The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1913-12-18
The Turkey That Got Arrested
Sarah Mansfield Davis, In the Mothers
Magazine.

Iansfs fondness for children was the
saa1ss Of the whole affair. She ought
- be the superintendent OF an orphan
Asyium- I tell her that's the only way
Qbsu ever work of her surplus emo
Asns but h only smiles and says
Ehere are more orphans that have par
9nfs and v outside of asylums thar
fhsrS are cooped up In those institu-
etons- Maybe she's right. blu the thing
object to is the way she draws me
into the trouble that her failing-or
1nndness-is continually heaptng upon
bar head.
Ehe is my only sister and Tn fond
It her. but when I locke out OF the
living room window and saw a police
man walking up the path, / gave her
20 understand that IL her turkey esca-
pade was going to land any Of our
3mfly in Jail for Christmas she would
- the one to receive the honor. She
was sitting beside the fireplace warm
ing her feet. and goodness knows they
needed 1t after her race through the
mow that morning.
Molly. you answer the door" she
aid. ignoring my remarks: and re-
member, I'm not at home"
Just to let her know hat 1t was
time h was brought to her senses,
] showed h officer right into the
o
Well, what can we do for your
uhe said. after q whitening look In my
direction.
Tn looking for information, ma'am."
"1~nfornlation?" she said. without SO
much as the batting of an eyelash.
That's trife vague; what particular
Kind of information 10 you want2"
We wont to know h the boy is
who stole the turkey"
I'll never forget the look OF mingled
indignation and establishment on James
xAce as she answered him. 1t would
have done credit to Bernhard.
Stole the turkey" says she, what
DO you mean?"
We'll, ma'am," says the officer, "a
5uungster stole a turkey from a deliv-
cry wagon this morning. We don't
know whose wagon 1t was and no COM
plants been made. One of our men
eauEht the boy, but he escaped"
= fail TO see what that has to do
with me or my sister," says Jane,
slalneiessiy dragging me into 1t.
It WAS then that the card appeared
snd I all but passed away. There it
lay In the officers hand, looking like
IN Invitation to spend the holidays at
2 tone pile. 1t was one of James call
= cards, n the first thought that
4Ashed into my mind was that she had
EVEN 1t to the officer after the boy
ahead Of my story.
Jane a there gazing at the card
ma honestly she was no more per-
turbed hi Ii she had simply dropped
= stitch in her knitting.
Tt was dropped by the lady who
hNlped h boy escape, ma'am."
4 felt my face freezing in a sickly
what time was 1t found?" asked
1nne.an6 her words came out as smooth
md sweet as a stream OF molasses.
a about IL o'clock this morning."
aW NfEsfAvtnv, rynlo.ly y AVIyt,nk 49,, I1-N
et that time" Then. as If light seemed
10 break through the mystery, she
on: ooh, i can explain that. There
iwas \ woman here begging this morn
9nx n I gave her my card and an or
DER for some coal. She probably
her around to the station IL she comes
hack
IL you will, ma'am,s says the OFF,
01r. but are you sure you wasn't out
- the house this morning2" He could
$50 that James story was as thin as
~0hecaecIoth.
-p~erfectly sure. she says, II
wouldn't be so positive about the time.
hut at III o'clock i was busy baking
oomc Christmas cakes. Won't o come
cut in the dining room and have some
With a cup OF Coffee You'll need
something hot to warm you up before
9Ofng out again"
have always understood that an
l(11cer of the law is not permitted to
Partake OF refreshments while on duty;
bat evidently I need enlightenment on
the police rules and regulations. One
thing I do lxnow and that Is James In
Quis1tor swallowed his conscience and
erruples with the cakes and coffee h
cave him. Later I heard him saying
no0dbye In the hall, and from the tone
81 hfz voice I knew that SO far as his
Eercrt was concerned there was smal
nhnlihood Of the truth coming out.
After he had gon Jane went back
~ finish toasting her feet.
Well" I said. with VIVA ! consfd-
eHod impressive seriousness, you are
nMakinx q good start toward a proper
Qo1ehration OF Christmas. I'm astouned,
&Ane; a wona Of our years. too.
1rnt. you abet a crime. and then you
GlShNra.ely-deliberately-
lilo about it!' she interrupted. go
ohead and say III"
II / call 1t anything else I'll be dis
Vutmzr8 1t" ] answered.
fame didn't say anything for q few
Ulnntes, but 7 could see that she was
0are. It's time someone insisted upon
Nphoidlng the reputation OF our ann
~ nAme
$50 here. Molly, 'ahe finally blurted
oNt. sfrom a mora standpoint I've
&Dne nothing criminal. You've known
Aer that ! eve told q malicious lie.
furthermore. I hope I'll eve get 30
6nnctmOnious thnt I'll let the telling
- = 1b-or q dozen Of them for that
UAttcr-stasad between a child's free
1cm or his spending Christmas In jail,
deserving Of punishment than
- youngster did,
Whereupon she flounced out Of the
Eoon After + got TO thinking It ove