Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-08-22
FOUR LITTLE INDIANS
Or, How Carroll loot Even"
Copyright. 1902. by Henry T. Coates q Col
CHAPTER XII.

l SHA1 AL
A good nights sleep made Carroll feel
almost himself again. Fortunately his in
disposition had proved to be only cold,
and the measles were warded of for that
time. But when he suggested that he
thought he would so out OF doors for a
little while Mrs. Mason objected.
I think 1t would be better for you not to
do So she said gently. you can go out
tomorrow. II you seem all right. but today
l would rather you did not"
Poor Carroll did not like that bit, and It
was not with very good grace that he saw
Peggy and Billy and Bob start off for the
woods soon after breakfast. One day in the
house had been quite enough for him. and
| now that he felt all right 1t was rather an
imposition, he thought, to make him stay in
another whole day. But he had learned by
pi evious experience that 1t was Of no use
to grumble-in fact. 1t generally made
innings worse-so he decided to make the
best OF matters, and amuse himself as well
| as he could. He would have liked to have
the others stay IN with him. and then they
all could have played together-there were
| so few things one could do alone But he
concluded that he really could not expect
them to stay in. especially as they had got
up that entertainment the night before to
amuse him.
At the recollection Of the hippopotarnus
Carroll could not help laughing and that
| made him feel better. He admired Billy's
talent for thinking OF nice things to do and
ocAAS fboAc W SdIIy liicuh Oui 50 well
Lets go down and see how the wigwam
Is getting along" proposed Billy to Peggy
and Bob after they had had race around
the lawn to warm themselves up. 1t was
quite cold and frosty this morning. 1t made
Bob begin to think about sleds and skates.
He looked up anxiousy to see If there were
any signs of snow in the sky. but 1t was
perfectly cloudless. and the sun was shin
ing brightly.
When they reached the old dead chestnut
tree on the hank OF the creek scene of
desolation met their eyes.
The wind and rain Of two days before had
completely demolished the wigwam. 1t lay
in a heap upon the ground.
oh. dear!" exclaimed three disappoint-
ed voices at the same time.
II think it's real meanT' cried Peggy.
Our nice hut all spoiled"
Billy went over to the ruins and examined
them. He walked around kicking the
branches with his foot In a disguised fash
Ion 1t was hopeless. The supports were
quite fiat. and the roof and sides were en-
tirefy separated. 1t would be easier to
build new wigwam than to attempt to
restore the old one. Billy sat down on the
heap ddsconsolately.
Its shame" remarked Bob In a mourn
full voice, following hds example.
Peggy sQuatted on the ground opposite
them.
What shall we dor she asked.
There isn't anything to do" answered
Billy.
I'VE might fix IT, suggested Peggy rather
doubtfully.
NO." said Billy shortly. ats no use It
would be more trouble than it's WORTH
We'll, then. let's build another
But Billy had lost interest. He did not
get up. and Peggy did not want to begin all
by herself.
whats this?'' cried Bob suddenly, pull
ing box out from underneath a huge
hackees' case!'
Eyes, it isl' exclaimed Billy. And the
ground-hac kees are deadr'
They all gathered around the cage In con-
door with trembling fingers. and put his
hand In. Sure enough, 1t was true. The
two poor little ground-hackees were quite
dead and stiff. Billy took them out care
fully and stroked their soft fur.
II didn't know they were down here"
said Bob wonderingly.
Billy suddenly sat up straight and looked
at Peggy.
TT was your faultr' he said severely.
"I don't see whyr' answered Peggy tn
establishment. II didn't kin the poor little
things
You brought them down here, and then
didn't take them back to the house again."
II forgot acknowledged Peggy con-
tritely.
You oughtn't to have forgottenI Now
see what you have done! CarrolPs ground
hackees are starved to death. and It's all
your fault"
Il didn't mean to-" said poor Peggy. her
eyes filling with tears. Aunt Elizabeth
made me forget by talking about that old
wig
'FThats right; blame 1t on somebody
else" retorted Billy wrathfrify. Anyway,
it was your fault that she knew about the
wig
I'm not blaming It on somebody elser'
cried Peggy hotly. "And It wasn't my fault
any more than the rest OF you. You ought
to have remembered them yourself"
That's nice way to get out of 1t. It
was your fault, and you know it,
II don't know anything of the sort, Billy
Brycer' snapped back Peggy. Her con-
science was pricking her a little. and that
made her more angry. She forced back
the scalding tears and stood up. She was
really sorry for the poor little ground
hackees. but their death had not been en-
ttrely her fault.
1T was you who proposed that we have
'em for captives," she said.
TT was you who got 'em In the first
place. retorted Billy.
well, could have taken them back. but
you said we could pretend they were cap
lives. So it's your fault" returned Peggy
trimphantly.
ITS not my fault" cried Billy angriiy.
oh whats the fighting about it?''
put in Bob good-naturedly. He was down
on his knees with the dead ground hackees
in his hands. They're dead: and guess
1t was the fault of all Of us. I'm very sor-
ry. but 1t can't be helped now. Poor little
things!" he added, gently stroking them
with one finger.
His mild voice sounded In strange contrast
with the two angry ones that had been
shouting at each other. Peggy looked a
iittle ashamed of herself, and a glance at
Bob's kneeling figure and the dead animals |
beside him Gained Billys excited voice a |
little.
We'll, 1t was somebody's fault, anyway" !
he muttered sulkily. |
"Oh, what difference does 1t maker |
asked Bob. 1.-The poor little things are |
dead" |
"I wonder If they were starved or wheth- |
er they were drowned by the rain?" said |
Peggy, forgetting her anger and throwing |
herself on her knees beside Bob
Both, Of course" answered Billy. And |
If you had been more careful they would |
have been alive now"
But Peggy and Bob were not listening TO |
him. They were patting the little stiff |
bodies and talking to them caressngly as |
If they were still alive. Billy looked on for |
a few minutes in disguised way and then |
turned his back and walked OF into the |
woods.
'They re just as silly as they can be-" he |
growled to himself. And, besides, it was |
Peggy's fault
When he finally regained his temper he |
was quite a long distance off from home, and |
by the time he got back again he was feel |
Ing desperately hungry,