Evening star., 1930-05-04
BY W. BOYCE MORGAN.
INSTALLMENT I.

living room OF the Payne home at 10
minutes past / on a certain Saturday
n afternoon in late Spring, you undoubt-
edly would have gasped in shocked sur
prise On the floor in the middle Of the room
lay little girl about 10 years Of age and above
her knelt q boy several years older, evidently
holding her down And although you might
have been filled with anger to see any big boy
fighting with any little girl, you would have
been positively amazed when you noticed that
the boy was wearing Boy Scout uniforml
But wait just q minute! Before calling the
police or pouncing upon this young scoundrel in
righteous rage, you'd better stop. look and listen
The boy is speaking.
"Keep your tongue out doggone it!" he cries.
Don't you know you've got to keep your. tongue
out so It won. do q hip-fop back down your
throat and choke you? Do you want to choke
to death and get an black and purple in the
face? Gee you might IS well drown as choke
to death"
The little girl now sticks her tongue out as far
as it viii 60. but promptly pulls It back again
"But how's o person who's half drowned go
ing to know enough to stick out their tongue?"
she protests.
"Ah, they don't" says the boy. you've got
10 hold it out for them. But can't hold your
tongue out and do this too 50 you've got to look
after your own tongue. All right nowhere
we go!"
And by this time your rage would have been
replaced by o smile of approval, for you would
understand that Jackie Payne, member OF the
Eagle Patrol, Troop 1, was merely practacing
artifcial respiration on Harriet his little sister.
HARRIET, with her cheek resting on one
= arm doubled under her head submitted
calmly while her brother proceeded to pump
air back into her (supposedly) waterlogged
lungs. He was kneeling astride her, and his
hands were pressed about the small Of her back.
He would throw his weight forward, pressing the
air out, then suddenly jerk his hands away and
straighten UP, while Harriet breathed in big
gulp Of air. Then he would repeat the pressure
and the release. counting carefully as he did so.
Finally he jumped to his feet and picked UP
his Scout hat from q nearby chair, while Har-
riet turned over on her back and gazed at him
admiringly. Jackie was a very trim-looking
Scout In his neat-fitting breeches, stockings,
shirt and neckerchief
''Wen, I've got to beat it now Hat" he said.
Thanks for helping me. I got that prone
pressure stuff down pat now. III knock this
hfe-saving test for a loop you wait and see!"
Harriet sighed, pulled her knees up under her
black eyes.
Jackie wish could be Boy Scout, too.
and save lives and win merit badges and every
thing" she said wistfully. Jackie checked him
self halfway to the door.
"Ah, don't be crazy, Hat" he said scornfully.
"How could girl be Boy Scout? You've
been saying that ever since took my Tender
foot test Gee whiz you know girls can't be
Scouts"
'T could be as good Scout as any boy
couldi" Harriet cried defensively. I've done q
good turn every day since last Fall except the
two days was sick in bed, and then didn't
cry anything. And can tie knots and do
almost everything that you could do when you
first Joined. It's not fart I don't see why I
can't be Scout, too. Just because I'm
g-girl-"