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in the afternoon； when the Captain dragged me ignominiously from the haymow and conducted me； more dead than alive； to the office of justice Clapham。 Here I encountered five other pallid culprits； who had been fished out of divers coal…bins； garrets； and chicken…coops； to answer the demands of the outraged laws。 （Charley Marden had hidden himself in a pile of gravel behind his father's house； and looked like a recently exhumed mummy。）
There was not the least evidence against us； and； indeed； we were wholly innocent of the offence。 The trick； as was afterwards proved； had been played by a party of soldiers stationed at the fort in the harbor。 We were indebted for our arrest to Master Conway； who had slyly dropped a hint； within the hearing of Selectman Mudge； to the effect that 〃young Bailey and his five cronies could tell something about 20them signs。〃 When he was called upon to make good his assertion； he was considerably more terrified than the Centipedes； though they were ready to sink into their shoes。
At our next meeting it was unanimously resolved that Conway's animosity should not be quietly submitted to。 He had sought to inform against us in the stagecoach business； he had volunteered to carry Pettingil's 〃little bill〃 for twenty…four icecreams to Charley Marden's father； and now he had caused us to be arraigned before justice Clapham on a charge equally groundless and painful。 After much noisy discussion； a plan of retaliation was agreed upon。
There was a certain slim； mild apothecary in the town； by the name of Meeks。 It was generally given out that Mr。 Meeks had a vague desire to get married； but； being a shy and timorous youth； lacked the moral courage to do so。 It was also well known that the Widow Conway had not buried her heart with the late lamented。 As to her shyness； that was not so clear。 Indeed； her attentions to Mr。 Meeks； whose mother she might have been； were of a nature not to be misunderstood； and were not misunderstood by anyone but Mr。 Meeks himself。
The widow carried on a dress…making establishment at her residence on the comer opposite Meeks's drug…store； and kept a wary eye on all the young ladies from Miss Dorothy Gibbs's Female Institute who patronized the shop for soda…water； aciddrops； and slate…pencils。 In the afternoon the widow was usually seen seated； smartly dressed； at her window upstairs； casting destructive glances across the street…the artificial roses in her cap and her whole languishing manner saying as plainly as a label on a prescription； 〃To be Taken Immediately！〃 But Mr。 Meeks didn't take。
The lady's fondness； and the gentleman's blindness； were topics ably handled at every sewing…circle in the town。 It was through these two luckless individuals that we proposed to strike a blow at the common enemy。 To kill less than three birds with one stone did not suit our sanguinary purpose。 We disliked the widow not so much for her sentimentality as for being the mother of Bill Conway； we disliked Mr。 Meeks； not because he was insipid； like his own syrups； but because the widow loved him。 Bill Conway we hated for himself。
Late one dark Saturday night in September we carried our plan into effect。 On the following morning； as the orderly citizens wended their way to church past the widow's abode； their sober faces relaxed at beholding over her front door the well known gilt Mortar and Pestle which usually stood on the top of a pole on the opposite corner； while the passers on that side of the street were equally amused and scandalized at seeing a placard bearing the following announcement tacked to the druggist's window…shutters：
Wanted； a Sempstress！
The naughty cleverness of the joke （which I should be sorry to defend） was recognized at once。 It spread like wildfire over the town； and； though the mortar and the placard were speedily removed； our triumph was complete。 The whole community was on the broad grin； and our participation in the affair seemingly unsuspected。
It was those wicked soldiers at the fort！
Chapter Ten
I Fight Conway
There was one person； however； who cherished a strong suspicion that the Centipedes had had a hand in the business； and that person was Conway。 His red hair seemed to change to a livelier red； and his sallow cheeks to a deeper sallow； as we glanced at him stealthily over the tops of our slates the next day in school。 He knew we were watching him； and made sundry mouths and scowled in the most threatening way over his sums。
Conway had an accomplishment peculiarly his own…that of throwing his thumbs out of joint at will。 Sometimes while absorbed in study； or on becoming nervous at recitation； he performed the feat unconsciously。 Throughout this entire morning his thumbs were observed to be in a chronic state of dislocation； indicating great mental agitation on the part of the owner。 We fully expected an outbreak from him at recess； but the intermission passed off tranquilly； somewhat to our disappointment。
At the close of the afternoon session it happened that Binny Wallace and myself； having got swamped in our Latin exercise； were detained in school for the purpose of refreshing our memories with a page of Mr。 Andrews's perplexing irregular verbs。 Binny Wallace finishing his task first； was dismissed。 I followed shortly after； and； on stepping into the playground； saw my little friend plastered； as it were； up against the fence； and Conway standing in front of him ready to deliver a blow on the upturned； unprotected face； whose gentleness would have stayed any arm but a coward's。
Seth Rodgers； with both hands in his pockets； was leaning against the pump lazily enjoying the sport； but on seeing me sweep across the yard； whirling my strap of books in the air like a sling； he called out lustily； 〃Lay low； Conwayl Here's young Baileyl〃
Conway turned just in time to catch on his shoulder the blow intended for his head。 He reached forward one of his long arms…he had arms like a windmill； that boy…and； grasping me by the hair； tore out quite a respectable handful。 The tears flew to my eyes； but they were not the tears of defeat； they were merely the involuntary tribute which nature paid to the departed tresses。
In a second my little jacket lay on the ground； and I stood on guard； resting lightly on my right leg and keeping my eye fixed steadily on Conway's…in all of which I was faithfully following the instructions of Phil Adams； whose father subscribed to a sporting journal。
Conway also threw himself into a defensive attitude； and there we were； glaring at each other motionless； neither of us disposed to risk an attack； but both on the alert to resist one。 There is no telling how long we might have remained in that absurd position； had we not been interrupted。
It was a custom with the larger pupils to return to the play…ground after school； and play baseball until sundown。 The town authorities had prohibited ball…playing on the Square； and； there being no other available place； the boys fell back perforce on the school…yard。 just at this crisis a dozen or so of the Templars entered the gate； and； seeing at a glance the belligerent status of Conway and myself； dropped bat and ball； and rushed to the spot where we stood。
〃Is it a fight？〃 asked Phil Adams； who saw by our freshness that we had not yet got to work。
〃Yes； it's a fight；〃 I answered； 〃unless Conway will ask Wallace's pardon； promise never to hector me in future…and put back my hair！〃
This last condition was rather a staggerer。
〃I sha'n't do nothing of the sort；〃 said Conway； sulkily。
〃Then the thing must go on；〃 said Adams； with dignity。 〃Rodgers； as I understand it； is your second； Conway？ Bailey； come here。 What's the row about？〃
〃He was thrashing Binny Wallace。〃
〃No； I wasn't；〃 interrupted Conway； 〃but I was going to because he knows who put Meeks's mortar over our door。 And I know well enough who did it； it was that sneaking little mulatter！〃 pointing at me。
〃O； by George！〃 I cried； reddening at the insult。
〃Cool is the word；〃 said Adams； as he bound a handkerchief round my head； and carefully tucked away the long straggling locks that offered a tempting advantage to the enemy。 〃Who ever heard of a fellow with such a head of hair going into action！〃 muttered Phil； twitching the handkerchief to ascertain if it were securely tied。 He then loosened my gallowses （braces）； and buckled them tightly above my hips。 〃Now； then； bantam； never say die！〃
Conway regarded these business…like preparations with evident misgiving； for he called Rodgers to his side； and had himself arrayed in a similar manner； though his hair was cropped so close that you couldn't have taken hold of it with a pair of tweezers。
〃Is your man ready？〃 asked Phil Adams； addressing Rodgers。
〃Ready！〃
〃Keep your back to the gate； Tom；〃 whispered Phil in my car； 〃and you'll have the sun in his eyes。〃
Behold us once more face to face； like David and the Philistine。 Look at us as long as you may； for this is all you shall see of the combat。 According to my thinking； the hospital teaches a better lesson than the battle…field。 I will tell you about my black eye； and my swollen lip； if you will； but not a word of the fight。
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