Evening star., 1915-01-03

any color that suits you; but we got to have
| the right to decorate the roofs accordin' to
our own taste"
"Oh, we wouldn't care about the roofs,
l said, "if the sides was all right an nice
| color
ANY color you want said he. @There
they are in the wagon,-from slly-blue pink
| to pea-green, the color of brick"
Got any red?'
Enough to paint the whole town, two
coats. Want red barn?"
"Oh, that's just exactly what we do
want! And if the house was kind O yaller,
with fancy trimmin's an blue blinds
WED paint it striped if you said so; only
| the roof"
"Oh, we wouldn't care, as long as twas
something good an SNOWY"
It'll be that, all right, Kid Ben turned
toward the wagon. What say, Charley?'
he asked.
"Well,' said Charley, al dunno. Say,
Kid, are you quite sure your folks won't be
home till suppertime?'
Sure
"An there's nobody else round?"
"Oh, no, Sir; only" I thought of Josh,
but resolved not to allow him to figure in
this transaction at all; so L added, "Only
me! I'm the boss!'
wagon, reaching down for can of paint and
shifting one foot over to the rim of wheel,
preparatory to jumping out. "We could do
| it easy in three hours, and even if there was
a row afterward-"
think O. the flash from the village down
| there!a suggested Ben.
"The barn, anyhow" pleaded another.
Charley took up the reins. @Set tight"
he said, "till turn round. And say, Kid,
open that gate!'
TFLEW to obey the command; but quick
ly as Charley turned his wagon he was
not fast enough for his men, three of whom
| had 1eaped from it before he reached the
gate, and were over the fence with great,
| splashing paintpots and waving brushes.
Where they took the fence theyleft splotch
of gore, and their trail was plain across the
lawn and through the little orchard, where l
| followed them. As they approached the
house l heard one yell, and saw him dip his
brush into the paint, drawing it forth drip
| ping.
Hi called Charley "Only the barn!'
The man, disappointed, passed the door
and dashed across the lane to the big barn,
reaching it simultaneously with the other
| two who had started with him.
Then followed such scene as have never
Witnessed since, as lIldI lIlO Ol lllIdCle WOIk-
ers attacked the wide expanse of the barn
front. 1t was glorious! One broad sweep
of heavy brush, and it seemed as though
square yard of dingy gray became instantly
a beautiful crimson Another swoop and
slap, and the square yard was as big as the
| barn door itself. Back, forward, up and
down, swept those stopping, slapping
brushes, and the crimson space grew and
grew Now one hurried back to the wagon
and got ladder, up which he ran against
the side of the barn, getting nearer and
nearer the caves every minute. Another
was on his ladder now, by the side of the
first, and then the third. Soon there was
only one little spot on the front of the build
ing not red, and then that disappeared.
Then round to the sides they ran, two at one
and the third at the other, and their fairy
wands turned the great planks red in less
than no time it seemed to me, as | stood by
the wagon, watching through blinking eyes.
| At last from where l stood there was nothing
to be seen but red, and turned to Charley,
who still sat on his perch holding the reins,
with sigh of ecstasy.
Like it, Kid2' he asked.
"Oh-h-h, isn't it beautiful l shuddered.