Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1898-11-12

I
Dock.
ut is ten minutes to noon, but
shall dismiss school now and call it
ten minutes earlier. The school will
all leave but Edward Dock.
With alarm in their faces, the
children went out, and some OF the
bigger boys, among them Bill Dock,
with look of satisfaction on his
| ugly face, looked in the windows.
Edward Dock tried to smile when
the teacher locked the door and
came back to him, but his trembling
lips showed that his confidence in
himself was somewhat shaken.
"Will you do as I told you, SIR
said the teacher, coming SO close
that he might have laid his hand on
the others arm.
Ned Docks reply was fierce oath
and savage blow.
sYou licked my brother, but you
can't lick mel''
Robert Cole saw his tack and knew
his man. He threw off the blow with
his right hand and before Ned Dock,
who was as clumsy as he was power
full, could recover, a blow planted
between his eyes sent him in heap
to the floor.
Quick as fash Robert dragged
his rebellious pupil to the platform
and set him on his feet.
The young savage struck another
blow and again was knocked down.
Then Robert seized a short pointer
and he applied it to the fellows arms
and shoulders till he roared with
pain.
"Will you do as 1 say, Ned Dook?"
"Yes," howled the beaten cur.
s'Then pick up that tobacco and
throw it out. Quick, or shall take
off your coat and wear out another
pointer on you."
Ned Dock picked up the tobacco,
and when the teacher opened the
door for him to throw it out be ran
bareheaded like deer in the direc-
tion of his home, followed by his
frightened brother.
During the rest of the day Robert
continued as if nothing had happened
and his school was a model OF order.
School had just been dismissed for
the day, when Ned Docks father
and Ned Docks uncle, both trustees
and powerful men under fifty, came
to the school and demanded an ex-
PLANTATION.
Robert saw that these men meant
fight, but that they were made of the
same material as the younger bullies.
He explained, and said in conclu-
sion:
eff either of you men came to my
school I should expect you to obey
me-"
"But if we didn't do so?' asked
Ned's uncle.
"Then should make YOU"
"Do you think you could?n
II don't know whether you intend
coming to my school or not, Mr..
Dook," said Robert, "but l know
pretty well why you and your
brother are here. Your family has
been a curse to this district, but
they must not stand in my way"
Here he rose and. locking the school.
house door, he put the key in his
pocket and said as he came back:
"If either of you or both of you to-
gether, imagine that / cannot fog
you as quickly as you were boys,
I'll undertake to deceive you"
The Docks exchanged gIances.
They were logged without striking a
blow. They offered their hands to
Robert and called him brick, and
told him to do as he pleased from
this time on and they would stand
by him.
Robert took them at their word
and District 10, from being the
worst, became the very best school
in the county.
A lady succeeded Robert Cole and
she said she had never met with bet
ter pupils or nicer people.
Robert practiced law near by, and
the Docks became his clients, not
that they had high admiration for
his intellectual requirements, but
because they believed that the abil-
ity to resist was primary qualifica-
ton for lawyer, and Robert had
that quality in perfection.
Sc Af,o~ xotxoa a..