The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1920-02-06
CHAPTER VII.
A Little Scotch.

DLACK RIM country was at best
ID but scantily supplied with
schools. and on the Devils Tooth
range seven young Americana
three OF them adopted from Sweden
were in danger Of growing up In
deplorabie ignorance OF what learn
Ing lies hidden in books.
Wherefore Mary Hope Douglas
home from two winters in Pocatello
where she had gone to school and
had learned much. was one day In
vited to teach a school in the Devils
Tooth neighborhood.
True. there was no schoolhouse
but there was a deserted old shack
on the road TO Jumpoff. a few
benches and n stove and table would
transform IL into seat OF learning
and there were an old shed and
corral where the pupils might keer
their saddle horses during schoo
hours.
Tom Lorrigan, riding home from
Jumpoff after two days spent ir
Lava. pulled his horse down TO q
walk while he stared hard at tn,
Whipple shack. From the bent
stovepipe a wisp OF smoke was
banded above the pole-and-dlrt roof
IL seemed incredible TO Tom that
squatters Guild have come in and
taken possession OF the place In his
short absence. but no other explana
tlon seemed reasonable.
Squatters were not welcome on tn,
Devils Tooth range. Tom rode vi
to the shack and disnounted- His
knuckles struck the loose pane
twice, and he heard the sound o.
footsteps.
when Mary Hope Douglas pulled
open the door, establishment helt
them both dumb. He had not seer
the girl for more than a year. Al
she backed from the doorway he en-
tered the shack without quite know
| ing why he should do So Cornpre
hensively he surveyed the mean littl
room. The three Swedes, their rust,
ovcrcoats buttoned to their necks
goggled at him round-eyed over tn
I tops Of their new spelling books
The four Boyle children. also bundle,
in wraps. exchanged sidelong glances
! school eh2" Tom observed, turn
ing as Mary Hope pushed the doc
shut against the wind that rattlot
the small shack. when did Thu
happen?"
when I started teaching here
Mr. Lorrigan." Then. mindful o
her manners. she tempered the pert
ness with a smile. And that wa
yesterday. VIII you sit DOWN."
mo, thanks-I just stopped TO SCI
who was Twin here, and" III
broke off to look up at tho dirt roof
A clod tho size of his fist had beer
/ loosened by the shaking OF the wind
and pumped down in the middle o
( the teachers desk.
you better haze 'em all home n
recess. and get where it's warm be
fore you catch your death OF cold.
Tom advised. This amt tit for cat
tie, such n day as this"
She dismissed the children primly
with a sclf.consclous dignity ant
some chagrin at their boorish clat
! ter, their absolute ignorance OF dis
clpline. 81 shall ring the bell I'm ter
minutes" she told them while they
scuffled to the door.
"Ay skoll go home now" the old
est of the Swedes stopped Ions
enough TO below at her from thu
doorway. "Ole og Hedge skoll -
med We got long way from school
og We don't be by dark ven We CONF
by homer
The wind carried them at rur
to the corral. Looking after then
from the window that faced the cor
raj, Tom could not wonder that the,
were anxious to start early.
you better let the rest go, too.
he advised the perturbed teacher
looking out at tho four Boyle chill
dren huddled in the shelter of Thu
shack Them kids have got all q