Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-06-10

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his tormentors. One-a big fellow,
to hurl ugly epithets at Peter on his
arrival in town. The others had
quickly joined him.
The three boys saw Pete at about
the same time that he saw them.
They began by calling out: Hello,
Pigeon-toed Peter the Great!!" And
"How's your starch and leather today,
Mister Hayseed?"
I'm pretty fair, thank you," replied
Pete, holding his teeth together In q
determined manner, as he kept on d.
vesting himself of his clothes. And
I'll show you how can duck three
smarties in a minute" he went on.
"Now If you're not towards, stand
your ground. II you are towards, get
out Of this river as fast as you can.
And you'll be wise to choose the other
bank for landing"
"Ah, ha, ha. hal" roared the three
boys. Come in, pail" called the cid.
est OF tho three, the leader. Well
duck you till you'll beg for mercy"
"All right, prove It," And Peter
went, head-frst, into the water. He
arose within few feet of the group OF
three boys. His strokes were so firm
and strong, and he displayed such
bravery, that the youngest of the
three, an arrant coward, started to
| swim up stream, going rather slowly.
He did not quite like the CLEAN Of de-
termination in the deep gray-blue eyes
of the freckle-faced Pete. SO he de-
cided to make of before getting into
danger.
Now, I'll take you first" cried Pete,
lunging Unexpectedly at the leader OF
the three. And before the fellow
could whirl about and get in position
to defend himself, Pete had him by
the neck and was ducking him in good
old sctyle. The second boy pretended
to be standing by his leader by
loud cries of, stop, you coward. or
I'll duck you within an inch Of your
life"
"Then do It," cried Peter, letting
go Of the largest boy and making on
after the second one. But there he
had tussle, the second boy gripping
him with one hand while he kept him.
self aloat with the other. But Pete
was the stronger and more expert
swimmer of the two, and soon was
ducking number two az he had done
number one And all the time num-
Der one was getting ashore as fast as
he could. not daring to yell out. Just
as he reached the bank, weak and
trembling, and Pete had decided that
he had given the second boy quite
enough, wild cry of distress came
from the third boy, who had gone up
stream. Looking in his direction, Pete
was shocked to see the boy founder
ing about, throwing his hands wildly.
Then he went under.
Pete dashed out towards the spot
where the foundering boy had gone
down a second time. He reached him
after a few strong strokes, and had
the wriggling frantic form In his
steady arms Something held 1t. Feel
ing about, Pete found the boy had one
foot entangled in strong grape vine
that was held in tangled mass In
some partly.buried driftwood. He
had the boy extricated in second and
swan ashore with him. The boy sat
up, weak and white, his eyes, ears
and mouth dripping water. After a
minute or two he asked feebly:
where are Tom and Dick? Did you
get through ducking 'em?"
"Yep, just in time to save you from
drowning" replied Pete.
The boy began to sniffle. ITS not
my fault" he whined. II didn't want
to taunt you. It was Tom as said
you'd want to be the leader OF the
boys-if they'd give you half chance,
for Tom said you was so big and
strong. And Toms been the leader
SO long-he'd hate to see some one
else GUST him. That's the way Of 1t,
honest Injun!" And the dripping boy
looked up into Pete's kindly face
with tears trembling on his lashes.
"But you saved my life"
It did not take Harry long to spread
the story of the ducking of Tom and
Dick, and Of his having been saved
from drowning by the same hero who
had ducked the other. And the par
ents began to ask questions and to
receive replies which brought about
ian investigation. And-well, to short
en- long story, "pigeon-toed" Pete
was no longer heard of in the town,
and a new boy, Brave Peter Tate, be.
came the leader-not of his own &C.
cord, but through the vote OF the
town boys-of the very fellows who
had reviled and ridiculed him so many
times before.
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