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Show . - -it Tom Turk, Pessimist I A0 'TV . 0 0 n r T -iMk ' 1 n rt i TKe day before TKanksgivirig "c&abr V -v. I There's a price upon my head, 1 i Cvs.V And if I do escape this time , ' ( SCS f There's Christmas still" ahead! But though I'm feeling dreary Jr-i ; I don't wish that I'tfere dead! i I -- rrhe Gobbler and 'ByF.H. SWEE'I' Ann Maria Teller was guarded with the Jealousy of crabbed ownership rather than love; while Lester Brocknw, the son of an impecunious neighbor, was hated because he was poor and boldly aspired to the hand of Ann Maria. So It came to the day before Thanksgiving. Thanks-giving. That morning old Job Teller was In his yard looking with ominous eyes at a big gobbler. It was a good bird, and would be a wise leader for the next year's flock. But the gobbler gob-bler weighed fully twenty-eight pounds, and there was a son of his. a dejected young turkey that nevei strutted in the Irate father's presence which weighed not more than twelve That left a difference of sixteer pounds, at probably 25 cents a pound live weight. It was too big a strait on the old man's avaricious soul, anc the narrowing eyes said that the ole gobbler was doomed. It may be that long association ol similar minds had brought them t( read each other's thoughts; or per haps the death-croaks of expirinj chickens that morning had agitatec the wise bird with a presentiment o: danger. But be that as It may, evei as the avaricious eyes were question lng the weight, the old fellow gave : defiant gobble, spread his wings, anc rose majestically to the top of a near by apple tree. There he rested a brie moment, then went on to the next and from there to the next and next and so ou to the woods beyond. The grim eyes watching him grev wrathful for a moment, then foilove the flight speculatively. A little wa; In the woods was a spreading oak and there the gobbler had often spen a night in his younger days, to wea off a fit of sulks. Old Job made i motion to follow, then shook his heac chuckled, and went on through th yard to select other turkeys and chlcl ens for the Thanksgiving sacrifici Following turkey nature, the old gol bier would pass the night in the oal I I Looking With Ominous Eyes at a B Gobbler. and with dusk he would become stupl and drowsy and easy to remove fro: the limb. Ann Maria was shy, but had signa of red and blue and other shades i clothing to hang from her windo and these she used freely. Lest( was not shy nor to be Intimidate but he was diplomatic, and so ma aged his labor and hunting and fis lng us to keep the window conspic ously In sight. When Job went fro the house, soon after dusk, a whi skirt and a blue Jacket appeared su cesslvely at the window. Lesb dropped his fishing pole unceremot ousiy and scuttled forward to a fc bidden Interview. They were standing close togetln In the shade of the vine-covered pore when there came a shrill outcry gobble-gobbling and denuncintoi threats and exclamations of pain fro the direction of the woods. "Tour father's got the gobbler, the gobblers got him, or both," cot tnented Lester, as lie stuck his het throusrh the vines to listen. "They're coming this way, slowly eald Ann Maria, after some moment 'Then it's your father who's g hltn, a little," declared Lester, wf conviction. "But It's a fight." "Hadn't you better be going now asked Ann Maria, at the nd of anoth five minutes, as she tried half-heai edly to disengage herself from h embrace. "No," he decided, "It'll take anntlr five minutes to got here, and there a ood chance of the gobbler's hroa lng away and It ail having to he dot over n-iin. Then at the worst I ci push hack into the vines out of slgl: Your father'll he too excited to both, about in . Now- you will consent, wor you?" dropping his voice coaxing! 'I've spoken to the mUiister and-a and he'll be looking out for us ai ft time I can get you away, vijn't " There came a tremendous chitti right at lite comer of the house. "Co biogolilile-Kob-goli-ble !" shrieked turkey; and "I'll wring your blame old neck soon's I et a good holt, s 'f I don't, you you Imp of feathers !" J snarled the man. And then followed a more determined Happing of wings. . threats and snarls of pain, accompanied accompan-ied by a tugging and dragging sound, and 1 "Crowd Into the vines, quick!" whls- pered the girl. "He's right here." j The arm left her waist, and she y stepped out to the edge of the porch, where a streak of moonlight touched j her and flickered off in front. r Another moment, and the struggling a Job and the gobbler broke into the I flicker. The angry bird looked rough g and disheveled ; the man's hat was gone, and trickles of blood showed on ; face and hands where claws and beak had been at work. Of the two, the : bird was the fresher. "I'll wring youi- blamed," gasped 5 old Job, thickly, and then, "Drat It all ! He's got away !" The gobbler flopped -off Into the dusk. Job stumbled after, yelling as he did so, "Ann Maria ! Ann Maria ! Come and help." The sight of the lumbering, exhausted exhaust-ed figure, with blood on face and hauds, filled the girl's heart with consternation. con-sternation. "Dad !" she cried, as she raced after him. "The horrid thing will kill you. I Come back I" From tlie darkness of the porch another an-other figure sprang out. "If that raging old gobbler tackles Ann Maria he's liable to claw her eyes !. out," he exclaimed anxiously, and dis-' dis-' appeared, too. In the gloom. Straight across lots, and less than a fourth of a mile away, was the minister's home. Around It grew ap-; ap-; pie trees. The gobbler went directly direct-ly for these, dazed, weak from exertion exer-tion and terror, and behind him followed fol-lowed three figures, the first stumbling and fuming with wrath, and calling to the fleeter second as she came up, J "Run, run, Ann Maria I Don't ye stop lg by me, 'cause I'm beat out I Grab the blamed old " And then as Ann Maria darted away, Id the third figure rushed past. But It m was too dark and old Job was too angry to realize who It might be. Is As he went under the apple trees, In the gasping turkey heard swift steps v, closing in on him from behind, and ?r with a last mighty effort hurled him-d, him-d, self forward into the minister's open n- doorway, and fell dead. At that hill- stant Ann Maria's quick fingers cl"sed u- upon him, and the eager hand of Les-m Les-m k- Lester Dropped His Fishing Pole. a ter dropped caressingly upon the it- girl's shoulder. er "Hello, who's there?" called the i't minister. "Come In." It was too late for retreat, so they 11. stepped inside, Ann Maria holding the i.v turkey. "What! what!" exclaimed the miner min-er ister, delightedly. "A Thanksgiving h- turkey for ine, and a big one .too! ie You are indeed neighborly. Jack," 'd to a boy standing near, "take this ;e fine fellow to the kitchen. And yes, here's Lester, too. I see, I see. Well, we're all ready, I guess. Jack, tell your mother and sister to come in here for witnesses." He turned to a table and picked up a book. Lester and Ann Maria stared inquiringly at him. Then the man's face broadened into an ecstatic grin, nnd he winked at his companion. Ann Maria comprehended and grew red, but answered the wink with a smile. In five minutes the ceremony was over, and as the last word fell from ML 111 IP N5 It Was Too Late to Retreat. the minister's lips, another figure dark-ened dark-ened the doorway. "What? Neighbor Job Teller!" greeted the minister, advancing cordially. cor-dially. "They did not tell me you were coming. Too bad, too bad It's all over 1 But you're Just as welcome." Job Teller opened and shut his mouth, and then opened and shut It again. There were those who said Job did not have a single redeeming trait. But that was not so. He could swallow a fact when it waa thrown nt him. He turned and stumbled out. "Well, I'll be darned," they heard him mutter. t(c), 1122, "Western Newspaper Union.) Thanksgiving Turkey in the oven, Biggest bird we've got; Pies and cake a baking. Kitchen piping hot. Everybody hungry, Children wild as hares Mother very happy Angel unawares. Dinner on the table Naught to do but eatf Father asks the blessing, Rising to his feet. Boys have both the drumsticks, Girls the wings and breast) Baby takes the wish bone Older folk the rest. All the family happy, Craclcin nuts and jokes; May says "Pass the candy." Dad hands out the smokes. Mother starts the singing, Quaver in her voice "Praise God for his mercies, Let us all rejoice.' |