The Washington herald., 1915-11-21

OF fresh air. but when he reached the
deck his attention was arrested by a
big sound steamer which was making
| her way slowly down the river. and he
forgot everything else until a sudden
bump that almost jolted him on his feet
reminded him that the ferry boat had
landed at her pier. At that moment
he saw the man with the basket walk
rapidly to the front OF the boat. slir
through the middle gate without waiting
for it to be opened and step on the pier
before the chain was wound up.
With a bound Tim scuttled down tho
stairway and into the cabin where he
had left his Thanksgiving treasure. In
his haste to get ashore with his basket
he did not stop to investigate. but 1t did
seem to him as he lifted it from the
floor that there was something unfamiliar
about it-that 1t was not precisely like
the basket he had brought into the boat,
a trife larger. perhaps. and not exactly
the shape he seemed to recall.
Still. more and more. as he proceeded
on his way to the street, the conviction
forced itself on Tim that there was some
thing wrong with that basket. What ii
might be he could not determine. but he
resolved to lift the cover and take a peep
into it the minute he found a convenient
opportunity. Before that opportunity ar
rived. something happened that set Tins
heart to beating double speed and almost
caused him to drop his load and take to
his heels.
All at once there was a movement in
side the basket-not a gentle little culver
so slight that it might easily have been
attributed to the imagination, but not
to-be-mistaken moving about of some
thing within that basket,
Could 1t be the turkey suddenly come
to life? Tim knew nothing at all about
the habits Of the bird that plays such a
prominent part in the proper celebration
Of Thanksgiving Day. but he was far too
shrewd a lad to waste much time over
such contuncture as that The first
movement was followed by another which
was even more decided. and by the time
Tim reached the street there was not the
slightest doubt in his mind that there
was something very much alive in the
basket which he carried on his mus
cular right arm-something, too,
which wanted to get out.
As Tim stepped into the street, his
mind made up to solve the mystery
without delay. he observed that a
small crowd had assembled just be-
yond the exit, and when he went a
little closer he made a discovery that,
for a moment, made him forget all
about the living, moving thing inside
the basket Out in the middle of the
Sir, Ct, held In the firm grasp Of two
stalwart policemen, was the short,
dark man who had been his sole COM
panion in the mems cabin of the
ferry boat, and on the rough. cobble-
stone pavement at their feet was a
basket, its cover removed so that
there appeared in full view a fine
looking ten-pound turkey and many
of the other necessaries which, when
properly treated. help to make up the
complete Thanksgiving dinner.
Then for the first time and like fash
It struck Tim that in some way and for
some reason which he did not yet under
stand the man whom the policemen had
collared had exchanged baskets with him
while he was on deck. He was so excited
over this conclusion that almost before
he realized what he was doing he pushed
his way through the crowd. basket and