Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1885-09-16

The eyes Of the school being on him,
Thomas could not refuse. He advanced
to the desk.
''You are the strongest boy here now,
are mt you?'' -. .
eyes, sir.'' .@*<
s'See if you can hold my hand.''
Thomas seized the hand manfully; it
felt, he said afterwards, ''like horses
leg," and it released itself on the in
slant.
''Try both your hands, said the
slim teacher; and the result was the
same.
"Now, will hold you. Both your
hands at once
Thomas crossed his wrists, and
Gorse's fingers went around them like
iron, holding them immovable. Young
Bremen struggled, but as vainly as if
he had been an infant. The hard
fingers seemed shutting into the bone,
and he surrendered.
The big boys at their seats attempted
to laugh.
''Come up and try it yourselves
cried Bremen. The laugh subsidized.
Take your seat, Thomas, and when
you see William, tell him not to be
afraid of giving me any trouble
The troubles of the school-teacher,
however, were not yet over. After the
noon hour, one day in the second week,
when the school had been called to
order, and when Mary, now permitted
to attend under pretense of penetrat-
ing the mysteries of algebra, was con-
scientiously at work, Clarence, looking
out of the high window, saw little
party coming from up the road. He
recognized Mr.. Billiger, the arch enemy
of wishy-wash, and, with him, the Off
spring of johnson and Rhino Williams,
who, since the first day, had been alb
sent. A young man, with a shuffliug
gait and a heavy swing to his shoulders
Clarence correctly OWNED to be the
famous Bill.
A moment afterwards the company
entered the room. There was
was deep hush and Clarence, looking
around, saw that Mary was trembling.
He mentally resolved that the person
was un]ucky who frightened her, and
then, saluting the director, gave him a
seat by the desk.
Il heerd you wanted BILL said the
black william. "I've brought him. I
wanted to ask you not to hurt him,
squeeze his hands or anythin'
did you bring him here to make a
disturbances" asked Gorse, judging it
best 70 begin the attack.
''He won't be put on by no namby-
pamby,' said Mr.. Billiger, smartly.
"And you've brought the Johnsons
and Williamses, zoo. You didn't bring
them here TO break up the school, did
you? Because if you did, I can draw
my wages for the whole term without
teaching another day.
"There, that's enough Jaw cried
Bill from where he was standing, near
the stove. 'Come talk to me little.'
every well; in the first place | warn
the others to take their seats
But the Johnsons and Williamses re-
fused, and, with Bill at their head,
came down the aisle. They approached
slowly, gathering courage as they
came. The leader held his right hand
behind him.
you've got brass knuckles on, hav-
emit you?' said Gorse.
EYES, cried Bill, WITH an oath, "and
there they are!''
The younger scholars screamed, and
even the Bremen boys shuddered in
their seats; but the blow that followed
was from an arm of steel which sent
Bill down among the little benches like
a block. The Johnsons, rushing in
like two bulldogs, had a like reception.
It was at the last blow that he heard
scream from Mary.
''Clarence, Clarence!' she cried;
"qujck''
He turned suddenly and discovered
the ferocious director coming toward
him with a heavy ruler. ''I'll learn
you to strike my son!' he was yelling;
but when he saw Gorse facing him he
stopped.
You are slow,' said the teacher, de-
risively. "Give me the ruler" Mi.
Billiger did not delay in obey;ng.
All this had taken but a moment, and
William was struggling to his feel.
Gorsc did not interfere, but when the
young man found his head and made
another rush he sent him down with a
more terrific blow than before. Will
lam was in no haste this time to arise,
and his father, seeing how matters stood,
started for the door, telling Bill to
''come along
''Oh, no?''
:'That's it. You brought William
hear as a scholar he shall stay till
night. He shall sit on that small seat,
Mr.. Billiger, and if he doesn't keep
utter silence, I'll give him a flogging
such as he never dreamed Of on the
lakes. Good-day, Mr.. Biliger; if you
think I am conducting the temple of
learning in too wishy-washy a style
dent hesitate to express your valuable
views
William Billiger occupied the small
seat, made no noise and by directions
of the teacher, kept his eyes to the front;
the boys that did not take their seats
when warned left them now for whip
ping, and Clarence Gorse, master of
he district, never spent a happier af-
ternoon in his life.
He did not forget that Mary had
called him ''Clarence;'' neither did she,
for the rosy bushes were ready again
when she told the story at night.
II cried % Mr.. Corset narrated this
charming historian.
"No, indeed: you cried Clarence,
Clarence! corrected the young man.
Then the historian was confused, and
then it was that all her previous blush
es were eclipsed.
II guess Mary was good deal inter
ested,' said the artless farmer. ''But
by the Eternal, l wish I could have
seen you knock Bill!'- Williston Fish,
IN Chicago Current.
| Nervous Dibilitated Men
You are allowed free trial of thirty days