The Washington times., 1914-03-05

hack of the barn.
You can't CO. replied Johnnie. Il
am going hunting.
Nobody wants to 60 replied Mamie
with a toss OF her head. but | guess
7 could II wanted to. You don't know
how to Use that gun you think you arc
hiding under your wing any more than
do You better ask me TO go; you
may need me-.
But Johnnie only laughed. and said:
Girls don't know how to use gun. and
besides they arc a nuisance. You run
back To the pond and go sailing with
Your mother and mine. and mind you
10 not tell tales. My mother does not
know | am going hunting
Il am not "A tattler. Johnnie Quackles.
- you need not be afraid | will tell. for
] shan't. but you may wish you had
asked me 10 go along replied lamie.
Johnnie did not answer. He slid un-
der the fence and was soon out of sight.
and Mamie went down to the pond and
sailed about with her mother and
Johnnic's. wishing all the ulhc
Johnnie had asked her to so with him
She ate her dinner with the Others an'
then sat under Cnrrant hdsh. where
IL was cool. but .Gohnric did not return.
and when Il came near supper time his
mother began looking for hini. she
asked everybody in the baTryald II they
had seen Johnnie. Tha. is. everybody
hut Mamie: she could not be found.
when Mamie saw Nine Cdackies go-
ing about asking 10y JUhnnic she ran
down 10 the pond and sailed out as lar
rs she could. which took her to the up
per end of the pond, whlcR broader Il
on the woods.
IL was far away from Mrs. SquirreI's
home. ard Mamie was afraid at that end
of the pond, but she knew That Johnnie
had gone there, because she watched
him after he wen. under the fence, and
she felt sure he hal mct with an acci-
dent or something terrible had happened
10 keen him away from his nner aud
supper. too.
Mamie waddIed Up the bank when she
reached the end of the pond and stood
listening, out sne lid npt hear anything
but the leaves rustlinB and The birds
Chirping I'm the trees
Then she called TO Johnnie, but no
answer came, and she wadd!ei short
distance into the woods and listened
again.
and Mamie knew it must be Johnnies
He's isn't hurt after al = thought
Mamie, and he can ike me gun
didn't think he could l wish Couid
sec him.
Mamie kept close tp. the oGshes and
trees. for she was u Httle afraid OF 4
gusi and did not feel s:ire J2hnnia was
a good marksman. He might shoot
me- she though, and cIept up under
the bushes as she though, ~ It.
Closer and closer she came to where
The popping sounded, and Name
thought Johnnie must have .not every
thing in the woods, but still she did not
Cal. for she Wanted TO see tor herself
Just what Johnnie could do with gun
When she Wis quite near. as She
thought she poked out her head from
under the brush and looked about, hut
instead of Johnnie Qdackles. she saw
Johnnie Bear with Johnnie Quack les
gun shooting a: Johnnie's hat ne had
nailed to a tree.
Nantes breath almost stopped. 70:
she felt sure Johnnie Quackes hac fall
-, into the hands of JOHNNIE Fear ami
that had been The end f. ann
Mamie kept very busy still! until Bear
moved very softly away and waddl"d
towards the POND with a heavy heart.
But what was that she 'Ieard when
she had nearly reached the pond. She
Iistened:s yes. she vas sure, IL was q
,;roan or at least a faint quack.
Mamie had gone By another way in
returning 10 The pond. for she wanted
- keep under the bushes all she
could, feaTin-, Johnnie Bears brothers
or sisters might be around.
When Mani" heard the faint quaCk-
=roan she stopped. then she heard II
again. and tl.is time she vas sir" j;
vas Johnnie. ic was in IrOrlHlc and
hurt she knew.
But Mamie MS caut Gus. she did not
IIU "Ut from cover instead she kept
Trder the bushes. but went ir the d-
lection from where the quack-sroan
srne
Thcr she called yer: softly, 'Johnn'".
Johnnie Guackl-s." and faint here
over behind the rock. came back the /
drsWcr
Manic. looked around and seeing hone
OF the Bear family in sight. waddlei
over 10 the rock as fast aS ...lc could.
and there, tied by one leg and hanging
from bush. was poor Johnnie Quackl.s. /
hardly. able to quack.
Mamie tried 20 reach with Ter bill the
string that held him. hu; il was too
high. Then she rolled a stone over TO
the bush and stood On that nd began
picking with her bill at the string. and
IN minute Johnnie fell al in -tcap
on the ground.
Mamie began tanning him with big
leaf. and IN few minutes Johnnie
opened one eye, and after while the
"ther. and looked about i'm d dazed man
Her
can you walk" asked Mamie: we
letter get away from here or Johnnie
Bear may come tins way or SOM Il
.lis family
Johnnie Quackles did not U-nit to hear
any more: he jumped up and followed |
Mamie through the bushes and on 10
The pond.
The cool water seemed to revive him. !
and ss they sailed along .Ie told Mamie |
how he had met Johnnie Bear. and he |
had taken hs gun away from him and
tied him TO the bush
He said he would call fO. me on his |
Way home" said Johnnie Quackles:
that wOulG be about right for his |
supper"
Il guess YOU would il hadn't found |
ou,' replied Mamie: YOU were hardly |
able to Guack. | told vou tlis corning
lou better have me along
Johnnie did not reply to this for they ,
w"I" close to the barn yard uOE and !
Madam Quack was as excited a Madam
G0acHles. for she did not know Mamie
had gone TO lind Johnnie and thought
she Was lost too.
Fcr' they arc" called out Madam
Grey Hen. who had eSpied Johnnie and
Mamie sailing on tine UOnd, and all the
larHyard fowl were down to the va
tcrs "dec 10 welcome them.
Where have ye BEEN asked Madam |
QuaCk Mamie and Johnnie came up
tie bank.
'AaE Johnnie Quackles" replied !
,iami" Il never tell tales" she said.
looking at Johnnie.
Johnnie WAS too grateful Ia f.,