Part 25 (2/2)

Billings laughed. ”I'm on,” he said.

Pap put the bag of eggs back of the cracker-box, and put three of them in his pocket.

When he reached home he quietly slipped around the house and deposited the three eggs in three nests, and went it.

The next morning Sally greeted him with a smile. ”Eggs this mornin', Pap,” she said. ”That hen-food did work like a charm. I got three eggs.”

Pap ate without comment until he had finished the second egg. He felt that he could eat a dozen, after his long fast.

”It do seem good to have eggs agin,” he said.

That evening, and the next evening he deposited three eggs as before. On the third morning Sally said: ”It's queer about them hens, Pap; they lay, but they don't cluck like a hen generally does when she lays an egg.”

Pap hesitated for a moment.

”It's sich cold weather,” he said, ”I reckon that's why.”

About a week later Sally said: ”I do declare to gracious, Pap, them hens do puzzle me.”

Pap moved uneasily in his seat.

”The do puzzle me!” repeated Sally. ”Here the are layin' right along as reg'lar as summer-time, and never cluckin' or lettin' on a bit, and the queerest thing is they jist lay three eggs every day. It don't seem natural!”

That night Pap put four eggs in the nests. The next night he put in five, and the next night three, and the danger into which his wiles had fallen was averted.

One morning Sally startled him by saying: ”Pap, I can't make them hens out. Here they are a-layin' right along, and all at once they quit layin' decent sized eggs like they ought, and begin layin' little mean things no better than banty eggs.”

Pap scratched his head.

”You must allow, Sally,” he said, ”that it's quite a strain on a hen to keep a-layin' right along through such weather as this, and I'm only thankful they lay any. Mebby if you give them a leetle more o' that hen-food they'll do better.”

”I believe it,” said Sally. ”Why, it's wonderful, Pap. I shouldn't be a bit surprised to find 'em layin' duck eggs if I jist give 'em enough o'

that stuff.”

Pap looked closely at her face, but it was innocent of guile. She suspected nothing.

The next day the eggs were of the proper size.

”It's a real blessin' to have hens a-layin',” she said one day. ”I took half a dozen over to the minister's wife this mornin', and she was so pleased! She said it was sich a blessin' to have fresh eggs again.

She was gittin' sick o' them she's been buyin' at Billings'. She was downright thankful.”

About a week later she said:

”Them hens of ourn do beat all creation. I run out o' that hen-food a week ago, and I hain't give them a mite since, and they keep a-layin'

jist the same. I can't make head nor tail of them, Pap.”

Pap squirmed in his chair.

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