The Meeker herald., 1910-05-07
Queer Behavior
by "The Captain !"

Tabitha in tone of reproof.
II come right away. sSOn's got
your message" returned Lavinia.
The visiting spinster laid aside hen
shawl and Strengthened her bonnet.
She was the dried apricot kind, and
sucked In her lips SO hard that sfss
spoke with lisp. 1t was wonder
that her quick nervous movements
never made her bones rattle.
Miss Tabitha was just the other
way. like a pin cushion There was
double chin under her face and rat
over 1t, and the latter was the mCru
apparent because 1t was reddish in
color. whereas the three wisps Of hatu
that held It on were brown.
Certainly l come right away" La.
vinia reaffirmed, land I'd just like to
know why you're sending for me AZ
this hour of the morning. I've hardly
ate breakfast. What's happened?"
wait till you hear g.
1.-THE captain amt had q spell has
he?"
"Somethin' pretty like It. should
say, and If he hasn't. why then. !
have"
do tell"
Eyes, it's Just as say. I'm that
nervous can't make cap Of tea. and
the captains in disgrace"
"Ain't taken to drinkin has he?"
The visiting spinster went on in a
litter.
"Lavinia Merkle! Well, no. Rut he
would II he could. right enough Hos
the worst parrot in Greenwich vii.
lage."
THAT why you've got the cage COW
ered?"
That's it. Didn't you hear nothiAs
in the night?"
How would ], across the street,"
We'll. It's mercy you didn't. ]
thought all the neighbors would
hear"
Whats he done?"
"Just listen to this. Come nine
o'clock last night when was thinkin'
of bed / noticed the captain was eyin'
me pretty sharp.
20 no, Mr.. captain, won't stand
for none of your nonsense" Tsays, "If
you're up to mischief. you can take
the mornin' for IT. And he cooked his
head on one side and kept his eye on
me- said Good night but he never
answered word, 80 turned ont the
| light and got into bed"
THAT all?"
~ should say not! lay there and
I lay there. wonderin' what he wan
| goin' to do. At last, after midnight, !
hadn't no more than got to sleep when
/ was walked up by a terrible screech-"
"Tabitha Mowscrips!"
| Eyes l was Mr.. Captain ] says,
you'll get yours. some mornin.' / says.
And with that he let out screech
worse than other. That time just
passed it over SOS he'd think ! wasn't
panyin' any attention to him. 1t
worked good. too There wasn't a
sound out of him for long time, but
| Just as l was dozin' OF again he let
out another yell that made me sit
right up in he'd And what do you
s'spose he said?"
"What?"
Whisky"
"Tabitha Mowscripts!"
Fetch the whisky. he bollors.
Wasn't it scandalous? Fetch The
whisky-whisky. whisky. whisky"
you wicked old bird,' says. You
shut your trap. The nelghbors'l hear
you Then he changes his tune and
calls for the peppermint"
Peppermint"
"Yes and hot water and smellins
salts and anisette and Jamaica ginger,
and everythin' you could think Of"
my goodness! What allied hint"
"Cussedness. That's ALL He re-.
membered the spell had last Thanks.
giving, and he was Just mocking me-
Amt he full of the mischief"
as he! Then he started in again,
Fetch the whisky-peppermint. hot
water. smelling salts. Jamaica gin.
ger, ainsette-' When he'd kept 1t up
half an hour got up and threw .
skirt over the cage. That shut him
up and finally got little sleep"
Going to keep him covered over an
day?"
ut would serve him good and right~
might be sometin' the matter with
him."
-"'Course there isn't"
Nevertheless Miss Tabitha stoopeA
down and peeped under the skirt.
"My land" gasped Miss TabithA,
Strengthening up suddenly with star
ing eyes.
MISS LaVlnla shOt one glance al neg
friend. and with frenzied clutch
whisked the skirt OF the cage. At the
bottom Of the cage lay pale green
egg
The captain cooked his head on one
side and leered ironically at the two
old maids
well, I don't wonder he was
s'prised,' remarked Lavinia.
"S'prised?'
"Yes, s'prised. Amt it rather out
Of the ordinary for captains?'