STORY OF TOM DARE AT THE MARBLE TOURNEY

By HOWARD STEPHENSON

SYNOPSIS: Tom Dare, eighth grader at Lincoln School, is disciplined by Principal Stryker for playing marbles for keeps with Willie Alvord, a new boy. Tom promises Mr. Stryker that he will not fight Willie, but goes to the place where they had agreed to meet and fight it out. He does not intend to fight, but decided to be bravo enough to meet the jeers of his playmates. Willie does not show up and -- Skinny Noble, Tom's true friend, proclaims him the winner. Tom sees Willie being mean to a little boy and defends the youngster. That night, Tom meets Skinny's -- Uncle Jim, a World War hero, who tells the boys how the games of marbles has been played for many centuries. Tom also learns that a -- Marble Tournament is to be held at his school, and that the city champion is to have a free trip to -- Atlantic City.

In the Lincoln school tournament, Tom and Skinny face each other for the final ring to decide the school championship. Tom beats Skinny, who shows his sportsmanship by volunteering to coach the school champ for the district and city finals. Tom also comes out the victor in his district. NOW GO ON WITH THE STORY

CHAPTER 10

The Fight

"T OMMY, willl you take a note for me to Mrs. Marshbanks?" Mrs. Dare asked her son one evening as he came noisily into the kitchen.

"Aw, gee, ma," said Tom, "how can I be a champ when I've got to run errands all the time?"

Mrs. Dare smiled. "How can any boy succeed who can't be polite to his own mother?" she reproved him. Tom' looked a little shamefaced.

"Well, I'll go, of course, ma," he said. "Only Doris never does anything. I have to wipe dishes sometimes, and she doesn't ever do any of my work."

"Thomas Dare, I'm ashamed of you. Never mind the note. I'll ask Doris when she comes home."

Tom shuffled his feet and looked at the floor. “I-I didn't mean it, ma, honest," he said awkwardly. "Please let me go for you. Why if I get to be champ it'll just be 'cause Doris made me practice so hard those last few days.

"Say, ma, wouldn't it be great if I should. Gee, I guess I'd be the best boy you ever saw if I was

champ."

Again Mrs. Dare smiled at her tousled haired son. "Dreams and the foundation for most things that are worth while, Tommy boy,” she said softly. "I am glad you day-dream a little. But don't be disappointed now if you lose. Only one boy can go to Atlantic City you know.”

Tom, nodded his head. He gave a long sigh. "Whoever he is, I'll be glad for him,” he said. Then he added slowly, "Unless it's that Willie Alvord."

"Well. I'm sure Willie Alvord has more character than that," Mrs. Dare said somewhat sharply. "The idea of being jealous. Do you think a true sportsman would say such a thing as that?"

* * *

"OH, heck, ma." said Tom. "I guess I've got a grouch on, or something, today. Gimme the note and I'll take it to Mrs. Marshbanks for you."

“Whistling in an attempt to appear cheerful, Tom walked down the street. But it was no use. This was an "off" day for him. Bad news that morning had spoiled the day for him. He was trying not to be cheap and unmanly, but it was a hard job. Skinny Noble, almost in tears, had informed him in school that champion of District No. 7, the district next to their own, was Willie Alvord of Loftie School.

Tom felt the shadow of another boy's skill creeping up over him. He wanted to win the city finals more than anything he had wanted in all his life. Willie Alvord, who had not dared to stand up and fight him, who had sneered at him, whom he had caught being mean to a smaller boy - this was the rival against whom he would have to contend.

And Willie Alvord was no slouch in the marble ring. Tom had beaten him, it is true, in the inferior game of "fat," but in Ringer, it is science that counts. Did Willie Alvord have more science, more true skill in his make-up than Tom Dare? The tune Tom was whistling trailed off into silence. Hands plunged deep in his pockets, he walked along with a deep frown on his face.

To reach Mrs. Marshbanks' house Tom had to pass in the neighborhood of the Loftie School. He could not keep from taking the street that passed by this exclusive school for the sons of rich men. A little enviously he admired the big handsome building, the playing field surrounded by high wire mesh. Boys were in the field knuckling down to 10-foot rings under the expert direction of their private school athletic coach. The coach strolled away and as Tom's eyes followed him, he saw three boys come out thru the gate. One of them was Willie Alvord.

* * *

WILLIE was Smoking a cigarette. Tom, remembering the scolding he had just received from his mother, resolved to show that he could be a sport. "Hello," he said, as Willie came up to him.

The other by gave an insulting laugh. He ignored Tom completely. "Look," he said to his companions. "Here's, that ragamuffin champ from Lincoln School snooping around to study my stuff. You better go home, kid."

Tom flushed. The other boys were somewhat surprised at the words of their classmate.

'Well?" Willie Alvord said to his classmates, "what are you going to do, let him get away with it?"

"Willie, leave the kid alone, we’ve got a game going and it’s your turn," said one of the others.

"You keep in your district, kid. Don't come nosing around here," Willie Alvord said to Tom.

"Gwan, this is a free country," Tom replied. "Besides, I'm not snooping around. I'm going on an errand for my mother."

Willie Alvord laughed again. "Ho, ho," he exclaimed. "Little sissy in helping mama today."

One of the other boys gave Willie a nudge, “It’s your turn,” he reminded Willie, hoping this wouldn’t turn into a fight.

Tom remembered his promise to Mr. Stryker not to fight Willie Alvord when Willie was a pupil at Lincoln School. But this was too much.

“Come on an fight, little sissy," said Willie.

"Na, I might hurt myself pounding you,” said Tom, I wouldn’t want to hurt my hand and then I'll lose the tournament."

"Oh, be a man for once, Alvord," one of his classmates said in disgust. “You’re keeping us from our game.”

"I say this kid need to be taught a lesson, so it's up to all of us to fight him," said Willie, as he drew back his arm ready to hit Tom.

The boys from Loftie, Willie’s classmate were ready for it. They’d seen Willie Alvord’s bulling before and had enough. Willie's schoolmates looked at each other doubtfully. The honor or their school could not permit this unfairness. Together they seized Willie Alvord, each by one shoulder, and threw him back. He snarled and whimpered.

Willie struggled a bit with his classmates and called out, "I'll fix you for the marble tournament, Tom Dare."

Some of the other boys on in the schoolyard, called out to Tom, “Don’t worry we won’t let that hot head Willie give you any more trouble.”

“Thanks,” Tom said, “You guys are swell.”

* * *

TOM walked continued on his errand. He was feeling pretty good now. He figured he had some new friends. Well at least those kids at Loftie school new Willie Alvord the same way he did. If they hadn’t been there to haul Willie back for sure there’d been a fight.

Tom thought how he’d have to defend himself. He held up his hands in boxer fashion. I’d give the old one two, Tom pretended. I’d be quick on my feet. As Tom walked to the Marshbanks house, he shadow boxed, punching out left and right in the air. Oh he was feeling good now, he thought has he faked a punch at an old white washed fence.

Pain.

It was an accident, he really didn’t mean to, but his right hand popped that fence with more force than intended.

Holding his right wrist tightly in his left hand, tears were starting to stream from his eyes.

Tom thought, “I strained my wrist and now probably can't play in the city finals."

The doctor's office was only a few blocks away.

(To Be Continued)