Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-06-13
) larger than either Car

invader, who was larger than either Car
roll or Bob
Did you hear what I said?" demanded
Carroll furiously, but as he spoke he trip
ped over hump in the ground and fell
nat. A shout of hooking laughter came
from the boys under the tree, and they went
on hiilhg their express-wagon with the
nuts that Bob had carefully piled together.
That aggravated Bob. He was by this time
nearer the tree than Carroll and he made a
dash. took hold of the express-wagon and
upset it.
There's" he exclaimed. you shan't have
tnose nuts!' Two of the boys rushed at him
roughly and knocked him down. He strug-
gled hard, but two were more than he could
manage.
Let go" he gasped. trying to get his
hands loose.
Il see myself! one of the BOYS said.
Keep still there, or I'll make you" And he
began pounding poor Bob with his fists.
iheyre not-your-walnuts," painted Bob
struggling violently
oh, they amt, amt they?" sneered the
third boy, who was hastily putting the nuts
back into his cart. Il just guesS they are.
Here. Bill. let the kid go, and come on"
BY this time Carroll had got to his feet
again. When he saw Bob struggling in the
hands of his captors, he shouted an indig-
nant. and somewhat frightened, You stop
tnat! but they paid no attention to him.
he picked up a couple of walnuts, that had
dropped from his wheelbarrow, as he ran.
boys who had let go of Bob by this time
and were getting out on the road as fast
as they could. with their express-wagon full
to the brim with walnuts
Did you ever get left?'- called one OF
them. In derision. Bob was up again, and
mad grabbed up handful of walnuts, also
and now such a pelttng shower of hard,
green missiles few after them. that they
were glad enough to stop talking and run.
BOD and Carroll were both las mad as
hops. as Carroll would have expressed it,
and they threw hard, intending to hit and
hurt. In their excitment, they did not
notice that old Dave Rivers, on his way
nome from the village, was passing the tree
Just as the fray began. Some of the flying
Walnuts struck the side of the carriage.
STARTED by the unusual sound, the old man
poked his head out to see what was the
matter. A round green thing whizzed past,
so close to him that 1t knocked his old,
tattered hat little crooked. With an ex-
clamation. he jerked his head quickly under
shelter, and urged his horse forward to get
out OF the dangerous neighborhood. A
Few PAGES further along, he came to a halt,
and peered cautiously out to see II the dan
ger was past. Bob and Carroll fired a few
more desultory shots after the retreating
boys. Then Carroll turned to Bob.
>, you're nice oner' he exclaimed, in
dignantly. Thought you said you'd watch
the treer'
Il just went in for drink" exclaimed
Bob.
We'll, you had no business to-" retorted
Carroll. angrily. You said you'd watch the
tree, and you ought to've done it."
"Oh. well, there re lots more nuts" said
Bob.
Il don't care If there are. Those boys had
no right to 'em. They don't belong to
and" Carroll was working himself up to
such pitch that he did not know what
he was trying to say.
"Hi. there" came a voice from down the
A4,
ing. Carroll did not answer, so Bob called:
What do you want?'
BE you two boys Mr.. Mason's sons?"
Yes, of course" answered Bob, In some
surprise, for he thought "old Dave knew
them as well as they knew him.
Well!' exclaimed the old man, slowly,
Il never thought I'd live to see the day a
Mason throwed stones at poor, old, help
less man
I'VE didn't!' flashed out Carroll
Il didn't think a Mason would a done a
thing like that" went on Dave, regardless
of Carrolis statement. Young gentlemen
like you! l didn't think I'd live to be so
insulted as to hev stones threw at me by a
Mason"
I'VE didn't tell your' yelled Carroll
quite beside himself with rage
What are you talking about, anyhow
asked Bob.
'Oh. yes. oh, yes went on Dave In a
mournful voice. Them stones might a hit
me, fer all you knowed. l am surprised
that Mason should a done such thing
l am, indeed
I'VE didn't!' shouted Carroll, for the
third time. But 1 will and he picked up
a walnut.
Don't said Bob. catching hold of his
arm. 1tH only make him madden. Let
use making a FUSS
IT'S a big story muttered Carroll as
Dawes old horse and carriage disappeared
over the top of the hill, at the bottom of
III fh hn byya1 ",
house. that had once been quite respectable,
but had gone very much to rack and ruin
of late years. IN get even with him some
time
"Oh, he's half-cracked," said Bob.
I'VE didn't throw stones at him. went
on Carroll, smarting under the unjust
charge. Bob did not seem to care much;
he was fat, and he always took things more
easily than Carroll did. He felt a little
guilty, too; because If he had not gone for
that drink of water all this might not have
happened So to make amends he started
to climb the tree and shake down more
walnuts, for all those he had carefully COL
lected on the ground had been taken by
the marauders.
Look out!' he called, and began to
shake. Then he stopped and laughed. II
say, didn't those fellows run when we
fired at 'em?'
Guess we hit 'em some" replied Carroll,
grinning a little. Then Bob gave a shout
OH he called down. Il guess-say. Car
roll, we must have hit old Dave with wal
nuts when we fired! He must have been
going by Just then, and got right in the
middle of 1t. And he thought we were
firing stones at him! Oh! Ohw Bob
shrieked with laughter. and had to hold on
tight to the branch he was sitting on to
keep himself from falling
That's sou exclaimed Carroll. II did
see him coming but forgot all about him.
those fellows made me SO mad. Guess he
did get hit. maybe. But they weren't stones
and he need not have thought we were
firing them at him.
HE must have been surprised when they
came plump on his old carriage" laughed
Bob.
The picture was too much for Carroll,
and his hearty laugh cleared away all the
nl-humor from his face
CTo be continued next Saturday,
Do Birds Think?