Page:Zodiac stories by Blanche Mary Channing.pdf/264

This page has been validated.
Scorpio, the Scorpion.
247

For using it, some of her most devoted Indian friends had been dropped by the loyal little maid,—even a stout captain, who had bought her many boxes of French chocolate.

Bobby saw that he had made an impression, and feeling very naughty indeed, he thought he would make it deeper.

"We don't like niggers do we, Fido? We hate niggers, because they 're like scorpions, my Mamma says, and scorpions are nasty things, Fido; they bite———"

Bobby got no further, for a small hand came sharply against his mischievous mouth with a stinging slap, as Moti, white with anger, flew to his side. She rained slaps on him; and the boy, bewildered at first, rose to his feet, and, holding his left arm as a guard before his face, put out his right hand to push her away. He had no intention of hurting her, for, however teasing and tiresome, Bobby was too manly to strike a girl, but he pushed her from him