The San Francisco call., 1909-10-09
RY sLIzAnErH EMING


lined street of the aristocrafic col
iese town. chatting and laughing in,
sUbdued merriment Il was November
evening" but the air was WARM and
pleasant. The girls light dresses were
the only CLEANS OF color in the quiet
darkness
They. with the older boys formed the
front or vanguard of the procession
ana they carried a number of boxes or
packages with care that betokened
bow highly their contests were
esteemed A few of the Younger boys
brought np the rear. They had, on
starting out. been rather chagrined to
lind themselves ignominiously rele-
gated TO the background as il were.
Before they had gone far, however. a
Circumstance occurred which served to
greatly restore their self-esteem and
even addsto the excitement OF the occa-
sion. They discovered that they were
being shadoWed-that their ranks were
being harassed from the sides and rear
by an unknown enemy. Three or fours
small boys who evidently thought this
an excellent opportunity for paying
OF old scores. were following them up
skirmishing in and out of their ranks
and administering sly punches VIII e
they thought they would be most eft
fective. Sundry pulls and tugs at
outer garments, with occasional re-
tiieAA lNo % Oh AANoul El4LttntaEy l4dl 9TSs
kept up a running accompaniment TO
their feet A friendly electric light.
however, soon revealed to the BOYS the
identity Of their youthful assai ANTS.
ITS Whaley and Red Bronson and
those kids, was passed from boy TO
boy
You wait tin tomorrow Red. I'll fix
you"
You. too. Ted wbaiey you'n be
sorry you're livin."
These and other hints OF what would
happen on the morrow became so dark
and blood curdling that the assailants
slbsided and finally melted away in the
darkness.
The boys and girls in front. en-
crossed in their own affairs. were
blissfuily unconscious of any disorder
in their rear. Presently they slack
ened their pace and made motions for
silence as they approached a pretty
bungalow with low. wide windows and
smooth green lawn in front. A softly
shaded lamp revealed a young girl
seated at the piano, her back toward
the windows She was practicing la
tboriously. One. two. three. four-one.
two. three, four-Sae counted aloud
She wore a school dress of checked
blue and white gingham. and her
brown hair, tied at the neck with an
immense bow of black ribbon. hung
in two braids, girl fashion, to her
waist.
The boys and girls crowded on tip
toe up the wide steps, breathless, gig
Cling inaudibly, and peering in. One
boy laughed aloud. but Monte Carlisle,
intent on her music. heard nothing.
See her countingi Isn't 1T funny?"
whispered a tall girl in white, with
glossy brown braids, coronet fashion,
over her brow.
Look put for that freezer-don't
s. -ls,,1 -.
sotto voce.
Ring the bell. somebody, or shall
r. die" came in smothered tones from
another. There was a prolonged peal
at the bell. The music ceased abruptly
and Monte opened the door. Then the
joyous crowd rushed in with whoop,
laughing and chatting, and Monte
stood dumfounded. It was certainly
complete surprise.
Lights were turned on. Monte. as
sisted By a bevy of smiling girls,
changed her school dress for a pretty
white one. The young people gathered In
the long. pleasant living room and the
hubbub had scarcely subsided when
there was a heavy thud at one of
the windows and a large pane of
glass shivered into a thousand pieces.
The girls screamed family and gath
cred In frightened group at the other
end Of the room. The boys. standing
Jumped up and bolted for the street
after the culprits. Monies mother,
who had been asserting the goodly
packages In the dining room, entered
hurrIedly and the girls nervously ex-
planned what had happened. After as
suring herself that no one was hurt
and that there was no danger of a
repetition of the disaster. she sat
down beside the girls TO await devel-
opments.
Presently the lads returned. drag
ging with them three very unwilling
and greatly frightened small boys.
There WIS another, but he got
away" said Stanley Harvey, one Of the
csptors, breathless from his exertions.
Mrs. Carlisle gravely surveyed the
youthful cuiprits. A keen student of
human nature and Of boy nature in par