The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1909-07-02

| stOop, and began " ' md
finished sweeping in a hurry a
got inside!" ,, "+bev
"probably." spoke Mehitable, tnes
,onocome coming out of the city
"Whv did they come, them! ashou
Edward Heiner, sliding down on hiS
shoulder-blades .+ nm.
uis auditors were interested, but uh-
informed. The question, however
seemed flooded with light re" uayS
later when a certain drummer lioll
patcbunk City arrived, aboundlng' do
usual, in general information
Doesn't that yellow house belong ~ ~
:Jndge Anger down in Patchunk CITY!
inquired the drummer
yes it does,'' replied Helner.
The drummer, looking with satlslac-
ton at the depleted candy case, con.
tinued, meditatively, Il wonder II tn"'
family amt the Peasleys that used "
live in the alley back of us. II So you
people better put new locks OH !out
hen-houses and cellar doors. VI
course. | don't know that they re the
same-man, his wife and a mess Oh
hungry children
Guess you've hit the nail on the
head" responded Edward Helner. IL >
no work and a deal of wander Win
'em. Guess they know the premises
of every one in Mecca by this time
prowling around as they do.
Il haven't wanted to speak OF 1t re-
FORE" interrupted Mrs. Cramer, with
seeming reluctance and real pride,
but I've kept my eye on 'em, ana
that's exactly the conclusion I've come
to. I've seen 'em troop past our out
side cellar door too often not 10
Think
Edward Heiner scratched his head
That beats mel" he calculated. Now
I'd not thought of that, but If it's SO,
it explains" He paused. But then,
l may be mistaken He closed one
eye, turned the other ceilingward, and
could not be induced to say more.
Before the lapse of an hour Mrs.
Cramer had telephoned the partial
history of the Peasleys far and wide
in the neighborhood.
You can put two and two together
always" she telephoned, with what
the drummer knows about 'em and
what Edward Heiner and we have
seen with our own eyes,"
A day later Edward Heiner strolled
into the office chewing a straw, every
line of his face telling of information
yet to be revealed.
What is it," asked Uncle Billy
Loss, to whom Heiners face was as an
open book.
| Heiner looked attentively into his
hat, and transferred the straw into
the opposite corner of his mouth FL
nally he spoke, his eyes fixed on his
| postofice box: Last week I had six
cords of wood piled up behind the hen
| house. We haven't used a stick of
| it"
"Well?" His audience crowded more
closely.
To-day 1 measured it, and it fell
| short cord!"
The audience gasped, and were all
speaking at once, when Mrs. Cramer
arrived. She opened the door and her
mouth simultaneously.
Things have come to pretty pass
she announced, when we have to put
everything under lock and key!
Didn't tell you I've noticed the Peas
leys looking down our cellar-way?
Well, last night wanted some pine
apple for supper, and l went down Gel
lar to bring up a can, and there
wasn't a can left, not one, and !
hadn't used those pineapples near up!'
| A long-drawn exclamation from thu
assemblage rewarded Mrs. Cramer's
announcement
Then Miss Mehitable's voice cut in:
How many cans are you sure you
ought to have. Nancy?"
| AT least a dozen!" retorted Mrs.
Cramer, impatiently. Then to her
next-door neighbor she added, In a low
er tone, Dear me! How disagreeably
Hetty can speak, can't she?"
This was the beginning of trouble
for Mecca Summit. Each day fresh
thefts were reported in the postoffice.
Il had thirty hens a month ago."
declared Luke Cary. land last night
after they'd gone to roost l counted
and found just twenty-five! don't
wonder that Peasley tribe can live by
tramping our fields. We've got to get
rid of them somehow
Il tell you what I'm going to dol"
exclaimed Miss Mehitable, suddenly
emerging from view behind the most.
boxes
"Well?" Everyone looked at her ex.
pectantly.
She glanced about thoughtfullv.
mo, come to think. won't tell till it's
done. It's generally better to do
things first and tell of them after
wards"
A disappointed protest arose. but
Miss Mehitable closed her lips firmly
and sat down in front of her desk.