The herald. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1905-1953, 1911-07-13
THE
'SCHOOLMA'AM
By WILLARD BRAKEMAN
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation, 1911.

Aoi what SCHOOL Out teacher, any
way? AT last, when we'd just fire,
one OF 'em, a good lookin' gal applied
for the position and got it just be
cause she wasn't like any of the res
OF 'em. She was soft spoken and sal,
she preferred managin' the children
by kindness rather than any other way
Some of the teachers we'd had wer,
great trouncers, and the boys didn'
like 'em.
Miss Hathaway-that was her nam,
was engaged, and | must say tn,
school settled right down to business
i don't know how much larnin' tn,
children got, but they was quiet a.
lambs. Some of us tried to find on,
how she done 1t by questionin' the
scholars, but they didn't know. Some
OF 'em said that when she told 'em tc
keep quiet she looked at 'em in a way
that convinced 'em they better had.
The cashier Of Boobies bank fell in
love with Miss Hathaway and wanted
to marry her. She KEEP him on the
rack, not givin' him any decided IN.
swer. We who had children to eddi.
cate hoped she wouldn't have him,
Tor the school was doin' mighty well
and had never succeeded before. The
mothers were especially anxious, not
that they was particular about their
children gittin' larnin', but because II
the school wasn't runnin' and they had
to take care of their young uns they
hadn't no time to gossip over the fences
that divided the back yards.
But somehow if Miss Hathaway
brought us good luck with the school
a heap of trouble came with her. There
was raids made on the town by boss
thieves one after tother till nearly
every boss in town was stole. 1t look
ed as though some I'm who had lived
In the town was leadin' 'em, for they
seemed to know just where every boss
was located. When there wasn't but
a few bosses left their owners tried
to hide 'em. But it didn't do no good
the thieves seemed to smell 'em and
went right TO where they was hid.
All this time Shinkley, the cashier of
Boobies bank that l tole you about,
was a-settin' up to Miss Hathaway.
He had a fine iron gray boss he paid
5000 for that he used to drive her out
with. He was awful afraid he'd lose
the animal. and Miss Hathaway sug-
gested that he keep him nights in the
schoolhouse. Nobody wouldn't think
Of lookin' there for a boss. He done
II, and, sure enough. in the mornin'
there was the boss. safe and sound.
But he only KEEP the critter there a few
nights when somepin happened that he
didn't need to keep him there any
longer.
One night Shinkley visited the teach
er, and when he went away they both
went to the schoolhouse. which was
close by, and put in the boss. Then
Shinkley kissed her good night, for
she'd promised to marry him. He went
home and to bed. He couldn't git no
sleep because he was so happy at git
tin the only gal he'd ever seed that he
to marry.
That was in June, when the day
breaks early. Between and 4 o'clock |
N the mornin' Shinkley was awoke by !
clatter Of hoofs comm down the
street. Thinkin' it was the boss
thieves and wishin' to git a sight Of
EN-, he jumps out OF bed and runs to
he winder. He was in plenty of time
% see all he wanted to. Five men was
1din' down the street. headed by a wo- (
nan ridin' straddle, Just as they was.
When they got opposite the winder
where Shinkley was looking out he see
hat the woman was the schoolteacher,
Ind she was riding his iron gray boss.
She looked up at him and larfed.
Much obleeged," she said. "for Civ
n me the combination of the safe. My
friends have been after somepin better
han bosses this time. We got all the
in the bank"
Then the Teller ridin' next to the
choolmarm he sung out. Take that
or kissin' my wife, And he fired a
hot that went through a panel of
lass jist above the cashiers head.
Well. now. / reckon that cashier
vas mad. Nothin' makes anybody SO
nad as to git fooled. Shinkley had
cen fooled as to his affections, had
ost his fine boss and given away an
ntrance into the banks safe.
Mebbe he didn't git a move on him!
Without stoppin' to git into his clothes
e run down and out, and. SEEM a
riend Of his'n that had a bicycle, he
OF him to follow the robbers while he
OF up posse. Inside Of ten minutes
len was leavin' the town on wheels
hey wasn't no bosses to ride-all arm
with rifles. They didn't wait for
ne another, but as fast as Shinkley
OF a man out he sent him on. When
hinkley had started a dozen men he
t out himself. II
The robbers, KNOWN there was no
osses In the town. forgot about BIZ
vcles, and they didn't expect such a
uick chase. They didn't hurry much.
he bicycles closed up and made {
base together. A boss gifts tired, and &
bicycle doesn't. so every one of the {