The Red Cloud chief., 1922-09-07
WHITE ONES
BY n H.. RICE


window. For the land sakes, SilHs!
If here don't come all the white
hens"
Her husband looked up from his
newspaper, to share I'm amaZement ut
the feathery procession coming up the
walk.
MY CORY! !" 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, I wonder whose garden they've
been into! Ezra!! Ezra !"
"Ycs, 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 II
you don't take pains to spread the
news that they've been out walkin'.
Do We hear? And, say hold on, Ezra.
1 guess you'd better light that little
oil stove and there; 1t raincd in a BIT
last night, and It's made it kind of ct.
Don't let it burn more'n twenty min
utes, mind We. And watch the wick,
Ezra, watch the wick see that 1t don't
work up; you most set the hull place
afre last time. If We can't look out
for It any better this time, son, pom
my word, I'll lick ye."
One hour later Ezra lay stretched
on the grass, obllvious to all save the
Adventures Of Scout Bob In Wild
Mans Cave" My, but 1t was inter.
esting. The boy could almost feel cold
shiyers chase up and down his spine
as he read. "Softly Bob crept into the
cave. dragging with him the can Of
OIL" T.
"Great jumpin' j%imminies! The oil
stove!"
Bob and his adventures ceased to
exist for Ezra, as he tore of In the dl.
rectlon Of the henhouse. One glance
was enough to convince him Of the err
ror of his ways. The wick was indeed
"worked up; the hot air was thick
with SCOT the walls hung with 1t, and
not a white hen was to be een-eve
gasping II of them appeared in garb
Of deepest mourning.
Ezra groaned. Gosh! What'll pa
say? And him SO proud of them pure
white feathers. And what'll / get |!
Oh, gosh"
At $50, after one and a half hours
Of eeaseless labor, all signs Of the re-
cent smokeout had dlsappeared-with
the exception of the hens, who still
wore, their dingy plumage. the boy
looked them over doubtfully, 49,.
I'm tackle you after supper" he
promised.
But the best laid plans Of mere man
do not always carry, and before sup
per vas half over Silas put In q wor.
ried appearance.
MANDY, we're up against 1t"
Mandy gulped down her swallow Of
tea. up against 1t! Up against
what?"
"Well, I'll tell We. I just met Sam
Pike up the street here. You know
old man Mariner that bought the New
bury farm about TIVE months back
the Teller that forgot to pay me for
the grain i 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 1t. 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. Ryan's always
seemed mighty friendly 10 me, but ut
the same time duty is duty, and l.
my CORY, here they come now!'
Silas drew himself up with all the
dignity of his five foot nine,
"Eyenin', gentlemen. What can I do
FOR yeT'
Mariner anne directly To the point
"Own any hens, Mr.. Lewisf"
~ do
"What kinl?'
"Purty good ones"
"lll thank you to lead us to those
hens Of yours" the officer told Lewis
Sllas reached for his hat. "Why
didn't you explain what YOU wanted In
the first place.
Sllas threw open the door. He
gasped, choked and finally managed t.
gulp: Gentlemen. them-them-
them's my hens"
Surprise and defeat showed on thu
faces of the two men.
"Humph !" grunted Mariner. II I'm
derstood your hens were white. Mr.
Lewis?"
"They was-that Is, they used to b.
II mean, I used to keep white ones
"Well," said the %oficer. II guess w
may as well move on. Mr.. Mariner. Sor
|. ~ to trouble you. Lewis. You see
we'rs particularly interested In whit
hens Just at present-white ones, yo'
. understand"
|, Part way down the walk he turnet
and retraced his steps.
by the way, Lewis. you'd better d.
the latch on that henhOuse door then
hens of yours are apt to get out som
time when you're not lookin'."
!, Silas' eyes ~twinkled, and the corner