Year: 1878




FOUND AT LAST.
How Harry FlOtee Got the School at


Cranberry Gulch.


From San Francisco Chronicle.l


Mister, no doubt you have all the
learnin' that's required in a school
teacher, but it wants more than
learnin' to make a man able to teach
school in Cranberry Gulch. You'll
soon find that out if you try. We've
had three who tried it on. One lays
there in the graveyard, another lost
his eye and left, the last one opened
school and left before noon time for
the benefit of his health. He hasn't
been back since. Now you're slen-
der build, and all your learnin' will
only make it worse, for all our young
folks are roughs and don't stand no
nonsense"


This was what one of the Trustees
OF the district said to my friend Har-
ry Flotee, when he made application
for the vacant position of teacher.


LET me try. know I am slender,
but am tough and / have a strong
will" said Harry.


"Jest as you like. There's the
school house, and I'll have notice
given il you want it done," said the
Trustees.


II do." said Harry, "and I'll open
next Monday at 9 a. M


The notice was given and there was
a good deal of excitement in the
gulch and along the Yuba flats. More
than fifty young people Of both sexes
made an excuse to drop into the tav-
ern to get sight at the fellow who
thought he could keep school in that
district, and many contemptuous
glance fell on the slender form and
youthful face of the would-be teacher.
Eight o'clock on Monday morning
came, and Harry Flotee went down to
the school house with a. key in one
hand and valise in the other.


Ready to slope il he finds we're
too much for him." said cross-eyed,
broad-shouldered fellow OF eighteen.
The school house was unlocked and
the new teacher went to the desk.
Some OF the young folks went in to
see What he was going to do, though
school was not called.


Harry opened his valise and took
out a large belt. Then, after buck
ling it around his waist, he put three
Colts navy -revolvers there. each OF
six barrels, and a bowie knife eigh-
teen inches In the blade.


Thunderl- He means businessl"
muttered the cross-eyed chap.


The new teacher now took out a
square card about four inches each
way, walked to the other end Of the
school house and tackled it up against
the wall. Returning to his desk, he
drew revolver from his belt, and
quick as thought sent bail after ball
into the card, till there were six balls
in spot not much larger than a sill
yer dollar.


By this time the school house was
half full of large boys and girls. The
little ones were afraid to come in.


Then the teacher walked halt way
down the room with the bowie
knife in his hand, and threw it
with so true hand that it stuck
quivering in the very center of the
card.


He left it there and put two more
knives OF the same kind in his belt
and quietly reloaded his yet smoking
pistol.


"Ring the bell; am about to open
school,"


He spoke to the cross-eyed boy, the
bully of the crowd. and the boy rang
the bell without word.


"The scholars will take their seats.
1 open schoul with prayer" he said
sternly, five minutes later.


The scholars sat down silent, al
most breathless.


After the prayer the teacher cooked
revolver and walked down on the
floor.


"We will arrange the classes" he
said. "all who can read, write and
spell will rise. OF them we will form
the first class"


! Only six got up. He escorted them
to upper seats, and then began to ex-
anime the rest. A whisper was heard
behind him. In a second he wheeled
revolver in hand.


mo whispering allowed herew he
Numbered, and for an instant his re-
volver lay on level with the cross
eyed boys head.


"Tll not do so any more," gasped
the bully.


"See you do not. I never give g
second warning" said the teacher, and
the revolver fell.


1t took two hours to organize the
classes, but when done they were vel
| organized. Then came recess. The
. teacher went out, too, for the room
was crowded and hot. A hawk was
circling overhead high in the air
The teacher drew a revolver, and the
next second the hawk came tumbline