The Bismarck tribune., 1921-11-25

mons and the Hardees slouch into the
school a full hour after the lessons
had begun. They did not even excuse
themselves and Mrs. Martin was
obliged to demand an explanation.
The culprit addressed dull, heavy
looking youth Of hesitated with an
air Of mingled doggedness and sheep.
ishness, and then, without replying
nudged his companion. 1t was evi.
IDENTIFY q precOncerted signal of re,
bellion, for the boy nudged stopped,
and began determinedly:-
""WOt's our excuse for coming all
hour late? Well, we amt got none
We don't call It an hour late-wu
cont. We call It the right time. We
call It the right, time for our lessons,
for we don't allow to come here to
sing hymns with sbabbies We don't
want any more Daniels ip the Lions
Den played OF on Us. We reckon to
do our sums and our fggerin,' and
our readin' and writin' and the Amer,
lean Constitution. That's our rights
and what our fathers pay school-taxes
for, and we want EN-"
Mrs. Martha Vat, squite white and
.self.containld, with her eyes fixed on
the frayed Him ofsthe febel's straw hat
which he sall kept on his head. 'Thea
she said OUT 9tlys:
''Eake OH 1olrs sir"
The boy did not move. ly
He can't said, = voice, cheerfully.
4 Itiwas the SnAM assistant. The whole
school. faced rapidly towards him. The
rebel leader.s2nd his. followers, swtlo
had not noticed him before, stared at.
the interruptut. who did. not, however
seem to exhibit any Of the authority
Of oface, but rather the comment and
criticism Of ,one OF themselves "Wot
You mean = asked the boy indignant
.ly.
Il mean yon can t. take off your hat
because you've got some things stow
ed away IN It you don't want seen,"
said Twing, with an timmovable face
''rWdt things?" exclaimed the hoy
angfily. Then suddenly >recollecting
himself, he added, go along! You
can't fool me! Think you'll make me
take of my hat dom, you?'
2 We'll, said Twing, advancing to the
side Of the rebel, '.loOk here them"
With q dexterous movement and a
slight struggle from the boy, he lift.
ed the hat. "A half-dozelr apples, a
birds nest, two birds eggs, and q
,flutteIiing half-fledged bird fell from
IL. y4h blank look of hopeless beWilder3
lnent settled upon the boys face. and
the gravity of the situation disap-
Ipeared forever, in the irrepressible
burst, Of laughter, in, which even his
brother rebels joined. The smallest
child who had been halt frightened,
half ffaacinated by the bold, bad he
roics attitude OF the mutineer, was
quick tossee the iridiculousness Of that
figure crowned with cheap scho0lboy,
plunder. Even Mrs. Martin felt that
nothing she could saysat that moment
could lift the rebellion ip'lo serious.
ness again. But living was evidently
not ssatisfi led. 4 d HI. q
BEG Mrs. Martina. pardon. and say
you were f0oli1 with the boys" he
said HI low! voice. .s::s 4: I, -
The discounted rebel hesitated I
Say IT, or I'lI show what you've got
Sin your pockets" said living in ter
riblys significant aside.
q. The boy mumbled an apology to
Mrs. Martin, scrambled in a blank,
hopeless way to his seat, and the brie,
rebellion ignoInini ended. But
two things struck Mrs. Martin as pc.
culjar. She overheard the culprit say,
with bated breath and evident sim
cerity, to his comrades, Hadn't Moth
ing in my hat, anyway" All this. how
ever. did not blind her to the serious
intent Of the rebellion, or Of living 5
unacfi Mntable assumption Of her pre-.
rOgative. While he was still romping
with; the children at recess she called
him in. 81
4 must remind YOU. she said, with