The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-08-01
THE EVENING STORY
A Little Mistake.
CBy Stacey E. Baker,

| ship school No. 8 had said in warn
| ing her against incorrigfble Tom
| Lacey.
Don't give him an inch" Tom
| Murdoch, spokesman for the trio.
| had further maintained. eff you do
| he'll take a mile" He. clenched. horny
| hands as he thought of the youth who
had already driven three teachers
| from the institution.
| And this blue eyed girl was such a
mere slip of a thing! 1t seemed a
shame that after this big, hulking
| teacher Hawkins had failed to win
| discipline that maid had to be sac
| rificed.
None of them will bother you,''
| squeaked Ezra Virmlock, the smallest
| of the directors, eff you can handle
| old's you, L take it, but you'll find
| you've got to treat him like a year
old that needs thrashing."
Don't worry, asserted Miss Mar,
the first day of school or I'll give him
a whipping that he will remember to
his grave. 1 am firm, gentlemen
The directors tactfully refused to
| debate the question.
Had Marjorie not known that her
school was considered the hardest to
handle in the country, she would not
have believed it on the day of the
opening following the enforced vaca-
ton caused by the abdicatiOn of Haw-.
kins. There was not a scholar who
did not absolutely fulfill the require
ments Of a model student. But Tom
Lacey was not present.
1t seemed strange to Marjorie, di
rect from a city school, that a youth
the size of Lacey would be allowed
to attend what was essentially a pri-
mary institution with but few adj
vanced classes.
She was puzzling over this same
subject ON the day of her installation,
when there came a smart tap at the
door.
A. sudden quiet fell like a pall
over the studying youngsters. Scarce
ly scholar seemed to breathe. In
stinctively the girl slipped something
taken from the drawer in her desk
beneath her neat apron as she ST.
F'lently tiptoed to the rear of the little
schoolhouSe.
A smiling youth stood on the
threshold as she opened the door.
With a quick, appraising glance, she
summed up broad shoulders. blue
shirt without suspicion of a tie,
her own eyes encountered quizzical
jet orbs, frank in their admiration of
this pretty new teacher. - S. ~ H.
Just thought I'd stop moment
and look in on you,' explained the
youth, smilingly.
A giggIe from behind caused her
to turn swiftly. Eager expectation
punctuated the faces Of her hitherto
InOQel ScnOlarS.
I'm pretty well known to the
school directors, especially Mr. Muir
dock. When they call tell them that
Tom"
You can tell them anything you
care to-" interrupted the girl sharply.
And you will be right here to do it
don't doubt that! L see you have
left fishing pole out at the gate. Did
you, by any chance. imagine that you
were going fishing?"
1t was now certain to Marjorie
Dawn that Tom Lacey was an actor.
The ludicrous look of amazement
spreading over his rather pleasing
face proved it.
ly answered. There seems to be no
good reason why I shouldn't"
Indeed? There is every reason in
the world why you shouldn't A ner-
vous little foot tapped the floor. "I
have a seat waiting for you, Thomas,
and I must request-nay, insist-that
you come in and occupy it,
Exercises? asked the youth,
staring in a peculiar manner.
There will be- confessed Marjorie
Dawn, unless you see fit to follow my
Instructions From beneath her
apron she drew sturdy. well seasoned
hickory switch. You come with a
bad reputation. my boy, but believe
The young man still continued to
stare. Now was the psychological
moment to break his wilI-or so
thought Marjorie. ....
Come in" she snapped, Cor"
She raised her formidable weapon
threateningly.
But"
Don't argue about it. You may go
fishing after school, if you wish, but
you have more important matters be-
fore you" |
.'It seems So" commented the youth |
dryly. THE board
will be here this afternoon, and |
you may explain them
Tom smiled. With a graceful ges--
ture he removed his old cap and |
stepped into the room.
"And where am / supposed to sit ?" |
he asked, quietly.
Inwardly the teacher thrilled. So |
she had broken the spirit of the local |
bugaboo! But perhaps this was only |
the lull that anticipated the storm. |
She must remain firm.
You will take your place on the |
front seat she decreed sternly. |
Your reputation isn't exactly what |
it ought to be, and you will bear
My reputation is all right indig- |
nantly denied the youth. Tt
With a side leap Tom avoided the de- |
scending whip.
You will speak when you are asked |
to-" assured the girl, brushing a wisp |
of yellow hair back into a glowing hair |
mass. IT am expected to do the talk |
ing here"
Without another word the disturber |
sank into his place.
Marjorie inventoried her flock. !
Amusement substituted the expecta- |
ton found there before. Evidently |
her scholars had not thought the |
school bully could be so easily worsted. |
Suddenly a dozen small hands /
arose. This indicated, according to |
school ethics. the wish of their |
owners to speak.
'We1l?" The dictator favored a |
small, tousled haired boy with an af- |
firmative nod.
''Oh, teacher piped a startled |