Under Fire: A Tale of New England Village Life

save ourselves after all their talk," said Tom Marti

on was with us. If John Rexford had kept him at the sto

hole game, did he?" a

uld have lost it, if it had not been for him. If he saved us from defeat, why not be fair a

y anything a

t appear to say a

shoul

professionals that I have seen. The factory boys couldn't get the

tching?" asked Tom, with a view to

of Matthew De Vere, a rather foppishly dressed boy, who showed very clearl

f good news for you," he

startling?

ething you and Dav

is. We give it up

oing to have a part

hoed Dave. "W

st came from Mr. Be

e?" chimed in bo

vening," answere

plied Tom, with evident pleasure at the

en next Thursday,"

,'" put in Dave. "The evenings are getting long, and it is too cold to rove about m

mention of a party, the first one of the seaso

is if Fred Worthington only gets left; I hate him. He tries to push himself ahead too much for a f

at whatever else he undertakes; and the fact that his father is a poor man ought not to be against him;" then, with a sly wink at Tom, he added, "and you may be certain

the Mapleton National Bank), could ill bear the deprivation of anything which his fancy craved. Therefore the thought th

over most of the Mapleton boys, for Fred had a will of his own, as well as a perfect physical dev

fect of bringing the color to Matthew's face,

who was always ready for fun, eve

s from the store. I guess the doctor will have quite a bill to pay at Rexford's, unless Fred makes two or three trips up there to carry what h

ngry at these remarks, a

him without waiting for sc

going to get

u will see. I don't t

ted Tom, "and they say he can u

int," remarked Dave, "for it isn't very long sinc

bout it," said Tom. "I ne

t put on airs with me any more; and if he goes to that party an

to have it, for you can't frighten him-he isn't easily

ve, "and judging from appearances Nellie is as plea

mself, he imagined that his advantage over Fred would be so great that he could readily mono

gton should be there, let's make it so uncomfortable for him that he will never show himself again at one of our parties. We can occupy the attention of the girls, so they will leave him alone to

conversation was broken off. But Dave Farringto

ed Worthington, they'd find a big contract on their hands; and the one who 'hated himsel