Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1904-02-19
voice sounded from the hall, bidding

voice sounded from the hall, bidding
him hurry.
With his load Of shame, he skunk
out of the gate and crept to school,
hugging the fences and making him
self as insignificant and small as pos
sible, walking with short steps to
avoid the endless "whist-whist'' of
the corduroy. He SMILED as he thought
OF the woe the day still held for him.
Some men,. going back to business.
glanced at him to see the cause of his
whimpering. He imagined they were
thinking cruel things of his breeches.
He heard the tardy bell ring, and
then he ran in and hurried to his
seat. AS he fastened down the aisle
the corduroy spoke louder than be-
fore, but if Red Head heard, he made
no sign, and as Willie sided on to the
bench beside him he kept his nose
buried in his book and did not look
up.
Willie did not go to the playground
at the afternoon recess He would
have died rather, and for one he saw
the advantage Of the rule that the tar
dy scholar must lose that half hour
of play.
When school ended for the day,
Willie hoped the teacher would keep
him in. He was willing to be whipped
rather than meet Red Head again, but
he was dismissed with the rest. He
paused in the doorway gathering his
breath to make a run for liberty, as
he had often run to escape his perse-
cutors. AS he waited, he saw Red
Head approaching, ana ne drew back,
but Red Head stepped up to him and
took him by the arm.
you let me alone now,- whimpered
Willie.
saw, shut up" said Red Head
You shut up an don't be a cry baby.
Come along an l won't let 'em hurt
you"
Fighting and scuffiing We're not al
lowed in the entry. Willie put his
thumb in his mouth and gazed at Red
Head doubtfully. Such friendliness
was unnatural. 1t savored of a plot
to entice him forth to be slaughtered.
1t was not easy to believe that the
Red Head who had drubbed him a
hundred times, and who scored him as
a cry baby, should seek to defend
him.
Red Head waited.
Come on" he said at length. "I'll
let you help me drive the COW home
tonight"
Still Willie hesitated, although he
was almost willing to risk a licking
to be allowed to slap the sleek legs of
Mrs. Murphy's COW with a timber will
low switch.
Come on" said Red Head. "I'l let
you smoke my pipe"
Wont you lick meT" asked Willie
doubtfully.
mo, 1 won't lick you. What would
1 want to lick you forT"
Willie followed Red Head hesitat
ingly, with an eye to a safe retreat II
necessary.
One of the boys came forward from
the group by the gate.
"Hi, here comes Whistle Breeches!
he shouted gleefully.
Red Head turned, and clinched hi,
fists, his blue eyes blazing.
"Shut up, Bob Palmer" he CRIED
fercely. Don't you call him that
That amt no name to call a Teller
You jist wisht you had breeches lik'
EN-
Bob stopped suddenly. He looked a
Red Head in establishment. Then h
turned and ran to the boys by tn
gate. They listened to what he said
and then began a loud sing son
chant: whistle Bree-ches-Whistl
Bree-ches-Whistle Breaches"
Red Head bounded forward, hi
eyes glowing with anger. He topple
two boys over, and rained his blow
, right and left.
, Don't youse call him that" h
, cried.
, 1t was a surprise. The boys dreV
/, back and stood ready to scatter Il
, the next onslaught. Red Head wal
ed, putting, with clinched fists.
1.-The next Teller that calls him tina
|, III break his facet" he threatenet
"An' | amt foolin', neither"
They saw that he was not, and the
Z waited respectfully as Red Head an
Willie walked away.
g Willie went with Red Head to drlN
the cow home, and Red Head taugl
T him how to double up his fist fl
: battle according to the traditions
the school, with the knuckles of Il
n second finger protruded.
"You jlst do that" he explaine
nnn, Won Gun hurt ,nm Mnrep. An