Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1907-04-17

guished in the back yard and Reginald
thanked his stars that the knight"
and the sta0le-boy could not see him.
Becky noticed that Reggie had no
doll and scampered OF to remedy so
palpable a defect of hospitality
But l don't want a doll!p he allied
after his fleeing hostess, but presently
she returned with one of the largest
size.
You've got to hold Dottie Dimple
Reginald" she explained, "or else she
won't have any party at ALL"
But l don't want to hold TIE
dog goned thingi"
Reginald brought ont his wickedest
word superbly. The little girl thrilled
with admiration. Becky laid the doll
across the knee of her profane guest.
At this point a frieze of heads
appeared over the brick wall at
the end of the Plummer yard, and
the Terror" called out Say, fellers,
| get on to the curl boy nussin' the
doll" The fellows of Reginald's for
mer set played with the Terror" on
/ Saturdays when the lines of caste
were more than usually relaxed; and
| they We're with him now, witnesses to
the curl boys" latest humiliation.
'Pity he wouidn't hook his bib and
pleasantly, and the fellows applauded
Even Becky smiled. and Mary Vale,
who was all of ten, and in consequence
seemed a middle-aged child, had to
wipe her spectacles, it amused her so.
Reginald's fists began to double I'M
consciously in his eagerness to get
at the Terror" The lessons of the
last four months tempted him delight
fully. He ached to put them to the
test. He was absolutely calm as he
hurled back his challenge:
You don't like my hair and collar,
don't you? Why. l could lick you
in them and a skirt thrown in for a
handicap"
The Terror" swung himself over
the Plummer's brick wall into the
very presence of Becky, the Middle
Aged Child, Dottie Dimple-and the
enemy.
Well. an why don't you begin?"
sneered the Terror"
Reginald regarded him with the
large tolerance Of the man OF the
world.
we can't fight here" he said, indi-
eating Becky and the Middle-Aged-
Child
One of the bigger boys suddenly be-
came conscious of a tremendous gift
for organizatio@. II there was going
to be any fighting, he fairly ached to
be master of ceremonies and referee.
I'VE might try Hyatt's stable" Reg
inaId suggested. Go round and see if
Jim's there" The big boy was back
in a trice, with the required permits
sion. Reggie was now for politely ex-
cusing himself to the ladies', but the
fair, with their usual stubbornness,
insisted on going, to the obvious dis
gust OF all parties concerned. And
presently the entire company found
themselves transplanted thither. TIE
stable-boy winked convincingly at
Reggie. but gave no outward sign of
acquaintance.
shake handst" reared the referee,
anl the belligerents stepped forward
From the ladies' gallery-the hay loft
had been hastily put N commission for
the accommodation of the feminine
and neuter genders-came sounds of
suppressed excitement
Round and round the limited space
afforded by the stable the youngsters
fought--every inch Of ground being
familiar to Reginald, he had just so
much of an advantage but of this
little matter he held his peace. When
the Terror" discovered that the en-
counter meant more than a big boy
thrashing a little one merely by way
of exhibiting his pugilistic prowess.
the discovery soure9 his temper not
little, and incidentally took the edge
off his skill
The Terror" could hear the crowd
call out to Reggie words of facetious
encouragement Go it. mamas boy
Gee. ain't he swift one! Say. that
Teller in the bib's got sciencei"
This latter comment, spoken in the
Terriers" native tongue, was In the
nature OF last straw 1t proved that
one of his erstwhile faithful retainers
had gone over to the enemy.
The Terror" made a mighty reach
and caught a handful of curIs in his
grip; he wound them round his club
by fingers and pulled with all his
might. Reggie saw a whole galaxy
of shooting stars leap from his eyes
to the ladies' gallery-then the pain
| made him quite blind for a moment,
as he called thickly: Lego my hair.
'talnt fair, leggo my hair," The Ter
ror" never relinquished his hold, but
continued to turn the hair about at
shorter length from the scalp Reggie
opened his eyes-he was sufficiently
accustomed to the pain to get his bear.
ings once more He was locked l.. d
deadly grip with the Terror" but
his head was just below the chin Of
his consciousness antagonist. If one
could play at being no fair" II was
game open TO all. and Reggie. who
knew advantages connected with his
present position, suddenly stood on his
toes. unmindful OF the extra pull on
his hair, and began to ram the Ter.
ror's chin with his bent head Once.
twice, he hammered. and the third