Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1911-03-03

"Austin Ely. tell me truthfullv, did
you want to go into the chicken bust
ness or are you merely doing 1t to pro-
vide q home for meT''
Austin walked over and kissed her
face. "rlI confess to a weakness for
the city, lie admitted sheepishiy. Il
wasn't cut out for n farmer. Dorothy.
although 7 do love TO be with you all
day long here in the country. There is
something about the life and hustle Of
the city that calls me. wish we
might keep this for country home
and live as We always have done. In
town during the winter"
"Some dav we VIII" encouraged
Dorothy. with her sweet smile. "Let
us 60 downstairs"
Al at once the great knocker on the
front door was lifted three times and
a resembling racket echoed through
the snarseiy furnished house.
''Who can that be2' Easped Dor
othv as she drew near her hush1nd
some neiehbor" he assured her as
he led the way down to the lower
floor While DorothytH the bay
berry candles and set the table for
surper Austin went to the door and
flung It open.
There at the curb throbbed and pull
sated monster touring car In it
were three shadowy forms. while a
fourth stood on the doorstep.
"Ilo-the innr' calied the man on
the doorstep Justify. eI.et us in. good
people. and show US what you can do
by way of entertainment"
'This is not an inn said Austin
brusquely ''you will find very good
one at the end Of this street"
"Nay. It's not So corrected the
other. "Many's the time have safe
here in the bar Of the Blue Boar and
slipped my glass O. toddy. Come in.
boys: landlord says all are welcome
and That he viii broll chickens for us.
Make haste my man."
Austin planted his feet firmly in the
doorway. 'Its a cold night and you
are welcome to come in ard have a
bite to eat. bat there won't be any
thing to drink unless | can find some
applelack-
The four.entered with noisy hilarity,
and 1t wns plain to be seen that they
were all in n state Of semi-intoxica-
tion. They were well dressed men. and
their faces were not unpieasing.
though more than one Of them showed
siens of dissipation.
With the impression that the sooner
he served these unwelcone guests the
earlier he would be rid of their Doubt
full companionship. Austin bechoned
Dorothy into the Kitchen and to~ether
they concocted a tray full Of refresh
ments that were mostly got from the
provision box. a large piece Of cheese,
n large loaf of Vienna bread. but
ter. cold boiled ham and n pitcher
Of applelaek completed a repast that
brought forth cheer from the group
gathered before the dining room ERE.
Suddenly they locked AZ Austin in
his festal garments Of drab velvet and
cherry satin. with grav silk hose and
buclLed shoes. and at Dorothy neening
around the door gorgeous in blue bro
cade. With one accord they arose and
touched their glasses.
sIt's George WASHINGTON and Mis-
tress Martha" gasped the spokesman,
"your healths and long-long-er you
KNOW
With bulging eyes the four drank
the toast. while Austin and Dorothy
laughed until they cried. At last they
returned to the dining room. where a
curious sight met their gaze.
Standing in the middle of the round
mahogany table. the spokesman of the
party was calling for bids for its pur
chase. AS pretty a-bit-of colonial
furniture-as ever your eyes lighted
on--gentlemen. Who will start the
bidding on this table. the property Of
the immortal Ge0rge-you. Freddy
What am offered for this tables"
Zone dollar said Freddy feebiy.
pooh. Who will give me more tt
cover this hasultq Cecil. you bloated
bondholder. beat It up.'
Cecil solemnly entered his bid Of 8
hundred dollars. and as if hey .at
been waiting fer this amount. the fouI
proceeded to raise the value Of the ma
hogany table by hundreds until 1t was
knocked down to the langnid Freddy
for $1,000 From a plethoric roll ht
peeled off the amount and tossed it tC
the table, and then. forgetting the in
cident, he led a solemn procession from
the house and into the waiting auto
mobile.
Dorothy and her husband stared a
each other across the mahogany table
"Oh, Austin what does it mean
Were they drunk?" she asked.
"As lords. said Austin feelingIy
Tomorrow morning they will awak,
without the slightest recollection o
what they have done tonight. I've so
my work cut out for me to try t
trace up that Freddy chap and Civ
him back his money or the fable. If
can't find him. why-I reckon We
needn't start that chicken business til
April, eh, Dorothyf"
"Don't call me Dorothy said tina
young women airily as she spreai
WIDE nel Dfcfaled SkiEtS- foF w
rest of this curious night ] am Mis-
tress Martha washington. and you ar
George himself but. oh. Austin. d
hone you won't find that hiehes
bidder"
.'I'm not likely to-" said Austin. Try
ing to look unhappy. and it Is on rec
ord that they didn't start the chickel
business until April was well on he
way.