CHAPTER XIV
FIRE
"You quit that, Jed Burr!"
"Shut up, or I'll lam you worse."
Bob Bouncer paused as he was on a run to join Frank and the others across the playground.
Bob was passing the row of shrubbery, from which he had spied the jewelry store robbers the night before. Now, halting and peering through those same bushes, he saw Jed cuffing a helpless member of his crowd, three years his junior and about half his size.
This was Ned Thomas, a weak, timid little fellow, who was so afraid of the big leader of "The Blues," that he had fetched and carried for Jed all the last school term. Jed imposed on him terribly. The way he held the little fellow, was to make him believe he would work him into the ball nine in time.
Ned was sobbing and crying. Jed had knocked his cap off. He threatened him with his fists.
"You do as I say," he was speaking now.
"I can't, I won't," choked out Ned. "I just felt splendid at my luck in writing what I did. And you've taken it."
"I gave you mine."
"Humph! Yours! You give it back to me, Jed Burr! If you don't, I'll go home. I won't go to school at all."
"Do it, then," shouted Jed. "See here," seizing the little fellow, and shaking him hard, "you blab one word, and I
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