Herbert was deeply impressed with the scene that had taken place
between his father and Mr. Coke. It was quite early in the evening, and
putting on his hat and coat, he quietly left the house for the purpose
of taking a walk around the town and thinking over the meaning of the
events which were following each other so quickly. He was filled with
remorse at the thought of having been the innocent cause of bringing
disaster on their modest household; but deep down in his heart he felt
that he had done the right thing in spite of the unexpected results
that had followed. Herbert had always been a sturdy and resolute boy.
He had regard for the feelings and rights of others, but was always
quick to resent any attempt to impose upon his own good nature. When
he first entered the school at Cleverly he did not give promise of
being a very bright pupil. In fact there were times when the teacher
was disposed to consider him a very dull boy; but little by little the
ability that slumbered with him was awakened, and by degrees he began
to show evidences of more than ordinary talent. He was not quick to
learn; but was always numbered among the plodders at the school. In
spite of his apparent slowness, he began to advance in his classes, and
when he had reached his sixteenth year was near the head of the boys
in his grade. For one thing he retained the knowledge that he acquired
with so much labor. He had what the teacher called bull-dog tenacity.
In other words, when he started out to accomplish a certain task he
never rested till it was entirely completed.
Mr. Harkins, who was a man of very unusual ability, was extremely
anxious to give his son the very best education in his power. His
ambition was to develop Herbert both morally and mentally, and he
looked forward with great hope to the time when he would finish his
tuition at the Cleverly district school. After that it was his wish
that he should enter St. Joseph’s College in the adjoining city, in
order to obtain a higher education. The Jesuits who were in charge of
that institution, had offered four free scholarships to the boys who
obtained the highest average in a competitive examination that was to
be held in the spring of the year. The father and son had frequently
discussed this subject.
“Herbert,” said Mr. Harkins, “this is no child’s play. If you make up
your mind to go into this thing, it will mean hard work. There will be
very little time for sports.”
“I appreciate that, father,” Herbert would say soberly. “And when the
time comes I intend to pin myself down to the hardest kind of work. I
know what it means, and I have no fear of the result.”
So it was that the boy trudged along in his somewhat heavy way, doing
the routine that fell to all the pupils of the Cleverly School. While
he did not display any special flashes of brilliancy, his averages were
always good, and sometimes unusually large.
Arthur Black was the opposite of Herbert in almost every way. For years
he had been one of the favored pupils at the Cleverly School. The fact
that his father was rich and influential made all those connected with
the school disposed to treat him with more than ordinary consideration.
He was a bright boy, but extremely indolent; and as a consequence was
a source of constant trouble to his teachers. Arthur had the faculty
of being able to recite his lessons without having given much time to
their study; but as the weeks and months went by he became more and
more indifferent and finally drifted down near the rear of his class
where he bid fair to remain until the end of his school days. Arthur
was very much annoyed at the progress made by Herbert Harkins, and
publicly said that it was due to the fact that Herbert was one of the
teacher’s favorites. No charge could be more unfair than this, but it
was circulated through the town, much to the annoyance of Herbert and
his parents.
Herbert thought of all these things as he made his way along the main
street of the town. He was filled with an intense desire to assist his
father, and in a vague sort of way wondered whether it would not be a
good thing to leave school and go to work for that purpose. The thought
was worth considering anyhow, and he made up his mind to speak to his
father before he left home the next morning. Just as he reached the
post office pavement, he noticed a small group of men and boys standing
there engaged in an animated discussion. As he approached nearer, he
saw Arthur Black and a friend of his named Harry Adler talking for the
benefit of the crowd. Adler was many years the senior of both Herbert
and Arthur. He had the reputation of being a very worthless boy, and
although he was rapidly approaching manhood he gave no indication
of changing his habits. He was a type of many other boys who can be
described in a single sentence as cigarette smoking youths who will
not work. He said on one occasion that he was too proud to do menial
labor, but in spite of this he was not ashamed to live off the small
earnings of a poor mother who was compelled to take in sewing in order
to feed and clothe the members of her family. Adler had persistently
refused to go to school, and only two years before had run away from
home and made his way by degrees to New York City. He remained there
for several weeks, and then wrote begging letters home asking for
sufficient money to pay his carfare back to Cleverly. He did not even
have the manliness to be ashamed of this incident, but looked upon it
as one of the big achievements in his life. Ever after that he stood
on the street corners and talked in a loud way about his adventures in
the big city, much to the amazement and interest of the small boys who
stood with open mouths and eagerly listened to all that he had to say.
As Herbert reached the group he heard Arthur Black detailing the story
of the fight at the schoolhouse. He informed his hearers that Herbert
was a sneaking busybody, and that after school was over he had given
him the punishment he so richly deserved.
“But when my back was turned,” he said, “that rascal of a Herbert
Harkins gave me a blow in the face that made my nose bleed. He wouldn’t
dare to have done it if we had been standing face to face.”
This was too much for Herbert to stand, and turning toward the crowd
with flashing eyes, he cried out:
“The story that Arthur Black has told you isn’t true. He was the one at
fault, and as far as the fight was concerned I think his nose and the
color of his eyes tell the story of the battle better than I can.”
Adler interrupted Herbert at this point to say in a sneering tone:
“See here, young man, if it comes to a question of truth between you
and Arthur Black, the people of this town will believe Arthur.”
“I don’t know about that,” retorted Herbert angrily. “Anyhow I would be
willing to leave it to the people that know us both.”
The minute Herbert had spoken he was sorry that his impulsive nature
had led him into the conversation. In order to avoid any further
trouble he hurried away; but Arthur Black and Harry Adler did not
propose to let him off so easily.
“Hello there, little boy,” cried Adler in a taunting voice. “Are you
going to run away again, just as you did this afternoon?”
Herbert made no reply, but kept on his way. Then Arthur Black joined in
the conversation.
“He’d better run away,” he said, “if he knows which side his bread is
buttered on. I want to tell you, Herbert Harkins, that you are going
to suffer for daring to insult me. You say you won the fight this
afternoon. Well, if you did, it will be the dearest victory you ever
bought. Before another day goes by you will find that your whole family
is likely to be thrown out into the street, and that you will be on
your way to the poorhouse, where you belong. Perhaps you won’t be so
ready to meddle next time.”
Herbert halted instantly. He hurried back to where the others were
standing and made towards Arthur Black. Just as he passed by, Adler
quietly slipped his right foot out on the sidewalk, and Herbert
tripping over it, fell at full length on the pavement. He jumped up
smarting with anger and the shock of the fall. He rushed toward Adler,
but in the twinkling of an eye, before a blow had been struck, his mind
reverted to the scene that had taken place at his home only a short
while before. Instantly he was filled with remorse. He realized that it
would be most unfortunate for him to get into a street brawl at a time
like this. He felt confident of his ability to chastise both Arthur
Black and Harry Adler; but he realized the scene that it would cause
and the possibility of one or all of them being taken up by the town
constable; so without any explanation whatever he lowered his arms and
walked down the street again.
Adler turned to Arthur Black with a sneer on his lips.
“I guess you’ve got that fellow sized up all right,” he said. “He’s a
coward; he’s afraid to fight.”
Herbert heard this with burning cheeks. He hurried on his way home,
stopping to look neither to the right nor to the left. His mind was
filled with conflicting emotions. He thought of the threat that hung
over his father, and of the reflection that had been made upon his own
personal courage; but try as he would he could not get the sound of
that word “coward” out of his ears.
When he reached home the sense of shame had grown so strong that he
could not stand the strain any longer. He halted on the doorstep
irresolute. The next moment he turned on his heel and walked back
to the corner where he had met Arthur Black and Harry Adler. Black
had left, but Adler was still there entertaining some of the smaller
boys with stories of his own greatness. Herbert walked up to him with
flashing eyes:
“Adler, I’ve got a crow to pick with you.”
“Go ahead with the picking,” sneered the older boy, and Herbert flushed
hotly at the contemptuous tone.
“A few minutes ago you referred to me as a coward.”
“Well, what of it?”
“I want you to take that word back; I won’t stand for it.”
Adler broke out into a coarse laugh.
“Why, the little fellow is feeling his oats,” he cried; “he looks like
a bantam rooster.”
“Never mind what I look like,” retorted Herbert hotly. “I want to know
whether you’ll take that word back.”
“Don’t get excited, little chap.”
“Will you take it back? Say yes or no!” demanded Herbert.
“I say no,” drawled Adler.
“Then I say take that!”
As he spoke, Herbert reached up and gave the fellow a resounding slap
on the cheek. Adler was so dazed at the unexpected assault that he
stood still gazing stupidly at his assailant. The small boys in the
group were secretly delighted at the indignity put upon their worthless
companion, but were discreetly silent. Herbert walked off tingling with
delight at having satisfied his outraged feelings.