Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1909-01-21
A MIDNIGHT
SURPRISE
By EDGAR WHITE
(Copyright, by Daily STORY PUB. Co.)

lSudy " mare was the worst boy In
the Beaver Run school The other
boys dreaded him, the girls turned UP
their noses at him, and the town con-
stable was almost daily at war with
him. 1t was impossible to keep win
dow lights IN certain houses because
Of Teddy's habit of shying rocks
through them. He made life miser-
able for the negroes by playing spoOk
along dark lanes, and incurred the Ill
will of the Methodists by stampeding
brace Of fighting dogs into their
church one night during prayer meet
ing.
The only thing living or dead that
Teddy feared was his teacher. Prof"
Davy Jobson didn't in many respects
resemble a man Of war. He was tall,
but so thin that it made one nervous
TO look at him when the wind blew
hard. His hands and face were leRth-
cry. and he had a square jaw. The
closed lips formed slit like an orna-
ment made with q razor. He was
about 90.
At II Teddy was quite chunk OF a
boy, and on one side OF a pair OF
balances would have sent his teacher
up in the air. Teddy thought when
the lean western pedagogue took
charge Of the village school that Prov
iGence was still favoring him. He had
run the other teacher away, and he
was much bigger man than the sol
/ emn Davy. That he would ignore the
teachers first order was q matter OF
| course, but he was bit startled
when he was struck a resounding rar
on the side of the head. Teddy rose
from his seat, with a howl of rage
and jumped for the thin man. But
something made him stop. 1t was the
professors fist Teddy went to tbs
floor and got up madden than ever
The professor squared of and danced
around for an opening. The lean face
looked fierce and deep, and the deer
eyes sparkled with the JOY Of battle
he wanted TO make sure this time
Before Teddy knew he was within
reach. the professor undercut hin
on the jaw, and then landed on hi.
ear. They sounded like an ak hit
ting log. Then all was over Blu
the shouting
-OAA SLeNt NAAuC OA SC4OO
department was 100, but outside tn,
professors jurisdiction it was wors,
than ever One day the constabl,
caught him stealing from a merchant
money drawer. Teddy was sent t.
Jail for six months, and came GU
with heart burning for revenge. H,
would brood for hours, trying to thinl
up what was the best to be done. l
he only were a general of a might,
army the matter could be settle,
easily. He would thunder at tn,
city's gates with his cannon and ter
rify the constable and the Judge ant
all those who had used him despite
fully. Then they would come outsid,
the walls on their crawling knees AM
beg him to spare their miserable lives
, Some he might let off after a du,
| penance on bread and water in tn,
jail where he had suffered such bit
ter humiliation. But the constable
and the judge and the merchant VIII,
had testified against him the,
should hang on the public square O
Beaver Run, in the broad glare of day
where all could take warning from
their misspent lives.
And the girls who had laughed a
his big feet. and turned up thei
noses at his freckled face. should b
forced to witness HIS triumphal entr.
into the city at the head of his le
gions, and when he and his gold braid
ed officers sat IN state at the bar
quet tables in the city hall, those sam
mocking girls should serve them. o.
penalty of instant death should the
refuse.
As the future military chieftain ral
over in his mind the things he woul
do on that great day he decided h
would abolish churches, Sunda
; schools, and all other kinds of tol
menting restrictions Of liberty by off
cial proclamation, carrying with 1t
death penalty for all who refused {
obey; there should be no more Judge
or constables, and everybody would b
happy and free.
After passing other wise and hi
name laws he WOULD call the populac
/ around the gallows on which hung tn
loathsome forms OF the constable an
the judge and the merchant. anC
standing with folded arms proud
wearing his feathered hat he woul
thus address them:
Citizens Of Beaver Run: Behol
the man you prosecuted and drov
from home; the man whose name yo
never mentioned without a curse;
man so hated and despised that yo
crossed the street when you saw hin
coming. He returns to you to-day a
the head OF his grand army, a com
mander Of men, a trusted officer of tn
military, with enough power at hi
back to lay your city in ruins, and al
you people in your graves, If he want
ed. But does he do It? Does he ex
E-act Judgment for the years of bite