Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-11-07


But before he knew what was doing
Mr.. Specified Bird had flown at him
and had fastened his beak in his neck
feathers and was Juggling away at
them, succeeding in pulling out quite
bunch of them.
But Mr.. Grey Bird did not remain
quiet while his enemy was busy He
fought like winged tiger, pulling out
beakful after beakful of feathers from
his antagonists neck. Round and
round the interior of the disputed
"castle" did they go, pecking and claw.
ing like old fighting cocks, though in
truth this was their first conflict.
Hi, hi, there! What does all this
mean?" 1t was the voice of a grim
old owl who sat in the deepest shadow
of the forks OF big tree near to the
one in which the desperate combat
was taking place. Hi, hi, there!
Stop that silly scrap and listen to one
who is wisest of birds"
Mr.. Speckled and Mr.. Grey paused
in their fight and turned to look in the
direction from which the OWLS voice
came. On beholding Mr.. Wise Owl
they at once bowed to him with
marked show of respect. Then both
began to rattle off their grievances
together
Old Mr.. Wise Owl tapped wing
and slowly raised foot which he put
over his ear to shut out the confusion
of voices. Nov, one at time" he
ordered slowly Come, the first man
to enter that strangely erected habita-
ton shall speak"
But we entered together" declared
Mr.. Speckled Bird
Eyes, we came in at the very same
moment" said Mr.. Grey Bird.
"Ah, l see," smiled Mr. Wise Owl.
"Then l shall have to Judge your case
from what I overheard of the argu-
ment that took place between you
prior to this fight. I believe you each
claim that little habitation, eh?"
Exactly answered Mr. Grey Bird.
But have as"
Silence" said Mr.. Wise Owl calm
ly. sNow you have both admitted
that you entered the house at the very
same moment"
eyes. your wisdom, but I had the
place in mind for some time,' ex.
planned Mr.. Specified Bird.
eve have no way of ascertaining
how long you had the place in mind. y
said Mr. Wise Owl "Of course, all
that you say may be true, but one
must have facts to Judge from, my
dear fellow. And if you had the place
in mind SO long you should have made
some move towards fixing it up for the
cold weather. But since you never
let your intention be known your case
must be decided just as though you
had never seen nor heard of the place
till this morning, when, with your
friend there, you flew into It, So,
since you both went in at the very
same moment, I must decide in the
favor of each"
"But how can you do that?" asked
Mr. Grey Bird.
ga very simple thing to do" de-
clared Mr.. Wise Owl
"Will you explain, sir, how such a
thing can be simpler" asked Mr.
Speckled Bird
"By giving you both the place-al
lowing you to share it."
"Out Of the question: exclaimed
Mr.. Speckled Bird.
"Preposterous, cried Mr.. Grey
Bird. "Why we couldn't think of
sharing our home-not even with the
closest friends-and enemies, such as
we now are, this fellow and me (and
Grey Bird pointed his beak towards
Specified Bird, could never live in
close proximity"
"Then you must both leave the
place." replied Mr.. Wise Owl. "You
both own it, or neither of you own it.
For moment Mr.. Grey and Mr..
Speckled each stood on one foot, pom
dering. Then they glanced at each
other. But as envy and hatred
cleaned from their eyes they knew
that there was no way of settling their
difficulty without the aid of others,
preferably old Mr.. Wise Owl. And
yet both were loath to stand by his
decision. Both own the place? Pre-
posterous
Then Mr.. speckled Bird spoke.
"Say, friend OWL suppose you allow
us to cast lots for the place-this in
truder, here, and MYSELF"
81 am not an intruder" snapped Mr..
Grey. But I'll consent to cast lots if
our judge. Wise Owl. says we may do
So
mo, there is nothing fair about cast
ing lots was Mr.. Wise Owls decision.
It's gambling, and 1 never countenance
gambling in any form. No. l see but
one way out of the difficulty; divide
the place into two sections and each
take a half
"All right" said Mr.. Grey Bird.
thinking it better to have half than
none. After ALL it would be better to be
friends with Speckled Bird than his
enemy, for he had a powerful follow
ing and in the event of an open rup-
ture between the two families there
would ensue a fued which might cause
much harm "All right, I'll have my
half and render unto my friend here
his half
For moment Mr.. Speckled Bird
seemed uncertain. Then he said: II
must have that end you are sitting in,
sir for there Is "a big crack in this end
which lets in the cold wind"
mo. no, that's the end you took
possession of a while ago, my friend"
said Wise Owl. And that is your
half-the end you now occupy"
This made Mr.. Speckled bird very
angry and he said in no calm voice:
VERY well, I'll give up the whole place
to this intruder. But I'll start fued
that will cause him all the trouble he
wants-and deserves"
"NOf 50 haStv sir said Mr. yU;Se