Page:Fairview Boys and their Rivals.djvu/29

Rh "To wait for you."

"For me, Mary?" said the teacher, as calmly as she could.

"Yes, ma'am. You see, I expect my little child home to-night. You know, she has been away at school for nearly four years."

"Indeed, Mary," replied Miss Williams, humoring the delusion of the poor mother. "That will be very nice, indeed."

"Yes, ma'am. I'm making her a beautiful doll, and I need some hair for its head. You have got such lovely hair, I want it. Now, if you hold still I won't hurt you, but if you don't I will have to stick you."

Mary's eyes glared as she said this. Miss Williams was very much frightened, but she sat perfectly still.

"If you will come home with me, Mary, I will give you some hair I have that was cut off when I was sick."

"No, ma'am, I want this hair," replied Mary, stubbornly. "Oh, how pretty it will look on the doll!" she cried.

Bob made up his mind that it was time for him to act. He saw that the witless woman would either cut off Miss Williams' hair, or hurt her with the scissors.

"It's lucky I'm here," thought Bob, "even if I was kept in for nothing."

Bob stooped low in the shadow of the desks, and crept down the aisle. As he got clear of the last desk, Mary pulled back the head of the teacher. Miss Williams uttered a faint scream.

"I don't want to hurt you, but you must keep still," cried Mary, quite angrily.

Bob reached her side in a quick dash. He reached out so strongly that he managed to wrench the scissors from her