Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1891-10-29
|sit We 90: slow getting round TO 4

anything extraordinary turned up?"
"Well nothing very extra, only Pro-
lessor Plunkerville has offered a year's
tuition and $500 for any one that
catches the thief who is making our
school such a bad reputation. I'm
going to try and catch the thief. Just
think OF it, a years tuition and $500!
II we only had the $500 now, we could
buy old Silas Adams general store.
He is going to Baltimore to start q
big store and he'lllet us have his place
just as it is now, for one-half what it
cost him. If we only had the store we
could easily make enough to live on!'
cried Josh, quite carried away
with the enthusiasm of the
moment.
AS Joshua was going to the academy
next morning, his thoughts were only
on the reward, and he failed to observe
where he was until he found himself w.
ing fiat upon his back, having stumbl-
ed over some obstacle in the path.
He looked down and discovered that
the obstacle was rope stretched be-
tween two trees. He took out his
knife and was just going to cut the
rope, when he heard alaugh, and look
ing in the direction from which it came,
he saw three boys nearly doubled up
with merriment.
clio! ho!" laughed Bob Ellis, ssthat's
one on you," and then Bob let out
another thunderous roar, followed
Immediately by his two colleagues
Tom White and AL Aston.
Josh by this time had got into such
q fury that it was all he could do to
restrain himself from rushing upon
the young rogues.
"What do you mean by playing
such a mean measly trick on mel"
cried Joshua. ''Do you know that
you could have caused me to hurt
myself severely?'
"Serves you right, for you ought to
look where you're going" answered
Bob between his smirks, and then,
unable to contain his mirth, he
nearly doubled himself up again and
lay on the ground "Haw-hawing" for
all he was worth!
"Well. anyhow, I'll see that you
don't fool any other person by it. !
am going to cut the rope in two"
cried Josh, so angry that he could
hardly speak.
"Here, let that rope alone" yelled
Bob, as Josh took out his knife,
''that rope belongs to me, and it's
none of your business what do with
it!'
ri don't care whose it is; anyhow,
you won't fool anybody else with it,
and here goes" Snap went the
rope;
"Ill have you arrested for this"
yelled Bob. "Come on, boys let's lick
him for cutting our rope'
"Come on" answered Josh, "I'm
ready for you"
Rob and his pals advanced towards
Josh with tightly clenched hands. It
looked as if Josh was in for it, sure
this time.
Josh stood coolly surveying the
three ruffians, ard Bob, after looking
at him for moment, whispered
something to his pals, which seemed
to meet their approval. Bob and his
ruffians faced Josh again. Hardly a
moment elasped before Bob aimed a
sudden blow at Josh's head. But
Josh was prepared for this, and no
sooner had Bob aimed the blow than
it was neatly parried, and the next
moment Bob was lying bowling on
his back, with a perceptible
swelling on his upper lip Some
thing rolled out OF Bob's pocket
and Josh saw it. Bob's pals closed
in on Josh, but some OF the students
OF the college attracted by the noise,
came upon the scene and held Josh's
assailant's back. Just then who
should appear but Professor Plunker-
vile. He took in the scene immedi-
ately. What is the meaning OF this
conduct, young gentlemen" he said
sharply "How is it that find you,
Joshua, participating in this disgrace
full scene? Explain your conduct, sir!"
and the professor fairly shook with
rage.
"Please, sir,' whined Bob, "Josh
assaulted me and my friends with q
board !"
"He's lying! he's lying" shouted the
students who had witnessed the en-
counter.
"sllence!, commander she Profess
sor, and a pin-drop silence instantly
prevailed.
"Now, then, Joshua = continued the
Professor, chow did this happen?"
'"These ruffians, sir, placed q rope
across the path, and when came
along fell over it. They then began
to laugh. | took out my knife and
was going to cut the rope when they
objected. I cut the rope for I didn't
want any one else to become victims
OF their tricks. They then jumped on
me and that brings the case up to the
present moment, answered Josh.
go home, all OF you. I'll attendto
this tomorrow" said the Professor.
Bob slowly got up on his feet and
proceeded to air his version OF the af-
fair to the students.
Josh by some impulse went where
he had seen omething fall out Of Bob's
pocket.
Moving the grass aside he searched
closely and there he saw something
shining He picked it up-it was q
pair OF gold spectacles. Instantly he