The Washington herald., 1911-06-25
copYRroHr BY JAMES ELVERsov

simultaneous gigge from the whole
school. This, taken with such an audacious
statement, convinced Mr.. More of the neces-
sity of making an example, right on the spot,
OF the boy who had ventured it.
Having decided that he must maintain con-
troll, and being of military turn Of mind, he
also decided to settle the question of disci-
pline by the quickest methods.
1t was very unfortunate decision for Mr..
More, and for mis- discipline as well. The
rod on his desk was a strong one, but he had
eounted upon encountering resistance only
from the boy who was older than Methuselah.
He had no idea that Methuselah himself would
Jake hand in it. He did, however, to the
utter astonishment and discontinue OF the
master and the unalloyed enjoyment of the
pupils
as he, but he was far more agile than either
20 or Mr.. More. Moreover, he had been on
The watch outside, and wanted nothing better
! than the open window near the desk as
, means of entrance and an opportunity for par
hcipation in the ARRAY at hand, for Methuse-
lah dearly loved anything that savored of the
nature of combat.
As the rod descended, Methuselah also de-
I scended; but while the former--veered from
its course by the descent of the latter-fell
harmlessly on the seat near by, the latter
pumped squarely upon Mr.. Mores shoulders
and buried two skinny hands in that astound-
ed individuals hair. ~.
OF course, that ended one sside Of the mat
.er. The rod dropped to the floor. Mr.. More,
terrified by the sudden assault shrieked out
. involuntarily, and the school, throwing aside
hll mere pretense Of a giggle, burst into an
uproarious shout, while Ed clutched Methuse
Iah, to bestow upon his doughty champion
such a cuff as caused him to drop his victim
and nimbly hop back to the window-sill, be-
fore Mr.. More could realize that the unex-
pected ally was but monkey.
1t was in vain that Eb protested that he
did not know that Methuselah was there.
strong enough to convince him, and, though
he wisely left further settlement of the matter
until more suitable season, he still held it
in remembrance.
who had gained his name from combination
Of circumstances, made up Of sheer chance and
pure intention.
When Eb Hall had rescued a poor, shiver-
ing little Simian from the hands of a cruel
organ grinder, he found that Jocko was a cog
nomen associated with nothing but terror.
A family conclave, after this discovery, re-
suited in vote for new one, when Eb's
brother Ernest deposited sky-blue ballot in
the hat used on the occasion.
II was Maggie, Eb's younger sister, who was
Welected to choose the determining slip, and,
with an unlimited confidence in her college
brothers wisdom and a surrepttiously-g gained
knowledge as to the particular tinge of his
ballot, she lost no time in selecting it. Her
disappointment was immediately evident
What did you name him that for?" she
demanded, SO directly Of Ernest as to raise
at once the question as to the strict fairness
7f the result
But Eb was too indifferent to push it to a
tronblesome settlement, and Ernest held that
xhe object Of il all was bald enough and skim
ny enough and wrinkled enough to deserve
'sYon can call him Thuse' for short" he
Bnt Maggie was shocked at the idea Of alb
breyiation, and Eb philosoDhically declared
that as Methuselah il was written, SO Methu-
aclnh il should be.
Thereafter new life was opened up to the
Iechristened animal, who so soon appreciated
the difference that the three-Eb, Maggie and
himself were inseparable
To supplement- the education Of their new
playmate Eb and Maggie proposed plan
for varied Instruction, which they proceeded
To carry out with much enthusiasm but il
soon became evident that the education was
to be In some senses reciprocal, for Methuse-
lah had special accomplishments as well
In one he excelled and that was in rope per-
formances. He had been trained on ship
board, SO Eb learned, and the exhibitions that
he gave SO fascinated his young owners that
ladder of his own designing and the three
Dracticed daily the ascent and descent between
the ground and big barn roof.
There was usually a fourth TO the party
Alice More did not share her fathers dislike
Tor Methuselah and his disapprova of Eb
But she was slower than Maggie in attempt.
ing 10 experiment with Eb's inventions, espe.
cially as disaster had befallen her in few
previous trials
'Tfhis ones perfectly safe, thought argued
Maggie, Loyalty, when Eb displayed il and
deseanfed on its merits
You can't tumble II you want to-" ft
asserted. See! With this strong piece oi
wood at the top and bottom and the wooden
rlngs, you'll have to stay ON IT,"
Indeed, IN its construction, Eb had showr
considerable genius. Strips of ronwood left
from his last invention--a homemade iointef
iishing-polc--he had arranged in succession
Of steps, which, with their firm attachment
70 the side ropes and accompanying ropes al
both ends, rendered il quite as stable as III
wooden rival, which stood by its side fol
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