Part 14 (1/2)

”I can't figure out yet why I wasn't fired,” said I, flicking a sociable spider off my lap with the stem of a leaf. ”I would have been willing to bet my eyebrows on it that night. What made them change their minds, I wonder?”

”Maybe it was because they hated to lose the bargain,” answered Justice, half to himself.

”Hated to lose what bargain?” I asked innocently. Then suddenly I understood.

”Justice Sherman!” I exclaimed, starting up. ”Did you threaten to leave if they discharged me?”

Justice turned crimson and became reticent. ”Well, I don't know as I threatened them exactly,” he replied in a soothing drawl. ”I don't look very threatening, now, do I?”

”Oh, Justice,” was all I could say, for at the thought of what he had done for me I was stricken dumb.

Verily the power of the Bargain was great in the land!

The pageant grew under our hands until it a.s.sumed really respectable proportions. The girls and boys were wild about it and drilled tirelessly by the hour.

”I wish we had a better parade ground,” sighed Justice regretfully, squinting at the small level plot of ground in front of the schoolhouse that was worn bare of gra.s.s. ”We haven't room to make a really effective showing with our drill. If only the old schoolhouse wasn't in the way we could use the s.p.a.ce that's behind it and on both sides of it.”

It was then that I had one of my old-time, wild inspirations. ”Move the schoolhouse back,” I said calmly.

Justice shouted. ”Why not roll up the road and set it down on the other side of field?” he suggested.

”I don't see why we couldn't move the schoolhouse back,” I repeated. ”Why not, if it's in the way? It's no ornament, anyway.”

Half-amused, half-serious, Justice looked first at me and then at the little one-story shack that went by the name of schoolhouse.

”By Jove! we can do it!” he exclaimed suddenly. ”It'll be no trick at all. Just get her up on rollers and hitch Sandhelo to the pulley rope and let him wind her up. Just like that. An' zay say ze French have no sense of ze delica.s.se!”

”What will the Board say?” I inquired, half fearfully.

”We won't ask the Board,” replied Justice calmly. ”Move first, ask for orders afterwards, that's the way the great generals win battles.

Remember how General Sherman cut the wires between him and Was.h.i.+ngton when he started out on his famous march to the sea, so that no short-sighted one could wire him to change his plans? Well, we're out to make this pageant a success, and we aren't going to risk it by stopping to ask too much permission. We'll move the schoolhouse first and ask permission afterward. By that time it'll be too late; the pageant is to-morrow.”

And we did move it. If you had ever seen us! It wasn't such a job as you might think. I suppose the word ”schoolhouse” conjures up in your mind the brick and granite pile that is Was.h.i.+ngton High--imagine moving that out of the way to make room for a military drill! 'Vantage number one for our school. We also have our points of superiority, it seems.

The old shack looked vastly better where we finally let it rest. There was a clump of bushes alongside that hid some of its battered boards beautifully. The parade ground seemed about three times as big as it had been before.

”That's more like it,” said Justice approvingly. ”Now we can turn around without stubbing our toes against the schoolhouse.”

”What will Mr. b.u.t.ts say?” I asked, beginning to have cold chills.

”Just wait until that gets between the wind and his n.o.bility!” chuckled Justice. ”Never mind, I'll take all the blame.”

Nevertheless, when the crisis came, and Elijah b.u.t.ts came driving up on the afternoon of the great occasion, I was there to face the music alone, Justice being nowhere in sight.

Mr. and Mrs. b.u.t.ts arrived in state, bringing with them a strange lady, who I figured out must be the one Justice had told me about, the one who, like Sh.e.l.ley's immortal soul, had come from afar and was sent by a Commission to study rural school conditions.

I glanced wildly about to see if Justice were not hovering protectingly near, but there was no sign of him. However, I knew my duties as hostess.

Nonchalantly I strolled over to the road to welcome the newcomers. Elijah b.u.t.ts had just finished tying his horse and, bristling with importance, had turned to help the Commission Lady out of the rig.

”Ah-h, Miss Fairlee,” he said in smooth tones, ”this is--ah--Miss Adams, our teacher at the Corners school.”