The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1915-11-27

ing, as II It had come quite a distance,
Its foot had seemingly caught in some
barbwire and was badly lacerated.
THE poor thingl" exclaimed gentle
hearted and plying Ruth. 1T won't
do to leave it among the chickens"
"0h, no, the ROSTERS are ready to
peck at 1t now" Joined in Meta.
Finally they decided to carry 1t up
into the barn. where there was a par.
titioned-off room. AS Ruth lifted the
turkey It made no demur or resistance.
It fact, it seemed to recognize her as
a kindly spirit and quite cuddled up in
her arms. They got some hay, and in
a very brief space of time the gobbler
had a comfortable bed, its wounded
foot salved and bound up, and a plat.
ter of corn and a pan of water within
ready reach.
AS the days went on It became q
regular pet to Ruth. She nursed It,
fed 1t, and the grateful bird seemed to
greet her morning and evening visits
with pleasure. Every day GRANDPA
Their Gardner gloated over the pro.
spective feast, demanding to know
how the coveted fowl was fattening
up.
Next Sunday, Ruth" he suggested,
at the end of a few days, and Ruth's
heart sank. Somehow the pretty fowl
had appealed to her protection. She
could not think of having 1t killed and
eaten, but the old man was imperious
and obstinate. He would hear Of nc
respite.
1t was Saturday afternoon and Ruth
was walking slowly home from the
store. The turkey was on her mind
and she scarcely noticed that a hand
some, well-dressed young man had
caught up with her, was walking by
her side and had lifted his hat cour
~teously, until he spoke the words:
Excuse me. miss, but am l headed
right for Hubbard road?'
II am going in that direction my
SELF" explained Ruth.
AS If he valued the tacit Invitation
to keep her company, the young mai
fell into her step, keeping up a chat
ty, pleasing conversation that mad,
. her feel interested. His talk was o
the county fair, He had been n o
the exhibitors. Ruth was quite re
luctant to pause and inform him:
This is Hubbard road"
"Ah, thanks he bowed, land cal
you further direct me to the Gardne
home? 1t is for there am bound"
"As Mr.. Gardner is my gr~andfathe
and | live with him, l think had bel
ter continue t. be your guide" e1
planned Ruth with a smile.
You are Miss Ruth Warren, then?
spoke the young man, In surprise an
with pleasure. why, then, my bus
ness is with you. 1t is about-a tut
key, Rhodame, the prize fowl in II
class, which escaped when the count
fair broke up, and worth-well, a hui
dred dollars for its recovery, and
you still have it, as / learned in tn
town you did have it"
You have come Just in time" spok
Ruth, eagerly and gladly, and the
{ she told the story of the bird in II
entirety.
J Mr.. Paul Rivers told his in turl
The lost turkey was a rare fowl
i a valuable breed. The chit-chat
Meta in the village had been ii
means of his tracing down Rhodam
and Meta received a check for or
. hundred dollars two days later.
A week after that young Rive
came himself again to the humb
Gardner cottage. And after that, al
. then again. The kindness of Ruth
4 his pet and prize helped her beaut
N in winning his heart, and Ruth VIZ
asked to share his wealth and h
n name.
8 Copyright, 1915. by w. C. Chapman.