Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1921-04-21
The
Professors Egg
By HAROLD SINCLAIRE
70, 1921. Western Newspaper Union


dishes.
ELLEN, my DEAR" he said, Doctor
Cavendish of the Natural History
museum will be here this afternoon
Can you get up a meal for him.? He
has to start back tomorrow morn
ing"
Il suppose so, Ferdinand" answered
his wife, little tartly.
Professor Brinckhofen engaged a
rowboat and pulled round to the rail
in time to greet Doctor Cavendish as
his visitor stepped out of his car.
We'll, what did you think of my let
ter?" he asked, after the customary
greetings had been interchanged.
Doctor Cavendish took his friend
by the arm. My dear old enthusiast"
he answered, ito be frank with you,
| am skeptical-Wholly skeptical. 1t
sounds too good 10 be true. If you
had told me that you had discovered
a buried Indian village or a dozen
asteroids | would have accepted your
word without question. But great
auk's egg-no, my friend. You have
probably mistaken the egg of a
crested grebe or tufted putin for that
of the aux"
But the great aux did range as far
south as Maine in the last century!'
cried the professor.
what does Mrs. Brinckhofen think
of it,"
"She doesn't know anything about
it. of course. | don't believe in tell
ing my wife a professional secret.
And the joke of it is"-he nudged
Cavendish in the ribs-'it's incubat-
ing with clutch of eggs that she set
out last week under one of our hens.
1t couldn't be safer anywhere"
"Show mel" said Cavendish, skep-
tically.
They climbed the hill and entered
the little garden of the bungalow. In
one corner was the henhouSe and, in
the CENTER seated upon a clutch of
eggs surrounded with straw, was a
gray hen.
Professor Brinckhofen plunged his
hand into the clutch and drew out the
precious .sg. 1t was a little larger
than that of a goose.
Good heavens, Brinckhofen, it is!
1t isl" yelled Doctor Cavendish, and,
carefully replacing it, he seized his
friend round the waist and the two
graybeardS executed a dance.
Mrs. Brinckhofen watched them out
of the kitchen window.
She sat down and meditated upon
the subject until the men came in
Then she welcomed Doctor Cavendisf
with smiles.
Come Cavendish, l want to SHOW
you my laboratory" said BrinckhOfen
dragging his friend away as soon az
he decently could. They went int
the professors little bare room ant
began discussing the great discovery
"Of course it goes to the museum
Brinckhofen," said Cavendish. ut vii
be worth a thousand dollars to you"
"a thousand dollars :" exclaimed tn
professor. you are joking, Cavendisf
Why, the egg alone would bring tina
at auction"
Eyes, yes, Pm speaking about tn
egg" said Doctor Cavendish irritably
"What are you speaking abOut?'
"Why, the aux, Of course. Don
you know that ] put it there so tina
it would hatch? Why, We'll have
real live bird, Cavendish. | shall So
it to the Geological society, and T.
patch up the egg after it has hatche
out. and I'll let you have that for
thousand And the bird will lay NOR
eggs, and I'll get a thousand apiec
for those too. and
81 say" interpOsed Cavendish, "r'
member it isn't Matched yet. If Wer
you I would tell Mrs. Brinckhofe
about it,"
"Tell Mrs. BrinckhOfen! Why, she
tell the neighbOrs and they'd steal
or do something to it Never trust
woman. No, it is safest just where
u.s."
They argued with some lack {
equanimity until dinner time, Whe
Mrs. BrinckhOfen elected them int
the dining room.
"Hum I'm hungry as a bear" sal
Doctor Cavendish, pulling his napki
across his knees. what have we here
Scrambled eggs? Fine
81 don't know whether you Iik
scrambled goose eggs" said Mr.
BrnckhOfen. 'They say they're ver
nice. l found one under our biddy-
must have been laid by one of NJ
Giles geese, for it wasn't there la
time | looked SO / thought that {
we hadn't many eggs I'd try what
tasted like"
"Woman" gasped the professo
springing to his feet, "do you mean
say you-you scrambled that eggT'
Eyes, DEAR" said Mrs. Brinckhofe
sweetly.