Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-07-13

lowing him, and the yellow
hen trotting along las, Of all
A, the foot of the path the copper
with ease the rocks that numbered
the way. Then he turned TO Dorothy
and said:
Let nae carry your dinner pail"
She placed it in his right hand a
once. and the copper fingers closed
firmly over the stout handle.
Then the little procession marched
out upon the level sands.
AS soon as the three Wheelers who
were guarding the mound saw them,
they began to shout their wild cries
and rolled swiftly toward the little
group. as ii to capture them or bar
their way. But when the foremost
had approached near enough. Tiktok
swung the tin dinner pail and struck
the Wheeler sharp blow over it's
head with the queer weapon. Perhaps
i, did not hurt very much but it
made grea, noise. and the Wheeler
uttered howl and tumbled over
upon its side, The next minute it
scrambled to its wheels and rolled
away fast as IT could go. scree CHI
ing with fear at the same time.
II told You they were harmless
began Tiktok, but before he could
say more another Wheeler was upon
them. Crack, went the dinner pail
against it's head, knocking its straw
hat dozen feet away. and that was
enough for this Wheeler. also. 1t
rolled away after the first one, and
the third did not wait to be pounded
with the pail. but joined its fellows
as quickly as its wheels would whirl.
The yellow hen gave a cackle of
delight and flying to perch upon
Tiktok's shoulder, she said:
'Bravely done. my copper friend!
and wisely thought Of, too. Now we
are free from those ugly creatures"
But just then large band of
Wheelers rolled from the forest, and,
relying upon their numbers to con-
quer, they advanced fiercely upon
Tiktok Dorothy grabbed Billina in
her arms and held her tight, and
the machine embraced the form OF
'H' iItt'C 6hi WIN iio Ici' eio
better to protect her. Then the
Wheelers were upon them.
Rattiety. bang. bang. went the
dinner pail in every direction, and 1t
made so much clatter humping
against the heads Of the Wheels that
they were much more frightened than
hurt and fled in a great panic, ALL
that is, except their leader. This
Wheeler had stumbled against an
other and fallen fiat upon his back.
and before he could get his wheels
under him to rise again Tiktok had
fastened his copper fingers into the
neck Of the gorgeous jacket of his
foe and he'd him fast.
Tel your people to go away"
commanded the machine.
The leader of the Wheelers nest
tated 10 give this order. so Tiktok
shook MIN as a terrier dog does a
at, until the Wheeler's teeth ratified
together with noise like hailstones
on window pane. Then, as soon as
the creature could get its breath, it
shouted to the others to roll away.
which they Immediately did.
X x X
"Now," said Tiktok, you shall
come with us and tell me what /
want to know"
"You'u be sorry Tor treating me
in this way" whined the Wheeler
''l'm terribly fierce person"
AS for that answered Tiktok, II
am only a ma chine, and cannot
feel SORROW or joy, no mat ter what
happens. But you are wrong to
think yourself TERRIBLE or fierce"
why SOP" asked the Wheeler.
BE cause no one else thinks as you
do. Your wheels make you helpless
to in-jure amy one. For You have no
fists and can not scratch or even
pull hair. Nor have you any feet to
kick with. All you can do is to yell
and shout, and that does not hurt
amy one at all"
The Wheeler burst into a flood Of
tears. to Dorothys great surprise.
; Now. l and my people are ruined
forever" he sobbed; for you have
discovered our secret. Being so help
less. our only hope Is to make people
afraid Of us. by pretending we are
very fierce and terrible, and writing
I'm the sand warnings to Beware the
Wheelers. Until now we have fright
rnI l,,,t ,t,.r fxn,