Show II m mill t Ml i I iI I BROWN m. m e I II I I MOUSE i I f I E By HERBERT HERBER QUICK Cop Copyright ht by Th Th Merrill BobU-Merrill Company Compa CHAPTER X X Continued 9 9 Incompetency 1 The The ThaI disgraceful word representing every everything he had always despised rang through Jims Jim's mind as he walked home He could think of ot nothing else as he he sat at at at the simple supper which he c could d' d scarce scarce- scarce 1 ly 17 taste Incompetent 1 l' l V He lie He was was Lis In In- competent He picked up a pen n and began writing He wrote To the 1 H Honorable the Board Board- of t f Education ot of of the Independent District of ot It And he he- heard a n tap at the the door Hl His moti a admitted I 11 Colonel Woodruff V i Good God Oo Colonel d evening ening Colonel said Jim rim Take Take a a 1 chair chair- wont won't yo you 7 2 Ho No V replied the the I tho thought g t. t r Id I'd s se If you and the boys at the s cant can't tell ten inc me me something something something some some- thing about boht t th the smut In my my wheat I 1 he heard you were going to work on that tonight t. t v i V J 5 V I t had forgotten ad rg I said sald JimI Jim I wondered if t you hadn't said said the colonel lonel and so 80 I 1 came by for you V I r was waiting up the road C Come me meon on and ride up with fth me inc The The colonel colonel had always b been en friend friendly ly Iy but there was a new ew note In his manner tonight He was fas- fas wa almost defer He worked with Hh the class on J the e pr problem blem of smut He or offered red to aid the h boys ys In every possible way Yay in their campaign against scab s ab In in pot pota- pota toes He lIe- suggested iome orne e tests which would sho y the real rehl value of df the treatment Th The boys were In fu a a glow of ot pride at this cp with Colonel Woodruff This was wag rea real work vork t I Jim and and the the colonel colonel went away to together e er It had be been a e. great a evening w 7 v 0 Jim said the colonel can these kids spell A I 1 said sald jUa they can t ariy any scho l l b g uti t t i Good said the How are they about arithmetic t the other ether r branches Have you ou if of rt of kept them up to the co course of sh r I 1 led th them 8 th rn in ina a In V pai I to l to the textbooks said sall J Jim and covering the fame ame g ground oun But It has been vocational 1 Qu Qun know n V o. related to life Ufe Well said the th colonel if f l' l Iwer were you Id I'd put them ov over ove fi a it i- i rapid pid r review review re re- view of the textbooks for for a n few fe fe days clays now the twenty twenty- say say between between- now between now and t fifth th V. 1 d V What U for Oh noth nothing nothing just just ng-just Just t to me V And say Jim J I l glanc glanced d over oyer a communication you u lJ have ve sfa started e tp to the more or less less' Honorable ble Board B ard of Education V VS i S ys S Well don't dont finish nIh nish It 4 t tAnd o And say Jim I think Ill I'll give the b being a wild eyed ed r reformer for tor once V-V V y Yes s. s s 's said td Jim JIm dazed daz d. d H V And Jf It you thi think k Jim Jim that that- youve you've g got t no friends j just t remember r that Im I'm I r for for- you Thank Colonel V you And well we'll sh show w th them them- m they re In a a. a horse rac race rac i V I I dont don't t see 1 said Jim Your Youre not supposed to see said che the colonel colone but you can bet that that w well we'll Il be with them them at at atthe the finish and by thunder 1 while hUe they're getting a a full meal well we'll get least at-least a lunch See Seer But Jennie says Bays began Jim Dont tell teti me what she says said I Ithe the colonel acting according to her Judgment a and d her lights and other organs of perception and I dont don't think It fittin that her father should try to Influence her official conduct But you go on and review them common branches and keep your nerve I ha haven't hant nt felt so much like a scrap since the day we stormed Lookout mountain I kinder like beIng being being be be- ing a wild eyed reformer Jim CHAPTER XI Fame or Notoriety The office of county superintendent course tl the e least was as a matter of ot c urse desirable room of at the courthouse nothIng nothIng nothing noth noth- Poor Ioor Jennie 1 She anticipated ing more than than- the appearance 0 of Bronson Peterson and Bonner Bon Boa ner ncr In her office to confront mt Jim IrwIn But at nine six sir the crowd in Jennies Jennie's office exceeded eded Its Its' seating capacity ca en- and Jennie was In a flutter as the realization dawned upon her that tha this promised to be a bigger and more public affair than she had anticipated Raymond Simms At nine nine fifty opened the office door and there filed in enough children large and small there ther remained remained re re- re- re to fill the room In addition an overflow meeting In in th the hall hail under the the command mand of or that distinguished dis- dis dis- dis military gentleman Colonel Colone Albert Woodruff said tn the Su Say lIlt BUI come corne here colonel crooking his finger at th the deputy sheriff I What you got here bere Al All I said Bill ap the stairs puffing Aint AIn I It t a little early for tor Sunday school picnics This Is a fight in our bur district dis- dis said the colonel Its Jennies Jennie's baptism of at fire I r reckon ckon and anday say ay youre you're not using the courtroom are ire you you Nope said Bill BUI Well why not Just slip sUp around tl then hen en said the colonel and t tell ll Jennie Jennie Jennie Jen Jen- nie shed she'd better hatter a adjourn journ to the big room oom Which suggestion wn wa was acted upon Instanter by Deputy Bill Bm But I 1 cant can't I can cant can't t said Jennie to o the courteous deputy sheriff I dont don't ont want all this publicity and I dont don't want to go Into the courtroom I IS hardly see said Deputy Bill BlU how you can enn avoid It These people seem eem to have business with you and they hey cant can't get I Into to your office Jennie quailed All AU right all allright allright right I I said ald she But shan shall I h have ve veto to o sit on the bench 1 I You will find find- It by far the most cOD place prace said mid Deputy Bill Hm V Was Vas this the life Ufe to which public office office had had brought her ber She was wal perched erched on the jud Judicial cIal ben bench h which Deputy Bill had dusted off oft for for- her tipping a wink wInk to the assemblage wh while doing Going It And r d. d that crowd l To Jennie Jennie ft it- was appalling The school b board ard under the lead of of Wilbur Smythe took seats Inside the railing Jim IrwIn who had never neer be been heen n in a courtroom before herded with the crowd S SV V She he couldn't call the g gathering t 1 to tb order She had ujo no o Idea Iden as to tire the proper roper pr procedure She sat there ther willIe while the he the people gathered stood about wills whis- and arid talking under th their lr breaths and find finally became silent all their belr eyes fixed fired on her as she wished that hat the office of ot c county Un y superintend nt had been bee a abolished in tJ the e. e days of ot ofer other her er parents parent Infancy May It please the court court said WlIbur Wilhur Wll- Wll bur hur ur Smythe standing before the bar Or Madame County Superintendent I should say ay A titter ran through the room and anda q a flush of ot temper tinted Jennies Jennie's fa face e. e They hey were laughing at at- ather her 1 She wouldn't be a spectacle any So 10 she rose rose and handed down down her herrst first and last de decision from the be bench bencha ch cha a a rather g goodone on I r think Mr Smythe said she I feel very l 11 at t ease as up up- here and I Im I'm m going t tIt to to- I 1 I f So t f ItI It I I Y J I Madame County nty Superintendent Superintendent- I 5 5 Sh Should Uld S Say Y get dO down among mong pIe the people Its It's ih the only only- way ay I have of getting the truth Site descended from the b bench shook hands hantIs' hantIs with everybody near her aha and s sat t down down by the attorneys attorney's table Noy No said she this is no formal pro proceeding and we e will dispense with red red tape If we-don't we ye don't dont I shall shan get all tangled UR up In in it It yh Wheres Where's re s Mr Irwin Please come come in here Jim Now I know theres there's s' s so some o feeling In In these things things thing always seems to oe be but brit I l Have ive none So So So Ill I'll just hear why Mr 1 r. r Bronson Bronson Brons n Mr r. r Pet Peterson raon and Mr lr Bo ner think that Mr James E. E Irwin Isn't competent t to h hold held ld ri a certificate ca cate V Jenn Jenne Vas able to smile at them now a and c everybody felt Im more re at ease save Jim Jhn IrwIn the members of ot the board and Wilbur Smythe That Individual In lh arose and talked down at Jennie I 11 1 appear for the proponents here said he and I desire to suggest certain tam tain principles of ot procedure re which I take It belong Indisputably to to- the conduct conduct con con- d duct ct of ot this hearing Have you a lawyer asked the Ule county superintendent of ot the respondent respond respond- nd- nd ent A what exclaimed Jim Nobody Nobody No uNo- bod body here has a lawyer lawer I Well VelI what do you call can Wilbur Wllbur Smythe queried Newton Bronson from the midst of ot the crowd He HE aint lawyer enough to hurt I Isaid said the thing which the dramatists call A Voice There was a little tempest of ot laughter laugh laugh- ter at nt Wilbur Smythes Smythe's expense which was quelled queUed by Jennies Jennie's rapping rapping rapping rap rap- ping ping- on the table She was beginning to feel teel the mouth of ot the situation There Js is nothing In the school laws as I remember them said Jennie Jennie Jen Jen- nie giving the parties any right to tobe tobe tobe be represented by counsel You may advise your our clients all you please but Im I'm not going to waste time In listening listen ing lug to speeches or having ha a lot of ot lawyers examine witnesses I protest said Mr Smythe Well you may file your protest In writing said Jennie Im going to talk taUt this matter over O with these old friends and neighbors of or mine 1 I dont don't want you ou dipping Into It It I say toward Jennies Jennie's voice was rising the scream line and and- and Mr Smythe recognized recognized recognIzed rec rec- the hand o of 01 fate There There- was wasa wasn a n little wrangling and a little protest protest pro pro- test Crom from Con Con Bonner Donner but Jennie ruled with a r rod d' d dor d'or of or iron find and adhered dhere 1 to her ruling When Then the tIle he hearing was resumed after the noon recess the crowd crowl was larger than ever but the proceedings consisted main mainly In a coni con con- i J. J k ference terence of ot the principals grouped groep-ed about Jennie at the big table They Ther were talking about the methods adopted by Jim In his conduct of ot the Woodruff school school just Just talking The only new thing was the presence of ot a n couple of ot newspaper men who had queried Chicago o papers on the story and been given ghen orders for a n certain number pf i words on the case of ot the tho hand farm-hand schoolmaster on trial before before be be- for fore his old sweetheart By the time at nt which gathering darkness made It necessary for the baU bailiff alliff to light the lamps the parties had lad agreed on on the facts Jim admitted admitted admit admit- ted most of ot the tIie allegations He had practically Ignored red the textbooks He had lad burned the district fuel and nd worn out outi ut the district furniture early an and l lIat ate and on Saturdays He had Introduced introduced In- In dom domestic economy and and mania manua man man- ia ua ual training to some extent by sendIng sending send- send Ing ng the boys to the workshops and the girls to the kitchens and sewing-rooms sewing of or the the- farmers who who allowed those privileges V VV V He had used up a great deal deai of time timen In n studying farm fann conditions He had the boys DOYS t to test th the cows cowa of the district for tor butterfat yield He Hew w was s stu studying th the matter att r o of ot a opera co cooperative opera co tt tive c creamery ry Ie e hoped to open to the boys and girls the wonders of the universe Ich are touched by the work on the farm He hoped to make good and contented farmers of them able t to get the e most out but of ot the soil to sell seU what they produced to the best advantage tage tage and at the same time to keep up the he the fertility of ot ti the soil soU Itself And h ho he hoped to teach th the girls girl I In such such a a away away way that U they ey would be good and and contented contented con- con tented tented farmers farmers' wives yAn An I I. Isay say Interposed Con Bonner that we ean can rest our case right here If H. that aint the limit I dont don't know what Is 1 Jennie turned to Jim Now Mr Irwin said she while you have been following out these very interesting and original methods what you done In fn the way of teaching tie the things called for lor by bythe the course of ot study Im willing m to stand or or or- fall on ah an an examination of these children chil chU- dr dren n In inthe the very textbooks we are ac accused accused ae ac- of ot neglecting V Jennie look looked d steadily at Jim for tor a f full fOil minute v r How man p pupils of W S many p ls th the Woodruff Q school are h re she asked asked sk d. d All AH rise is pl please as a's S c A A mas mass massof of the the the tl e midst of of which s sat t Jennies Jennie's JennIes father father- rose at nt th the he request V S Why said Jennie I I say say- we had a quor quorum n m anyhow I Well We'll have here Mr IrwIn please that hat state t fe you'll stand or r fall tall Q on 1 the master mastery byi by by- i les P pupils DU of the textbook th axe re s supposed to to 1 hayS have e negle ted sot the n asi of f said sald fy the th text text Jim B ability to do do dothe the the work til t d fa to fo fit them theta for I LYell l sald re i I I 1 dont don't know know- but hut tl that's a s fair fairi S But But said rs q ko ref Peterson arson we ve do o our r children l brought ought V UP to be farmers Suppose se w we move to t town town V where does does doeg th the culture come ome In V VV C S C V Th Chicago papers had a news Item which covered covered the result of the exa examinations ex ex- a but the the- gre great t sensation n of ofU U th the Woodruff Woodruff- district lay district lay In the Sund Sun- Sun d feature day carried by one of ot them It It- had a n picture of ot Jim Irwin nn and andie andone one one ie of Jennie Woodruff the Woodruff the latter auth au- au I au th and the former fIler gleaned from the morgue and ana apparently y th the portraIt portrait portrait por- por trait o of a n lumber There was also a very free tree treatment by the car car- Of ot Mr Simms carrying a Ii rifle with th the Intention of ot shooting up the school board In case ce the decision went ent against t the scho schoolmaster When It ft became known said the news story tory that H-that the s schoolmaster had bet betS his his Job on the proficiency cI of ot his his' school In n studies supposed and alleged to have been studiously neglected the excitement rose to fever leyer heat Local sports bet tre freely l on the result th the odds being eight to five on General Proficiency against the field The The field was Jim Irwin and ana his school And the way those rural kids rose in their might and ate up the tile textbooks was simply ply scandal scandalous us When the fight was over and the dead and wounded cared for the school board and the county superintendent were forced to admit that they wished the average school could do as well under a similar test The loc local l Mr Dooley Is Cornelius Bonner a member of the board When asked for tor a n statement of his |