The broad ax., 1927-07-30
Danny and the
Chickens
(CopyrIght.l
By MARTHA M. WILLIAMS

a RICH bachelor who has come TO
forty years Is assuredly entitled
to his hobbies, especially if they are
harmless. The Majors hobby was not
merely cock fighting but whatever had
to do with producing cocks Of the first
water. He would neither waste time
nor risk money upon birds otherwise
evolved His entries always ruled
favorites. Naturally the strain was
precious.
So much by way OF prologue, After
1t one will understand, easily, the
Majors rage, heart-break and murder.
lust when in mid-May marauding dog
plundered three broody mothers,
sucked every egg, then added insult to
injury by frisking up to the empty
piazza, the very moral and patterneof
happy repletion.
A strange dog, evidently ownerless,
friendless. The Major already knew
his guilt-and came like a bosom of
destruction, gun in hand, in a rage so
black he could barely see. The culprit
rose and held up a placating paw,
quite as became a gentleman dog in
truding upon strangers. The Major
raised his gun. Instantly the dog
sprang to heel, and stood like a
statue, except for the CULVER at the
very tip Of his tail The Major fell
back a step, amazed, then shouted
loudly: "You Phil Come take this
thief and hang him-higher than Ha.
man. Thieves shouldn't die the death
Of gentlemen"
You're right Indeed they
shouldn't" girls voice painted pain.
fully from the side gate. 'But who
says my Danny is theft I wouldn't
believe it,
You have to believe 1t. Come and
see. But who are you. and how came
you hereT" the Major demanded.
Tim Nora Darcy, just come from
ireland. looking for my Uncle Tim
Darcy. The car broke down a piece
back-Danny slipped away from me,
while waited for the fixing. But kill
himi You can't. Not till you kill me-"
Il tell you he's a murderer no less
thief, twenty chickens at least-and
maybe world beater or so In the
broods-"
Danny DannyI | can't believe 1t
OF you. And you broke OF sucking
eggs when you were just three months
old| Nora cried catching the dog
tight In her arms. In wink she lifted
a face, white, fearless, infinitely
grteved, saying steadily to the Major:
please, sir-I ought not to ask tt
but - but -" swallowing hard eff
you1l-have mercy-we'll 60 straight
back to Ireland-at home don't think
he could be so bad"
"No need of that" the Major said
grufly. Take him-and never let me
see him again. But let him rifle an
other nest, and nothing can save
him."
Thank you" Nora said very low,
then with a piteous shake: I'm to
blame-taking of his collar made him
so happy he lost his sense" Then
STOPPING she took tender hold Of
silky ear. But Danny marched
straight to the Major again, lifting a
placating paw. "He-he wants to be
friends-please, please don't think he
Is all bad"
"'Deed he amt, Missy" black Phil
lnterposed. "Once de collar was of
he dest had ter follow his nose-hit
tole him chicken-an' chicken he
found. Ell he wus mine, no money
wouldn't buy him. Wild him head OBJ
our kennels we'd win all de field
trials an champeen ribbins anybody
mought hang up"
"Think so, Phil?" the Major asked
almost under breath.
Phil nodded: 81 amt thinkin'-I
knows"
Inside a week Phil came to Nora's
Uncle Tim Darcy's to talk business,
large and serious. Nora had been so
fearful, so watchful that she began
to look worn and wan. She, Of course,
was spared the details--only the re.
suit mattered. That was the transfer
Of Danny under six months lease to
become the head of the Robinhood
Kennels-which ranked next his fight
ing cocks In the Majors affections.
Danny made himself free OF the
Darcy house, and IN return took all
the Darcy household to the Majors to
inspect several specially fine broods
brought off safely at exactly the right
time; that is to say, mid-June when
grass Is tenderest, insects and worms
plentiest and latest, and the waxing
sun most vital. They made a fine
show on the clipped velvet of the lawn,
these young creatures. Madame Sill
ver-Spangle marshaled the parade.
This was her third season-the fact
bespoke her a mother Incompatible.
slow much Is she worth, Major?"
Uncle Tim asked. his eyes twinkling.
"What is any perfect mother worth?"
the Major flung back at him, his eyes
the while fast on Nora. Then came
Phil with Danny on leash, In the pink
Of condition, and rapturous at sight Of
Nora, yet offering his paw to the
Major who Joined 1t with Morals in his
warm clasp, and said: "Don't you
think she belongs here. Danny7 Let's
keep her always"
Quite as though he understood,
Danny leaped up. put his paws around
the neck Of his mistress, and said I'm
his best dog Latin: "Bow-wow-yes."