The Washington herald., 1915-08-29
Cuff, of Clifford
School
By HERBERT j. GRAFTON.


CUT came to Clifford some years be.
fore ! gave up my work as teacher
at Clifford School and was the worst
behaved boy that ever attended Cliff
ford. He was the organizer and lead
.ng spirit in all forms Of mischief that
came to the notice of the school.
A few weeks before the beginning
Of the summer holidays. when Cuff,
who had been warned that another Of
Tense on his part would surely mean
expulsion. was serving as best he
could. perhaps the twentieth sentence
Of loss of liberty. He grumbled and
complained in true schoolboy fashion.
It's a shame, that's what 1t is,"
heard him say to a chum. for me to
De sweating here while the rest of
you fellows are down at the river
swimming and fishing"
heard no more Of the converse
tion. and the next Wednesday after
noon set him his unwelcome extra
task, as usual. Locking him up in the
study room. proceeded to my own
study to remove my cap and gown be-
fore going for a quiet stroll. While
from the window, and saw Cuff in the
act Of climbing from the window Of
the room where I had left him not
two minutes previously.
Flinging up the sash of my window.
I called out to him. but he either did
not or would not hear. Without turn
ing his head in my direction. he drop
ped from the window and cut of to-
ward the stream. where the boys were
allowed to bathe. Running out, I fol-
lowed in pursuit.
Presently, as we approached the
stream. l gradually became aware that
something unusual was taking place,
for quite a crowd Of little naked fig
ures was clustering round a tall will
low, which marked the farthest boun-
dary of the bathing place. and shout
ing wildly. When within a hundred
yards or so of the bank l suddenly
made out the import of the shouts. At
the same instant several Of the boys
saw me. and came rushing in my di-
rection.
Stokes is going over the weir" they
shouted. 1 was almost winded with
my long run. for l had followed Gun
At no mean pace. but the awful In
telligence which the boys conveyed
caused me to redouble my efforts
The river where the schoolboys
hathed was a safe enough place with
in certain defined limits. There was
little or no current on the school side
of the stream, and the depth was not
more than six feet in the middle. Just
below the willow already mentioned
the stream divided-one channel. a
shallow weedy one. going toward Hill
mans Mill: the other toward a weir
This second channel was the farther
of the two from the school bathing
place. and all the boys. swimmers in
cluded. had strict orders that they
side of the river below a certain point.
for the current, at first scarcely no
ticeable. was very treacherous, and
greatly increased in strength as the
weir was approached.
The look of terror on the faces of
the boys crowding the bank was suf-
fcient to convince me that the pres-
ent danger was very great. 1 came
upon the bank painting with my exer-
tions. and tearing off my clothes for
the plunge. But Cuff was before me.
By the time l was we'll up the bank
he had flung aside his jacket. kicked
of his shoes. and. without needing my
cry to him to stop. plunged in. He
was already halfway across the
stream. swimming with strong strokes
toward the boy who was being car
ried by the current toward the weir.
Seeing that Cuff would reach his
struggling schoolmate before could
bank and unfsstened the boat. and
before many seconds had passed was
more than half way across the river.
Only then did realize how near to
was the tragedy. and that
my assistance was likely to arrive too
late
Cuff had reached his schoolfellow.
and had succeeded in getting a good
hold. but the current was now too
strong for him, and was sucking them
both. with irresistible force and in
creasing speed. toward the edge Of the
wildly rushing weir. Gun was still
striving his utmost to make headway
against 1t. but his strength was al
ready exhausted.
Another moment and the two lads
had reached the brink. With a last
supreme effort. Cuff succeeded in get
ting an arm round one of the piles
which were driven along its edge. But
the cruel water dragged with q
strength which outmatched his now
feeble efforts. Twice-thrice. he and
his senseless burden were almost
swirled from their hold. and each time
he managed to regain his grip.
All this took place in less than half
a minute. and the boat was now with
in measurable, nay. dangerous dis
tance Of the edge Of the weir. Then,
like a flash. realized a possible meth
cd Of rescue. Lying in the boat was a
long coil Of rope. Seizing II. swiftly
made a running moose at one end. and.
retaining the other In my hand. flung
IL with all my strength in CUFFS d.
rection. Uncoiling as II went. II fell
with a splash. just within his reach.
Quick as thought Cuff seized it. and
slipped the loop under Stokes arms
Instantly frightened the line. and. in
the same instant, the treacherous