Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1883-07-26
rather in the cause of his "science'
than ont cf ,,,al;oa

roughs and prize-fghters and their
methods of self-assertion. One was
well-matched against the other.
| Solberg stated his case to the ex-prize
fighter and unfolded plan of opera
tons. AS he was a young gentleman
of means, he had no difficulty in secur-
ing the offices OF the good-natured
bully all the more readily, perhaps,
because the old king of the ring may
have been signing in spirit over the too
peaceful life into which public senti-
ment had latterly forced him.
1t was arranged that Immediately af-
ter dark that evening, "Old Beeze"
should 60 quietly to Solberg's room at
the college, and place himself at this
young gentleman's disposal.
Meantime our threatened Freshman
went about the business of his studies
for the rest of the day, but during the
afternoon he took occasion to indulge
in walk about the college campus,
and carried his cane as usual. The bet
ter to show his contempt of the insult
inh notice placed on his door, he twirl-
ed it after the most foppish fashion OF
the day.
The Sophomores saw him and boiled
with indignation. The Freshman was
defying them. Word was rapidly pass
ed among the faithful. and a class
meeting was called to take immediate
action.
The charge was, that Freshman Sol
berg had not only been out with cane,
since he had been specially warned, but
had ilousished IL defiantly.
All the Sophs agreed that he must be
dealt with summarily; and the unani-
nous vote was that he should suffer
''Thompsonian treatment that very
night, and then be gathered to his
fathers"
Solberg felt that the crisis was APP
preaching. At twilight he retired to
his room and locked the door, About
half an hour later his heart was glad
dened to hear three taps on the panel.
The pugilist had not failed him.
A whispered consultation was held,
all the .preliuinaries were arranged,
and the man of the ring was hidden
away under the bed, upon pillow and
blanket.
Solberg then trimmed his lamp and
fell to work upon his next morning.
Odyssey lesson. Old Beeze snored.
Ten o clock struck, and still no move
ment on the part of the Sophomores;
but not very long after, Solberg heard
muffled FOOTBALLS outside his door, and
low voices in the hall.
He blew out his lamp and fastened
to shake the slumbering Ajax, under
the bed. "The Philistines are upon us,
Foeertyr'
SAY, sor, and it's fun we II have, thin
was the hoarse whisper from beneath.
A few minutes later they heard loud
and peremptory knock. Solberg threw
himself upon the bed, but after decent
pause, called OUT
WHO'S there?"
THE Vigilance committee, was the
stern response. "Open!"
II know no Vigilance committee, :"
replied Solberg. Il decline to open the
door at this unreasonable hour
'Open your door within one minute,
or we will burst it," was the next sum-
mons.
Burst my door at your peril, gentle
men" cried Solberg. II warn YOU"
This defiance was soon followed by q
heavy blow as If from log of wood
then another-and another.
With the third blow the bolt was torn
from its socket, the door flew open, and
in rushed three Sophs to seize the re-
bellious cane-flourisher.
But at this juncture uprose old Beeze,
met them before they reached the mid
die of the room in the conscious glory
of his old renown-whilc Solberg, roll
ing on the back side of the bed, took
his place under it.
The foremost Soph, as he rushed for
ward, received blow which fairly threw
him out into the hall. A like infliction
on the nose of the second man landed
him in breathless condition over the
table into the glass door of the book
case; the third Soph was struck by the
open hand of the prize-fghter on the
ear, followed by - sledge blow in the
ribs, by which he was hurled-in com
pany with chair and two hassocks-
out beneath the staircase in the hall.
where he lay very quiet for some time.
A shout rose from the invaders.
Within the room all was silent. 1t was
too dark for them 20 see what the force
was against them, but they rallied.
They were too plucky to give up, even
il three of their men were disabled
They had not given Solberg credit for
such pluck and muscle, but they would
not have the modification of not taking
him from his room.
Eight or ten of them nov made "A
desperate rush together into the room.
TO overpower him. Old Beeze allowed
several of them to come in, and then
went to work in earnest.
He was just warmed up TO it, and his
big, hard fists made the round Of their
heads with astonishing rapidity.
Solbcrg lay under the bed and shook
with laughter, being amply solaced for
the crashes among his furniture BY the
resounding thumps on the cran.ums of
his enemies.
Two of the invaders were hurled out
through the mosquito nets and landed
on the ground beneath the windows;
the rest were Knocked sprawling into
corners.
BY way of finishing up the encoun-
ter, the old brute pitched these last out
into the hall, as if they had been SO
many sacks of bran, and shut the door.
He then calmly sat down on the bed,
while Solberg came out from under it..
They remained silent, waiting further
developments.
But no further developments came.
The wounded were too numerous to
make rally acceptable on the part of
the Sophs. They had had enough.
Some of them, indeed, had quite too
much, and required to be assisted to
their rooms, There were no further