Omaha daily bee., 1918-08-10
CHAPTER vi.
The Voice Of the Forest.

which the blrQS mao HSteHet
Il to Blue Jays stirring ghost
story turned to indignation when they
learned that his tale was not true
Peggy was thoroughly vexed. She
had thought that possibly he had
some real excuse for stealing Miss
Purple Swallow and she had beer
inclined to be little sorry for him.
when a person tells hb in the
court where my father works they
give him heavy punishment. she
said. Blue Jay, you deserve the
limit"
Blue Jay rubbed the ear which Gen
eral Swallow had nipped and took an
accusing attitude.
you pay for story books you read
don't you?"
Yes" answered Peggy, "but--
"And you pay actors who entertain
you on the stage" continued Blue
Jay.
'Of course" replied Peggy, "but
And you pay to go to movie
shows?'
Yes, but"
Then you ought to pay me and
pay me big" declared Blue Jay. Il
tell you a dandy ghost story and get
you all excited; | am the chief actor
in this drama now being enacted here
in court; | directed the stealing of
Miss Purple Swallow and gave you
more thrills than you ever got tor
your 10 cents in movie theater. and
for all this what is my reward? To
be abused like pirate. to have my
car nearly bitten off and to be placed
on trial for my life Do you call that
treating me right?"
This argument at first thought
seemed bit reasonable to Peggy. 1t
certainly impressed the Birds, who
nodded their agreement with it. Blue
Jay saw that he was making his point
and all his old sauciness returned
For my pay I'll take the immedi-
ate freedom of all us Jays, the right to
return to our old positions in Bird
land, the privilege of raiding Farmer
Dalton's crops whenever we please, a
feast of fruit and nuts to be prepared
by all the other Birds every Saturday
night and humble apology for the
trouble you have put us to-"
Peggy was astonished at his impu-
dence. Some of the Birds, however,
seemed to think there was some JUS
tice in his plea. Blue Jay certainly
had furnished lot Of excitement for
them. The Birds entered into lively
discussion of the matter, some argu-
ing for Blue Jay and some arguing
against him. The audience had turn
ed itself into a jury. while the real
jury, overwhelmed with surprise, was
Just sitting there and listening to the
talk.
"We find Blue Jay not guilty." cried
Killdeer, speaking for one side of the
discussion.
1--WE find him guilty." cried Bob
Olink, speaking for the other side.
Not iguilty!" shrieked half of the
Birds. "Guilty!' shrieked the other
half mot guilty!" Guilty" they
screamed back and forth at each other
until it seemed that the trial was
about to break up in freefor-all
fight.
Then there came a sound that
hushed the tumult into instant silence.
1t was a hollow groan. low,
groan: "Oh-oo-oh-oo- OH
oow a groan just like the groan Blue
Jay had described in his great ghost
story. 1t came from a desolate, hol-
low dead tree high up on the side
Of the ravine. And it was so scary
that it made the Birds shiver and
shake.
The groan died away and there was
silence. Not Bird dared to breathe.
Then came a laugh-a horrible, CUR
Cling, creepy laugh--jyst such a
laugh as Blue Jay had described. 1t
was so loud that it filled the ravine
and awoke a dozen sleeping echoes
which hurled it back. No man was
big enough to make such a tre-
mendous laugh-no, not dozen men.
Peggy felt little shivers running up
and down her back. And the Jays
they were simply paralyzed with fear.
Blue Jay stood with mouth wide open
looking up at the tree.
The laugh died away, only to be
followed by a wild, wierd howl-the
very kind of howl Blue Jay had told
about, only this was terribly loud.
1t filled the whole forest
And right on top of the howl came
The cry of deep voice-a voice that
rumbled and roared:
II want Blue Jay" it shouted. II
want all the Jays. They stole Miss
Purple Swallow when she was about
10 be married to brave General Swal-
ow. They must be punished! They
must be doubly punished for lying
about me-the Voice OF the Forest |
What shall be done with them?"
Kill them! Kill them!" shrieked |
The Birds.
Shall they be killed, Princess Peg
yy" roared the Voice.
NO." cried Peggy, "that would do |
10 good. They should be punished |
50 they would reform and become |
good and useful Birds"
Then you pass sentence upon
hem, Princess Peggy" said the
Voice.
Peggy thought a moment. Then |
'he stepped forward.
u sentence them to be banished |
rom Birdland until they earn the
light to be taken back. And they
shall earn the right by working
hat is one virtue the Jays have
hey are workers. They shall work
Turing the summer gathering acorns
o feed Farmer Dalton's pigs; they1
shall work during the, fall gathering
'uts to be sold by Farmer Dalton
o help save other foods. Thus shall
hey pay for the wrongs they have
lone"