The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1898-11-17
What is your name. sir ~

Inc SulPIll again lCOkeu about him
| and laughed.
He was still looking about him when
he felt a hand on his collar, and before
he knew what was up, he was ierked
into the aisle and dragged up to the
platform, where the teacher picke d
him up and set him against the wall.
What is your name, sir?" Robert
asked, again.
The boy with the harc-lip stam-
mered:
my names Bill Dock"
BILL Dock, l have heard of you, but
| was not prepared to see you begin
with your devilment before | began
my school. Now, l should prefer to
get along well with you and with
every other boy and girl in school,
but want you to know that you must
dc as l say from the very first, or else
l shall fog you and put you out of
school"
"My fathers trustee" gasped Bill
Eook.
Il don't care if he is fifty trustees.
You must promise to do as I say or l
shall fling you out of school now; YOU
understand"
"Y-yes," said Bill Dock.
"Say yes, SIR"
"Yes, sir, I understand"
Good; go back to your seat"
Robert Cole resumed his inaugural
address just as if nothing had hap
pened.
Robert examined his scholars,
praised the bright ones, encouraged
the backward and got them all classi-
fed.
Up TO this time the oldest inhabitant
of District 10 could not recall teach
er who began operations after Mr..
Coles manner.
He had not been there long enough
to have his qualifications as a teacher
called in question by the gossips; they
did not know him long enough to make
charges against his character, so even
the Docks had to confess that, while
the young teacher had rather queer
notions to start with, he meant right.
Bill Dock was on his guard and took
care not to offend again, though hith-
erto he had been the terror of all the
teachers; from his dogged manner
Robert Cole saw that the fellow har-
bored revenge and that sooner or later
he would try to crafty it.
AS the winter came on Ned Dock,
woung man of 20, who had left school
for good two years before, took it
n ic hoo 40
Ned Dock was heavy, powerful fell
low, and had the reputation of being
the best wrestler in the county.
One of Roberts friends limited to
him that Ned Docks object in coming
to school was to make trouble for the
teacher rather than to get instruction
from him, and Robert soon saw that
his friend was right.
The teacher, not a bit alarmed, de-
termined to carry out his one rule for
all. He would not let the big boys
smoke or chew tobacco either in the
schoolhouse or on the grounds.
Edward Dock, are you chewing to-
bacco?" asked the teacher, the day
after the big brother had entered the
school.
"Yes. I am" said Ned Dock, and to
prove it he spat on the floor
You c:7not chew tobacco here:
apart from the example you set the
younger boys, cannot stand such filth
in the schoolroom."
i've chawed for years." laughed
Ned
Il don't care what you have done,
you can't use tobacco in this school
house. Go to the door and throw that
stuff in your mouth OUT
Ned Dock laughed and threw the
quid on the floor.
'Pick that stuff up and throw it
out!" said the teacher, calmly and
firmly.
Throw it out yourself, Mr.. Teacher,
but l WON'T" "said Ned Dock.
ut is ten minutes to noon, but shall
dismiss school now and call it ten min
utes earlier. The school will all leave
but Edward Dock"
With alarm in their faces, the chill
dren 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 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 a savage blow.
You licked my brother, but you
can't lick me!'
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 a s he was powerful,
could recover, blow planted between
his eyes sent him in a heap to the
floor.
Quick as a flash Robert dragged his
rebellious pupil to the platform and
set him On his feet.
The young savage struck another