The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1909-09-22

was mad about it. AS the cart was
pushed along she began chattering and
~Jabber1ng, and the attention of every
pedestrian was attracted. Rumpy was
giving them short answer and hus-
uing along when a woman with q bas-
ket on her arm reached out and grab
bed him and demanded: F.
Young man, have you got nv stolen
dog in there?"
ITS no dog. but a parrot" was re-
piled.
I'll see about that for myself. You
look like the boy who stole Flossie
from the gate yesterday. Yes. It is a
parrot. and a good thing for you that II
is. though I have no doubt you stole
her somewhere"
"Stole what?" asked a policeman who
had lounged around the corner. IF
there's been any stealing going on I'd
like to know about It."
Humpy entered into explanations
again. and the cloth was removed from
b cage. As Polly began scolding
away the officer stepped back and
cooked his eye at her and mused:
us she a stolen bird or not? If she
Is, then my jooty is plain; If she isn't,
Their the boy may have stolen the 20
cart; II he hasn't stolen the gocart,
then how do we know that he didn't
commit a burglary last week? You
see, ma'am. we have got to look at
many things in being an officer Of the
law"
"You has that, and II there is n
crime I has no doubt that you will find
IT." replied the woman as she deftly
lifted up Mrs. SINNERS shoes and
placed them In her basket and walked
of.
Officer Detains Him.
The officer detained Humpy ten min
utes longer to inquire the 2 of the
gocart. who made the cage and wheth-
er the bird belonged to a fat or a lean
woman. Then he told him he could 60
on. but warned him that he was surely
walking In the path that led to the gal
lows. Humpy was within a block of 16
Green street and the bird had ceased
her chattering when a house painter
came along, with his brushes and
paints. and halted to say:
Well. well. but what have we here
in the cage?"
TITS a parrot. SIR" replied Humpy.
"and I'm in a great hurry to get
along"
"A parrot, eh, and in a great hurry.
are you? Boy. this is a matter to be
investigated. You may have a parrot
here or 1t may be an eagle. I am not a
man who takes the word of a boy un.
questioned. Let us see. All, it really is
a parrot. though I really ex pected to
find an eagle. What is your price for
the bird?"
"She isn't mine, sir. I'm only taking
her to No. 49,"
II might give you a dollar for her."
mo. sir"
Then you are a very avaricious boy.
IT you wanted to do me a good turn
you could AS well as not. l won't be
as mean as you are. though. I'll make
eagle of her. Bring her out of the
cage, and I'll do a bit Of artistic work
on her."
"But you mustn't-you mustn't!'
shouted Humpy as he danced around.
Easy, boy. easy. First a little blue
on her for the groundwork, then a lit
tie yellow for the gold. Now we tip
the wings with this bright red. and
you have a bird worth every cent Of
sos"
The painter hadn't used his brushes
vigorous protests from both
Poll and Humpy. and he was only fin
lshed when a whirlwind came along
knocked him over, and the gocart
and cage followed suit. The whirlwind
was the woman who owned the parrot.
Humpy made sure of this and fed for
home. That evening as he stood at the
gate a boy friend Of his came along
and queried:
did yer mother lick ye fur it,"
Eyes, sunthin' awful"
did We holler much?"
"As loud as I could"
"But she kept a-lickin'?"
Eyes"
"Glad Of It, Good night"