Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-08-20
When Reggie Danced and Paid the Fiddler

dinary." declared Reggie. Il want the
excitement of 'sneaking' an apple. 1t
must be great sport.
SO the children rambled on, reaching
where the apple orchard had so attracted
Reggie's eye. Then they gathered some
leaves already touched By autumn's tfnts
i'm advance OF time. They climbed half
way up the Point. but Davey, looking at
his watch, cried out that IL was time for
them to be starting home.
Yes. We are to have company for d-n-
ner. and mamma warned me TO be back
in time to dress for dinner, said Reggie.
Uncle Tom arrives on the $50 train and
stops over the week end with US.
haven't seen Uncle Tom since I was nine
years old. And now I'm twelve
"Oh. won't that be nice" said Edith
who loved company. You ought to take
please your uncle. Let's start home at
once"
Eyes, it's nearly 4 o'clock" said Davey.
"And it's an hours walk to town. Well
have to get move on us Come. kids.
lets 60"
Then talking and laughing merrily, the
five little friends started toward the
town where they had their respective
homes.
When they reached the farm having
the fine apple orchard Reggie again be-
gan expressing a desire to sneak an
apple. And Jack, having caught sight of
a bulldog roaming the yard back OF the
farmhouse, and not far from the orchard
Thought 1t a very good plan to give Reg
gle a lesson. So he said! II You are
bent on stealing an apple, climb the fence
and do 1t. And We'll be the farmers wit
nesses-if he wants us-that you COM
mited a theft. Bullet me warn you
there's dog In the grounds"
.I'll be too quick for any dog. said
Reggie. till now a very fine. honest chap
But somehow temptation had whispered
1T tl,fn tyfox nv,1
he had listened. much to the regret of his
friends. I'm going to jump over the
fence and sneak an apple. l see the
very one | want-that whopper hang ng
there on that dropping limb" And Reg,
gle pointed out the especial red-cheeked
fruit he desired.
"If you do, I'll tell you what think OF
you, so I WILL" declared Lily. speaking
with severe emphasis. Il like honorable
boys
And so do L." added Edith. And to
sneak an apple is just the same as steal
ing
"Oh, that's all you girls know Of such
things" laughed Reggie. You attach
value to a mere apple. that will doubtless
rot on the ground unless i eat II. SO
saying he climbed over the high board
fence and started to climb the tree. Hard
~ had he reached the limb on which
the coveted apple grew when low grow
was heard behind him, and looking below
Reggie was frightened to see a bulldog
coming at full speed toward him. he had
scarcely time to reach the ground and TO
rush for the fence when the dog arrived
on the spot and had him by the leg:
Luckily for Reggie. the dog got hold OF
his trousers and missed ting flesh. thus
doing Reggie no physical harm. As he
went over the fence all In a heap the
dog was shaken from his hold and fell
back into the grass OF the orchard
When Reggie fell headlong over the
high fence his face struck snarp-edged
rock which inflicted quite a cut across
his chin and lip and the rough weeds and
grass scratched his face and disngured
one OF his eyes. And the leg of his trous-
ers which the bulldog had sampled was In
deplorable condition. for a great piece
was torn out and a long rent ran up the
side.
As Reggie, bleeding and bruised and
very much ashamed, arose from the
ground, where he had fallen so disgrace
fully, he. tried hard to smile, and shook
himself together as best he could. His
four companions offered him no assist
ance nor sympathy. and Davey. looking
at his watch. said: you'll hardly have
time to have your wound dressed before
your uncle arrives. And you'll have to
change your clothes, / fear"
.. Zone apple costs lot sometimes.
doesn't it?' asked Edith, looking the dis
gust she felt for Reggie at the moment
Especially IL the apple isn't reached"
Just at this moment Q voice called out