Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-02-22


Now, how about it?
3Well,' said the manager, what do you
want in the way of a set?
"A woodland scene, full STAGE said
Maxey. Thanks You won't be sorry.
Tomorrow afternoon, right after the matt
nee!r And he started out.
Hold on" said Frankel. 3Does any
body else know about this act?'
aIf you mean Schell, said Maxey, 3he
knows absolutely nothin' about it.
AT two o'clock the next afternoon Maxey
"A Conheim sat in the room up in the
Bronx two-family house, alone with the
turkeys. Moshoo Dindon had finally been
persuaded to leave his precious artists in the
managers hands, and had gone downtown
to the costumer's. The birds were all in
their crates, the four star performers in one,
the other eight-discharged for lack of men
tality-divided equally between two others.
Maxey had sent for an express wagon to call
for the quartet of dancing birds and him
self, and was expecting it momentarily.
Despite Moshoo Dindon's warning to be
on the watch for the Scottish woman, who
had made several complaints and issued va
rious terrible threats during the morning,
Maxey had no trouble with her in the half
hour he had been waiting for the express
wagon, and his dreams of success and aff1u-
ence were disturbed by nothing. Pleasant
dreams, these, unaccompanied by any
qualms of conscience or fears that Billy
Schell would have any legitimate comeback
at him, since he had really offered the act
to him first and told him what it was.
Maxey could not help chuckling to himself
over the success of his plan. Suddenly he
looked at his watch. Nearly three o'clock!
Where was that expressman? He waited
another five minutes, growing more and
more impatient. Finally he made up his
mind he could wait no longer; for the birds
ought to reach downtown by five O'Clock,
and there was no time to lose. Hang. it!
No telephone! Well, he'd have to 60 after
the man, whose Office was up the street way.
He hated to leave the turkeys alone; but
there was no help for it. Anyway, he guessed
there was nothing to fear from the Scottish
woman: probably she was out for the day.
He opened the door and looked into the
hall N, signs of her. He looked at his
watch again. Three-ten! He closed the
door, looked for key, found there was none,
and determined to take the chance.
Maxey hurried up the street, and soon
was in heated argument with the express
man, who swore he had been ordered for
three-thirty. Anyway, he'd go get the
wagon, which was in the stable nearby, and
De dIOuIlu. NldACy OdSh " eiLS
turkeys. As he mounted the steps he sud-
denly remembered that he had no key to the
front door, What should he do? Mani
testify there was only one expedient, ito ring
McDougall's bell, and, if the Scottish
woman answered it, to brave her wrath.
He pressed the button, and recoiled as the
door opened; for it was Mrs. McDougall, all
right But, instead of a scowl, she met him
with a smile,-a queer smile, Maxey remem-
bered afterward; but just then he was glad
to see any kind of smile.
The woman stepped aside, and he hur-
ried upstairs; but before he had gone half
way he stopped with shout of horror.
IN the landing above him were two crates
~ full of turkeys, gobbling and Tapping
their crowded wings, and just beyond them,
coming out of the room, was man carrying
the third crate, which he set on top of the
two others. Maxey was upon him like flash.
aHere!r he shrieked. whats thise Who
are you? What are you doing with my tur-
keys?'
aOho!" said the man, and Maxey noticed
now that he wore a uniform of some kind.
$50 you're the guy what owns these here
birds, hey?'
sHe's one O them!" 1t was the Scottish
womans voice, triumphant, accusing, from
the bottom of the stairs.
aUyl,+ 5a,,,opdad Maye1r