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

Pringles. Mr.. Pringie, the wage earn
er of the family. had been sick for
three weeks, and he had suffered a
consequent loss of salary, while his
expenses had gone relentlessly on.
with the addition of doctors fees and
bills for medicine. Now he was back
at his desk in the insurance Office. and
his loyal little wife racked her brains
to think Of some way to earn money
and thus help George out OF his lnan-
cial difficulties.
Then she saw the advertisement, and
the great idea came to her. She put on
her hat and went directly to the saw
ings bank. Then she went home and
wrote a letter.
The Pringles lived in an apartment
in New York, and, besides q parlor,
dining room, kitchen and two bed
rooms. the architect had allotted them
an extra room, small and cubbyholey,
with one window opening on an air
shaft. This room Mrs. PringIe had
used for wardrobe, but in the zeal
of her new endeavor she now packed
her pretty gowns into all sorts of i'm
possible places and had Mary, the
maid. scrub the cubbyhole and wash
the one window.
you're laying yourself liable, MAN."
warned the expressman gloomily,
when the great idea had materiAlized
in the form Of a huge express crate.
Liable to what2" Mrs. Pringle had
demanded, with her haughtiest air, at
the same time forgetting to remind
the man that he had not given her so
cents change.
Nothing, ma'am,- said the man
hastily, and he disappeared as If glad
TO get away from the fourth floor Of the
Myona apartments.
II suppose he thinks forgot that 90
cents" smiled Mrs. Pringle trium-
phantly as she called Mary to help
her carry the crate into the cubbyhoIe.
For the love of hivin, mum, what
iver have yez here?" gasped that hand
maiden as the crate dropped from her
fingers.
Its an incubator, Mary" said her
mistress impressively.
AN incubator? And whativer would
yez be dom with it here?'
Raise chickens" explained Mrs.
! Pringle
Chickens. Maybe yez'H be kapin' a
COW, too. mum, and a bit of a pig"
suggested Mary with irony.
THAT will do, Mary" said her mis-
tress severely. 81 am taking you into
my confidence because ] want your
help In this matter, and / want to keep
| it a secret from Mr.. Pringle until 1t
/ proves itself @ success. I've bought
several books on chicken raising. and
/ know them by heart I've bought eight
dozen eggs Of White Leghorn fowls
/ you know they are very small and just
/ the thing for an apartment house incu-
bator! | have a brooder ordered, too
and when the chicks are hatched the
brooder will hover them like a mother
hen"
Seems like them chicks oughter have
a sight of Gods blessed sunshine
num-" commented Mary as she drag
ged the remnants Of the crate away.
The sun shines directly down the
skylight at noon, Mary, and they will
have some then; but. you see. being IN
cubatOr chicks. they probably do not
require sunshine. l should think cleo
trio light would do very we'll"
"Rumph" snorted Mary from the
kitchen.
"Mary?" called her mistress little
later
yes, num-" responded Mary.
do you remember that blue velvet
suit l had last winter"
And winter before last" added Mary
/ guardedly.
"Of course, though it's almost as
good as new this minute"
Except fer the skirt bein' cut toe
wide fer this sayson's style" corrected
Mary, standing pudgy and fat footed
IN the doorway.
II was thinking Of giving 1t to the
laundress. Mary. She's about the righ
size" observed Mrs. Pringle, with fnt
diplomacy. Il knew you wouldn't
care for it"
There was an uncomfortable pause
But l would be likin' it, mum,
cried Mary explosively. "'Tis me tha
always thought 1t the purtiest dres!
yez ever had. Shure, that Ann Ma
guire could never get into the coat
she's that stretched with washin' anC
bendin' over the tub. Thank you kind
ly, Mrs. Pringle. I'll take the blue sui
as soon as yez IS ready to hand II over
as for them blessed chicks. I'll watci
over them like an old hin mesilf unit
they come out and divvle worrud II
brathe to Mr.. Pringle until some foin,
day l poke a billed chicken under hi!
nose at the table, poor man."
Very well, Mary" smiled Mrs. Prin
gle. I'VE will have to see that tn
lamp doesn't get to faring. and W,
must be careful that the temperatur
is kept just so. II you'll run out an,
get some kerosene I'll start the thin
going"
There was much enthusiasm owe
the installation Of the incubator in th
Pringle apartment The element 0
secrecy that surrounded the undeTtsb
ing only added to its attractiveness fl
the eyes OF mistress and maid. A.
day long the little lamp at the end 0
the machine burned steadily and CAV