Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1917-04-15
POLLY AND HER POULTRY
By D0R0THY DOUGLASS.
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| N''A'N-lol N4-lckeDS, II anyone had suggested to her some two years before that she would some day be the owner of small and profitable poultry 1arm Polly would have laughed the 1 tdea to Scorn.
 "l didn't reckon on my dear broth. FfS Feaith, or rather lack of health, .hen she ruminated. In her heart l Sile Knew that she would have worked hef 1ln&ers to skin and bone if by so aoln& she could watch the color return llls 10 DonS checks and the sparkle 70 his eyes. The color was beginning |" appear and the eyes were already responding to her care. A healthy, strong man was developing slowly but 1 surely i'll her brother.
 II It hadn't been for you," she said to him, Il would never have thought of the country and never dreamed that l had courage and intelligence enough 10 start 8 chicken farm. Aren't we lucky to be so independent?' Polly questioned while she whipped up an egg.
 You are making a perfect baby of me-" the brother said, as he swallowed the egg.
 You required babying for a while." Polly said: then added laughingly: "As soon as you are robust enough ] am going to put you on guard at night by the henhouse. Two more of our beau- tiful six-naonths-od Minorcas have | been stolen from the coop.'
 A crash as of smashing timber sounded sharply from the road in front.
 She and Don rushed out and ran quickly to the side of huge motor that had plunged madly through the whitewashed fence that guarded their property.
 My sister and I are not hurt,'' a mans voice quickly assured her.
 A second later Polly stood beside ing solicitously over the most lovely woman Polly had ever seen.
 ''We have done fearful damage to your fence," he added; and after as 1 certaining for certain that his sister was not going to faint or perform any other feminine maneuver he turned his eyes and attention toward Polly.
 You must come inside moment" she said hastily. My brother and l were just about to have cupful of tea. Won't you join us?"
 "We will be charmed" Adele Vim cent said with the delightful frankness that was part of her nature. "Won't we, brother?'
 'Indeed we will," John Vincent re- piled with alacrity.
 Polly led the way, and once inside went quickly to Don's side.
 Our name is Vincent 2, her brother said. "And ours Parker" Don returned.
 "We will enjoy our tea far more if you and your brother promise right now to come up and have dinner With us tonight. We live just at the top of the hill." Adele pointed out of the | window to where a rambling old man. sion gleamed in the sunlight.
 4 ''My brother is not very strong. make him go to bed with the chick ens," Polly laughed and cast an affec- ! tionate glance at Don. "Like so many people who possess wonderful voices he is delicately constructed. Could we rush off rather early?'' E, 7 "Oh!'' breathed Adele rapturously, s'I have had the most glorious organ installed in the library. You will come up and sing for me, won't you?" She was all eagerness and Don flushed sen- sitively. irr
 "Sister is bit daft on music" John Vincent told Polly. "You and seem to be left out in the cold. However, he added with look of keen appre- citation at Polly Parker, "I will show you all my patents and inventions while they are racketing at the piano" Polly caught the admonishing glance Adele sent him and laughed quickly.
 "Never mind, MT. Vincent" she said, s'if you can show me any patent that will catch chicken thief I will be hugely interested" lj
 In the evening Don was fastidious about his necktie and Polly fretted over the lines of her old-fashioned eve ming dress of simple muslin. It was at the dinner table that Polly ! opened wide her eyes and laughingly held up the drumstick of a chicken, | "Donny," she questioned, "whose identification mark is that?" She laughed, but there was wonderment in her expression. Adele Vincent and her brother gazed inquiringly at the small pink celluloid ring that clrcled the drumstick Polly was exhibiting. i By Jove-it's one of your six-month Minorcasr' Don exclaimed. Vincent called the cook into the dining room ,t "Ah done buy them bullets from ma vegetable man," she told them. T see that pink ring on the leg and done put it back when it come out of the oven lust to see what you-all thought about it."
 'That vegetable man, Martha, is s chicken thief and has been robbine this young lady's henhouse for many
 ho with nl11.