Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-07-04

him and danced around him. making all
sorts of faces and executing the most re-
markable steps.
For the lands sake. What be yez up to
now?' calculated the astonished James as
he paused. bewildered by the racket.
Were wild Indians" yelled Carroll, aim
ing an imaginary bow and arrow.
"Yez are wild lunatics. that's what yez
are, grfnned James.
When Mrs. Mason entered the dining
room in response to the lunch bell, she
was greeted by a chorus of blood-curdling
yells. Several small. dark figures sprang
out from behind the door. and gesticulated
madly with brandished weapons.
Children she exclaimed with IN
voluntary start. What have you been do
ingT'
Indians. Wh-o-o-p! Look out"
Mrs. Mason could not help laughing lit
tle but she looked grave. too. Billy no.
ticed it and subsidized into his chair
When the noise had ceased. and the hungry
savages had gathered around the table.
Mrs Mason said
there Is company coming to dinner to-
night?"
Yes. we know. mother. Why?"
well, you know you children cannot pcs
sibly come to the table with faces like
that"
Carroll and Bob looked rather crestfallen,
and Bob rubbed his cheek with his hand as
If he thought the stain would come of
then and there. Peggy giggled. and Billy
gave her a brotherly kick under the Ia Die
to make her stop.
But. mother--'' began Carroll.
mo. couldn't possibly have you seen
looking like that" said Mrs. Mason, grave
ly. 1T was very thoughtless of you to
put walnut juice on your faces, Carroll.
You know how badly it looked on your
hands and you should have considered"
w hot tod Ann
Elizabeth" spoke up Peggy earnestly. I'VE
were Indians and we couldn't be just plain
white, you know. And that walnut juice
was just the thing. Anyway, 1 suggested
it, it wasn't Carrolls fault
We'll, don't suppose that 1t was really
the fault of any one Of you especially re-
piled Mrs. Mason. But l am very sorry
it has happened; 1 shall have to let you all
have your dinner up stairs tonight, and you
must not come down afterward. l think
Mrs. Brown would be scandalized to see
such pack Of scarecrows at the table"
why, Aunt Elizabeth. we think it looks
nice!" expostulated Peggy with round eyes.
Mrs. Mason laughed. Il cannot say that
l do, she replied
So, when 9 o'clock came. they were exiled
to the third story. 1t did not seem much Of
punishment. for the dinner that was sent
up to them was just as good as If they
had been eating 1t down stairs at the din
ing room table-in fact 1t actually tasted
better from, the novelty of the situation.
And then Carroll explained that they could
pretend that they had been captured in bat
tie and were in prison.
marked Billy.
'Of course" agreed Bob, with his mouth
full.
well, we cam" answered Carroll. whose
head was crammed with warlike plans. We
can try to sneak out by the back way with
out being seem.
And go and peep in the parlor windows.
and scare Mrs. Brown into fits" laughed
No" said Carroll. that wouldn't do. but
I'll tell you what-we can go down to old
Dave Rivers"
"Yesr' exclaimed Bob enthusiastically.
The boys had told Billy and Peggy all about
Dave and their grievance, SO the plan met
with great favor in their eyes, and dessert
was almost forgotten in their eagerness to
be off.
We've got to have our war-paint on II
we're going on the warpath," said Carroll.
going to the closet and producing an old
box of water colors Get a cup of water.
Bob, and we'll soon be fixed all right
Peggy danced with excitement while Car
roll proceeded to smear great blotches Of
red and blue and green and yellow on Billy
face. The brush tickled a good deal, but
Billy did not move a muscle.
You're all right for an Indian" Carroll
said approvingly when the operation was
completed. You can stand torture"
"Oh, Billy-you're a beauty! exclaimed
Peggy. Now do me. Carroll"
It was quite dark outside when they
stole cautiously down the back stairs It
was so exciting that they hardly breathed.
and Peggy was the least little bit frightened,
for the stairs were not lighted. and she Won
dered what she should do If a hand were
to suddenly reach up and grab her foot She
held on tight to Carroll. who was leading the
way When they came to the bottom step,
Carroll put his hand back and touched her.
whispering Hush! Be quiet. Wait a mo-
ment till 1 see what to do
'Ugh!' grunted Peggy, trying to make 1t
sound natural. She heard Bob give spas
modic giggle behind her.
ut was as good as you could do, any
how" she whispered.
"Hushw repeated Carroll imperatively,
giving her a punch If We go out through
the kitchen Ellen will see US; let's go down
the cellar and climb out one OF the win
dows"
The cellar door opened into the little hall
in which they were standing and it only
took an instant to slip through Fortunate
ly there was a set of steps leading outside
through an old fashioned cellar door which
they readily unbarred, and in few minutes
they were standing on the grass. feeling a
decided thrill Of excitement as they realized
window and might be betrayed at any mo-
ment by an incautious word.
That was easy" remarked Billy in q
low tone.
Its sort of dark" said Bob rather doubt
fully. Can you see the way. Carroll?"
Certainly can" responded Carroll In a
whisper Come on. Single fle-thats the
way Indians always travel"
He led the way at a 5og-trot around the
| house, keeping well away from me dining