WHITE DONKEYS—AND BURGLARS.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 174, 25 July 1928, Page 20

WHITE DONKEYS—AND BURGLARS.

(By Mavis Parsons, 90, Bassett Road, Kemuera, age 14.) "Cruelty to dumb animals!" snorted Smith indignantly. "Cruelty to my grandmother!' For the last twenty years or so they've painted Belshazzar, and now this bloke comes along and talks about cruelty." ! Smith turned to the fire and poked it ! vigorously. Simpson, the other <>cciui;<lit of the study, stared morosely at his j friend's back. Silcnce reigned in the study for a few minutes, when at last Simpson burst out: "Why, old Belshazzar simply loves it!" "Of course he does." said the other. "I ought to know, I've helped for the last two years now, and the beast licks it off the brush in pur« joy." I There had been a donkey at Fcrndale ; since it had been a school—unkind per- | sons were wont to say it was Ferndale's emblem. In the dim murky past some wise head had discovered that a donkey's hoofs, properly covered, did not sink | so deeply into a soft cricket pitch a« ] did a horse's, end ever since then the heavy roller had been drawn by a Belshazzar. Then some bright lad. or Ind«, had one night painted the current Belshazzar white. The school had been captivated bv the idea, and the date of that historic jest had been handed down from generation to generation of boys so that it might be repeated. In course of time the event had come to be recognised o'Mcially and no secret was made of the ceremony. But now a new head had come to Ferndale and had forbidden the custom under severe penalties. It had been the privilege of the captain of the school to paint Belshazzar and to keep the Imish as a trophy. This year Smith was captain, and he had been looking forward to the time when he, too, could keep a brush for his own. The two boys saf dejected in their study, Smith glaring at a brand new brush and an old battered pot containing white paint. His heart rose to the great occasion, and he made afaudden resolution. "Tony, I'm painting Belshazzar at midnight. Are you coming?" "You can count on me," replied Tony. As the great clock boomed out the four of midnight two stealthy figures might have been seen gliding alone the shadow of the close, one of them carrying a paint pot. A few minutes later ♦wo humans departed, their work accomplished, and Belshazzar slept. It was perhaps an hour later when two more figures were creeping stealthily across the grass. Belshazzar watched. "OJce, Bill," said one of them. "That was a narrer squeak! Tf the old cove bad moved a hinch to the Tight he'd Ve 'ad me. That blinkin' curtain, wasn't coverin' me proper at all." "Yus," said the other. "A fine 'edmastcr 'c is, tcr be roamin' round at mid- , night." "Well, 'e's tucked in 'is little bunk now," said his companion, "and we've got the stuff." He tapped the bag which was slung over his shoulder. "Now we've got to get away with it. At this point Belshazzar rose and advanced towards them. "Cricky! Wlnt'a that?" said Bill. "Nnffink. yer baby," said the other. Then as BeTshazzar's steps were heard plainly the two looked round, took to their heels and ran—ran as thej iutd never done before. To Belshazzar this was a new game, and he was quite enjoying it as he plodded on easily behind them. He couldn't quite understand vhy they were running away from him, but no doubt they meant him to catch them. Belshazzar had never realised till now that humans were so fast on their feet as that. Neither had those two humans. Th« two men were quite exhausted and Belshazzar was not far behind them Their only chance of escape, without being heard, was the river which bona ded one side of the playing field; ant they took it. They waded in up t-j theii armpits and stood and shivered. Bel shazair lay down on the bank an< watched. In that, dim twilisrht he looked <»on strous to their shaken nerves. The? shrieked for help at the top of tliei voices. And help was not long coming • • • • The head cleared his throat ominousl_ before the school next morning. "Er," he said, "I have something t say which may interest those person who painted the school donkey las night. As a result of their efforts th beast scared two burglars who wer making off with the games trophies. E —perhaps I was hasty in condemning a ancient custom, and under the circuit •tances the custom mav continue. I cannot have rules disregarded, an I should like to see the artists in m •tody after prayers." ' went., and although he ga* apiece of the very best the •wKt.wtoa.