had come to regard the whole world as divided into two classes, the
teacher on the one side representing lawful authority, and the pupils on
the other in a state of chronic rebellion. To play a trick on the master
was an evidence of spirit; to "lick" the master was to be the crowned
hero of Flat Creek district. Such a hero was Bud Means; and Bill, who
had less muscle, saw a chance to distinguish himself on a teacher of
slender frame. Hence the puppy in the desk.

Ralph Hartsook grew red in the face when he saw the puppy. But the cool,
repressed, bulldog mood in which he had kept himself saved him. He
lifted the dog into his arms and stroked him until the laughter
subsided. Then, in a solemn and set way, he began:

"I am sorry," and he looked round the room with a steady, hard
eye--everybody felt that there was a conflict coming--"I am sorry that
any scholar in this school could be so mean"--the word was uttered with
a sharp emphasis, and all the big boys felt sure that there would be a
fight with Bill Means, and perhaps with Bud--"could be so _mean_--as
to--shut up his _brother_ in such a place as that!"

There was a long, derisive laugh. The wit was indifferent, but by one
stroke Ralph had carried the whole school to his side. By the
significant glances of the boys, Hartsook detected the perpetrator of
the joke, and with the hard and dogged look in his eyes, with just such
a look as Bull would give a puppy, but with the utmost suavity in his
voice, he said:

"William Means, will you be so good as to put this dog out of doors?"

FOOTNOTES: