The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1908-05-30
STRONG AND STEADY
BY. ii0RATlO ALGER. JR.


be swindled. From that time he cherished
dislike for our hero, and this he showed
by various little sights and annoyances,
OF which Walter took little notice. He
thoroughly dospised Joshua for his mean
ness and selfishness, and it mattered very
little to him what such q boy thought of
him.
This forbearance Joshua utterly misin-
terpreted. He decided that Walter was
deficient in courage and spirit, and it en-
ccuraged him to persevere in his system
Of petty annoyances until they might al
most be called bullying. Though Walter
kept quiet under these provocations. there
was often a warning fash of the eye
which showed that it would not be safe to
20 too far. But this Joshua did not no.
tice, and persisted.
Joshua" said his mother one day, Il
really think you don't treat Walter right.
You are not polite to him"
"Why should be? What is he but a
bcggar?"
"He is not that, for he works for his
living"
"At any rate, he's a mean fellow, and
shall treat him as l please"
One afternoon there were few young
fellows standing on the piazza in front OF
Mr.. Drummond's store. Joshua was one
of them, and there being no customers to
wait uptn. Walter also had joined the
company. They were discussing plans Tor
picnic to be held in the woods on the
next Sunday afternoon. 1t was to be
quite a general affair.
"You will come, Walter, won't your?
asked one of the number.
mo" said Joshua "he can't come"
81 didn't authorize you to speak for
me-" said Walter quietly.
"You didn't authorize me to speak for
you" repeated Joshua, in a hooking
tone. big words for a beggar"
"What do you mean by calling me a
beggarY demanded Walter, quietly, but
with rising color.
II don't choose to give you any expla-
nation" said Joshua scornfully. You're
your board"
THAT may be true, but I am not a
beggar, and I advise you not to call me
one again."
Walters tone was still quiet, and
Joshua wholly misunderstood him other
wise, being q coward at heart, he would
have desisted.
I'll say it as often as l please" he
repeated You're beggar, and if we
hadn't taken pity on you, you'd have had
to go to the poorhouse."
Walter was not quarrelsome but this
last insult, in presence of half dozen
h0xc hofxr 10
reused him.,
Joshua Drummond," he said you've
insulted me long enough, and I've stood
it, for l didn't want to quarrel; but
will stand it no longer"
He walked up to Joshua, and struck
him in the face, not hard blow, but still
blow. Joshua turned white with pas
sion, and advanced upon our hero furi-
ously, with the intention of giving him.
as he expressed it, the worst whipping he
ever had.
Walter parried his blow, and put in an
other, this time sharp and stinging
Joshua was an inch or two taller, but
Walter was more than a match for him.
Joshua threw out his arms, delivering his
blows at random, and most of them failed
of effect. Indeed, he was so blinded with
rage that Walter, who kept cool, had
from this cause alone a great advantage
over him. Joshua at length seized him,
and he was compelled to throw him down.
As Joshua hay PROSTATE, with Walters
knee upon his breast, Mr.. Drummond,
who had gone over to his own house, APP
peared upon the scene.
whats all this?" he demanded, in
mingled surprise and anger. Conrad,
what means this outrageous conductY'
Walter rose, and, turning to his en-
p!oyer, said, manfully, Joshua insulted
me, sir, and have punished him. That's
ALL"