Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-06-26
CHAPTER TX.
(Continued.J

We went to the school at haif
past eight. What 4 thrilling place
If was with it's IS children and its
three rooms. How noisy they were
as they waited in the school YARD
for the bell to ring! l stood by the
door-side looking very FOOLISH }
dare say, for l knew not what to DC
with myself. My legs encased ID
the tow breeches felt as ii they
were on fire. My timidity was IN
creased by the fact that many were
observing me and that my appear
ancc seemed to inspire sundry. sly
remarks. l saw that most OF the
village boys wore boughten clothes
and fine boots. / looked down at
my own leather and was a tower OF
shame on a foundation Of CREASED
COW hide. Sally Dunkelberg came
in with some other girls and pre-
tended not to see me. That was
the hardest blow l suffered.
among the handsome, well-dress-
ed bows of the village was Henry
WILTSHIRE boy who had stolen my
Watermelon. | had never forgiven
him for that nor for the killing or
nv little hen. The bell rang and we
marched into the big room, while
fat girl with crinkly hair played on
a meIodeon. Henry and another
boy tried to shove me out OF line
and a big paper wad struck the side
of my head as we were marching
in and after we were seated
cross-eyed, freckled girl in a red
dress made a face at me.
1t was, on the whole, the unhap-
piest day of my life. 1t reminded
me of Captain Cooks account Of his
first day with a barbaric tribe on
one of the South Sea islands. Dur
ing recess I slapped a boys face
for calling me a rabbit and the two
others who came to help him went
away full of fear and adjustment,
for I had the strength of a young
moose in me those days. After thai
they began to make friends with
me.
In the noon hour man came TO
me in the school yard with a sub
pOena for the examination Of AmoA
Grimshaw and explained its mean
ing. He also said that Bishop Per-
kins, the district attorney, would
call to see me that evening.
While l was talking with this man
Sally passed me walking with an
other girl and said:
Hello, Bart!"
I observed that Henry Wills
Joined them and walked down the
street at the side of Sally. I got
my first pang of jealousy then.
When school was out that after
noon Mr.. Hacket said l could have
an hour to see the sights of the
depressed. My self-confidence bad
vanished. l was homesick and felt
terribly alone. l passed the jail
ana stopped and looked at its graf
ed windows and thought OF Amos
and wondered if he were really n
murderer
l walked toward the house Of Mr.
Wright and saw him digging pota-
toes in the garden and went in.
knew that he was my friend.
We'll, Bart. how do you like
SCHOOL," he asked
mot very we'll" I answered.
"Of course not! It's new to you
now, and you miss your aunt and
uncle. Stick to il. You'll make
and get interested before
long"
II want to go home" I declared
Now, let's look at the compass"
he suggested You're lost for a
and, like all lost people,
you're heading the wrong way.
Don't be mislead by selfshness.
Forget what you want to do and
think of what we want you to do.
We want you to make a man of
yourself. You must do it for the
sake of those dear people who have
done so much for you The needle |
points toward the schoolhouse yon-
der"
He went on with his work. and |
as l walked away, l understood that |
The needle he referred to was my |
conscience.
AS l neared the schoolmaster's |
The same drunken man that ! had |
seen before went zigzagging up the |
road.
MIR. Hacket stood in his dooryard. |