Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-08-08
FOUR LITTLE INDIANS
Or, How Carroll loot Even"
BY ELLA MARY COATES.
Copyright. 1902. by Henry t. Coates 4 Coz
CHAPTER TX.

Copyright, 1902, by Henry T. Coates Coz
CHAPTER TX.
Outside things certainly did go wrong that
afternoon. 1t was not to be wandered at
that they should forget Mrs. Mason's part
ing words when the ball they were playing
catch with should take 1t into its head to
evade Bobs wildly clutching fingers. and
fly straight out through the open window!
The window had been raised because they
had all been taking such violent exercise
that the perSpir9 ton was starting from
every pore of their bodies.
They had Just started to play catch. and
now that provoking ball had spoilt 1t all by
going out the window. There 1t lay. away
down below them. on the porch roof, in
the gutter half full of water. All four
craned their necks out. and looked at It. 1t
certainly was aggravating.
Couldn't you hook it up?' suggested
Peggy.
Bob got his fishing pole. and they dangied
the hook down in the direction Of the ball.
but could not succeed in getting hold of 1t.
Il guess I could get 1t If got out of our
room window on to the roof" said Car
roll. ut isn't raining much now
"Oh. aren't you afraid?' cried Peggy.
mo-" answered Carroll with scorn. "of
course not; I've often done 1t in the summer
time after tennis balls. and besides. guess
I'll take Off my shoes and stockings, so that
I won't slip'
Having made up his mind, he proceeded to
act upon 1t. In a few minutes he was
clambering cautiously out ON the roof from
his own room which was directly under the
nursery. He was conscious that he was
watched by an admirlng audience in the
room behind The feat was really not a
difficult one. for the roof sloped gently and
as he said. he had often done 1t before. But
the states were slippery now with the rain,
and required little extra caution. When he
reached the gutter he padded along it with
his bare feet until he came to the ball. He
picked it up and threw 1t in the window to
Billy, who easily caught 1t.
Ihen Carroll proceeded to do some more
padding in the gutter before he returned
to the house.
IT'S dandy and cool out here, and the
waters great!' he called out to the others.
We'll, never mind; come on in and let's
have another game Of CATCH" replied Billy
not caring to have Carroll monopolize all
the fun.
Mot just yet; wait little" answered
Carroll, walking along the gutter toward
the other corner.
"Oh. Carroll, come on" called Peggy Il
think you might It's no fun for US with
you out there
But it's fun for me-" laughed back Car
roll teasingly.
Il think you're real mean," retorted Peg
gy, angrily.
Carroll only laughed again as he stopped
to clear away some dead leaves that were
preventing the water from running down
the overflow pipe. 1t felt deliciously cool
out there to his overheated body. and he
was in no hurry to go back to the house.
He was getting a little tired Of playing
ball, in fact, and it was such fun to feel
the big drops of rain patter down every
now and then on his head.
You go on and play without me-" he
called over his shoulder. IN come in a
little while.
He was too busy with the dead leaves and
with Keeping his balance, to look up. He
heard Peggy give a disguised snort, and
then little later there were a few sup
pressed giggles from inside the room, but
his new occupation was of such absorbing
interest that he forgot everythn else.
All of sudden he was startled so much
that he very nearly lost his balance and
fell off the roof by the apparition on the
ground below him of three excited, little,
bare-legged figures. without hats or coats,
risively.
$50 you thought you'd stay out here, and
have all the fun to yourself, did you, Mr..
smarty? Well, you see you're mistaken"
cried Peggy, gleefully, Jumping up and down
on the wet ground.
Come on down; it's bully here" called
the forgiving Bob, who hated to be pro-
voked at Carroll for more than five minutes
at a time.
Carroll" added Billy, there's a per-
fectly splendid puddle on the drive near the
kitchen door; Haven't you got some boats
YES" answered Carroll. eagerly taking
up the new idea. Bob and each have a
beauty. I'll get EN-
He crawled quickly up the roof and in a
few minutes Joined them with the boats.
One had been a Christmas present the year
before and the other Carroll had made him
self.
1T doesn't sail exactly right" he re-
marked rathed apologetical1y, as he showed
them to Billy. Il couldn't get her keel right
somehow; but she goes pretty WE'LL
The puddle made an excellent place to sail
them in. and it was such an advantage to
have ones shoes and stockings off. One
could wade right into the water and steady
the little vessels when there was danger
of an upset. And then 1t was so much more
comfortable
They played with the boats for some time.
Then Peggy decided that she felt a little
cool. and Billy suggested a game Of "cross-
tag to warm themselves up.
I'm it,: look out, Bob!' cried Peggy,
making dash toward them. There was a
wild scattering and great splashing Of water
as Bob tried to jump over the puddle and
landed in the middle! Billy rushed be-
attention to himself. Then there was
grand chase all over the back part of the
lawn. between the house and the stable
and round and round the turn in the drive
there was q faint attempt at sunset in
the sky, which promised clear. cold weather
for the next day.
The fall Of rain had been heavy, and the
ground was soft and muddy. It felt pleas
ant to the flying feet Of the naughty little
children. who had certainly got themselves
into mischief again. but 1t did splash up
all over the clothes that had been tolerably
clean when they came out.
Peggy added the last straw to her state
of dilapidation and capped the climax by
stubbtng her bare toe against piece Of
wood, and falling fat on her face in q
mud puddle! When she arose, she was a
sorry looking Individual, and those hard
hearted boys laughed numerically at her
appearance.
you're a negro now, not an Indian"
jeered Billy, laughingly
Peggy did not know whether to laugh
with him or to be angry, but she decided
in favor Of the laugh-it was easier.
'I'll make you negro. too,' she retorted
good-naturedly, making dive for him, with
outstretched, muddy hands.
Just then Ellen, the cook, appeared at the
kitchen door. How it had happened that
the children had been able to career around
the lawn for so long without being discov-
cred before, was hard to tell. Mrs. Mason