Rock Island Argus., 1913-03-04
The Daily Story
THE END OF IT-BY CLARISSA MACKIE
Copyrighted. 1913. by Associated Literary Bureau.

pair of sheepiSh eyes and said biuntly:
ITS on me. Bert, I've made a mis-
take in my dgures. Instead Of being
$500 ahead of the game I'm S2.32
short. same as YOU"
Wow" Shrieked Lynwood exultant-
ly, tossing his book in the air Isn't
that the darnedest you ever heard?"
They agreed amicabIy that 1t was
very singular coincidence and compar-
ed notes until the shadows on the grass
grew long and the snow white chickens
had all gone to rooSt- Then they fell
to discussing the merits and otherwise
of their respective breeds in matters
of general utility and almost immed.
ately they were involved in another
heated argument.
"Show mew boasted Lyuwood. "Show
me cleaner. more delicate chicken for
eating than the White wyandotter'
Pooh. Bert. it's a matter OF tradition
that yellow legged fowl are the only
kind for eating-yellow legged and yel-
low skinned. Take the best kind of
eating fowl. add the qualities Of one
of the best egg producers and you have
a champion all around chicken. Just
for mere weight alone 1 could
'Show me-" repeated Mr.. Lynwood
firmly. You go home and get your
red rooster. your big boss one. and III
put my big white Jumbo chap on the
scales to beat him.
"Donew snapped Preston. leaping the
fence that divided the two places.
Presently he returned with a protest
tyNrr fstl ,f frfn oh TNl,r
age from which darted an indignant
red crested head.
Bet he weighs twelve pounds" as
serted Preston as he snapped a heavy
rubber band around the legs Of his
rooster and laid the bird on the scales.
Ten and a half, by jingo! Beat it If
you can, Bert!'
Lynwood borrowed the rubber band
to confine the legs OF his champion
and placed 1t on the scales. Preston's
bird scratched around the floor noisily.
Ten and a quarter; ten and a half
pounds! Tied again. Preston" Lyn-
wood removed the band and dropped
his bird on the floor. II say, con-
founded funny. isn't it?"
Rather queer, I'll admit" said the
OJupT ODSIludIelN. bul you Cttu AZ
ways tell whether a bird is edible by
its weight Proof of the chicken is
picking his bones you know. Now.
there's nothing gamy about a White
| wyandotte."
That remains to be seen." said Lyn-
wood testify as he bent down TO pick
up his rooster. He jumped aside with
sudden agility. Look out, Grab your
bird If you can. Preston!'
But Preston couldn't and neither
could Lynwood. The two cocks came
together with lowered heads and NUT
/ tered squawks. Then they few up and
| backward, spurs out. and the battle
was on.
The two owners attempted to rush
! in and separate the contestants, but
were only severely scratched for their
pains. Savagely the two cocks fought
: in the confined space. Their claws
ratified on the floor and then tore cruel
/ " at each other. The air was thick
with feathers and angry outcries.
Once the white cock beat his antago-
mist to the farthest corner of the room
and Lynwood could not suppress
laugh "Who said White Wyandottes
were not gamy?" he asked.
You know | meant flavor" retorted
Preston doggedly.
IL say, Frank. this can't go on. you
know. This is a sort of cockfight.
/ / suppose" protested LynwoOd. Just
! throw this blanket over them. and IN
try and FISH one OF 'em out with this
crab net" He lifted down long pole
with its baglike net on the end, and
when Preston had tossed the horse
blanket over the fighting cocks and
muffied the sound Of combat Lynwood
( pried up one corner of the covering
and tried to separate the roosters.
But he was too late. The battle had
been short but deadly one. Both
were victorious. both were beaten,
both were dead.
The chicken farmers stared speech
lessly at each other and then at the
dead kings of two poultry yards and
felt ashamed The door OF the tool
room slid open and the indignant faces
| of Flora LynwoOd and Mrs Preston
looked IN on the scene Of carnage.
What brutality" half sobbed the
former.
"A cockfight" cried Mrs Preston,
with n withering glance at the two
men. Then Preston tried 10 expl'ss the
situation.
You are both to blame. Just the
same" asserted Mrs Lynwood when
he had concluded IF you hadn't kept
up this silly rivalry about those two
breeds of chickens it would never have
happened l hope you're both salts.
fed The roosteTs are dead, aud II the
police had been Informed Of what was
going on I'm afraid Mr Preston would
have TO spend that S2332 profit in pay
: ing a court Gne"'
The two ladies swept away and left
the chicken farmers facing each other
= Tied again" muttered Preston 81
guess we better quit chicken talk aud
: discuss baseball or some other safe
.opic. eh. Bert:"
LynwoOds solemn handshake was su
agreement