me, the creatures fidget
so-then they're all exactly alike"
Again she counted. again. yet again
The tale was still the unlucky thirteen.
Miss Gatty looked worried. Fwel she
might. The hens were not her own, but
held In trust for her absent sister
That however. was less disquietlng
than the potenualities behind possible
runaways. Since the missing three had
not come to the feeding call, it was clear
that they were either dead or In duress.
Either state meant the same thing
trespass upon the Lalor lawn and straw
berry beds. The LalOr establishment
loomed big and imposing 200 yards away,
but that was no distance at all to active
foragers, such as white Leghorns.
Moreover there had been trouble before
trouble which had left a residuum OF
strained relations between the big house
and the cottage. The cottage was al
most the Gattys' sole possession. albeit
there had been a time when everything
in sight had been Gatty land.
I don't know what to do. Susanna
would go look for them" Miss Gatty
said to the clothes-post, her sole support
and confdant Il suppose I ought 20
do it-but then how can I? Those La
loTs are so new. and SO rich. they'd IN
suit newly, they weren't even afraid
to be nasty 10 Susanna. Actually. the
woman told her she had no business to
keep hens If she couldn't afford wired
runs for them. AS though we hadn't
right TO keep anything We please on our
own place. But I do wish they'd stay
at home. And I wish Susanna were
here. That's selfsh-she is having
fine time at quarterly meeting. and. pa
tience knows. she goes seldom enough
anywhere"
Miss Gatty was slender, and pale. and
pretty. II she had turned thirty. She
had appealing brown eyes. and slim
hands. taper-fngered. In spite Of house
and garden work. She loved the gar
den. Indeed. il had been her salvation
after she had worn herself 10 a shadow
wrestling with primary scholars. She did
not in the least mind hens there. True.
they scratched and pecked and wallowed
nightly, and her garden was. in fact,
chaotic. Flowers grew indiscriminately
cheek and jowl with vegetables.
Notwithstanding she understood how
exasperating vagrant hens might be to
more orderly gardeners Also that with
strawberries ripe the flock WIS a bosom
OF destruction. Those at her feet, having
eaten their breakfast to the last grain,
began straying lightly, and, as they
walked preening themselves. Watching
them narrowly. she saw suspicious scarlet
hecks upon more than one white breast
They had certainly been at the Lalor
berries. She put her hands up over her
head, thinking hard
It was s o'clock of a lovely June morn
ing. Birds sang riotously all about Miss
Gatty listened to them, and said, n0dding
her head toward the hens: "I do believe
all this comes Of going against nature
If you had broOds, like the birds, you'd
be too busy feeding them to go hunting
mischief
"Humphl They'd be worse than ever
/ say, thank the Lord there are no squalI-
ing keepers to whOop them up. If there
were-well, I'd have to mOve-that's all"
a gruf masculine voice said behind her
Miss Gatty turned as though shot. What
she saw confronting her evoked a stran-
gled cry of dismay. A tall man stood
glowering at her. and swinging militantly
a bunch Of headless white hens. I've
brought back your property-not being a
thief" he went on ''NoW-let me pay
you for-the satisfaction 7 had IN wiring
Ing their necks. Let me also warn you
the rest Will go the same way as sure
as they cross my fence. There!
Take the money! If five dollars is not
enough"
'Wil you please to go away-instantly!"
Miss Gatty said, actually stamping her
foot. Keep your money-keep the poor
tOO-maybe they viii pay some
part of your damages
Thank you. But I'm not in the poul-
try line-neither restaurants" the man
said, fiinging the dead hens at her feet.
A fieck of blood flew upon Miss Gatty's
faded fTOck. Noting it, the man said
awkwardly: please excuse me! I've
been acting the brute. But those berries
were my pride"
You had a right to-do as you did"
Miss Gatty painted. "Only-please go
away! Go quickr'
She spoke STOPPING over the hens. The
man looked at her-close enough 10 see
two tears splash down on the corpses.
He ran incontinently from the sight, but
not altogether craYenly Inside five min
utes he was back. with a basket OF fine.
dewy, scarlet berries. Miss Gatty had
vanished. So had the slain. He walked
around TO the back door. searching for
her without finding. Being a determined
person he stepped boldly inside. Miss
Gatty sat in the prim dining-room. her
head buried IN her arms beside tr7e ola
mahogany table. She was sobbing-hard
dry .sobs. The intruder half turned as
though to run away again, but Thought
better Of it, stepped forward and set down
his basket in front Of her with re-
sounding thump AS she sprans, Nm
startled, he said in an embarrassed voica
Maybe you don't know who I ann-rnv
names Lalor-"
But did know It. You should not be
here" Miss Gatty painted. 'sYour
"'
Ihank you-but I haven't got q. wife
not yet" Mr.. Lalor said with eyri-,
You must be thinking Of nv sister-In-
law Fanny keeps house for me. but she
mates the place and wants to leave I
think III let her-and see If 1 can't haze
peace-and neighbors. Don't YOU think we
ought to be neighbors? I do So T.vo
brought these" pointing to the berries
Won't you give me some radishes N
take home for my luncheon?"
TO be surel I'll be so glad" Miss
Gatty cried, springing up, quite forgetful
OF tear stains and darting toward her