Page 7 Advertisements Column 4

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 303, 7 December 1936, Page 7

THE DAUNTLESS GANG A GOOD-NIGHT TALE It was on a Saturday afternoon, and the members of the “Dauntless Gang were seated in a scini-eircle in an old j barn. At the head of the semi-eirele | sat three boys around a large packing ; ease, which did for a table. An the left : was Dan M’Gregor, in the middle | “Mick” Clark, and on the right Frank ! Powell. When all the noise had died down Mick stood up and said: “Well—er —gentlemen, this is the first meeting of the ‘Dauntless Gang,’ and I hope it will not be the last.” “Hear, hear!” eried the gang. “As you know,” went on Mick, “several of our younger members have been harshly treated by that big bully, Seth Wilson. Now, this has to stop, so the first thing we have to do is to put a stop to his capers.” All the members of the gang agreed Then Mick, looking at a paper he had | in his hand, called out the names of three boys. Three boys of about 10 years of age stood up and answered Mick’s questions about the treatment they had received from Seth. Each boy told about the jsame story. They | had been ordered to go messages for I him, with the threat that if they refused they would get- their arms twisted. When they had finished, Mick said, “You have heard the evidence, ! what is your verdict?” ; “Guilty!” cried the gang, as one. , “Very well, said Mick. “It will be seen to.” So on Wednesday night, as Seth was walking homo, two masked figures jsrept up to him and grasped his arms “One yell and you will regret it; said one of the masked figures in a gruff tone. Like all bullies Seth was a coward at heart, so ho never uttered 1 word. They blind-folded him and j led him like a blind man. Soon they j mine to the door of the barn, knocked j md were told to enter. The bandage i was then whipped off his eyes, ami ■ what he saw made him step back in alarm. On one of the rafters swung [ an oil lanip, and seated in a semi- | circle were figures with black hoods . over their heads Then the one at the table said in a deep voice, “Bring forth the prisoner!” Seth cringed a little. “You have been found guilty of having bullied boys younger than yourself,” said the voice, “and you are about to receive the sentence. ■ ■With that, rough hands seized him j and something wet was poured over | his head and rubbed in. And then i something was painted on one side | of his face. After that he went I through several ordeals until lie promised that he would never bully small I bovs again. “Mind you,” said the leader, “if 1 ’ hear you* nave broken your promise { you will got worse thau you got to- | night.” _ I lie was then blindfolded again and I led to the place where they had first i i got him. That night, as the three boys ! were walking home, Mick laughed j I and said, “It will be a month before I j he gets that red ink out of his hair.” ; “Yes,” said Frank, “and a good i fortnight before he gets that black j paint off half of his face.” They all : roared out laughing, and as they were | I parting, Mick said, “Don’t forgret the j I next meeting.” I AS Modern as To-morrow.—Buckley ' and Soil's Wallpaper Stocks. Eng-1 lish. durable, fast colours .attractive designs, moderate prices.