Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1900-03-14

You're q cowardr' sentence cal
culated to make any schoolboy clench
his lists and promptly sndeavor to make
his accuser prove or eat his words.
Yes, Of course you are, or you wouldn't
upset old Mother Tuck's CART" and Dan
Isaacs. the bully of the school. scowled
at the delicate-looking. slim lad, who
stood quietly, II nervously, before him
in the cricket ground.
Perhaps l am" was the reply. but
then I did not pocket any Of the old
woman's apples afterwards" and
Dicky Ford grew bolder as he went on:
NO. spree b one thing, but to rob
a poor apple woman is very different"
IN knock your young head off. If
you say that again." roared Dan, Grim
son with rage and the knowledge Of his
meanness. which he thought had not
been seen by any Of the other boys.
But Dicky, lighter of foot than his
prosecutor, had scudded off to the other
end Of the field
Presently there was a noise of men
and women shouting and screaming in
thC AVdu SAOS0 Oss anu IVY Aah w
the low wall that bounded the cricket
field. Down the road at terrific pace
came a mad bull, followed by scores
Of men and boys at a respectful dis
tance.
The sight of the boys on the wall at
tracted its attention, and with a below
1t turned on them, tearing headlong al
the wall with a mad bound. OF course,
the boys scattered in all directions as
the animal half fell, half cleared the
wall, and then scrambling to its feet.
stood for a second before charging the
fleeing crowd.
Nobody In the hurry had noticed that
Dan Isaacs had sprained his ankle as
he jumped from the wall, and was try
ing painfully to escape the notice of the
bull by crawling into the shelter Of the
little clump Of trees in the corner of the
cricket ground.
Suddenly, the furious beast caught
sight of him, and with a fierce below,
turned on him. Poor Dan, nearly dead
with fright and pain, just managed TO
elude the mad rush by the aid of
friendly tree, but few minutes of
lodging tired him out, and he screamed
for help. while the men and boys
seemed paralyzed and unable to sug
gest any means of diverting the bulPs
attention.
Then they all held their breath in
fright. as little Dickie. with n shout,
burst to the front. dribbling before him
a football right up to the bull.
.sCnpno hank ho ok - fhQv srfa6
you'll be killedr'
But Dicky was no coward now. With
a firm kick he sent the ball slap in the
face Of the bull as he was on the point
of tossing the now fagged-out Dan.
Staggered by the sudden sting of the
ball the beast in its blind rage turned
to follow the football as it rebounded
from its head, seeing in it a new enemy.
and. buttiDg at it fiercely. was soon at
the other end Of the field. while the
boys helped the badly frightened Dan
over the wall and hurried over them
selves as two men with rifles made
their appearance.
Stopping for a while to take breath
the bull glared around him as IL uncer-
tain what to do next. He had not much
time for decision, however, as two re-
ports rang out heavily on the air, and
The bull fell headlong. rose with a roar
of pain and anger. and then, as another
shot echoed against the school walls.
fell again. with thud. this time with
a bullet through his heart.
Three cheers for Dicky Fordr'
shouted the boys, as they gathered
round the dead beast. And they gave
them, too, with will. while Dan. with
tears in his eyes. In broken tones
begged Dicky's pardon for calling him
a coward.
Fancy going for a bull with a foot
ballr' they all cried; why. nobody but
Dicky would have thought Of such q
thing"
Il don't know why l did It," said
Dick, blushing at the enthusiastic greet
lngs of the other boys; but l just
thought perhaps kick at the bull with
4 football might take his attention
away from Dan"
"Hurrah for Dicky FOrdr' they all
shouted again; and Dlckie could't help
thinking that he had had, after all. his
revenge on the boy who called him
coxyord d-Wayorlov Macazino