The Randall County news. (Canyon City, Tex.) 1908-1926, 1909-12-31
By CwENDoLIN ADAMS

Griggs. Il pupil in the school oftEben
Watson The history class was up
for recitation. but Hezekiah, though
he had plenty of brains, had not APP
piled them to studying the lesson.
He was growing decidedly uncom-
Portable. He knew well what an un.
prepared lesson meant, for in those
days no weak lenency was shown to
delinquents. To be sure, this was the
first recitation HeZekiah had missed
during the term, but was not that an
aggravation of the offense? Since he
had managed so long without failing.
why fail at all:
HeZekiah was aware that as soon as
the class was dismissed he would re-
ceive Il not altogether unmerited fog
ging. He was perspirins at every pore.
| The icicles with which he had meant
| to refresh the thirsty occupants of
the back seats melted in the intense
heat, and tiny stream of ice water
! trickled slowly from the extremity of
either pocket and formed Il miniature
| pool in the bottom of each cowhide
! boot.
The young offender was growing
desperate, aud when the master. hav-
ing dismissed the other members of
the history class. turned to him with
the command. Take OFF your coat.
sir" the boy stepped forward and
obeyed with ii feeling of actual relief
Your conduct has been most repre-
hensible, sr"' said the master. push
ing up his coat sleeve and testing the
strength of his ruler while thirty
pairs of eyes gazed spellbound and
awful silence reigned.
Most reprehensible. SIR he repeat
ed. and the ruler fell with a thwack
which sent The blood tingling through
every vein in the culprit's body
Hezekiah never knew exactly what
happened after that. He remembered
that an insane desire for vengeance
overcame him. He wanted to thrash
the master. TO thrash the whole school
| Before the weapon could descend a
second time he. sprang at his assail-
ant with cinched fists and blazing
eyes.
There was Il moment of GREATNESS
silence while the angry master col
Jared his refractory pupil and shook
him as i terrier shakes rat. Then
the .nau4ssided ruler was once more
brought into active play upon the back
Of HeZekiah Griggs.
Now, sir said the master when at
length. becoming weary OF such severe
exertion, he released his hold on Hez-
ekiah's coal collar. take your seat and
learn your history
Needless of the command. the boy
seized his JACKET and. snatching his
cap from its peg on the wall. made a
rush for the door. He gained it with
out opposition. and before the aston
ished master had time to recover from
his surprise he was racing along the
highway toward home.
Into the big, roomy kitchen. where
Grandfather Griggs himself sat in
great armchair coming the Weekly
News, with Grandmother Griggs close
by pairing apples. he dashed like a
runaway engine.
why. Hezekiah." exclaimed the
good old woman. looking somewhat
startled, "a body d think you'd been
fired from II cannon by the way you
come flying in. What's happened:"
Hezekiah sat down and began to ex-
plain.
You don't mean to say you've run
away from school, said the old man
when the boy had reached the most
interesting part of his narrative. "Oh.
HeZekiah"'
The exclamation was full of sorrow
full surprise. aud Hezekiah's eyes fell
I'm not going back to school any
more" he said doggedly
He did not dare look up. for he knew
the old man had set his heart on his
becoming an educated man. and he
expected him to be very angry. But
grandfather took off his glasses. wiped
them and said:
We'll. Hezekiah. we won't talk about
It tonight You'd best go to the barn
and thrash peas till supper time. and
we'll settle this matter about school
tomorrow
Hezekiah obeyed. He went about till
| dark looking triumphant.
Staying. away from school was next
thing to 'beating the master. He slept
we'll and arose firm in his determina-
ton not to return to school When his
grandfather called him aside after
breakfast and tried to convince him
that be was wrong Hezekiah was still
| resolute.
We'll. Hezekiah,' the old man said
at last. 'since your minds made up
there's no use of urging you further.
I'd have been glad enough IL you had
gone. and il yod'd have stuck to it
wouldn't have minded a year or two
at college to finish of with. As it is,
you'll have to earn your living some
other-way. and I suppose the sooner
you set about it the better"
"Fm willing to work. grandfather.
Hezekiah said. in some surprise.