The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-05-17

inasmuch as the teacher was nervously
fondling bunch OF healthy appearing
switches. But second command brought
the bully to the dreaded desk.
grabbing, Tom by the arm, brought, the
switch down where II belonged. Tom
howled, the pupils giggled and Zeke. look
ing carefully at him, winked that eye.
After this there was only one thing for
the teacher to do and that was to keep on
whipping Tom. who danced around and
yelled as loud as he could. Zeke wanted
to be sure and get Tom good whipping.
so he held the eyelid open with his fingers,
being fearful that he might let it close
accidentally.
The beating might have lasted a month,
bringing great joy to the other boys. had
not Zeke's finger slipped while he was
looking at the teacher.
Immediately the whipping stopped but but
fellow had to go on dancing, bowling and
trying to dodge the whip which had stopped
whipping This was, If anything, funnier
than the real thing. but Zeke soon grew
tired of it and winked the other eye at
Tom. who had made up his mind>to leave
school at once and forever and seized the
opportunity to sprint out of the door.
As he star ted the teacher darted after
him. Zeke gave each one a wink as they
passed out SO they couldn't stop, and on
they went, down the steps, thr ough the
II was picnic for the other pupils, and
while they were dancing around in glee
some one suggested that they all follow
and see the race.
Without any hesitation out went the
whole school on the run. Zeke stood at
the door and winked as each one passed,
putting his own legs in motion as soon as
the last pupil had gone out.
When he reached the street he saw
great sight. There was Tom going like
a runaway trolley. After him came the
straight out behind while about two hundred
shouting school children brought up the
rear.
Once more the merchants and people
rushed out Of the buildings along the street.
meeting in the town hall and they all came
out to see what was going on,
The Mayor ran after the teacher to see
why he was lea ding his children such
race and the other officials tried to keep
up with the, Mayor, Ieke glggled as he
winked al them and thought what great
fun he was having.
After that it was all up with the great
men who controlled the town, There was
nothing for them to do except keep running,
and pretty sight some OF the fattest ones
made OF II as they hustled around corners and
jumped over badly paved spots.
Away went the mob until finally Tom
found he couldn't turn any corners, and the
others were in the same Ak. 1t is good
thing the street was straight or they might
have bumped into something hard.
Down where the creek crossed the street
the old wooden bridge had been taken down
to make way for new one, and small
bridge had been put across at one side.
Everything would have been all right II the
racers could have turned into this; but they
couldn't
The most natural thing in tho world hap
pened The Mayor. the teacher. Tom, the
Councilmen. the policemen, the school
children and everybody else in the race
went ahead first. kcrpunkety plunk, into
the creek.
Zeke reached the spot lust as the mob
were crawling out Of the wet and starting
again on their mad race He winked at
them and everybody stopped blowing like
porpoises and saying swear words not Mt
for children to hear.
Many attempts were made TO explain
why this wonderful thing had happened;
but it could not he done, and the 800 persons
made their sorrowful way homeward. Zeke
was so afraid that he might be found out
he kept his eyes on the ground all the
way home and did not look up until he was
going by the Stringer house
He peeped through the picket fence. and
there was Tom out in the yard with ham
mer and nails, making a cage in which he
said he intended to put Zeke.
Tom was hammering away like hend.