CHAPTER XII

The Spelling-Bee

Young Mr. Higgins found his companion bubbling over with vivacity. Her

pretty chin was in the air and every word bore the promise of a laugh.

He afterward recalled one little incident of their walk through the

frosty night, and repeated it to Anderson Crow with more awe than seemed

necessary. They were passing the town pump on their way to the

post-office. The street was dark and deserted.

"Gosh!" said Ed, "I bet the town pump's froze up!"

"It doesn't seem very cold," she said brightly.

"Gee! it's below zero! I bet 'Rast thinks it's pretty doggone cold up

there by your gate."

"Poor 'Rast! His mother should keep him indoors on nights like this." Ed

laughed loud and long and a tingle of happiness shot through his

erstwhile shivering frame. "I'm not a bit cold," she went on. "See--feel

my hand. I'm not even wearing mittens."

Ed Higgins gingerly clasped the little hand, but it was withdrawn at

once. He found it as warm as toast. Words of love surged to his humble

lips; his knees felt a tendency to lower themselves precipitously to the

frozen sidewalk; he was ready to grovel at her feet--and he wondered if

they were as warm as toast. But 'Rast Little came up at that instant and

the chance was lost.

"Doggone!" slipped unconsciously but bitterly from Ed's lips.

"Can I be your company to the spellin'-bee to-morrow night, Miss Banks?"

burst unceremoniously from the lips of the newcomer.

"Thank you, 'Rast. I was just wondering how I should get out to the

schoolhouse. You are very kind. We'll go in the bob-sled with the

Holabirds."

"Doggone!" came in almost a wail from poor Ed. He could have killed

'Rast for the triumphant laugh that followed.

In the meantime Anderson Crow was preparing to crawl in between the icy

sheets at home. Mrs. Crow was "sitting up" with old Mrs. Luce, who was

ill next door.

"She's a girl with a past," reflected Anderson. "She's a mystery,

that's what she is; but I'll unravel her. She had a mighty good reason

fer sawin' me off out there to-day. I was gittin' too close home. She

seen I was about to corner her. By gum, I hope she don't suspect

nothin'! She's found out that Ed Higgins has a good job down to Lamson's

store, an' she's settin' her cap fer him. It shows she'd ruther live in

the city than in the country--so it's all up with 'Rast. That proves

she's from Chicago er some other big place. Ed's gettin' eight dollars a

week down there at Lamson's. By gum, that boy's doin' well! I used to

think he wouldn't amount to nothin'. It shows that the best of us git

fooled in a feller once in a while. To-morrow night I'll go out to the

spellin'-match, an' when the chanct comes I'll sidle up to her an'

whisper her real name in her ear. I bet four dollars an' a half that'll

fetch her purty prompt. Doggone, these here sheets air cold! It's forty

below zero right here in this bed."

Anderson Crow soon slept, but he did not dream of the tragedy the next

night was to bring upon Tinkletown, nor of the test his prowess was to

endure.

The next night and the "spellin'-bee" at school No. 5 came on apace

together. It was bitterly cold and starlight. By eight o'clock the warm

schoolhouse was comfortably filled with the "spellers" of the

neighbourhood, their numbers increased by competitors from Tinkletown

itself. In the crowd were men and women who time after time had "spelled

down" whole companies, and who were eager for the conflict. They had

"studied up" on their spelling for days in anticipation of a hard

battle in the words. Mrs. Borum and Mrs. Cartwill, both famous for their

victories and for the rivalry that existed between them, were selected

as captains of the opposing sides, and Miss Banks herself was to "give

out" the words. The captains selected their forces, choosing alternately

from the anxious crowd of grown folks. There were no children there, for

it was understood that big words would be given out--words children

could not pronounce, much less spell.

The teacher was amazingly pretty on this eventful night. She was dressed

as no other woman in Bramble County, except Rosalie Gray, could have

attired herself--simply, tastefully, daintily. Her face was flushed and

eager and the joy of living glowed in every feature. Ed Higgins and

'Rast Little were struck senseless, nerveless by this vision of health

and loveliness. Anderson Crow stealthily admitted to himself that she

was a stranger in a strange land; she was not of Tinkletown or any place

like it.

Just as the captains were completing their selections of spellers the

door opened and three strangers entered the school-room, overcoated and

furred to the tips of their noses--two men and a woman. As Miss Banks

rushed forward to greet them--she had evidently been expecting them--the

startled assemblage caught its breath and stared. To the further

amazement of every one, Rosalie hastened to her side and joined in the

effusive welcome. Every word of joyous greeting was heard by the amazed

listeners and every word from the strangers was as distinct. Surely

the newcomers were friends of long standing. When their heavy wraps

were removed the trio stood forth before as curious an audience as ever

sat spellbound. The men were young, well dressed and handsome; the woman

a beauty of the most dashing type. Tinkletown's best spellers quivered

with excitement.

[Illustration: "The teacher was amazingly pretty on this eventful

night"]

"Ladies and gentlemen," said Miss Banks, her voice trembling with

eagerness, "let me introduce my friends, Mrs. Farnsworth, Mr.

Farnsworth, and Mr. Reddon. They have driven over to attend the

spelling-match." Ed Higgins and 'Rast Little observed with sinking

hearts that it was Mr. Reddon whom she led forward by the hand, and they

cursed him inwardly for the look he gave her--because she blushed

beneath it.

"You don't live in Boggs City," remarked Mr. Crow, appointing himself

spokesman. "I c'n deduce that, 'cause you're carrying satchels an'

valises."

"Mr. Crow is a famous detective," explained Miss Banks. Anderson

attempted to assume an unconscious pose, but in leaning back he missed

the end of the bench, and sat sprawling upon the lap of Mrs. Harbaugh.

As Mrs. Harbaugh had little or no lap to speak of, his downward course

was diverted but not stayed. He landed on the floor with a grunt that

broke simultaneously with the lady's squeak; a fraction of a second

later a roar of laughter swept the room. It was many minutes before

quiet was restored and the "match" could be opened. Mrs. Cartwill chose

Mrs. Farnsworth and her rival selected the husband of the dashing young

woman. Mr. Reddon firmly and significantly announced his determination

to sit near the teacher "to preserve order," and not enter the contest

of words.

Possibly it was the presence of the strangers that rattled and unnerved

the famed spellers of both sides, for it was not long until the lines

had dwindled to almost nothing. Three or four arrogant competitors stood

forth and valiantly spelled such words as "Popocatepetl,"

"Tschaikowsky," "terpsichorean," "Yang-tse-Kiang," "Yseult," and scores

of words that could scarcely be pronounced by the teacher herself. But

at last, just as the sleepy watchers began to nod and yawn the hardest,

Mrs. Cartwill stood alone and victorious, her single opponent having

gone down on the word "sassafras." Anderson Crow had "gone down" early

in the match by spelling "kerosene" "kerry-seen." Ed Higgins followed

with "ceriseen," and 'Rast Little explosively had it "coal-oil."

During the turmoil incident to the dispersing of the gathered hosts Miss

Banks made her way to 'Rast Little's side and informed him that the

Farnsworths were to take her to Mrs. Holabird's in their big sleigh.

'Rast was floored. When he started to remonstrate, claiming to be her

"company," big Tom Reddon interposed and drew Miss Banks away from her

lover's wrath.

"But I'm so sorry for him, Tom," she protested contritely. "He _did_

bring me here--in a way."

"Well, I'll take you home another way," said good-looking Mr. Reddon. It

was also noticed that Rosalie Gray had much of a confidential nature to

say to Miss Banks as they parted for the evening, she to go home in

Blucher Peabody's new sleigh.

'Rast and Ed Higgins almost came to blows out at the hitch-rack, where

the latter began twitting his discomfited rival. Anderson Crow kept them

apart.

"I'll kill that big dude," growled 'Rast. "He's got no business comin'

here an' rakin' up trouble between me an' her. You mark my words, I'll

fix him before the night's over, doggone his hide!"

At least a dozen men, including Alf Reesling, heard this threat, and not

one of them was to forget it soon. Anderson Crow noticed that Mrs.

Holabird's bob-sled drove away without either Miss Banks or 'Rast

Little in its capacious depths. Miss Banks announced that her three

friends from the city and she would stay behind and close the

schoolhouse, putting everything in order. It was Friday night, and there

would be no session until the following Monday. Mr. Crow was very sleepy

for a detective. He snored all the way home.

The next morning two farmers drove madly into Tinkletown with the

astounding news that some one had been murdered at schoolhouse No. 5. In

passing the place soon after daybreak they had noticed blood on the snow

at the roadside. The school-room door was half open and they entered.

Blood in great quantities smeared the floor near the stove, but there

was no sign of humanity, alive or dead. Miss Banks's handkerchief was

found on the floor saturated.

Moreover, the school-teacher was missing. She had not returned to the

home of Mrs. Holabird the night before. To make the horror all the more

ghastly, Anderson Crow, hastening to the schoolhouse, positively

identified the blood as that of Miss Banks.