The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1908-02-21
A SCARE.

A SCARE.
eff you are not careful, Molly, that
wheel of yours will be stolen"
Nov, mamma, who on earth in
this little town would be mean
enough"
"There's no telling" said Mrs.
Evans, "but you're altogether too
careless; when you come home from
school at recess you should not leave
it out on the sidewalk; thereoare al
ways tramps passing through, and
INSCRIPTIONS people who wouldn't
hesitate to go off with it."
"Well, it would have to be a per-
son of my size who could ride it cas-
lily, that's ALL" said Molly, laughing.
"Good-bye, mummy, dear; nobody
wants my own particular wheel,
and 1 don't believe it would spin
along for any one but me-" and Molly
mounted and was off, waving her
hand as she turned corner, with
that utter disregard of her handle bar
which always brought poor Mrs.
Evans heart into her mouth.
Molly stopped on her way back to
school for her bosom friend, Annie
Haywood, who always rode with her,
and the two girls arranged to spend
the afternoon on their wheels, for
the day was perfect and the approach
ing cold weather would soon cut them
off from their favorite pastime, SO
they made the most of their oppor-
tunities.
"I'll go home and leave my books"
said Molly, after school, "and you
stop for me"
"All right" returned Annie, "but l
warn you to hurry. 1 won't be gone
but minute"
Molly flung herself off her wheel
and rushed upstairs. She had not
been in the house five minutes, but
when she came down her wheel had
vanished, and there was Annie riding
swiftly toward her.
"Get your Wheel" called Annie;
"well go toward Wilson's wood"
"It's-its gone!" cried Molly, with
something between a sob and a gasp.
Il seen a boy get on it," said a
voice nearby, which belonged to little
Micky Flanagan, the butchers boy.
why didn't you stop him." asked
Molly excitedly. who was it?"
"I dunno" said Micky, stolidly.
Looked like he owned it,"
(which way did he go?" demanded
Molly.
Micky pointed toward the east.
The girls strained their eyes and saw
a vanishing speck in the distance.
"Oh!" cried poor Molly, mamma
was right, it was all my own careless
ness, and now some one has gone off
with it. What shall I do?"
Take my wheel and follow" said
Annie heroically; "he's bound to turn
to his right at the end of the street,
head him off. I'll wait here"
So Molly mounted and was off, but
the boy on the wheel passed the
"heading off" place before she
reached it, so he had the start of her
in the race. He darted and twisted
around street corners, made daring
cuts across the road, coasted down
hill after hill, always eluding Molly,
who was in close pursuit. She could
not get a good glimpse of him, but
from his looks and the tough" way
in which he wore his cap, she was
sure he belonged to the butcher boy"
variety, a constant menace in the
little town, for there was quite
gang of them.
Suppose she did overtake him! She
never would have courage to claim
her wheel, and if she did he would
never give it up to one weak girl.
All this time she was going like
the wind, and he-straight as an ar
row in front of her. Her cheeks
were flushed and her eyes sparkled
with excitement.
Suddenly the boy turned into
familiar street-her own! A cry of
astonishment escaped her, for he rode
directly to the Evans door and dis
mounted. stood cap in hand, smiling
and talking with Annie while he
waited for her to come up.
"Why, Toni" she exclaimed, as she
recognized her own brothers mis-
chievous, freckled face. How could
you?"
Wasn't it fun? l led you dance,
didn't 1? l always wanted to try
that jolly little wheel. Much obliged,
Molly, for my charming ride; but if
you will leave your wheel standing
unguarded on the kings highway you
must expect"
Before he finished his sentence the
two girls had gone, but the prank,
rough and boyish as it was, taught
Molly a lesson which she never for
got.--Belle Moses, in the Washing
ton Star.