True to Himself | Page 6

pressed into service on short notice.
"If you don't go at once, I'll set the dog on you."
"Huh! You can't fool me!"
"No fooling about it. Major! Major!" I called.
There was a rattling of chain as the animal tried to break away, and
then a loud barking. The noise seemed to strike terror to the tramp's
heart.
"I'll get even with you, young fellow!" he growled, and running to the
fence he scrambled over and out of sight. I did not wait to see in what
direction he went.
When I reached the porch I found Mrs. Canby bidding my sister
good-by. A moment more and she was on the seat. I touched up Jerry
and we were off.
"It took you a long time to hitch up," the widow remarked as we drove
along.
"It wasn't that," I replied, and told her about the tramp.
"You must be very careful of those men," she said anxiously. "Some of
them will not stop at anything."
"I'll be wide awake," I rejoined reassuringly.
It was not a long drive to the station. When we arrived there, Mrs.
Canby had over five minutes to spare, and this time was spent in

buying a ticket and giving me final instructions.
At length the train came along and she was off. I waited a few moments
longer and then drove away.
I had several purchases to make in the village-- a pruning-knife, a bag
of feed, and some groceries, and these took some time to buy, so it was
nearly noon when I started home.
Several times I imagined that a couple of the village young men noticed
me very closely, but I paid no attention and went on my way, never
dreaming of what was in store for me.
The road to the widow's house ran for half a mile or more through a
heavy belt of timber land. We were jogging along at a fair pace, and I
was looking over a newspaper I had picked up on the station platform.
Suddenly some one sprang out from the bushes and seized Jerry by the
bridle.
Astonished and alarmed, I sprang up to see what was the matter. As I
did so I received a stinging blow on the side of the head, and the next
instant was dragged rudely from the carriage.
CHAPTER III
THE MODELS
I had been taken completely off my guard, but by instinct I tried to
ward off my assailants. My effort was a useless one. In a trice I found
myself on the ground, surrounded by half a dozen of the fastest young
men to be found in Darbyville.
Prominent among them was Duncan Woodward, and I rightfully
guessed that it was he who had organized the attack.
"Take it easy, Strong," exclaimed a fellow named Moran, "unless you
want to be all broke up."

"What do you mean by treating me in this way?" I cried indignantly.
"You'll find out soon enough," said Phillips, another of the young men.
"Come, stop your struggling."
"I'll do nothing of the kind. You have no right to molest me."
"Pooh!" sniffed Duncan. "The Models have a right to do anything."
"The Models?" I queried, in perplexity. "Who are they?"
"The Models are a band of young gentlemen organized for the purpose
of social enjoyment and to teach cads lessons that they are not likely to
forget," replied Moran.
"I suppose you are the members," I said, surveying the half-dozen.
"We have that honor," rejoined a boy named Barton, who had not yet
spoken.
"And we intend to teach you a lesson," added Pultzer, a short, stout
chap, whose father had once been a butcher.
"What for?"
"For your unwarranted attack upon our illustrious president."
"Your president? You mean Duncan?"
"Mr. Woodward, if you please," interrupted Duncan, loftily. "I won't
have such a low-bred fellow as you calling me by my first name."
"I'm no lower bred than you are," I retorted.
"Come, none of that!"cried Moran. "We all know you well. We shall at
once proceed to teach you a lesson."
I could not help smile-- the whole affair seemed so ridiculous that had
it not been for the rough handling I had received when pulled from the

carriage, I would have considered it a joke.
"You'll find it no laughing matter," said Duncan, savagely, angry, no
doubt, because I did not show more signs of fear. "Just wait till we are
through with you. You'll grin on the other side of your face."
"What do you intend to do with me?"
"You'll see soon enough."
I began to think the affair might be more serious than I had imagined.
Six to one was heavy odds, and who could tell what these wild fellows
would not do?
"I want you