Arizona republican., 1898-03-09
ROUND THE CHIMNEY.

A correspondent sends a story which his grandfather used to tell. It was in the days of open fires, and the school house had an enormous brick chimney built out into the room, the better to afford warmth, leaving a space about three or four feet in width between it and the wall. This was an attractive spot for the boys on rainy days, when outdoor sports were impossible, and many a game of tag was played, in which lodging about the old chimney formed prominent part.
 One afternoon the master, a tall, sharp-featured man, whose spectacled eyes took note of the smallest breach of discipline, detected a boy in some of fense that in his opinion warranted a whipping. The culprit was called to the platform at once, and as the teacher was in the midst of s-n explanation to the class, and perhaps held the belief that the worst part of a punishment is the anticipation of it, he simply mo- tioned the youngster to wait until the recitation should be over.
 The recitation came to an end at last, the class filed to their seats, and the master grasped the ferule and started toward the delinquent. As he put out his hand to take firm hold of the boys s collar, there was an unexpected move on the victims part. The suspense had been too much for his nerves, and he gave quick jump, just out of reach of the averaging hand, and stood rapidly winking his eyes in astonishmenta at his own daring.
 The teacher made another attempt to seize the boy, but he dodged again. The performance was repeated several times, ard, at last, before the lad re- clized what he was doing. he had broken Into a run, while the schoolmaster, with ferule uplifted and vengeance in his eye, was close ct his heels.
 Down one aisle and up another they -an, the youngster slightly in advance, the teacher, with superior length of limb, rapidly approaching him. At length their headiong course brought them Lear the brick chimney, and the boy darted behind it like hunted rab- bit.
 Then began a race such as the old schoolroom had never witnessed. Round and round the chimney they tore, first boy and then teacher, appear .ng and disappearing in dizzy rotation before tine eyes of the staring and ex- cited pupils.
 Suddenly the idea struck the boy that, in the natural course of events, the mas aer would soon think of the simple -ex- | pedient of stopping short, and he, with 1 lis acquired momentum, would find it 1 impossible tc avoid running into the en- emy's arms.
 He changed his tactics at once, and dar'ting off at a tangent, slid into the
 nearest seat, which happened to be
 among the girls. There he sat panting, leaving his pursuer to revolve alone.
 The teacher was putting his soul into his work. He raced, he flew, his coat
 tails flew behind him, drops of perspira-
 tion stood upon his forehead, and still | his efforts were unrewarded by even a | sight of the runaway.
 At last, as the boy had foreseen, he
 stopped short, and a. grim smile came
 over his face as he planted his feet firm l ly and stretched his arms wide apart l to resist the expected shock. As he waited, the smile gradually | faded from his countenance, and gave | place first to surprise and then to utter l bewilderment. The sight was too much
 for the pupils. They began to litter
 and, as the absurdity of the situation grew upon them, burst into peals of
 laughter. Even the culprit, covering
 in his too prominent seat, joined in with
 faint giggle.
 The master was utterly at loss. He
 wiped his perspiring forehead, gazed dizzily around the room, looked down
 rubbed his spectacles, and seemed con- fused
 ''Well," he said, when he recovered
 his breath so that he could speak, q can't remember which boy was chas ing; but if he will come forward and
 own up, l will let him off this tilne" And as you may imagine" my grand.
 father would add, q was only too glad
 to accept the conditions offered, for ]
 was that boy" Companion.