Turner County herald. (Hurley, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1884-02-07

do wouldn't break any of nv bones !"
replied the ruf!ian, leering at her impu-
IDENTIFY.
But I can break your bones for YOU
10 half minute, and I'll do it if you
don't stand up and read as the teacher
asks you to" said voice at the other
end OF the class, and Alice looked in
that direction and saw Jim Turner step
from the class and face the astonished
Nose.
Moses insolent manner abated in an
instant. his face turned pale, and he
murmured 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.
ma1d, and said:
MIR. Turner, cannot allow you to
interfere in the management Of nv
school; take your seat"
The youth obeyed without word, but
kept his eye on Nose, as If watching for
any delinquency. After this little cpl
sode the exercises proceeded without in
terruption till 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, exclainding,
: Teacher, teacher, the big boys are
fighting!" She followed the. child, ex-
claiming, sob, why did I ever come
into such den of wild beasts r. at the
rear of the school house stood Jim
Turner engaged in hand-to hand COM
bat with Nose Bradley and his two
brothers, both of whom were grown. As
Alice stepped around the corner Jim sent
Nose reeling to the 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 blow, and his
brother Tom followed him in an instant.
By this time Nose had secured ball
bat and rushed upon jim, but the latter
eve ded the blow, and wrenching the bat
from his hand knocked Nose headlong
with blow Of his fist.
Bs the aiscomfted trio arose Jim
laughed lightly and asked them chow
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. ~ 90
The combat ended SO quickly that
Alice had no chance to interfere, but
she felt that itwould 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 what
the fight was about and who began it.
The Bradleys stood sullen and silent,
but Jim answered, "I would rather not
tell what it was about, butt began it by
knocking Nose Bradley down." Alice
knew the fight was the result of Jim's
espousal of her cause in the reading
class, and her voice faltered as she said
"Then I shall have to punish you; hold
out your hand"
Jim obeyed her Instantly. She took
up the ruler with a trembling hand and
began tie punishment. Jim's face never
changed a muscle. The look upon it
was one OF quiet obedience in which
there was no trace of either brayado or
sullenness. AS Alice inflicted the blows
upon the hand so quietly held out to
her, the thought rushed upon her mind
that she was smitlng the only hand that
had been raised to befriend her in that
lawless region. ~
Her face grew pale, the blows fell
falteringly, che tears began to run down
her cheeks, the ruler fell from her hand,
she sank into her seat, buried her face
in 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 dimness, 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 towards the latter with eyes that
fairly blazed with hot indignation.
Nose rapidly ret.eated step or two,
and his chuckle died an untimely death,
and for full minute silence reigned
over the schoolrcom. At last Alice
raised her head and in broken voice
dismissed the pupils to the play ground.
As the children passed out she heard
some one say, ESQ you got q whipping
after all, Jim" and Jim's reply, "Yes,
and got enough to pass some of it
around if anybody is anxious about il. -
At o'clock Alice rang the bell with a
feeling of utter despair; but no school
ever moved more smoothly than did her
school that afternoon. Quiet obedience,
study, good lessons, and respectful at
tention were universal. But Alice had
determined to quit the school; she felt
as if she would rather be the Eoorest
H. - Il 1,ol I,,1
lied, and tortured for months at time
by set of brutal ruffians, whose parents
employed her for the sole purpose of en-
during this martyrdom. rta,ef
So when Alice locked the school house
| door that evening it was with mingled
feeling of relief and humiliation that
she started to offer her resignation to
the directors. AS she lett the school
| house she saw Jim Turner few yards
ahead of her walking rapidly toward
home. She called his name, and he
stopped and respectfully waited until
she had overtaken him. "Mr. Turner, y
she said, 81 am going away in the morn
ing, and I wish to thank you for your
brave defense of me at the school to. day,
and to ask your forgiveness for the pun.
ishment 80 unjustly inflicted on You, u
and in her earnestness Alice held ou,
her little trembling hand, and Jim in.
stantly grasped it.
"I have nothing to forgive" said he
"you could not do otherwise and Meth.
er could 1; but you are surely not intend.
| ing to quit the school?"
eyes" answered Alice, 81 would ra.
ther die than pass through three monthf
of such scenes as have to-day"
"But you will have no more trouble
there is no one in the school that would
be at all likely TO give you tronble, ex.
| cept the Bradley boys, and as long as
am there will answer for their good
behavior"
At last Jim's eloquence prevailed, and
Alice finally consented to teach week
longer, and at the end of that time she
decided to stay, for never did school
move along more smoothly. At her re-
quest Jim was allowed to remain during
| the term, and as soon as it closed he
went to college.
Alice taught the Bear Creek school
successfully for three years, but in the
| and ri nele Zeke,s prediction was verified