Palatka daily news. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1919-1994, 1922-11-19

stove and turned toward the opened
window. "For the land sakes, Silas
II here don't come all the white
hens !"
Her husband looked up from his
newspaper, to share in amazement at
the feathery procession coming up the
walk.
my gorry!" he cried. 81 must have
left the henhouse door open! Where
In tunket do you S'pose they've been
now? Makes the third time that's hap
pened In the last two weeks! My
CORY, 1 wonder whose garden they've
been into! Ezra J. Ezra!r'
"Yes, pa, I'm comm"
SIlas waved toward the feathered
tribe. Shoe them hens back into the
henhouse in a hurry, son, and bear in
mind that We'll be just as healthy if
you don't take pains to spread the
news that they've been out waikiki.
Do We hear? And, say; hold on, Ezra.
! guess you'd better light that little
oil stove and there; it rained in bit
last night, and It's made 1t kind of vet.
Don't let it burn mOre'n twenty min
utes, mind ye And watch the wick,
Ezra, watch the wick; see that it don't
work up; you most set the hull place
nfire last time. If We can't look out
for 1t any better this time, son, pom
my word, I'll lick ye."
One hour later Ezra lay stretched
on the grass, oblivious to all save the
Adventures of Scout Bob in Wild
Mans Cave" My, but it was inter
eSting. The boy could almost feel cold
shivers chase up and down his spine
as he read. Softly Bob crept into the
rave, dragging with him the can Of
oil"
"Great jumpin' iimminies The oil
stovew
Bob and his adventures ceased to
exist for Ezra, as he tore off in the di-
rectiOn of the henhouse. One glance
was enough to convince him Of the err
TOR Of his ways The wick was indeed
worked up; the hot air was thick
with sOot the walls hung with it, and
not a white hen was to be seen--every
gasping one of them appeared IN garb
Of deepest mourning.
Ezra grOaned Gosh! What'n pa
say? And him so proud of them pure
white feathers. And whatH l get 4!
Oh, gosh"
At $50, after one and half hours
OF ceaseless labor, all signs of the re-
cent smokeout had isappeared-with
the exception of the hens, who still
wore their dingy plumage. The boy
looked them over doubtfully.
"Fll tackle you after supper" he
promised.
But the best laid plans of mere man
do not always carry, and before sup
per was half over Stlas put in wOr-
ried appearance.
MANDY, we're up against it"
Mandy gulped down her swallow Of
tea. up against it! Up against
whatT'
"Wen, I'll tell We. 1 just met Sam
Pike up the street here. You know
old man Mariner that bought the New
bury farm about two months back
the Teller that forgot to pay me for
the grain 1 sold him? Well, Sam says
he's mad enough to lick the hull town.
Claims somebody's bunch of hens has
got into his garden two or three times
and raised ruCtiOn with It, He don't
knew yet who owns 'em, but he's got
Officer Ryan on the job, and they're
going to make trouble for somebody.
1t kind of listens, Mandy, as if that
somebody was me. Ryans always
seemed mighty friendly to me, but at
the same time duty is duty, and I
my CORY, here they come now"
SiIas drew himself up with all the
dignity of his five foot nine.
"Evenin', gentlemen. What can do
for YEP"
Mariner came directly to the point.
Gown any hens, Mr.. Lewis"
"I do"
"What kindT
"Purty good ones"
"Tll thank you to lead US to those
hens of yours" the officer told Lewis.
Silas reached for his hat. why
didn't you explain what you wanted in
the first place.?
Silas threw open the door. He
gasped, chOked and finally managed to
gulp: Gentlemen, them-them-
them's my hens"
Surprise and defeat showed on the
faces of the two men.
"Humph!' grunted Mariner. Il IN
derstood your hens were white, Mr..
Lewls?"
"They was-that is, they used to be
Il mean, l used to keep white ones"
"Well," said the officer, Il guess we
may as well move on, Mr.. Mariner. Sor-
~ to trouble you, Lewis. You see,
we're particularly interested in white
hens just at present-white ones, you
understand"
Part way down the walk he turned
and retraCed his steps.
"By the way, Lewis, you'd better fix
the latch on that heDhOuse door; them
hens of yours are apt to get out some
time when you're not loOkin'."
Silas' eyes twinkled, and the corners
Of his mouth stretched into grin as
he turned to the scared-looking boy in
the background.