The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-07-11
THE EVENING STORY
..No Chickens for sale :,

The same train that carried Miss
Mildred F'rayne up to her aunt's
mer month also carried Mr.. Winfield
Chester. They sat in different coaches
however, and there was no coincidence
about it. Had they sat in the same
chair-car he might have been reading
magazine and she looking out of the
window.
A quarter of mile below Aunt Tay-
1or's house lived old Mrs. Ryder. She
was widow and lived alone, and now
and then she had q bad turn with
rheumatism. Miss Mildred had known
her for several years, and it wasn't
started out to see the old lady. She
found her in bed and sadly needing
nursing.
what you need" sageIy replied the
girl when she had heard the lameE-
tations, lis chicken soup. It's better
a dozen people who'd have died but
for chicken soup. Chicken soup with
a little rice in it will make a well
woman of you in two days"
Maybe it might help me- the pa
tient sighed.
"It will. It must. It cured me when
had typhoid fever and the doctors
had given me up. I can get the rice
up at the house, but as for the chicken
let me see? We have hone but one
must be found somewhere. I'll go
| back and telephone to some of the
farmers around here Some of them
will surely spare me a chicken
| "But it will be too much trouble
Trouble? Don't you think I'll will
ing1y go to some trouble to save your
old life? Just lie quietly til I come
back. You can groan all you want to,
however. Our family doctor says that
groaning is a great help in curing any
one"
Back to Aunt Tay1or's the girl got
down the telephone book and called
quired about the chicken market. 1t
was not encouraging. Some had chick
ems and some hadn't, but those who
had answered that none was for sale.
The very last address proved hopeful.
The call was answered by a pleasant
voice saying:
"Why, yes, we have chickens here"
And will you sell one7'
Tt don't think we have ever sold
chickens"
"But this is a special case A chick
en- is wanted for an old lady who is
i'll"
''Then that alters the case, and can
promise you a fat pulIet-''
How much is it?"
mo charge
"But I'm willing to pay and want
to- If you can send it down to old
I y
it. Have the man bring change for a
dollar"
"As said before. we have no chick
ems for sale. but
'And send him soon. please Good
bye"
That message had gone to the house
of Mr.. Chester's mother, and he it was
who had answered it. He believed the
voice to be that of a girl. He hadn't
hung up the receiver before he be1iev-
ed her to be good-looking. His mother
hadn't come into the room before he
of that chicken.
SET know there is an old woman
named Ryder living about two miles
down the road said the mother, 'sbut
she can't have a telephone in her cot
tage. It might have come from the
Taylor's. III have James kill a chick
en- and take it down there
But I'm going to take it myself"
said the young man.
"And why?"
81 want to see the girl that owns
that voice"
Nonsense! Mrs. Taylor is as old as
am. I don't know of girl within
five miles of here
| Nevertheless, the young rlan insist
ed on going. and after the unhappy
pullet had had her neck wrung he
started off with the body dangling
from his right hand. Before his two
mile walk had been accomplished
! dusk had fallen and the moon had
come up. Thus as he approached the
cottage he saw a figure of a girl stand
ing in the highway, and heard a voice
calling:
eff you are the man with the chick
en- make haste, please. Yes, you have
it, and I'm so glad and thankful. You
see, want to get the soup made right
away. Did you bring change for a
dollar?"
.'Well-er-n-o-o,' was the reply.
''Why, you are not a farmers hired
mani" exclaimed the girl as she look
ed at the chicken carrier for the first
time.
mo. but I have brought the fowl.
Let me carry it in for you, please. It's
bleeding yet. My name ic Chester"
But really
And do you know how to pick and
dress q chicken ~
MY stars. but I never thought of
that, and Mrs. Ryder's sound asleep!
I am Miss Frayne. Mrs. TayIor's niece.
Ill have to run up and ask Auntie."
Perhaps I can help you" said the
lyoung man, trying hard to look wise.
Ito get the feathers off easily you
have to scald the bird, believe. Can
lyon get some hot water?
1--WE got q big kettle on the stove,
and here's the dishpan- But you must
MT help. You must take your pay and
go. That is-that-t
THAT is, I'm going to help with the
chicken. You might spoil it for soup,
you know We lay it in the dishpan.
Now we pour on boiling water Now
we turn it over. After five minutes the
feathers will be loosened."
But you are a gentleman-and you
are a young man-and you must live
in the city-and how do you know
} If don't know how to dress chicken
why should you?"
tsAnd now we take l. outdoors .
continued the young man with a smile,
"and don't you see how easily the
feathers come off? And while I'm
holding the body over the fame Of the
Astove for minute you will please ret