The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1901-04-19

TWO Oenc0eS SlOe Dy SlQes ne WOuiu Toi
up his overcoat for pillow. and stretch
ing his long form out at full length
sleep soundly. Sometimes his snoring
| could be heard in the school house yard
Several weeks after the school opened
there came a day in December whici
was 50 unseasonably warm that even
the low fire in the big box stove en-
| dered the room so hot that the door
and windows were opened. The I'LL
usual warmth made the teacher ex-
tremely drowsy. He yawned and
| stretched all the forenoon, and almost
fell from his chair once or twice.
Hastily eating his luncheon at noon,
he placed the two recitation benches
:, together, and bidding one of the pupils
TO be sure to call him at five minutes
before one, stretched himself out on
the benches and fell asleep.
The pupils were playing in the yard,
when Dan Roby's Tige suddenly ran
out Of the woods and vaulted 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 gleefully as
he bounded toward his young master
and other acquaintance. Dan tried to
send him back home, but he treated the
command as joke, and only parked
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 "it,"
stopped and said gaspingly, with a
crimson face:
"Oh, I'm nearly dead for a drink OF
water! I'm going to tiptoe into the
school house and get drink. l won'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 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
he got on his head! He looks just aw-
full! Somebody has scalped him, or
something or other, for he hasn't got
bit of hair! It's all lying on the floor
by him!"
10000 Lucy Sharpe!"
'1t'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
a great cluster of jet black curls, lightly
touched with gray, dangling from his
mouth! Away he sped, and the lit
girls fled wildly in all directions, quite
terrified by what they had seen.
Tige leaped low stone wall and ran
a short distance across a field of stub
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 II up!"
as it possible" exclaim ID Dan, "that
all of that hair the teachers so fussy
about is wig?"
'It's something that's tumbled off
while he's beer ,leep, anyway" said
Lucy.
cit is a wig!" said Low Ball. "I've
noticed that he always ties his hand
kerchief over his head and under his
chin when he takes nap. If it's
wig and Tige has it. you'd better get
hold of that dog! There'll be a 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 Dan's harsh cries of:
You, Tige! Drip that! Drop it.
I tell you'll"
Just as Tige and his two pursuers
disappeared over a ridge in the woods
the door of the school house closed with
bang. and all the windows were pulled
down violently. 1t was after one o'clock
when Jabez Jordon thrust his head out
Of a 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-tha 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 APP
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.
well, you may all go home, for there
won't be any more school to-day" said
Jabez. and set out on a run for The
woods.
i 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
wong 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
re f,1S cd to return ff, fh a l.cx