Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1903-06-26

serve a whaling, so you know nothing
about it, anyway"
81 only thought you'd be glad to get
out of It, I would"
81 know you would; you'd get out of
anything coming your way that might
hurt you"
And Tom plunged into the games and
| forgot all about the matter. He was
up to the top notch in his lessons dur
| ing the afternoon session, and he
spelled down the entire first class at
the close. 1t required but few mo-
ments to clear the room when the days
work was ended. Tom sat with his
! cheek resting on his hand as he waited
for the long figure at the platform desk
to move. Suddenly the young man
looked at Tom and said
| "Lawton, may trouble you to go to
| the closet at the right Of the blackboard
and bring me the long parcel laid
| across the upper hooks; here Is the
| key"
| Tom brought the desired article to
the desk and gave a start as fine
| jointed fishing rod was revealed when
| the canvas cover was removed. Good
ness! Is he going to lambaste me with
the butt of that thing?" was Toms
| thought, as the teacher took the heavy
piece and tried the working of the reel.
The next joint was taken up and eX.
amined. And as the feather-weight
| tip was lifted, the teacher said with q
| CLEAN Of fun In his eyes:
"Your hand, please. Sorry to be
| obliged to do this painful thing, my
young friend, but must have my rules
obeyed."
The light tip came through the ali
with a swish, but when it reached the
| outstretched hand 1t fell as softly as
straw upon the boys palm. But the
| touch Of that tip, slight as it was, cut
to Toms heart, and set his mind busy.
There was q sting in this sort Of pun
lshment after all.
"There. I'm glad that disagreeable
job is off my hands. Say, Tom. now
that the cruel work is over let's go fish
ing"
1t touched the boy to see how clev-
erly this new teacher had handled him,
and punished him as he had never been
punished before. 1t was lesson never
to be forgotten. Toms eyes were moist
as he said:
II can take you where the largest
trout in the stream are; I'll show you
some fun; and, and-I am sorry gave
you SO much trouble. I'll never do 1t
again"
"Thats all right, Tom, my dear boy"
The warm clasp Of the young mans
hand sent tingle Of joy to the boys
heart, and as he looked into the steady
eyes and saw something there that told
him. he had made a friend for life he
felt supremely happy.
Down the back street the pair wend-
ed their way toward the stream that
flowed among the willows, and the few
pairs of curious eyes that followed
their movements saw the teacher oc-
casionally lay his arm along the sturdy
boys shoulders.
Down among the tag-alders, where
the dark, deep pools were, the line was
cast again and again-baited with a
fat, juicy grasshopper, and as the hand.
some trout rose to the casts the young
teacher was a boy again, while Tom
Lawton felt as happy as lark.
'There Tom, old boy, think I have
enough for supper; never believe in
OVERRIDING a thing-fshing or-or lick
ing fellow"
Tom only grinned as he looked at the
fish. Suddenly the young man laid
cot Will,
merry laugh:
II can throw you, front, back or side
hold. | was the greatest wrestler in
my class; look out for yourself, for I'm
at you"
Again Tom grinned as he braced
himself for the shock; he was clever
also, and he secured firm hold, and
with quick slde-jerk and a lightning
trip he laid the teacher upon his back
in a iiffy Then they tried back hold,
struggled over the smooth turf until
the teacher lifted Tom up and laid him
gently down upon his back and said
laughingly: you are quick on your
legs, old boy; 1 could make a great
wrestler of you. l can beat you sprint
ing to the maple tree and back"
"Never; there isn't fellow in school
can do that job. Here you so; we're
off,
The teacher reached and touched the
tree and started to return before Tom
reached it. 1t was lively race, and It
looked as If Tom had finally met his
match But with grand squirt the boy
dashed over the ground, reached his
| companion, and passing him, arrived at
the goal three feet ahead.
''There, Tom, my lad, that will be
enough exercise for the time being,
Now for supper; you are to dine with
me this evening"
That was red-letter event in Tom
Lnwton's life; supper in the hotel din.
ing room witk the teacher, who chatted
and made the boy feel as If he was in
the seventh heaven of boy bliss. And
in the cleaning as they wandered to
Toms home the young man told the