Mr. Mertzheimer, whose august dignity had been unpardonably offended,

lost no time in seeing the other directors of the Crow Hill school. He

mentioned nothing about the real grievance against Amanda, but played

upon the slender string of her inefficiency, as talked about by the

patrons. He presented the matter so tactfully that several of the men

were convinced he spoke from a deep conviction that the interests of

the community were involved and that in all fairness to the pupils of

that rural school a new, competent teacher should be secured for the

ensuing term. One director, being a man with the unfortunate addiction

of being easily swayed by the opinions of others, was readily convinced

by the plausible arguments of Mr. Mertzheimer that Amanda Reist was

utterly unfit for the position she held.

When all the directors had been thus casually imbued with antagonism,

or, at least, suspicion, Mr. Mertzheimer went home, chuckling. He felt

elated at the clever method he had taken to uphold the dignity of his

son and punish the person who had failed to rightly respect that

dignity. In a few weeks the County Superintendent of Schools would make

his annual visit to Crow Hill, and if "a bug could be put in his ear"

and he be influenced to show up the flaws in the school, everything

would be fine! "Fine as silk," thought Mr. Mertzheimer. He knew a girl

near Landisville who was a senior at Millersville and would be glad to

teach a school like Crow Hill. He'd tell her to apply for the position.

It would take about five minutes to put out that independent Amanda

Reist and vote in the other girl--it just takes some people to plan!

He, Mr. Mertzheimer, had planned it! Probably in his limited education

he had never read that sententious line regarding what often happens to

the best laid plans of mice and men!

The Saturday following Mr. Mertzheimer's perfection of his plans Millie

came home from market greatly excited.

"Manda, Manda, come here once!" she called as she set her empty baskets

on the kitchen table. "Just listen," she said to the girl, who came

running. "I heard something to-day! That old Mertzheimer--he--he--oh,

yea, why daren't I swear just this once! I'm that mad! That old

Mertzheimer and the young one ought to be tarred and feathered!"

"Why, Millie!" said Amanda, smiling at the unwonted agitation of the

hired girl. "What's happened?"

"Well, this mornin' two girls came to my stall and while they was

standin' there and I waited on some other lady, they talked. One asked

the other if she was goin' to teach next year, and what do you think

she said--that a Mr. Mertzheimer had told her to apply for the Crow

Hill school, that they wanted a new teacher there for another year! I

didn't say nothin' to them or let on that I know the teacher of that

school, but I thought a heap. So, you see, that sneakin' man is goin'

to put you out if he at all can do it. And just because you won't take

up with that pretty boy of his! Them Mertzheimer people think they own

whole Crow Hill and can run everybody in it to suit themselves."




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