Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-06-26

eve been hunting for you That was great RUM
pus you made at Finch & Richards The whole towns
taik, ing about it
Taking your turkeys home?"
Homer nodded
I've come to see if we can keep them in town few
days longer >
The boy shook his head vigorously al don't want
any more turkey shows" &..9
Not if the price big enough to make it worth
your while"
MOI" said Homer sturdly
Let us go into the station and talk il over"
On Thanksgiving afternoon the Colonial Theater, the
best vaudeville house in the city, held throng that had
dined well and happy enough appreciate any sort
OF fun The Children-hundreds of them-shreked with
applauded with great hearty hand-claps little buzz
OF excitement went round the house when the end
OF the fourth turn two boys instead of setting up the
regulation big red number, displayed brand-new card
1t read Extra Number-Homer Iidd and his Per-
forming Turkeys" a shout of delighted anticipation
went up from the audience Every paper in town had
made spectacular story of the ruin at Finch & Richl
ards Nothing could have been splendid surprise
EVERYBODY broke into appaqse-everybody except
little woman who sat in the front of the orchestra
Her face was pale her hands casped and unclasped each
other, TREMENDOUSLY Homer, boy" she whispered to
herself.
The curtain rolled up The stage set for real
istic farm-yard scene. The floor was scattered with
tunbled untidily from a barnoft, coop with hen
and chickens stood by the fence From her stall stared
whefaced COW; her eyes blinked at the glare of the
tootlights The orchestra struck up merry tune the
cow uttered astonished moo; then walked sturdy
lad with fine broad shoulders, red hair and freckles
His boots clunped his blue overalls faded his
sweater had once been red At his heels stepped six
splendid turkeys straight in line every with eyes
on the master. Homer never knew how he did it Two
minutes earlier he had said the manager desperately:
II cut an right off eyes on folks"
Perhaps he drew courage from the anxious in his
mothers eyes. Hers was the only face he in the
great audience Perhaps the magnificent aplomb
of the turkeys that inspired him. They stepped serenely
as IT, walking out on gorgeously lighted stage
everyday event in their lives Anyhow Homer threw
up his head and led the turkey march round and round
past the footlghts, till the shout of applause dwindled
into silence The boy threw back his head and snapped
his fingers The turkeys retreated to form in line the
back of the stage. e,.--7
Gettysburg" cried Homer, pointing to stately
plump hen: Gettysburg stepped to the center of the
stage How many kernels of have 1 thrown
you Getty?" he asked
The turkey turned them with her head cooked
reectively on one side. Then she scratched her foot
the floor.
One, two, three, four, fvel" ts.
Right, Now you may eat Them Getty" ~...''s
Gettysburg wore her new-won laurels with excel
lent grace She Jumped through of hoops; slid
gracefully about the stage on pair of miniature roller
skates she stepped from stool chair from chair to
table, in perfect time with Homers whistle and low
strain Of melody from the orchestra She danced a
stately Jig the table, then, with satisfied cluck
descended the other side to the floor. Amanda Ann
Mehtable Nancy and Farragut achieved their rumphs
IN a slow dance made up of digniiied hops and may
turns. They stood in decorous line awaiting the re-
turn of their master, for Homer had dashed suddenly
from the stage: He reappeared, holding his head up
proudly. Now he the blue uniform and aunty cap
OF Soldier boy; gun leaned on his shoulder.
The orchestra put all its vgor. patriotism and wind
into Marching through Georgia Straight to Homer's
side, when they heard his whistle wheeled the turkey
regiment ready TO keep step, fall line to march
and counermarch. Only feathered soldier fell 1t
was Danl Webster. At bang from Homer's rifle he
dropped stiff and stark From children here and there
in the audience cry OF horror They turned to
ask in frightened whispers if the turkey truly
shooted." AS If to the question, Danl leaped
to his feet Homer pulled Stars and Stripes from his
pocket and waved it enthusiastically then the orchestra
dashed into Yankee Doodle" 1t awoke some patriotic
spirit in the soul of Danl Webster He left his master
and putting himself to his statelies proportions staked
to the fooghs to utter glorious, soustrring COB
Bile The curtain fell, but the applause went on and on
and on! AT last out again the stage came
Homer, waving odd Glory" Dan'l Webster Gettys-
burg. Amanda Ann, Nancy, Mehitabe, and Farragut
followed in triumphal march. Honers eyes were bent
past the foolghts searching for the face of little
woman This time the face was one radiant flush and
her hands were adding their share the deafenng ap-
plause.
Homer boy she said. fondy. This time she spoke
aloud but nobody heard it. An for the Extra
Turn vociferous, it almost shook the plaster
from the ceiling.