I'd kind o' like t' lick a few of 'em anyhow, an' if my
young ones give any trouble, you jes' stop in on your way home an' I'll
see that it don't never happen ag'in."

Half the battle was won; she let him hold her hand a moment at
leave-taking while he reinforced his remarks by many repetitions.

"Don't you worry, Sis," he repeated as he backed out of the door; "you
needn't be afraid; this here school board's at your back. We know it's a
bad school, but, by ginger! we'll see that you're stood by. You jes' let
me know if that there Jake Ransom tries any more monkeyshines and I'll tan
his hide till It'll be good for shoe leather."

It occurred to Elizabeth that every word they were saying would be carried
to the boy long before Monday morning and that a bad matter might from the
very goodness of the teller's intentions be made worse.

"How old did you say the Ransom boy was?" she asked with concern.

"Fifteen--and a stinker if there ever was one."

"Then I think maybe I'll have a show. I thought he was older than that,"
she said diplomatically. "Now may I ask that what we have said be kept
quiet? I would rather like to have a fair show with him--and I'll admit
I'd like to be on good terms. Promise me that what we have said may be a
secret even from your own family till after Monday."

Elizabeth went forward and spoke confidentially. The man liked her even
better than before.

"I'll do it, by jing!" he exclaimed. "They'll be wantin' t' know soon's
ever I get home what we done about it, an' fur once they'll suck their
thumbs. Look out fur that boy, though; he's a black sheep that lives
around in any flock; ain't got no home. I'll help if I'm needed."

Elizabeth listened closely to all that she heard her brothers say about
Jake Ransom, trying to form some estimate of his character, and soon came
to the conclusion that whatever else the boy might be, he was at least not
to be classed as a sneak. In fact, Jake seemed to have rather a surprising
faculty for announcing his policies before he began action.

When school opened Monday morning the bully was easily recognizable.
Elizabeth had gone through all the stages of fright, of distaste for the
job, and lastly of set determination to show this district that she could
take that boy and not only conquer him but become friends with him.
Instead of being nervous about the coming encounter, however, Elizabeth
grew more steady and self-reliant as she felt his eyes upon her,