The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1908-08-26

"Lets stay down here in the base
ment till that dreffle 'Lizabeth goes
home" said Victoria, looking over the
edge of the anchored school drink
ing cup, which she still held to her
lips
"The janitor will chase us out IL he
sees us" said Gladys, looking around.
"And Marie told me that once she saw
mouse down here. And Harriet
said that one day last fall a boy
threw a snake in here right on a girl.
Maybe 1t will come out when it thinks
no one is around" She shivered and
glanced all about her fearfully.
"Well, Gladys Hammill, I'd be
ashamed Of myself to be afraid OF
such little thing as a mouse, and
winter" said Victoria severely.
"Why, mouse couldn't hurt you the
teeniest little bit in the world"
"oh! OH" shrieked Gladys, jump
ing nimbly on the bench. Il saw
one. 1t ran into the waste basket"
uOH lHlHh IL was bdlu
Victoria, looking warily around from
her perch on the narrow window sill.
IL think it was piece Of paper.
wouldn't be like you for anything in
this world-always jumping around
and soaring people"
"Well, you jumped higher than l
did," said Gladys with more spirit
than she usually showed. "And II
you'd be ashemed Of yourself, why
did you get on the window? l wasn't
as afraid as you. / stayed on the
bench"
Victoria took refuge in dignifed
silence. Seating herself as far from
Gladys as the length Of the bench per-
mitted, she began to study her SPELL
ing lesson diligently, while Gladys,
humming to herself with her feet
tucked up safely, looked nervously
around.
"S-e-p-a-r-a-t-e,' spelled Victoria,
her eyes closed.
"A rat!" said Gladys, explosively.
Victoria shrieked and scrambled
for the window sill again, but Gladys
got there first this time, and de-
manded from her lofty shelf: What
is It? Where did it go? Was it
mouse again?"
"You said it was a rat" said Vic
toria, trembling. Everybody is
afraid of rats; they suck your
breath"
"Why, Nicky, l never said there
was a rat" said Gladys, Indignantly.
II never in this world did"
why, Gladys Hammill, you did,
too. Didn't you say, "A rat!' just like
that?" demanded Victoria.
"Yes, but that was for Separate
Don't you remember that teacher
told us there was a rat in the middle,
so we'd remember and not put that
little old e in it?"
"Well, why didn't yau say 20,
then?" demanded Victoria.
Il did, vicky, and then you jumped
and thought you saw something"
You're such fraidy cat, Gladys,
that you make everybody else fraidy
cats, too. Come out and play tag.
'Lizabeth must be home by now."
They ran out of the basement of
the school building and had played
but few minutes when down the
stairs clattered the belated Elizabeth
and Joined the game by hitting Gladys
a sounding thump on the back,
shrieking that she was at"
you go right straight home, Liza
beth, and don't play with u.s." COM
manded Victoria. 1--WE don't want
to play with girl that tells things
that amt true. Go right away, or
I'll tell Mollie what you said about
her the other day and she won't do
thing to you."
there's Mollie, now, said Gladys.
"Let's tell her.
"Mollie! Mollie!" shrieked Eliza
beth, before the little girls could col
lect their thoughts. "vicky says you
tell things that amt true"
Mollie, with a rush, descended upon
them, while Victoria stood helpless
and speechless, rooted to the spot
with horror and amazement.
"Mollie, you may have my blue
pencil" quavered Gladys, before the
ten-year-old amazon had reached
them. Here it is, all nice and sharp
ened."
Il wouldn't take it. II was you."
said Elizabeth.
But the eager fingers had closed
over the treasure which had been her
hearts desire for weeks, and Mollio
was speeding down tie street to get