The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1901-02-21

Then he lowered his head suddenly,
ran in under the big ''pleb's guard
and planted a right-hand wallOp on
the big ''pleb's" chin that broke the
stiffness of the night like the impact
of a mules hoof on one of the low
notes of a Xylophone. The big "pleb''
went to grass and he took no part in
the subsequent proceedings. The
cadets standing around looked upon
the blow as a chance one, for one of
them, a third class man." at the
mumbled instigation of the others,
stepped up to the victorious under
sized ''pleb.''
Sir" said the third class man TO
the understood 'pleb,' you struck
that man after time had been called.
Didn't you?'
Not on your life insurance." quiet
ly replied the understood "pleb," dom
ming his blouse.
''Ha! then 1 lie, eh?" exclaimed the
third class man"
That, or thereabouts,' replied the
shock-headed ''pleb.' Fix it to suit
yourself. But don't get gassy with
me, or I'll have TO hand you a poke"
The bunch Of cadets stared open
mouthed at the understood "pleb' for
his hardihood in thus addressing a
third class man
you'll have to fight me for that,
sir" said the third class man." en-
deavoring to make his voice sound
ferocious.
You're on" was the shock-headed
'pleb's' reply. The more the mer-
rier When do you want yours?"
Now" said the third class man."
not quite so confidently and in about
two minutes they had squared off at
each other. The third class man"
was of about the same proportions as
the large 'pleb," who still lay dream
ing on the grass, but he was quicker
on his feet. However, that fact didn't
avail him two cents worth. The I'M
dersized "pleb'' pranced into him from
the drop of the flag, and the rataplan
of iolts that he planted ali over the
third class man" for couple of
| minutes, while the latter never got in
a lick, was sure a caution to pythons.
| 1t wasn't half as much a caution. how
ever. as the way the understood "pleb"
| suddenly drew back, when he ceased
! to extract amusement from basting
| the third class man" all over the
latter's person above the waist line
and planted his left on the third class
mans right ear. The third class
man" toppled over like a sack of
oats, while the party of amazed ca
diets rubbed their eyes and wondered
| if it could all be true-for the just
thrashed third class man" was the
top-notch bully and fighter of West
Point.
The cadet omcer who had been so
outragecusly ''insulted" by the VIC
torious understood "pleb" on the
parade ground was the first to re-
cover.
Seize him" he commanded his six
mates still on their feet
"Wait minute" put in the shock
headed ''pleb," backing away bit,
his blouse hanging over his arm.
what for this seizing?"
"Sirrah, 'pleb,'" replied the cadet
officer with an attempt at impressive
ness, ut is the custom here to take
the conceit out of plebs.' You are
to be 'braced' and exercised and
'spread-eagled' and 'bucked and
gagged and soaked under the pump,
and then you are to drink pint or
so of tabasco sauce with your tallow
candles and raw onions, and follow
that up with few kerosene cocktails,
and you are to announce that you like
these things"
"Oh, 1 am, hey?" said the shock
headed "pleb,' brushing little spot
of dust from his blouse. ''That'll be
nice. By the way, who's going to
have all this fun with me?"
1--WE are" replied the cadet officer,
advancing upon the understood "pleb,"
closely followed by the others.
The code OF honor" in vogue at the
West Point military academy among
the cadets forbade any of the latter
from mentioning what happened just
at this juncture, but a plain soldier
of engineers, WAC saw the whole per-
Torrance from behind little knoll
short distance away, has told about
it. The cadet officer didn't get hold
of the underslzed 'pleb" at all.
Neither did any of the others. He
knocked them down like nine-pins.
As soon as they scrambled to their
feet he knocked them down again.
After being knocked down the second
time. they all remained down. quite
Indifferent to what was going on
around them. Then the understood
"pleb" strolled around the laid-out
ones, gave each of them a good swift
kick where kicks are customarily adj
ministered and strolled away. Nine
cadets did hospital stunt on the
sick report of the West Point military
academy for periods varying from ten
days to three weeks after that night.
A large delegation of Terry Meow
ern's friends met him when he
stepped off the gangplank of the
West Point boat in New York on the
following night.
"This hazing game" remarked Ter
ry-who had been designated cadet
by sporty" congressman just for
lark, and to see what would hap
pen to the featherweight-"th haz-
ing game isn't such a much of a hard