Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-09-02
CHAPTER v.
The New Mascot.

O0AKx60 W
The Kew Mascot.
Halt an hour before train time, on the
long expected Saturday. the boys began
to assemble in the depot. which was more
than two miles from Ellen street. The
man at the shop had been obligtng enough
to let them have their SUITS even before
Len got down there with the money; 50
every boy wore white trousers, red stock
ings and white sweaters. on which the girls
had sewed the letter e. in red. The caps.
too, were white. with "E. B. b. c." on the
'front.' done by the same skiaful fingers.
Jean and Mary were very proud OF the
club. but the boys were distressed by their
garments newness When fifteen minutes
after Pinky fireman was discovered out
behind the depot vigorously rubbing earth
into his immaculate white knees no one
could have complained that the clubs suits
were overclean.
But the girls were very careful OF their
starched white dresses and red sasheS.
They sat on a bench, little Malcolm be-
tween them. arrayed In q miniature replica
of his brothers costumes. His black eyes
danced with delight as he greeted each
newcomer with joyous shouts. and waving
OF the two flags he held.
"Everybodys here but the Nelson's. cried
Pinky Trennam. coming in with a new spot
on his trousers. Suppose they should be
late?"
"They WON'T said Johnny. briefly.
"They know this is the only train today
They'll be here in a minute"
In spite OF his words he walked nervously
to the station door to watch. Not even Ell
ton guessed how much wonning this game
meant to Johnny. He had worked hard
and necessarily to get them into training
and this was the first chance they had had
to show what they could do. He set his
teeth, declaring to himself, I'VE Will win"
Here comes Jack" he cried a moment
later in a tone of relief. and Jack tore In.
very warm and excited, to be greeted with
the cry:
where's Len?''
Jack stopped short. searching the group
with his eyes.
,..Why, isn't he here? He started an hour
ago-said he'd go down to the tailors as
Johnny told him. and then come on here.
1 saw him start across the woods. as we
always do. to save time"
IT'S not here he came. anyhow. SAID
Billy Mccormick, breaking a diSmayed
silence.
"I'll go up the path way and see il
see him." began Ned Loomis.
Go ahead" said Johnny. We've got
Len probably delayed somewhere.
said Jean tremulously. 1T would be
dreadful to go without him."
The point is" said Johnny, grimly we
can't go without him. He has every cent
Of the money"
mo Len in sight," reported Ned, coming
back breathless.
"sav" began Denny Mccormick the first
to recover from the shock OF Johnny's state
ment haven't we enough money betwtxt
US to pay for tickets for the nine. anyhow
Alas in the pockets of those new uniforms
there was not one cent. Jean had quar-
ter and Mary 20 cents. while little Malcolm
displayed a penny, demanding to Buy
tandy. Now
Johnny shook his head sadly There was
no time to go home; no one Of whom they
could borrow. Among the scores of people
hurrying in and out of the depot there
might be many who would gladly help
stranded base ball club. but who to ask?
Five minutes before train time, and no
Len. Johnny's brow was furrowed and
Jean was weeping. Denny Mccormick was
considering the possibility of appealing to a
man with a white waistcoat. VINO iook sed
friendly. and ask If he could easily spare $40
for day or two, when into the station
walked a boy.
The boy saw Johnny and nodded brightly.
He delivered a message to the baggage
master and then came over to the boys.
Adolf Kleiner had borne no malice for his
exclusion from the club. He had a good
many other things to think of. and he
very good friends with Johnny. In a few
moments he had the story, for it was too
dreadful to be concealed.
It's all up, I'm afraid said Johnny
bravely. trying to conceal his anguish
well go home and I'll telegraph the Essex
fellows with Jeans quarter"
Adolf looked hurriedly around. counting
them
Lets see-nineteen of you; that'n take
he made a rapid calculation, while Denny
Mccormick. unheeding, took one step to-
ward the old gentleman in the white waist
coat. Then Adolf grabbed Johnny's arm
and hurried him toward the ticket office.
I've got enough" he cried. Hurry! Get
the tickets.
you've got it?" gasped Johnny. How?
Why? Whered you get it? Can you lend
it,"
Yes; I've been down selling my wheel
goin to have a new one!'
The group Of miserable faces Frightened
as. with a whoop. Jonhhy suddenly became
the puller instead of the pulled In a race
for the ticket office.
With cheers and shouts for their rescuer
the club piled on the train. AS the con-
ductor shouted IAN aboard!' Adolf started
to leave the car.
Where are you going?" cried Denny Nc
Cormick
Come backr yelled Ned LOOMS
Jeans little hand clutched Adolf's arm.
Don't you dare CO." she commanded.
You're our new mascot.
"Ah. femme co." begged Adolf. softly, of
Jean. THE fellows don't want me-"
But Johnny had heard.
Want your" Then, jumping up ON a
scat, he cried:
Say. fellows, do we want Adolf to go?
Say yes, if we do"
sheer volume of sound. and before the train
was out of the depot Adolf was elected a
member and mascot of the Ellens
Amid all the excitement no one had no
ticed that Elton was gone. While they were
cheering Adolf in the station he had slipped
away. furiously angry that his scheme had
failed, but determined that his revenge
should be completed somehow.
me to grandma's' he murmured as he
climbed into a train on another track
We'll see II Johnny from-the- country can
beat the Essexes without me-" he ended
victously.
To be contipued)
Copyright, 1905 by Margaret L. Wallace. All
rights reserved)