Part 19 (1/2)

The group looked at her sheepishly. No one wanted to answer her question.

”What's the matter?” she resumed. ”You're herded up like a bunch of cows in a norther.”

Sage-brush began gravely to explain. He got only as far as: ”This yere bein' a birthday,” when Echo interrupted him: ”Oh! then it's a birthday-party?”

Once stopped, Sage-brush could not get started again. He cleared his throat with more emphasis than politeness; striking the att.i.tude of an orator, with one hand upraised and the other on his hip, he hemmed and hawed until beads of perspiration trickled down his temples.

Again he nerved himself for the ordeal.

”Mebbe,” he gasped.

Then he opened and closed his mouth, froglike, several times, taking long, gulping breaths. At last, looking helplessly about him, he shouted: ”Oh, shucks! you tell her, Jack.” He pushed him toward Echo.

Jack rested his hand on the table and began: ”We've a surprise for you--that is, the boys have--”

”What is it?” asked Echo eagerly.

”You've got to call it blind,” broke in Sage-brush.

”Guess it,” cried Fresno.

”A pony-cart,” hazarded Echo.

”Shucks! no,” said Show Low at the idea of presenting Echo with anything on wheels.

Echo then guessed: ”Sewing-machine.”

Sage-brush encouraged her, ”That's something like it--go on--go on.”

”Well, then, it's a--”

Sage-brush grew more excited. He raised and lowered himself on his toes, backing toward the piano. ”Go it, you're gettin' there,” he shouted.

”It's a--”

Again she hesitated, to be helped on by Sage-brush with the a.s.surance: ”She'll do it--fire away--it's a--”

”A--”

”Go on.”

Sage-brush in his enthusiasm backed too far into the blanket screen.

His spurs became entangled. To save himself from a fall, he threw out his hand behind him. They struck the polished cover of the instrument, slid off, and Sage-brush sat down on the keys with an unmistakable crash.

”A piano!” cried Echo exultantly.

”Who done that?” demanded Show Low angrily.

Parenthesis, from his place on the floor, looked at the mischief-maker in disgust. ”Sage-brus.h.!.+” he shouted.

”Givin' the hull thing away,” snarled Fresno.