The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1883-06-20

ed come out boldly and refuse TO have any
thing to do with it, lest Joe should call them
girl babies with no spirit at all, all behind
the times. regular milk-sops; that would be
dreadtul-and yet not one of them liked the
plan.
1--WE boys at home have done such things
lots of timer; it's piles of fun, going out at
night so. and having to take care no. TO be
seen. Of course" Joe added loftily, "after
Sam has had his scare we can take up con-
tribution and pay him we'll"
That sounded better-perhsps Joe was not
so bad, after sll; they felt ashamed to think
they had suspected him; there would be fun
getting them, and wouldn't Sam make
sport for them, it was such sport TO sse him
angry.
He was a half-foolish fellow, who lived by
himself at the farther end of the town, and
raised few small fruits and early veget-
ables. The strawberries were his particular
pets; he watched over them as snxiOlsly and
tenderly as mother over child-no straw
berries were so early, so largo, or SC nice as
his. Left 10 himself, Sam was quiet and
harmless; but if molested, or vexed IN any
way. he was wild ALMOST bevond control.
What could excite him so as to lose his
first strawbeTries2 How he would fairly ravel
As Joe suggested, they would make it all
right sfterwsSd. So they laid their plans for
the next night, or rather Joe planned for
them and they silently consented.
They were TO 60 TO the lot one s. q time,
lest if seen in 4 band they would be suspected
and they were to meet a. the ole barn az ten
o'clock for 8 spread.
Having settled it, they broEe up early and
went their several ways, with guilty look
about them so soon.
It YVES noticeable t1at the entire Club was
very quiet he next Day, and betrayed consid-
cradle agitation if suddenly or unexpectedly
addressed.
II wish we were out of it" said Hal Win.
terra just before night. Il believe we're
gong to get caught, and foT all Joe says,
can { see such a terrible amount OF fun in
it. 1 wouldn't tell him so, though, for he'd
say we were pack of thick-headed country
looms"
Night came at last, snd also the time TO put
their plans into execution. Ned Ashley was
the first one to visit the strawberry plot. He
came from the north, and erept along in the
shade Of the bushes.
Everything was quiet. Sans house was
shut; he was frm believer in the early 10
bed and early to rise doctrine, especially in
strawberry time Furthermore, his room was
on the other side Of the house, 80 there was
no danger Of his seeing them, and there were
no EeAr neighborF.
Ned came up a little more boldly as ne saw
how disturbed it seemed, and he went to the
portion Of the lot assigned to him.
Jerusalem cricketsp he said aloud, with
low whistle of surprise which he checked
instantly, after an astonished survey of not
only his portion but the whole lot. Then
with hasty glance over his shoulder toward
Sans house, he went away much faster than
he had come.
Tom Wells WAS the next one; he came
from the South road, so he had not seen Ned.
He, too, turned and went away rapidly after
few minutes survey. So one after another
they came and went empty-handed, for, do
you know, in the whole lot, which at seven
O'Clock had been 30 full of nice red berries,
there was not ripe berry to be seen, not a
single one.
1t was Just ten o'clock when the band Of
Wild Cats-a very appropriate name for
them in their present state of mind-crept
slowly and shsmefacedly up toward the old
barn.
What does it meant" they questioned
anxiously of each other.
Had Sam changed his mind and picked at
night instead of early in the morning? Bat
he never could have picked them all him.
self in an hour. Whist could it mean? Were
they suspected? They opened the barn door
and went in, only to stop before they were
hardly over the threshold, ia fear and amaze
ment
From every corner there appeared girl
there was Lou Bently, just beyond was
Kitty Carroll, over in that corner Carrie
Hyde, in another Ned Willis-They were all
there, in one place and another.
allow do you do? We are the w.
T.'s, and we've come to give you q surprise
party. We knew you met here, but we be-
gan to be afraid that you were not coming
tonight. Come in. do"
Wasn't it dreadfull
81 declare" said Ned Ashley, afterwards.
81 should have thought was making mon
ey if L could have sold myself for q cent"
The girls few about merrily, paying no
attention TO the utterly crest-fsllen, anxious
faces Of their guests; nor did any one notice
that Joe took the first opportunity that pre-
sented Itself, of slipping out of the door and
away
"l'm not going to get caught in any such
trap" he said to himself.
Nov, boys" said Lou Bentley, ''if you
will make yourselves useful few minutes,
We will in our turn serve you; just open
the doors, please, so we can see."
The boys did as requested, and lol aud
B0LOlul IL Ouo COIItI ctOOQ DeuCu l6hNAly
laden with plates of cake, while at each end
stood large dish of-strswberries.
The Wild Cats were fairly dumb with
shame and surprise. If only the floor would
open and let drop into China, what relief
it would bel
But the w. c. T.'s, whatever that stood
for, chatted away as easily and pleasantly as
could be, while they served themselves and
guests.
.'Ssm has the best berries of any one.
doesn't he?" said Nell Willis, as she passed
her saucer to be re-flled. "Do you know"
she went on, looking innocently toward the
boys, papa says Mr.. Kent said if any one
stole Sans berries he'd find them, sure as
could be, and have them arrested"
"But them" che added, ''there is no dan
ger, for no one around here would think of
it, L know"
Not Wild Cat looked up or made any
reply. "Now," said the President of the w.
q. T.'s, after the feast was over, "hsven't
we had good timer"
"Splendidp answered the Wild Cats in
unison, as cheerfully as could be expected in
their state of mind.
"Then what is the use in trying to run
two clubs2 Why not unite9"
'Why not7" echoed the Wild Cats.