The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1884-03-07

'but II Is one OF the rules In read
ing class to stand up to read" said
Alice, her heart quaking with fear as
she foresaw the incipient rebellion.
al reckon you win have to make a
new rule for me them" impudently an
swered Nose, glancing sideways at his
companions with grin of triumph.
IF you do not obey me shall be
obliged to punish syou,'' said Alice
bravely, though she could scarcely
stand up. ss.
II guess all the furnishing you could
do wouldn't break any of my bones,"
replied the ruffian, leering at her inn
pudently.
but can break your bones for you
in half q minute, and rll.do it il you
don't stand and read rs the teach
er asked you to-" said voice at the
other end of the class, and Alice look
ed in that direction aud saw Jim Tur-
ner step from the class and face the as
tonished Nose. ,ns
Moses insolent manner abated In an
instant, his face turned pale. and he
mu.tered something about not being
'bossed by other boys" but he stood
up as he was commanded.
Alice could have kissed her young
champion for very gratitude, but she
mustered all the dignity she could COM
mand. and said:
'.Mr. Turner, cannot allow you to
interfere in the management of nay
school; take your seat"
Tho youth Obcyed without word,
but kept his eye on Nose, as II watch
ing for any delinquency. After this lit
tie episode the exercises proceeded
without interruption til noon.
Alice had no appetite for dinner.
She leaned her throbbing head upon
the desk and wondered YEARLY how
long she could endure this.
She was aroused by one of the little
girls running up to her, exclaiming.
'Teacher. teacher. the big boys are
fighting" She followed the child, ex--
claiming. "Oh, why did / ever come in
to such den of wild beasts9" At the
rear of the school-housc stood Jim Tur-
ner engaged in hand-to-hand combat
with Nose Bradley and his two broth
ers, both of whom were grown. AS
Alice stepped around the corner Jim
sent Nose reeling to tho earth and then
turned like lion upon his two remain
ing assailants They rushed at him
from two sides, but Jim was as active
as a panther. and Bill Bradley fell as
if shot, from left-handed bow, and
slant. By this time Nose had secured
bail bai AMI rushed upon Jim, but
the latter cvaded the blow, and
wrcnuhing the bat from his hand
Knocked Nose hcadlong with u blow of
his fis..
AS the discounted trio arose Jim
laughed lightly, and asked them show
they liked it as far as they had got"
picked up the bat he had taken from
Nose and called out, 'Come on, boys,
let's have game of ball"
The combat ended so quickly that
Alice had no chance to interfere, but
she felt that it would not do to let this
open violation of school rules pass un-
punished, so she rang the bell. When
the pupils were assembled she called
the culprits up to the desk, and asked
hat the fight was about and who be-
gan it. The Bradleys stood sullen and
silent, but Jim answered, ~ would
rather not tell what 1t was about, but l
began it by knocking Nose Bradley
down. Alice knew the fight was the
esult of Jim's espousal of her cause in
the reading class, and her voice falter-
ed as she said: "Then l shall have to
punish you; hold out your hand"
Jim obeyed her instantly. She took
up the ruler with u trembling hand
and began the punishment. Jim's face
never changed muscle. The look
upon it was one of quiet obedience in
which there was no trace of either bra
vado or sullenness. AS Alice inflicted
the blows on the hand so quietly held
out to her, the thought rushed upon
her mind that she was shifting the only
hand that had been raised to befriend
her In that lawless region.
Her face grew pale, the blows fell
falteringly, the tears began to run
down her cheeks, the ruler fell from
her hand, she sank into her seat, bur-
led her face into her hands, and burst
into storm of sobs.
Then Jim's countenance changed.
His lip quivered. he dashed his hand
across his eyes to clear them of unnat-
ural dimncss. and the great lump in
his throat seemed to choke him. A
chuckle from Nose Bradley recalled
his self-possession, however. and he
took step or two toward the latter
with eyes that fairly blazed with hot
indignation.
Nose rapidly retreated step or two,
and his chuckle died an untimely
death, and for full minute silence
reigned over the school-room. At last
Alice raised her head and in a broken
voice dismissed the pupils to the play
ground.
As the children passed out she heard
some say, $50 you've got u whipping
after all, JIM" and Jim's reply, Eyes,
and I've got enough to pass some of it
around IL anybody is anxious about
it."
At 1 o'clock Alice rang the bell with
q feeling of utter despair; but no school
ever moved more smoothly than did