The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1913-04-17
NOT SOCIAL AMENITIES
By CARL JOHNSON

They giared at each other much as
though they had just emerged from
savage Businesses, which they had.
On some by-streets in big city there
is not much time or inclination to OBJ
serve the social amenities. Neither
Clara Nickel, aged twelve. nor Tom
Killer. fourteen. had ever heard OF
them.
Clara's faded calico dress was slit
on one shoulder and her hair, braided
in tight little pigtail. tied with
white Irvine, had not been combed
and brushed that day. Her pale blue
eyes flashed murderously at her op-
ponent, who was shock-headed, dirty.
faced and wide of mouth.
"Ysu just say that again" he
threatened.
Clara said It.
Thereupon the boy rushed at her.
grabbed one wrist and twisted 1t
ferociously, meanwhile yanking her
tow hair with the other hand. Clara
was no docile victim. She saved her
breath and kicked with all her might,
but pain at last conquered her. AS
Tom Killer gave one final, awful
wrench to her wrist and hurled her
from him against the fence she shut
her eyes tight to keep from shrek.
ing aloud.
In the distance she heard his re-
treating footsteps and yells OF deri.
sion. When he had turned the corner
she opened her eyes. moaned q trife
and blinked at her hand. Already the
wrist was swelling from the sprain
and her head throbbed from the yank.
ing her hair. had received. Clara's
brows grew dark and lowering as she
stared at the corner which had swal-
lowed up her assailant Her express
sion BODIED i'll for Tom Killer
Then she struggled on toward home.
holding her wrist and paying no at
tention to the tears which ran down
her cheeks and made little pathways
through the days dust.
Il bet" she said once with convic'
ton, Il bet he broke it! 1t feels like
tan 1t wabbles ss!"
Home was up some stairs In the
rear. Her mother did not look up as
Clara entered. being busy as usual
over her perpetual washtub.
You take up the baby" she or
dered mechanically As the crying
kept on she whirled about heavily.
Questioningly.
y can't" Clara told her, holding
out her swollen wrist. tom Killer.
he done it"
when you get licked I lick you
again." her mother promised.
Clara went out upon the stairs and
her face was ugly. This, too, had
Tom Killer done to her. Vengeance
was growing in a food Besides the
present pain there was the whipping
promised her and her mother never
failed in her promise. Clara slowly
descended the stairs shivering.
She edged along out Of the blast
and looked at her wrist obviously. In
the distance she heard yells betoken.
ing warfare. and among them she
voice.
She began looking for a weapon
and bounced on a small but jagged
stone. which she clutched with .
taste of her coming triumph. She and
Tom had had frequent quarreis that
interrupted their comradeship. but
this Of today was the worst and she
felt nothing but hatred. 1t had been
only a sort Of community friendship
anyhow-everybody who lived on
their street hated the gang that lives
on the next street as duty and she
and Tom were close neighbors. He
always grabbed the lions share OF
everything. and never by any chance
was kind. But he was the leader OF
their gang and she had given him
loyalty.
But she hated him. She fingered
the stone lovingly in her red. rough
fingers and her lips narrowed in an
unchildlike way.
She edged around the corner of the
building again out of sight and
gripped the stone hard. Luckily IL
had been the left wrist he had in
jured. There was the sound Of many
feet and. peering around the corner,
Clara beheld the redoubtable Tom
Killer in full fight.
Pursuing him were six Of the gang
from the next street. Toms face was
red and he was painting: there was
mud on his torn clothes and he bore
evidence Of rough usage.
The gang had caught him off his
own territory and started to punish
him, and now 1t was intent on catch
ing him to finish the job. II caught
he would get all that was coming to
him and pay up Claras score as well
as their own.
Clara Nickel raised her arm and
the light of battle flashed in her eyes.
drying the tears. She leaned forward
like a small fury and hurled the
Jagged stone full at the leader of the
pursuing crowd instead of at Tom
Killer. The leader went down in q
heap and his cohorts stumbled over
him and fell in confusion. Tom few
around the corner and joined Clara
in sprint to safety.
Gee, that was a bully throw" he