Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1891-10-29
THE TRlcKsTER TRIcKED.

On the banks of the beautiful Poto-
mac river, near Baltimore, arose the
majestic walls Of Professor Melville H.
Plunkerville's Academy for young gen
tlemen" as the advertisement read.
The aforesaid professor was a gen
ial, whole-souled man whose chief de-
sire was to found a college for the
youth of the land, and to carry this
out he had spared no pains or money
to make it an institution to be proud
Of; and now, three years after the
school was founded, it not only was
known as first-class academy, but
had the finest corps of tutors in the
country,
The rich aristocrat sent his son
there; the struggling merchant also sent
his son there; and, in fact, representa-
tives OF all classes mingled together on
terms OF equality.
On beautiful morning in May, as
the birds were sending out stream
after stream of beautiful melody, caus-
ing the balmy atmosphere to resound
again and again with it's sweetness, q
ripple of excitement ran throughout
the recitation room. All the pupils
we're seated, waiting in breathless an
ticipation something OF Importance
the professor had to say.
After the room had remained so
silent that pin could have been heard
to drop, the Professor slowly arose,
wiped his spectacles and carefully
placing them on the bridge OF his nose,
he began:
"Boys, I wish to speak to you for
some moments, in regard to some
things occurring in this school.
"For several months past, a num-
Der OF pupils have had articles OF vari-
GUS kinds taken from their rooms.
ave have watched and watched for
the thief, and SO far we have been I'M
successful in our efforts to find him.
Nov, as do not want this acad-
envy to gain a bad reputation, 1 will
offer the following reward:
"To any person. whether in or
out OF school, who shall bring to our
knowledge the person who has been
guilty of these thefts, we will give
one years tuition, and $500 ad-
ditional. This is all have to say on
the subject. You will now please give
attention to your tutors"
AS the Professor finished his re-
marks q momentary bubble of ex-
'cltement went through the lecture
room but it was instantly quelled by
the tutors.
The tutors might as we'll have tried
to teach an elephant to climb q tree,
as to get the pupils attention after
that.
In vain they expostulated; in vain
they gave pages, and hundreds OF
words to commit to memory. Try
as hard as they would to make them
pay attention to their books, it was
useless. Hardly had their eyes been
liked upon their book, before they
would be dreamily gazing out at the
window; no doubt thinking OF the
great reward. After an hour of this
KIND of attention, the tutors were
forced to dismiss school as they saw
the excitement had driven all thoughts
OF their lessons out OF their pupils
minds.
One by one the BOYS left the room,
and at last only one boy remained-a
boy OF II who, though poor, was at
the head of his class. This was JOSH
ia Semple, who lived with his widow
ca mother and sister in a little cottage,
close by the school.
After all the rest of the scholars had
gone, Joshua went up to his tutors
desk and said: professor Brown, /
think | will have to leave the school,"
"Why SO. Joshua?" said Professor
Brown.
"Well," said Joshua, amy mother
hnds that she can no longer let me
attend school, because the money
which our Uncle John left us is all
gone, and at present there is not
enough money in the house to last q
month. / have decided, therefore, to
cave school and try to get employ
am very sorry to hear Of it, " said
the Warm-hearted professor, but
couldn't you come to school just one
month more7 ] think that you can
managefto graduate then.
Although / would like to come to
school that long, yet ] don't think I
VIII be able to do SO. will come un-,
III get a situation, however, an
swered Joshua.
The appetizing odor Of roast beef
and homemade bread came pouring
out through the open door. Within
was a midd le-aged lady engaged in
dlssecting q part of The anatomy of g
COW, and then rolling these dissected
parts in crushed crackers. She put
them into the spider, and soon they,
were Sizing and sputtering at q great
Attic sink stood as pretty q speci-
men OF young American girldom as
could be found. She was washing the
pushes. Every little while she would
look M to the clock. wondering why