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courage to do so。 It was also well known that the Widow Conway had not
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buried her heart with the late lamented。 As to her shyness； that was not so
clear。 Indeed； her attentions to Mr。 Meeks； whose mother she might have
been； were of a nature not to be misunderstood； and were not
misunderstood by anyone but Mr。 Meeks himself。
The widow carried on a dress…making establishment at her residence
on the comer opposite Meeks's drug…store； and kept a wary eye on all the
young ladies from Miss Dorothy Gibbs's Female Institute who patronized
the shop for soda…water； aciddrops； and slate…pencils。 In the afternoon the
widow was usually seen seated； smartly dressed； at her window upstairs；
casting destructive glances across the street…the artificial roses in her cap
and her whole languishing manner saying as plainly as a label on a
prescription； 〃To be Taken Immediately！〃 But Mr。 Meeks didn't take。
The lady's fondness； and the gentleman's blindness； were topics ably
handled at every sewing…circle in the town。 It was through these two
luckless individuals that we proposed to strike a blow at the common
enemy。 To kill less than three birds with one stone did not suit our
sanguinary purpose。 We disliked the widow not so much for her
sentimentality as for being the mother of Bill Conway； we disliked Mr。
Meeks； not because he was insipid； like his own syrups； but because the
widow loved him。 Bill Conway we hated for himself。
Late one dark Saturday night in September we carried our plan into
effect。 On the following morning； as the orderly citizens wended their way
to church past the widow's abode； their sober faces relaxed at beholding
over her front door the well known gilt Mortar and Pestle which usually
stood on the top of a pole on the opposite corner； while the passers on that
side of the street were equally amused and scandalized at seeing a placard
bearing the following announcement tacked to the druggist's window…
shutters：
Wanted； a Sempstress！
The naughty cleverness of the joke （which I should be sorry to defend）
was recognized at once。 It spread like wildfire over the town； and； though
the mortar and the placard were speedily removed； our triumph was
complete。 The whole community was on the broad grin； and our
participation in the affair seemingly unsuspected。
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The Story of a Bad Boy
It was those wicked soldiers at the fort！
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The Story of a Bad Boy
CHAPTER Ten
I Fight Conway
There was one person； however； who cherished a strong suspicion that
the Centipedes had had a hand in the business； and that person was
Conway。 His red hair seemed to change to a livelier red； and his sallow
cheeks to a deeper sallow； as we glanced at him stealthily over the tops of
our slates the next day in school。 He knew we were watching him； and
made sundry mouths and scowled in the most threatening way over his
sums。
Conway had an accomplishment peculiarly his own…that of throwing
his thumbs out of joint at will。 Sometimes while absorbed in study； or on
becoming nervous at recitation； he performed the feat unconsciously。
Throughout this entire morning his thumbs were observed to be in a
chronic state of dislocation； indicating great mental agitation on the part of
the owner。 We fully expected an outbreak from him at recess； but the
intermission passed off tranquilly； somewhat to our disappointment。
At the close of the afternoon session it happened that Binny Wallace
and myself； having got swamped in our Latin exercise； were detained in
school for the purpose of refreshing our memories with a page of Mr。
Andrews's perplexing irregular verbs。 Binny Wallace finishing his task
first； was dismissed。 I followed shortly after； and； on stepping into the
playground； saw my little friend plastered； as it were； up against the fence；
and Conway standing in front of him ready to deliver a blow on the
upturned； unprotected face； whose gentleness would have stayed any arm
but a coward's。
Seth Rodgers； with both hands in his pockets； was leaning against the
pump lazily enjoying the sport； but on seeing me sweep across the yard；
whirling my strap of books in the air like a sling； he called out lustily；
〃Lay low； Conwayl Here's young Baileyl〃
Conway turned just in time to catch on his shoulder the blow intended
for his head。 He reached forward one of his long arms…he had arms like a
windmill； that boy…and； grasping me by the hair； tore out quite a
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The Story of a Bad Boy
respectable handful。 The tears flew to my eyes； but they were not the tears
of defeat； they were merely the involuntary tribute which nature paid to
the departed tresses。
In a second my little jacket lay on the ground； and I stood on guard；
resting lightly on my right leg and keeping my eye fixed steadily on
Conway's…in all of which I was faithfully following the instructions of Phil
Adams； whose father subscribed to a sporting journal。
Conway also threw himself into a defensive attitude； and there we
were； glaring at each other motionless； neither of us disposed to risk an
attack； but both on the alert to resist one。 There is no telling how long we
might have remained in that absurd position； had we not been interrupted。
It was a custom with the larger pupils to return to the play…ground after
school； and play baseball until sundown。 The town authorities had
prohibited ball…playing on the Square； and； there being no other available
place； the boys fell back perforce on the school…yard。 just at this crisis a
dozen or so of the Templars entered the gate； and； seeing at a glance the
belligerent status of Conway and myself； dropped bat and ball； and rushed
t