"I am going to invite Rudolph to come under our flag," she said.
The children gasped as Louise held out her hand to the little alien.
"Won't you come and be American with us?" she asked kindly.
The boy drew back a moment while his blue eyes searched her face for whatever hidden cruelty might lurk beneath its seeming sweetness. Then he smiled—a timid, but trusting smile—and rising, took her extended hand.
But Billy Hastings called jeeringly: "He's a sneak! He's just doing it to pretend!"
"He knows I'd drag him if he didn't come!" exclaimed another.
"Coward! Coward!" yelled Luke. "You're afraid to refuse!"
And then, all suddenly, something in the German lad flamed up. He snatched his hand from Louise's. He stood to his full height with blazing eyes, and cried:
"It's a lie!"
The sound of the school-bell broke the startled quiet which followed the alien's spirited revolt.