Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1913-06-12

day long the little lamp at the end Of
the machine burned steadily and gave
forth sickening odor that at last at.
tracted the attention Of Mr.. Pringle.
what Is that smell. Irene ?" he asked
one night at dinner.
Mrs. Pringle's innocent nose shifted
the air. Its the vanilla sauce Mary
has made for the pudding" she de-
clared.
Mr.. Pringle shook his head doubtful
~. Smells like kerosene lamp.
Didn't know we had one in the She
bang"
why should we burn horrid kero-
sene when we have these lovely cleo.
tric hghts?" demanded Mrs. Pringle
deceitfully.
Never mind Irene; we can't ex.
pect everything's going to be perfum.
ed with violet in thirty dollar fat"
How long will it take you to get
ready" asked her husband suddenly,
looking at his watch.
Fifteen minutes" said Mrs. Prin.
gle. for they We're going to the theater.
will you, dear?" he requested.
When the Pringles returned from the
theater Mary admitted them. Her
eyes wore startled look. and she
beckoned mysteriously to her mistress,
who followed her into the kitchen.
what is the matter. Nary" she
asked.
Mary pointed finger at the door Of
the cubbyhole. Some Of them chick.
ems is hatchin' out. mum. and what are
we to do with Mr.. Pringle. NUM-"
Fate solved that question almost as
she spoke. for there came the shrill
siren scream Of FIRE engines and rum
BILE and tearing down the street with
sudden pause
ITS on the next block I'm off
Irene: don't sit up for me. dear" yell
ed her husband as he dashed out Of
the room.
Let us 60 in at once. Mary. had
forgotten how the days We're slipping
by and that it was time to expect the
chickens. Won't George be snrprised?"
''Indade and he will. num-" agreed
Mary dryly.
They entered the cubbyhole and as
sisted seven anxious chicks into the
world. The brooder was waiting and
lowered them protectingly.
Isn't it too lovely for anything.
Mary?" cried Mrs Pringle delightedly
as she examined the other eggs care
fully 81 believe these others will be
out in the morning. | do hope their
peeping will not arouse Georges sus-
picions'
Several days elapsed before Mr..
Pringles suspicious were aroused. and
then be said nothing to his wife. He
was a man OF action. and he knew
just what steps to take in such mat
tiers MS this one. He went directly to
the offices of the board of health.
81 live in the Myona apartments. =
he explained to the official who met
him. 'tI'm dead sure somebody in
that house is running an incubator"
IAN incubator. Do you mean a baby
incubator or chicken incubator?"
asked the man skeptically.
"a chicken incubator You can't fool
me. sir Why. when was boy |
raised more chickens that way than
you can remember to have seen all
your life. know the smell of the
wretched kerosene lamp; recognize
the atmosphere of the brooder, and
have heard the peeping Of the chicks. "
Whom do you suspect?" asked the
official.
81 don't know; leave that for you to
find out" returned Mr. Pringle rather
tartly. lin furnishing you the infor-
nation. and thought perhaps you
could do the rest"
I'll send an inspector around
promised the official, and he at once
took down the name of the complain.
ant,
Mr.. Pringle proceeded on his way to
business and thought no more about
the matter until be reached his home
that evening
There he found Mrs. Pringle suffer
ing from severe attack of nerves. -
while Mary lowered sympathetically in
the background. There was strong
smell Of disinfectant in the air.
What's the matter? Are you sick,
Irene? What is it. Mary?" MIR. Pringle
fired off these questions all at once as
he tossed aside his hat and knelt be-
side his wife.
| But Mrs. Pringe could only moan
pitifully and refuse all explanation OF
solace
| ''Tell me what has happened, Mary
! he commanded
"Shure. twas the board of hilth as
raided the buidin'. sorr. 1t seems some
black hearted traitor ran and tattled to
| the board of hilth that somebuddy was
a-kapin' Of chickens in this house. and
so it come noon and there was great
rumpusin' around when they raided
livery apartment in the house a-ookin'
| for chickens. sorr!"
Hin" commented Mr.. Pringle.
Then they come here" cried Mary
\ rt.,sxlv H.. ~ i Al,.