The Washington times., 1913-07-04
.cerried e heayy knotted

holding up his thin arm. But hope I
will never prove a coward when there
is any use in facing a danger"
As Charlie ran down toward the ball
field he thought he would play a joke
on Paul. and called the other boys to
hear about the plan. "
You know. fellows. Paul sits In his
hammock on the porch just by the sit
ting-room window every evening"" he
explained. We'll, tonight his father and
mother are going to a card party and
he will be alone till 10 o'clock. So
am going to put on a mask. some Of
fathers old duds and sneak in-he will
a yell" So the other boys promised to
hide in the box bushes at the edge Of
the yard and see the fun.
That evening after tea Mr.. and Mrs.
Elder went to the card party. first see
ing that Paul was comfortable In his
hammock on the porch. The lamp in
the sitting-room was lighted and turned
low and all the windows and doors
were open. =.
Just about dusk the moon rose. The
streets grew very quiet. SO Paul hooked
could get a good light by which to
read. At his side was the open box CON-
tanning his chocolate pistol. The clock
struck g. just as the last stroke died
away In the halls Paul heard a soft
step In the hall. but thought 1t only
the curtain rustling. Then, looking
around. he caught sight Of a figure in
old clothing stealing forward into the
room.
The form was not very tall. but the
face was hidden under a black mask
which completely concealed every fea-
ture. Paurs heart stopped beating. He
saw what he believed was a tramp try
ing to steal into the dining-room for the
silver. and he noticed that the man car
ried a heavy knotted stick in his hand.
Az the figure came toward him the
boy suddenly remembered that just at
his hand was what would appear to any
one to be a pistol. He would face the
man with 1t and doubtless It would drive
him of. as the robber had no arms in
sight. so. jerking up his chocolate pis-
tol, Paul leaped out Of the hammock
and advanced toward the imaginary
tramp.
Hold up your hands or will shoot"
exclaimed Paul. aiming the pistol
straight at the figures head. In the
dim light the silver-paper-covered choc-
olate pistol appeared to be the real thing. |
and the tramp shot up his arms high
above his head.
Now. don't speak or move or / will
hre." continued Paul. seating himself in
A chair II hear father coming up the |
v ak now-he will see you to the police |
station And just at that moment
Mr.. Elder walked into the room. As
the father entered the room the pre- |
tended tramp tottered and fell sense |
ess 70 the floor. Mr.. Elder jerked of |
The mask and was surprised to see thai |
!. was Charles Brown.
The boys who had been hiding in the |
bushes had seen the whole thing and |
came piling in to tell the story.
Paul is a regular brick" they all ex- |
claimed. as they poured water on Char
les face and rubbed his hands. I'VE
thought Charlie would scare him and |
have a good joke-but the Joke is on
Charles"
The boy soon came to his senses and
sat up In a chair.
II think the joke is rather on Char
ie." laughed Paul. pulling the silver
paper from the chocolate pistol This
Is no gun-it's only candy-aIl have a
bite" and he broke It up to divide with
MS friends.
That was the last joke Charles ever
.ried to play, and the last also OF his
trying to bully other boys in their
yames.