Cheyenne record., 1920-10-28
His Neishbor'. Hen
By H. L. RAYBoLD

By H. L. RAYBoLD
&c. 1889. By Mcclure Newspaper syndicats.)
Slowly thundercloud gathered on
the moist brow Of George Davis, seated
on the edge Of the wheelbarrow In tenn
porary rest from his labors. There she
came again. stepping ever 80 daintily
and headed unmistakably for the Just
appearing row Of tender green pea
sprouts hrst fruits Of his planting.
That confounded white heni
He had supposed that at last he
had stopped every gap in the fence
where she might gain access-yet here
abe was. punctual and voracious a.
usual.
Was he to be pestered to death BY
neishbors who kept hens and let them
roam unrestrainedf He hated to live
In unfriendliness with those around
him. Already he had q grudge against
the neighbor In his rear. who hap
pened to be his landlord and who,
exercising the prerosatives thereof, had
Jumped his rent an absurdly unreason-
able $40 month.
And now these people on his left
were forcing him to become unpleas-
ant by ignoring his ostantatious bank
ing Of the wire fence With dirt and his
loudly uttered shooing Of their trouble
some fowl.
Thunderationi She was scratching
his beans Just where the soil was
broken with the efforts Of the aeed-
lings to reach the light. '.Too much
Is enoughl |" he cried, and started in
pursuit. The chase led him in cir
cles around his garden and In dag
onals across It and ended In q mass
Of tangled shoots at the base Of the
white lilac hedge which lined part
Of the fence. But he caught the in
truder and, for temporary safe
keeping. slowed her away in burlap
bag. Just emptied Of seed potatoes.
Then, after considerable mopping Of
his brow. he searched In his pockets
for card and pencil and, after a mo-
ment's deliberation, wrote very plainly
the following sentiment:
-Regret to state that next time I
ulIu Will 1CCA CuAACu "
do SO on platter"
Attaching card about the hens
neck with a piece Of twine he had
been using to straighten his rows.
George dropped the hen over the fence
and returned to his hoeing.
The white lilac hedge concealed from
him the greater part Of his neighbors
yard, and when, some time later, he
heard voices the other side Of the
bushes, he at first paid no heed. Then.
gradually. certain rising infection
and several calculations caught his at
tention, and he became, in spite Of him
self, aware of their words. In fact,
he at length quite shamefacedly ceased
hoeing and inclined his ear very def
uitely in the direction Of the hedge.
"Well-of all things!".
"Did you everr'
II suppose he thinks"
"Every one says he's odd and this
proves It But he doesn't mean It.
He wouldn't darel"
The last three words really settled
the fate Of the hen. Wouldn't dare
kill that old beast that was eating up
his garden faster than he could plant
it? But bark. what were they say
ingf
''Go right along back and dig up
his old garden" Laughter.
Two days later, after discovering
the nibbled remains Of the first spears
Of the Golden Bantam corn, George
made a neat job Of 1t, down to the
plucking and dressing and singeing.
Then arose the question Of presenta-
ton. It would never do to throw the
bird under the hedge and leave 1t to
be discovered.
That would be equivalent to pro-
viding banquet for all the cats in
the neighborhood. No, he must de-
liver it in person. And now that the
moment Of his revenge had actually
arrived, George, who was not by ma
ture vindictive. shrank from making
the most Of 1t. However. he was not
one to put his hand to the plow, to
use seasoned metaphor, and then
turn back.
Shortly after dusk, Strengthening
his resolution with memories of his
wrongs, his arms burdened with plat
ter Gas promised in the note) on which
rested the remains invitingly ready
for the oven, George peered through
the hedge. Yes, some one, indistinct
In the twilight, was watering down a
garden. Great idea that-keeping ones
own garden intact by sending ones pet
hen into somebody else's garden.
"Ahem," he gently invited attention.
"I'm sorry, but I had to keep my
word. Here she isl" He deposited
the platter and turned quickly away.
He had seen the hose drop suddenly
at the sound Of his voice and he had
gathered an incoherent: "What-why
Than ~lloxao ,..hnal.o.. n1xa