The Morris County chronicle., 1908-08-04

Let's stay down here in the base
ment till that dreff1e '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 if he
sees us" said Gladys, looking around.
And Marie told me thatcn she saw
a mouse down here And Harriet
said that one day last fall boy
threw snake in here right on girl
Maybe it 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 mouse, and
everybody knows that snakes die in
winter" said Victoria severely.
why, a mouse couldn't hurt you the
teeniest little bit in the world"
"Oh! OH" shrieked Gladys, jump
\ ing nimbly on the bench. II saw
one. 1t ran into the waste basket
Il don't think it was one," said
Victoria, looking warily around from
her perch on the narrow window sill.
T"I 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 1
did," said Gladys with more spirit
than she usually showed. "And if
you'd be ashemed of yourself, why
did you get on the window? l wasn't
as afraid as you I stayed on the
bench"
Victoria took refuge in dignified
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
Separate, 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 a
mouse again?"
"You said it was a rat" said Vic
toria, trembling. Everybody is
afraid of rats; they suck your
breath.
Why Vicky, never said there
was rat said Gladys, Indignantly.
I never in this world did,"
Why Gladys Hammill. you did,
100. Didn't you say, "A rati' 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?"
swell, why didn't yau say 20,
then?" demanded Victoria
Il did, Vicky. and then you jumped
and l thought you saw something"
YOU'RE such a 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 "it. {"
You go right straight home, Liza
beth, and don't play with u.s. com
manded Victoria. I'VE 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
a thing to you"
There's Mollie, now. said Gladys.
~Let's tell her."
"Molliel Molliel" shrieked Eliza
beth, before the little girls could col
lect their thoughts. ''Vicky says you
tell things that amt true.
Mollie. with 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
cned
II wouldn't take it, if was you,"
said Elizabeth.
But the eager fingers had closed
over the treasure which had been her
Nheart's desire for weeks, and Mollic
was speeding down the street to get
out Of sight before Gladys should
change her mind
Now smarty," began Elizabeth.
But her speech fed at the sight of
Ralph, her sworn enemy, who came
around the corner with grocery
basket Before he had time to put
the basket in a safe place she was
running away at the top Of her speed.
THAT kid is going to get what's
coming to her pretty soon, remarked
Ralph, resuming his burden. She's
a peach, don't think f"
Don't you care, Gladys, said vic
toria to her rhournful play fellow.
"I'll make my brother Billy give you
his new little bull pup that he is so