Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-04-08

pect everythingS going to be perfum-
ed with violet in a 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 were going to the theater.
Get my clothes out Of the wardrobe,
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, MaryF" she
asked.
Mary pointed a 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. mum?"
Fate solved that question almost as
she spoke. for there came the shriII
siren scream of fire engines and a rum
BILE and tearing down the street with
a sudden pause.
Its on the next block I'm or.
Irene; don't sit up for me- dear" yell
ed her husband as he dashed out of
the room.
Let us so in at once. Mary. I had
forgotten how the days were slipping
by and that 1t was time to expect the
chickens. Won't George be surprisedT'
"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 protectingIy.
isn't it too lovely for anything.
Mary?' cried Mrs. Pringle dellghtedly
as she examined the other eggs care
fully. "I believe these others will be
out in the morning. l do hope their
peeping will not arouse Georges sus-
picions."
Several days elapsed before Mr..
Pringle's suspicious were aroused, and
then he said nothing to his wife. He
was man of action. and he knew
just what steps to take in such mat
tiers as 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. "I'm dead sure somebody in
that house Is running an incubator"
IAN incubator! Do you mean baby
incubator or a chicken incubator"
asked the man specifically.
"a chicken incubator. You can't fool
me. sir. Why, when l was a boy [
raised more chickens that way than
you can remember to have seen all
your life. l know the smell of the
wretched kerosene lamp; l 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. I'm furnishing you the infor-
nation. and | thought perhaps you
could do the rest"
"Tll send an inspector around"
| promised the official, and he at once
I took down the name of the complain
! ant.
Mr. PringIe proceeded on his way to
| business and thought no more about
the matter until he reached his home
| that evening.
! There he found Mrs. Pringle suffer
ing from a severe attack Of nerves"
! while Mary lowered alphabetically in
/ the background. There was a strong
| smell Of disinfectant in the air.
What's the matter? Are you sick.
/ Irene? What is it, Nary" Mr.. Pringe
/ fred off these questions all at once as
he tossed aside his hat and knelt be-
| side his wife.
| But Mrs PringIe could only moan
! pitfully and refuse all explanation or
! soace.
''Tell me what has happened, Mary"
/ he commanded.
''Shure, twas the board OF hilth as
! raided the buildin', 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 a great
rumpusn' around when they raided
livery apartment in the house a-lOokin'
for chickens, SORT"
Him. commented Mr.. Pringle.
Then they come here" cried Ha7
| tragically. And they shifted and they
| smelled and they pried and poked till
| they dishcovered the mistress poor lit
tie sacret she was a-kapin' from yez SO
swate, sorr."
what secret?" asked Mr.. Pringle.
/ with a premonition Of coming evil.
1.-The little brilers she was a-raisin'
fer TO make up to yez the loss from yer
sickness, sorr," said Mary tearfulIy.
TWINS n grand sacret and swate az
her to think av 1t all by herself. Yes,
! sorr; they took away the incubaytOr
! and the broOder and all the little chicks
/ peepin' mouruful-like. They made me
swape up the mess on the floor, and
they sprinkled their disinfeckant stuff
till we're most dead with it all"-and
Mary. wGgged her head gloomIly.
Il wonder who could have been so
mean as to have told on me-" sobbed
Mrs. PTingie on his bosom.
~ wonder" repeated Mr. Pringle,
winking solemnly at his reflection ia
the mirror.
a