The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-11-11

he turned in the opposite direction to the school
house: He was pre-occuped that it WAS not
until he had nearly reached il that
he remembered Uncle Ben. With an
odd recollection Of McKinstry's previous per-
formsnce, he approached the school FROM the
thicket IN the rear and slipped nosslessly 20 the
open window with the intention Of looking in.
But the echool-house, far from exhibiting that
"kam" and studious abstraction which had so
touched the savage breast Of McKicstry. was
filled with the accents Of youthful and unrs-
strained vituperation. The voice Of Robert FIJI
gee came sharply to che masters assonished
ears
"You needn't try to play off Doball or Mitch
ell on me-you hear! Much you know about
either, don't you2 Look at that copy. If
Johnny couldn't do better than that I'd lick him.
or course its the pen-it amt your stsdgy I'm
gsrs-eh, no! Pr'aps you'd like to hev few
more boxes o quilts and gold pens and Gillott's
best thrown in for two bits . lesson! tell you
what, I'll throw up the contract in another min
ute There Roes another quill busted! Look
here. what you want Amt pen, but clothes
pin and split nail TbatI about jibe with your
di.ikit gait"
The master at once stepped to the window
and, unobserved. took quick survey OF the in
terror. Following some ingenious idea or his
own regarding fitness the beautiful Filgee had
induced Uncle Ben to seat himself on the floor
before one of the smallest decks, presumably
his brothers, in an attitude which. while il cer-
tainlv gave him considerable elbow room for
those contortions common toimmature penman-
ship, offered his youthful instructor . superior
eminence, from which he lowered, occasionally
swoopiug down upon his grown-up pupil like q
mischievous but graceful jay. But Mr.. Ford's
most distinct impression was that, Tar from re-
sentiug the derogstory position and tho abuse
that accompanied it, Uncle Ben not only beamed
upon his prosecutor with uuquenchable good
humor, but with undisguised admiration, aud
showed not the slightest inclination to accept
his proposed resignation.
O. he ahA Sfrllx
wae once boy yourself. Naturally kalkilate
to stand all the damages. You've GOT ter waste
some powder over a blast like this yer. way
down to the bed rock. Next time I'll bring my
own pens.n
"Do. Some from tho Dobell school you ulster
60 to-" suggested the dArkly ironical Rupert
They was 'iron-clad iHjunrubber. warns theyl"
''Nsver you mind wot they were, said Uncle
'C's' IN that line. There's nothin' mean about
them"
he put his pen between his teeth. raised him
self slowly on his legs and shading his eyes
with his hand from the severe perspective of six
feet, eazed admiringly down upon his work.
Rupert. with his hands in his pockets and his
back to the window, cynicaly assisted at the
inspection: :. -. ,,.., =, ~.
pager he asked.
''Wot might you think it wos!" said Uncle
Looks like one O them snake roots you dig
up with little mud stuck to it, returned Ru-
pert, critically.
That's my name"
They both stood looking at it with their heads
very much on one side. 1T amt so bad as the
rest you've done 1t might be your name. That
ez, It don't look like anythin' ese,' suggested
Rupert, struck with q new idea that it vas per-
haps more professional to occasionally encourage
his pupil. "You might get on in Course o. time.
Bot what are you dom ell this fori" he asked
suddenly.
"Doin whatr
This yer comm to school when you amt
sent, aud you amt got no call to go-you, q
grown MP man.
The color deepened in Uncle Bens face to the
back of his care. ''Wot would you Civ TO
know, Roopi S'pose I reckousd some day to
make q strike and eorter drop inter saciety easy
-ehi Spose wanted TO be ready to keep MP
my end with the other fellsrs, when the time
kem' To be able to sling po'try and read novels
and sich-ehl"
An expression of Infinite and unutterable
scorn dawned 10 the eyes Of Rupert lyon dol
WELL he repeated, with slow and cutting de-
Liberation, 'Ill tell you what you're comm here
for. and the only thing that makes you come
"Whatf
"It's-sone-eirlr
Uncle Ben broke into boisterous laugh that
ping his legs until the crazy floor trembled But
40 that moment the master stepped to tho porch
and made quiet but discomposing entrance
CHAPTER ".
The return Of Miss Cressida McKinstry 70 In.
event whose effects were not entirely confined
70 the school. The broken engagement itself
seemed OF little moment 10 the general estima-
tion compared to her resumption OF her old
footing - scholar. A few ili-natured
elders ct her own sex. and naturally