Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-30
AN APRIL JOKE.
BY e. E. ROWLAND.

"Fellers," said Diff, II want to get even
with Uncle Steve on April FOOLS day for the
trick he played me last year.
"What'd he do to your asked Buck.
well, I'll tell you, but you must promise
! me never to give me away"
The boys listened and flung themselves
down in comfortable positions to listen
| while Diff told the story well, twas this
way" said he. Last April FOOLS day while
| we were at lunch Nunkey said to me- Diff,
can you go on an errand for me after
| schools?
Wed been playing tricks on each other
| at school all morning, and looked at him,
| sort of sizing him up, but he looked SO
sober couldn't believe he had anything up
| his sleeve. So 1 said, es. Nunkey, I'll do
| your errand with pleasure. but I'll be
little late, I've got to stay for my history
oh, that will make no difference, he
said as solemn as OWL I only want
| you to go to the drug store for some salt
| to cure some birds I'm going to stuff
What Is 1T? 1 asked offhand like for
| I was kinder suspicious.
:" Oh he said, 1t has a Latin name and
Ill have to give you a note you'd never
remember it and 1 must have it this even
ing
"'All right I said. You have the note
ready for me and I'll go as soon as get
home
We'll when went into his study he had
the note ready and fifty-cent piece, he
| said it was expensive and pound would
cost that much, and 1 was to do my best
and get 1t among the drug stores.
First I went to Van PeIt's. MY uncle
wants a pound of that kind Of salt He
opened the note and says to me: I've just
sold fIo1 o,f
some I've ordered won't be here till tomor-
row. You'd better try downtown
well, down town I put and there was
some excuse everywhere 1 went why they
didn't have 1t. At the third place they told
me that for a certainty they had it at
SHADES for they had got some there only a
few days before. So 1 footed it up to Up-
land land avenue ave- 1t just napp ened that Mr..
there to tend store. Now Harry and 1 are
good friends.
Harry, said I, dye think you have
any OF that particular stuff in your store?
and gave him the note. When he read it
he burst out laughing and looked at me
and said between laughs, Have you read
":No. don't read other neon,e.s ,o+
ters.'
That's all right, Diff. but If you'd read
this you would not be way UP here, and
he laughed again and turned the note so
could read it,
What did 1t say" asked Chunk, as Diff
paused. overcome by his sense of injury.
Said he, slowly, and distinctly. TT said,
Dear Sis, please sent this April fool on,
and oblige yours truly and it was signed
with his name" The boys fell back In a
heap and laughed till they could laugh no
more.
Yes" said Diff, ITS fun for you.r
WELL what did you do?" asked they
when they had recovered.
Do echoed Diff, Il went home, but
never let on 1 was on to him: I said quite
~no14 syr~l.
cents. Nunkey, couldn't get your salt any
where.
oh. WELL he said without smile, I'll
have to get it in New York after all. You
can keep the so cents, I'm sure you earned
1t. So l was 90 cents in, but what's that
when you've been made fool Of? And I
vowed I'd get even with him this year If it
too a leg, but 1 can't make up my mind
what to do and that's why I've told you
fellers." The boys stopped laughing.
What have you thought Off" asked
"Oh, all sorts of things answered Diff.
I'd like to send him some sort of fake
thing for his Indian collection, but l can't
think what" A silence followed while the
boys thought hard Suddenly Buck looked
up and said eagerly, in a voice hoarse
with excitement, .Fellers, I've thought of
something
What is it?" demanded Diff.
Buck lowered his voice SO that he could
by no chance be overheard and when he
disclosed his idea, the boys drew a long
breath and Diff exclaimed: Buck, that's
dandy scheme. I'll tell Aunt Pen to-
night. She's great at helping a fellow
out"
On Thursday morning at breakfast Diff's
sharp eyes discovered on top of his uncle's
mail the typewriter envelope which in
closed the letter his father had mailed for
the boys in the city the day before.
When Uncle Steve took it up and opened
1t, Diff could scarcely control himself.
Oh" said his uncle, in a pleased voice
Mac has got back from his western trim
and has written to say he visited the
Pueblo Indians in New Mexico and bought
some curious pottery which he will send
two" '
Diff then nearly betrayed the joke for
he choked and splattered in his cup. Uncle
Steve, however, kept serenely on with his
breakfast. His Indian collection was the
pride of his heart and Macs gift was GER
tain to add to its value.
The joke was in two parts and the
first having gone off smoothly, the bows
now turned to making a success of the sec
end.
For two afternoons they were busy and
Saturday morning saw a large wooden box
with a suspicious row Of small perforations
just below the cover, marked this side up
with care" 1t took the combined efforts of
the five boys to carry it downstairs, for
| they had weighted it with stones. 1t was
put on the blackboard; Diff climbed up
beside Jerry and they drove down to the
| express office.
LII dDOuI Ol dn HOur DlI
came up into the club room where the boys
were gathered.
"Fellers,' he said, you be sure to be
! around here about o'clock. The express
man has promised to deliver it between 4
| and 70 and we'll see the fun"
At they gathered in the club room. Diff's
auntie had promised to smuggle them into
| the room directly opposite Uncle Steve's
study so they could peep through the door,
Diff In a hoarse whisper, called from the
foot of the stairs. "Fellers, Aunt Pen says
the coast Is clear"
So they hurried upstairs, and going in the
back room entered the front room through
a connecting door.
THE eXpressman will be here in a minute
/ saw his wagon coming in at the gate,
when we came in," whispered Haller.
In minute the maid came up to say that
the expressman was downstairs.
Uncle Steve went down.
There's dollar ten to pay" the boys
heard the expressman say.
"Oh, all right said Uncle Steve, though
he seemed rather surprised.
Sign here please" and soon the express