Weekly graphic. [volume] (Kirksville, Adair Co., Missouri) 1880-1949, 1881-11-18

"Oh, dear! oh, DEAR don't fight
. don't fghtw cried half dozen lit
tie, timid girls, ready to run in terror.
"Why should we fght!" asked Char
) ley. 1--WE have had no cause 10 quarrel
about; we have not even spoken this
afternoon"
mo, because We was afraid to open
yer mouth to me; We know can lick
We.
4 II did not speak because we were
not together" said Charley
Don't we dispute my word" cried
Ed, pretending to fly into passion.
"lf We say lie I'll beat We black and
toss We into the stream
ii did not say you he'd, Ed"
mo because you was afraid to-
And here the "bully' began prancing
about like frisky goat, shaking his
fists at his supposed enemy.
"Oh, don't fight, please don't Fl hit
boys; be good! said sweet little Emily
Morris ten years of age. The child
clasped her hands so pleadingly and
earnestly that, had Ed possessed the
quality of gentleman, he would have
deslsted.
ave will not fight" said Charley
smiling assuredly at Emily, whose tear
stained face was white with terror.
I'VE won't, hey-say we won't!'
yelled Ed who, delighted with the idea
of striking terror to the hearts of the
girls, was becoming more and more
furious, Won't fight hey?' he re-
peated; "now you'll fight or run,-see if
ye don't"
80 please, Ed, don't,-please don't
make any trouble cried little Emily
turning her sweet. appealing face to
him.
But under the false impression that
the girls would think more ofhim, If he
was able to strike terror to the hearts
of the entire company, he continued to
play the savage. "Stand aside. my
purity little sweetheart" said the
coarse, rough boy, "1'm just a-goin' to
give that young upstart a genteel
lickin'r'
Little Emily ran away screaming.
Charley Cooper felt that he would
have to fight. much as he disliked it
His mother had taught hun to never
strike save in self-defense, and he
strictly adhered to her teachings.
Things were growing desperate.
STOPPING down, Ed picked up chip,
which he placed on his shoulder say
ing:
"I'll jest see what stuff this Teller is.
Everybody says he'll show the white
feather; now I'm goin' to try him.
Here it is, SIR said he to Charley,
touching the chip; twill We dare to
knock it off Ye won't, hey9" AS
Charley remained silent. "Then ye
won't. Will We please be SO kind as to |
knock it OFF,
81 shall not touch that chip on your
shoulder. 3D." said Charley. at is
very foolish for you to want to fight me;
l have done nothing to you, and will
not fight YOU
Foolish, hey7" cried Ed watching
his chance to construe some word, on
which to base quarrel, "is not calling
teller fool enough to make one
6ght?"
Il did not call you fool, Ed," said
Charley.
"You lie; you did: now square your
self, for I'm goin' to hit ye sure as We
live
ooh. me: cy! mercy" screamed lit
tie Emily and the other girls hiding
their face.
Bert Harris, Dick Jones and some
of the other boys were talking serious
ly of Selling Ed Forsy:he and plunging
him into the stream if he did not be-
have himself; but then Ed was so big
and strong, and could hit them so hard
they were backward about it.
The "bully" had thrown aside his :
Jacket, rolled up his sleeves, deter j
mined to display his strength, power
and courage to the girls. We cannot
say how the affair would have ended,
had 1t been allowed to proceed, Ed was
'quaring himself and had raised his
list 10 strike Charley, who had braced
himself and was on his guard, when
crack" went a rifle in the woods not
orty rods away. 1t was followed by
peculiar, shrieking growl of rage and
'ain, and the yelp Of a dog.
In moment all eyes were turned in
he direction from whence the sounds i
anne. They approached nearer and
earer until at last hunter with gun h
n his hand, who was fleeing from some {.
animal, sprang out into the :,
pen spot within few feet Of the chill .,
re,, 'I'hav oil :,,c+o,,tl,, ro,,,,;.ol