The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-02-19
THE EVENING STORY
SnOwballs.
(By Littell McClung.)

his youth, longed to be out of doors.
Inside his room in the Latin school it
was warm and uncomfortable. The
janitor had done his best that day
and the radiators were throwing off
an unusual amount of heat. Out
side the air was cold and clear and
the snow, a foot deep, lay sparkling
like a jeweled mantle in the after
noon sunshine.
When the last class was over Mar
chant arose with a yawn and began
to put on his overcoat. All the boys
had rushed out into the snowfall
save Walter Beale, handsome.
quick-witted lad of fourteen.
We'll, I suppose you are going for
a slide this afternoon. Walter?" ques-
toned his teacher pleasantly.
Nope" rejoined the lad. Going
snowballing today, professor" he re-
piled. There's going to be snow
ball battle between the Latin school
and No. 49,"
You don't say?"- queried Marchant.
at once interested. ST hope the Latin
school drives No. 33 off the field. We
beat them in baseball. you know"
THAT we did, agreed Walter, "but
we wouldn't II you hadn't been pitch
Ing against Prof. Hanson. And we
won't beat 'em this time If you
don't come along and help us. The
boys told me to ask you about it. We
certainly do want you, professor, for
Prof. Hanson is going to lead the No.
33 army"
1.-The boys really do want me. Wal
ter?" asked the teacher, joyfully.
you just bet they do, professor, -
exclaimed the boy. They've just got
to have you, that's all there is to it!''
Then I'll CO." announced Marchant.
taking off his overcoat. wait till
get my sweater out of the closet"
The next moment teacher and schol-
ar Joined a throng of boys kicking
their way through the snow to an
open lot near the school on which two
snow forts had been built. The young
warriors hailed their teacher with
cheers and pressed forward to the
scene of impending battle. Already
the forces of No. 33 were on hand, led
by their captain, Prof. Hanson.
Hello, Hanson" cried Marchant
when he caught sight of the rival
leader. You out for blood again ?
Remember what we did to you on the
diamond last spring."
For answer the cohorts of No. 33
yelled defiance at their opponents and
scurried out of the fort to gather a
fresh supply of missiles. The leaders
met and it was agreed that ten min
utes should be given for the making
and storing up of ammunition. Both
sides retired to their ramparts, which
were about fifty yards apart, and each
boy began to make snowballs as fast
as his fingers could work. The sun
was shining brightly and the melting
snow on top made balls of icy hard
ness. Piles of the missiles were stack
ed up behind each fort, and on sig
nal the battle began.
Led by Marchant and Hanson, the
| boys sailed forth, and in few sec
onds the air was full of flying bullets
of snow. A large crowd gathered on
the adjoining street to witness the
contest.
Smarting from memories of defeat
on the diamond, the boys of No. 33
made a concerted rush on their OPP
and running, behind their fort of
snow
But Marchant called to them to raj
| ly and save their ammunition for a
they had received, they responded to
his appeal. Hands and pockets full
of snowballs, they rushed bravely on
the ramparts of No. SO, waiting until
they got within fifty feet before open
ing fire. When they did fire the effect
of their volleys was instantaneous
The battle line of No. 33 weakened
and Hansan. the leader, got back OF
the throng in the rush.
"At them, boys! At theml" cried
| Marchant, running toward his rival
general and firing at him with every
| step.
One of Marchant's shots struck
with telling effect, and Hanson went
tumbling over snowbank. A lusty
| cheer rose from the Latin school
chargers and they rushed up almost
| to the enemy's fort.
| Marchant 1unged forward, deter
| mined to hit his opponent again the
moment he staggered to his feet. He
| drew back his arm, and as Hanson
| scrambled out of the snow he let go
ball with all his strength. But the
| icy sphere slipped from his fingers on
a tangent and few straight into the
cheering crowd of spectators.
There was scream. A young wo-
| man fell to the sidewalk. Marchant
ran forward and instantaneously the
battle ended, for some of the boys
who had seen the accident knew that
| 1t might be serious.
| Everybody crowded around the
PROSTATE figure, and Marchant push
| ed his way through the throng to be-
hold the silent face of beautiful
young girl. His SNOWFALL, which must
have been as hard as a baseball, had
struck her. All at once Walter Beale
burst through the crowd.
She's my sister!" he cried, drop
ping on his knees over the PROSTATE
| figure Some of you boys run for a
| doctor"'
While his classmates started in sew
eral directions for physician, mo-
tor car came chugging up through the
| snow. Marcnanr acted at once.
| "Quick! Help me lift her I'M" he
| commanded to the several dozen
| frightened boys around him.
| Instantly strong young hands lifted
| the unconscious girl into the automo-
| bile before the owner knew what il
was all about. Walter Beale leaped
/ in. shouting the number of his home
to the man at the wheel Five min
utes later physician entered the
warm room where Ethel Bea1e lay,
a + n voVsIr c4
once, for he realized that the case
was serious. Slowly the girl regained
| her senses.
For night the doctor worked with
his patient, and Marchant was beside
him most of the time. assisting in every
way he could. BY the next day Ethe
Beale was resting more easily, but tbs
physician gave orders that there mus