Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-04-11
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~ N the long gate leading into the
IL hay field sat Oliver, Jane and
TrOttie. TrOttie was quite small.
| but Oliver and Jane were several sizes
| bigger. And they were just sitting there.
not doing anything in particular except
| try 10 keep their balance. when two
| strange looking men came along the road
They were dressed in gorgeous colors-
red. green, yellow and purple-and they
wore belts stuck with daggers. swords,
pistols. bows and arrows. tonfahawks and
/ hatchets. and hats decorated with very
long black feathers that curled. Be
sides all this they had very long black
mustaches that didn't curl.
The first one pulled his very long black
mustache and looked at Trottie Lets
see what you've got in your pocket" he
said Now, Trottie wasn't a bit afraid.
and besides she was very proud of having
a pocket tshe was quite young, you
know. SO she squeezed her fat little hand
| into her tight little pocket and with some
difficulty pulled it out again.
There, she said. opening il. We got
| two licorices and curtain ring and the
head of my little china doll. 1t came off
Yesterday The two men looked at the
things she held for some minutes Then
the first one said: THANK you. Now you
can put them back again." He turned to
Jane. What have you got. madame
he asked. with a bow. Jane felt rather
her pocket
I've got handkerchief" she said.
lyon must have forgotten yours. Trot-
tIe-and a needle case and some jacks and
ball" The first man sighed and shook
his ad Thank YOU. he said. sadly:
put them away again. Now turning
to Oliver brightly, you're a sensible
looking young gentleman What have
you in your pocket Oliver had already
proudly pulled out his possessions.
! a l,N1I fhcn i,,h ic
! hand, i've got lead sinker and a
bu' sted cartridge and my brsnd-new jack
knife
All" said the first man, looking
brighter. that's encouraging. Thank
YOU" he continued. as he picked up the
mackenzie. that's just what l want"
divers eyes grew big and round. Jane
! gave a little gasp and Trottie nearly
| tumbled of the fence. (She was quite
| little. you know
you can't have it, cried Oliver. as
| soon as he could recover his breath.
| That's my own best jack-knife!'
I'm sorry said the first man. pleas
analy. but were highway robbers. and
"Oh. stop" cried Trottie, scrambling
off the fence. Take my dollys head
| instead-please do But the robbers
said very politely that they hadn't any
use for Trottes dollys head or they
! would have taken it In the first place.
|
! could say another word. II don't like
robbers" walled Trottie, they're hor-
! rid
I'm going after them right away"
| said Oliver stoutly.
Let's" agreed Jane. and in few
minutes the three children were running
! in the direction the robbers had taken.
| When they were quite out of breath
they stopped running and found they
were near the edge of wood. Now
what shall we dor asked Oliver. for
the robbers were nowhere In sight.
There's some one!' cried Trottie sud
denly and it's a policeman. too
Hes just the person. said Jane: SO
they ran over to the large policeman in
blue coat who was standing near the
, beginning of the wood He had a sort
| of unreal. stuffed appearance. for he was
standing up stiff1y and gazing straight
ahead not noticing any one.
IF you plea se. said Jane politely. did
you happen to see any robbers going by
here a while ago."
But the policeman never answered a
word. "Oh. don't bother with him." said
Oliver careessly. Hes only a stuffed
doll
But Trottie although she was quite
little, occasionally noticed a good deal
and she suddenly announced. There's
word written on each button of his
coat"
why. so there ISL cried Jane. 1.-The
top one says eat and the next Sleep
and so on. How very curious. I wonder
what 1t means'