s was just the way to win
her admiration. But all this time HE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT DAISY DID--that
Dick's pockets were full of sugar-plums; tiptop ones too, for Daisy had
tasted them, and knew that little packets of them would from time to
time find their way into her chubby hand.

All the rest of the morning Tommy kept thinking, thinking, thinking.
One thing was certain: the present situation was not to be endured
one moment longer than was absolutely necessary. But what could he do?
Should he fight Dicky? This plan was rejected at once, on high, moral
grounds. Well, then, supposing some dark night he should see Daisy on
the street, just grab her, hold on tight and say: "Now, Daisy Rivers, I
won't let you go till you promise you'll like me a great deal betterer
than you do Dick Ray." There seemed something nice about this plan, very
nice; the more Tommy thought of it, the better he liked it; only there
were two objections to it. Firstly: Daisy never by any chance ventured
out doors after dark. Secondly: Neither did Tom.

Both objections being insurmountable, this delightful scheme was
reluctantly abandoned, and the thinking process went on harder than
ever, till at last--oh, oh! if he only dared! What a triumph it would
be! But then he couldn't--yes, he could too. Didn't she say that she
"wouldn't be one bit s'prised if he hollered so loud that they would
hear him way down in Colorado?" Colorado, indeed! He'd show her there
was one boy in the school who wasn't a girl-cry-baby!

Yes, actually, foolish Tommy had decided to prove his manhood by being
whipped, and that that interesting little event should take place that
very afternoon!

What did he do? He whispered six times!

Had it been any other child, he would surely have been punished; but
Miss Linnet knew both Tommy and his mamma quite well, and therefore
she knew also, quite well, that only a few days ago the one horror of
Tommy's life had been the thought that he might possibly be whipped.
Then too, it was his first term at school, and hitherto he had been very
good. So she decided to keep him after school and talk to him of the
sinfulness of bad conduct in general, and of whispering in particular.
This plan she faithfully carried out, and the little culprit's heart so
melted within him that he climbed up on his teacher's lap, put his arms
around her neck and kissed her, crying he would never be so naughty
again. He was just going to tell her all about Daisy, wh