Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-01-10
BY THOMAS r. HENRY.


BY THOMAS r. HENRY.
When Stephen was transferred to the
Gales Special School as a dangerous
child he proved a real problem-and
very nearly a costly problem-to the
principal.
Stephen had an obsession for guns.
The root of this obsession Fife doesn't
know. His ambition in life was Ito
shoot cop"
He was a thief. dullard, and I'M
He was sent to the Gales
School after drawing a gun on a
teacher. Fife was warned not to take
a chance with him.
His mother was good old soul, a
southern European peasant woman
without much understanding of the
ways of America. She was worrying
herself to death over Stephen. His
father is listed as a retired merchant"
He is bootlegger. Stephen had been
brought up in an atmosphere of dis
respect for law. Police picked the boy
up several times. The Juvenile Court
thought it might be best to remove
such an incipient menace to the COM
munity.
When anybody offended Stephen his
first thought was to shoot. If he took
a dislike to anybody he had an appar-
emily uncomfortable urge to remove
that person permanently. A gun was
his instrument for remaking the world
to his liking-inhabited only with folks
he liked.
Had Gun Hidden.
He didn't like H. D. Fife, the prin-
cipal He didn't hesitate to tell him so.
In fact, he made up his mind that the
teacher was the one person in the world
he hated most. Fife tried to appeal to
him through his love for his mother
but to the boy that was all "bla-bla."
He had heard the same sort Of stuff be-
fore.
One day during the noon recess boy
approached Fife.
Stephen" he said, "has got gun
hidden downstairs. He wants us kids
to stick around because he's going to
shoot you when you leave the building
tonight. He says he's stood all he's
going to stand from you"
Fife decided this was worth investi-
eating. He went to the spot where the
boy had told him the gun was hidden.
There it lay.
"Then," says Fife, IT made the mis-
take Of my life. I don't know why I
did it. But put the gun back where
Stephen had left it without even looking
to see if it was loaded.
81 returned to the schoolroom.
Stephen I said, go get that gun
you've hidden downstairs and bring it
to me-
HE told me he didn't have any gun.
I told him knew he had and insisted
that he get it.
Made Big Bluff.
FINALLY he left the room. I went to
the door and waited for him. Not until
to empty the chamber The boy hated
me. didn't know whether the gun
was loaded or not. I didn't know
whether the boy had the courage to
shoot or not-but there was every
likelihood that he wouldn't back down
with the eyes of the school on him. I
realized then that my life was hanging
by mighty narrow thread, but the
damage had been done and the only
thing left was to bluff it through.
"The boy came up the stairs. Where
is the gun, Stephen?' I asked.
'.He put his hand to his hip pocket.
I didn't have a chance in the world II
he decided to shoot. I think If hadn't
put on a bold front-and I certainly
didn't feel that wayne would have
fired.
IT pulled back my coat and said:
"'There's my heart Shoot straight
now I looked the boy in the eye.
HE drew the gun from his pocket.
Slowly he raised his hand. didn't
know what was coming.
Here's the gum he said.
"'You didn't think I'd shoot you, did
you
"I took the gun and threw 1t open.
It was loaded I took out the cartridges
and then replaced them. The danger, I
knew was over now.
"'Where did you get this gun?' I
asked.
"'Out of the old mans trunk
CAN right. Go home and put 1t
back there
II handed it back to the boy and he
left the room"
Burst Into Tears.
Stephen did not return during the
school session that afternoon. But he
had been waiting outside the building.
He came to Flies desk as soon as
school was dismissed and burst into
tears. All the false mask of bravado
was gone. ObCpIICll uldOC q SACoU UleaooNA
with guns to hide the fear in his heart.
Teacher and bad boy became good
friends after that, but Stephen continued
to get into trouble. He was again in
the hands of the Juvenile Court. Fife
went before the judge and pleaded for
him. He went on his bond. The court
was disinclined to take any further
chances.
Again the boy got into trouble. He
stole diamond ring.
st saw clearly them" Fife says, that
the boys only salvation was to be taken
out of his environment and I didn't
want him put in the worse environment
of a Jail. He was certainly going there
this time. If he did, I felt, he was lost
I had a long talk with him, and he
seemed to realize as clearly as did that
he would keep on going wrong so long
as he stayed with his present COM
panions.
"It seemed to be case that justified
contempt of court. I knew the boy
and the court didn't I advised him to
skip town, hang around the docks in
Baltimore, and try to get job on some
of the Greek tramp steamers that put
into that port. These boats have hard
reputation.
Arrested Again.
ct told him that here was a chance
to do some good in the world-that once
aboard this ship if he didn't make good
he would never finish the voyage. He
would be listed as died at sea- Then, I
told him Won will ar least have been