The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-10-30


 closed behind him than book came fly ing overtthe benches straight at the head of K. He turned to see who had thrown it when another book hit him, and then, amid cries of ssDown with him. Give 1t to himr the whole class sprang for him. Such a beating as he got-and 1t was a thorough one-he richly deserved. It was only Ks fear of the consequences that prevented him from going straight to the proper authorities and telling the whole story. He knew if he did he would get another drubbing and would be marked man for the rest of his life. In creatures such as K there is always a vengeful | and malignant nature as well as treach- erous one-they are dangerous to all good men, He never forgot the treatment he had received at the hands of his fellow students, or that it was because of Little l L that he got it.
 l One afternoon as the cadets were walk ing about in the court, Little and Big L5 arm in arm and K with couple of his- cronies, he had opportunity to show the evil nature that was in him. To go from the inner to the outer court it was necessary to pass through sally port cut through the main building, and there was a rule that because of the narrow ness of the passage cadets should not walk through arm in arm. But the two brothers lost in thought. happened to stroll into the sally port without un- 1 locking arms-a mere piece of inadver- tence. In the middle of the passage they met K. What do you mean?" he cried You two going through here arm in 1 arm? Do you mean to interfere with decent people, you two thieving beg gars?" Little L gave scream-a scream | of blood-curdling character-it was as if a tiger some other wild beast had broken loose from his cage and sprung upon human being. It was so horrible that for an instant there- was a deep silence in the court and then all the cadets rushed pell-mell to see what was the matter. Little l. had sprung at the throat of K like wildcat, and, with one hand clinging to his collar, was send l ing blow after blow, smash, smash, into the big fellows face. so that the blood was streaming down. l tie l. to let go, but he apparently did not hear, for he still continued to pound away at his enemys face. The officer grabbed Little l. and with all his strength. pulled him away from his vic time, who stood like whipped cur. wiping the blood from his face Little i L stood for a moment on his feet and 1 then fell to the ground in convusions They carried him to the hospital, and it was reported that he was very ilI- | he had had a series of terrible fits; his nervous system. overstrung, had given way beneath the load he had had to car ry. The next morning he was worse a fever had set in-and that evening at mess a rumor, like large, black bird | foated through the mess hall-Little l., was deadi As they came out from sup per the captain stood at the door of the mess hall and ordered them into the company room. The captain formally announced the death of Little L.. Then he told them all to fold their hands,. and together they repeated the Lords Prayer aat
 The next afternoon the little door spoken of, that cruel, fatal door which, led from the hospital to the gymnasiums yard was opened and the corps filed past to take last look at Little L. He lay there all in pure white. his hands fold ed on his breast and his hair curling | about his waxike forehead. "I am an old man now" said the colonel, land in my time l have seen the dead and dying | thick upon the battlefield. I have seen men whose faces expressed the deepest pain and despair. But never have I, seen such bitter sorrow, such anguish of heart, as was written on the face of that dead boy
 I There was silence in the room of the old inn as the old colonels voice died away softly like the moaning of a pass ing wind. Then the waiter arose and lighted the gas--it had grown dark while the story had been told The lawyer took up the bottle of rare wine, but it was almost empty. Only one drop, one tear, flowed softly out, one last drop of Noble Blood. Au
 Next weeks One-Page Classic will bs ''The Mort dArthur." by Sir Thomas 1 Mallory,