The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1886-12-29
Sclettco Storp.
Why He Won the Prize.


couple of weeks more, and the summer
term would be ended. OF course
Uncle Rufus, the master, would not
offer prize after everybody had fin
ished studying. But that was just
what he did do. Whatever he did he
always did in his own way, different
from the way other people usually do.
He sat looking out of the school
room window one afternoon before
closing school. The boys were all
very quiet. When Uncle Rufus sat in
that dreamy mood, looking off at the
margin of green hills and sky visible
from that particular window, every
body knew that something would hap
pen soon. He was thinking about it.
BOYS" he said, at last, turning his
gaze to the many faces watching him
"boys, I've intended all the year to
give you a prize when we got through
with the examinations. 1t will be
twenty dollars, and will be awarded by
the committee"
That was all he said. Then he dis
missed the school. The boys scattered
in groups on the play-groundto talk the
matter over.
"Twenty dollars is quite little
sum-" said Jervis Carlton.
" 1t would keep me in pocket-money
all SUMNER" Saul Raymond ventured
to declare.
"'Tisn't fair, not letting us know
thing about it until this time of day."
Joe ForsWhe grumbled. q would
have made try for it if l had known
il in time, you may believe"
g Probably little Bronson will get it,"
put in George Dingley. "He's been
studying for dear life all the year.
Mebbe Ae knew there was to be a
prize"
" He studies for fun, because he
wants to know everything" answered
Joe, rather contemptuously.
"rd like to get it for the sake of
beating him." said George.
Amos Bronson, small, quiet boy,
was seen approaching, and the group
separated. They all suddenly felt a
spite against him.
In the evening several of the boys
built fire on the playground, and, sit
ting around it, like Indians at council
of war, they continued the talk. Every
one could tell what he would do with
the money if he won it; but no one
could suggest any way that it might be
won now, except by "plugging day
and night over the review lessons and
examining" for the examinations.
There was too much work in that way
to meet with unanimous approval.
&" Lag behind with me when the 9th
ers 90 in,' Joe Forsythe whispered to
George Dingley. give thought of
something"
These two remained silent and lis
tened to the others talk. By-and-by,
when the study-bell rang, summonine
them all in, they loitered behind the
crowd, and then sneaked off by them
selves.
"What are you going to do?'' George
asked, the moment he dared to give vent
to his curiosity.
''Hush! Don't speak so loud,' Joe
answered, cautiously.
They concealed themselves behind g
thick hedge that fenced the playground:
and then Joe reminded George that
Uncle Rufus always kept the question
papers he made out for examination
locked in the drawer of his desk in the
school.room. What he meant to do, il
George would help him, was to Git a
keyto the lock and make copy of the
questions. They could look up the an
swers before examination day and win
the prize easily enough.
81 wonder / didn't think of that my
self, "-said George, who agreed at once
to take part in the oroject. J." We can
fix little Bronson, and get the prize
too'
"Of course,'' answered Joe5 " all il
takes is little pluck and"
But they were interrupted at 7his mo
ment. Both fancied they heard foot
steps, and they rushed away. Jervi4
and Saul watched them closely the nexd
day.
81 didn't hear what they were talk
ing about" said Saul, "but | am
pretty certain they mean to break into
the schoolbnilding tonight"
They may count on our being there
if they do" Jervis replied, with de-
cisi0n.
1t turned out dark, rainy might
with the wind rafting everything that
was lOose-just the sort of night tC
prowl around in unobserved. AT leas
that was what Joe and George thought
though if they had been little more
cautious they might have discovered
that they were not unobserved. Aftei
Joe had raised one of the windows in
the rear of the school-building theA
held their breath to listen.
81 Go ahead" George whispered.
Everything is all right"
You stay here and keep a sharp
lookout" Joe whispered back. 9 !
won't be gone long if | can make the
key fit"
Saul and Jervis, concealed behind {
pile of wood, were so near at hand thai
they could almost touch George. They
saw Joe draw himself into the building
and disappear. In few moments he
poked his head out.
It's no CO." he said. d" The key
won't it, Wen have to give it up
Well, | guess not so soon, after
taking this trouble" George answered
"I'll try it myself"
The watchers saw George craw
through the window and disappear
After minute or two the sash dropped
with a great crash. Joe and George
raised another window and jumped
out, panic-stricken. The watchers fol
lowed them.
"There's nothing in the drawer tina
/ could find" said George not {
paper or anything else"
g He hasn't made the auestiOn-DaDers