Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-08-15
LITTLE INDIANS
Or, How Carroll loot Even"
BY ELLA AARY COATES
CHAPTER <.

Carroll thought that evening would never
come. His head still ached. SO that he did
not care to read and although his mother
read out aloud from one of his new books
about Indians, his thoughts kept wander
| ing on to the other children.
They had rushed off right after lunch,
and Carroll could hear them calling to
each other in excited tones every now and
then, only he could not hear just what they
said. although he strained his ears to catch
a few words Every now and then there
would be queer bumps, as of some one fall
Ing down. followed by shrieks of laughter
which were quickly smothered.
Altogether it was most aggravating, and
Carroll was beginning to consider himself
a highly aggrieved person. He thought
they might have let him into the secret,
whatever 1t was; at any rate they might
have told him little scrap more, just
enough to give him some idea of what
they were doing. He cudgeled his brain
to imagine, but could think of nothing that
seemed at all possible. He tried question:
ing Mrs. Mason, but he found that would
not help HIM, although. much to his secret
indignation, she knew all about it. When
questioned too closely she only smiled mys-
terious!y, and told him to wait and see."
1t was all very we'll to say wait and see,"
but 1t was an exceedingly hard thing to do
when he was nearly bursting with curiosity.
Besides, he had nothing else to do but to
puzzle his brain over this little mystery.
1t was very stupid being i'll, and Carroll
made up his mind that he would be careful
how he again went out in the rain. 1t
hardly paid.
Evening did come at length, however, and
the excitement among the others intensi-
fed. Peggy was continually bursting forth
with some remark that Billy thought was
telling" and Bob kept whispering mysteri-
ously to his mother
Carroll felt much better thanks to the
quinine he had been taking all day. After
dinner he was told to go into the library
with Mr.. and Mrs. Mason and wait for the
surprise. There was great deal of run
ming up and down stairs and whispering
and g1gglfng In the hail. Finally Billy
pushed aside the portieres and announced
that 1t was "gofng to begin"
What Is it?' cried Carroll, who had be-
come almost wild with curiosity by this
time, and was now curled up in a large
Morris chair near the fire, on pins and
needles to see what was going to happen
"Oh, 1 forgot!' exclaimed Billy. Then
he advanced step and made a low bow
Ladies and gentlemen" he began, "the
performance this evening will begin with
charade 1t is in four acts. and you've got
to guess the word
"Oh, charades.' exclaimed Carroll "Au
right; fire away"
In minute Bob entered. He wore his
fathers high hat, which came down to his
ears, and an old linen buster, which gave
him a most ridiculous appearance. Evil
IDENTIFY he was an old man, very lame, for
he carried a cane and limped a good deal,
holding his hand on his hip as If it panied
him. He was followed by Peggy and Billy,
also suffering from the same disease. Billy
was wearing a large sombrero that he
found hanging in the hail. and which was
family possession worn by each member
as they felt like 1t. Peggy Iimped along
in sunbonnet and apron.
The procession moved solemnly around
the room, never moving a muscle of their
faces. although the audience laughed hearth
~ After they had gone out Billy poked
ms mead through the curtains to remark:
That's the first syllable
tits limp" cried Carroll
Or hat, suggested Mr.. Mason laugh
ing.
1T might be hip" said Mrs.. Mason.
They all held their hands there"
NOW comes the second" called Billy.
Bob came into the room and lay down on
the floor, pretending to be asleep In
walked Peggy in sunbonnet and apron and
with long train made of the parlor table
cloth. A parasol over her head gave her a
jaunty air. She grasped her train daintily
between two fingers and held her head
very high as she tripped lightly along.
Suddenly she discovered the figure living
in her path. "Oh!' she shrieked wildly.
dropping her parasol as she almost STUN
bled over him. Bob turned over slowly and
calculated an astonished ''O-h!' as he sat
up and watched the lady's flying figure as
she made for the door. Then he got I'D and
walked himself out.
The third syllable was evidently a camp
Two dusky warriors crouched before the
fire. An Indian suuaw entered bearing a
large iron pot, which she set between them.
Each was provided with huge spoon, with
which they proceeded to eat an imaginary
meal.
That syllable did not seem to be very
plain. No words were said. and it misn:
suggestion came from Mr.. Mason.
The next was also hard to guess. There
was game Of cards evidently played by
western desperadOes. for in the course Of
the game hot words began to fly about and
Imaginary revolvers were brandished in the
air: Finally all rose to their feet with wild
yells, and began to fight desperately. Grad
ually they edged toward the DIOR and
pushed each other out
That's row" called Carroll.
from behind the curtains.
Wen: the second one is oh anyhow.
yes. that's right. Don't you know the
rs that .potr" guessed Carroll, doubt
fully.
Yes"
Now this.is the whole word" announced
Billy, hurrfedly, afraid that 1t wou.1 be
guessed before 1t was acted.
The whole word seemed to be some sort
of an animal It was ushered into the
room with a great amount of gigg:ing on
the part Of Peggy and Bob, so the audi
ence concluded that Billy was the sole
performer in this act. But what kind of
an animal was it? The bearskin rug from
the parlor covered him from head to foot
and most ridiculous tail stuck out be-
hind and wiggled as he fioundered around
on all tours. This tail seemed to be made
out of a cane with another smaller rug,
that did not match the first at ALL thrown
over it.
Shrieks of laughter and much clapping
greeted this apparition. The beast itself
was seen to shake little, so it was to be
presumed that he saw the joke and realized
what ludicrous object he was.
What is the word?' cried Peggy lanc-
ing with excitement in the doorway. Can't
you guess it? Do you give it up?''
II think it is 'Ornithorhynchus Para
doxus," laughed Mr.. Mason.
''Oh, fathert' expostulated Bob.
well. it doesn't look exactly like what
it is" explained Peggy. But it was the
best we could do"
"The first syllable is-shan tell?" asked
Bob longing to-
YES" replied Carroll. ST give 1t up"
"Hippopotamus, shouted the animal
himself rising on his hind feet and throw
ing the fur back over his head
'Hippopotamus?" Mr.. Mason leaned back
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