The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1900-01-19

the benches and fell asleep.
The pupils were playing in the yard,
when Dan Roby's Tige suddenly ran
out Of the woods and yaulted the low
fence separating the yard from the
road. 1t was the first time Tige had
appeared at the school house since the
| day when he had been twice elected.
for Dan had taken care that the dog
| did not follow him again. Tige was in
high spirits. He barked g!eefully as
he bounded toward his young master
and other acquaintance. Dan tried to
serd him back home, but he treated the
command as joke, and only barked
and frisked more joyously. The boys
began throwing sticks into the air for
Tige to catch, and they sent him racing
madly after balls and stones.
Over in a corner OF the yard eight or
nine little girls were playing tag. Sud-
denly Lucy Sharpe, who was iii"
stopped and said gaspingly, with a
crimson face:
ooh, I'm nearly dead for a drink OF
water! I'm going to tiptoe into the
school house and get drink. 1won't
wake the teacher"
She ran lightly toward the house.
and stepped in softly. A moment later
she came hurrying out, her eyes wear
| ing a frightened look and her face pale
instead of red.
20 girls!" she exclaimed. what do
you think?"
"Why, what's the matter?" the girls
asked. She glanced back toward the
school house, as if fearful of pursuit.
and then said, in an awe-stricken voice:
1.-THE teacher hasn't got any hair!"
| "What?"
HE hasn't! Not speck of hair has
hs got on his head! He looks just aw-
full! Somebody has scalped him. or
something or other, for he hasn't got
bit of hairl It's all lying on the floor
by him!"
10000 Lucy sharpel"
"It's sol"
The little girls ran swiftly toward the
school house, and Tige, accepting this
as challenge to give chase, sped after
them. They clustered about the door.
but Tige darted into the school house.
In moment he darted out again with
great cluster of jet black curls, lightly
touched with gray, dangling from his
mouth! Away he sped, and the little
girls fled wildly in all directions, quite
terrified by what they had seen.
Tige leaped low stone wall and ran
l IL Eo1l of f,,h-
BILE, and then lay down with his trophy
between his paws. Meantime the boys
were watching the dogs performance.
dan Roby," said Lucy Sharpe, your
dog has got the teachers hair, and he's
eating y up!"
"Is it possible" exclaimed Dan, "that
all Of that hair the teachers SO fussy
about is a wig?"
Its something that's tumbled off
while he's been asleep, anyway" said
Lucy.
ut is a wig!" said Lew Ball. Eve
noticed that he always ties his hand
kerchief over his head and under his
chin when he takes nap. If it's a
wig and Tige has it, you'd better get
hold of that dog! There'll be cyclone
here when the teacher wakes up
Dan and Lew ran in pursuit Of Tige.
who fed swiftly across the field, shak-
ing the wig violently when he saw them
coming. The dog ran into the woods
paying no heed to Dams harsh cries of:
"You, Tige! Drop that! Drop it.
tell you'll"
just as Tige and his two pursuers
disappeared over ridge in the woods
the door of the school house closed with
a bang. and all the windows were pulled
down violently. 1t twas after one O'clock
when Jabez Jordon thrust his head out
of window, with his hat pushed down
to his ears, and amazed his pupils by
saying quite meekly:
do any of you know what has be-
come of my-my-hair-that is to say.
my wig?"
dan Roby's dogs got it, sir, if he
hasn't eat it all up by this time" said
Joe Carter.
THAT miserable dog!" exclaimed
Jabez Jordon. while his face famed
with wrath. A moment later he an
peared at the door and asked: (which
way did that dog go?"
| Over the ridge in the woods. sir"
answered Joe as gravely as possible.
| We'll. you may all go home, for there
won't be any more school to-day" said
Jabez, and set out on run for the
woods.
His pupils never saw him again.
Only bedraggled remnant of the wig
was left when Dan and Lew finally
captured Tige. Jabez Jordon took the
wrong trail. and did not overtake the
dog and boys. No one had known
that the teachers beautiful head Of
hair was wig, and his vanity was so
hurt by what had happened that he
refused to return to the school. and left
the neighborhood that afternoon, with
no one to regret his departure.
The next week the pupils were glad
dened by the unexpected return of Mr..
Haskins. the kindest and best teacher
the school had ever had. AS for Tipe
Il. he was sorry for what he had done.
he made no sign Of repentance, nor
was be boastful Of the good turn he had
served the school BY Kidding it of q
teacher who had mistaken his calling.
Youths Companion.
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