[Sidenote: Marbles]
Rattle-te-bang!—a big noise rolled all through the room where young Miss
McGuire had charge of thirty fourth-graders. Everybody knew what caused
the uproar, for the marbles immediately began to stream slowly in every
direction over the schoolroom floor.
“Where did they come from?” was Miss McGuire’s first thought. She had
not long to wait, for Lucius’ terror-stricken face was seen intently
gazing at his teacher in anticipation of some further misfortune.
“Lucius, were those your marbles?” was her first question.
“Yes, ma’am,” timidly said Lucius, fearing that he might lose his
treasures.
“Children, you may all pick up the marbles near you. Perry, you may pass
down the aisles with the crayon box and collect them and bring them to
my desk,” were Miss McGuire’s orders. After school she detained Lucius.
“Lucius, how did you get so many marbles?”
“I bought them with a nickel daddy gave me.”
“Surely not this box nearly full of marbles for a nickel.”
“Well, Walton gave me some.”
“Did any one else give you marbles?”
“Ye-e-es, some of the other boys.”
“Now, see here, Lucius; you’ve been playing for keeps, haven’t you?”
Lucius saw no way out but to admit the fact, though he knew it meant
trouble.
“Lucius,” said Miss McGuire, “you are a little gambler, so you are; so
are all these boys who play for keeps. I’m going to throw these marbles
into the sewer and any others I get hold of. Now you go home and keep
straight after this.”