Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-08-03
HOW RUSSELL PROVED HIM.
SELF A BRAVE.

The Birch grandchildren had been four
days in camp, and they were in love with
the outdoor life and with the idea of play
ing Indian. Grandfather Birch knew all
sorts Of things about Indians. and about
other things. too. He had made first-class
fishermen out Of all Of the children. and
taught them more about swimming and div
Ing and rowing and making settlements in
the sand than they had learned from their
swimming and rowing teachers in the city.
Each one of the children. even to little
Betty, who was four going on i've. had de-
termined upon one thing. Each one wanted
to do one very brave thing that would en-
title them to the badge of honor. This
badge of honor was headdress Of feath-
ers. made out of the stray moultings in
Mrs. Nelson's hen yard. To the one who
should first prove himself brave grand
father had promised to award this. The
children had been making it together in
spare minutes when there was nothing
else to do, and 1t now reposed in state on
one of the upright posts in grandfather's
tent.
Russell was a valiant little fellow who
had read many tales Of knights and braves,
and it was his great ambition to be hero
and q brave.
One night just after the early supper the
whole Birch tribe were UP in the wide lot
back Of the encampment playing games.
All but Russell. who felt more like reading
than playing. and who had stolen back to
the tents with his book. He was standing
in the entrance to Grandfather's tent gaz-
Ing in at the gay-feathered headdress on
peg on the opposite post, and wondering II
the opportunity woulu ever come for him
to win 1t. He knew the difference between
bravery and bravado, for grandfather had
explained 1t all out to him and to the 9TH
ers and he knew tlat he could not make
his own opportunity.
AS he stood there with his back to the
entrance. picturing himself in all sorts OF
heroic attitudes, he heard step behind
him.
He turned and saw q roughly dressed
bare-footed man slouching across the tent
yard toward him. To Russells city-bred
eyes he could only be one of two things,
burglar or tramp. His first thought was
to shout to grandfather; then he thought
again. If he called. all the children would
come running with grandfather, and the
man might escape, after having caught
glimpse of Betty. He might be a kidnaper.
and Betty, whom Russell especially adored,
would surely be the kid he would steal, for
Betty had bright golden hair, and Russell
had heard somewhere that all the children
that had ever been kidnapped had yellow
hair.
Clearly this was Russelrs time to prove
himself brave. and he must manage the
affair alone.
The man was watching him curiously.
We'll young one. havin good time, all
by your lonesome?"
Great" said Russell; promptly. Il love
We'll 1 can't say as 1 do" the man
drawled.
He can't be tramp then thought Rus
sell. He must be either a burglar or a
kidnaper 1 must get him out of this with
out his seeing Betty
"Win you take me for a walk?'' he said
politely to the kidnaper.
Depends upon whar you want to co.
said the man.
Il shouldn't wonder said Russell. who
used very old-fashioned language for a boy
o. ten-"1 shouldn't wonder If there was a
the shore we went by in a boat today and
l saw a place l thought 1 should like to ex-
plore." Russell was always looking foc
buried treasures. SO this was all very true.
Tn; man laughed, but consented, and
Russell grabbed his big. hard hand and the
two started off in the opposite direction
from where the other braves were playing.
The man asked him all sorts of questions on
the way about how many were staying at
the camp, what each one looked like and
how many servants they had. whether the
servants were goodlooking. and so on Rus
sell evaded his questions by calling his at
tention to queer things he saw along the
way-birds and squirrels and spiders; but
ii was getting dark, and Russell was get
ting more and more frightened himself to
be alone with this kidnaper. At last they
came to the place, some distance from camp
where he thought the treasures might be.
Russell seated himself on the stone which
might coEceal the gold and jewels and
looked up 1.-The mans face.
Now" he said, solemnly, Il will go back
to camp and let you have all the treasure
fol- yourself If you will promise me not 10
ever come TO Camp Birch again"
To his anna cement the man sat down on
the ground in front of him and burst into
roars of laughter. What do you take me
for. sonny?" he said.
well" said Russell. hesitating. Il don't
like to hurt your feelings. but you look to
me like a kidnaper. and-and-1 don't want
Ptx-ifh pAtr how h9i ir.' or,
very yellow and she kicks awful when she
is mad
At this the man fairly howled. We'll
that the best! What would 1 do if there
wasn't any treasurer" he demanded.
Russell pulled new base ball out Of his