St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1871-11-17


master had ''.lopcd" They dreaded t,
see him coming.
Il don't believe he'll rJme," sai,
Hank, with il cold shivcr. Its pas
@rhuol-timc."
"leS, he will come, too,' said Bud
And he lows to come in here mighty
quick. | don't know how. But hc'l
be 4 >landin' at that air desk when it,
nine o'clock. I'll hri thousand dollar
on that. Fl tc don't take i; into hi.
head L. hinw Il, up" Hank WAS mow
" ,itr
Some of the parents came along, acci
lcntaily Of course, and stopped 10 see thc
fun, sue that Bud woulf thrash ia,
maS:cr il he tried to break in. Small.
on his way 10 see a patient perhaps,
rcincd nP i'll front of the door. Still nc
Ralph. 1t was .iuSt five minutes before
nine. y rumor now gained currency
that he had been seen going to Clifty last
evening, and that he had nnt come back,
though in fact Ralph had come back,
and mad slept at Squire lIawkins's
''There's the mgStcr," cried Brtscy
Short, WHO stood ont in the road, >hiv-
cring and giggling alternately. For
Ralph AZ that moment EMERGED from the
sn@ar-camp by the school house, carry
inc beard.
"lIo, no. laughed Hank, "he thinks
he'll smoke It's out. guess he'll find us
ready" The boys had let the fire burn
down, and there was now nothing but
hot hickory Goals OH the hearth
II tell you he'll come in lie dlln't
90 to Clilty fer nJthin',' said Bud, who
sat still on one of the benches which
leaned against the door. Il don't know
how, but thcy'S lots Of ways OF killing a
cat besides chokin' her with butter. He'll
come in-ct he don't blow Us all sky
high
Ralph's voice was now heard, demand
ing that the door be opened.
Lets open her." said Hank, turnin.
li,id with fear 1t the firm, conf len, tone
of the master.
Bud Strengthened himself uP. blank,
you're a coward. I've got mind to
kick you. You got me into this blamed
mess. and now you want 10 funk. Iou
Jest tech one of these ere iaStcning-, and
I'll lay you on; flat Of your back afore
You can say Jack Robinson"
The teacher was climbing 10 the ROOT
with the board in hand.
"l'hat air won't win," laughed Pete
Jones outside He SAW that there was
no smoke. Even Bud began to hope
that Ralph would fail for once. The
master was now on the lre pole Of the
school-hou,". lie took il paper from
lis pocket, and deliberately p,u'rd the
contents down the chimn-v
Mr. Pete Jones shouted ''Gnmp w
der. :" and started down llr road L. br
out of the way OF the cNpl.>ln,. DR..
Small remembered probably. that his
patient might die while hc sat there, aud
started on
Bnt Ralph cmptied the paper, and
laid the board over the chimney. What
Il row there was inside, The benches
that were braccd against the door were
thrown down, and Hank Banla rushed
out, rubhin" lis eyes, cou9hin. iranti-
cAlly. and sure that he had been blown
up. All the rest followed, Bad bring
ing up the rear sulkiy, but coughing and
>nteziug for dear iiic. Such u smell Of
sulphur as came from that school house
Bct>cy had TO lean against The fence
10 =iG.lc.
~ soon aS ail were out, Ralph threw
the board oil the chimney, Icaped TO the
ground, entered the school-housr. and
opened the windows The school soon
followed him, and all wa- still
"Would hc thrash ~ This WAS the
important question in Hank Banta'>
mind. And the rest looked for Il battle
with BUD.
1T is Just nine o'rlock," said Ralph,
consulting his watch, land I'm clad TO
see You all here 50 promptly. ! should
have "iven you II holiday ii you had
asked me like gentlemen yesterday. On
the whole, think shail give YOU a
holiday, any how. The school Is dis
missed"
And Hank f.lt foolish.
And Bad secretly resolved to thrash
Hank or the master, he, didn't care
which.
And Miiandy looked the love she
could not utter
And Eels"y gisgled.