The Baltimore County union, the Towson news., 1909-09-04
he THAT RuLErH HIS SPIRIT.
By GEORGE W. HILLS.

By GEORGE W. HILLS.
You are coward |" shrieked Andy
Drake, brandishing his fist in Dick
Morton's face. ''You have a pull
| with the professor. You are cheat. "
The young athletes stood facing
each other with flashing eyes, pre-
pared for battle. Dicks fist few
back to strike. But he hesitated.
His hand fell. He slid down into
seat in glum silence, while Andy
poured out an avalanche of rapidly
FIRE abuse upon him at close range,
then stalked our of the room.
Dick had carried off the prize of
the class. 'Thisis sufficient explana
ton.
'sIt is hard to bear-tough |" growl.
ed Dick within himself, gripping the
desk In front of him in his attempts
to keep control of himself. "But-
but, can't afford to scrap with him.
1 won't"
The words of his God-fearing
mother, Of that very morning, had
rushed into his mind just in time to
hold his fist back from planting
blow. "Dick, your temper is hot, !"
she had cautioned. "Never give
way to it. Hold yourself in control.
Remember the words of the wise old
man of long ago !: He that ruleth
his spirit is better than he that taketh
a city,
The stiffness of the room could be
felt. The students scarcely breathed
The pulsations of the professor S clock
on the wall, and the rasping chirp of
cricket in a crevice near the door
made the stiffness more oppressive.
81 say, Dick p blurted out pug
nacious Tom Redcliff on high key,
"I would never stand it. I'd make
him take back his insolence- every
word of it, or I'd fog the earth with
him. You are able to do it. Pitch
into him."
"That's rig htp "That's the
stuff |" "Here, too! Here, too p
"Take 1t out of him p "Do him up p
came from the masculine portion Of
his schoolmates, who were spelling to
see battle, while the girls shrank
away, pale with fright.
IT can't afford it, was his quiet
reply, without looking up.
"Can't afford what? Are you
loony? What do you mean?"
candy has hurt himself more than
he has hurt me, or more than ! could
hurt him If I should try"
"What has queered you! You
are bigger -"
''Fire fire fire p came from
hundred throats down on the street.
The students rushed to the fire. A
row of wooden buildings was melting
down before the flames.
"My baby My baby !" shrieked
frantic woman, rushing into the ex-
cited throng, just as the students ar
rived.
where is your baby?" demanded
a policeman.
"Up you way" she replied, ges-
ticulating wildly. "In the blue front
building, third story back. o, my
baby my baby Save my baby !"
Dick was soon in the blue-front
building. The crowd surged and
shouted in wild excitement. AS he
passed out of view, the babel of noises
died away into a hoarse moan, while
the multitude waited in nervous sus-
pense gazing at the place where he
was last seen.
Half way down the hall he discov-
cred Andy, rushing at full speed on
the same errand. The dangers sur
rounding them and the worthiness of
their mission did not quench the in
ternal fires of anger in Andy's being.
Dicks old mother s sanity face ap-
peared in his memory, and helped
him to disregard the taunts and abuse
of his schoolmate. The box that
Andy kicked into his path to trip him
failed of its mission, for he bounded
over it and sped on. He could see
that Andy was straining every power
to get ahead of him.
They reached the door of the room
containing the child, which had been
left alone while its mother called on
sick friend in the next block. Dick S
hand was on the knob. The door
was obstinate and would not readily
open. The FIRE was rapidly advancing.
His antagonists wrath leaped all
bounds. Dick stood like rock when
Andy jumped against him to push
him away from the door. He saw
him seize boys bat standing near,
and raise it to deal him crushing
blow across the wrist. He did not
finch, but kept tugging at the door.
He looked squarely into Andy'seyes,
that were shooting the fire of demons.
At last the door few open and Dick
rushed in. There was sickening
crash behind him. Andy could not
deal his wicked blow, for he was
struck to the floor by a falling timber
and held as by the grip of steel.
! Dick was nearly sufocated in the
room by the binding smoke. He
had difficulty in locating the child.
But soon he came out with it wrapped
in shawl. He stepped over Andy,
who tripped him with his free hand:
IT. ef - Lac bcaac h,1k cofe1v held