The Washington herald., 1914-09-09
THE HOLY ROOSTER.
ny JANE OSBORN.
ICoTyriVIf I9lIl

tCOTyriEht. l9lil
Bob Dean. owner and proprietor OF the
largest fruit and poultry farm in the
county. knew a good deal about poultry,
but this new species Of rooster was out
Of his line. To all intents and purposes
II was a rather ancient. none too we'll
bred leghorn, but obviously II was no
ordinary bird.
1t was late one afternoon in October
when Bob first saw the strange bird. He
was just dismounting from his spirited
young mustang at the door OF his ranch
bungalow when Daphne turned into the
driveway. Bob didn't notice the bundle
she was carrying at first: he was too
much preocCUpied with Daphne, whose
frank, girlish brown eyes and youthful
prettincss focused his attention.
Are you Mr.. Dean. and do you keep
roosters: she asked hurriedly. and then
as Bob handed the bride Of his horse TO
his man she unwrapped the large brass
blrdCsge she had been carrying
Don't let anybody see. please" she
said, and she got on her knees to peer
into the cage to see that the rooster had
not been disturbed by his long jaunt.
Mr.. Dean. would you care to Keep this
this rooster for me-"
Bob laughed and looked first at the
girl and felt very much aware OF her
fItbtlltsS pc uOtSn seem 10 De IIluCn
OF a bird" he said That is. I have a
hundred leghorns better than that: I
don't see that he would be worth much
tc me-" He stopped short as he no.
ticed for the first time that there was a
gold ring around the ROSTERS left foot.
and a gold chain fastening him to the
side of the gilded cage
But Daphne explained very promptly
that 1t was not her intention to be paid
for leaving the rooster at the ranch, but
to pay his board.
You Sec" she said. I'VE don't need
him often and We want him to be well
and happy. 1t probably seems a little
funny to you" she smiled in response
to Bob's look of amazement, but / can
not explain. and you mustn't tell any one
about how the rooster came or about me
or anything. Promise?'
Then as Bob promised she went on. "I
came to you because I knew you had
the best-kept ranch in this county, and
I didn't want TO run any risks with
Aristophanes. That is his name, but
please don't tell any one
Bob was aware on this first interview
that he found in the girls artIessness.
in her frank brown eys and her girlish
voice something that was indescribably
lovely. But in a few minutes she was
gone, and then Bob realized that he had
agreed to give the rooster board and
lodging at the rate Of s. a week
Daphne had named the rate and he had
laughingly accepted it-that he had
promised not TO tell any one a word of
her visit. and not to let any one know
that the rooster was any different from
just an ordinary rooster. Sometimes,
Daphne explained, she would need the
bird. and then she would come for him.
1lTaI 1. -.
him. in the brass cage which, with the
gold ring and the chain. she left in Bob's
keeping. Meantime the rooster was to
be the 'parlor boarder" on the poultry
farm of Bob's ranch.
A month passed before Daphne came
again and Bob Deans curiosity turned
into a feeling of anxiety. Apparently,
pretty and youthful as Daphne was, she
was suffering from some curious de-
lusIOn.
When Daphne came again she looked
prettier than before. She saw Bob. paid
for the ROSTERS board and carried the
rooster off again in. the brass cage care
fully concealed under a coat Very early
the next morning she appeared again
with the rooster at the ranch.
TT was so late last night when we
were through with him. she said, that
l couldn't bring him back and so''-here
she laughed delightfully-"I had to keep
him in my room-in the dark so ne
wouldn't crow, for II he had they would
have got him, am sure"
A half dozen times after that Daphne
came for the rooster and as many times
brought him back-always alone, always
apparently afraid Of being followed
Many times Bob was tempted to make
some inquiries about his strange visitor
and even to follow her after she left the
ranch, but then he remembered the
frank and confiding look ain her eyes as
she had pledged him to secrecy, and he
stopped. One day when he was talking
to the proprietor of a neighboring ranch