Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-04-20
WATERBURY EVENING DEMOCRAT SATURDAY, APRIL 2o 1eo7


 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. could lick you in them and skirt thrown in for . handicap!"
 The Terror" swung himself over the Runners 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 tremendous gift for organization. If there was going to be any fighting. he fairly ached to be master of ceremonies and referee.
 We might try Hyatt's stable,' Reg inald suggested. Go round and see if Jim's there" The big boy was back in trice, with the required permis. 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. The stable-boy winked convincingly at Reggie, but gave no outward sign of acquaintance.
 Shake hands!' roared the referee, and the belligerents stepped forward. From the ladies' gallery-the hay loft had been hastily put in 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 big boy thrashing little one merely by way of exhibiting his pugilistic prowess. the discovery soured 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: Co it. mama's boy! Gee, ain't he swift one! Say, that feller in the bib's got science!"
 This latter comment, spoken in tho "Terror's' native tongue, was in the nature of last straw. It proved that one of his erstwhile faithful retainers had gone over to the enemy.
 The Terror" made mighty reach and caught handful of curls in his grip; he wound them round his chub- 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: "Leggo my hair. 'taint fair, leggo my hair!" The Ter TOT" 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 in a deadly grip with the Terror" but his head was just below the chin of his conscienceless antagonist. If one could play at being mo fair" it 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 TOTS chin with his bent head. Once. twice, he hammered. and the third time the grip on his curls loosened. His head had sent the Terror" sprawling on the stable floor.
 The voice of the referee sung out stern and official above the general hubbub. Ladies and Gentlemen, this here fight has leen won by Mir. Reginald Chambers. Any one in favor of doubting it say 'No'-and fight me. All agreein' to my decision say 'Ay.'"
 "Ay," was howled. shrieked. and sung in every note of the gamut. AL together it was magnificent occasion for Reginald.
 On the wall of the stable hung a pair of shears which seemed to exer- else growing fascination for the hero. Reaching up. on his tip-toes. he secured them with something of a wrench. Becky. who asserted her claims to reflected honor by ordering about the hero with more than her customary asperity. inquired what he was going to do with the shears. For answer he put them into her hands and demanded with almost marital brevity: ''Cut my hair"
 q dassn't.' she said. putting her tongue into the space left by an ab- sentee first tooth. When Becky did that 1t always meant that she would have to be coaxed
 Co on. Becky. cut it of." urged the hero. pressing the shears upon his unwilling lady. And the shearing of Sampson began. Curl after curl fell to the stable floor under the swift manipulation of Becky's fingers. The Middle-Aged-Child gathered them up in a way that would seem to cast aspersions on the wholly intellectual trend of her life. The company drew