Richmond Palladium (Daily), Volume 41, Number 187, 24 June 1916 — Page 15

PAGK THREE

THE RED ARROW E LM E R RUSSHLL M'GREGOR Both Boys and Girls Will Enjoy This Story

VI. CAPTURED. The following day the Sioux again came in sight of the foothills, but as they still feared the Crows they kept to the open plain to avoid an ambush. Having exhausted their supply of meat, they began to look for game. ' For a long time they searched in vain. Then White Otter discovered several coyotes jumping about an animal at bay. "See. the wolves have caught something for us," he told Sun Bird. The coyotes dragged their victim to the ground, aud then, as the lads approached, the wolves fled across the plain. When the Sioux came closer a splendid black-tail buck struggled helplessly to rise. They saw that it had been pierced by several arrows. After killing it the lads cut the arrows from its body and examined them with much interest. They differed from their own in both pattern and workmanship, and were similar to the one which White Otter had cut Irom his shoulder. "They are Crow arrows," said White Otter. "It is bad," replied Sun Bird, glancing uneasily across the plain. They knew that the buck had escaped from the foot-hills, and as its wounds were fresh the lads feared that their enemies were concealed in the timber. They watched the low wooded slopes a long time, but saw nothing to confirm their suspicions. However, tiiey determined to take no chances, &nd Sun Bird kept guard while White Otter proceeded to skin and quar-

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INTERESTING INFORMATION ABOUT THEM SUPPLIED B THE BUREAU OF BIOLOGICAL SURVEY OF THE UNITED STATES DEPARTj MENT OF AGRICULTURE -jujum ii i i i . mm am THE KING BIRD. Did you ever see a Wng bird? There are lots of them around here, tt the edge of town. You find them usually sitting on a wire feuce long some quiet country road, as c til 1 as they can be, or In a low fruit tree watching for flies or gnats to gobble up. They are about the size of a robbin, and just as slim and graceful, only they are very dark grey and have a narrow strip of white across the end of their tails. Sony? farmers call them "beemartins." because they think the king birds eat bees, but they are mistaken. King birds very seldom touch bees at all. and when they do they only eat the drones which have no stings and do not make honey, anyhow. But they catch hundreds of big blue flies that are enemies of the bees, and they drive away hawks and crows, besides. So I should think the fanners would be glad to have the king birds around, wouldn't you? And the next time you are out in the country pee how many you can fine. wn't -w?

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terthe buck. Before the task was finished Sun Bird called him. "We have been discovered," he said as White Otter joined him. From the foot-hills to the west a straight column of black smoke rose against the sky. They knew that it was a signal, and they feared that they w'ere trapped between two war parties. Then they saw another smoke signal rising above a wooded ridge to the east. "The Crows have separated; we are in great danger," said White Otter. "Yes; we must be very cautious," replied Sun Bird. The smoke columns began to twist and break, and the lads knew that a message was being sent across the plain. They would have given much to be able to read it.

Grandpa Fears Ghost of Goat The boys were on grandmother's farm for the summer. Their home was in a big city, and the delights of farm life were something new. All three' of them were full of mischief and fun, but grandfather and grandmother did not. become peeved at their antics. " - One day the boys begged grandfather to buy them a goat, but he refused to do so. Finally the boys saved enough money to buy one. Grandfather was in town when the boys brought the white billy goat home. When grandfather came home that night, he went Into the barn with a lantern, to see if every thing was safe. He heard a noise in the box stall Grandfather opened the door, held the lantern high. He saw a great big white animal, looking like a ghost, standing on its hind legs in front of him. He was so frightened that he did not stop to look a second time, but" ran to the house and burst into the room saying, "There's a ghost In the barn." Grandmother and the boys laughed until their sides hurt, making grandfather angry. But he soon saw the joke. He let the boys keep their companion. The goat butted the boys several times, but they found little sympathy with their grandmother, who told them that they wanted the goat and had to be satisfied if the goat bumped them now and then. Something To Hare you ever written a story? No? Well, try one now. Look at this picture. How many different objects can you find? How many objects can you find more than once in this picture? Who Is making a noise? What for? Why are (Protected by George

for they believed it concerned themselves. They watched anxiously until the signals finally ended in spasmodic puffs of black smoke. The Sioux were troubled. They believed that their enemies had set some clever trap, and they feared it would be difficult to escape. The plain was bare and shelterless, .ind they realized the folly of attempting to hide. They decided to continue boldly on their way in the hope of eventually stealing avay under cover of the night. Therefore, when White Otter finally finished his task they rode slowly away, watching the foot-hills for a Fight of their foes. As the Crows failed to show themselves, the iads believed that they were riding cautiously through the timber. They hoped to fool them by feigning careless indifference. At the end of the day, therefore, they stopped at a small spring and made elaborate preparations for spending the night. Believing that they were being closely watched, they picketed tho ponies where the Crows would be sure to see them, and made their fire in the open. "The Crows will laugh at our foolishness," said White Otter. "It is good; they will learn that the Sioux are wise," replied Sun Bird. When it was dark the lads bejean a cautious retreat. They had not gone an arrow-flight, however, before they heard the lonely wail of a coyote a short distance in front of them. They stopped and looked at each other in alarm. In a few moments the cry was repeated, and they felt sure it was a signal. Then

farther to the east, they heard an answer. Their courage weakened. They believed that the wily Crows had guessed their plan. "We are surrounded," said Sun Bird. As though to verify his worda. a third signal sounded behind them. The Crows had found the campfire. The lads wondered if the west was still ungarded. They rode cautiously in that direction. Then they heard the wolf call directly ahead of them, and they stopped in dismay. "We have been trapped," White Otter declared, savagely. Their first impulse was to make a reckless dash for liberty, but a moment's reflection showed them the folly of such a manoeuver. They believed that their enemies Write About .our friends dressed up so funny? Begin your little story by describ ing the day, the place; what time It was; the different friends: how they are dressed: what they are doing: and tell something about each thing you see Matthew Adams

were closing in from all sides, and they knew that their only chance was to slip noislessly past them in the dark. Fearing that their ponies might betray them, they muzzled them with buckskiu. Then they rode slowly forward, at each stride expecting to find themselves face to face with their foes. The signals had ceased, and the lids knew that the Crows were close upon them. They stopped to listen: The plain was silent. Realizing that a moment's delay might prove fatal, they continued to advance. "Listen!" whispered White Otter. They heard subdued voices; the speakers were within bowshot. Believing that they would surely be discovered the lads prepared to light. The Crows subsided into

The

Story for Mr. Possum got to the log first, but pretty soon he saw Mr. Coon coining along with the gun over his shoulder. "Here it is," said Mr. Coon, "you take the gun, Mr, Pos sum; I don't care for firearms Myself." Mr. Possum had on the old hat and he shouldered the gun, telling Mr. Coon to follow him. Very carefully they picked" their way to where Old Man Crow lived, and when they were near the house Mr. Possum stopped and listened. "He is asleep," he said. . "I . was sure he took a nap at noonday. - He 'caws' even in his sleep. Now you slip up to the pantry window at the back and look in." Mr. Coon came back in a minute with wide open eyes; in fact, they looked as if they would pop out if he saw another thing. "Every shelf is full," he said, almost chocking over the words. "Cakes and pies and " "That is all we want to know, that the pantry is full." aid Mr. Possum, creeping toward the house. "You stand so the top of your head shows over this window sill," he said to Mr. Coon, "It will look like the top of Mr. Man's coon cap, and don't poke your nose up until I tell you." "All right." whispered Mr. Coon, taking his position. j Then Mr. Possum looked in and saw Old Man Crow asleep on the! sofa by the wall on the other side of the room. He was lying on his back, with his wings folded over his chest and breathing very deep. Mr. Possum rested the gun on the window sill and let the top of his hat show over the top and then he called, "Old Man Crow, Old Man Crow; wake up, you are caught." Old Man Crow opened one eye at first and squinted, but when he paw the top of the hat he opened the other eye and took a good look. Then he saw the gun and the ton of the coon cap, and he knew that Mr, Man and very likely the hired man, too, had caught him, and he was as good as a dead crow that very minute. "I didn't steal the corn, 'deed I didn't," said Old Man Crow, trembling all over. "I found that corn right on the road where it had fallen off the load you were carrying to market, Mr. Man. I was just saving it for you. I'll get it right away if you will just turn that gun the other way around." Mr. Coon was laughing so that Mr. Possum gave htm a good sharp kick on the leg to be quiet, and then Mr. Possum said, trying to make bis voice as near like Mr. Man's voice as he could: "Old Mas Crow, I don't want that corn. I want you. I am going to lock you up. You have done so many things lately that it Is not safe for you to be free." Old Man Crow began to think of the full pantry and of the raisins he stole from Mr. Man's pantry; also a silver spoon which Old Man Crow ate his soup with which came from Mr. Man's house. Old Man Crow would almost

silence, -however, and the Sioux wondered whether they had passed. Then a more alarming possibility suggested itself, Perhaps- their foes were stealing upon them under cover of the dark. Alarmed by the thought, the lnda peered anxiously Into the night. A few moments later" they heard the sound of hoofs, aud as their pontes raised their heads the Sioux struck them between the ears to prevent them from calling. The riders passed so

near that for a moment tne laus feared they had been seen. The' horsemen colitinued on their way, m . m 4 l i 1 . I uowever, aim me smoux nuuizeu that they had escaped detection. They waited until the Crows had passed from hearing, and then they continued their stealthy retreat. i prather lose his life than be locked way to save himself when Mr. losBiini spoke again as near like Mr. Man as possible: "Old Man Crow, I will let you off on one condition." "What is that? What is that"? asked Old Man Crow, eagerly. "I have decided tt will be a lot of bother to keep you and cost a lot to feed you," said Mr. Possum. "Now, to punish you for all your badness. .You are to go away from home and stay two days. Ou the second night you can return, and if ever I catch you around my place after that, the next time I come here there won't be any Old Man Crow after I leave." Old Man Crow didn't stop. He ran for the door and away ho went. Mr. Possum and Mr. Coon watched him a minute and then they OLD MAN CROW OPENX.D OKK, laughed, but they didn't stop long to laugh; they hurried Into Old Man Crow's house and into his pantry. How they did eat. Mr. Coon said It reminded him of a party he went to once in a place where everybody was away, and he hadn't had so much to eat since. They ate' until they were sleepy and then they locked and barred the doom and went to bed in Old Man Crow's bed. In the morning they were up early and ate the rest of the food that they left the night before. Old Man Crow flew home the second night tired and weary; he opened the door and went In slowly and locked it behind him. He was pretty hungry, and the first thing he did was to open the pantry door. He gave one loud caw and held on to bis head; not even a crumb was on the shelf or floor. Old Man Crow looked around and saw his bed. Some one had slept la it. He walked over and looked at it a minute and then he started and looked closer. He picked up something and held It up and looked at It; it was a hair, long and rather stiff, black and a dull white. Old Man Crow held his head on one side and looked at it a minute. "That was Mr. Coon that I thought was a coon cap showing over. the sill, but who was with him with the gun? That is the fellow I want to catch." Old Man Crow looked the bed over over and shook the sheet but not another hair could he find, and he Is still looking, I expect, for the one who had the gun.

Sandman

... .,. Tonight

OLD MAN CROW OPENX.D OKK I KYJE.A.T