Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1872-12-13
tions, also found time to run the

pOStOmcc.
The doctors wife was at her win
dow, and after a long survey of tn
schoolmaster, hastened to commu
nicatc her opinions to Mrs. Blunt.
Meanwhile Houghton washed OF
the red dust of the road and tool
his seat at the supper table. Th'
driver had introduced him to abou
a dozen Of the leading citizens du
ring Ghc few minutes that inter
vened between their arrival and theil
evening meal.
"How do you like our town, Mr.
Houghton?" asked the landlord, gra
ciously, as he helped his new gues
to a cut Of steak.
"Well, it seems pretty place"
"Whcn you get acquainted you'll
find yourself pleasantly situated;-
but you'll have a hard time with Tho
boys"
$50 they all tell me. Anyhow,
am not unprepared," said Houghton
cheerfally.
After supper the landlord remark
ed confdentially to the doctor, "tha'
the young man had grit in him, and
he thought he'd be able to make the
rifle with the boys.''
THE FIRST DAY.
When Houghton arose next morn
ing and opened his window to the
fresh breeze, odo1oas with the per.
fume of the clambering honeysuck.
les, he felt that after all residence
in remote village, even With a par.
eel of rough boys to tako care Of
was preferable to the dusty, unfa.
miliar streets of San Francisco
He smiled as he unpacked his foils
and boxing gloves, little sadly,
too, for they were linked with many
pleasing associations of his under
graduate days.
"Well," he soliloquiscd, as he
Strengthened his arm and looked at
the finely developed muscles, 81
ought to be able to hold my own in
stand-up fight with these trouble
some pupils Of mine. This is my
day OF trial, however, and before
noon we shall probably have had
one battle out"
The school house, raw, unfin-
ished-looking frame building, stood
hard by the river, about half a mile
from the town. When Houghton
opened the rickety wooden gate that
led into the school lot, he found a
group Of some twenty boys already
assembled. Among them were Sam
Seymour and Ike Walter. The lat
ter's sister, pretty girl of Is, was
leaning against the fence with half
a dozen of her friends, for the Rus
sian Bar school house was arrang-
ed for the accommodation of both
sexes. Ts
HoughtoE handed the key to the
nearest boy, and asked him to open
the door. With look at the 9TH
ers, and a halfgrin on his face, he
obeyed.
"Now boys, muster in" said
Houghton, checrfully.
They all passed in-Scymour and
Walter last. The latter took good
look at the schoolmaster as he went
by. When they were seated Hough-
ton stood at his desk, and laid a
heavy ruler upon the books before
him.
"Now boys" he said, II hope we
shall get along pleasantly together.
You treat me fairly, and You shall
have no reason to complain, l pro-
mise you. Silence and obedience is
what | require, and strict atten.
ton to the matter of our instruc-
ton"
Giving them portion of the
grammar to prepare for recitation,
he walked quietly up and down the
room, occasionally standing at the
windows, but appearing to keep no
surveillance on the boys. Suddenly
the crack of a match was heard, fol
lowed by general litter.
Houghton turned quietly from the
window, and saw the blue smoke
from u cigarette arising from where
Seymour sat.
"What is your name, boy?" he
asked, in stern tone.
"My name is Seymour replied
the mutineer, insolently.
care you smoking?"
81 guess So"
"Leavc the room"
81 guess not"
There was dead silence in the
school room now, and Houghton
felt that the time of trial had now
come.
Seymour" he said again, very
quietly.
z "What?"
.sCumc here"
Seymour, putting his hands in his
pockets, sauntercd from his desk,
stood within a yard of the school
master, and looked sneeringly into
his face.
"Leavc the room," said Houghton
again, In . lower voice.
"No."
The 1.-THE arm Strengthened like
a flash of lightning, and the rebel
measured his length on the floor,
while the blood gushed from his
nostrils. In a moment he sprang to
his feet and rushed furiously at the
schoolmaster, but went down again
like reed before that well-aimed
blow. The second time he fell,
Houghton stopped down and lifting
him as if he had been child, fairly
flung him outside tic door. Soy
mour, confused and amazed, stag
gered down to tho brook to wash
his face and reflect on the wonder
ful force of tina, slight arm. And
Houghton, turning to the school
without word of comment on the
scene, commenced the recitation
Walter was mum. Seymour's fate
had appalled, him, and in fact, the
entire mutinous spirit of the schol-
ars of Russian Bar was in fair way
of being totally subducd.
When the trustees heard of the
affair they unanimously commended
the schoolmaster's pluck.
81 tell you what, boys" said Per