Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-05-13

- URING the daylight hours OF
NJ several autumn Saturdays
Ill " there had been severe out.
~ breaks Of cavalry in the Scho-
field neIghborhood. The sabers were
of wood: the steeds were imaginary
and both were employed in game
called "bonded pris'ner" by its invent
ors, Masters Penrod SchofieId and Sam
uel Williams.
The pastime was not intricate. When
two enemies met they fenced spectacu-
Iarly until the person of one or the
other was touched by the opposing
weapon: then. when the ensuing claims
OF foul play had been disallowed and
the subsequent argument settled, the
combatant touched was considered TO
be a prisoner until such time as he
might be touched by the hilt of a
sword belonging to one of his own
party, which effected his release and
resto=ed to him the full enjoyment of
hostile activity.
Pending such rescue, however, he was
obliged to accompany the forces OF his
captor whthersoever their Strateglcal
necessities led them, which included
many strange places. For the game was
exciting. and. at its highest pitch.
would sweep out of an alley INTO
stable. out of that stable and into a
yard out of that yard and into house.
and through that house with the sound
(and effect upon furniture) of tram
ping herds.
strangely enough, the undouhted
champion proved to be the youngest
and darkest of all the combatants, one
Nerman, coIored. brother to Herman.
and substantially under the size to
which his nine years entitled him.
Nerman was, unfortunately. tongue
tied but he was valiant beyond all
Others and. in spite of every handicap.
he became at once the chief support of
his own party and the despair of the
opposition.
On the third Saturday this opposition
had been worn down by the successive
captures of Maurice Levy and George
Rassett until it consisted of only Sam
Williams and Penrod. Hence. it be-
hooved these two to be wary. lest they
he wiped out altogether; and Sam was
dismayed. indeed. upon cautiously
scouting round a corner OF his own
stable to find himself face to face with
the vaIorous and skillful Nerman, who
was acting as an outpost, or picket, OF
the enemy.
horse and foot, and Sam would have
fled but dared not, for fear he might
be touched from the rear. Therefore.
he defended himself as best he could,
and there followed lusty whacking, IN
the course of which Verman's hat, a
relic and too large, fell from his head,
touching Sans weapon in falling.
There" painted Sam, desisting imme-
diately. THAT counts! You're bonded,
Verman."
Aim meewer- verman protested.
Interpreting this as, Amt neither
Sam invented law to suit the oeca-
sion. Yes. you are; that's the rule,
verman. 1 touched your hat with my
sword. and your hats just the same as
you"
'Imm mopr' verman insisted.
Yes. it is, said Sam, already warm
" convinced (by his own statemenD
that he was in the right. Listen here.
If 1 hit you on the shoe. 1T would be
the same as hitting you. wouldn't it? I
shoe. wouldn't it? Well. a hats just
the same as shoes. Honest, that's the
rule. verman. and you're a prisner."
Now. in the arguing part of the game,
a native amiability to render him far
less effective than in the actual COM
bat. He chuekled, and coded the point
law WI" he said, and cheerfully fol-
lowed his captor to a hidden place
among some bushes in the front yard,
where Penrod lurked
"Looky what I got" Sam said, i'm
portantly, pushing his captive into this
I'm not SO much use any morel Squat
down. Verman. SOS they can't see you
IL they're runtin' for u.s. That's one O
the rules-honest. You got to squat
when we tell you to-
Il y
yerman was agreeable. He squatted.
and then began to laugh uproariously.
stop that noise" Penrod command
ed. You want to betray US? What
you laughin' att"
''Ep mack i'm mimmup.' Verman gig
eled.
''Whas he mean?' asked Som.
Penrod was more familiar with Yer
mans utterance. and he interpreted.
He says they'll get him back in a
minute"
NO. they won't. I'd just like to
yes. they will, too" said Penrod.
They'll get him back for the main
all day. can we: And they'd find us
anyhow. il we tried to. There's so
many of EN- against just US two. they
can run in and touch him soon as they
get up to us-and then he'll be after
US again. and
Listen here." Sam interrupted.
why can't we put some real bonds
on him? We could put bonds on his
wrists and around his legs-we could
put EN- all over him, easy as nothin'.
Then we could gag him
NO, we can't, said Penrod. I'VE
can't for the main and simple reason
we haven't got any rope or anything
TO make bonds with. have wec
wish We had some O. that stuff they
give sick people. Then. bet they
wouldn't get him back so SOON
Sick people?' Sam repeated.
ct makes 'em go TO sleep, no matter
what you do TO EN-" Penrod explained
That's the main and simple reason
they can't wake up, and you can cut
on their ole legs-or their arms, or
anything you want to-
Hoy" exclaimed Verman, in a seri-
Gus tone.
You needn't worry" Penrod said
gloomily. I'VE haven't got any o. that
stun; so we can't do it,
Well. we got to do sumpthing," said
Sam.
There was a thoughtful silence. bu,
presently Penrod's countenance bright
ened.
Il know" he exclaimed II know
what wen do with him. Why,
thought of IL just as easy! 1 can most
always think of things like that, for
the main and simple reason-welI.
thought OF it just as soon"
We'll. what Is it?" Sam demanded
Grossly. Penrod's reiteration of his
new-found phrase, "for the main and
simple reason had been growing
more and more irksome to his friend
all day, though Sam was not definitely