Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-04-26
BY MORGAN ROBERTSON
CHAPTER v.

Not one cared to go home to din
ner which might be seasoned With
paternal rebuke; so they lounged on
the grass. kicking their heels. Nib
bling grass bulbs, and occasionally
commenting on the hopeless outlook.
AS they lay there, Pig Jones
ioined them and offered sympathy
and advice; then Dick Halpin came
climbing over the fence ~ the other
side of the field. Swinging his books
hy the strap, he slowly approached
the group under the tree. His lip
was swollen and there WAS trouble
In his face; but he was calm and
serious as he ran his eye over the
party.
~ don't know what's up, boys"
he began; you didn't tell me any
thing, but II ia even guessed that
anything had happened / wouldn't
have told What is it,"
We killed colt answered
Will, as he rolled over TO face him.
We didn't mean to-he got away
from us. But it wouldn't have been
found out If you hadn't had so much
W say"
And wouldn't have had a word
10 say If you'd put me on to Il. But
YOU didn't, and didn't know. was
trying to clear myself. That's why I
told where l was going. I wouldn't
give any one away"
Yes. YOU would" sneered Pig
Jones Even II you were one O. the
gang you'd ha' told on the rest. You
proved that to-day-lyin' bout the
money you stole"
II tell you l wouldn't" answered
Dick, augrily; and the man who
says stole that money Is liar"
This was strong language, and too
defiant altogether from boy Of
Dicks size.
Il say you stole Il" returned Fig.
Then you're a liar"
81 say Won stole" said Tom
Brandes-larger than Pig; Ned
Brown repeated It, and Dick, whose
face had frightened. answered, You
are pack OF liars, and can back 1t
up" He dropped his books and flung
off his coat; then Will Simpson, VINO
had not yet joined the allied powers,
arose in his dignity.
"What?" said he" Am a liar"
III you say stole that money,
you're liar" stormed Dick.
Il say you stole it"
Then you're liar"
There was flourish and tangle
OF fists. and Dick wont down. When
he arose, his right I'VE was closing
Want any more?" asked his big
antagonist. Dicks reply was tiger
like pounce. Then they clinched; but
1t was disastrous for Dick. He was
punched, choked, squeezed. and At
last lifted bodily and launched head
long, falling heavily. He was no
match for the other, who was IN
scathed in the shuttle, and before he
arose he was kicked by Pig, who
yelled, Give it to him, fellers -
give It to the thief-give it TO the
tattle-tale.' His foot was caught at
the second Kick by the PROSTATE
boy. and he was thrown; but before
Dick could do more than. rise TO his
feet. Tom Allen asked his opinion Of
his veracity. and the answer brought
another Touchdown from Tom.
Then, to hurry through a painful
duty, they all surrounded him, Kick
Ing and pounding.
"That1l DO. now. thatll do" said
Will; we've killed a colt, and that's
enough"
They walked away. Dick arose to
sitting posture and looked after
Thorn; but there was no green fame
In his half closed eyes; neither had
he seen red during the struggle.
These might come later. He had
thought, at the last, that he was
fighting for his life, and he had even
entered the fracas with doubt that
was only dominated by his indigna-
ton and Will. He was now thor
oughly subduod and only in the
complete absence OF all fear will
come the destructive rage which
turns all things red.
1t IS hardly probable that Pig s
sympathy and advice, or his initia-
tive IN the prelude of insult had Ia
duced the other four 10 this ex-
tremity OF action; they were young
and CLOSE 10 Nature, and the species
to which they belonged but few
thousand years away from the Age
OF Stone when marriage was by cap
ture, and the better warrior was the
better wooer, admired by his fellows
when successful, dubbed to death
before his scorn'ul wifes eyes wher
wounded or Ill. Dick Hnlpin, b,
winning and then losing some
had noted her look OF horror---the IA
vor OF the school beauty, had called
1t into force--this second law OF Ma
ture; though perhaps not a bo!
among them would admit, even t
himself. that Mabel Arthur was II
any way connected with the animu
OF their assault. But Pigs position
was definite-he had squared up.
When they we're out OF sight, Dicl
picked up his books and painful.
made his way TO the river bank he
hind the schoolhouee. There H.
staunched tho blood from his nos
and bathed his head, which ache,
and throbbed from HIS fury OF tn
morning and from tha hard knock
It had received. Then he found
shady spot on the bank, and, watch
ing the stream and farm land be
yond, tried to reduce his chaoti