Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1897-02-25
Ions TRIUMPH.
BY MARY B. DOWNS.

BY MARY ID. DOWNS.
"Seems TO Inc Lon carries all his sinai
brains in that button on his coat in
stead of in his head, like folks that Coz
made" Thad was sitting on the bench
beside Ordelia when he said this, sharp.
ening her pencils with his new knife.
Ions right nervous. 1 reckon he'll
never get used to reciting before folks,
said Ordelia. Ions smart, though
she added, demurely.
Smart! He couldn't answer boo tc
a question without that button to twist
his fingers on"
Anyhow, wherever his brains are, he
makes good Rotations" persisted Or.
della.
Cuts right foolish figure at it, just
the same"
who's that you're calling foolish? 2 -
asked an awkward boy, who had
planted himself before Ordelia's desk.
She looked up, laughed, and said:
''Thad says you can't recite word
without that button to twist"
Ions freckled face flushed sensitive
1y. 'What'll you bet?" he asked, turn
ing on Thad.
L IL OCb q HULL NAdb y Ou Sdh I
explain one example in mental arith-
metic straight without yanking it all
out of that button of yours"
"All right, I'll bet" said Lon, reckless
1y. Then he looked down with a rueful
smile at the button in question, which
dangled by frail thread or two from
his coat.
ST reckon I'm bound to do without
it." he remarked, Elf don't get it sewed
on soon."
ooh, I'll sew it on for you, if you'll
stop at the house this evening-after
you've won the bet" said Ordelia, light
~.
The news of the challenge went
round, and for once interest was reused
in the mental arithmetic recitation.
Therefore thus concluded
her problem-''the man had 60R geese
to begin with" Ending with glib con-
fidence, she folded her hands behind
her, poised lightly on her shapely feet
and looked with smiling complacency
at the next"
The next was Lon. The whole
school belonged to the mental arithme-
tic class, but of the craning line that
had toed the crack from the water
bucket to the blackboard at the begin
ming of the recitation only three schol-
ars now remained on the fioor-Or-
della, Lon and Thad.
Next"
Ions slender figure shot up in rigid
attention. He folded his arms reso-
lutely across his breast and waited.
rranafa11
serene, waited, too, and on his other
side stood Thad, his feet widely planted
and his face darkly flushed.
The teacher, Miss Molly, read the
problem slowly and distinctly. Lon re-
Peated it in a clear, defiant voice and
then took up the explanation with con-
fidence. Ordelia settled back into her
place and glanced about in triumph.
Thad's brow began to straighten in
dark scowl. The school held its breath
md stared.
Letting 2-2 represent the number of
sheep that the man had in the first
place, then 1-2 will represent the num-
Der of sheep-of sheep that-yes, the
humber of sheep that he bought. Then
then the-the whole number of sheep
that he owned-the whole number of
sheep that he owned-the whole num-
Der of sheep would be represented by
S-2, which, according to the problem
which, according to the problem, and
pa sheep mean which, according
to"-Lon's arms relaxed. His nervous
fingers went searching for the inspiring
button.
Orfielia's smile changed to chagrin
Thad's face broadened with derisive
grin. laugh went round the school.
Ions stammering tongue stopped al
together. There was a moment OF
silence; then the mortified boy turned |
upon Thad in a fury. You sneak!"
i amt sneaki What's the matter |
with you?" Thad's fist doubled and be |
fell back defiant.
No one but sneak would play fel- |
low such low-down trick as that. I'd |
Ike TO know what business you have to
cut OFF my button"
never cut of your precious but
ton
You lie.''
The school uprose with one accord. |
Beats clattered and indignant voices |
rang: He didi'' He didn't" II saw /
him!" you neveri'
The sharp tap of the teachers bell |
Struck into the din. The hubub ceased. |