The Van Buren press., 1898-11-05

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, n
woung man of 20, who had left school
"for good" two years before, took 1t
into his head to attend again.
Ned Dock was heavy, powerful fel.
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 t o 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, am," said Ned Dock, and to
prove it he spat on the floor.
"You cannot chew tobacco here;
apart from the example you set the
younger boys, cannot stand such filth
in the sehoolroom."
"I've chawed for years." laughed
Ned.
II don't care what you have done,
you can't use tobacco in this school
house. Go to the docr and throw that
stuff in your mouth out"
Ned Dock laughed and threw the
quid on the floor.
"Pick that stuff up and throw II
out!" said the teacher, calmly and
firmly.
Throw it out yourself, Mr.. Teacher
but won't" said Ned Dock
at is ten minutes to noon, but I 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 Dook with a
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 a fierce oath
and savage blow.
"You 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 powerful,
could recover, blow planted between
his eyes sent him in a heap to the
floor.
Quick as flash 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 say, Ned Dook?"
"Yes," howled the beaten cur.
"Then pick up that tobacco and
throw It out. Quick, or I 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 he ran bare.
headed like deer in the direction 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 80, came to the
school and demanded an explanation,
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 conclusion:
"If either of you men came to my
school / should expect you to obey
me-"
'But if we didn't do so?" asked Ned's
uncle
"Then I should make you"
'Do you think you couldP
"I don't know whether you intend
coming to my school or not, Mr.,
Dock" said Robert, "but know pret-
ty 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 schoolhouse door, he put
the key in his pocket and said as he
came back; IF either Of you, or both
of you together, imagine that l can.
not fog you as quickly as If you were
boys, I'll undertake to undeceive you"
The Docks exchanged glances. They
were fogged without striking blow,
They offered their hands to Robert
and called him a brick, and told him
to do as he pleased from this time on
and they would stand by him.
Robert took them It their word and
district 10, from being the worst, be.
came the very best school in the
county.
Robert practiced law near by, and
the Docks became his clients, not that
they bad a high admiration for his
intellectual requirements. but because