Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-05-02
TURNING THE TABLES.
Fate OF the enthusiastically
ping Committee.

Ding COmmlCLS6.
~The best-lsid schemes o. mice and men
Gang Oft agly."-BURNsl
Messrs. Tarbox, Tanner and Twiggs were
very promising young men between the
ages Of eighteen and twenty-five; very
valiant, very ambitious and very strong.
They had never done any thing remarkable
except at school, and their mighty achieve
ments there did not consist IN spelling hard
words in the back part Of the spelling book,
parsing intricate sentences, or beating their
master ciphering.
However, although the above-named gen.
tlemen despised such low pursuits as learn
ing TO read and write, their fame was great
at school. The truth Of the matter is, they
had jointly and severally, from time i'm
memorial, as it were, belonged to the
schoolmaster-wh whipping committee; and each
Of them, it Is said, could boast of having
conquered more pedagogues than some of
their felow-pupils had ever seen. Every
winter these three gentlemen had been IN
the habit of amusing themselves and their
constituents By such innocent practices as
taking the rod out of the teachers hand and
applying il TO his own back, rolling him in
the snow, and Of putting him under the
benches while they dismissed the school.
One winter, however, t'ey found their
match. Mr.. Cyrus Wilkins was stern,
powerful man, and not one to be trltied
with, with impunity. Messrs. Tsrbox, Tan
ner and Twiggs had attempted on various
occasions to create a rebellion and break
down his authority, but wilkins was firmly
seated on his throne, and never hesitated to
crush conspirac'4s with an iron hand.
Fearing reeort to open arms, and having
IL al L., -,
forces in pitched battle, the gentlemen Of
the schoolmaster-whipping committee re-
solved to have recourse to strategy.
The school room was in the second story
Of q new brick building which served the
double purpose of a school and meeting
house. The lower apartment, which was
occupied on the Sabbath, was kept scrupu-
lousy locked on all other days to prevent
anruly pupils from committing depreda-
tons therein; and there was a strong lock
on the outer door as well as on the door Of
the school room. Having made these re-
marks that the plot of the conspjrators
might be fully understood and appreciated,
now proceed in my endeavors to do some
thing like justice to my narrative.
One afternoon, as Mr.. Wilkins was ar
ranging his books and papers after the
exercises of the day were over no one else
happening to pc in the school room at the
time, Tarbox, the leader of the conspira-
tors, made a display of his valor in boldly
locking the outer door and putting the key
in his pocket This courageous feat per-
formed, Tarbox retired with his compan-
ions to short distance from the house,
where they waited IN high glee to enjoy
the perplexity of their teacher when he
should discover the trick and make Sig
nal Of distress from a window.
The three waited long and patiently, but
Wilkins remained perfectly quiet. They
watched the windows closely on all sides of
the house, but still they saw nothing Of the
schoolmaster.
Lord, boysi what's thatl" exclaimed
Tanner, suddenly, pointing at bright light
that glimmered through one of the upper
windows of the house.
'Fire!" replied Tarbox, with a start
Fire, by thunderI" added Twiggs.
at isr' corroborated the first speaker
"Wilkins has set the house afre for venge-
sncer'
Tarbox, who felt that he had been the
cause of the calamity, turned pale with
alarm.
whats to be donef he cried. 81 darsnt
go and unlock the door, for Wilkins would
give me jessy. know"
There's ladder" suggested Tanner.
1--WE can put that up TO the window"
added Twiggs, land you can go up and
look in and see If the house is really on
fire"
"A good idea" said Tarbox. ''rll do
that Come on, boys, and help me carry
the LADDER
The ladder was soon placed against the
side Of the house; the summit just reached
to the windows of the school room.
Tarbox mounted, timidly, while his COM
panlon held the foot of the ladder. Arrived
at the window, he could once more see the
blazing FIRE within, and he threw it open
hastily. There was but little smoke in the
room. for the blaze was occasioned by the
burning Of some dry hickory sticks piled
carefully on the top of the stove.
Discovering the trick, Tarbox was about
to make great haste in descending to his
companions, but, before he could close the
window, wilkins sprang to it and caught
him by the collar. Tsrbox feared his enemy
would tumble him headlong TO the ground,
endangerlng his life and limbs, but he mis-
Judged the man. Wilkins was merciful:
wilkins was cool and cautious. Instead of
pitching Tsrbox from the top Of the ladder
where he stood, he seized him firmly and
strength through the window.
IF you make the least resistance, Mr..
Tarbox,'' muttered the pedagogue, IN fog
you within an inch of your llfeV'
1fTarbox had any idea at first Of putting
Mr.. Wilkins to the trouble of carving his
bloody threat into execution, he immediate
ly changed his mind when he lifted up his
eyes IN agony, and saw the savage features
OF his master directly over him. he &C
cordlngiy surrendered himself at once, an6
quickly followed the pedagogue into small
closet near by, where he suffered himself
70 De oehoerstely locked up.
having thus easily disposed Of Tarbox,
WILKINS returned in haste to the window.
He was Just in time to seize Tanner, who
pas ooloiy mounting TO the assistance of
his companion Wilkins dragged him in,
and threatened Fwiggs. who was already
half way up the ladder, to tumble him
down il he did not Immediately descend.
Twlggs scampered 70 the. ground. without