“Thirteen years,” repeated Mr. Willard musingly, and then with great impressiveness he added: “Young man, I’ve got an idea regarding you—an idea; yes, sir, and it shall be carried out—yes, sir, it shall be carried out—yes, sir.” CHAPTER II. A WELL EARNED REWARD. Buck Kennon smarted so much under the castigation of Mr. Willard that he had hardly stopped his outcries when he reached home. In answer to the demands of his startled father, he stated that a big man, with a cane as large as a telegraph pole, had tried to kill him and came pretty nigh succeeding. Mr. Kennon was naturally stirred by the news and set out to investigate. He was a sensible man, but could not be expected to submit tamely to such an outrage upon his offspring. He learned, after due inquiry, that the offending gentleman was Mr. Willard, the newly elected congressman. Seeking him out, he received the facts from that person, who expressed the regret that opportunity was denied him for making his punishment more complete. Mr. Kennon, as I have said, was a sensible man and told Mr. Willard that he had served his boy right. In fact, he was so well pleased that he promised to vote for him if he should run a second time for congress. Then Mr. Kennon strode homeward, and, as he expressed it, made his hopeful “dance,” for his cowardly behavior. The occurrence became so generally known that it reached the ears of Mr. Bryton, the teacher, who instituted a committee of inquiry of his own, with the result that Buck was call upon to answer again for his flagrant breach of discipline, so that it may be said, the mean behavior of the bully received its full meed of punishment. The teacher talked severely to James Decker, but felt obliged to add that, after all, he could not blame him for his chivalrous course. “It is always manly to defend the helpless, but I don’t like fighting; it is brutalizing and I’m afraid if you keep on, James, you will end in being a full back on some football club. Then all hope will be lost.” Some nights after the exciting incident, Mr. Willard called upon his old friend, Mr. Decker. As the gentlemen sat by themselves, smoking their cigars and discussing public questions, the caller suddenly remarked: “Decker, do you know you have got a mighty bright boy?” “Yes; James is a good lad.” “He’s as full of pluck as an egg is of meat. You heard about his fight with that big bully who tried to impose upon the Goodwin cripple boy?” “Yes, James told me about it; I was glad you arrived when you did; for you not only gave the scamp a good castigation, but saved James from being badly beaten.” “I don’t know about that; I think the bully suffered the most, even though he was on top when I appeared on the scene. There’s another fact which gives me pleasure.” “What is that?” “Mr. Bryton, the teacher, tells me that your son is his brightest pupil.”