“I’ll get out the car now, Janet, and we’ll run over to Ames and then drive on to the store for the white-wash,” offered Frances.
“I’ll go with you, Janet, and help you pick out good hens from Uncle’s flock,” added Dorothy Ames.
“And when you come back with the alcohol and white-wash, we experienced farm scouts will help you clean the fowl and white-wash the coops,” added Nancy.
Dorothy went with Janet to help Sam catch the chickens which had to go back to their former owner, but the little chicks and the setting hen were left undisturbed. When the prisoners had been placed in sacks the stock scouts, Dorothy Ames and Janet and the chickens were stowed away in the car.
When Dorothy explained to her uncle about the hens, he shook his head slowly as he replied: “I tried my best to make Janet buy young hens but she thought I was doin’ her out of a bargain. Now she has seen for herself!”
Janet admitted the fact, and Farmer Ames led the girls to the large chicken-run to permit them to make another choice.
“If I were you, Janet, I’d take some Rhode Island Red hens and a rooster. They may not look so large but they are the best layers and smallest eaters of all other well-known kinds of hens,” whispered Dorothy, when the three girls stood wondering what to do.
“I tole Janet, when she was here afore, to take a few guinea-hens, cause they are fine layers, you know, Dot,” added Mr. Ames.
“I’d much rather have a few ducks, Mr. Ames,” said Janet.
“But I warned you that ducks is hard to keep well unless you make a special business of them. Geese is much easier to keep.”