Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1910-06-03


distance coming toward the scene of
the struggle, and in another aIi=Y.r
not boy was 10 be seen on the
campus
After this Russell sherman Kept a.
himself more than ever. If that cou,C
be. lie had the respect of his fell s.
students in everything except pu,,,
lie was not considered manly-that IS.
so far as lighting his way was Goa.
ccrucl-Lut with the decline Of the
old military spirit that for centuries
gave first place 90 the strongest ava
br1Yest respect for brute strength has
dwindlcd. Sherman had brains. and
The Dre-emincuce Of brains over mus.
Gle g. fully recognized i'm the'twcaticth
century. But he possessed certain
kind OF pluck that no other boy I'm the
school displayed. lie was the only boy
there who was earning his own edu-
cation.
The day after the fight Tom Blake
saw Russell Sherman coming across
the campus toward him. but sherman
when ne reached fork I'm the ccmcus
walk turned aside, going i'm another
direction. Blake saw plainly that the
boy he had fought for shrank from
meeting him. At first he didn't like
this action on the part of his protege.
He thought that Sherman should have
come up to him frankly and thanked
him for standing by him so far as to
fight for him. But Blake was a think
Ing sort Of boy, and it occurred to
him that if the tables were turned. If
some boy bigger and stronger than he
had fought for him. how would he
feel toward that other boy? He could
not quite put himself In such a posi-
ton, for he had good strength for his
age and was not fearful Neverthe.
less he could excuse Sherman on til.
ground that he had needed protection
from a bigger boy, had secured it and
would naturally feel demeaned by ac.
cepting it.
Blake went on 20 his room and. elanc.
ing Mt his study table. saw something
on it, fat and round. wrapped in white
paper Taking off the cover, he came
10 some oil paper, which contained
something soft. Removing this wrap.
per, he uncovered a pie.
by Jove" he exclaimed. az won
der how that came here"
He ate half the pie. then bethoueht
himself who had left it there. M.
merous inquiries failed to elicit the
donor. lie racked his brains to dis
cover what friend he had that would
thus favor him. but could not think
OF any one. One person occurred to
him rs the possible giver-that was
Russell Sherman But the ME had
been tied up with n very narrow blue
silk ribbon instead OF a string. the
ends being tied i'm a bow. Blake knew
that no boy would ever tie up any
thing with bow. No; some of his
auntS. sisters or cousins must have
sent 1t TO him.
He thought that when he met Sbcr.
man again he would say something to
make him feel easier about his posi.
ton lie found an opportunity one
day when coming out of recitation.
Hello, Russellw he said.
Hello, Blakew was the reply.
Going to win the valedictory?"
Il don't know"
81 hope you will"
why"
ooh, ! thinl, you're a pretty good sort
of feIow,'
81 don't believe you respect me
much"
Yes, do. why do you think
don't?'
ooh don't fight my own battlesr
'Hou would with boys of your size"
Il haven't had a chance before this
TO THANK YOU for that fight YOU had
with Potter 1t was mighty good OF
YOU"
Blake felt Russells hand feeling FOR
bis and saw pair Of grateful eyes
turned upon him Thinking the affair
was getting mawbish. he made pre-
tense Of wishing to catch up with an
other boy ana ran away. When be
went TO his room to prepare for sup
per he saw another gift on his table.
This time &c was Il cake
Again Blake questioned the maids
and others In the house, but no ono
could, or rather would tell him who
had left The Gift
Meanwhile Russell Sherman was dis
tinguI-hIug himself in his classes. con-
tiuuaIv gaining hOnors
Graduation day came. and the BOYS
made their speeches Last came Shcr
man with the valcdictory He had
fulfilled the expectations Of his teach
crs bis standing being higher than had
ever been reached iu The school before
As soon us hc started TO speak persons
in thc audience began to whisper to
each other How young he is, III