The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1919-05-15
THE SCHO0LMA'AM
BY ETHEL M. FARMER.

ma ans had stood on that same thresh-
old ringing that same rusty bell but
somehow this one seemed different
from the rest. And somehow the clang-
ing of the bell seemed clearer than
ever.
The ringing Of the bell ceased, the
long line of children passed into the
building and the schoohouse door was
closed. 1t was very evident that the
long days In the little school were not
ones of drudgery. The teacher, who
was little more than a girl herself, was
dearly loved by all the children.
AS she began the days work no one
would have surmised that in her heart
there was trouble.
1T really did seem strange about
Ed. 1t could not be true. Dick was
mistaken. He"
A suppressed gisgle interrupted her
wandering thoughts.
With great dignity she asked very
modest little girl, who proudly wore
two tight braids down her back, the
excuse me, please" the girl spoke
timidly, "but we had this lesson two
days ago"
Excuse me, too" was all she said,
as she reassigned the lesson.
The clock carefully licked away the
minutes and the hands gradually crept
along their daily journey. Then
ruler fell on the floor with d sounding
thud
A little red-headed fellow In the
ously, with his desk covered with pa
pers and opened books, but the tell
tale ruler lay in the aisle beside him.
Jimmy !"
"Er, yes'm, Miss Brooks; did you
mean me?' And he struggled desper-
ately to return her look with limo
cency.
"Pick 1t up" she said slowly, fore
ing back smile.
With great surprise he leaned over
and picked up the offending article and
placed it thoughtfully in his desk.
All went well for while after the
ruler was safely deposited out of sight
until Jimmy suddenly thought of the
lovely, big cud of gum he had stuck
under his desk.
"How good 1t would taste!" he
thought, but he knew how stern "she"
was on chewing in school-he had
tried it before.
He studied the clock with a sigh, for
there were 10 minutes more At last he
could stand it no longer, and the gum
was suddenly and slyly transferred
from the desk to his mouth.
How good it was!" And he gave 1t
few good chews.
jimmy came in low tones from the
other side of the room.
Ger, yes'm," he replied, jumping to
his feet, 'I'll take"
Put 1t in the basket and crawl In
under my desk. Stay there until the
bell rings"
At last the closing bell rang and the
children filed out of the building, but
Miss Brooks did not notice that Jimmy
did not appear.
With a sigh she sat down at her desk
and drew out part of a newspaper clip
ping which told Of the engagement of
Lieut.. Edward Smith to beautiful
society belle" All of the article was
not there but Dick had assured her
that it was true and that Ed had not
treated her fair.
Just then Dick himself entered the
room.
where shall we go this EVENING"
he asked cheerfully.
"Are you sure this is true about
Ed?' she asked him again.
How can you doubt 1t? Forget
about him and we will have q good
time together"
She shook her head
81 guess l will not go tonight. Some
how do not believe that is true about
him."
Suddenly Jimmy opened his eyes.
Who said Ed? Why, Ed was his spe-
cla friend and was coming home from
the army tIllS very udy
He scrambled out from under the
desk rubbing his eyes.
"Why, I've been asleep and prom
Used to meet Ed right after school,"
"Ed?" she asked in surprise, after
overcoming the shock of the unex-
pected third party.
The boys face fell.
st was to be surprise to you" he
stammered.
Just then Dick picked up his whip,
which he had laid on chair, and dis
appeared through the door, for he had
suddenly spied a tall soldier Fastening
up the road with one arm carried stiff
ly in n sling.
He had just barely left when the
soldier entered.
Ruth !"
she looked with surprise and joy at
the newcomer.
A few minutes later she passed her
worn clipping to Ed slowly.
His face clouded as he read, but IT
Immediately cleared when he realized
its significance, and the cause of the
strange disappearance of his old rival
whom he had just caught a glimpse of
down the road.
"This is another Ed Smith, who lives
In town." he assured her. II know him.
Don't worry about me-"
No more explanations were neces-
sary and Miss Brooks problem" was
settled very satisfactorily