The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1889-09-14

The boys carried sun ME ssage
with proud alacrity, a what boys
would not? The versiOnthat reached
Bills ears outside a mon,nt later was
something like this:
9Th master says t you're a cowerd
an'-an'' (the other teri was not in
| familiar use at the Cohers) what
was it, JimP"
"a bully" Jim declaed from care
lfully-stored memory.
| "Ya-as. An tef yotwant any thing
OF him you kin git it mghty quick
"Huh!' grunted Bill Hes peart
Senough with his tongu, but he'll fine
t smart tongue halt no match for
these two fists.
He fiourished them in the air as if
to assure himself tht, they we're in
thorough working ord,r.
As the master cone out the door
with Lucinda Smith q his arm, look
Fling aggravatingly spy and citifed, a
foot tripped him u and sent him
sprawling on the gound, amid the
half-suppressed guif;ws of the group
at the door. He waon his feet in an
instant, his face as Ihite as the snow
upon which he had lllen.
/ "Who did that?" le demanded, with
an intense coolnessof voice and man.
4 ner that caused abucb IF axnactation
''testalSl.pon Embarrassing group of
~ Tor W l1teh was ehoreeovera n
dog light or maRngnt that the gr CUP
Of spectators did bot rapidly increase?
There was no answer to his question.
"Who is the cowardly cur that
tripped me?" he repeated, his eyes
fixed steadily on the face of Big Bill.
"Well, / did it then" Bill finally
growled. recognizing that the contest
for which he had longed was at hand.
The teacher threw off his overcoat.
Bill, always bare of such superfuous
garment, had no need of similar
preparation.
you're the fellow that wants to lick
me, are you?" said the teacher. open
ing hostilities with vicious blow at
Bills face, which the latter caught on
his massive forearm with less punish
ment to himself than to the striker.
He made a lunge at his antagonist
If he could once get the slender form
within his powerful clutch the fight
would be practically ended. But the
teacher was too quick Of foot for his
ungainly opponent. Jumping to one
side. he dealt him blow on the side
of the face that sent Big Bill stagger.
ing, and followed up his advantage
with a rapid succession of thumps and
punches. Something in the upstretch ed
hand of Bill CLEANED in the moonlight.
Look out. master, he's got a knifen'
A murmur of suppressed horror rar
through the lookers-on. This capital
piece of fun might develop into a
tragedy. The girls, huddled together
\ by the school-house door, began t.
scream. The agile master caught the
descending blows on his left arm, a.
the same instant dexterously tripping
! IN the feet of his antagonist. who fel
. Gka<a tree to the ground. He was or
his Breast, his right hand at Bills
throat and his left pinioning to tht
ground Big Bills right, which it was
now seen held, not knife, but that
only less vicious weapon. q pair o
steel knuckles. This was something
very different from what Big Bill hat
counted on.
Course you, let me up" he muttered
from his half-choked throat. Tn,
teacher made no reply but held hin
hard to the ground, himself painting
for breath.
Have you got enough?" he in
quired, when he could control hi
voice. The only answer was more
vigorous effort to free himself from
his victor's grasp, but the latter tight
ened his grip on Bills throat and thu
pressure of his knees on his chest unit
the man beneath recognized the fruit
| lessnesS of further struggle.