Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-06-27
FOUR LITTLE INDIANS
Or, How Carroll SCOT Even"
BY ELLA MARY COATES.
Copyright. 1902. by Henry T. Coates & Coz
CHAPTER III,

| NSePshents AvVS, W heuEg L. Sodtes q wi
CHAPTER III.
ooh. dear. it's tomorrow sighed Bob, as
he opened his eyes on Monday morning.
You'd better hurry. too said Carroll.
TITS almost breakfast time"
| AS the boys trudged of to school they
met Dave Rivers coming toward them, his
bony old horse jogging along at a pace
hardly or a walk, and one side curtain Of
the old carriage Tapping loose in the breeze
1 Bob laughed.
| There's Dave" he said; "now's your
chance to tell him. Carroll. Doesn't he look
| dried up, though? II one of those walnuts
lad hit him, guess 1t would have knocked
him over fat"
You're just as much in 1t as I am" re-
torted Carroll. You've got to apologize,
| too.''
Bob's face fell. but he replied, carelessly:
Well, then, come along; we might well
! get It over. Hello Dave! he sang out
cheerfully. as they met.
The old man looked at them without
| smiling. and gave little, short nod. but did
| not answer. Carroll went up to the wagon
and laid his hand on the horses back; 1t
Immediately stopped and stood with droop-
| ing head.
Dave" said Carroll. bravely. at was a
mistake. on Saturday. We didn't throw
| stones at you, but we were firing walnuts
at those boys who were stealing them, and
maybe some Of them hit you. We forgot
| but were very sorry If any did-we didn't
do 1t on purpose"
NO chimed in Bob. "of course we
| didn't. And we're sorry If we hurt YOU"
| Dave looked from one face to the other
| SO 1t wasn't stones We was a-throwin p
he asked, slowly. why didn't We say so
| afore?"
1--WE didn't think" said Carroll. you
said stones, and we hadn't thrown any
stones"
We'll, walnuts is jest as bad as stones
| Is, replied the old man, severely; land you
| throw them hard things at a poor, defense
| less old man."
But we didn't throw them at YOU"
eagerly explained Bob;
| NO" added Carroll, at was those boys
| we threw them at, and you must have got
| In the way. don't know, because didn't
| see you. but If anything hit you it was those
walnuts, and we told you we were sorry for
that"
| But Dave did not seem to understand. He
| shook his head doubtingly.
| Il don't see no differ between them hard,
| green walnuts and stones" he said. ITS
no use you .tryin' to explain; 1 know them
| things hit this here carriage, and might "a
| hit me. and I'm surprised and astonished
tibet Mason should do sech things"
| Cant you understand? Are you stupid?'
said Carroll. angrily, but Bob began to
laugh.
Guess you're getting deaf, Dave" he
| shouted at the top or MS voice.
Dave heard that quite well. He straight
| ened himself up, and replied with dignity.
Little boy, be careful what you say. I'm
| no more deaf than you be. Certainly not.
FIRST you throw stones at me and then you
| insult me-your father wouldn't "a done
| that; he is a real gentleman; but I'm afraid
you're black sheep. Yes, indeed. Get up,
| Jim!'
| well I'll be!'' exclaimed Bob, not know
ing whether to laugh or to be angry. Car
| roll solved his difficulty by bursting into a
| shout of merriment at the surprised ex-
preston on Bob's face.
| That's one your he laughed. $50
you're a black sheep, are you? That's a
| good one!''
Bob could see a joke, even when it was
| against himself, and they both laughed
| heartily as they proceeded on their way to
| school, Dave having resumed his slow jog
| trot homeward.
| Hes just about as stupid as any one 1
| ever saw" remarked Carroll in disgust
| after a pause, during which he had been
| going over the scene in his mind.
| "Oh, he's not worth bothering about" re-
piled Bob. He don't know what he's say
| Ing, 1 don't believe"
| well, he needn't be so cross, anyhow"
| answered Carroll. I'VE said we were sorry
| and he had no business to scold us after
that. I'm not sorry, now. 1 wish had hit
| his old head and knocked his teeth out!'
"Oh; he makes me tired!' yawned Bob,
shifting the strap of his schoolbag from
| one shoulder to the other.
| 1 IL get even Win MIN, yet, SAID Car
roll vindictively. You don't catch me
| speaking to him again-never!'
| What's the use of making row." asked
Bob, who had not enough energy to stay
| angry long. Hes half crazy
| Il don't care II he isl replied Carroll
| fiercely. He has no right to call us names
| and talk that way to u.s."
1T was only me he called Names" said
Bob with laugh.
Its all the same thing" answered Car
roll magnanimously. Although there were
| frequent little quarrels and squabbles be-
| tween the two boys they were very loyal
| to each other. and an injury done to one of
| them was as much resented by the other as
| If to himself
1t was always a hard task to get through
! the school hours on Monday. They invaria-
| bly, left their lessons to be studied as best
| they could be before breakfast that morn
ing; and then, just as regularly, forgot to
| get up and do them. This day, however
| things were little better than usual. The
| lessons were not hard, and owing to
great prevalence Of measles in the neigh
| borhood so many Of the scholars were alb
| sent that kind Of holiday feeling pervaded
| the whole school, and the teachers were
| inclined to be lenient toward those who
We're there.
Carroll and Bob burst into the house
after school was over, shouting at the top
Mother! Mother! Good news, good
| news!''
! Dear me, 1 should think it must be. to
| cause you TO make SucQ a NOISE, laughed
Mrs. Mason, coming out of the dining room
| and covering her ears with her hands.
What is it?"
mo more school for two weeksi Hur-
rah!' yelled Carroll. "Everybodys got the
| measles, and the rest are SO scared they
| won't come to school. Isn't 1t great?"
mo more school, no more school, chant
| ed Bob, as ne gave his books toss on to
| chair "Hurrahr'
"Hurrah, hurrah we bring the jubilee!
| Hurrah, hurrah. the news that makes us
free!
| sang Carroll, pitching his books into one
| corner OF the hall, and aiming his cap at
the hatrack in a vain idea that 1t would
! catch upon one of the hooks and hang itself
| up. Then ne threw his feet into the air
and walked into the dining room on his
| hands. He was very proud Of that accom-
plishment.
| II wish I could do that" said Bob, watch
| ing him enviously.
"You could if you'd practice hard
| enough" replied Carroll rather breathless-
| ly, as he regained his natural position
Now. mother" he added, Billy can come
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