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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/14083-0.txt b/14083-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..ea466ac --- /dev/null +++ b/14083-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,5792 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 14083 *** + +Tom Fairfield's Pluck and Luck + +Or + +Working to Clear His Name + + + +BY + +ALLEN CHAPMAN + + +AUTHOR OF "TOM FAIRFIELD'S SCHOOLDAYS," "TOM FAIRFIELD AT SEA," +"THE DAREWELL CHUMS SERIES," "BOYS OF PLUCK SERIES," ETC. + + + + +ILLUSTRATED + + + +NEW YORK + +CUPPLES & LEON COMPANY + +PUBLISHERS + + + + +Copyrighted 1913, by + +CUPPLES & LEON COMPANY + + +TOM FAIRFIELD'S PLUCK AND LUCK + + + + +CONTENTS + + CHAPTER + + I. AN INDIGNATION MEETING + II. BRAZEN DEFIANCE + III. THE ADVICE OF BRUCE + IV. HOW SAM TOLD IT + V. TOM DECIDES + VI. ON THE GRIDIRON + VII. A CROSS-COUNTRY RUN + VIII. LOST IN THE WOODS + IX. AN ANGRY FARMER + X. A HAY STACK FIRE + XI. HOT WORK + XII. ACCUSATIONS + XIII. THE POISONED HORSES + XIV. SAM HELLER'S EVIDENCE + XV. TOM'S SILENCE + XVI. TOM SEEKS CLEWS + XVII. THE EMPTY BOTTLE + XVIII. ON THE TRAIL + XIX. DISAPPOINTMENT + XX. MORE SEEKING + XXI. IN THE STORM + XXII. THE RAGGED MAN + XXIII. THE PURSUIT + XXIV. CORNERED + XXV. EXPLANATIONS + + + + +TOM FAIRFIELD'S PLUCK AND LUCK + +CHAPTER I + +AN INDIGNATION MEETING + +"Well, well, by all that's good! If it isn't Tom Fairfield back again! +How are you, old man?" + +"Oh, fine and dandy! My! but it's good to see the old place again, +Morse," and the tall, good-looking lad whom the other had greeted so +effusively held out his hand--a firm, brown hand that told of a summer +spent in the open. + +"Any of our boys back, Morse?" went on Tom Fairfield, as he looked +around the campus of Elmwood Hall. "I thought I'd meet Bert Wilson or +Jack Fitch on my way up, but I missed 'em. How are you, anyhow?" + +"Fit as a fiddle. Say, you're looking as if you had enjoyed your +vacation." + +"I sure did! You're not looking bad yourself. Able to sit up and take +nourishment, I guess." + +"You've struck it, Tom. But what did you do with yourself all summer?" + +"Jack, Bert and another chum of mine went camping, and, believe me, we +had some times!" + +"So I heard. I had a letter from Jack the other day. He mentioned +something about a secret of the mill, the crazy hermit and all that +sort. Say, but you did go some." + +"That's right. It was great while it lasted. How about you?" and Tom +looked at his friend, Morse Denton, anxious to hear about his good +times. + +"Oh, I went with my folks to the shore. Had a pretty good +summer--motorboating, canoeing with the girls, and all that. But I got +a bit tired of it. I came back early to get some of the football +material into shape for this fall," and Morse Denton, who had been +captain of the Freshman eleven, and who was later elected as regular +captain, looked at Tom, as if sizing him up as available pigskin +material. + +"Well, I guess none of our crowd has shown up yet," went on Tom. "I +fancied I'd be a day or so early, as I wanted to have a good pick of +rooms. Got yours, yet?" + +"Sure thing. I attended to that first. But there are some fine ones +left. Come on over to Hollywood Hall, and we'll see what'll suit you. +Try and get one next to mine if you can. Are Bert and Jack going to +room with you?" + +"They are if we can get a place that will hold us." + +"That isn't as easy as it sounds with the way you fellows do things. +But there's one nice big study near mine." + +"Then I'll just annex it. Say! But it's good to be back. The old +place hasn't changed any," and Tom looked around admiringly at the +groups of buildings that made up Elmwood Hall. His gaze strolled over +the green campus, which would soon be alive with students, and then to +the baseball diamond and the football gridiron, on which latter field +the battle of the pigskin over the chalk marks would soon be waged. + +"Well, they've done some painting and fixing up during vacation," said +Morse, as he linked his arm in that of Tom and the two walked on +together toward Hollywood Hall, the official dormitory of the Sophomore +class. "The gridiron has been leveled off a bit and some new seats put +up. Land knows we needed 'em! We'll have some great games this year. +You'll play, of course, Tom?" + +"Maybe--if I'm asked." + +"Oh, you'll be asked all right," laughed Morse. "Did you expect Bert +and Jack would be here?" + +"I didn't know but what they might. I haven't seen 'em for the last +two weeks. After we closed our camp Bert went up in the country, where +his folks were stopping, and Jack took a little coasting trip on a +fishing boat. We were to meet here, but they must be delayed. +However, school doesn't open for a day or so. But I want to get my +place in shape." + +"Good idea. That's what I did. Well, here we are," Morse added as the +two came opposite a large building. "Let's go in and see what Old +Balmy has in stock." + +They advanced into the dormitory, being met in the lower hall by a +pleasant-faced German who greeted them with: + +"Ach! Goot afternoons, gentlemans. Und it iss rooms vat you are +seeking?" + +"Rooms it is, Herr Balmgester," replied Morse. "My friend, Tom +Fairfield, here, wants that big one next to mine." + +"Vat! Dot large room for one lad?" + +"Oh, I've got two friends coming," explained Tom. "I had a double room +over in the Ball and Bat," he added, referring to the Freshman +dormitory, "but there'll be three of us here." + +"Ach! Dot iss goot! Two boys makes troubles," and the German monitor +of the Sophomore dormitory held up two fingers. "Three is besser--vat +one does not vant to do ven der oder two does makes like a +safety-valve; ain't it yes?" and he laughed ponderously. + +"Oh, we'll be good," promised Tom, with a wink at Morse. "Let's see +the room." + +It proved all that could be desired in the way of a study and sleeping +apartment for three healthy, fun-loving lads, and Tom at once signed +for it, feeling sure that his two chums, when they did arrive, would +approve of his choice. + +"Well, now that's done, come on into town, and I'll treat you to ice +cream," invited Morse, for though it was late in September the day was +warm. "I'm in funds now," went on the football captain, "and I may not +be--later," he added with a grim smile. + +"Oh, I don't know," said Tom, hesitatingly. "I rather thought I'd hang +around. Maybe Jack or Bert will come, and--" + +"They can't get here until the five o'clock train, now," declared +Morse. "You've got time enough to go to town and be back again. Come +ahead." + +"All right," assented Tom. "Wait until I get the porter to fetch my +trunk from the station." + +The check having been given to the porter, Tom and his chum strolled +toward the trolley line that would take them into the small city of +Elmwood. + +"Here comes the human interrogation point!" exclaimed Morse, when they +were almost at the trolley line. + +"I thought he wasn't coming back to school," remarked Tom, looking +around. + +"He did say he wasn't, but I guess his folks made him. He wanted to +branch out for himself and be a lawyer, I believe. He sure would be +great on cross-examining witnesses with the way he asks questions," +finished Morse with a laugh. + +A small lad was approaching the two friends on the run, and, as he +neared them, he called out: + +"Hello, Morse! Say, Tom Fairfield, when did you get in? Did you have +a good time? I hear you went camping and discovered a hidden treasure. +Did it amount to much? How much did you get? Where's Jack and Bert? +Are you going in for football? Where are you rooming?" + +Tom and Morse came to a stop. They eyed each other solemnly. Then Tom +said gravely: + +"Isn't it a shame; and he's so young, too!" + +"Yes," assented Morse with a mournful shake of his head. "I understand +that his case is hopeless. They are going to provide a keeper for him." + +"Say, look here, you fellows!" exclaimed the small lad. "What's eating +you, anyhow? What do you mean by that line of talk?" + +"Oh, he heard us!" gasped Tom, in pretended confusion. "I didn't think +he had any rational moments. But he has. There, Georgie," he went on +soothingly. "Go lie down in the shade, and you'll be all right in a +little while. Do you suffer much?" + +"Say, what's the joke?" demanded George Abbot, the small lad referred +to. "Can't I ask you a question, without being insulted and called +crazy?" + +"Sure you can, Why," replied Tom, giving the lad the nick-name bestowed +on him because of his many interrogations. "Of course you can ask one +question, or even two, but you can't fire broadsides at us in that +fashion. Remember that we have weak hearts." + +"And our constitutions are not strong," added Morse. + +"Oh, you be hanged!" murmured George. "If you can't--" + +"Oh, come along!" invited Tom, catching him by the arm. "We're going +to town. It's Morse's treat. Yes, George, I did have a bang-up time +on my vacation. I'll tell you all about it later." + +The three were soon on a trolley car and, a little later, they had +reached the town, heading for a drug store where ice cream sodas were a +specialty. + +"It goes to the right spot!" exclaimed Tom gratefully, as he finished +what was set before him. "What do you say to a moving picture show? +It will pass the time until the last train gets in. Then for some fun +to-night, if Jack and Bert show up." + +The others were willing, and soon, in company with some other Elmwood +Hall students whom they met, the boys went to the place of the moving +pictures. + +"Well, it's almost time for the choo-choo cars to sand-paper in," +remarked Tom a little later, looking at his watch as he and Morse paced +the depot platform. + +"Yes, there she blows," remarked his companion, as a distant whistle +sounded. + +"There they are!" + +"There's Tom!" + +"Hello, you old skate!" + +"You got here ahead of us!" + +"And there's Morse Denton!" + +"'Rah for Elmwood Hall!" + +"I see Joe Rooney." + +"Yes, and there's Lew Bentfield." + +"Hello, Bruce! Bruce Bennington," yelled Tom. + +"Hello Tom! Didn't expect to see me back; did you?" and a tall, +well-browned lad, somewhat older than the others, leaped from the +still-moving train, and grasped our hero's hand. + +The other remarks, preceding Thorn's, had come so fast and in such +confusion that it is impossible to declare who said which or what. +Then, when Tom had greeted Bruce, the Senior who owed so much to him--a +Senior who had returned for a post-graduate course--our hero spied some +others of his chums on the train. + +"Jack! Jack Fitch!" he yelled. "Hello, Bert--Bert Wilson! I've been +waiting for you!" + +"There he is! There's Tom!" yelled Jack, hauling in the head of his +chum Bert from one window, only to poke his own cranium out of another. +"Hurray!" + +There was a rush of many feet, a tossing about of valises and suit +cases, the hoarse cries of hack drivers and expressmen, and, above all, +the greetings of the students, the smack of meeting palms and the +pistol-like reports of clappings on backs and shoulders. + +"Three cheers for Elmwood Hall!" cried someone. They were given, and a +"Tiger" was called for, followed by the school yell. + +"Say, Tom," began Jack Fitch, when he could get his breath. "What +about a room? Let's slip off and get one before this mob takes 'em +all." + +"Go easy, son; go easy," advised Tom calmly. "All is provided for. +Just tell the man to send your luggage to Hollywood Hall, and all will +be well. Same to you, Bert. I've got a swell apartment for us three, +near where Morse hangs out." + +"Good for you!" cried Bert. + +"Trust Tom to look out for the sleeps and eats," laughed Jack. "Oh, +but it's good to be back!" + +"Just what I said," declared Tom. "There's lots of good times in +prospect." + +Together the four chums, followed by others of their acquaintance, +moved toward the Sophomore dormitory. The five o'clock train had +brought in many students, all of whom were in a hurry to pick out their +rooms. + +"Say, this is a swell place all right," declared Bert, a little later, +when Tom had ushered his two chums into the cozy apartment he had +reserved. + +"All to the plush furniture," added Jack. "You're all right, Tom. How +is it for getting in after hours?" + +"Fine. It's right near a rear stairway. Oh, I saw to that all right. +And the monitor is Old Balmy--we can work him easy." + +"Fine!" cried Bert. "Now let's get things straightened out, and unpack +some of our duds," for their baggage had arrived ere they had done +admiring their new quarters. + +"We're Sophs now--don't forget that," advised Tom. "No more Freshmen!" + +"And we can do some hazing on our own account," added Jack. "Oh, +glorious!" + +There came a knock on the door. + +"Come!" invited Tom. + +The portal swung open to admit the form and features of little George +Abbot. + +"Are you all here? When did you and Bert come? Is there any----" + +"Stop!" thundered Tom, catching up a heavy baseball glove. "Halt in +your tracks, or it will be the worse for you! One more question, and--" + +"You wait until you hear this one," said George calmly. "Maybe you +don't want to, though," he added mysteriously. + +"What is it?" asked Jack, struck by something in the manner of the +human question box, and Tom lowered the glove. + +"I was going to ask if you'd heard the news," went on George. "But if +you don't want to----" + +"Go ahead, Why," invited Bert. "I'll listen, anyhow. What's the news?" + +"Sam Heller and Nick Johnson just arrived in a big touring car. Sam +says it's his." + +"Sam Heller here?" + +"And Nick Johnson?" + +"In a touring car?" + +Tom, Jack and Bert asked the questions in turn. They fairly glared at +George. The latter, satisfied with the impression he had produced, +sank into an easy chair. + +"They're here," he went on. "I just saw 'em come, and they're headed +this way." + +"Sam and Nick going to room in the same dormitory with us!" gasped Bert. + +"After what they did?" asked Jack. + +"Helping to capture and hold us fellows prisoners," said Tom bitterly. + +"We won't stand for it!" declared Bert vigorously. + +"I should say not!" came from Jack indignantly. "We will have to do +something--protest--make a class matter of it. After what happened at +the old mill, for those snobs to have the nerve to come back to Elmwood +Hall. Why--" + +"It is rather raw," interrupted Tom. "What shall we do?" + +"Let's go out and confront 'em," suggested Bert. "If they have the +nerve to meet us face to face--well, I don't believe they will +have--that's all." + +"Come on!" urged Jack, and he caught hold of Tom's arm and led him +forth to face their common enemies. The meeting of the chums, that had +started off so jollily, was now a session of indignation. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +BRAZEN DEFIANCE + +Talking over the unexpected news George Abbot had brought to them, and +planning what they would say to the two lads who had done so much to +injure them, our hero and his chums hurried out of the dormitory and +across the school campus. + +"Where did you see 'em, George?" asked Jack, looking at the small youth +who had such fondness for asking questions. + +"They just got in--fine big auto--they're over at 'Pop' Swab's soda +emporium, filling up on ginger ale, and poking fun at some of the new +fellows." + +"Just like 'em," murmured Tom. "We'll do something more than poke fun +at 'em when we see 'em." + +"That's what," added Jack. + +"Maybe they aren't going to stay--they may have just come here for a +bluff, and are going away again," suggested Bert. + +"How about that, George?" asked Tom, and the small lad, who was too +much engrossed with the possibility of some excitement presently to ask +his usual number of questions, replied: + +"I guess they're going to stay all right. I heard Sam tell Nick to +hurry up and pick out a room in Hollywood Hall, or all the best ones +would be gone." + +"By Jove!" ejaculated Jack. "They mean to stay all right!" + +"If we let 'em," added Bert significantly. + +"Come on," urged Tom. "If we're going to have a run-in with 'em, let's +have it in the open, before they get in the dormitory." + +And while our hero and his chums are thus hastening to meet the lads +who had played such a mean trick on them that summer may I be permitted +a few pages in which to make my new readers a little better acquainted +with Tom Fairfield? + +Tom, aged about sixteen, was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Brokaw Fairfield. +He lived in the village of Briartown, on the Pine river, and had much +sport running his motorboat on that stream. + +In the first volume of this series, entitled, "Tom Fairfield's +Schooldays," I related how Tom's father and mother had to go to +Australia to claim some property left by a relative. As it was not +convenient to take Tom along he was sent to school--Elmwood Hall--where +he boarded and studied. + +Tom at once made friends and enemies, as any lad would. But his +enemies were few, the two principal ones being Sam Heller and Nick +Johnson, and they cordially hated our hero. Tom's chief friend was +Jack Fitch, with whom he roomed, though Bert Wilson, George Abbot, Joe +Rooney, Lew Bentfield, Ed. Ward, Henry Miller and a host of others were +on intimate terms with him. I might also mention Bruce Bennington, a +Senior when Tom reached Elmwood Hall, and with whom Tom soon became +friendly. + +Dr. Pliny Meredith was headmaster at Elmwood. He was sometimes called +"Merry" because, as Jack Fitch used to say, he was so glum. But he was +a gentleman. Not so Professor Skeel, who was a taskmaster. It was +against Mr. Skeel that Tom led a revolt because of the professor's +meanness in Latin class. + +How the boys went on a strike, how they were made prisoners, how they +escaped in a great storm, burned the effigy of Mr. Skeel at the flag +pole, and how Tom won the strike--all this is set down in the first +volume. There is also told how Tom saved Bruce Bennington from +disgrace, and was the means of Mr. Skeel fleeing in fear of discovery. + +In the second book, entitled, "Tom Fairfield at Sea," I told how our +hero learned that the vessel on which his parents were sailing from +Australia had been wrecked. He at once set out to make the long voyage +to try to find some news of them or, if possible, to rescue them. + +The steamer on which Tom sailed was wrecked, and he and some sailors, +together with a little boy, floated for some time on a derelict with +which the _Silver Star_ had collided. On the derelict, most +unexpectedly, came Professor Skeel, who was on his way to Honolulu when +the accident happened. + +The dreary days of suffering oh the derelict, and in an open boat, the +meanness of Mr. Skeel and how Tom and his companions were finally +rescued, is all set down in the second book of this series. Tom +finally reached Australia and, setting out again, was just in time to +rescue his parents from the savages of one of the South Pacific islands. + +Tom reached home in time to go back to school and take his second-year +examinations, which he passed, thus becoming a Sophomore. + +Then came the long summer vacation, and as Tom had had enough of travel +he decided to go to the woods. In the third volume, called "Tom +Fairfield in Camp," I told of his experiences in the forest. With him +went Jack Fitch, Bert Wilson and a Briartown lad named Dick Jones. + +Almost at the first Tom and his chums ran into a mystery. Near where +they pitched their tents there was an old mill where there was said to +be a treasure hidden. But an old hermit who owned the mill was seeking +for the treasure, and he was not the most pleasant character in the +world. At the very start he threatened the boys and tried to drive +them from the woods. + +But they decided to have a hunt for the treasure. It did not add to +their pleasure to learn that Mr. Skeel, who had returned from Honolulu, +was also camping near the mysterious mill, and, most unexpectedly our +friends also learned that Sam Heller and Nick Johnson were also in the +same woods. + +Tom and his friends had many experiences in camp, and with the old +hermit. Finally their motorboat was taken, and they were in sore +straits. But still they kept after the treasure. + +Then Bert, Jack and Dick mysteriously disappeared from camp. Tom +suspected Mr. Skeel, and the two school bullies, Sam and Nick, of +having had some sort of a hand in the kidnapping of his chums. + +How he traced them, recovered his boat, and found the secret passage +into the old mill, you will find told in my third book. Also how Tom +accidentally discovered the hidden room and the place where the +treasure was concealed. Mr. Skeel and the two Elmwood lads, who had +held Jack, Dick and Bert prisoners, fled in alarm, and the old hermit, +restored to his right mind through the finding of his wealth, lived a +peaceful life thereafter. + +Once the secret of the mill was discovered, Tom and his chums had an +enjoyable time in camp. They remained until it was almost time for +school to begin, and then returned to their several homes. + +And now, once more, they were together in Elmwood Hall, and, most +unexpectedly, had come the news of the return of the two bullies, Sam +and Nick. It was startling news, in a way, for, after the mean fashion +in which the two cronies had treated Tom's chums, when they were held +prisoners in the old mill, Tom scarcely believed that Sam and Nick +would dare show their faces at Elmwood Hall again. + +"And yet they're here," said our hero, as he and the others hurried on +across the broad campus. + +"And they're going to stay, if what George says is true," added Jack. + +"Oh, it's true enough," declared the questioning lad. + +"There they are!" suddenly exclaimed Bert Wilson, pointing toward a +small building just outside of the school property. It was a shack +where "Pop" Swab sold soda and "pop," from which he took his name. + +"Yes, that's them all right," assented Tom. + +"And some car they have," added Jack. "I wonder where they got it?" + +"They won't have it long, if they treat it as recklessly as that," +commented Bert, for the two lads having leaped into the auto, Sam threw +in the gears so clumsily that the machine was stalled, with a grinding +that did not augur well for the mechanism. + +It was evident that the two cronies, having satisfied their thirst, +were about to drive on, but Sam's error made it necessary for him to +get out to crank the car again. This gave our friends a chance to come +up to them. + +Sam had his back to them, as he bent over to take hold of the crank, +but something Nick said in a low voice caused him to turn around. Then +he saw Tom and the others. + +There was something In Tom's manner that caused Sam to take an attitude +of defence, though our hero had no intention of coming to blows with +the bully. + +The oncoming party of lads came to a halt a short distance from the +auto, and Sam, straightening up, surveyed them, a shade of wonder, not +unmixed with apprehension, passing over his face. Nick, sitting in the +car, openly sneered. + +"So you've come back," spoke Tom cuttingly. + +"Of course we have," answered Sam, breathing a little easier, as he saw +that he was in no immediate danger. + +"And we're going to stay," added Nick with a laugh. + +"You are?" Jack almost yelled. + +"We certainly are," was the answer. "This is a free country, you know; +and we've paid for our board. See you later, fellows. Crank her up, +Sam!" + +The brazen effrontery of the two amazed our friends. They had not +believed that the two cronies would come back. And that they would +dare remain, after what they had done, seemed incredible. + +"Are you in earnest?" asked Bert, raising his voice to be heard above +the thundering exhaust of the auto which Sam started. + +"Of course we are," declared Sam calmly, as he took his seat. "What's +the matter with you fellows, anyhow? Why shouldn't we stay?" + +"You know why you shouldn't stay!" cried Tom, shaking his finger at Sam +and Nick. "After the mean trick you played on Bert and Jack, standing +guard over them in the old mill, in league with that scoundrel +Skeel--giving Jack and Bert only bread and water--after that you dare +come back here and expect to be treated decently? Well, you're +expecting too much, that's all I've got to say! We'll make Elmwood +Hall too hot to hold you! You'll live in Coventry all the while you're +here. You won't get a decent----" + +"Oh, get out of my way, Fairfield, or I'll run you down!" snapped Sam, +as he threw in the gear and released the clutch, and, had our hero not +leaped back, he would have been struck by the heavy touring car. + +"Well, of all the gigantic, unmitigated nerve!" gasped Jack, as he +stared at the swiftly moving car. "That is the limit!" + + + + +CHAPTER III + +THE ADVICE OF BRUCE + +The silence amid the group of Tom's friends, punctuated at first by the +exhaust from the car, was finally broken by Bert Wilson, who asked: + +"Well, Tom, what do you think of that?" + +"I don't know what to think," was the answer, given slowly. "It gets +me!" + +"And it does all of us," added Jack. "In the first place, I never +thought Sam and Nick would have the nerve to come back, but since they +had, I surely thought they'd cave in when they saw we meant business." + +"So did I," agreed Bert. "But since they haven't, what's to be done?" + +"There's only one thing," decided Jack. "We've got to expose 'em, +that's what!" + +"Sure!" cried George Abbot, getting a bit excited. "Let the whole +school know what they did to you, and I guess that will end things for +them at Elmwood Hall." + +"It seems to be the only way," agreed Tom. "Of course I'm out of it, +in a way, for they didn't keep me locked up In the old mill, with +nothing but bread and water. But they did Bert and Jack, and that's +the same thing. And there's Dick to be thought of. Of course he isn't +an Elmwood lad, though he may be soon, for he wants to come here. But +I feel that I ought to take his part." + +"Sure!" chorused Jack and Bert, while the former added grimly: "We're +on the job, and can look after ourselves. You can represent Dick, Tom, +and we'll form a combination." + +"To run them out of this school!" exclaimed Bert with energy. + +"That being the case," went on Tom, "we'll have to consider the ways +and means of doing it. Of course Nick, being a Junior, isn't in the +same class with Sam. If it had been two Juniors who acted the way +those fellow did I don't know that we would have such a kick coming, +but when a member of your own class turns against you it's time to do +something!" + +"Hurray!" cried George. "What are you going to do, fellows? Will you +let me in on it? Will you haze 'em? Say, you'll let me have part in +it; won't you?" + +"Hold on, George!" begged Tom with a smile. "Just shut off your gas, +throw back your spark, and put on the brakes. You're skidding a bit." + +"Aw, say, I want to be in on it," begged the small chap earnestly. + +"Oh, you will be all right," Jack assured him. + +"The whole Sophomore class will be in it when we give those fellows the +lesson they need." + +"I'd--I'd like to------" began Bert energetically as he clenched his +fists and look at the departing car, which was now almost hidden in a +cloud of dust. "I'm going to------" + +"Hold on," broke in Tom soothingly. "Let me prescribe for you, Bertie +my boy," and taking his arm he steered his chum around and toward the +little shack where Pop Swab held forth. + +As they filed into the little building two other school lads passed by. + +"What's going on?" asked Bruce Bennington, one of the twain. + +"Oh, it's Tom Fairfield and some of his chums," answered Morse Denton. +"I don't know just what the row is, but I heard that Sam Heller and +Nick Johnson played some kind of a mean trick on Tom and Bert and Jack +this summer. I don't just know the particulars." + +"That's so," agreed Bruce. "I did hear something about it. Feel like +having some pop?" + +"Not now, and if any of those fellows expect to make the eleven this +fall I'll have to make them cut it out." + +"Right! How's football coming on?" + +"Oh, I've got some good material, and I expect more when the new +fellows begin to arrive." + +"Going to play Tom Fairfield?" + +"I sure am, if he'll train properly, and I think he will. I want him +for one of the backs. He's a sure ground gainer, quick on his feet, he +holds the ball fast and he can kick well." + +"I hope he makes good," went on Bruce. "Well, I'm going to cut away. +I want to see the doctor, and arrange about my studies." + +The two strolled over the green campus, arm in arm, and they had hardly +gone a dozen steps before, from the little store of Pop Swab, there +come pouring Tom and his friends, all talking at once. + +"That's what we'll do!" + +"A class matter of it--sure!" + +"We'll work the Coventry game to the limit!" + +"And if it comes to a fight----" + +"They'll get all they want!" + +These were only a few of the remarks that came to the ears of Bruce and +Morse. + +"Something doing back there," remarked the football captain, nodding +his head toward the rear. + +"Yes," agreed Bruce, "and I don't like it, either." + +"Why not? It's only Tom and his chums talking over what they're going +to do to Sam and Nick, I expect." + +"Yes, and that's why I don't like it." + +"Why not?" asked Morse. + +"It may have a bad effect on the whole school. Class disputes always +do. If a class doesn't hang together------" + +"They'll hang------" began Morse, about to perpetrate the old joke of +"hanging separately," when Bruce laughingly interrupted with the remark: + +"Now that'll do you. There's a five spot fine for using that classic +so early in the season. But you know what I mean. It won't do to have +class dissension." + +"No, you're right. But maybe it will work itself out." + +While Bruce and Morse went their ways, Tom and his chums, talking +excitedly, went to Tom's room. He had some new rods and a gun he +wanted to exhibit, but, most of all, he wanted to give his friends the +whole history of the summer's adventures. + +"Now go ahead," invited Joe Rooney, when they were all seated, more or +less comfortably, on the beds and chairs in the room of the three +chums. "Let's have the whole yarn." + +And Tom began, telling the story of the secret of the old mill. He had +not proceeded far ere there came a knock on the door. + +"Come!" invited Tom, after a moment's hesitation, during which he +recalled that, as the term had not officially started, there could be +no danger from prowling monitors, or suspicious professors. The door +opened and Bruce Bennington entered. + +"Hello, Bruce, old stock!" greeted Tom, rising and holding out his +hand. "Glad to see you! Here, some of you fellows get up and give one +of our betters a seat." + +"Not a one! Not a one!" exclaimed Bruce, holding up a protesting hand. +"The floor's good enough for me." + +But several chairs being offered by admiring Sophomores, who knew how +to appreciate one of the best-loved lads in Elmwood Hall, Bruce +accepted a seat. + +"Go ahead, Tom," he suggested. "Don't let me interrupt the +festivities. I don't want to be the skeleton at the feast." + +"Oh, I was only telling the fellows how Sam and Nick acted this +summer," proceeded our hero. "And, as I was saying," he resumed, "they +captured Bert, Jack and my friend, from home, Dick Jones. + +"They sneaked up on 'em while I was away from camp, mauled 'em +something fierce, and tied 'em up. Then they held em prisoners for +several days------" + +"On bread and water," interrupted Jack. "Don't forget that, Tommy my +boy!" + +"That's right," added Bert with a sorrowful sigh at the recollection. +"I was nearly starved before you rescued us." + +"And that's what they did," concluded Tom, telling the final details. +"Now the question is, what had we better do to such cads when they come +back to school and expect to be treated decently? What ought we to do?" + +There was silence for a moment, and then Bruce Bennington asked quietly: + +"May I say something?" + +"Surest thing you know!" came promptly from Tom. + +"Then I'm going to give you a bit or advice," went on the older lad. +"You may follow it, or not, but I feel it's my duty to offer it. And +it's this. I've heard the whole story now, and I know how you fellows +must feel. But my advice is--to do nothing at all to Sam and Nick." + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +HOW SAM TOLD IT + +For a few seconds there was silence in Tom's room. All eyes were fixed +on Bruce Bennington, but the latter bore the scrutiny well. Then came +gasps of surprise, and one or two mutterings. Bruce heard them, and +smiled. + +"Come!" he invited with a laugh. "Out with it. I know what you are +thinking. Speak up, Tom--and the rest of you." + +"Did you--did you really mean that?" asked Tom slowly, "or was it a +joke?" + +"It wasn't a joke, certainly. I'm in earnest," and the smile faded +from the face of Bruce Bennington. + +"But what do you mean?" insisted Tom. "After the way those fellows +treated Jack and Bert--to say nothing of having practically stolen my +motorboat, together with the help of the old hermit and Mr. Skeel--not +to do anything to 'em!" + +"That's it, Tom. Let it drop, is my advice." + +"But why? I can't see why, Bruce." + +"Because it will make a heap of trouble in the school, that's why. +Look here, Tom. You know you and Sam, to say nothing of Nick, haven't +been on good terms from the start; have you?" + +"No, but it was Sam's fault. I had no quarrel with him." + +"I know that. I'm not saying but what you're in the right. But it's +the effect of the thing I'm looking at. Tom, do you want to see two +factions in the Sophomore class? Two bunches of fellows, one striving +against the other? Do you?" + +"No, I don't know as I do. But once we get rid of Sam, Nick will take +himself off, too, and then everything will be fine." + +"I'm not so sure of that. You might drive Sam out of Elmwood, but I +doubt it. And look here, Tom. You know there's going to be a big +Freshman class this year." + +"So I heard, but what has that got to do with it?" + +"Lots. You know, without my telling you, that the Sophs and Freshies +are mortal enemies. There'll be hazing to do--whisper it of +course--and with the Sophomore class divided against itself, where are +you second-year chaps going to be when the Freshies cut up--let me ask +you that?" + +"How will the class be divided?" inquired Jack. + +"Why, if you make this fight against Sam you can't expect his friends +to hob-nob with you when it comes to hectoring the Freshies." + +"Sam hasn't any friends!" burst out Bert. + +"Oh, don't you fool yourself," said Bruce quickly. "Sam has money, and +no fellow with cash need be without friends--or at least fellows who +call themselves such. Then, too, he's got a big car I understand, and +that will go a great ways toward making friends for him. Besides, +there's Nick to count on. His friends will be Sam's, and Nick has +quite a few, as he isn't such a bully as Sam is. Nick's a Junior now, +and the Juniors will side with the Freshmen. + +"Now I don't want to be a croaker, or a death's head at this gay party, +but you mark my words, if you carry this fight against Sam to the limit +it will mean a heap of trouble for the school. And, more than that, +the Sophomore class will be torn apart. + +"Don't do it!" pleaded Bruce, arising in his earnestness, and +addressing Tom's chums. "Let it drop, or, if you feel that you have to +get even, do it some other way. I know it's galling to sit still and +suffer--but think of the school. You owe something to Elmwood Hall! +Besides, I think you'd have your own troubles in getting unanimous +class action against Sam." + +"How so?" asked Tom quickly. "As soon as I tell the fellows how mean +he acted they'll vote to send him to Coventry at once, I'll wager. Not +a man will speak to him." + +"Don't be so sure," said Bruce quietly. "Tom, I'm going to try a +little experiment, if you'll allow me. I guess all you fellows know +that I'd stick up for my rights as hard as any one; don't you?" + +"Sure!" came the quick chorus. + +"And I wouldn't stand for any ill-treatment of my friends, or my class. +But I put the school above my own feelings, and my class next. And you +ought to, also, Tom. If you feel that you have to take it out of Sam +and Nick, do it--er--well--say _privately_," and Bruce whispered the +word with a smile. + +There was a murmur of understanding. + +"But what's the experiment?" asked Tom, curious to know what his friend +would propose. + +"It's this," answered Bruce. "If I prove to you that you'd have +trouble in rallying the whole Sophomore class under your banner, Tom, +to take some action against Sam, will you agree to let the matter drop, +for a time, at least?" + +Tom did not answer at once. He looked at Bruce, who returned his gaze +steadily. Then, somehow understanding that his friend had a deeper +meaning than he had yet disclosed, our hero replied: + +"Go ahead; Bruce. I'm with you. Lead on to the experiment, as you +call it." + +"Do you all agree?" inquired the older lad. "Will you let this matter +rest until you hear from Tom again?" + +"Sure," answered Jack and Bert, and the others chorused an assent. + +"Then you wait until I send for you, Tom," went on the post-graduate +student. "It may take a day or so to get the experiment in shape." + +There were murmurs of surprise as Bruce bowed himself out, and some +were still rather in favor of taking summary action against Sam and +Nick. But Tom said: + +"No, I've passed my word, and that goes. Bruce knows what he's talking +about, and we'll wait and see what he has up his sleeve. If his +experiment doesn't work, he'll be the first one to admit it, and then +he'll say the bars are down, and we can do as we like." + +As he finished there came across the campus the sound of a bell ringing. + +"Well, I know what I'm going to do right now, and that is get ready for +grub!" exclaimed Bert. "Sam and Nick can wait for all of me, but I'm +hungry." + +Soon a merry party had gathered in the big dining room, for more +students had arrived by later trains, or other conveyances, and Tom and +his chums were kept busy renewing old acquaintances, or making new ones. + +"There are a raft of Freshies," commented Jack to his chum, as they +lingered over the dessert. "We'll have our hands full hazing them, all +right!" + +"Oh, we can do it," declared Bert. "We always have." + +"Humph! We've been Sophs such a terrible long time," murmured Tom with +a smile. + +Discipline was rather lax that night, and there was much visiting to +and fro in the rooms. The proctor and the professors were kept busy +registering new students and did not pay much attention to the older +ones, including Tom and his chums, who made merry. + +"Oh, you boys!" exclaimed Demosthenes Miller, or "Demy" as he was +called--the studious janitor. "Oh, you boys! Will you ever settle +down?" + +"I'm afraid not," replied Tom, as he invaded the lower regions of the +man who attended to the fires, to borrow a long poker. "We want this +for some fun. There's a prof. who has a room just under ours, and he +wears a wig. It's out on the window sill to air, and I think I can +hook it." + +"Oh, young gentlemen, don't, I beg of you!" expostulated the janitor. +But they paid no heed to him, and hurried off with the long poker, +while the studious janitor, to drown his apprehension, took up a Latin +book which he was struggling through, endeavoring to educate himself in +the classics. + +Tom was engaged in the exciting, if forbidden, sport of trying to lift +the wig of the unfortunate professor from the ledge beneath his room +window, when there came a knock on his door. + +"Oh ho!" ejaculated Bruce Bennington, as he entered. "Up to your old +tricks, I see. Well I can't blame you. I did the same thing once. +What are you after, a bottle of pop?" + +"A wig," explained Tom, briefly. "Want a try for it?" + +"Not me. I've got to walk pretty straight you know. I'm regarded as a +sort of professor now, and I suppose, if I did my strict duty, I'd +report you. But I'm off duty to-night. I say, Tom, are you ready now +for that experiment I spoke of?" + +"Sure I am. But--" and Tom looked suggestively at the poker and +motioned downward to where the wig was still reposing. + +"We'll get it up while you're gone," said Jack. + +"You will not!" cried Tom. "Do you think I want to miss all the fun? +Wait until I get back. Will your experiment take long, Bruce?" + +"It may take most of the evening. But the wig will keep, and you may +think up a better plan in regard to it. Why not substitute another for +it while you're at it?" + +"By Jove! The very thing!" cried Jack. + +"You can get one while you're in town if you like," went on Bruce +dryly, "for I'm going to drag you off to town, Tom." + +"Good! I'm with you. Mind now," he cautioned his chums, "don't touch +that wig until I get back." + +They promised, and, though wondering what Bruce had in mind, they asked +no questions. + +"I guess it's safe to run the guard to-night," remarked Bruce, as he +and Tom crossed the campus on their way to the trolley line running +into Elmwood. + +"Oh, sure," assented our hero. "But what's in the wind?" + +"I'm going to prove to you that it would be bad policy to make a class +matter of sending Sam to Coventry, or of trying to run him out of the +school. And to do that I invite you to have a little lunch with me in +town." + +"All right," assented Tom, wondering what his friend had in store for +him. + +A little later they were seated in a private room in one of the Elmwood +restaurants much patronized by the students. Bruce ordered a tasty +little lunch, and they were in the midst of eating it when there came +the sound of several lads entering the next room. There was talk and +laughter, somewhat boisterous, and then a voice exclaimed: + +"Sit down, fellows, and make yourselves at home. This is on me and +Nick. We'll have a jolly time, and I'll run you back in my car!" + +Tom started. "Sam Heller!" he exclaimed, half rising in his seat. + +"Keep quiet," advised Bruce. "Of course it's Sam. This is part of my +experiment. Now you listen." + +There was some more talk and laughter, and then a waiter came to take +the orders. Sam called for a rather elaborate lunch, and while it was +being gotten ready a voice, which Tom recognized as that of a Sophomore +with whom he was slightly acquainted, asked: + +"You had great sport this summer, didn't you, Sam?" + +"I should say we did! Nick and I helped find a treasure in an old +mill." + +"Whew!" gasped Tom. "So he found it, did he?" + +"Keep quiet," whispered Bruce. "Listen!" + +"And what's this I hear about playing a joke on Tom Fairfield, and some +of his friends?" asked another voice. + +"A joke!" gasped Tom. + +"Quiet!" warned his friend. + +"Ha! Ha!" laughed Sam. "Yes, it was a _joke_ all right. You know +those fellows happened to go camping near where Nick and I were. We +met old Skeel--you know, the prof. who used to be here. Well, he had +some scheme of finding a hermit's money hidden in the old mill, and we +went in with him. Then we found that Tom and his crowd were on the +same trail. + +"Nick and I decided to have some fun with 'em. So one day we sneaked +into their camp, when Tom was out, and just took Bert, Jack and a +fellow named Dick something-or-other prisoners. Say! but they did kick +and struggle, but we managed 'em. + +"We carted 'em off to the old mill, and there we put 'em in a secret +room. It was jolly fun, until Tom came, made quite a row, and got 'em +out. But it was all a joke." + +"By Jove! and a good one, too!" cried several laughing voices. + +"Did you get the treasure?" someone wanted to know. + +"Yes, it was there all right. The old hermit got it. I don't know +just how that was, for Nick and I left. But I think Tom and the old +chap had a row, and part of a wall fell down, showing a secret room. +Oh, but you should hear how indignant Jack and Bert got when they found +we were standing guard over them! It was as good as a hazing." + +"It must have been!" agreed his friends, laughing heartily. + +"Aren't they sore on you?" someone asked. + +"Oh, well, maybe a bit," admitted Sam, with a show of frankness. "But +if a fellow can't take a joke what good is he?" + +"That's right!" came in a chorus. "If they make any trouble for you, +Sam, let us know." + +"I will, but I don't think they will. Ah! here comes the eats! Pitch +in, fellows!" + +"You're the stuff, Sam!" came from several. "And that sure was a joke +on Tom Fairfield and his crowd," added a voice. "A corking good joke!" + +There was more laughter and talk, and in the next room to the jolly +party sat Tom, looking at his friend Bruce in wonder. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +TOM DECIDES + +"Well?" asked Bruce questioningly, after a pause. "What do you think +of my experiment, Tom?" + +"Is this it?" + +"It is. Are you ready now to go on with your plan of reading Sam out +of the class, so to speak?" + +Tom did not answer for a moment. + +"Take time to think it over," advised his friend. "You have heard +Sam's version of the affair. And it's reasonable to suppose that many +will believe him--as many perhaps as would believe you and your chums." + +"But he treated Jack and Bert miserably," declared Tom, "he and Nick." + +"Of course he did," admitted Bruce. "He isn't denying that. But he +makes a joke of it, and it will be hard to convince the Sophomore class +that it wasn't done in fun. That's what you're up against, Tom. I +rather suspected it would be that way from the first, and that's why I +wanted you to hear for yourself just how Sam would tell his side of the +story. He makes himself out in rather a better light than you and the +others shine in, Tom. And you've got to consider that. I was waiting +for a chance to let you hear him talk to some of his friends, but I +didn't think I'd have the opportunity so soon. Now, what are you going +to do about it?" + +Again Tom was silent, while from the next room there came the sound of +jolly laughter, mingling with the clatter of the dishes and cutlery. + +"Here's to Sam Heller!" cried someone, toasting the bully. + +"And Nick Johnson!" added another. + +"The fellows who know how to play jokes!" put in a third voice, and the +toast was drunk amid laughter. + +"You see how it is," went on Bruce. "There are a lot of Sophomores in +with him--probably some of your own intimate acquaintances, if not +friends. They'll side with Sam, after this, no matter how much of a +case you make out against him." + +"I suppose so," admitted Tom ruefully. "Well, I guess I'll have to let +things go by default. There's no use splitting the class in twain." + +"That's the way I look at it," said Bruce eagerly, "I'm glad you see it +in that light, Tom. Save the class. But if you feel that you are +entitled to revenge------" + +"I sure do!" interrupted Tom. + +"Then take it privately--some other time," went on Bruce. "Football is +coming on now, and you may play on the team--so may Sam. It wouldn't +do to have bad feeling------" + +"I understand," said Tom. "I'll let the thing slide for the time +being." + +"And Jack and Bert?" queried Bruce. + +"I'll get them to do the same thing. But there'll be a day of +reckoning for that bully all right!" and Tom clenched his fists. + +"I don't blame you a bit," admitted Bruce. "Now go ahead with the +meal. My experiment is over." + +"Come on," suggested Bruce when he had paid the bill. "What do you say +to a walk back to the Hall? It's a fine night, and the tramp will do +you good." + +"I'm for it," agreed Tom, and they set out. + +"Hark!" exclaimed Bruce a little later, pausing in the middle of the +road, which was flooded with moonlight. "What's that noise?" + +"Auto coming," replied Tom. "Let's pull over here where we won't get +so much dust." + +As they shifted to the side of the highway they heard the sound of +singing from the rear, mingling with the exhaust from a car. + +"Elmwood Hall fellows," spoke Tom briefly, as he recognized one of the +school songs. "I wonder who they are?" + +"Don't know," answered Bruce. "Joy-riders, I guess. The fellows are +getting more and more sporty every year." + +"Get out!" laughed Tom. "You were as bad as any of us!" + +The car came nearer. Tom and Bruce were well over to one side of the +road, but in a spirit of mischief the lad at the wheel yelled: + +"Get out the way! Give us room! We're the cheese!" + +"They've got all the room they're entitled to," murmured Tom, for he +and Bruce were on the extreme left of the highway, and the auto should +have been on the right. + +"Look out!" yelled a voice suddenly. "Pull that wheel over, Sam!" + +But it was too late. A moment later Tom felt something strike him on +the hip, and he went down in the dust. + +"Put on the brakes!" + +"You've hit someone, Sam!" + +"Pull up!" + +These cries followed the striking of Tom. There was a screech from the +brake bands and the car came to a quick stop. + +"You knocked him down," someone said. + +"I don't care. Served him right. No business to get in my way!" +snapped Sam. + +"Are you hurt, Tom?" asked Bruce anxiously, as he bent over his friend. +"Were you hit hard?" + +Tom's head cleared. It had struck rather heavily as he went down, yet +it was but a passing faintness. He struggled to his feet, with the aid +of Bruce, and some of the lads who leaped from the auto. + +"I--I guess I'm all right," Tom answered slowly. "What happened?" + +"Sam Heller's car struck you," said Bruce quietly. "And it was on the +wrong side of the road. Where's Heller?" he asked of some of that +lad's friends. + +"Here I am," blustered the bully. "What's the matter? I didn't mean +to hit him. The steering gear is stiff. I tried to turn out. Anyhow, +only the mud guard brushed him. Who is it?" + +There was no need to answer for, as the group about our hero parted, +Sam Heller came face to face with Tom. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +ON THE GRIDIRON + +Sam started back, almost as though he expected Tom to strike him, but +our hero did not raise his hand. There came a grim tightening of his +lips, and into his eyes that had been dazed by the fall there was a +look of anger, but that was all. + +"By Jove! Fairfield!" exclaimed Sam. "I--I didn't know it was you. I +wouldn't for the world have------" + +"I suppose if it had been someone else you'd have ridden right over +him," said Tom quietly. + +"No, indeed. But--er--I guess I was going a bit too fast. I didn't +see you--or--rather, I thought you'd step over a bit more." + +"Step over more!" exclaimed Bruce. "What do you want; the whole road? +We were on the proper side for you to pass. What's the matter with +you, Heller?" + +"Oh, I didn't mean to do it I tell you. My car is a new one, and the +steering gear is a bit stiff. I wouldn't have done it intentionally +for the world." + +"That's right!" exclaimed Frank Nelson, a Sophomore who had been riding +on the front seat with Sam. "I thought Tom would get out of the way." + +"Thanks," responded Tom briefly. "I would have, if I'd known what was +going to happen." + +"Are you--are you hurt--much?" faltered Sam. + +"No, it was only a glancing blow," and Tom began to brush the dust from +his clothes, assisted by Bruce and some of those with Sam. + +"I--I'm sorry," faltered the owner of the car. "I wouldn't have done +that for anything, and------" + +"Especially after the 'trick' you played on my friends this summer," +cut in Tom. + +"Oh, I say now," began Sam. "Look here, Fairfield, I'm as sorry as can +be over this. Will you--will you shake hands?" and he advanced with +outstretched palm. + +"I will--not!" said Tom sharply, turning aside. + +There was a moment of tense silence, and then Sam went on: + +"Well, if you won't--you won't--that's all. I've done my share." + +"That's right," chimed in some of his cronies, including Nick Johnson. + +"It was an accident, anyhow," the latter added. + +"An _avoidable_ accident," put in Bruce quietly. "You are lucky it was +no worse, Heller. Tom might have been seriously injured." + +"A miss is as good as a mile," quoted someone. "Better give him a lift +back, Sam. I'll walk." + +"Will you ride in the car?" asked Sam, half eagerly, for he realized +how popular Tom was, and he knew how thin was the ice on which he was +skating. "Come on, there's lots of room." + +"No--thank you," said Tom between his teeth, and it was an effort to +add the last two words. "I can walk." + +There was a little pause--an embarrassed silence, and then Nick said: + +"Well, we might as well go on, Sam." + +"Yes, I guess so. We can't do any good here. Come on, fellows." + +They piled back into the car. There were some good-nights in which Sam +and his crony did not join, and then the auto rolled off in the +moonlight. + +"Can you walk, Tom?" asked Bruce, with his arm around his friend's +shoulders. + +"Oh, yes. I'm a bit stiff, that's all." + +"Too bad. This is my fault. You may be lame for football practice +now." + +"No, I guess not. I'll use some liniment when I get back. It wasn't +your fault at all. It was that Heller's confounded meanness, and I've +a good notion to------" + +"You're not going to make a row over it; are you!" asked Bruce quickly. +"You won't go back on what you said?" + +"No, but I'll watch my chance for getting back at him. I almost +believe he did it deliberately." + +"I hardly think so, though it was mighty careless of him. But we might +as well be getting on. It isn't far to the Hall now." + +Tom found himself a trifle stiff and lame but he could walk all right, +though with a slight limp. Bruce bade him good-night and passed on to +his own dormitory, while Tom silently made his way to the room he had +picked out for himself and his chums. There was a light burning in it, +though it was after hours. + +"Guess all rules are suspended for a while yet," mused our hero as he +entered. "Well, we'll pass the wig joke for a while. I forgot to get +one anyhow." + +"Hello, what's up?" demanded Bert, who was getting ready for bed. + +"Steam roller hit you?" inquired Jack. "Why, your head is cut, Tom!" + +"Yes, I had a little go with Sam Heller's auto, and I got the worst of +it," and our hero told his story of the evening. + +"The cad!" cried Jack. "We'll fix him for this. I almost wish you +hadn't given Bruce that promise, Tom." + +"Oh, that's all right. There are more ways of getting back at Sam than +making a class matter of it. Let's forget all about it. Whew! but I'm +stiff. Any of you fellows got any liniment?" + +"I have," declared Bert, producing a bottle of highly-flavored +compound. "It's home-made but it goes to the spot," and Tom was soon +bathing his injured hip, and telling the story of Bruce's "experiment." +Much against their desires his chums promised with Tom not to proceed +against Sam and Nick. + +Elmwood Hall began to buzz and hum with activities, not alone of +lessons and lectures, but of sports and the rumors of sports. There +were also whispers of hazings to come, and the luckless Freshmen +cowered in their rooms, and trembled at the sound of a knock on their +portals. + +"Did you see the notice?" exclaimed Jack one afternoon as he rushed +into the room he shared with Tom and Bert. + +"What notice?" asked Bert. "Has that sneak Heller left? If he has it +will save trouble later." + +"No such luck," was the answer. "But football practice starts +to-morrow on the gridiron. Hurray! Let's get out our suits, and see +how many holes there are in 'em." + +Books were tossed aside, and from the trunks were pulled the jackets +and trousers that had seen yeoman service. + +"Mine are all right," announced Tom. + +"Whew! There's an all-fired big rip here," declared Jack, as he viewed +his trousers. "Anyone got a needle and thread with 'em?" + +"Use some wire," suggested Bert. "That's what I do. Thread won't +hold." + +And then began a busy session for the chums. + +It was the day of the first football practice. Out on the field +assembled half a hundred lads from whom the leading school team would +be picked. There were at least a dozen lads for every position, and +only a few positions to fill, for many of the former players had come +back. + +"What are you going to try for, Tom?" asked Bert, as he delivered a +beautiful drop kick down the field. + +"One of the backs--left half for choice." + +"Here comes Morse," remarked Jack, as the captain came into sight, +surrounded by a score of lads seeking to curry favor. + +"And there's Jackson, the coach," added Tom. "He's got a suit on. +Guess he'll go in for practice." + +The field soon became a scene of activity. From one side two lads +strolled from under the grandstand where some of the dressing rooms +were, and advanced toward the coach and captain. + +"There are Heller and Johnson," said Bert in a low voice. "They're +going to have a try, too." + +"Did you hear where Sam wants to play?" asked Tom. + +"No," answered his chums. + +"Come on now, boys, line up!" called the captain. "We'll play a scrub +game. Hecker, Miller, Jones, Reilley, you'll be on the scrub for a +while," and Morse called on other names to make an eleven. + +"Regular team over here!" went on the young captain--"that is what's +left of 'em. Tom Fairfield, you'll be left half, I guess. Bert, get +in at guard, though I may change you later. Jack, you'll do at tackle, +I think." + +"Where am I to play?" asked Sam Heller as though it was all +settled--that is all but naming his position. "I'd like to go in at +quarterback." + +Morse looked at him. So did the coach, and the latter nodded at the +captain. + +"Very well, Heller. Try it at quarter," assented Morse, "though I +can't promise to always play you there in matches. Now then line up. +Tom will take the ball for a try through the scrub. Be careful in +passing it, Heller." + +There was rather a gasp of astonishment from the other players and some +of the spectators as the two enemies were thus brought into the +limelight. As for Tom, he felt a sinking at his heart, for he realized +that Sam had it in his power to make or mar his play by the manner in +which he passed the ball. + +"But they shan't say it was my fault!" said Tom grimly to himself. +"I'll play a straight game, and if Heller wants to do any crooked +work--well, let him, that's all!" + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +A CROSS-COUNTRY RUN + +"Line up! Line up!" + +It was the call of the coach and captain to the improvised regular +eleven and the scrub. Twenty-two rather nervous lads faced each +other--no, not all of the twenty-two were nervous, for there were some +veterans--warriors of past battles--who were as cool as the proverbial +cucumber. But the new lads--those who hoped to make the first +eleven--were undoubtedly nervous. And so, too, were some of those who +had played before, for they had not yet found themselves this season, +and they did not know but what their playing might be so poor and +ragged that they would be ordered to the side lines. + +"Line up! Line up!" + +Again came the stirring cry. The scrub team, under the leadership of +their captain, withdrew for a short consultation regarding signals, and +to plan how best to stop the rushes of the regular lads. The latter, +under the guidance of Morse, were ready to put the ball into play, for +the captain and coach had decided to see what value their side was in +rushing tactics, before going on the defense. + +"All ready now, boys!" exclaimed the coach briskly. "Get into the +plays on the jump. You can do twice as well if you have speed than if +you have not. Hit the defense hard, get some momentum back of you. A +moving body, and all that sort of thing you know, that you learn in +your physics class. + +"Jump into the plays. Meet the ball; don't wait for it to get to you. +That applies to you backs," and he nodded at Tom and his two mates. +"Quarter, don't fumble when you pass the ball back. Be accurate. +Don't make a mistake in the signals. + +"You guards and tackles, hold hard. Tear holes big enough for the man +with the ball to get through. Don't be afraid. Ends, you want to get +down like lightning on kicks. Nail in his tracks the man who catches +the ball, but don't, for the love of the pigskin, touch him until he +has it, or you'll be offside. Watch out for fake kicks, forward +passes, double passes--watch out for all tricks. If there's a fumble, +fall on the ball and stay there, unless you see a chance to run with +it. You fellows who expect to do any toe work, don't get nervous. The +boys will hold the others back until you get a chance to boot the ball +away. And you fellows in the line, see that you do hold. + +"There!" concluded the coach with a sigh. "I've given you enough +football instructions to last all season. Now get busy and let's see +how much of it you remember." + +"Line up!" cried Captain Morse Denton, and, the preliminaries having +been arranged, the ball was kicked off by the scrub, as the other +players wanted to see how well they could rush it back. + +It was Tom's luck to capture the yellow spheroid as it descended, and, +well protected by interference, he raced down the field. + +"Get him, fellows! Get him!" appealed the scrub captain, and several +made an effort to break through to tackle Tom. Our hero noticed that +Sam Heller was running interference for him on the left, and for a +moment Tom felt that perhaps he had misjudged Sam in one particular. + +"He certainly is making good interference for me," mused our hero. +"Maybe he won't play me false after all. But I'm going to be on the +watch." + +There was now but the scrub fullback between Tom and the opposite goal +line, though it was some distance away. Most of the leading team lads, +streaming and straggling along, were shouting to encourage Tom. + +"Go on! Go on!" + +"Touchdown! Touchdown!" + +"Good run, Tom old man!" + +Tom was getting into his stride. Sam was just ahead of him seemingly +getting ready to bowl over the scrub fullback, who was racing down the +field, eager-eyed, to tackle Tom. + +"If Sam disposes of him I will make a touchdown," mused Tom, and then +Sam and the fullback came together. Sam went down in a heap at the +first impact, and the fullback--who was Henry Everett--came on, +scarcely hindered. + +The next moment he tackled Tom and threw him heavily, though Tom kept +possession of the ball. + +"Down!" gasped Tom, as he felt the weight of his opponent. The latter +arose. + +"Got you; didn't I?" he asked, grinning. + +"Yes," replied Tom, looking to where Sam Heller was leisurely getting +to his feet. Our hero watched his enemy narrowly. Was it only a +fancy, or was it true that Sam had not made half a try to throw off the +interference of the fullback? + +"You were easy," laughed the scrub lad. "I thought I was going to have +trouble with you, Sam, but you were easy." + +"Aw, my foot slipped, and I fell, or you wouldn't have gotten me," +asserted Sam, but to Tom's ears, somehow, the words did not ring true. + +"I believe he deliberately let Everett get me so I wouldn't have the +honor of making a touchdown," thought our hero. + +The players ran up to Tom. + +"Good work, old man!" complimented Coach Jackson. + +"Some run, Tom," added the captain. "Come on now, line up boys, and +we'll walk through 'em!" + +"Yes you will--nit!" jeered the scrub captain. + +As Tom was panting from his long run, the other halfback was sent at +the line with the ball. He did not gain much, and then the fullback +was allowed to try. He gained a few feet. + +"We'd better kick," whispered the captain to Sam, who was giving the +signals. + +"No, keep the ball," advised the coach. "I want the boys to have +practice in bucking the line. Let Fairfield try again. He has his +wind back now." + +"All right," assented Morse, nodding at Sam, who began to give the +signal. + +Tom stiffened, ready to take the pigskin, and, at the same time he +moved up a little nearer Sam, for somehow, he felt that the passing of +his enemy might not be just accurate. And it was well that he did, for +the quarterback threw the ball short. + +"Look out!" cried the captain, but his warning was not needed, for Tom +made a jump and met the pigskin. With it safely tucked under his arm, +he made a jump between guard and tackle in the hole made for him by his +players, and completed the gaining of the necessary distance. + +"Down!" he panted, as nearly half a score of lads threw themselves on +top of him. "Down!" + +"Good work, old man!" the captain shouted in his ear. "Great +line-bucking!" + +"But almost a fumble!" came the sharp voice of Coach Jackson. "What +was the matter, Fairfield? You nearly dropped the ball." + +"It wasn't passed accurately," asserted Tom. + +"Aw, go on! It was so!" snapped Sam. + +"Well, don't let it happen again," advised the coach. "Fumbles are +costly--they mean the loss of a game many a time. Watch yourselves!" + +The play went on, with the luckless scrubs being shoved slowly back +toward their own goal. There they took a brace, and held for downs, +getting the ball. They quickly kicked it out of danger, and then the +regulars went to work to do it all over again. + +Tom was called on several times, and, though he watched Sam narrowly, +there was no further cause for complaint about the passing of the ball. + +"Maybe it was a mistake," thought Tom, "but I'm going to be on the +lookout just the same. I don't trust Sam Heller." + +"That will do for to-day," called the coach, after two touchdowns had +been rolled up against the scrub, Tom making one of them. "Take a good +shower and a rub now, all of you, scrub included, for there's no +telling when I may want one of you scrub lads on the first team. +You're doing pretty well," he allowed himself to compliment them. "But +there's lots to be done yet. We're only beginning. Morse, come here, +I want to talk to you," and captain and coach walked off the gridiron, +arm in arm. + +"Well, what do you think of it?" asked Jack of Tom, as the two came out +of the gymnasium, glowing from a rub and shower. + +"Oh, it seemed to go all right." + +"Heller try any mean tricks?" asked Bert. + +"I thought he did, but maybe I was mistaken. Oh, but I got one beaut +kick on the shin," and Tom gently massaged the leg in question. + +"Some lad tried to gouge out one of my eyes," added Bert. + +"And if I have any skin left on my nose I'm lucky," asserted Jack, +trying to look cross-eyed at his nasal member. + +"It's just a little sunburned," said Tom, with a laugh. "I guess we'll +have a team after a bit." + +"Sure!" chorused his chums. + +Practice went on for several days after this, and there were a number +of changes of position made, though Sam was still at quarterback, and +Tom held his same place. + +"Now, fellows, we're going to have a little different form of exercise +to-morrow," announced the coach, at the conclusion of a short game one +afternoon. "I want you all to take part in a cross-country run. It +will improve your wind, and work some of the fat off you fellows that +can stand losing it. It will be good for your legs, too. + +"We'll start from the gym after last lectures, hit the turnpike for +Aldenhurst, cross the river at Weldon, circle up the hill through +Marsden, and come back along the river road. You can go in bunches, or +singly as you choose, but you must all make those towns, and there'll +be checkers at each one to see that you don't skip. It's only fifteen +miles, and you ought to do it in four hours without turning a hair. +There'll be a five-hour time limit, and those who don't make all the +checking points, and report back by eight o'clock will be scratched off +the active football list. That's all." + +A silence followed the announcement of the coach, and then came several +murmurs of disapproval. + +"Fifteen miles!" came from Sam Heller. "That's a stiff run all right." + +"I should say yes," agreed Nick Johnson. + +"Can't we shorten it in some way?" asked Sam of his crony in a whisper, +but not so low that Tom did not overhear him. + +"Dry up!" commanded Nick. "I'll see. Maybe we can cut off a few +miles. Fifteen is too much!" + +"He sure is working us," said Jack to Tom. + +"And a time limit," added Bert, with a note of grievance in his voice. + +"Oh pshaw!" exclaimed, Tom. "Anyone would think you fellows had never +tramped before. Why in camp you thought nothing of doing twenty miles +in a day." + +"But we could take our time," asserted Bert. + +"Nonsense! We always did better than four miles an hour and never +minded it. Come on, be sports! We'll go together, won't we?" + +"Sure," said Bert. "Well, if it has to be, it has to--that's all. +Hang it! I wonder if I want to play football anyhow?" + +"Of course you do," said Tom. "We'll have some fun on the run. And +think of the supper we will eat after it. I'm going to see if we can't +have a little something extra." + +And he went to the kitchen of the eating hall where he and his chums +dined, to wheedle the chef into serving generous portions after the +cross-country run. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +LOST IN THE WOODS + +"Fairfield, Fitch, Wilson, Abbot," remarked the official checker-out, +as Tom and his three chums trotted out of the door of the gymnasium on +the afternoon of the cross-country run. "All right boys. Getting away +in good time," and the Senior student who was acting in the official +capacity smiled in rather a patronizing manner. "Now if you check in +together you'll be doing well. Take it easy. You haven't got much of +a run, and you've oceans of time to do it in." + +"Huh! I guess you think this isn't much of a Marathon," remarked Jack, +pausing to address the checker, who had marked their names down on a +slip of paper. + +"Neither it is, son," came the answer. "In my day we had lots of +stiffer ones." + +"And did the fellows all make good?" asked Tom, for though he and his +chums had spent one year at Elmwood Hall this was the first big run +they had taken part in, and on it depended much--their chance to play +on the big eleven. + +"Oh, most of 'em did," replied the Senior. "Of course some couldn't +stand the pace, and others wouldn't. But, as I say, it was stiffer in +those days. I don't know what the world is coming to, anyhow," and he +looked as though he had on his shoulders a large share of the +responsibility of regulating the universe. "You'd better cut away, +fellows," he added, "for, though you've got lots of time, it's better +to loaf on the other end of the run than on this one. Hike!" + +"He doesn't give himself any airs; does he? Oh no!" exclaimed Bert +sarcastically, as he jogged along beside his chums. + +"Oh, that's the way with all Seniors," said Jack. + +"I hope we'll not be," murmured Tom. + +"Do you think we will?" asked George Abbot. "I wonder what makes +Seniors think they're so high and mighty? Do you think we'll make this +run? Will------" + +"Foolish question number six thousand four hundred and twenty-one!" +interrupted Tom, with a laugh. "Now if you're going to start on your +interrogatory stunt, Georgie my lad, you'll make this run alone. I'm +not going to get dry in the roof of my mouth answering questions." + +"All right, I won't ask any more," promised the lad who was such a +questioner. + +"I wonder who are just ahead of us?" asked Bert, as he stopped a second +to tie a loose shoe lace. + +"Let's ask," suggested Tom. + +He halted and hurled back this question at the checking Senior, who sat +near the door of the gymnasium. + +"Who's ahead of us, Rockford?" + +"Let's see," and the checker consulted his slips. "Oh, Sam Heller and +Nick Johnson," he answered. "They've got four minutes start of you." + +"All right; thanks!" shouted Tom, as he again took up his stride. + +"Say, let's pass 'em," suggested Jack. "I'd rather be ahead of 'em, +than behind, anyhow." + +"All right," assented Tom. "Shall we pass 'em now, or later?" + +"Oh, wait a bit," said Bert. "Let's get our second wind, first." + +This suited the others, and they jogged along at an easy pace. The day +was pleasant, not too warm, and there was a refreshing breeze when one +got on the hilltops. The run was through a rolling country, and the +roads were in good condition. + +"Say, this is fun!" exclaimed Bert, when they had covered the first +half mile. "I like it better than I thought I would." + +"Wait a bit," advised Jack. "It hasn't half started yet. When you've +done about ten miles the next five will seem twice as long." + +On they swung, down a slope that made for easy going. When they topped +the next rise Jack uttered an exclamation: + +"There are a couple of lads just ahead of us," he said, pointing down +in a small valley into which the runners must now descend. + +"And if they aren't Sam Heller and his crony I'm a goat!" said Tom. +"That's Sam's run, all right." + +"So it is," agreed Bert. "Shall we make a sprint and pass 'em?" + +"Oh, there's time enough yet," said George. "Don't let's rush things." + +They accepted this easy way out of it, and, as a matter of fact, none +of them cared very much about passing Sam and Nick. They jogged down +the slope, to strike a level stretch, and, by this time, Sam and his +companion were out of sight beyond a turn in the road. + +"There's Aldenhurst!" exclaimed Tom at length, as they came in view of +a small but pretty village. + +"And if there isn't a soda water stand in it I'm going to make a +complaint to the police!" gasped Bert. "I'm as dry as a fish." + +"Don't fill up on trash," advised Tom. "The rules said that was bad to +do;" for a few simple directions as to the best way of making the run +had been circulated by Coach Jackson. + +"Well, I'm going to swab out with seltzer, anyhow," declared Jack, +"rules or no rules." + +"Oh, I guess that won't hurt," admitted Tom, and a little later they +had lined up before a crossroads grocery, in front of which was the +magical sign: "Ice Cold Soda!" + +"Ginger ale! Birch beer! Sasp'rilla! Cream sody!" rattled off the +snub-nosed and freckle-faced lad behind the counter, when our four +friends filed in and asked for some cool drink. "That's all I've got." + +"Any seltzer?" asked Tom, who knew the risk of taking into an +over-heated system the artificially flavored and colored concoctions +that pass current as summer drinks. + +"Seltzer?" queried the lad. "Do you mean that there fizzy stuff that +squirts all over when you press down on the handle of the bottle?" + +"That's her!" laughed Jack. "Pass it out--if it's cold." + +"Oh, it's cold all right, but nobody around here likes it," volunteered +the lad. "I took some once, and it tasted like salt water with needles +in it. I'd rather have strawberry pop." + +"Seltzer's good for your system, son. Pass it out," ordered Tom, with +a laugh at the description of the mineral water, and the lad went to a +big refrigerator where, after moving out some tubs of butter, and some +bottles of milk, he came upon the seltzer which he set before our +heroes. + +"That's good!" exclaimed Tom, as he drained his glass, and then, after +a brief rest, they started off on the cross-country run again, waving +farewell to the lad who had so aptly characterized the seltzer. + +They crossed the river at Weldon, and circled up the hill to Marsden. +There the going was stiff, and they realized why Jackson had given them +such leeway in time, for the slope was a steep one. + +"This is good for our legs," remarked Jack, as he plodded on. + +"Yes, and Sam and Nick seem to be still ahead of us," remarked Tom. +"They're keeping up well--better than I thought they would." + +"Unless they've taken a short cut," suggested George. + +"They have to check in at Marsden," said Bert. + +"Well, they may take a cut there. However, it doesn't matter," said +Tom. + +It was beginning to get dusk now, the September days being short. +There were about five miles of the run left when the four lads paused +at a wayside farmhouse located at the fork of the highway to make sure +they were on the right route to reach the river road. + +"Yes, you kin git to it this way," remarked a tall, lanky lad, who was +hanging over the front gate, seemingly waiting for someone. "There's a +bad hill, though." + +"Is there any other road to the river?" asked Tom. + +"Yes, you kin cut through the woods, and it's level all the way," was +the answer. "I'd take that road." + +"But we don't want a _shorter_ way," said Tom quickly. "We're doing a +school endurance run," he explained, "and we have to cover just so many +miles. We don't want to cheat." + +"Oh, you won't cheat," chuckled the farm lad. "If any thing it's +longer through them woods," and he pointed to a patch of forest just +ahead. "There's a wagon road through them trees, that comes out on the +river road. The only difference is that it cuts off the hill." + +"Then let's take it!" suggested Jack. "I hate hills, and it's all +right as long as we cover the distance. There's no more checking to be +done until we hit the gym. I say let's take to the woods." + +"All right," agreed Tom. "Is the path a plain one?" he asked the lad. +"We don't want to get lost." + +"Oh, yes, it's plain enough. A couple of other fellows passed here a +while ago, and I told them about it." + +"Sam Heller, and Nick, I'll wager!" exclaimed Bert. + +"Sure," assented Jack. "Much obliged," he called to the farm lad, as +the four struck off toward the woods. + +"Maybe you won't be--after a bit," murmured the lad, as he turned away +from the gate, a twinkle coming into his pig-like eyes. "I earned that +dollar easy enough--jest directin' 'em to the wood-road," and he looked +at a bill crumpled in his hand. "I never made money any easier. Them +two fellers, jest ahead, who told me to direct the next bunch into the +woods, must have lots of coin. I guess it'll be a while afore them +four lads strike the river, goin' through the woods," and, chuckling, +he went into the house, after a look at Tom and his chums. + +"Say it's going to be dark before we get back," remarked George, when +they were well within the woods. "I wonder if we can see?" + +"Sure," asserted Tom. "The trees are cut away at the top and it's +going to be moonlight a little later. This is a good road, and, even +if it's longer than the other, we cut off a big hill. We can explain +how we came to take it, and it's fair as long as we do the distance." + +"If we only get in on time," murmured Bert. + +"Oh, I guess we will," said Jack. + +Together they jogged on. It became more and more dark, and, as the +wood road was not in the best of condition, they stumbled over roots +and tree branches. But, as Tom said, it was light enough to see their +way fairly well. + +"Say!" exclaimed Jack, after nearly an hour spent in tramping the +woodland path, "this doesn't seem just right. The road is narrower +than it was at first." + +"Let's strike a match and take a look," suggested Tom. + +"And we ought to have been at the river some time ago," added Bert. "I +wonder if we came right?" + +Tom lighted a match, and set fire to a wisp of bark. It blazed up +brightly, and as he held it to the ground he cried out: + +"Fellows, we're off the main road. We must have made a turn in the +dark. We're on some by-path." + +"Then turn back right away!" exclaimed Bert. + +They did, using the torch to see by. But, after they had retraced +their steps for fifteen minutes, Tom again called a halt. + +"Fellows!" he said, "there's no use going on. + +"Why not?" asked Jack. + +"Because we're lost. We've been going around in a circle. There's the +same fallen beech tree we passed a little while ago. We're lost!" + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +AN ANGRY FARMER + +Everyone had come to a halt, and, while the bark torch burned dimly his +three companions gazed blankly at Tom. + +"What's that you said?" asked Jack, as if he had not comprehended. + +"We're lost!" repeated Tom. + +"Come again!" invited Bert. "You're jollying us!" + +"Indeed I'm not!" exclaimed Tom indignantly. "You can see for yourself +that we've passed this place before. Here are some of the ashes I +knocked off the bark torch," and he showed his chums the place where he +had hit the burning bark against a stone. + +"That's right," Bert and the others were forced to admit. + +"Well, what are we going to do about it?" asked Jack. "We're +lost--that's evident and we don't need a pair of opera glasses to see +it. But how are we going to get back to school? Or even on the right +road? I wish we'd stuck to the way, even if it did go up hill. This +taking of short cuts never did appeal to me, anyhow." + +"But we didn't take a short cut," insisted Tom. "We took a long cut, +and that's the trouble." + +"I wonder if that farm fellow directed us wrong on purpose?" asked +George. + +"He might have," said Jack. "And yet what would have been his object?" +If he could have seen that same farm-hand gloating over a crumpled +dollar bill about that time, Jack might have found an answer to his +inquiry. + +"Well, there's no use going into that part of it," spoke Tom. "The +question is, what are we going to do?" + +"Get back on the main road as soon as we can," suggested Bert, "and +stick to it, hills or no hills, I never wanted to come this way anyhow." + +"Neither did I," asserted Tom, a bit nettled. + +In a short time they had several improvised torches, made of bark, and, +each one lighting his own, and holding it down close to the ground, +they started off again. + +"Here comes a shower!" exclaimed Tom, as he felt the first drops of a +September storm. "Lucky we got the dry bark in time." + +"Say, but this is punk!" grumbled Bert, as he stumbled on in the +half-darkness. + +By carefully noting the path, and keeping to it, they managed to avoid +going in a circle again. Their torches smoked and spluttered, as the +rain increased, and, though they were under the shelter of trees, they +soon were quite wet. + +"Cross-country runs!" murmured Jack, as he stepped into a bog-hole up +to his ankles. "No more for yours truly!" + +"It's all in the game," said Tom, with a laugh. "We'll soon be out of +it." + +"We're out of it now," snapped Bert, looking at his watch. "We've got +half an hour to make the gym, for it's half-past seven now, and I'll +wager a can of beans that we're five miles from it." + +"Not as bad as that," asserted Tom. "We may make it yet, if we can +strike a good road. This looks like something here, fellows," he +added, as he emerged from the woodland path upon a firm footing. "It +is!" he cried a moment later. "I guess we can make it now! Come on!" + +Holding his torch of bark above his head, Tom led the way. He was +quite sure of himself now, even though he did not know just where the +path was coming out. It was broadening as he advanced, and he was +positive it did not lead deeper into the woods. + +"Ugh!" suddenly grunted Tom, as he came to an abrupt halt. + +"What's wrong?" asked Jack. + +"I ran into a fence, or something. Yes, It's a fence," Tom went on. +"We must have struck some sort of a farm." + +"I wish it was the one where that fellow works," put in Jack. "I'd +like to rub his nose in the mud for sending us on the wrong path." + +"There's a light over there!" cried Bert, as he and the others came up +to where Tom had come to a halt at the barrier. It was a rail fence of +the "snake" variety, and Tom had run full tilt into it in the darkness, +his torch having burned out. + +"A light!" cried Bert. "That means a house, or some sort of human +habitation. Let's head for it, fellows, and maybe we can get on the +right road." + +"Over the fence is out!" cried Jack, as he leaped the barrier. "Come +on, fellows!" + +The others followed him, the torch of George being the only one aglow. + +"It's a cornfield!" cried Tom, as he landed in it. "Look out, and +don't trample too much of it down." + +"Oh, it's only late fodder corn, and I guess it won't matter much," was +Jack's opinion, as he floundered on through the field. They could hear +him crashing down the corn stalks, and being wet, tired and miserable, +and perhaps a little unthinking, the others did the same thing. + +"Head for the light!" called George. "My torch is on the blink." + +It went out a moment later, and in the darkness and rain the lads +stumbled on. The light grew plainer as they advanced toward it, and, +in a little while, trampling through the corn, they saw a farm house +just beyond the field through which they had come. + +"That's not where the fellow lives who sent us wrong," asserted Jack, +and the others agreed with him. + +"Now to see where we are," suggested Tom, as he vaulted another fence, +and found himself in the big front yard of a farmhouse. There was a +barking of dogs, and, as Tom's chums followed his lead, a door opened, +letting out a flood of light, and a rasping voice asked: + +"Who's there? What d'ye want this time of night?" + +"We're from Elmwood Hall," replied Tom. "We were out on a +cross-country run, and we lost our way. Can you direct us to the river +road?" + +"Which way did you come," the rasping voice went on, and a man, with a +small bunch of whiskers on his chin, stood in the lamp-illuminated +doorway. + +"Through the woods," said Tom. "We got lost there." + +"And then we cut through a cornfield," went on Jack. + +"Through a cornfield!" cried the farmer in accents of anger. "D'ye +mean t' say you tromped through my field of corn?" + +"I--I'm afraid we did," answered Tom ruefully. "We couldn't see in the +dark, and it was the only way to come. I hope we didn't do much +damage." + +"Well, if ye did ye'll pay for it!" snapped the man, as he came from +the doorway. "I don't allow nobody t' tromp through my prize corn. +I'll have th' law on ye fer this, that's what I will! Knocked down my +corn; did ye? Well, ye kin find th' road the best way ye like now. +I'll never tell ye. And I want t' see how much damage ye done. You +wait till I git a lantern. Tromped through my corn! That's jest like +you good-fer-nothin' school snips! I'll fix ye fer this all right, or +my name ain't Jed Appleby!" + + + + +CHAPTER X + +A HAY STACK FIRE + +Cold, wet and altogether miserable, Tom and his chums stood in the +farmer's yard, waiting for they scarcely knew what. Their reception +had been anything but cordial, and, considering that they were unaware +that they had done any damage to the field of corn, it was almost +unwarranted. + +"Well, what do you know about this?" asked Bert, as he took off his cap +and dashed the rain drops from it. + +"I don't know much," replied Jack, dubiously as he turned the collar of +his coat closer up around his neck. + +"He's a cheerful chap--not," murmured George. + +"He might at least treat us decently," said Tom, and there was a note +of defiance in his voice. "If we've damaged his corn I'm willing to +pay for it, but he might at least direct us to the road." + +"That's right," chimed in Jack. "What's he doing now?" + +"Getting a lantern, from the looks of things," replied Bert. The +farmer had gone to the barn and in a few moments he returned carrying a +light that swung to and fro, casting queer fantastic shadows on the +rain-soaked ground. + +"Now I'll see what sort of damage ye done t' my corn!" grumbled the +man. "I don't see what right a passel of youngsters have t' tramp +through a man's field for, anyhow?" + +"We got lost, I told you!" exclaimed Tom, a bit provoked. "We didn't +do it on purpose. If we've done any damage we're responsible for it." + +"Yes, I know what that means!" sneered the man. By this time he was at +the fence over which the boys had leaped into his yard, and, swinging +the lantern about, he endeavored to see how much damage had been done +to his corn. + +"Tromped down! A whole passel of ye tromped it down!" he muttered. "I +thought so, an' that's my best field, too! I've a notion t' have ye +arrested fer trespass." + +"Oh, be sensible," ripped out Tom, who was fast losing his temper, a +thing that seldom occurred to him. "Tell us what the damage is, and +I'll settle. And then tell us how we can get on the river road, and +back to Elmwood Hall." + +"Huh! A nice lot of school boys you are!" sneered the, man. "Th' fust +thing they ought t' teach ye is manners! Spilin' a man's corn!" + +"Can't you say what the damage is?" put in Jack. + +"No, I can't--not until mornin', anyhow." + +"Then tell us how to get on the right road, and you can send your bill +to Elmwood Hall. Fairfield is my name--Tom Fairfield," cried our hero. + +"Oh, I'll send you the bill all right," snapped the farmer. "I'll +attend to that, and ye'll pay th' last cent due, too, let me tell you +that!" + +"All right," agreed Tom with a sigh. "I suppose you'll charge us +double, but we've got to expect that from such as you." + +"What do you mean?" snapped, the man swinging his lantern up so he +could see Tom's face. + +"You know what I mean! You don't seem to want to be reasonable. Now, +if it's all the same to you, will you kindly direct us to the right +road? And as soon as your bill comes in I'll settle it, though I want +to say that we had no idea of injuring your corn, and wouldn't have +gotten into your field but that we got lost." + +"Huh! That's a likely story. I know you fresh young school squabs!" + +"Oh, where's the road?" asked Tom impatiently. "We don't care much for +your opinions!" + +"Find it yourself!" snapped the man. "I'll not show you, and the +sooner you get off my property the better for you!" + +"Humph! I can't say that I admire your disposition," spoke Tom, in +exasperation, for he was cold and wet, and the prospect of reporting in +late, and making a failure of the cross-country run, was not pleasant. + +"None of your sass!" growled the man. "Be off, now, or I'll turn the +dogs loose!" + +With another took at the trampled rows of corn he went into the house, +taking the lantern with him, and shutting the door after him. It +seemed darker than ever in the farmyard with the light gone, and the +rain was coming down in torrents. + +"Nice prospect!" murmured George. + +"What are we going to do?" asked Bert. + +"He's the man with the original grouch all right," contributed Jack. +"Where'll we go?" + +"Over this way!" called Tom, who had been looking about. "I think I +see something like a gate leading into a lane. It may take us to a +road. Come on." + +They followed him, splashing through the mud puddles and darkness. +Then came a flash of lightning, which showed them the lane in question. +It did lead into the road, and a little later they were on the river +highway, headed toward the Hall. + +"Let's run and get warmed up," proposed Bert, and they set off on a dog +trot. + +"I wonder if any of the others are as badly off as we are?" spoke Jack. + +"I hope not," came from George. + +"I suppose we're out of the running," remarked Bert. "It must be after +eight." + +"Half-past," said Tom, managing to see the dial of his watch by a +lightning flash. + +"Ugh!" grunted Jack. "It's all up with us." + +In silence they plowed on, and a little later they saw the welcome +lights of Elmwood Hall. + +"Humph! Late, young gentlemen," remarked Mr. Porter, the proctor, as +they filed in the gate. "Report to Doctor Meredith at once." + +"It was an accident--we got lost," explained Bert. + +"And a crusty old farmer wouldn't show us the road," added Tom. + +"I'm sorry, but I can't help it. Report to the doctor," was all the +satisfaction they received. + +But the head master was not at all unkind about it. He listened to +their explanation, and consoled them for their ill luck. + +They managed to get something to eat, and then, paying a surreptitious +visit to the rooms of some of their chums, they learned that they were +fully three-quarters of an hour later in coming back than were the last +of the stragglers. + + + + +"Did Sam and Nick make good time?" asked Tom, of the football captain. + +"Very good, yes. They were among the first ones in. I'm sorry about +you boys." + +"I suppose we're out of the game," hinted Jack. + +"Well, not altogether, but it'll set you back. However, I'll do what I +can. Better turn in now. You must be tired." + +"Tired isn't a name for it!" groaned Bert. "I'll sleep like a +locomotive to-night." + +They were all slumbering almost as soon as they tumbled into bed, and, +though they had been well soaked, they experienced no ill effects the +next morning. + +To their delight the football captain and coach said nothing about +their ill-luck in being outside the time limit for the cross-country +run, and they went to practice as usual. + +"Huh! I wonder if they call that fair?" sneered Sam, when he saw his +enemy, and the latter's friends, in their usual places. + +"It's not right," asserted Nick, "after we made the run, and got in on +time." + +"Well, you didn't get lost in the woods," said George Abbot, who was at +least on speaking terms with Sam and his crony. "A farm fellow told us +to take the wrong road to avoid a hill." + +"Did he?" asked Sam, and there was a trace of a smile on his face. +"Well, you can't always trust farm hands," and he nudged Nick in the +ribs, though George did not see it. + +Two days later Doctor Meredith called Tom to his office. + +"There has been a complaint made against you," said the school head. +"Trampling down the corn of one--er--Jed Appleby----" went on Doctor +Meredith, reading from a memoranda. "He says you agreed to pay for it, +and his bill is--ten dollars!" + +"What!" cried Tom. "We didn't do half that damage! But I'm willing to +pay." + +"And after this, please be careful not to annoy the farmers hereabout," +warned the head of the school. "We have to guard against the students +doing that." + +"I'll be careful," promised Tom grimly. "Ten dollars! Whew!" he +exclaimed, as he took the bill and went out. "If he got a dollar he'd +be getting more than the corn we trampled was worth. But I'll not +dispute it. Only I'll get square with him," he boasted to his chums. + +On going to pay the amount assessed against him, Tom found that the +possessions of Mr. Appleby extended to within a short distance of the +school grounds. At least one of the farmer's hay fields did, being +connected to a main road by a long lane. + +"And if he'd been decent," mused Tom, on his way back, after settling +the score, "he could have shown us the way through his hay field, and +we might have gotten into the Hall on time. The old grouch!" + +He cut through the lot, passing a big pile of hay that was stacked and +thatched for winter. + +"Well, did you fix him up?" asked Jack, as his chum entered the room on +his return. + +"I did--worse luck to him. Some day we'll have to have the white-caps +visit him, or treat him to a coat of tar and feathers. It isn't the +ten dollars that I mind so much as it is being gouged by a farmer. +I'll get square though!" + +It was several nights after this that Tom, gathering up some packages +from his dresser, slipped on his coat and cap. + +"Where you going?" asked Jack, yawning and tossing aside a book he had +been pretending to study. + +"Oh, just out for a walk," replied Tom, evasively. + +"Want any company?" + +"I'll be right back," was the remark, which would seem to indicate that +company was not desired. + +"All right. Bring me back some peanuts if you go past Pop's place," +and Jack tossed over a dime. + +Tom's chums were in bed when he returned, and without awakening them, +as he supposed, he undressed in the dark and tumbled into his cot. + +"That you, Tom?" murmured Jack sleepily. + +"Yes." + +"What smells so queer? Have you been smoking?" + +"No, but I came home in a trolley and there were some fellows in it +hitting the pipe." + +"Oh, I thought it couldn't be you," for neither Tom nor his chums used +the weed. + +Jack turned over, and was soon breathing heavily, and Tom, too, was not +long in getting to sleep. + +It was Bert who awakened them some hours later. + +"Hello fellows!" he called. "There's a fire somewhere. I can see the +reflection of it on the windows." + +They all jumped up, and Jack, going to the casement, exclaimed: + +"It isn't here. None of the school buildings are ablaze." + +"No, it's over that hill," said Bert. "I have it!" he cried. "Some of +Farmer Appleby's hay ricks are on fire, or maybe a barn. Come on +fellows, let's help put 'em out!" + +"Oh, what's the use?" asked Tom. "It serves him right. He gouged us +enough to pay for a ton of hay anyhow. Let it burn!" + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +HOT WORK + +Tom's chums looked at him for a moment in the reflected light of the +blaze, as it shone in the windows of their room. Then Jack exclaimed: + +"Oh, quit your kidding, Tom. Get on your clothes and we'll go over and +play firemen. You're not going to stay here." + +"No, I meant it!" insisted Tom. "I don't see why we fellows should go +to a lot of trouble, and get all smoked up, to save the hay stacks of a +grouchy old codger who raised a row just because we trampled down a few +hills of his corn." + +"Oh, forget it and come along," urged Bert. "There are some of our +fellows going now," and he pointed down to the campus, across which +several figures could be seen hurrying. + +"Sure, come ahead," added Jack, beginning to dress. "It will be +something new, anyhow. It isn't like you, Tom, to hold back, even +though you have been gouged." + +"All right I'll come along," assented our hero, with a short laugh, +"though if I get a chance I'll tell Jed Appleby what I think of him, +the old skinflint!" + +"Better not have a row," suggested Jack calmly. + +In a short tune the three chums, followed by George Abbot, were +hurrying out of the school dormitory. Some of the monitors began a +remonstrance, but when a Senior or two pointed out to Doctor Meredith, +who had been hastily aroused, that it was the duty of the students to +help prevent the spread of the conflagration, so near the Hall, the +head of the school allowed as many as cared to go to the blaze. + +"Say, it's a big one all right!" exclaimed Jack, as they hurried on. + +"Yes, I shouldn't wonder but what more than one stack is going," added +Bert, for they were below the hill now, and could see only the +increased reflection of the flames on the sky. + +"How did it start? Who set it on fire? Is it hay or straw?" asked +George excitedly. + +"Stow that!" commanded Tom sharply. "How do we know; and how do _you_ +know it was set on fire, George?" + +"I don't know. But hay stacks don't generally set themselves ablaze; +do they?" + +"How about spontaneous combustion?" asked Tom, quickly. + +"Or a tramp sleeping under the hay with a pipe going?" added Bert. +"Come on, hit it up, or we'll be the last ones there." + +This was evident, for a number of groups of school lads had passed our +friends, who were jogging along rather leisurely. + +"There goes Sam Heller and Nick," remarked Bert. + +"All right. Let 'em get ahead," advised Tom. "We don't want their +company." + +As they reached the top of the hill the blaze burst full on their sight. + +"Two stacks on fire!" yelled Jack. + +"Big ones, too!" added Bert. + +"And they're near the barn," said Tom. "That'll go next, if the wind +shifts." + +"They've formed a bucket brigade," said George. "Come on, fellows, +let's hurry and get busy!" + +He broke into a sharp run, the others following, and soon they were at +the scene, together with a number of their friends from all classes. +Farmer Appleby was running about "like a hen with her head cut off," as +Tom expressed it, calling out various orders. + +"Git more water there!" he shouted. "Fill them buckets faster! Hurry +up, boys, or th' hull place'll go! Lively now! Oh when I git holt of +th' rask'il thet set fire t' my hay I'll have th' law on him!" + +"He thinks someone set the fire," remarked Bert to Tom. + +"Very likely," was the calm reply. "Most farmers do when it's their +own carelessness that's to blame. But he'll never get the fire out +that way." + +This was only too evident. Half a score of men and boys, some of them +the hired help of Mr. Appleby, were filling pails from a cistern, and +at a pump, and dashing the water on the blazing hay. They could not +get near enough to make the water effective, and what little they did +dash on was almost at once turned to steam by the heat. Then, too, the +stack was so large in diameter at the bottom that only one side could +be attacked at a time. + +"Have you any more pails?" yelled Jack into the farmer's ear. + +"I don't know. Don't bother me! Look in the barn! Oh what a +calamity!" was the answer. "If I get holt of th' rask'l------" and +then the farmer rushed off to grab a bucket from a staggering lad, who +was advancing with it. Mr. Appleby slipped in the mud, and went down, +spilling the precious fluid. + +"Jupiter's crab apples!" he cried. "What d' ye mean by that, Hank +Norton? Butterfingers!" + +"You spilled it! I didn't!" snapped the lad. + +"All right, git more! Oh, what a fire! My barns'll go, sure!" and the +distracted man rushed about not knowing what to do. + +"He's half crazy," decided Tom. "He'll never get the fire out in the +world acting that way. And if the wind shifts the blaze will blow +right toward the barns." + +This was evident. Two large stacks of hay, for which there had been no +room in the barn, stood in the farmyard not far from the big buildings +that contained the farm products, horses and machinery. Both stacks +were afire in several places, but as there was only a slight wind the +flames went almost straight up, inclining away from the buildings. But +it would need only a slight shift of the wind to cause much damage. + +"What's to be done?" asked Jack. + +"Get the horses out first," decided Tom. "That is if they're not out +already. Let's have a look." Now that he was on the scene, even his +feeling against the old farmer would not allow him to stand idly by and +see property destroyed. + +"That's the way to talk!" cried Bert. "Let's save the horses." + +They found the animals in their stalls, trying to break loose, and +tramping excitedly on the wooden floor. + +"Steady, boys! Steady!" called Tom soothingly, and at the sound of his +voice the steeds were a bit less restless. + +"How are you going to manage?" asked Jack. "I don't know much about +horses, but I've heard that they'll rush into a blaze if you cut 'em +loose." + +"That's bosh!" cried Tom. "It's hard to get 'em past a fire, unless +you blind 'em. Get me some old bags and I'll lead 'em out. Come on, +Bert. You used to live on a farm." + +From the light of the blazing stacks, shining in the barn windows, Jack +and George saw where a pile of grain sacks were lying. They passed +some to Tom and Bert, and a little later the two lads each led a horse +out, the bags having been tossed over the steeds' heads to shut out +their view of the fire. The animals were restive, but allowed +themselves to be led. + +"Here you go!" called Tom to some of his school friends. "Take the +horses quite a way off, and tie 'em to the fence. There are four more +in here!" + +He and Bert went back, and soon had led out two more steeds, while one +of the farmer's hired men, becoming aware of the need of haste, led out +the other two. Thus the horses were saved. + +"Whew!" exclaimed Tom, as he came from the barn after the last of the +steeds were safe. "That was hot work!" + +"And look at the hay stacks!" cried Jack. "They're blazing fiercer +than ever." + +"Yep. Water's give out!" exclaimed a hired man. "I guess th' hull +place'll go now. I'm goin' t' save my trunk. I've got a new shirt an' +a pair of pants I ain't wore yit!" and he scurried toward the house. + +"Water's gone!" cried Tom. "Then there's only one way to save the +barns." + +"How?" asked Jack. + +"They'll have to pull the stacks to pieces, and throw the hay that +isn't blazing as far off as they can. Scatter it, and then the fire +will eat itself out. It's the only way, and it can be done if they +hurry, and the wind doesn't shift." + +"Come on then!" yelled Bert. "It's up to us. No one else seems to +know what to do." + +"Grab these pitchforks!" yelled Tom, pointing to several of the +implements standing near the barn. "Tear the stacks apart!" + +With the sharp-pointed tools ready for service, Tom and his three chums +rushed toward the burning stacks. The farmer and his men were standing +helplessly by. + +"Tear 'em apart! Tear 'em apart!" yelled Tom. "It's the only way!" + +The next second, in spite of the intense heat, he and the other lads +were scattering the hay on the side of the stack that was not yet +ablaze. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +ACCUSATIONS + +"That's the way to do it!" + +"Why didn't we think of that before?" + +"Get busy, everybody! Scatter the hay!" + +These cries greeted the activity of Tom and his three friends, and, a few +seconds later, as many of the crowd of students as could get near were +picking and tearing at the stacks of hay, with whatever they could lay +their hands on--pitchforks, rakes, sticks, clothes-poles--anything that +would serve to scatter the inflammable mass, that was not yet ablaze, far +enough off so that the tongues of fire could not reach it. + +It was hot work and disagreeable work, for the smoke and ashes were blown +into the faces of the lads time and again. Yet they persisted, not from +any love for the farmer, since his treatment of Tom was well known, but +because of the lads' inherent desire to do something--especially at a +fire. + +Meanwhile, Mr. Appleby, seeing that the blaze was now in competent hands, +turned his attention to the barns, getting out, with the help of some +students and his hired men, the farm machinery, and some sacks of grain. + +But there was no need of this, as it developed, for, in a comparatively +short time, Tom's tactics proved effective. The fire, from lack of +material to feed on, gradually died out, and though the greater part of +the two stacks were consumed, the scattering of the remaining hay solved +the problem. + +The fierce heat and blaze began to subside, and in a short time all that +was left was a pile of glowing ashes. Tom and his friends ceased their +efforts, and withdrew to the cooler area near the barn, that had been +half emptied of their contents before it was certain that they would not +go up in flames and smoke. + +"Well, that's over," remarked Jack, as he stood his pitchfork up against +the building, "and I'm glad of it." + +"So am I," declared Bert. + +"And you're a mighty lucky man, Mr. Appleby," said one of his neighbors, +"that you have any out-buildings left." + +"But look at the hay that's burned!" whined the farmer. "Nigh on to +three tons of it gone, an' the rest spiled by smoke, I reckon." + +"But you're lucky just the same," insisted another neighbor who had come +over to help fight the blaze. "If it hadn't been for these school boys, +and that one in particular who had the gumption to think of scattering +the hay, you'd be many thousands of dollars poorer than you are now. +What's a few tons of hay compared to that?" + +"Of course!" came a murmur from several other farmers. + +"Humph!" almost sneered Mr. Appleby. "Them school fellers! Maybe they +know more about this fire than they're lettin' on!" + +"What's that?" cried Tom, who overheard the words. "What do you mean?" + +"Oh, nothin'--at least not yet, until I've looked around a bit," replied +Mr. Appleby. "You needn't be so touchy. Ain't I seen you before, +somewhere?" he asked, peering into Tom's face by the dying glow of the +fire. + +"You have," answered our hero calmly. "I had the pleasure of paying you +ten dollars for some corn you said we spoiled the night we were lost on +the cross-country run, and you refused to direct us to the right road." + +"Humph! I thought I recognized you," and the farmer turned away without +so much as a word of thanks to Tom and his chums. + +"Keep the change," called Tom after him. "Next time you have a fire send +for us!" + +"The old grouch!" gasped Jack. "Isn't he the limit?" + +"And then some more," added Bert. "Come on back to bed. I smell like a +smoked ham I imagine." + +"We all do," agreed Jack. "But I wonder what old Appleby was driving at +when he said some of our lads might know more about this fire than they +were saying?" + +"Oh, just talk I imagine," said Tom quickly. "He hedged when I tried to +corner him. He's so excited he doesn't know what he is saying. Come on; +let's go back." + +They filed out of the still smoky farmyard and made their way back to the +Hall, other lads doing the same thing. The excitement was over now, and +soon Elmwood Hall had taken on her normal appearance at night, with her +students resuming their interrupted slumbers. + +There was much talk of the fire the next morning, the topic forming a +fruitful source of conversation at the breakfast tables, and on the way +to chapel. Then came lessons, when the lads separated. But in Tom's +mind there rankled the words the old farmer had used. + +"I wonder what will come of it?" he mused. + +He had not long to wait to find out. That afternoon, following some hard +football practice, when he and his two particular chums were on their way +to the gymnasium for a shower bath, they heard a voice behind them asking: + +"I say, kin you boys tell me where I kin find Doctor Meredith? I want t' +have a talk with him." + +They turned, to behold Farmer Appleby, dressed in what were apparently +his best clothes, and with a "biled" shirt, the collar of which obviously +galled his neck. + +"There is the doctor's residence, over there," indicated Tom. "I trust +the fire is all out," he added, half sarcastically. + +"Humph! Yes, it's out, but I ain't done with it yet," and the farmer +nodded his head vigorously. "I've got some suspicions, and I've come t' +tell 'em. I want t' have a talk with Doctor Meredith about that fire." + +"Here he comes now," said Jack, as the tall form of the head master was +seen approaching over the campus. Seeing the group of lads, and +recognizing them, the doctor turned and approached Tom and his mates. +Mr. Appleby, assuming an air of importance, stood waiting. + +"Well, boys, none the worse from the excitement of last night, I hope," +began the head of the school. "At least I see you are able to resume +football practice," and he smiled at the rather soiled appearance of the +lads. + +"Yes, we're all right," assented Jack. + +"Be you Doctor Meredith?" broke in the farmer. + +"I am," was the quiet answer, and a pair of eyes that had an +uncomfortable habit of seeming to bore right through one, looked sharply +at the farmer. "Did you wish to see me?" + +"Yes, I'm Mr. Appleby. It was my hay stacks that burned last night." + +"Oh, yes, I heard about it. I am sorry for you. I understand that had +it not been for some of my students the fire would have been much worse. +You have come to thank them, through me, I take it." + +"Well, no, Doctor Meredith, I don't know as I have," and the farmer's +voice seemed harsh and grating. + +"You have not? Pray, then, what------" + +"I come t' tell you, Doctor Meredith, that perhaps if it hadn't been fer +some of your boys maybe there wouldn't have been any fire!" + +"What's that?" exclaimed the doctor, drawing himself up sharply and +looking at the farmer intently. "Just what do you mean, Mr. Appleby?" + +"Jest what I said. I'm not satisfied as t' how that fire started, and I +suspect that some of your students set it." + +"Preposterous! Why should they do such a thing as that?" + +"Because some of them have a grudge against me. It ain't th' fust time +the school boys has played tricks on me. Two years ago they burned up an +old shed." + +"So you said at the time, but you could never prove it, I believe. You +should be careful how you make accusations, sir." + +"I am careful, Doctor Meredith, an' that's why I didn't come sooner. +I've got evidence now." + +"Evidence? What kind?" + +"Well, one of my hired men saw a fellow, who looked like a school lad, +sneaking around the hay stacks a leetle while afore they begun to blaze." + +"Is that all? If it is, I call that very flimsy evidence; and I again +warn you to be careful how you make accusations." + +"It ain't all, Doctor Meredith. Th' same hired man picked up this pin +near the stacks," and the farmer held out a pin such as was worn by +nearly every Elmwood Hall student. + +"Picked up the pin near the stacks; did he?" asked the head master +coolly, as he looked at the ornament. "Well, seeing that a number of my +students were helping put out the fire, it is but natural that one might +lose a pin there. I see no evidence in that, and again----" + +"This here pin were picked up at the stacks just _afore_ th' fire was +discovered--not _afterward_," said the farmer in a harsh voice, as his +gaze swept the faces of Tom and his chums. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +THE POISONED HORSES + +For the space of several seconds there was silence--a portentous +silence--and then the head of the school, looking from the pin in his +hand at the accusing farmer, and thence to the three lads said: + +"Do you know, Mr. Appleby, to whom this pin belongs?" + +"No, sir, I don't. But I thought maybe you could tell. That's why I +come t' see you. If anybody set my stacks afire I want t' know it, an' +I want damages, same as I had when some fellers tromped through my +corn," and Mr. Appleby looked straight at Tom, who returned the gaze +fearlessly. + +"Again I warn you to be careful in your accusations, Mr. Appleby," said +the head master sharply. + +"I am, Doctor. I ain't namin' no names, but I brought that pin t' you, +thinkin' you could tell who owned it. Then, when it is knowed who was +sneakin' around my barns, I may be able t' say who sot the fire!" + +"Preposterous!" exclaimed Doctor Meredith. "I will not, for one +moment, entertain a suspicion, even, against one of my lads on such +flimsy evidence as this." + +"'Tain't flimsy!" retorted the farmer. "There's been men convicted +of serious crimes on less evidence than a gold pin. That's a school +emblem, an' I know it!" + +"True enough," agreed the head master. + +"Then I ask you to say who owns it?" demanded the incensed farmer. + +"That I cannot say," was the cool answer. "This is not a class pin--it +is a hall emblem--that is, any lad in the school is entitled to wear +it, and nearly every one does." + +"Then call the roll, an' find out who's lost his pin!" suggested Mr. +Appleby eagerly. "That's an easy way to find out." + +"I shall do nothing of the sort!" answered the doctor firmly. + +"Then I'll go t' law about it. I tell you, Doctor Meredith, that pin +was picked up near the stack before the hay was found t' be on fire. +It belongs to one of your students, an' I demand an investigation." + +"Well, you may demand as much as you please, Mr. Applesauce----" + +"Appleby's my name--Jed Appleby." + +"Very well, Mr. Appleby. You may demand as much as you please, but I +shall not inflict an accusation on any of my students in general, and +certainly on none in particular, on such flimsy evidence as this. Here +is the pin, you may advertise it if you like." + +"Huh! Yes, an' d' ye s'pose th' owner would claim it? Not much. I +don't want th' pin. It ain't mine. But I want t' know who sot that +fire, an' I'm goin' t' find out! One of my men seen a school lad near +the hay early in th' evenin', I tell ye!" + +"Can he identify him?" asked the doctor. + +"No, I don't know as he kin. It was dark, an'----" + +"That will do," interrupted the head master. "I am afraid I have no +more time to listen to you. Good day. I shall keep the pin, since you +refuse to take it," and the doctor, with a curt nod to the farmer, and +a smile at the lads, passed on. + +For a moment Tom and his chums stood looking at the somewhat bewildered +farmer, and then Tom spoke. + +"You've got a lot of nerve!" he said cuttingly. + +"I should say so," added Bert. + +"The worst ever," added Jack. "After we help you put out the fire, and +practically saved your barns and horses, you come and make trouble like +this. You're a peach, you are!" + +"Don't you give me none of your back talk!" snapped Mr. Appleby. "I +know what I'm doin'." + +"Yes, and I suppose you did when you charged us ten dollars for a +little corn," said Tom. + +"That's all right," replied the farmer, doggedly. "I'll find out who +sot that fire, and I'll have th' law on 'em, student or no student. +An' I'll find out who lost that pin." + +"Good luck to you!" called Bert sarcastically. + +"Maybe you lost it yourself," said the farmer quickly. "Will you show +me your pin, an' will you swear you wasn't away from the school early +in th' evenin' of the fire? Will you?" + +"I sure will!" exclaimed Bert, "and here's my pin," and he showed where +it was fastened on his sweater that he used to throw over his broad +shoulders when resting from football practice. + +"Where's yours?" demanded Mr. Appleby, turning to Tom and Jack. + +Bert, who was looking at Tom, fancied he saw a start on the part of his +chum. There was just the suggestion of a flush under the tan of his +cheeks, and then he answered: + +"It's in my room probably. I don't wear it all the while." + +"Neither do I," added Jack quickly. "I haven't mine on. Maybe I lost +it." + +"Why, Jack!" began Bert. "I saw your pin on you this af------" + +He subsided quickly, for, as Tom turned aside Jack administered a swift +kick to Bert, at the same time hissing into his ear: "Shut up, you +chump! Why do you want to bother answering a fellow like him?" + +"Oh--er--all right," stammered Bert, and he looked from Jack to Tom, +wonderingly. + +"All right. You may think you're smart, but you'll find that th' law's +smarter than any of ye!" threatened the farmer, as he turned aside with +a scowl. + +"Nice sort of chap--not," murmured Tom, as he strode on, his companions +hurrying to catch up to him. + +"I should say so," agreed Jack. "Why, any fellow might lose his +pin--not necessarily at Appleby's hay stacks--and that, in his eyes, +would make him guilty. I don't even know where my school pin is at +this moment." + +Once more Bert looked at Jack, and he wondered much, for he was sure he +had seen Jack's pin gleaming on his sweater a short time before the +farmer appeared, and yet now Jack said he did not have it. + +"It's too much for me!" murmured Bert. He was not much given to +solving puzzles, and this one was beyond him. Why had Jack pretended +not to have his pin, when all the while Bert was sure he had seen it? +Could it be that------? + +"Oh, pshaw!" exclaimed Bert, to himself. "I'm not going to get into +deep water over this. I'll wait and see what happens." + +And, though he did not know it, much was to happen soon. + +It was soon noised about the college that Farmer Appleby had made a +"crack" about his hay fire, and great was the indignation of the lads. + +"After what we did for him, he ought to be glad enough to keep quiet, +if we burned half a dozen stacks!" exclaimed Reddy Burke, the genial +Irish lad. "Sure and it's meself would tell him that same if I got a +chance," Reddy always lapsed into the idioms of his forebears when he +grew excited. + +"Oh, it isn't worth bothering about," declared Bruce Bennington. +"Appleby is naturally sore at losing some of his crops, for he's a +regular miser. I know him of old. Every time something happened on +his farm he always complained that we boys did it or had a hand in it." + +"And did you?" asked Tom. + +"Sometimes, but oftener not. Don't let it worry you. He's only +looking for money. I'll wager if he was to be paid for his hay, and if +he knew who set fire to it--if any one did--he'd keep quiet and +compound the felony. Forget it." + +It was about two weeks later, just prior to the first match football +game of the season, that Bert and Jack, coming in from practice which +Tom had left earlier because of a slight injury to his shoulder, found +their chum busy with bottles and test tubes in their room. + +"Whew! What a smell!" cried Jack, as he opened the door. "What in the +world be you a doin' of, Tommy, my boy?" + +"Oh, working out some physics problems. I'm a bit back in my work." + +"Noble youth! I ought to be doing the same thing. My! but I'm dry. +Got any ice water? What's this?" and Jack caught up a glass filled +with a colorless liquid. + +"Here! Drop that!" cried Tom, quickly. "That's had cyanide of +potassium in. There may be some in it yet. If you want to go to an +early grave, taste it." + +"Not on your life!" gasped Jack, a bit white. "But you shouldn't leave +such stuff around carelessly, Tom." + +"I didn't intend to. I didn't think you fellows would be back so soon. +I'm just cleaning up. I'm done now. How did practice go after I left?" + +"Oh, we shoved the scrub all over, and made two more touchdowns. Say, +though, I hope you can play Saturday," and Jack looked anxiously at Tom. + +"Oh, sure I can play. I just didn't want to get laid up, and that's +why I pulled out. I'll play all right." + +The Elmwood regular eleven was being whipped into good shape by captain +and coach, and to their delight our three friends were promised places +for the first match game of the season. + +It was a night or two before the game when Jack, who had been to town, +came back with an evening paper. + +"I say!" he exclaimed, looking it over before the summons to supper, +"here's more trouble for our friend Appleby." + +"What is it?" asked Tom quickly, looking up from a book. + +"Why, it seems all his horses were poisoned night before last, all six +of 'em. And they found traces of a white powder in the mangers this +morning." + +"Really?" cried Bert. + +"Sure. Here's a long piece in the paper about it." + +"Are they dead?" asked Tom. + +"No, but it says it's doubtful if they'll get better. I say, I s'pose +he'll make another row now, and charge some of us fellows with doing +it," and Jack pored over the item. + +"Why will he?" asked Tom. + +"Because--Oh, just on general principles I fancy. Or he may find +another school pin. I guess I'll put mine in a safe deposit box--when +I find it," and Jack laughed, but there was no mirth in his voice. + +"When you find it," repeated Bert. "Why--er--I thought you------" + +Again he subsided, as Jack kicked him under the table, and an +embarrassing pause was broken by the ringing of the supper gong. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +SAM HELLER'S EVIDENCE + +"Young gentlemen, I have a serious matter to bring before you. A very +serious matter, involving not only the personal honor and reputation of +every student here, but the school itself. I must ask for your close +attention." + +It was Doctor Pliny Meredith who was speaking, and the place was +chapel, after the usual morning exercises. The students had been about +to go to their lectures when the venerable head of the school, entering +most unexpectedly, asked them to remain a moment. + +"Two nights ago," went on Doctor Meredith, "several horses belonging to +our neighbor, Mr. Appleby, were poisoned!" + +There was a gasp of surprise from several students, not only those who +had read the account in the paper, as Jack and his chums had done, but +from others, who wondered what was coming next. They had not long to +wait. + +"You young gentlemen will recollect," went on Doctor Meredith gravely, +"that, some time ago, there was a fire at the farm of this same Mr. +Appleby. I made no reference to something that happened directly +afterward, for I scouted the idea that any of our boys could be +involved. Yet, as some of you may know, the farmer intimated that the +fire might have been set by some of the Elmwood Hall students." + +There were several hisses, but Doctor Meredith raised a quick hand for +silence. + +"That will do," he said calmly. "That is undignified, and we must meet +this in a dignified and fair spirit. As I said, I took no action at +that time, for the evidence was absolutely nil. However, since the +affair of the poisoning I am compelled to take some notice of an +accusation that has been brought to my notice." + +Again there was a gasp of surprise. Had the farmer dared to intimate +that any Elmwood Hall lads had poisoned his horses? + +"Since the last unfortunate affair," went on the head master, "I have +received a visit from Mr. Appleby. He states to me that some kind of +chemical poison was administered to all his horses after his men had +fed them In the evening. One of the animals has since died, and the +others are in a precarious state. If they recover it will be some time +before they are fit for service. Now comes the part that interests us. + +"Mr. Appleby states that he himself saw, and recognized, one of our +students about his barrio shortly before it was discovered that the +horses were poisoned." + +"How does he know?" asked one of the Seniors--a privileged character, +evidently, for he was not rebuked. + +"He says he recognized a peculiar colored sweater the student wore, and +also his manner of walking. This student was seen near the barn, and +when Mr. Appleby hurried out to warn him away, the individual ran off, +dropping a small package. This Mr. Appleby picked up, not paying much +attention to it at the time. But later, when he learned that his +horses had been poisoned, he gave this package to a veterinarian. It +was found to contain a powder, one ingredient of which was cyanide of +potassium, a deadly poison, but which, blended with other things, may +only cause severe illness. It was this poison that was administered to +the horses." + +Once more came a murmur from the students. It was hushed as Doctor +Meredith went on. + +"Mr. Appleby insists on an investigation," said the head master, "and I +must admit that he has several points in his favor. I have told him I +would bring the matter before you. I might add that the sweater worn +by the person the farmer saw was dropped in flight. I--er--I have it +here," and Doctor Meredith unwrapped a small bundle. He held up to +view a sweater--of a deep purple tint, with yellow stripes on it. It +was an atrociously-hued garment, such as only a student would dare wear. + +Once more that gasp, for several of the students at once recognized the +garment. There were but two in the college. One like it had been worn +by Tom Fairfield, and the other by Sam Heller. + +"Does--er does anyone wish to claim this sweater?" proceeded the +doctor, "and--er--and state how it came to be on the premises of Mr. +Appleby?" + +In spite of their self-control, nearly all eyes were turned in Tom's +direction. He felt the hot blood leap to his face. There was a +roaring in his ears as he arose and said: + +"I think that is my sweater, Doctor Meredith. At least I had one like +it and------" + +"You _had_ it?" asked the doctor, emphasizing the word. + +"Yes, but I disposed of it some days ago." + +"How did you--er--dispose of it?" + +"I would rather not state--unless I am compelled to." + +"You may have to, Fairfield. But of that more later. You say this is +your garment?" + +"I think so, yes, sir. At least there is only one other like it in +this school, as far as I know, and that one------" + +"Belongs to me!" interrupted Sam Heller. "I have mine here," and, +opening his coat, he showed, beneath it, the brightly-colored sweater. + +This time there was not an eye but what was turned on Tom. He felt the +gaze and straightened up. + +"But I wish to state, Doctor Meredith," he said quickly, "that I had +nothing to do with the poisoning of the horses, and I did not know of +the occurrence until I saw the account in the paper." + +"Very well, we will note your denial, Fairfield, but about this +sweater. It is rather damaging evidence, since you yourself admit that +it is yours." + +"I do, but, as I said, I had disposed of it some time before." + +"And you do not care to state to whom?" + +"No, sir, except to say that it was not to any one connected in the +most remote way with Elmwood Hall." + +Again there came a murmur, quickly hushed. + +"Is there anyone who can throw any light on this rather important +subject?" asked the head master. "I must not conceal from you that +this is a serious matter. Mr. Appleby threatens to go to the police +with it, unless the guilty one confesses, and unless reparation is +made. Even then, it will be in the nature of compounding a felony +unless certain legal action is taken. Is there anyone who wishes to +say something?" + +For a moment there was silence, and then Sam Heller slowly arose again. + +"Since this matter has assumed a certain phase," he said, speaking +calmly, "and since it is a question of the identification of a certain +garment, of which I own one, I wish to state that I was not at the +farm, nor have I ever been there as far as I can recollect. At the +same time, in justice to myself, I must state that I saw a certain +student from this school on the lane leading to the farm, night before +last." + +"I will not ask you to state now who that was," said the head master, +quickly, "as it would not be fair, and you may be called on, in a court +of justice, to give evidence." + +"But I prefer to state now!" almost shouted Sam. "I have a right to +clear my own name. I saw Tom Fairfield, wearing that sweater, leave +his dormitory on the night the horses were poisoned, and, a little +later, I saw him heading for the lane leading to the farm!" + +"That's not true!" cried Tom, leaping to his feet. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +TOM'S SILENCE + +There were subdued murmurings from every student in the chapel. Never, +in the history of Elmwood Hall, had there been such an occurrence. An +implied charge against one of the school lads--a serious charge; the +denial on the part of one to whom suspicion might point, and the retort +direct from another. It was unheard of. + +Silence followed Tom's dramatic announcement. He remained on his feet, +looking at Sam Heller, who also stood, and then the gaze of our hero +wandered to the troubled, but still serene, countenance of Doctor +Meredith. + +"Young gentlemen," began the head of the School gently, "I must ask you +to be calm." + +"But, Doctor," said Tom respectfully, "I must deny the charge that has +been brought against me. I never had the most remote connection with +setting the hay stacks afire, nor in poisoning the horses. I cannot +make my denial too strong." + +"No one has accused you of either crime, my dear boy," said the doctor. +"You are a bit too hasty, I fear." + +"But Heller has seen fit to say that he suspects me," went on Tom, +looking his enemy full in the face. + +"No," said Sam, and he could not conceal the triumph in his voice. "I +did not say that. What I did say, and what I repeat was, that on the +night the horses were poisoned I saw Tom Fairfield leave the dormitory, +wearing a sweater like mine, and later I saw him near the lane leading +to Mr. Appleby's farm. That's all I care to say." + +"And what do you answer to that, Fairfield?" asked the doctor gravely. +"Were you or were you not there?" + +"I do not see how that affects the matter at all," said Tom, trying to +speak calmly. "I, or anyone, might have been in the vicinity of the +farm without having had a hand in the poisoning of the horses." + +"That is true, but will you answer the question. Were you there?" + +"I was not, sir," exclaimed Tom, steadily. There was a breath of +relief from Jack and Bert. + +"I saw him!" insisted Sam doggedly. + +"Are you sure?" asked Doctor Meredith. "Remember this is a serious +matter, Heller." + +"I am sure, Doctor." + +"Perhaps Fairfield can throw more light on the subject," went on the +puzzled head master. "Is there any way you can account for Heller's +seeming identification? Could anyone else have worn your sweater?" and +he looked at Tom. + +Once more there was a silence. Tom seemed strangely affected. He took +a long breath, and then stammered: + +"I--I do not care to state, Doctor Meredith." + +"You mean that someone else had your sweater?" + +"I prefer not to answer." + +"You realize what that means?" + +"Yes, I suppose so. It means that I will be suspected of having done +these things." + +"I am afraid so, yes, Tom, my boy," and the doctor, dropping his more +formal tone, addressed Tom almost as if he were his own son. "Not that +I believe you guilty," he added. "Far be it from me to suspect one of +my students when he has assured me that he is innocent. I have never +yet known an Elmwood Hall lad to tell an untruth!" and the doctor drew +himself up proudly. + +"Therefore, I believe you, Tom," he went on, "but I am in duty bound to +point out to you that many will believe you had a hand in this +unless--unless you can account for your sweater being worn by someone +else, on the night in question, near the farm. Can you?" + +Once more a silence. Then Tom said: + +"I prefer to say nothing, Doctor." + +"Very well. Then this painful scene had best end. I request you all +to keep silence on this matter. I will see Mr. Appleby, and explain +that all of my students deny having had a hand in this occurence. That +should be sufficient for him." + +The doctor paused a moment, and then, holding out the gaudily-colored +sweater, asked: + +"Do you wish to claim this, Tom?" + +"Yes, sir, it is mine," and with a steady step Tom walked forward to +get the garment. As he went down the aisle toward the rostrum there +were one or two faint hisses, that seemed to come from the section +where Sam Heller and his cronies sat. + +"Silence!" cried Doctor Meredith, in a ringing voice. + +The noise subsided. Tom took his garment, and turned back to his seat. +As he passed Sam he looked him full in the face, and there was that in +the glance which boded no good to that sneaking coward when the tables +should be turned. + +Had it not been in chapel, and had Tom not held himself well in hand, +there might have been a session then and there that Sam Heller would +not have liked. His gaze quailed before the steady look of Tom, and as +the latter sat down he heard Nick Johnson whisper to Sam: + +"Are you sure of what you saw, old man? He might make trouble for you." + +"Of course I'm sure. I saw him as plainly as I see you now. He can't +bluff out of it. I've got him just where I want him!" + +"You think so, do you," murmured Tom to himself. "Well, we'll see, Sam +Heller! I've got pluck enough to stand out against you, I think. You +can't drive me from Elmwood Hall." + +"Young gentlemen, you are dismissed," said the voice of Doctor +Meredith, and the students filed from chapel to their various +classrooms. + +Jack and Bert made a rush for their chum as soon as they were outside +the building. Each grabbed an arm, while several of Tom's other +friends grouped about him. But it was noticed that some, with whom he +had been quite intimate, held aloof, and hurried away. Tom was, but he +only smiled. + +Another group surrounded Sam Heller, some of whom had never troubled to +make his acquaintance before. But they were either curious to hear +more of that of which he had spoken, or else were ready to enlist under +his banner, as it were. + +"By Jove this is bad!" half groaned Bruce Bennington, as he noticed the +school split, in the ranks of Sophomores, more especially. "There'll +be two factions among the second-year men now if something isn't done +to head it off." + +"That's right," agreed Reddy Burke. "Confound Tom's stubbornness, +anyhow! Why doesn't he say if it was someone else who wore his +thunder-and-lightning sweater?" + +"Did someone?" asked Bruce, significantly. + +"Of course he must have, and Tom is shielding him, I'll wager. You +don't s'pose he poisoned those horses; do you?" + +"Well--er--Oh, of course not!" + +"Then forget it. Things'll come out right sooner or later." + +"Later, I'm afraid. And look at the damage that will be done in the +meanwhile." + +"Well, it can't be helped," and Bruce and Reddy strolled away, not +altogether happy. + +"Tom, old man!" exclaimed Jack, slipping his arm about his chum, +"what's got into you, anyhow?" + +"Nothing, Jack." + +"Then why don't you come back at Heller and make him out the +prevaricator he is?" + +Tom did not answer. + +"Aren't you going to say anything?" demanded Jack. "Are you going to +keep quiet about that sweater?" + +"I am afraid I'll have to," said Tom quietly, as he turned aside. "But +if you fellows think------" + +"Say, if you intimate such a thing as that we believe you guilty I'll +punch your face!" cried Jack, with a laugh, in which there was no +mirth. "Won't we, Bert?" + +"We sure will! Now come on to Latin class;" and with their arms still +about their chum, showing their loyalty to him in his time of trouble, +the boys passed on across the campus, followed by many eyes. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +TOM SEEKS CLEWS + +"Well, Tom, what's the answer; anyhow?" + +"Don't talk about it if you don't want to." + +Thus Jack and Bert spoke as they entered their room with their chum +shortly before luncheon on the day of the sensational disclosures in +chapel. + +Tom looked at his two friends, and then sank down rather wearily in a +chair. + +"I don't mind talking about it," he said, with an attempt at a smile. +"In fact I was going to propose it myself. I've got some hard work +ahead of me." + +"What kind?" asked Jack quickly. "Let us help you." + +"Sure," chimed in Bert. "Count on us, Tom. What are you going to do?" + +"Clear my name, that's what I going to do. And I've got a hard job +ahead of me." + +"Not with us to help you!" exclaimed Jack. + +"That's the worst of it," spoke Tom ruefully. "You fellows can't help +me." + +"Why not, I'd like to know," came from Bert quickly. + +"Well, there are certain reasons. Look here, fellows, I'd tell you in +a minute, if I could, but I can't. I'm bound to silence in a way, and +I can't speak as I'd like to." + +"But surely it oughtn't to be so hard for you to clear your name," +insisted Jack. "All you've got to do is to prove that you weren't near +the farm at the time the horses were poisoned, nor were you when the +stacks caught fire. That ought to be easy." + +"And surely you can show that if it wasn't you wearing that sweater, at +the time the farmer saw you, it was someone else," went on Bert. "It +was someone else; wasn't it, Tom?" + +"Say, don't ask me any more questions," begged Tom. "I can't answer +'em all, and I don't want to get tangled up. All I can say is that I +didn't have the first thing to do with those crimes, and I'm going to +work to prove that I didn't. It's harder than it seems, but I'll do +it." + +"That's right!" exclaimed Jack. "You've got pluck enough Tom, old man." + +"And I may need some luck, too," added our hero. "If I have that I +think I'll be all right." + +"Not a bad combination," commented Bert. "Pluck and luck. With 'em +both you can do a heap." + +"That's right," admitted Tom. "And now I'm going to do some boning, +and get ahead with my work so I'll have a little time to hunt for +clews." + +"Clews?" murmured Jack. + +"Yes, clews as to who poisoned these horses and set the hay on fire. +You see it's not enough to say that I _didn't_ do it. I've got to find +the person who _did_." + +"Well, I wish you luck," murmured Jack. + +"And if there's anything we can do, don't hesitate to let us know," +added Bert, at which his chum nodded. + +"Don't let this get on your nerves so you can't play football +Saturday," suggested Jack. + +"I guess it won't," laughed Tom. + +But whether it was the suspicion hanging over him, or because he was +nervous, certainly he did not play well in that first gridiron match of +the season. Nor was he the only one of the eleven who did poorly. + +From the very first it was seen that Elmwood Hall had met her match. +Her opponents scored a touchdown in the first five minutes of play, and +this rather took the heart out of Tom and his chums. + +True they braced, and prevented any more scoring for the next two +periods. Then came a chance fer them to rush the ball over the line. +Tom worked to his limit and managed to gain much ground. Then came a +fatal fumble, just when he might have been shoved over for the tieing +of the score. + +In his own heart Tom felt that Sam had deliberately passed the ball to +him short. Tom had to lean forward to grab it, his foot slipped, and +the coveted pigskin was grabbed by an opposing player. It was run out +of danger before the man was downed, and then it was too late to make +good the loss. Tom groaned in anguish, and for one wild moment he felt +like accusing Sam openly. + +"No, that would never do," he reasoned. "They would all say I did it +for spite, and because he gave that information against me. I've got +to grin and bear it." + +Nor was Tom much surprised when he was shifted to the scrub at the next +practice. + +"I hate to do it, old man," said the coach, "but you seem to have gone +a bit stale. You aren't overtrained; are you?" + +"I don't think so," said Tom bitterly. + +"Well, maybe a change will do you good. I'll give you a game later on, +if you pick up." + +And, deeply regretting what he felt he had to do, the coach went off to +talk to the captain about some other changes. + +"Say, this is sure tough!" complained Jack to Bert, that night in their +room. "Tom off the team!" + +"And with this cloud hanging over him," added his chum. "Where is Tom +now, anyhow?" + +"Give it up. He said he was going for a walk." + +"He feels bad I guess. I don't blame him. Say, what do you think of +this thing, anyhow, Jack?" + +"I don't know, Bert, it--well, hang it all, it looks mighty queer. I +might as well say it as think it." + +"What! You don't believe Tom guilty; do you?" + +"Of course not, and yet he's so plagued stiff he won't say anything, or +let us help him. Who do you suppose he's shielding, anyhow?" + +"Give it up. If he would only tell a fellow," and Bert stalked about +the room in something of a rage against his absent chum. + +"While I don't for a second believe Tom had anything to do with this +business," went on Jack, "it's up to us, as his friends, to look the +thing squarely in the face." + +"Yes, I suppose so. But what do you mean?" + +"I mean we ought to consider the evidence against him as well as in his +favor." + +"I suppose so. Well, what's the worst?" + +"There are some things we know, that other people don't know," said +Jack slowly. "For instance, we know he was out on the night the hay +stacks burned." + +"Yes, that's right," admitted Bert. + +"And he came in, smelling horribly of smoke." + +"So he did, but the hay wasn't ablaze until long after he was in, Jack." + +"Hay would smoulder a long time. Mind!" Jack added quickly, "I'm not +for a minute hinting that Tom did it. I'm only considering what his +enemies would say." + +"That's right. Well, what else?" + +"Well, he was out on the night the horses were poisoned, and he wore +that horribly-colored sweater. I don't see what possessed him to buy +such a scream of a thing." + +"Me either." + +"He went out with it," went on Jack slowly, "and he came in without it." + +"By Jove! So he did!" cried Bert. "I'd forgotten about that. It +begins to look bad." + +"Not at all!" cried Jack quickly. "I'm only considering a possible +case, mind you. And there's one other point." + +"Out with it. We might as well have the worst and then we can begin to +work to help him." + +"Well, you know that day we came in, and found him doing some +experiments?" + +"Yes. He was monkeying with------" + +"Cyanide," broke in Jack. "The very stuff the horses were poisoned +with." + +"So he was!" whispered Bert In tense tones. "But for the love of +heaven don't tell anyone!" + +"No danger. I'm only saying this to show how bad it might be made to +look for Tom in case anyone put all these things together." + +"But no one will." + +"I hope not. And now let's see how we can help him." + +"Say, what about the school pin?" asked Bert. "Have you really lost +yours?" + +"No, I haven't." + +"Then why------" + +"It's this way," went on Jack. "I saw that Tom's was gone, and, +fearing that it might look bad for him, I pretended it was a common +thing for us to lose or mislay our emblems." + +"You did?" + +"Sure. I wasn't going to make it look too bad for Tom." + +"That's right. But are you going to mention it to him?" + +"I am not--not until this thing is cleared up, anyhow." + +"Jove! It looks bad!" murmured Bert. + +The two chums talked the matter over from several different +standpoints, and the only conclusion they arrived at was that unless +Tom gave them more information as to who, if anyone other than himself, +wore the sweater on the night in question, they could do nothing. + +"Except keep still," suggested Bert. + +"Sure," assented Jack. + +Several days went by. The first excitement over the implied charges +against Tom had died away. Farmer Appleby had wanted to cause the +arrest of the lad against whom his suspicions were directed, but his +lawyer pointed out that he had such slight evidence that it would be a +dangerous proceeding. + +But Jack, Bert, George, Bruce Bennington and several of Tom's closest +friends stuck to him most loyally. Of course Sam Heller was against +our hero, but that was to be expected, and many sided with Sam. + +"Fairfield ought to be run out of Elmwood Hall!" exclaimed the bully. + +"That's what!" added his crony. "And if he doesn't withdraw soon we'll +run him out." + +"Will you?" cried Sam. "I'm with you. How can we do it?" and the two +went off by themselves to plot. + +As Bruce Bennington had feared, there were now two factions in the +school, those who were for and against Tom. And it seriously +interfered with the work of the eleven. For there were some who hated +Sam cordially, and as he was the quarterback of the team there were +internal dissensions, and such ragged playing, in consequence, that +Elmwood lost many games she should have won. + +"Say, this is getting fierce!" cried the coach after a disastrous +gridiron battle. "What's to be done? We're in bad shape back of the +line." + +"Maybe we ought to put Tom back." + +"We ought to, and yet I'm afraid if we do it will cause more trouble. +But I've a notion to," and they discussed the matter in all its phases. + +Meanwhile Tom went on seeking clews, wandering off by himself, lonely +at times, but never giving up. + +"I'll clear my name yet!" he said to himself, fiercely. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +THE EMPTY BOTTLE + +"Great Caesar's grandmother, Jack, why didn't you think of that before?" + +"I don't know, Bert. It just seemed to come to me as I sat here +thinking about it." + +"Well, it's a good thing you think once in a while." + +"Why don't you help out then, if you think I don't do enough of it?" +asked Jack rather snappily. + +"Oh, come now," went on Bert. "I was only joking. I sure am glad you +thought of it. It's a wonder some of us didn't fall to that idea +before this. We'll tell Tom, as soon as he comes in, and I'll wager +that if we go about it right we can clear this thing up in a day or so." + +"I'm sure I hope so," assented Jack. "It's getting on my nerves as +well as on Tom's." + +"Yes, and I guess every fellow in college will be glad to know the +truth of it. Why, the team's going to pieces just on account of this +miserable horse-poisoning case, and the burning of a little hay." + +"Still, it did look black for Tom, especially when he had that quarrel +with Appleby over the trampled corn, and made some remarks about +getting even because he had to pay for it." + +"Yes, that was where Tom made a mistake. I guess he's ready to admit +that himself," and Bert paced the room. "I wish he'd come, so we could +tell him," he added. "Do you know where he is?" + +"No, except that he said he was going off alone to take a walk, as he's +done several times of late. I offered to go along, but he said he +wanted to be by himself, so I didn't urge it." + +"Off getting clews, I expect." + +"Yes," assented Jack. + +The two chums sat silent in the room, waiting for the lad whom they +both loved even better than a brother. The past days had been trying +on all of them--on every one in Elmwood Hall--from the most lordly +Senior, or calm post-graduate, to the "fuzziest" Freshman, who thought +he bore the weight of the whole school on his narrow shoulders. + +For one and all felt the stigma that rested upon the institution--Tom +most of all. True, as it happened, the affair was not as serious as +had at first seemed. Only one of the farmer's horses died, and that +was not a very valuable beast. The others had been very sick, though. + +Fortunately, however, most of the fall crops were in, and the fact of +not having his steeds to work for him did not seriously inconvenience +Mr. Appleby. His neighbors helped him with the loan of their horses. + +Still the farmer was a vindictive man, and he determined to have +punished, if possible, the guilty person. That it was Tom, with whom +he had quarreled, he had no doubt. + +And, it might be added, though most of the students bore in mind the +injunction of Dr. Meredith not to talk about the matter, and make +useless accusations, Sam Heller and his cronies, did not observe that +silence. Indeed, Sam even went to the trouble of repeating to Mr. +Appleby all the evidence he had discovered against our hero. + +"Oh, I know he's guilty!" the vindictive farmer had said, when Sam and +his crony called at the house one day, ostensibly to ask for a drink of +water, but in reality to talk of Tom. "I know he's guilty, but my +lawyer won't let me have him up on charges. He says I might get sued." + +"Oh, I guess you could win the case," asserted Sam. He was aching to +see Tom humiliated further. But the farmer shook his head. + +"I've lost a heap of money already," he complained, "an' I ain't +a-goin' t' lose no more!" + +And thus the case stood when Jack had his inspiration, as he sat in the +gloaming with his chum Bert. + +"Here he comes!" exclaimed the latter, as a footfall was heard in the +corridor. + +"Yes, that's Tom. Now to tell him." + +"Well, Tom, how goes it?" asked Jack, as he arose to open the door in +response to the code knock. "Anything new?" + +"I don't know, yet, but I think--why, what's up?" he asked quickly, +surprised at the looks on the faces of his chums. + +"You tell him, Jack," insisted Bert generously. "You thought of it." + +"It's only this," said Jack modestly. "I've been thinking over this +confounded thing, as of course you have, and I've come to the sudden +conclusion that it was Sam Heller who poisoned those horses." + +"Sam Heller?" cried Tom. "What makes you think so?" + +"Several reasons," insisted Jack. "Sit down and I'll tell you about +'em. + +"Now, to begin at the beginning, who else but Sam would want to throw +the blame on you, Tom?" + +"No one, I suppose, unless it was Nick. And even he hasn't the grudge +against me that Sam has." + +"Right. It was all to Sam's interest to make it appear that you were +guilty, and things just fitted in with his scheme. There was your +quarrel with the farmer, your threats to get even which you foolishly +uttered in public------" + +"Yes, that's where I was wrong," admitted Tom with a sigh. + +"And there's another thing, Tom," went on Jack. "About your school +pin. Where is it?" + +"Well, to tell you the truth," said Jack with a smile and a blush, "I +loaned it to a girl I met at a dance. She took quite a fancy to it." + +"Then you didn't drop it at the hay stacks?" + +"No, indeed! Was that why you made believe you couldn't find yours?" +asked Tom. + +"Sure it was. I thought------" + +"You old Damon and Pythias!" cried Tom, obviously much pleased. "But +it was a useless sacrifice." + +"Then whose pin was it that Appleby found?" asked Bert. + +"Give it up," spoke Tom. + +"But then there's that sweater business," went on Jack, after a pause. + +"If you'd only explain that," put in Bert. Tom shook his head. + +"I can't--not yet," he said. "But go on. What other evidence have you +that Sam is guilty?" + +"No other direct evidence, perhaps," admitted Jack, "but, somehow I +just feel in my bones that Sam poisoned those horses, and threw the +blame on you. He must have seen you leave here with that sweater on, +and come back without it. It was just pie for him to say what he did." + +Tom slowly shook his head. + +"What? Don't you believe Sam guilty?" asked Bert. + +"No, I can't say that I do." + +"But he is!" asserted Jack. "It was his sweater the farmer saw instead +of yours. You're both about the same height and build. Of course Sam +did it, Tom." + +"No, I can't agree with you. I'll admit I did wear my sweater when I +left here the night the horses were poisoned, and I came back without +it, but------" + +"What in the world happened to it?" demanded Jack. + +"That I can't say--yet." + +"Will you ever be able to?" Bert wanted to know. + +"I hope to in time--perhaps soon now. Mr. Appleby picked it up--that +much I'll have to admit." + +"And can you clear your name?" asked Jack, rather rueful that the fine +theory he had built up was thus easily passed over by his chum. + +"I hope to, Jack." + +"Have you any new clews?" asked Bert. "I presume that's what you've +been looking for?" + +"Yes, I did go off hunting for them," said Tom slowly. + +"Well, did you find any?" burst out Jack. "Can't you relieve the +suspense?" + +"I found this," said Tom, placing an empty bottle on the table. + +"Why--why, there's nothing in it!" exclaimed Jack, looking at it. "How +can that form a clew?" + +"Not because of what is in it but what _was_ in it," said Tom with a +smile. "Unless I'm mistaken this will help to prove my innocence--that +is, if the experiment I'm going to try works out. We'll soon see. I +wonder if the laboratory is closed," and he went out into the corridor. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +ON THE TRAIL + +"What's he up to now?" asked Bert of Jack, as the two stood in the +room, looking at one another. + +"Give up. We'll have to wait and see. It's something important +though, to judge by Tom's actions." + +"Yes, but an empty bottle! What can he hope to do with that for a +clew?" + +"I don't know. Leave it to Tom." + +The latter came back in a little while, carrying several bottles, test +tubes and an alcohol lamp. + +"Well, for the class's sake!" cried Jack. "Are you going to give us a +demonstration of the action of liquids on solids?" + +"No, I'm going to prove that mind is superior to matter," laughed Tom. + +"Say, it sounds good to hear that!" cried Jack. "You haven't laughed +before in two weeks." + +"Well, I feel a bit like it now," said Tom. "I'm beginning to get a +glimpse of daylight in this darkness." + +He arranged his material on the table in front of him, having removed +the books and papers. Then, taking a bottle of some colorless liquid +which he had brought from the college laboratory, he poured some into +the apparently empty bottle he had first exhibited. + +"What's that?" asked Bert. + +"Sterilized water." + +"Say, where did you find that bottle?" demanded Jack. + +"In Farmer Appleby's barn," was the calm rejoinder. "I picked it up +just by chance, but it may mean something big." + +"What?" cried Jack. "You don't mean to say you've been around there?" + +"Surely. Why not?" + +"Why, he might think you wanted to do away with the rest of his horses." + +"He didn't see me. I took care of that. Besides that's the only place +where I can consistently look for clews. I was sure whoever poisoned +the horses must have left some trace behind him, and this may be it." + +"The empty bottle?" asked Bert incredulously. + +"It may not be altogether empty," replied Tom. "That's what I'm going +to test for. I saw traces of some powder on the sides, and I want to +see if my suspicions are true." + +"Then you think it contained----" began Jack. + +"I'm not going to think anything until I finish this experiment," +laughed Tom. + +He shook the sterilized water about in the bottle, rinsing it well, and +the contents he then poured into a test tube. This, after heating, he +mixed with some other chemicals. + +"Would you mind telling us what you're testing for?" asked Jack. + +"Not at all," said Tom quietly. "I'm trying to see if this bottle had +any cyanide of potassium in it." + +"What! Cyanide?" gasped Bert. + +"The stuff that killed the one horse and sickened the others?" asked +Jack. + +"That's it. I may find it--I may not." + +Tom poured a few drops of another chemical into the test tube. There +was a reaction, and at once he uttered a cry: + +"There it is!" he fairly shouted. "I'm on the right trail at last! +There was cyanide in the bottle!" + +"There sure was," agreed Jack, who had seen the same test made in one +of the classes a few days before. + +"But I don't see what good that is," remarked Bert. "Everyone knew +that cyanide was used on the horses. It's a common enough poison. +Naturally whoever used it would have it in a bottle. Then you +accidentally find the bottle in the stable, but that doesn't tell you +who dropped it there." + +"No, but this may," said Tom quietly, taking a small piece of paper +from his pocket and smoothing it out on the table. + +"What is it?" asked Jack, and then, before he could be answered he +added. "Oh, I see, part of a druggist's label." + +"Yes," admitted Tom. "It was near the bottle. It had been washed off, +I imagine. I didn't show it to you at first, for I wanted to make sure +of what the bottle had contained." + +"And now that you're sure," began Bert, "I suppose------" + +"I'm going to the druggist who sold this, and ask if he can remember +who bought it," went on Tom, for, though the label from the bottle was +torn, there was enough of it left to show part of the firm name. And, +as there were but three drug shops in Elmwood, it was not difficult to +pick out the one represented. + +"We'll go with you!" exclaimed Jack. "Hurray, Tom! I do believe +you're on the trail at last." + +"Sure," assented Bert. "Let's go at once." + +"I'd like to have you along," explained Tom, "but I think maybe I'd +better go by myself. I've got to go at this thing quietly, and if +three of us trooped in the drug store, and began asking questions, it +would make a scene. Besides, lots of our fellows hang out there for +soda, and they'd see us. I don't want this talked about until I get it +a little more cleared up. I don't want you fellows to feel that------" + +"Oh get out!" interrupted Jack. "You do just as you please, Tom, and +we'll fill in, or play wherever you want us. This is your game, +anyhow, though we want to help you all we can. Just say the word." + +"That's good of you," assented our hero. "I think it would be best if +I went alone. I'll tell you later what I find out. I think I'll go +now. It isn't too late." + +"It's after hours," said Bert. + +"Well, I'll take a chance," decided Tom, and putting on his hat and +coat he prepared to leave the dormitory, first having ascertained that +the coast was clear. + +Tom was half way down the corridor of the building where he and his +chums roomed, and he was thinking of what might come from his +prospective interview with the druggist, when, as he turned a dark +corner, he ran full tilt into someone who was coming with some speed in +the other direction. + +"Wha--what's the matter! Who--who are you?" gasped Tom, when he had +recovered his breath. + +"I--I--who are _you_?" came the quick retort, and the voice was +suspicious. Whoever it was evidently was not going to be caught by a +prowling monitor. + +"George Abbot!" gasped Tom, as he recognized the voice of his chum. +"What in the world is the rush? What's the hurry?" + +"News! I've got great news!" cried George. "Cats! But you knocked +the wind out of me all right. I--I was coming fast myself, I guess. +Where are you going?" + +"Out," replied Tom briefly. "But what's the news?" + +"Better not go," advised George, speaking more composedly now. +"There's been a lot of fellows cutting for it to-night, and just before +I came in a bunch was rounded up by the proctor, and rushed to Merry's +office. I just escaped. Don't you take a chance, Tom." + +"No, I guess I'd better not. But was that the news you had to tell me. +If it is, why----" + +"It isn't that," cried George. "It's great. Sam Heller was just +brought across the campus by old Farmer Appleby. He had him by the +collar." + +"Who had who by the collar?" demanded Tom, much excited now. "Did Sam +have------" + +"No, it was the other way around. Appleby had Sam, and he was making +all sorts of threats." + +"Who was; Sam?" + +"No, the old farmer. Can't you understand? He had Sam, and he was +begging to be let go." + +"Sam was?" + +"Sure." + +"Say, George," advised Tom. "Calm down and tell me the whole thing. +There may be something big in this. I guess I won't go out to-night +after all," and, grasping the human question box by the arm, Tom led +him back toward the room of the chums. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +DISAPPOINTMENT + +"Hello! What's up?" + +"What's the excitement, Tom?" + +Thus his two chums greeted our hero when he entered with the human +interrogation mark in tow. + +"Something doing," responded Tom briefly. + +"Did you trace the empty bottle so soon?" asked Jack. + +"No, I didn't have time. But George here--out with it! Tell 'em what +you told me." + +"I was coming along," began George, "when Tom ran into me and +knocked------" + +"Never mind those horrible details," advised Tom, reflectively rubbing +that portion of his anatomy that had come in contact with George. "Cut +along faster." + +"Well, I was coming to tell Tom that I saw Sam Heller being taken to +the doctor's office by old Appleby," went on George. + +"Get out!" cried Bert, incredulously. + +"Sam Heller!" gasped Jack. "I wonder if Appleby's found out that it +was Sam who poisoned his horses, and set the hay on fire?" + +"That's it, I believe," said George. "That's why I came to tell Tom. +You're cleared all right now, old man." + +His chums looked at him, but Tom only shook his head. "No such luck," +he said in disappointed tones. "Sam may have been corralled by the old +farmer, but it's for something else besides the fire and poisoning." + +"What makes you think so?" asked Jack. "Why won't you believe Sam +Heller guilty, Tom." + +"Because I know he isn't." + +"You do? Then you must know who is." + +"No, that doesn't follow." + +"Look here!" cried Jack, coming close to his chum, and placing his +hands on his shoulders, the while looking him squarely into the eyes. +"I can't understand you. Here you go and say Sam isn't guilty, and you +know it. And yet you say you don't know who did the business. You +didn't do it yourself, I'm sure, and yet------" + +"Say Jack," spoke Tom gently. "Believe me, if I was _sure_ of what I +only _suspect_ now I couldn't really tell who poisoned those horses. +There's a mystery about it, and I'm trying to get to the bottom of it. +I want my name cleared more than anything else in the world, but I want +it done in the right way. I don't want to cast suspicion on the wrong +person. Now, George, tell us all you know about Sam being caught. It +may help some." + +"Well, I don't know an awful lot," went on George, as he accepted a +chair that Jack pushed out for him. "I was coming in from a little +trip to town when I saw, coming across the campus, two fellows--at +least I thought they were two of our fellows, but when they got under +one of the lights I saw it was Sam and the old farmer. And, believe +me, Appleby had hold of Sam as if he was a thief and him the constable." + +"As if Appleby was the thief?" asked Bert. + +"No, as if Sam was. What's the matter with you fellows, anyhow, that +you can't understand United States talk?" and George looked around half +indignantly. + +"The trouble is that you mix up your pronouns," said Tom. "Go ahead. +We got as far as that Appleby had hold of Sam as if Sam was a thief." + +"Yes, and Sam was demanding to be let go, while the old farmer was +saying: 'Now I've got ye! Consarn ye! I'll teach ye t' come sneakin' +around my place! I'll have ye up afore th' doctor'!" + +The boys all laughed at George's realistic imitation of the farmer's +talk, for it was quite correct. + +"And then what happened?" asked Jack. + +"That's all, except that I came on here in a hurry, and Sam was fairly +dragged into the doctor's office by Appleby." + +There was silence in the room of the chums for a moment, and then Bert +remarked: + +"Well, Tom, what do you make of it?" + +"I don't know," was the answer, slowly given. "It looks queer, and yet +Sam may have only trespassed on Appleby's place by chance." + +"Don't you believe it!" exclaimed Jack. "He had some object all right." + +"And it's up to us to find out what it is," added Bert. + +"No, I'll try it," insisted Tom. "This is my game." + +"But we're going to help you play it!" exclaimed Jack. "What's the +matter with you, anyhow? Don't you want us to help you clear yourself +of this suspicion that's hanging over you?" + +"Of course I do, but------" + +"'But me no buts,' old man. Just you let us help you out in this. Now +it wouldn't look well for you to go around sneaking under the doctor's +windows, trying to hear what's going on. But it wouldn't hurt either +of us," and he indicated, by a sweeping gesture, himself and his two +close chums. + +"So, Tom, my boy," he went on, "we'll just see what we can learn. The +doctor's sure to hold an audience with Appleby and Sam in the big front +office, and he always has a window open, for Merry is a fresh air +fiend, you know. Some of the talk will leak out and it may give us a +clew." + +"All right," assented Tom, after a moment's thought. "Go ahead. I +don't believe it will amount to anything, though. Then I can go on +with my drug store end of it," and he briefly explained to George where +he had been headed for when the interruption came. + +"Shall we all go?" asked Bert. "Won't it look sort of queer for three +of us to be hanging around the doctor's house?" + +"It will," assented Jack, "and, therefore, we won't all hang out in the +same place. I'll get under the big office window; Bert, you can take +the window on the other side, and George will guard the front door." + +"Guard the front door? For what?" + +"Well, just sort of drape yourself around it," suggested Jack, who had +assumed the direction of matters. "Maybe you can overhear something as +Sam and Appleby come out. I don't just like this sort of thing," he +added, "but the end justifies the means, I think." + +Tom nodded gravely. The stain against his name had affected him more +than he cared to admit. The three lads went out and Tom sat down in +moody silence to await their return. They were not long away, and came +back together, rather silent. + +"Well?" asked Tom questioningly, as his chums entered. + +"Nothing much," answered Jack in despondent tones. "We were almost too +late, but I did manage to overhear something. Sam and Appleby came out +a short time after we got there. It seems that the farmer caught Sam +sneaking around his barn, and as he's been suspicious, and on the watch +ever since the poisoning of his horses, he rushed out in a hurry and +collared him." + +"What explanation did Sam make?" asked Tom. + +"All I could hear was that it was a mistake, and that he wandered off +the road in the darkness." + +"The same as we did when we got in the corn," said Tom. "So that's all +there was to it?" + +"Except that Appleby was ripping mad, and threatened to have the next +school lad arrested whom he found on his property. We'll have to make +a new course for cross-country runs after this I guess, for we used to +run across his big meadow." + +"Yes," assented Tom. "Well, I didn't think it would amount to +anything. I'm much obliged, though." + +"You wait!" insisted Jack. "This isn't the bottom of it yet, not by a +long shot." + +"What do you mean?" asked Tom curiously. + +"I mean that Sam isn't such a loon as to get off the road on to +Appleby's land just by mistake, or because it was dark." + +"You mean he went there purposely?" + +"I sure do." + +"What for?" and Tom gazed curiously at his chum. + +"That's what I've got to find out. He had some object, and I shouldn't +be surprised but what it was you, Tom." + +"Me?" + +"Yes. He hasn't succeeded in driving you out of the Hall as he hoped, +and now he's up to some more mean tricks." + +Tom shook his head. He had a curious disbelief in Sam's guilt. + +"Go ahead on that line if you like, Jack," he said. "But I can't agree +with you. I'm going to follow my bottle clew to-morrow, and nothing +the others could say would make Tom admit that Sam had a hand in +poisoning the horses, or in setting the hay on fire. + +"But look how ready he was to accuse you," insisted Bert. + +"That was only to clear himself," said Tom. "The fact of his sweater +being like mine was a strange coincidence, and he had to say something." + +"He was ready enough to accuse you," put in Jack. "Say, Tom, old man, +why don't you come out and tell us where you went that night--and why? +Tell us what you did--how your sweater got away from you, and was found +on the farm. Go ahead!" + +"Do!" urged Bert. + +But Tom shook his head. + +"I can't--not yet," he said. "I promised Ray------" + +He stopped suddenly. His chums leaned forward eagerly. + +"Well, I can't say any more," he finished. "Now let's forget all this, +and have a game of chess, somebody. It will make me sleep good." + +"I'm going to cut," said George. "You fellows can play." + +Tom and Jack sat down to the royal game, while Bert got out a book, and +for a time silence reigned in the apartment. + +Tom made an early trip to town the next day. He went directly to the +drugstore, the torn label of which was on the bottle he had found to +contain a trace of poison. + +Without going into details, but announcing who he was, he asked if the +druggist could give him any information as to who had bought the +cyanide. + +"Well, I can look at my records," said the pharmacist. "I keep a list +of all persons to whom I sell poison, and make them sign a receipt for +it. Of course I have no means of knowing that the names are true ones. +There are some poisons I sell only on a doctor's prescription, but it +is not against the local law to dispense cyanide, and it has many +legitimate uses. I'll look it up for you." + +He disappeared behind his ground-glass partition, to return presently, +announcing: + +"My clerk made that sale. He'll be in presently, and he can tell you +who bought the stuff. The name signed is Jacob Crouse, however." + +"Jacob Crouse," mused Tom, and he slowly shook his head. Yet there was +a gleam of hope in his eyes. "Maybe it isn't him after all." + +Tom spent a fretful half hour, waiting for the clerk to come in, and he +was nervous lest some of the school lads enter and question him as to +his presence in the place. For Tom was not anxious that his errand be +known except to his chums. But none from Elmwood Hall came in, and +shortly the clerk arrived. There was a whispered conference between +him and the proprietor, and the clerk addressed Tom. + +"You wish to know who bought cyanide, some time ago?" asked the young +man. + +"Yes," said Tom. "Can you describe Jacob Crouse?" + +"I don't know that he gave me the right name," said the clerk. "In +fact I suspect he didn't. But he was a young fellow, about your own +age and build." + +"He was!" exclaimed Tom, and his voice showed disappointment. + +"Yes, but he was not so well dressed. In fact he was rather shabby. +He said he wanted the stuff to kill rats, and asked the best way to +prepare it. I tried to sell him some regular rat poison, but he wanted +the cyanide. I told him to mix it with corn meal. He said there were +lots of rats on his father's farm." + +"He said that?" cried Tom. + +"Yes. Oh, they make up all sorts of stories when they want to get +suspicious stuff, though there's no law here against cyanide. Why, did +some one of your friends poison someone, or commit suicide?" + +"Oh, not as bad as that," replied Tom. "Is that all you can tell me +about this--this person?" + +[Transcriber's note: The next piece of text has several missing +fragments, which seem to have been caused during printing. I have +indicated the missing text with brackets.] + +"Well, about all--hold on, though, he had a big scar on--let me see--on +his left cheek. It extended from his eye almost to his [missing words] +livid, ugly scar." + +[missing line] + +[missing words] good! [missing words] I'm much obliged to you, and +with a smile of hope our hero hurried from the drug store, followed by +the curious glances of the proprietor and the clerk. + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +MORE SEEKING + +Tom Fairfield hurried on back toward Elmwood Hall. His brain was busy +with many thoughts. At first he felt a spirit of elation. + +"A scar--a big scar," he murmured. "Then it couldn't have been him, +unless he got hurt after I saw him. And yet if he had, it was too +short a time for a scar to form. The clerk would have said a wound, +and not a scar. And yet--oh, I'm not sure after all! It may have been +him, and he may have gotten into a fight after he left me. He was +desperate. And until I am sure it wasn't him I can't say anything, for +mother's sake, as well as his. I can't bring disgrace on her, even +though I suffer myself. Oh, hang it all! If I hadn't had that quarrel +with Appleby they never would have suspected me, and I wouldn't have +had all this trouble." + +Poor Tom, hardly knowing what to do, or which way to turn, flung +himself down on the couch in his room, and thought deeply. Neither +Jack nor Bert was in and the apartment was quiet. + +"If I could only reach him," mused Tom, "I could get him to explain, or +even come here and clear me. And yet I can't even say I met him, and +helped him, on account of my promise, and what saying such a thing +would mean. But he might release me from my promise, and even help me +to prove my innocence." + +Then Tom thought of other things--of how much easier it would be to +drop out of school entirely and let matters take their course. + +"But I won't!" he exclaimed, sitting up and clenching his fists. "I'm +in this fight to stay. I'm going to clear my name and do it in the +right way. To leave now would be to do just what Sam Heller most +wants, and I won't give him that satisfaction. I'll stick!" + +Jack and Bert came bursting in, having heard from George that Tom was +back. + +"Any luck?" asked Jack, for they knew of Tom's trip to the drug store. + +"Well, in a way, yes, and yet not. I found out who bought the poison." + +"Was it Sam Heller?" asked Bert eagerly. + +"No," answered Tom. "Haven't I told you that I'm sure he hadn't any +hand in it?" + +"You wait and see," advised Jack. "I think you're away off, Tom. But +say, you want to come out to football practice this afternoon. Strict +orders for everyone to be on the job." + +"Oh, what's the use?" + +"Lots! What's getting into you lately?" asked Bert. + +"Oh, you know how it is. Sam is sure to try to make a fumble for me; +and what's the fun of playing when you don't know what minute you'll +lose the game?" + +"Why don't you complain of him to Morse, or Mr. Jackson?" asked Jack. + +"What good would it do? Sam would get on his ear, and say I was away +off. Then, too, almost everyone would say I was doing spite work. No, +I guess I'll just keep out of the game." + +"No, you won't!" exclaimed Jack with a laugh. "You'll come out to +practice, and Bert and I will watch Sam as a cat does a mouse. He'll +get no chance to try any of his tricks." + +Thus urged, Tom gave in, and donned his suit. The practice was hard +and snappy that afternoon against the scrub. The regular eleven, made +desperate by the recent drubbings administered to it, played fiercely, +with the result that several touchdowns were scored. + +"This is something like!" exulted the coach. + +"Yes, if they'll only keep it up and play like this on Saturday," +assented Captain Morse Denton. "But I'm afraid of a slump." + +"Oh, I guess not. Say! Look at Tom go through with the ball." + +"Yes. He's playing better. I'm sorry he and Sam are on the outs. I'm +always afraid of a clash." + +"Yes, that's likely. See him go! Say! if he'll play that way Saturday +we'll wipe up the gridiron with Holwell." + +"Let's hope so!" exclaimed the captain. + +Indeed, Tom was playing as he had seldom played before. And Sam was +passing the ball to him accurately. There was not a fumble. + +Perhaps it was because he realized that he was being narrowly-watched, +not only by Tom but by Bert and Jack as well. In fact Jack, at the +beginning of practice, had taken the opportunity to whisper into Sam's +ear: + +"None of your funny business now!" + +"What do you mean?" asked Sam with a show of innocence. + +"Oh, you know very well what I mean," insisted Jack. "If you fumble +the ball when you're passing it to me, or Tom or Bert, I'll see you +afterward, and it won't be a pleasant interview, either," and Jack +playfully dug Sam in the ribs. + +"Here! What are you doing?" demanded the quarterback. + +"That's a sample of what to expect," said Jack grimly. + +And so the practice went on, hard, and fast, and the hearts of the +coach, captain and players were glad, for they felt that Elmwood Hall +was coming back into her own. Even hazing, which went on +intermittently, ceased in favor of football practice. + +Meanwhile nothing more had been heard about the hay fire, the poisoning +of the horses, nor about Sam's trouble with the old farmer. In regard +to the latter, Sam had boastingly explained to his chums, whence it +sifted to our friends, that he had gotten the best of Appleby. + +"The old codger!" Sam exclaimed. "I didn't hurt his land anyhow. It +was so all-fired dark that I couldn't see where I was going." + +"What were you doing over there?" asked one of his few admirers--one +who hoped for a ride in Sam's auto. + +"Oh, just out for my health," replied Sam, with a wink at his crony, +Nick. + +As to Tom's position, it was the same as it had been. No official +action had been taken against him--indeed none could be, since there +was no good evidence to connect him with the crime. And yet he was +suspected, and could not seem to prove his innocence. + +"It's the queerest thing why he won't tell about where he went that +night when he came in, smelling of smoke, and later, how he lost his +sweater," commented Jack to Bert. "If I didn't know Tom, I'd say he +had some hand in the business." + +"And yet Tom didn't. And it wasn't his pin." + +"Of course not. But a lot of the fellows think he's guilty. And Sam +keeps his crowd on edge about it. He's always referring to Tom as the +'poisoner' and so he keeps the thing alive, when, if it wasn't +mentioned, it might die out." + +"That's right. The mean sneak! And yet I guess Tom would rather have +it kept alive until he makes out his case, than to have it die down, +and the suspicion still be against him." + +"Oh, of course. And yet it doesn't seem as if he had a chance to make +good." + +"Oh, you leave it to Tom," said Bert. "He's got pluck, and if he has +any decent sort of luck he'll pull out ahead." + +"Well, maybe. Tom Fairfield's luck is proverbial you know. Look how +he came out ahead in the shipwreck, and the finding of the treasure in +the old mill." + +The two chums were still discussing the case of their friend when they +entered their room, and saw our hero busy writing letters. + +"Who's the girl?" asked Jack, playfully. + +"There doesn't happen to be any particular one," answered Tom with a +smile. "I'm writing letters, trying to pick up a new clew to this +mysterious case." + +"Still seeking clews?" asked Bert. + +"Of course. I'm not going to stop until I get what I want. Anything +new outside?" + +"Nothing much, except our football stock has gone up a few more points. +Everyone seems to think we're going to do Holwell good and proper." + +"I hope so," murmured Tom, as he bent over his writing. "I'm going to +play my best, if they let me go in the game." + +"Oh, I guess they will," said Jack; and then the silence in the room +was broken only by the scratching of Tom's pen. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +IN THE STORM + +"'Rah! 'Rah! 'Rah! Elmwood!" + +"Three cheers for Holwell!" + +"Now, boys, all together, give 'em the 'Chase Down the Field!' song!" + +"Over this way, Elmwood. We'll run through the signals again!" + +"Over here, Holwell, for some snappy work!" + +These were only a few of the many things heard on the Elmwood gridiron +the Saturday of one of the big games. The grandstands were piling up +with their crowds, many dashes of color being added by the hats and +wraps of the girls, while the sweaters and cap-bands of their +brothers--or perhaps other girls' brothers---increased the riot of +color. + +"Oh, what a fine looking lot of fellows the Elmwood Hall boys are," +confided one girl to her chum. + +"Do you think so? I think they look small compared to the Holwell +players." + +"Why Mabel, how can you say such a thing? There's Billy over there. +Isn't he stunning? Did you see him kick?" + +"Oh, there goes Fred with the ball!" and the other girl with her eyes +on the Holwell contingent, never looked at her friend who had looks +only for "Billy" who was lucky enough to play on Tom's team. + +There was a consultation of the officials and a toss for choice. +Holwell got the kick-off, and Captain Denton was rather glad of it, for +he had instructed his lads, in case they got the ball, to make the most +of the early periods of the game, and rush the pigskin for all they +were worth. + +"If we can get a touchdown in the first period it will almost mean +winning the game," he said to the coach. + +"That's right. Well, play as fast as you can, for I think we're in for +a storm, and there are too many chances on a wet field to make anything +certain. Strike while the iron is hot. Slam-bang through for a +touchdown, if you can, before the rain comes." + +It was a raw, chilly day, with every promise of rain or snow, and +though the crowds in the stands kept themselves warm by stamping their +feet and singing, there was much discomfort. + +Tom had been given his old position back of the line, and as he trotted +out for practice he felt a sense of elation in the coming struggle. + +"I'm not going to think about that miserable old business," he told +himself, but his resolution received a rude shock when, as he passed +where Sam was talking to one of the Holwell players, the bully was +heard to say: + +"Yes, lots of us think he dropped the poison in the mangers to get even +with Appleby. But of course there's nothing proven." + +"I see. A sort of Scotch verdict." + +"Something like that. I should think he'd get out of the eleven at +least, if not out of the school, but he sticks." + +"Indeed I do!" murmured Tom, clenching his fists, and almost deciding +to challenge Sam. But he knew a row would do no good, and would only +hurt his case; so he kept silent. + +"Line up!" came the call, and with the last of the preliminaries the +practice balls were called in, and the new, yellow one placed on a +little mound of earth in the center of the field. + +There was that ever-inspiring thrill as the spheroid was booted high +into the air. Tom had the luck to grab it and then, with fairly good +interference, he dashed down the field. + +"Stick to him, boys! Stick to him!" yelled the captain as he raced +onward. But some of the Holwell school players broke through, and Tom +was thrown heavily. + +"Now, boys, tear 'em up!" entreated Morse, as the first scrimmage was +to come. Sam began on a signal that would have sent Tom through guard +and tackle, but Morse, hearing it, quickly stepped to the quarterback, +whispering: + +"Not yet! Tom's too winded. Give him a chance to get his breath. Try +a forward pass." + +Sam scowled, but he had to obey. It had been his intention to play Tom +fiercely until, out of weariness, our hero would have been [missing +words] or would have played so raggedly that he would be sent to the +side lines. But Sam's plan was frustrated. + +The forward pass was not much of a success, and a fake kick was called +for. This netted a slight gain and then Morse again whispered to Sam. + +"Let Tom take the ball through now." + +The signal was given, and, with head well down, Tom hit the opposing +line on the run. It held better than he had expected it would, and he +was dizzy with the shock, but he had made a good gain, and there came a +yell of delight from the supporters of Elmwood Hall. + +Then the game sea-sawed back and forth, with matters a little in favor +of Tom's team. + +"Get a touchdown! Get a touchdown!" pleaded the captain. + +"By Jove I will!" thought Tom, grimly. "If I only get half a chance." + +He got it a moment later. A fake kick was called for, but there was a +fumble, and Tom grabbed up the ball on the bounce. Tucking it under +his arm, he ran for a hole he spied in the other line. Hands reached +out for him, but he eluded them, and the fullback of Holwell, having +been drawn in fatally close, was not able to stop our hero, who was +running well. + +"Touchdown! Touchdown!" screamed the crowd, as Tom sprinted over mark +after mark. + +"I'll do it!" he cried fiercely. + +Now the other players had disentangled themselves from the mass into +which they had been hurled, and were after him. One of the fleetest +was approaching our hero. + +"I've got to out-distance him," murmured Tom, looking back over his +shoulder, and he let out a little more of the speed he had been +reserving. Then, panting and weary, he crossed the goal line------and +only just in time, for, as he leaped over it, the hand of the Holwell +fullback was on his jacket. + +"Touchdown!" gasped Tom, as he fell on the ball. + +Then broke out a riot of cheers, cries and songs of victory! The goal +was missed, owing to a strong wind, but the Elmwood Hall lads cared +little for that. They were in winning luck, they felt sure. + +The first period was practically over, and soon came the second, during +which Holwell tried desperately to score. But she could not, though +several of her players were injured in the fierce rushes, and two of +Elmwood's lads had to be replaced by substitutes. + +It began to rain shortly after the third period started, and it came +down in such torrents that the field was soon a sea of mud and +mud-soaked grass. Still the game went on, though many of the +spectators deserted the field. + +"Keep playing! Keep playing!" begged Captain Denton. "We can win if +we only hold them from scoring." + +At first it looked as if this was not to be, for the Holwell team was +heavier, and this told on a slippery gridiron. But Tom and his mates +had pluck, and they held well in the rushes. Once there was a chance +for Elmwood to make another touchdown, but Jack Fitch slipped and fell +in a mud-puddle, the ball rolling out of his hands. Then a Holwell +played grabbed it, and kicked it out of danger on the next line-up. + +"Only a few minutes more," called the coach encouragingly, as the +fourth quarter neared a close. "Hold 'em, boys!" + +And hold Tom and his chums did. They had lost the ball on downs, and +it was dangerously near their goal mark. But they were like bulldogs +now--fighting in the last ditch. A touchdown and a goal would beat +them. It must not be! + +There was a short, sharp, quick signal, and one of the Holwell players +seemed to take the ball around left end. But Tom's sharp eye saw that +it was a trick play, and he cried to his mates to beware. They did not +hear him, and nearly all of them rushed to intercept the ball. Tom, +however, swung the other way, and headed for the player who really had +the pigskin. + +On the latter came with a rush. He was a big tackle, and Tom was much +smaller. Yet he did not hesitate. + +"Look out!" yelled the Holwell player, hoping to intimidate Tom, as he +rushed at him. But Tom was not made of the material that frightens +easily. Gritting his teeth, he braced himself for the tackle. He +fairly hurled himself at the man, through a mist of rain, and he caught +him. Down they went together in a heap, Tom groaning as he felt his +left ankle giving way under the strain. + +In vain the big tackle tried to get up and struggle on. Tom held fast; +and then it was all over, for the other Elmwood players, seeing their +mistake, hurried to Tom's aid, and a small human mountain piled up on +him and the Holwell lad. + +"Down!" howled the latter, ceasing his wriggling. The whistle blew, +ending the game, with the ball but a scant foot from Elmwood's goal +line. + +"Good boy!" called Captain Denton into Tom's ear. "You saved our bacon +for us." + +"I'm glad I did," replied Tom, limping around. + +"Are you hurt much?" asked Morse. + +"No, only a bit of sprained ankle. I'll be all right in a little +while, I guess." + +"It was great! Simply great!" exclaimed Jack a few hours later, when +he and Tom and Bert sat in their room, the smell of arnica filling the +apartment, coming from Tom's bandaged ankle. "You sure played your +head off, old man!" + +"I know I nearly played my leg off," agreed Tom, with a wry face. "I +can just step on it, and that's all." + +"Never mind, we beat 'em," consoled Bert. "And you did it, Tom." + +"Nonsense. It was team work. Sam played a fair game too. That helped +a lot. I was afraid of him at first." + +"He didn't dare do anything," said Jack. "I told him I'd have my eye +on him." + +They talked over the plays in detail. Tom was just beginning to feel +sleepy when there came a knock on the door. + +"Come in," he called, for it was not yet the hour for lights to be out, +and even a professor would find nothing out of the way. One of the +school messengers entered. + +"Here's a note for you, Mr. Fairfield," he Said. "A special delivery +letter." + +Tom read it quickly. A change came over his face. + +"I've got to go out!" he exclaimed, crumpling up the missive. He +reached for his raincoat limping across the room. + +"Go out in this storm!" cried Jack. "You oughtn't to!" + +"Not with a lame ankle," added Bert. + +"I've got to," insisted Tom. "It means more than you think," and +telling his chums not to sit up for him, he hurried out into the storm +and darkness. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +THE RAGGED MAN + +"Well, what do you think of that?" gasped Bert. + +"Isn't he the limit?" demanded Jack. "Running off that way before you +have a chance to draw your breath. But that's just like Tom Fairfield, +anyhow." + +"Isn't it? What do you imagine he's up to, this time?" + +"Give it up. It must be something important, to go out in this storm, +after a hard football game." + +"And with an ankle that's on the blink, speaking poetically." + +They looked at each other, and in the silence that followed their +exclamation after Tom left, they heard the dash of rain on the window, +and the howl of the wind as it scattered the cold drops about. For it +was a cold November storm that had suddenly descended, not cold enough +to snow, yet chilling. + +"He said it meant more to him than we thought," spoke Bert, musingly. + +"And that's only one thing," said Jack. + +"You mean the poison business?" + +"Sure." + +"Maybe we'd better follow him," suggested Bert. "He may stumble or +fall, and get hurt." + +"Tom doesn't like anyone to follow him. I guess we'd better stay where +we are until he gets back." + +Jack got up to walk about the room and quiet his nerves that, all on +edge after the football game, had been further excited by Tom's strange +action. Suddenly he came to a halt and exclaimed: + +"He dropped his letter, Bert. It's here on the floor." + +Jack picked up the crumpled sheet. It had been wadded up with the +envelope, and the latter showed the blue special delivery stamp. + +"Had we better--Oh, of course we can't read it," said Jack. "Only I +wish I knew what it was that made Tom go out in such a hurry." + +He walked toward his chum's desk, intending to thrust the letter in it, +but, as he did so, his eye caught a few words that he could not help +reading. They were: + +"Meet me down the lane. I'll explain everything. Sorry you had the +trouble. I'm straight again. + + "RAY BLAKE." + + +"Ray Blake," murmured Jack. "Ray Blake. I never heard that name +before, and I never knew Tom to mention it. And yet--Oh, hang it all, +Bert!" he ejaculated. "You might as well know as much as I know, +though I couldn't help reading this much," and he told his chum what he +had seen. + +"What does it mean?" asked Bert. + +"Give it up, except I think that this is the beginning of the end. +Someone is evidently going to confess." + +"And clear Tom?" + +"It looks that way. I wish he'd taken us into his confidence. We +might have helped him. Wow, what a night!" + +There came a fiercer blast of the storm, and a harder dash of rain +against the window. + +The two chums decided they could do nothing. They would have to wait +until Tom returned. And they sat in anxious silence, until that should +happen. + +"What lane do you think was meant in the letter?" asked Bert, when Jack +had placed the missive in Tom's desk. + +"The lane leading to Appleby's farm, maybe." + +"And if Tom goes there he may get into another row with the old farmer." + +"Not much danger to-night. I guess Appleby will stay in where it's dry +and warm. I wish Tom had." + +Meanwhile the subject of their remarks was tramping on through the +storm. His ankle pained him very much, and he realized that he would +be better off in bed. But something drove him forward. He saw +daylight ahead, even through the blackness of the night. + +"At last!" Tom murmured, as he plunged on. "I'll see him, and get him +to release me from my promise. Maybe he'll own up that he did the +thing himself, and that will free me, though it will be terrible for +mother. She never dreamed that Ray would get into such trouble. + +"I wonder which of my letters reached him? And why did he have to pick +out such a night to want to see me? Well, I give it up. I'll have to +wait until I have a talk with him. I wonder what his plans are?" + +Thus musing, and half talking to himself, Tom staggered on through the +rain and darkness. He had to be careful of his ankle, for he did not +want to permanently injure himself, nor get so lame that he could not +play in future football games. + +"Let's see," said Tom, coming to a halt after an uphill struggle +against the November gale. "The lane ought to be somewhere around +here." It was so dark that he could scarcely see a few feet ahead of +him, and a lantern would have been blown out in an instant. "I hope +Appleby isn't prowling around," he went on. "It would look sort of +awkward if he caught me. I wish Ray had named some other place. And +yet, it was here I saw him the other time. Maybe it will be all right." + +Tom went on a little farther, stepping into mud puddles, and slipping +off uneven stones, sending twinges of pain through his sprained ankle. + +"I guess I'm there now," he murmured as he felt a firm path under his +feet. "Now to see if Ray is here." + +Tom had advanced perhaps a hundred feet down the lane that led from the +main road to the farm of Mr. Appleby when he came to an abrupt halt. + +"Was that a whistle, or just the howling of the wind?" he asked +himself, half aloud. He paused to listen. + +"It was a whistle," he answered himself. "I'll reply." + +He shrilled out a call through the storm and darkness, in reply to the +few notes he had heard. + +"Are you there?" demanded a voice. + +"Yes. Is that you, Ray?" asked Tom. + +"Ray? No! who are you?" came the query. + +Tom felt his heart sink. Had he made a mistake? He did not know what +to do. + +Through the darkness a shape loomed up near him. He started back, and +then came a dazzling flash of light. It shone in his face--one of +those portable electric torches. By the reflected glare Tom saw that +it was held and focused on him by a ragged man--by a man who seemed to +be a tramp--a man with a broad, livid scar running from his eye down +his cheek nearly to his mouth! + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + +THE PURSUIT + +They stood staring at each other--Tom Fairfield and the ragged man, the +latter holding the electric torch so that it was focused on our hero. +And yet this did not prevent some of the rays from glinting back and +revealing himself. He seemed too surprised to make any move, and, as +for Tom himself, he remained motionless, not knowing what to do. He +had come out in the storm expecting to meet a certain person, and a +totally different one had appeared, and yet one whom he much desired to +meet. + +"Well," finally growled the ragged man. "What is it, young feller? +Was you lookin' for me?" + +"Not exactly," replied Tom with a half smile, "and yet I'm glad to see +you." + +"Oh, you are, eh? Well, I don't know as I can say the same. What do +you want, anyhow?" + +"A few words with you." + +"And s'posin' I don't want any words with you?" + +"I fancy it will be to your advantage to talk to me," said Tom coolly. +He was glad of a chance to stand still, for his ankle was paining him +very much, and even though the rain was coming down in torrents, and it +was cold and dreary, he did not mind, for he felt that at last he was +at the end of the trail that meant the clearing of his name. + +"Nice time for a talk," sneered the tramp. "If you have anything to +say, out with it. I'm not going to stand here all night." + +"I don't fancy the job myself," remarked Tom easily. "In the first +place, you came here to meet the same person I did, I think." + +"What makes you think so?" asked the tramp uneasily, and he lowered his +light so that it no longer pointed in Tom's face. + +"Well, I have reasons. Assuming that you did come here to meet a +certain Ray Blake, what do you want of him?" + +"I'm not going to tell you--how did you know I wanted to see Ray?" +stammered the ragged man, hastily correcting himself. + +"He told me so," replied Tom frankly. "Now I want you to let him alone +after this. You've done him harm enough, and you have done much to +ruin his life. I want you to promise not to make any more attempts to +force him to lead the kind of a life you're leading." + +"S'posin' I won't?" + +"Then I'll make you!" + +"You'll make me? Come, that's pretty good! That's rich, that is! Ha! +You'll make me, young feller? Why it'll take more'n you to make me do +what I don't want to do." + +"I fancy not," said Tom easily, and with a cautious movement he +advanced a step nearer the tramp. The latter did not appear to notice +it. + +"Well, what else do you want?" asked the ragged fellow. "That's not +sayin' I'm goin' to do what you asked me first, though," he sneered. +His light was now flickering about on the rain-soaked ground, making +little rings of illumination. + +"Will you tell me how you got that scar on your cheek?" asked Tom +suddenly. + +Involuntarily the man's hand went to the evidence of the old wound. Up +flashed the light into Tom's face again, and as it was held up there +came this sharp question, asked with every evidence of fear: + +"What--what do you know about that?" + +"I know more than you think I do," said Tom, still speaking with a +confidence he did not feel. Again he took a cautious step forward. He +was now almost within leaping distance of the tramp. + +"Well then, if you know so much there's no need of me telling you," +sneered the ragged man. "I've had enough of this," he went on, +speaking roughly. "I don't see why I should waste time talking to you +in this confounded rain. I'm going to leave." + +"Not until you answer me one more question," said Tom firmly, and he +gathered himself together for that which he knew must follow. + +"Seems to me you're mighty fond of askin' questions," sneered the +tramp, "an' you don't take the most comfortable places to do it in. +Well, fire ahead, and I'll answer if I like." + +Tom paused a moment. He looked about in the surrounding blackness, as +if to note whether help was at hand, or perhaps to discover if the +person he had come out to meet was near. But, there was no movement. +There was no sound save the swish of the rain about the two figures so +strangely contrasted, confronting one another. Off in the distance, +down the hill, could be seen the dim lights in the old farmhouse of Mr. +Appleby. + +"Well?" asked the tramp, in a hard voice. "Go ahead, an' get done with +it. I'm tired of standing here." He had released his thumb from the +spring of the electric torch, and the light went out, making the spot +seem all the blacker by contrast. + +Tom drew in his breath sharply. Taking a stride forward, and reaching +out his two muscular arms in the darkness, he asked in a low voice: + +"How much did you pay for that cyanide of potassium, Jacob Crouse?" + +Tom could hear the surprised gasp from the tramp, he could hear his +teeth chatter, not with cold, but from fright, and a moment later, with +a half audible cry, the man turned and fled away in the storm and +darkness. + +"No, you don't!" cried Tom, and with, a spring he sought to grab the +ragged fellow. But the lad was just the fraction of a second too late, +and though he did manage to grasp a portion of the tramp's coat, the +ragged and rotten cloth parted in his hand. + +"I'll get you yet!" exclaimed Tom fiercely, as he took up the pursuit +in the darkness. He had been expecting this, and yet it had come so +suddenly that he was not quite prepared for it. He had hoped to get +near enough to the tramp, undetected, to grab him before asking that +question which so startled the fellow. Now the man, on whom so much +depended in the clearing of Tom's name, was sprinting down the farm +lane. + +"My ankle!" gasped Tom, as a sudden turn on it sent a twinge of pain +through him. "If it wasn't for that I'd stand a better chance. And +yet I'm not going to give up. I've got to get him, or all my work will +go for nothing." + +On he ran, the rain-soaked ground giving forth scarcely a sound save +when he or the man ahead of him stepped into some mud puddle, of which +there were many. + +Tom, however, could hear the footfalls of the tramp, who was seeking to +escape, and by their nearness he judged that the fellow was not very +far in advance. + +"He hasn't much the start of me," mused Tom. "But if he gets out on +the main road he can easily give me the slip. I've got to corner him +in this lane." + +The lane was a long one, bordered on either side by big fields, some of +which were pastures, where the patient cattle stood in the storm, and +others whence fall crops had been gathered by the farmer. Tom glanced +ahead, and from side to side, to see if the tramp had leaped a fence +and was seeking to get away across some pasture. But he saw nothing, +and was aware of a dim moving spot just ahead of him. It was as if the +spot was a little lighter in darkness than the surrounding night. + +"He's in the lane yet, I think," said Tom, to himself, trying to run so +as to bring as little weight as possible on his injured ankle. "At +least I hope he is. And the lane doesn't end yet for some distance." + +A moment later he was given evidence that the fellow was still running +straight ahead. There came a muttered exclamation, and the sound of +splashing water. Then there shone a brilliant patch of light for an +instant. The tramp had blundered into some puddle, and had flashed his +electric torch to get his bearings. This Tom saw, and he also saw that +the man had increased the distance between them. + +"He's going to get away from me if I can't do a little better sprinting +work," murmured Tom grimly. "If I was making a touchdown I'd have to +do better than this. I'll just pretend that I am out for a touchdown." + +Clenching his teeth to keep back exclamations of pain, that, somehow or +other, would force themselves out, as his ankle twinged him, Tom swept +on. He fancied he was gaining a bit, for he could hear the labored +breathing of the man ahead of him. + +"Wind's giving out!" thought Tom, and he was glad that he was well +trained. Undoubtedly the life of dissipation the tramp had led would +tell on him. He could not keep up the race long. And yet the lane +must soon end. + +"I've got to get him! I've got to get him!" said Tom to himself, over +and over again, and he lowered his head and raced on in the storm and +darkness. + +He came to the same puddle where the tramp had flashed his light, and +the muddy water splashed high. It was slippery, too, and, in an +endeavor to maintain his balance, Tom further wrenched his ankle. + +"I'll be laid up for fair!" he groaned. "No more football for me this +season. Well, I can't help it. This is more important. Oh, if I can +only land him in jail where he belongs!" + +Recovering himself, he dashed on. He could still hear the lumbering +footsteps of the tramp. And then suddenly, out of the blackness ahead +of Tom there came a strange sound. It was like a grunt. Then the echo +of voices. + +"Look out where you're going!" someone exclaimed. + +"Get out of my way!" snarled another, and Tom recognized the tramp's +tones. + +"Ray! Ray Blake!" cried Tom, as he again heard the first voice. "Hold +that man! Don't let him get away. That's Jake Crouse!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + +CORNERED + +Tom Fairfield heard the sound of a struggle ahead of him in the +blackness. He heard the panting of breaths, heavily drawn, and the +impact of blows. + +"I'm coming, Ray! I'm coming. Hold him!" yelled Tom. "Don't let him +get away!" + +"I--I won't, Tom!" was the answer. "But--hurry up!" + +Tom sprang forward, but it was almost his undoing, for he slipped in +the mud and went down heavily. For a moment he lay in the slime and +water, with the rain beating on him, and the wind whipping about him, +half stunned. + +"Worse than ever!" he murmured, making a wry face. "Tve got to hop on +and help Ray." + +Just touching the toes of his injured foot to the ground, and hopping +on his uninjured leg, our hero made his way forward to where he could +hear the struggle going on between the tramp and the youth called Ray. + +"Let go of me!" snarled the tramp. "I'll fix you for this!" + +"You've nearly fixed me already, Jake," was the grim response. "I'm +not going to let you go. Where are you, Tom?" + +"Coming!" Tom hopped on, slipping and stumbling. As he neared the +struggling figures he stepped on something round that rolled under his +foot, and he picked it up. It was the tramp's flashlight, and an +instant later Tom had focused the brilliant rays on the struggling +figures. He saw that Ray had the man in a tight grip, while the ragged +fellow was beating the lad in an endeavor to break the hold. + +"That'll do!" cried Tom, and, thrusting the electric torch into his own +pocket, he clasped the tramp's arms from behind. Then the battle was +practically over, for the two lads could easily handle the man, whose +breath was nearly spent from his running. + +"Do you give up?" asked Tom, still holding the man's elbows. + +"I s'pose I've got to," was the half-growled answer. "You've got me +cornered." + +"And you'll be cornered worse than this before I'm done with you!" said +Tom grimly. "Are you hurt, Ray?" + +"Not much. A few scratches and some blows in the face. But what's the +matter with you, Tom? You're lame." + +"Yes, my ankle is on the blink--football game to-day; just before I got +your letter. Oh, but I'm glad I reached you in time!" + +"Yes, you just caught me. I'd been on my way West to-morrow. Oh Tom, +I can't tell you how sorry I am about it all!" + +"Never mind. It's all right now, and all can be explained, I guess." + +"Of course it can." + +"Say, when you fellows get through chinnin' maybe you'll tell me what +you're goin' to do with me?" snarled the tramp. + +"We surely will," said Tom. "We're going to tie you up, and then send +for the police." + +"You are! Not if I know it!" With an angry cry the man endeavored to +break from the hold of the two lads. But they were too much for the +fellow, though the struggle was not an easy one. + +"We'd better fasten him in some way," suggested Ray. "Rip off his +coat, Tom, and tie his arms in it. Maybe we'd better call for help." + +"Where could we get any?" + +"At Appleby's house. I fancy the old man would be glad to meet Mr. +Crouse again," and Ray Blake laughed. + +"Don't take me to him!" whined the tramp, now much subdued. "Take me +to jail, but not to that old skinflint." + +"I'm afraid we haven't much choice," said Tom. "No more fighting now, +or we won't be so gentle with you." + +It was a threat the tramp knew would be carried out, and he made no +further attempt to escape. The two lads took off his ragged coat, and +made it fast about the fellow's arms, tying them behind him. Then, +walking on either side, while Tom flashed the electric torch at +intervals, they turned back toward the farmhouse, our hero limping +along as best he could. + +"Hello! Hello, there Appleby!" yelled Tom, when they came within +hailing distance of the building. It was still raining hard. "Hello +there, show a light!" + +There was a pause, and then a door opened, letting out a flood of +illumination that cut the blackness like a knife. A voice demanded: + +"What's th' matter? Who be ye, makin' a racket this time of night? +What right ye got on my land, anyhow?" + +"That's all right, Mr. Appleby," put in Ray. "I guess you'll be glad +to see us. We've got a man you've been looking for." + +The tramp said nothing, but he did not make an effort to escape. +Probably he realized that it was too late, now. His young captors +advanced with him into the lighted kitchen of the farmhouse. + +"Jake Crouse!" exclaimed the farmer. "Good land, where'd ye git him, +boys? An' Ray Blake! Wa'al I never! Where'd ye pick him up?" + +"In your lane," answered Ray. "We thought you'd be glad to see him." + +"Me glad to see him?" exclaimed the puzzled farmer. "What for?" + +"Because," answered Tom slowly, "he is the man who poisoned your +horses, Mr. Appleby, and, unless I'm much mistaken, he also set fire to +your hay ricks. I've got the evidence for the first charge, and------" + +"I've got the evidence for the other," interrupted Ray. "It's all up, +Jake. You'd better confess right now and save yourself heavier +punishment." + +"Good land!" gasped the farmer. "Jake Crouse--the feller who used t' +work fer me--poisoned my horses--sot fire t' my hay? It don't seem +possible!" + +"I'd a done a heap more to you if I'd had the chance!" snarled the +tramp. "You're the meanest man in seven counties, and you cheated me +out of my money. I said I'd get even with you and I did." + +"Then you admit you're Crouse?" asked Tom eagerly. + +"Might as well, as long as you've got the goods on me. I'll take my +medicine now, but I'll get back at you later, Jed Appleby!" and he shot +a black look at the farmer. + +"It will be some time before he can carry out that threat," said Tom +easily. "Now, Mr. Appleby, I suppose you haven't a grudge against me +any longer, as it's been proved that I had no hand in your troubles." + +"No, of course not. I--I'm sorry I made a complaint against ye. But +it did look mighty suspicious." + +"Yes, it did," admitted Tom, "and I couldn't say anything, for certain +reasons. But they no longer exist." + +"I don't exactly understand it all," said the still-puzzled farmer, +"but it's all right, an' I begs yer pardon, Tom Fairfield, an' here's +my hand!" and he held out a big palm. + +"That's all right," said Tom easily, as he shook hands. "I'll explain +everything soon." + +"And I'll do my share," added Ray. "I haven't acted just as I should +in this matter. But I'm on a different road now." + +"I hope so," put in Mrs. Appleby, who had been a silent spectator of +the happenings. "I allers said you had a good streak in you somewhere, +Ray Blake, and if you had a mother------" + +"Please don't speak of her," the boy asked gently. + +"Have you a telephone?" asked Tom, anxious to change the subject, for +he saw that Ray was much affected. "If you have, we can 'phone for the +authorities to call for our friend here," and he nodded at the tramp +who, bound, sat in sullen silence. + +"No, we don't have such luxuries," answered the farmer, "but I'll send +one of my hired men into town. We can lock Jake up in the smoke house +'till the constable gets here." + +This was done, Jake Crouse submitting sullenly. Then, when the hired +man had driven off in the rain, the farmer and his wife insisted on +providing dry garments for Ray and Tom, and in making them hot coffee. + +In two hours the constable arrived, and only just in time, for the +tramp had nearly forced open the smoke house door, and would soon have +escaped. He was handcuffed, and driven to the town lockup. + +"I'll appear agin' him to-morrow," said Mr. Appleby. "Now hadn't you +boys better stay here all night? It's rainin' cats an' dogs." + +"No, I must get back to the school," said Tom. "And I'd like Ray to +come with me. I want him to help explain certain things to my chums. +They know I'm not an incendiary, or a horse poisoner, but some others +don't believe that." + +"We'll soon make 'em!" exclaimed Ray. + +"I'm with you Tom. I can't make up all you suffered on my account, but +I will do all I can." + +"Wa'al, if ye will go back I s'pose I can't stop ye," said the farmer. +"I'll have Hank drive ye in, though." + +Mr. Appleby's nature seemed to have undergone a sudden change. He was +no longer mean and inhospitable. In a short time Tom and Ray were on +their way in a covered carriage to Elmwood Hall. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV + +EXPLANATIONS + +"Look who's here!" + +"Back again!" + +"Tom Fairfield, what in the name of the seven sacred scribes has +happened, anyhow?" + +Thus Tom's chums--George, Jack, and Bert, greeted him about an hour +later when he entered his room in the borrowed garments of the farmer. +Ray Blake followed him into the apartment, a trifle embarrassed. The +boys had managed, through the friendly offices of Demy Miller, the +studious janitor, to enter the dormitory unseen by the proctor or any +of his scouts. + +"Yes, I'm here," said Tom with a smile, as he limped to an easy chair. +"Ray, have a seat. Boys, allow me to introduce my cousin, Ray Blake." + +"Your--your cousin!" gasped Jack. + +"Yes. He's the one who had my sweater," went on Tom. + +"Your sweater?" gasped George. + +"Yes--that rather brilliant one that connected me with the +horse-poisoning case." + +"But--but," stammered Bert. "Did he--your cousin--?" + +"No, he didn't use any cyanide," said Tom quickly. "Now for some +explanations. But first shake hands, and then maybe we'd better stuff +our keyhole so the light won't show. No use being interrupted." + +"That's already been attended to," said Jack. "We always take those +precautions," and in turn he and the others shook hands with Ray. + +"To begin at the beginning," said Tom, "this is my cousin--a son of my +mother's sister. I haven't seen him in some years, for he went West, +where his parents died. How he managed to come to work as a hired man +for Appleby I don't know, but he did----" + +"It was just chance," cut in Ray. "Suppose you let me explain, Tom." + +"All right, go ahead. I'm going to rub some liniment on my ankle. +It's got to be treated, if I'm to play football again." + +"I might as well own up to it first as last," went on Ray, "that I +haven't been altogether what I should be. When my mother died--I--I +sort of went to the bad." He choked up for a moment and then resumed. + +"I got in with a lot of tough characters in the West and I lived a fast +life. Then I drifted East, lost what money I had and went to work for +Mr. Appleby. I didn't know Tom was going to school here or I wouldn't +have run the chance of disgracing him." + +"If you had only let me know earlier that you were here," said Tom, +"everything might have been all right." + +"Well, I didn't," said Ray, with a smile at his cousin. "Things went +from bad to worse. Appleby wasn't the best man in the world to work +for. Then Jake Crouse happened along. I had known him out West. He +came of a good family, but he went to the bad and became a common +tramp, though he had a good education. Crouse isn't his right name, I +guess. + +"Appleby treated us very mean--he does that way to all his hired men, I +guess, and he used to fine us if we accidentally broke any tools, or +made mistakes. In fact about all our money was eaten up in fines, so +we had very little coming to us. + +"Finally Jake Crouse got mad when he was heavily fined, and he said he +was going to get even. He wanted me to go in with him, but I wouldn't, +and I decided to skip out, and look for another place. I had no money, +and then, accidentally, I learned that Tom was a student at Elmwood +Hall. I heard Appleby mention his name as having gotten ten dollars +from him for about a dollar's worth of trampled-down corn. Then I +decided to appeal to Tom to help me get away. + +"I sent him a note, and he came to see me. It was in a pool room in +town--a place where I used to go for amusement, but I've dropped all +that sort of thing now. There Tom gave me money enough to straighten +up and begin life over again." + +"Say!" interrupted Jack, "was that where you got so all smelled up with +smoke, Tom?" + +"I guess it was. I know everybody in the place seemed to be smoking," +answered our hero. + +"That was the night Jake Crouse set fire to the hay stacks," went on +Ray Blake. "He fixed it so suspicion wouldn't fall on him, as he was +away from the farm at the time. He used a sort of chemical fuse that +would cause the fire several hours after it was set. + +"After I met Tom, and got the money, and told him about the prospective +hay fire," said Ray, "I sneaked back to the farm to get what few +clothes I owned. Jake Crouse was waiting for me, and when he found out +I was going to run away, and that I had some money, he threatened to +implicate me in the burning of the hay. He had me in his power and I +didn't dare--or at least I thought I didn't dare--refuse him. So I +stayed on, and he got most of my money over cards. He wasn't suspected +of the fire, and I never knew Tom was, or I'd have made a clean breast +of everything. + +"Well, things went from bad to badness. Appleby got worse toward us +instead of better, and Crouse said he'd teach him a lesson. I +suspected he would do something desperate so I made up my mind to get +away. I laid my plans carefully, and, ashamed as I was, I decided to +ask Tom for more money. + +"I appealed to him, and he answered. He gave me all he could spare, +and more too, I guess and I promised to reform. I made him promise he +would never say anything about me, and he didn't. As much on his +mother's account as mine, I guess, for my mother and his were sisters, +and I knew my aunt would be broken-hearted if she knew how much I'd +gone to the bad. + +"Well, to make a long story short Tom fixed me up--he even gave me his +sweater when I sneaked up and called on him in this dormitory, for I +was cold and hadn't many clothes--and I lit out. I guess I must have +made some wild threats against Appleby before I left, for he had +treated me mean." + +"You did make all sorts of wild declarations," put in Tom, "and it was +that which made me fear you had poisoned the horses when it was known +that they had been given cyanide." + +"But I didn't," said Ray. "I ran off that night, and later, as I +passed by the barn, carrying Tom's sweater, I saw Jake Crouse going in +with a package and a bottle. I got scared and ran as fast as I could, +fearing he would see me and force me to have a hand in the crime. But +I got away, though I dropped Tom's sweater, and didn't dare go back for +it. + +"I went to New York, and I've been there ever since, until recently. I +stayed with a man I had known in the West, but I never knew Tom was in +such trouble on my account. What happened here, after I left, I don't +know, except as Tom has told me. But the other day I got a letter from +him, asking me to release him from his promise to keep silent about my +presence here, and about what a life I had led, and I came on. I +couldn't get here until to-night and I sent word that I'd meet him near +the Appleby house and explain everything. + +"In his letter Tom told me about how he was suspected of the poisoning, +and how he wanted to clear his name. The reason I appointed the lane +near the farm house was because I intended to go with him to Mr. +Appleby and explain everything. I never thought it would storm so, but +it was too late to get word to Tom, so I kept the appointment." + +"And so did I," added Tom. "How Jake Crouse got there is a mystery." + +"Not much of one, I guess," said Ray. "I fancy he was mad because he +didn't kill all the horses and he was going to try it again. Then too, +foolishly, I wrote him a final letter, saying I was going to see you +and I guess he went there to meet me." + +"At any rate he was there," said Tom, "and we both had a run-in with +him. He's now safely in jail, having confessed to both crimes. So my +name is cleared." + +"Yes, by the plucky way you kept after the clews," said Jack. + +"And the luck he had of running into Jake," added Bert. + +"No, Jake ran into me," explained Ray, with a laugh. "Well, I've +released Tom from his promise of silence. Perhaps it was foolish to +bind him to it, for I should have been willing to take my medicine. +But, for a time, I could not bear the thought of his mother knowing how +low I'd fallen--I didn't want anyone to know how nearly I'd disgraced +Tom's family." + +"That's why I couldn't say anything about to whom I gave my sweater," +explained Tom. "And, for a time, I feared Ray was guilty of poisoning +the horses. His threats, and the fact that he had some time before +experimented with chemicals, with me, made me suspicious. So I had a +double motive in keeping silent. + +"At last I could stand it no longer, and I began to try and trace my +cousin. I had accidentally found the clew of the bottle, and I knew +that someone giving the name of Crouse had purchased the poison. But +even then I was afraid Ray had given the tramp's name to shield +himself. Though when the drug clerk said a man with a scar had bought +the cyanide I had my doubts. Still I was not sure but what Ray had +been hurt in a fight." + +"I was a pretty wild character," admitted Tom's cousin, "but I'm done +with that sort of life now." + +"So I wrote several letters," went on Tom, "asking my cousin to come +and explain things. It was some time before one reached him, as I sent +to his last known address out West." + +"But I finally got one," put in Ray, "and then I came on, as soon as I +could. It's all explained now, and Tom's name is cleared." + +"How do you suppose Sam Heller saw you--or thought he saw you--with +your gay sweater on--at the barn?" asked Jack. + +"Give it up," said Tom. "Maybe we'll find out that too." + +They did--the next morning, when Tom and his cousin, in an interview +with Doctor Meredith, told the whole story. But it had leaked out +before that, and when Sam Heller was sent for he was not to be found. +He had left Elmwood Hall in a hurry. + +In order to clear himself of any part in the unjust accusation against +Tom, Nick Johnson made a clean breast of the whole affair. To him Sam +had confided a plan of throwing suspicion, of some mean act against Mr. +Appleby, on Tom. Sam's plan was to go to the barns, and damage some +farm machinery, at the same time leaving behind some object with Tom's +name on it to implicate him. Nick would have nothing to do with this, +and Sam went off by himself. + +That was the night the horses were poisoned, and Sam, seeing Crouse and +Ray about the barns, became frightened and sneaked off without playing +his mean trick. It was Ray he had seen wearing the sweater, leaving +the dormitory after Ray had borrowed it, and Sam thought it was Tom, +for the cousins were much alike. And it was Ray whom Mr. Appleby had +seen, though the empty package of poison was dropped by Crouse, and not +by Ray, so in that the farmer was mistaken. And Sam testified against +Tom, at the time believing him guilty. + +Later, though, in one of the resorts of Elmwood, Sam overheard Crouse +boasting to some boon companions of what he had done, but, instead of +telling what he knew, and clearing our hero, Sam kept silent, letting +the blame rest on Tom. And it was Sam's school pin the farmer found +near the hay. + +And it was also Sam and Nick who had bribed the farm boy to send Tom +and his chums on the wrong road, thus leading them into the cornfield +and causing the quarrel with Mr. Appleby. + +"Well, all's well that ends well," said Tom's cousin a few days later, +when he made ready to go back to the West, where he promised to begin a +new life. "I can't tell you how sorry I am Tom, for the trouble I made +you." + +"Never mind," answered our hero. "It's all right." + +"Tom's pluck and luck won for him," said Jack, and Tom was the hero of +the school, for Doctor Meredith publicly commended the youth for his +action, and Mr. Appleby was fair enough to beg Tom's pardon before the +whole school. + +"But we've got to have a new quarterback," said the perplexed football +captain as the time approached for the last big game--that for the +championship. + +"Yes," admitted the coach. "Better a new one than that sneak Sam +Heller. I'm glad he's gone. Is Tom's ankle fit for him to play?" + +"He says he'll play, anyhow!" + +"Good for him. Well, I guess we can make a shift." + +The football game was one long to be remembered. It was played on a +cold, crisp day, and a record-breaking crowd was in attendance. For +the first three quarters neither side scored. There were brilliant +runs, sensational kicks and tackles, brilliant passing, and good plays +generally, but the teams seemed too evenly matched. + +Then came the last quarter. Foot by foot the ball had been worked to +within striking distance of the rival's goal. + +"Now, boys, a touchdown!" cried the captain. + +Smith, the new quarterback, gave the signal for Tom to take the pigskin +through center, and Tom, with lowered head and fiercely beating heart, +leaped forward. There was a crash as the two lines of players met, and +then, struggling forward, tearing himself loose from restraining +hands--pushed, shoved and all but torn apart, Tom forced his way onward. + +His vision became black! His breath was all but gone, and then, with a +last mighty heave, he shoved the ball over the last line. + +"Touchdown! Touchdown!" + +"Tom Fairfield's touchdown!" + +"Elmwood Hall forever!" + +"Three cheers!" + +"Three cheers for Tom Fairfield!" + +The players and spectators went wild, and the game came to an end a few +minutes later, with Tom's team the champions. + +"Well, old man, we did 'em," said Jack some hours later, when the +chums, and as many of their friends as possibly could crowd into the +room of our heroes, had gathered there. "We did 'em." + +"Good and proper," added Bert. + +"How's the ankle, Tom?" asked the captain anxiously. "We don't want to +permanently cripple you, for there'll be more games next year." + +"Oh, I guess I'll be all right by then," said Tom, with a smile. +"Jack, pass those sandwiches," for an impromptu banquet was under way. + +"Yes, and don't hold that mustard for a loss," added George. + +"Pass those pickles up this way for a touchdown," begged Reddy Burke. + +"Well, Tom," asked Bruce Bennington in a low voice, "are you glad or +sorry you didn't insist on having a row with Sam, right off the bat?" + +"Glad," answered Tom. "It came out all right anyhow." + +"Sure it did. He's gone, and you're here," said Bruce. + +"A song, boys! A song!" called Jack Fitch, and a moment later, in +spite of the danger of a visit from the proctor, there swelled out the +strains of "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow!" + +But the proctor did not come. As he heard the forbidden sounds of +gaiety he smiled grimly. + +"It Isn't every day that Elmwood Hall wins a championship," he remarked +to Doctor Meredith. + +"No, indeed," agreed the head master. "And so young Fairfield made the +winning touchdown?" + +"Yes. As plucky a lad as we have in the school. He played the game +with an injured ankle." + +"Oh, it isn't alone physical pluck that Fairfield has," remarked the +head of the school thoughtfully, as he remembered what Tom had endured. + +Those had been strenuous times for Tom, but other happenings were still +in store for him, and what some of them were will be related in another +volume, to be called "Tom Fairfield's Hunting Trip; Or, Lost in the +Wilderness," in which we shall see how Tom's pluck was put to the +supreme test. + +"All ready for the grand march!" cried one of the boys, and soon a big +line was formed, and the boys began to march around the school +buildings. And here we will say good-bye to Tom Fairfield. + + + +THE END + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Tom Fairfield's Pluck and Luck, by Allen Chapman + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 14083 *** diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..82d42e8 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #14083 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/14083) diff --git a/old/14083.txt b/old/14083.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..ed611cf --- /dev/null +++ b/old/14083.txt @@ -0,0 +1,6177 @@ +Project Gutenberg's Tom Fairfield's Pluck and Luck, by Allen Chapman + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Tom Fairfield's Pluck and Luck + +Author: Allen Chapman + +Release Date: November 18, 2004 [EBook #14083] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TOM FAIRFIELD'S PLUCK AND LUCK *** + + + + +Produced by Al Haines + + + + + +Tom Fairfield's Pluck and Luck + +Or + +Working to Clear His Name + + + +BY + +ALLEN CHAPMAN + + +AUTHOR OF "TOM FAIRFIELD'S SCHOOLDAYS," "TOM FAIRFIELD AT SEA," +"THE DAREWELL CHUMS SERIES," "BOYS OF PLUCK SERIES," ETC. + + + + +ILLUSTRATED + + + +NEW YORK + +CUPPLES & LEON COMPANY + +PUBLISHERS + + + + +Copyrighted 1913, by + +CUPPLES & LEON COMPANY + + +TOM FAIRFIELD'S PLUCK AND LUCK + + + + +CONTENTS + + CHAPTER + + I. AN INDIGNATION MEETING + II. BRAZEN DEFIANCE + III. THE ADVICE OF BRUCE + IV. HOW SAM TOLD IT + V. TOM DECIDES + VI. ON THE GRIDIRON + VII. A CROSS-COUNTRY RUN + VIII. LOST IN THE WOODS + IX. AN ANGRY FARMER + X. A HAY STACK FIRE + XI. HOT WORK + XII. ACCUSATIONS + XIII. THE POISONED HORSES + XIV. SAM HELLER'S EVIDENCE + XV. TOM'S SILENCE + XVI. TOM SEEKS CLEWS + XVII. THE EMPTY BOTTLE + XVIII. ON THE TRAIL + XIX. DISAPPOINTMENT + XX. MORE SEEKING + XXI. IN THE STORM + XXII. THE RAGGED MAN + XXIII. THE PURSUIT + XXIV. CORNERED + XXV. EXPLANATIONS + + + + +TOM FAIRFIELD'S PLUCK AND LUCK + +CHAPTER I + +AN INDIGNATION MEETING + +"Well, well, by all that's good! If it isn't Tom Fairfield back again! +How are you, old man?" + +"Oh, fine and dandy! My! but it's good to see the old place again, +Morse," and the tall, good-looking lad whom the other had greeted so +effusively held out his hand--a firm, brown hand that told of a summer +spent in the open. + +"Any of our boys back, Morse?" went on Tom Fairfield, as he looked +around the campus of Elmwood Hall. "I thought I'd meet Bert Wilson or +Jack Fitch on my way up, but I missed 'em. How are you, anyhow?" + +"Fit as a fiddle. Say, you're looking as if you had enjoyed your +vacation." + +"I sure did! You're not looking bad yourself. Able to sit up and take +nourishment, I guess." + +"You've struck it, Tom. But what did you do with yourself all summer?" + +"Jack, Bert and another chum of mine went camping, and, believe me, we +had some times!" + +"So I heard. I had a letter from Jack the other day. He mentioned +something about a secret of the mill, the crazy hermit and all that +sort. Say, but you did go some." + +"That's right. It was great while it lasted. How about you?" and Tom +looked at his friend, Morse Denton, anxious to hear about his good +times. + +"Oh, I went with my folks to the shore. Had a pretty good +summer--motorboating, canoeing with the girls, and all that. But I got +a bit tired of it. I came back early to get some of the football +material into shape for this fall," and Morse Denton, who had been +captain of the Freshman eleven, and who was later elected as regular +captain, looked at Tom, as if sizing him up as available pigskin +material. + +"Well, I guess none of our crowd has shown up yet," went on Tom. "I +fancied I'd be a day or so early, as I wanted to have a good pick of +rooms. Got yours, yet?" + +"Sure thing. I attended to that first. But there are some fine ones +left. Come on over to Hollywood Hall, and we'll see what'll suit you. +Try and get one next to mine if you can. Are Bert and Jack going to +room with you?" + +"They are if we can get a place that will hold us." + +"That isn't as easy as it sounds with the way you fellows do things. +But there's one nice big study near mine." + +"Then I'll just annex it. Say! But it's good to be back. The old +place hasn't changed any," and Tom looked around admiringly at the +groups of buildings that made up Elmwood Hall. His gaze strolled over +the green campus, which would soon be alive with students, and then to +the baseball diamond and the football gridiron, on which latter field +the battle of the pigskin over the chalk marks would soon be waged. + +"Well, they've done some painting and fixing up during vacation," said +Morse, as he linked his arm in that of Tom and the two walked on +together toward Hollywood Hall, the official dormitory of the Sophomore +class. "The gridiron has been leveled off a bit and some new seats put +up. Land knows we needed 'em! We'll have some great games this year. +You'll play, of course, Tom?" + +"Maybe--if I'm asked." + +"Oh, you'll be asked all right," laughed Morse. "Did you expect Bert +and Jack would be here?" + +"I didn't know but what they might. I haven't seen 'em for the last +two weeks. After we closed our camp Bert went up in the country, where +his folks were stopping, and Jack took a little coasting trip on a +fishing boat. We were to meet here, but they must be delayed. +However, school doesn't open for a day or so. But I want to get my +place in shape." + +"Good idea. That's what I did. Well, here we are," Morse added as the +two came opposite a large building. "Let's go in and see what Old +Balmy has in stock." + +They advanced into the dormitory, being met in the lower hall by a +pleasant-faced German who greeted them with: + +"Ach! Goot afternoons, gentlemans. Und it iss rooms vat you are +seeking?" + +"Rooms it is, Herr Balmgester," replied Morse. "My friend, Tom +Fairfield, here, wants that big one next to mine." + +"Vat! Dot large room for one lad?" + +"Oh, I've got two friends coming," explained Tom. "I had a double room +over in the Ball and Bat," he added, referring to the Freshman +dormitory, "but there'll be three of us here." + +"Ach! Dot iss goot! Two boys makes troubles," and the German monitor +of the Sophomore dormitory held up two fingers. "Three is besser--vat +one does not vant to do ven der oder two does makes like a +safety-valve; ain't it yes?" and he laughed ponderously. + +"Oh, we'll be good," promised Tom, with a wink at Morse. "Let's see +the room." + +It proved all that could be desired in the way of a study and sleeping +apartment for three healthy, fun-loving lads, and Tom at once signed +for it, feeling sure that his two chums, when they did arrive, would +approve of his choice. + +"Well, now that's done, come on into town, and I'll treat you to ice +cream," invited Morse, for though it was late in September the day was +warm. "I'm in funds now," went on the football captain, "and I may not +be--later," he added with a grim smile. + +"Oh, I don't know," said Tom, hesitatingly. "I rather thought I'd hang +around. Maybe Jack or Bert will come, and--" + +"They can't get here until the five o'clock train, now," declared +Morse. "You've got time enough to go to town and be back again. Come +ahead." + +"All right," assented Tom. "Wait until I get the porter to fetch my +trunk from the station." + +The check having been given to the porter, Tom and his chum strolled +toward the trolley line that would take them into the small city of +Elmwood. + +"Here comes the human interrogation point!" exclaimed Morse, when they +were almost at the trolley line. + +"I thought he wasn't coming back to school," remarked Tom, looking +around. + +"He did say he wasn't, but I guess his folks made him. He wanted to +branch out for himself and be a lawyer, I believe. He sure would be +great on cross-examining witnesses with the way he asks questions," +finished Morse with a laugh. + +A small lad was approaching the two friends on the run, and, as he +neared them, he called out: + +"Hello, Morse! Say, Tom Fairfield, when did you get in? Did you have +a good time? I hear you went camping and discovered a hidden treasure. +Did it amount to much? How much did you get? Where's Jack and Bert? +Are you going in for football? Where are you rooming?" + +Tom and Morse came to a stop. They eyed each other solemnly. Then Tom +said gravely: + +"Isn't it a shame; and he's so young, too!" + +"Yes," assented Morse with a mournful shake of his head. "I understand +that his case is hopeless. They are going to provide a keeper for him." + +"Say, look here, you fellows!" exclaimed the small lad. "What's eating +you, anyhow? What do you mean by that line of talk?" + +"Oh, he heard us!" gasped Tom, in pretended confusion. "I didn't think +he had any rational moments. But he has. There, Georgie," he went on +soothingly. "Go lie down in the shade, and you'll be all right in a +little while. Do you suffer much?" + +"Say, what's the joke?" demanded George Abbot, the small lad referred +to. "Can't I ask you a question, without being insulted and called +crazy?" + +"Sure you can, Why," replied Tom, giving the lad the nick-name bestowed +on him because of his many interrogations. "Of course you can ask one +question, or even two, but you can't fire broadsides at us in that +fashion. Remember that we have weak hearts." + +"And our constitutions are not strong," added Morse. + +"Oh, you be hanged!" murmured George. "If you can't--" + +"Oh, come along!" invited Tom, catching him by the arm. "We're going +to town. It's Morse's treat. Yes, George, I did have a bang-up time +on my vacation. I'll tell you all about it later." + +The three were soon on a trolley car and, a little later, they had +reached the town, heading for a drug store where ice cream sodas were a +specialty. + +"It goes to the right spot!" exclaimed Tom gratefully, as he finished +what was set before him. "What do you say to a moving picture show? +It will pass the time until the last train gets in. Then for some fun +to-night, if Jack and Bert show up." + +The others were willing, and soon, in company with some other Elmwood +Hall students whom they met, the boys went to the place of the moving +pictures. + +"Well, it's almost time for the choo-choo cars to sand-paper in," +remarked Tom a little later, looking at his watch as he and Morse paced +the depot platform. + +"Yes, there she blows," remarked his companion, as a distant whistle +sounded. + +"There they are!" + +"There's Tom!" + +"Hello, you old skate!" + +"You got here ahead of us!" + +"And there's Morse Denton!" + +"'Rah for Elmwood Hall!" + +"I see Joe Rooney." + +"Yes, and there's Lew Bentfield." + +"Hello, Bruce! Bruce Bennington," yelled Tom. + +"Hello Tom! Didn't expect to see me back; did you?" and a tall, +well-browned lad, somewhat older than the others, leaped from the +still-moving train, and grasped our hero's hand. + +The other remarks, preceding Thorn's, had come so fast and in such +confusion that it is impossible to declare who said which or what. +Then, when Tom had greeted Bruce, the Senior who owed so much to him--a +Senior who had returned for a post-graduate course--our hero spied some +others of his chums on the train. + +"Jack! Jack Fitch!" he yelled. "Hello, Bert--Bert Wilson! I've been +waiting for you!" + +"There he is! There's Tom!" yelled Jack, hauling in the head of his +chum Bert from one window, only to poke his own cranium out of another. +"Hurray!" + +There was a rush of many feet, a tossing about of valises and suit +cases, the hoarse cries of hack drivers and expressmen, and, above all, +the greetings of the students, the smack of meeting palms and the +pistol-like reports of clappings on backs and shoulders. + +"Three cheers for Elmwood Hall!" cried someone. They were given, and a +"Tiger" was called for, followed by the school yell. + +"Say, Tom," began Jack Fitch, when he could get his breath. "What +about a room? Let's slip off and get one before this mob takes 'em +all." + +"Go easy, son; go easy," advised Tom calmly. "All is provided for. +Just tell the man to send your luggage to Hollywood Hall, and all will +be well. Same to you, Bert. I've got a swell apartment for us three, +near where Morse hangs out." + +"Good for you!" cried Bert. + +"Trust Tom to look out for the sleeps and eats," laughed Jack. "Oh, +but it's good to be back!" + +"Just what I said," declared Tom. "There's lots of good times in +prospect." + +Together the four chums, followed by others of their acquaintance, +moved toward the Sophomore dormitory. The five o'clock train had +brought in many students, all of whom were in a hurry to pick out their +rooms. + +"Say, this is a swell place all right," declared Bert, a little later, +when Tom had ushered his two chums into the cozy apartment he had +reserved. + +"All to the plush furniture," added Jack. "You're all right, Tom. How +is it for getting in after hours?" + +"Fine. It's right near a rear stairway. Oh, I saw to that all right. +And the monitor is Old Balmy--we can work him easy." + +"Fine!" cried Bert. "Now let's get things straightened out, and unpack +some of our duds," for their baggage had arrived ere they had done +admiring their new quarters. + +"We're Sophs now--don't forget that," advised Tom. "No more Freshmen!" + +"And we can do some hazing on our own account," added Jack. "Oh, +glorious!" + +There came a knock on the door. + +"Come!" invited Tom. + +The portal swung open to admit the form and features of little George +Abbot. + +"Are you all here? When did you and Bert come? Is there any----" + +"Stop!" thundered Tom, catching up a heavy baseball glove. "Halt in +your tracks, or it will be the worse for you! One more question, and--" + +"You wait until you hear this one," said George calmly. "Maybe you +don't want to, though," he added mysteriously. + +"What is it?" asked Jack, struck by something in the manner of the +human question box, and Tom lowered the glove. + +"I was going to ask if you'd heard the news," went on George. "But if +you don't want to----" + +"Go ahead, Why," invited Bert. "I'll listen, anyhow. What's the news?" + +"Sam Heller and Nick Johnson just arrived in a big touring car. Sam +says it's his." + +"Sam Heller here?" + +"And Nick Johnson?" + +"In a touring car?" + +Tom, Jack and Bert asked the questions in turn. They fairly glared at +George. The latter, satisfied with the impression he had produced, +sank into an easy chair. + +"They're here," he went on. "I just saw 'em come, and they're headed +this way." + +"Sam and Nick going to room in the same dormitory with us!" gasped Bert. + +"After what they did?" asked Jack. + +"Helping to capture and hold us fellows prisoners," said Tom bitterly. + +"We won't stand for it!" declared Bert vigorously. + +"I should say not!" came from Jack indignantly. "We will have to do +something--protest--make a class matter of it. After what happened at +the old mill, for those snobs to have the nerve to come back to Elmwood +Hall. Why--" + +"It is rather raw," interrupted Tom. "What shall we do?" + +"Let's go out and confront 'em," suggested Bert. "If they have the +nerve to meet us face to face--well, I don't believe they will +have--that's all." + +"Come on!" urged Jack, and he caught hold of Tom's arm and led him +forth to face their common enemies. The meeting of the chums, that had +started off so jollily, was now a session of indignation. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +BRAZEN DEFIANCE + +Talking over the unexpected news George Abbot had brought to them, and +planning what they would say to the two lads who had done so much to +injure them, our hero and his chums hurried out of the dormitory and +across the school campus. + +"Where did you see 'em, George?" asked Jack, looking at the small youth +who had such fondness for asking questions. + +"They just got in--fine big auto--they're over at 'Pop' Swab's soda +emporium, filling up on ginger ale, and poking fun at some of the new +fellows." + +"Just like 'em," murmured Tom. "We'll do something more than poke fun +at 'em when we see 'em." + +"That's what," added Jack. + +"Maybe they aren't going to stay--they may have just come here for a +bluff, and are going away again," suggested Bert. + +"How about that, George?" asked Tom, and the small lad, who was too +much engrossed with the possibility of some excitement presently to ask +his usual number of questions, replied: + +"I guess they're going to stay all right. I heard Sam tell Nick to +hurry up and pick out a room in Hollywood Hall, or all the best ones +would be gone." + +"By Jove!" ejaculated Jack. "They mean to stay all right!" + +"If we let 'em," added Bert significantly. + +"Come on," urged Tom. "If we're going to have a run-in with 'em, let's +have it in the open, before they get in the dormitory." + +And while our hero and his chums are thus hastening to meet the lads +who had played such a mean trick on them that summer may I be permitted +a few pages in which to make my new readers a little better acquainted +with Tom Fairfield? + +Tom, aged about sixteen, was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Brokaw Fairfield. +He lived in the village of Briartown, on the Pine river, and had much +sport running his motorboat on that stream. + +In the first volume of this series, entitled, "Tom Fairfield's +Schooldays," I related how Tom's father and mother had to go to +Australia to claim some property left by a relative. As it was not +convenient to take Tom along he was sent to school--Elmwood Hall--where +he boarded and studied. + +Tom at once made friends and enemies, as any lad would. But his +enemies were few, the two principal ones being Sam Heller and Nick +Johnson, and they cordially hated our hero. Tom's chief friend was +Jack Fitch, with whom he roomed, though Bert Wilson, George Abbot, Joe +Rooney, Lew Bentfield, Ed. Ward, Henry Miller and a host of others were +on intimate terms with him. I might also mention Bruce Bennington, a +Senior when Tom reached Elmwood Hall, and with whom Tom soon became +friendly. + +Dr. Pliny Meredith was headmaster at Elmwood. He was sometimes called +"Merry" because, as Jack Fitch used to say, he was so glum. But he was +a gentleman. Not so Professor Skeel, who was a taskmaster. It was +against Mr. Skeel that Tom led a revolt because of the professor's +meanness in Latin class. + +How the boys went on a strike, how they were made prisoners, how they +escaped in a great storm, burned the effigy of Mr. Skeel at the flag +pole, and how Tom won the strike--all this is set down in the first +volume. There is also told how Tom saved Bruce Bennington from +disgrace, and was the means of Mr. Skeel fleeing in fear of discovery. + +In the second book, entitled, "Tom Fairfield at Sea," I told how our +hero learned that the vessel on which his parents were sailing from +Australia had been wrecked. He at once set out to make the long voyage +to try to find some news of them or, if possible, to rescue them. + +The steamer on which Tom sailed was wrecked, and he and some sailors, +together with a little boy, floated for some time on a derelict with +which the _Silver Star_ had collided. On the derelict, most +unexpectedly, came Professor Skeel, who was on his way to Honolulu when +the accident happened. + +The dreary days of suffering oh the derelict, and in an open boat, the +meanness of Mr. Skeel and how Tom and his companions were finally +rescued, is all set down in the second book of this series. Tom +finally reached Australia and, setting out again, was just in time to +rescue his parents from the savages of one of the South Pacific islands. + +Tom reached home in time to go back to school and take his second-year +examinations, which he passed, thus becoming a Sophomore. + +Then came the long summer vacation, and as Tom had had enough of travel +he decided to go to the woods. In the third volume, called "Tom +Fairfield in Camp," I told of his experiences in the forest. With him +went Jack Fitch, Bert Wilson and a Briartown lad named Dick Jones. + +Almost at the first Tom and his chums ran into a mystery. Near where +they pitched their tents there was an old mill where there was said to +be a treasure hidden. But an old hermit who owned the mill was seeking +for the treasure, and he was not the most pleasant character in the +world. At the very start he threatened the boys and tried to drive +them from the woods. + +But they decided to have a hunt for the treasure. It did not add to +their pleasure to learn that Mr. Skeel, who had returned from Honolulu, +was also camping near the mysterious mill, and, most unexpectedly our +friends also learned that Sam Heller and Nick Johnson were also in the +same woods. + +Tom and his friends had many experiences in camp, and with the old +hermit. Finally their motorboat was taken, and they were in sore +straits. But still they kept after the treasure. + +Then Bert, Jack and Dick mysteriously disappeared from camp. Tom +suspected Mr. Skeel, and the two school bullies, Sam and Nick, of +having had some sort of a hand in the kidnapping of his chums. + +How he traced them, recovered his boat, and found the secret passage +into the old mill, you will find told in my third book. Also how Tom +accidentally discovered the hidden room and the place where the +treasure was concealed. Mr. Skeel and the two Elmwood lads, who had +held Jack, Dick and Bert prisoners, fled in alarm, and the old hermit, +restored to his right mind through the finding of his wealth, lived a +peaceful life thereafter. + +Once the secret of the mill was discovered, Tom and his chums had an +enjoyable time in camp. They remained until it was almost time for +school to begin, and then returned to their several homes. + +And now, once more, they were together in Elmwood Hall, and, most +unexpectedly, had come the news of the return of the two bullies, Sam +and Nick. It was startling news, in a way, for, after the mean fashion +in which the two cronies had treated Tom's chums, when they were held +prisoners in the old mill, Tom scarcely believed that Sam and Nick +would dare show their faces at Elmwood Hall again. + +"And yet they're here," said our hero, as he and the others hurried on +across the broad campus. + +"And they're going to stay, if what George says is true," added Jack. + +"Oh, it's true enough," declared the questioning lad. + +"There they are!" suddenly exclaimed Bert Wilson, pointing toward a +small building just outside of the school property. It was a shack +where "Pop" Swab sold soda and "pop," from which he took his name. + +"Yes, that's them all right," assented Tom. + +"And some car they have," added Jack. "I wonder where they got it?" + +"They won't have it long, if they treat it as recklessly as that," +commented Bert, for the two lads having leaped into the auto, Sam threw +in the gears so clumsily that the machine was stalled, with a grinding +that did not augur well for the mechanism. + +It was evident that the two cronies, having satisfied their thirst, +were about to drive on, but Sam's error made it necessary for him to +get out to crank the car again. This gave our friends a chance to come +up to them. + +Sam had his back to them, as he bent over to take hold of the crank, +but something Nick said in a low voice caused him to turn around. Then +he saw Tom and the others. + +There was something In Tom's manner that caused Sam to take an attitude +of defence, though our hero had no intention of coming to blows with +the bully. + +The oncoming party of lads came to a halt a short distance from the +auto, and Sam, straightening up, surveyed them, a shade of wonder, not +unmixed with apprehension, passing over his face. Nick, sitting in the +car, openly sneered. + +"So you've come back," spoke Tom cuttingly. + +"Of course we have," answered Sam, breathing a little easier, as he saw +that he was in no immediate danger. + +"And we're going to stay," added Nick with a laugh. + +"You are?" Jack almost yelled. + +"We certainly are," was the answer. "This is a free country, you know; +and we've paid for our board. See you later, fellows. Crank her up, +Sam!" + +The brazen effrontery of the two amazed our friends. They had not +believed that the two cronies would come back. And that they would +dare remain, after what they had done, seemed incredible. + +"Are you in earnest?" asked Bert, raising his voice to be heard above +the thundering exhaust of the auto which Sam started. + +"Of course we are," declared Sam calmly, as he took his seat. "What's +the matter with you fellows, anyhow? Why shouldn't we stay?" + +"You know why you shouldn't stay!" cried Tom, shaking his finger at Sam +and Nick. "After the mean trick you played on Bert and Jack, standing +guard over them in the old mill, in league with that scoundrel +Skeel--giving Jack and Bert only bread and water--after that you dare +come back here and expect to be treated decently? Well, you're +expecting too much, that's all I've got to say! We'll make Elmwood +Hall too hot to hold you! You'll live in Coventry all the while you're +here. You won't get a decent----" + +"Oh, get out of my way, Fairfield, or I'll run you down!" snapped Sam, +as he threw in the gear and released the clutch, and, had our hero not +leaped back, he would have been struck by the heavy touring car. + +"Well, of all the gigantic, unmitigated nerve!" gasped Jack, as he +stared at the swiftly moving car. "That is the limit!" + + + + +CHAPTER III + +THE ADVICE OF BRUCE + +The silence amid the group of Tom's friends, punctuated at first by the +exhaust from the car, was finally broken by Bert Wilson, who asked: + +"Well, Tom, what do you think of that?" + +"I don't know what to think," was the answer, given slowly. "It gets +me!" + +"And it does all of us," added Jack. "In the first place, I never +thought Sam and Nick would have the nerve to come back, but since they +had, I surely thought they'd cave in when they saw we meant business." + +"So did I," agreed Bert. "But since they haven't, what's to be done?" + +"There's only one thing," decided Jack. "We've got to expose 'em, +that's what!" + +"Sure!" cried George Abbot, getting a bit excited. "Let the whole +school know what they did to you, and I guess that will end things for +them at Elmwood Hall." + +"It seems to be the only way," agreed Tom. "Of course I'm out of it, +in a way, for they didn't keep me locked up In the old mill, with +nothing but bread and water. But they did Bert and Jack, and that's +the same thing. And there's Dick to be thought of. Of course he isn't +an Elmwood lad, though he may be soon, for he wants to come here. But +I feel that I ought to take his part." + +"Sure!" chorused Jack and Bert, while the former added grimly: "We're +on the job, and can look after ourselves. You can represent Dick, Tom, +and we'll form a combination." + +"To run them out of this school!" exclaimed Bert with energy. + +"That being the case," went on Tom, "we'll have to consider the ways +and means of doing it. Of course Nick, being a Junior, isn't in the +same class with Sam. If it had been two Juniors who acted the way +those fellow did I don't know that we would have such a kick coming, +but when a member of your own class turns against you it's time to do +something!" + +"Hurray!" cried George. "What are you going to do, fellows? Will you +let me in on it? Will you haze 'em? Say, you'll let me have part in +it; won't you?" + +"Hold on, George!" begged Tom with a smile. "Just shut off your gas, +throw back your spark, and put on the brakes. You're skidding a bit." + +"Aw, say, I want to be in on it," begged the small chap earnestly. + +"Oh, you will be all right," Jack assured him. + +"The whole Sophomore class will be in it when we give those fellows the +lesson they need." + +"I'd--I'd like to------" began Bert energetically as he clenched his +fists and look at the departing car, which was now almost hidden in a +cloud of dust. "I'm going to------" + +"Hold on," broke in Tom soothingly. "Let me prescribe for you, Bertie +my boy," and taking his arm he steered his chum around and toward the +little shack where Pop Swab held forth. + +As they filed into the little building two other school lads passed by. + +"What's going on?" asked Bruce Bennington, one of the twain. + +"Oh, it's Tom Fairfield and some of his chums," answered Morse Denton. +"I don't know just what the row is, but I heard that Sam Heller and +Nick Johnson played some kind of a mean trick on Tom and Bert and Jack +this summer. I don't just know the particulars." + +"That's so," agreed Bruce. "I did hear something about it. Feel like +having some pop?" + +"Not now, and if any of those fellows expect to make the eleven this +fall I'll have to make them cut it out." + +"Right! How's football coming on?" + +"Oh, I've got some good material, and I expect more when the new +fellows begin to arrive." + +"Going to play Tom Fairfield?" + +"I sure am, if he'll train properly, and I think he will. I want him +for one of the backs. He's a sure ground gainer, quick on his feet, he +holds the ball fast and he can kick well." + +"I hope he makes good," went on Bruce. "Well, I'm going to cut away. +I want to see the doctor, and arrange about my studies." + +The two strolled over the green campus, arm in arm, and they had hardly +gone a dozen steps before, from the little store of Pop Swab, there +come pouring Tom and his friends, all talking at once. + +"That's what we'll do!" + +"A class matter of it--sure!" + +"We'll work the Coventry game to the limit!" + +"And if it comes to a fight----" + +"They'll get all they want!" + +These were only a few of the remarks that came to the ears of Bruce and +Morse. + +"Something doing back there," remarked the football captain, nodding +his head toward the rear. + +"Yes," agreed Bruce, "and I don't like it, either." + +"Why not? It's only Tom and his chums talking over what they're going +to do to Sam and Nick, I expect." + +"Yes, and that's why I don't like it." + +"Why not?" asked Morse. + +"It may have a bad effect on the whole school. Class disputes always +do. If a class doesn't hang together------" + +"They'll hang------" began Morse, about to perpetrate the old joke of +"hanging separately," when Bruce laughingly interrupted with the remark: + +"Now that'll do you. There's a five spot fine for using that classic +so early in the season. But you know what I mean. It won't do to have +class dissension." + +"No, you're right. But maybe it will work itself out." + +While Bruce and Morse went their ways, Tom and his chums, talking +excitedly, went to Tom's room. He had some new rods and a gun he +wanted to exhibit, but, most of all, he wanted to give his friends the +whole history of the summer's adventures. + +"Now go ahead," invited Joe Rooney, when they were all seated, more or +less comfortably, on the beds and chairs in the room of the three +chums. "Let's have the whole yarn." + +And Tom began, telling the story of the secret of the old mill. He had +not proceeded far ere there came a knock on the door. + +"Come!" invited Tom, after a moment's hesitation, during which he +recalled that, as the term had not officially started, there could be +no danger from prowling monitors, or suspicious professors. The door +opened and Bruce Bennington entered. + +"Hello, Bruce, old stock!" greeted Tom, rising and holding out his +hand. "Glad to see you! Here, some of you fellows get up and give one +of our betters a seat." + +"Not a one! Not a one!" exclaimed Bruce, holding up a protesting hand. +"The floor's good enough for me." + +But several chairs being offered by admiring Sophomores, who knew how +to appreciate one of the best-loved lads in Elmwood Hall, Bruce +accepted a seat. + +"Go ahead, Tom," he suggested. "Don't let me interrupt the +festivities. I don't want to be the skeleton at the feast." + +"Oh, I was only telling the fellows how Sam and Nick acted this +summer," proceeded our hero. "And, as I was saying," he resumed, "they +captured Bert, Jack and my friend, from home, Dick Jones. + +"They sneaked up on 'em while I was away from camp, mauled 'em +something fierce, and tied 'em up. Then they held em prisoners for +several days------" + +"On bread and water," interrupted Jack. "Don't forget that, Tommy my +boy!" + +"That's right," added Bert with a sorrowful sigh at the recollection. +"I was nearly starved before you rescued us." + +"And that's what they did," concluded Tom, telling the final details. +"Now the question is, what had we better do to such cads when they come +back to school and expect to be treated decently? What ought we to do?" + +There was silence for a moment, and then Bruce Bennington asked quietly: + +"May I say something?" + +"Surest thing you know!" came promptly from Tom. + +"Then I'm going to give you a bit or advice," went on the older lad. +"You may follow it, or not, but I feel it's my duty to offer it. And +it's this. I've heard the whole story now, and I know how you fellows +must feel. But my advice is--to do nothing at all to Sam and Nick." + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +HOW SAM TOLD IT + +For a few seconds there was silence in Tom's room. All eyes were fixed +on Bruce Bennington, but the latter bore the scrutiny well. Then came +gasps of surprise, and one or two mutterings. Bruce heard them, and +smiled. + +"Come!" he invited with a laugh. "Out with it. I know what you are +thinking. Speak up, Tom--and the rest of you." + +"Did you--did you really mean that?" asked Tom slowly, "or was it a +joke?" + +"It wasn't a joke, certainly. I'm in earnest," and the smile faded +from the face of Bruce Bennington. + +"But what do you mean?" insisted Tom. "After the way those fellows +treated Jack and Bert--to say nothing of having practically stolen my +motorboat, together with the help of the old hermit and Mr. Skeel--not +to do anything to 'em!" + +"That's it, Tom. Let it drop, is my advice." + +"But why? I can't see why, Bruce." + +"Because it will make a heap of trouble in the school, that's why. +Look here, Tom. You know you and Sam, to say nothing of Nick, haven't +been on good terms from the start; have you?" + +"No, but it was Sam's fault. I had no quarrel with him." + +"I know that. I'm not saying but what you're in the right. But it's +the effect of the thing I'm looking at. Tom, do you want to see two +factions in the Sophomore class? Two bunches of fellows, one striving +against the other? Do you?" + +"No, I don't know as I do. But once we get rid of Sam, Nick will take +himself off, too, and then everything will be fine." + +"I'm not so sure of that. You might drive Sam out of Elmwood, but I +doubt it. And look here, Tom. You know there's going to be a big +Freshman class this year." + +"So I heard, but what has that got to do with it?" + +"Lots. You know, without my telling you, that the Sophs and Freshies +are mortal enemies. There'll be hazing to do--whisper it of +course--and with the Sophomore class divided against itself, where are +you second-year chaps going to be when the Freshies cut up--let me ask +you that?" + +"How will the class be divided?" inquired Jack. + +"Why, if you make this fight against Sam you can't expect his friends +to hob-nob with you when it comes to hectoring the Freshies." + +"Sam hasn't any friends!" burst out Bert. + +"Oh, don't you fool yourself," said Bruce quickly. "Sam has money, and +no fellow with cash need be without friends--or at least fellows who +call themselves such. Then, too, he's got a big car I understand, and +that will go a great ways toward making friends for him. Besides, +there's Nick to count on. His friends will be Sam's, and Nick has +quite a few, as he isn't such a bully as Sam is. Nick's a Junior now, +and the Juniors will side with the Freshmen. + +"Now I don't want to be a croaker, or a death's head at this gay party, +but you mark my words, if you carry this fight against Sam to the limit +it will mean a heap of trouble for the school. And, more than that, +the Sophomore class will be torn apart. + +"Don't do it!" pleaded Bruce, arising in his earnestness, and +addressing Tom's chums. "Let it drop, or, if you feel that you have to +get even, do it some other way. I know it's galling to sit still and +suffer--but think of the school. You owe something to Elmwood Hall! +Besides, I think you'd have your own troubles in getting unanimous +class action against Sam." + +"How so?" asked Tom quickly. "As soon as I tell the fellows how mean +he acted they'll vote to send him to Coventry at once, I'll wager. Not +a man will speak to him." + +"Don't be so sure," said Bruce quietly. "Tom, I'm going to try a +little experiment, if you'll allow me. I guess all you fellows know +that I'd stick up for my rights as hard as any one; don't you?" + +"Sure!" came the quick chorus. + +"And I wouldn't stand for any ill-treatment of my friends, or my class. +But I put the school above my own feelings, and my class next. And you +ought to, also, Tom. If you feel that you have to take it out of Sam +and Nick, do it--er--well--say _privately_," and Bruce whispered the +word with a smile. + +There was a murmur of understanding. + +"But what's the experiment?" asked Tom, curious to know what his friend +would propose. + +"It's this," answered Bruce. "If I prove to you that you'd have +trouble in rallying the whole Sophomore class under your banner, Tom, +to take some action against Sam, will you agree to let the matter drop, +for a time, at least?" + +Tom did not answer at once. He looked at Bruce, who returned his gaze +steadily. Then, somehow understanding that his friend had a deeper +meaning than he had yet disclosed, our hero replied: + +"Go ahead; Bruce. I'm with you. Lead on to the experiment, as you +call it." + +"Do you all agree?" inquired the older lad. "Will you let this matter +rest until you hear from Tom again?" + +"Sure," answered Jack and Bert, and the others chorused an assent. + +"Then you wait until I send for you, Tom," went on the post-graduate +student. "It may take a day or so to get the experiment in shape." + +There were murmurs of surprise as Bruce bowed himself out, and some +were still rather in favor of taking summary action against Sam and +Nick. But Tom said: + +"No, I've passed my word, and that goes. Bruce knows what he's talking +about, and we'll wait and see what he has up his sleeve. If his +experiment doesn't work, he'll be the first one to admit it, and then +he'll say the bars are down, and we can do as we like." + +As he finished there came across the campus the sound of a bell ringing. + +"Well, I know what I'm going to do right now, and that is get ready for +grub!" exclaimed Bert. "Sam and Nick can wait for all of me, but I'm +hungry." + +Soon a merry party had gathered in the big dining room, for more +students had arrived by later trains, or other conveyances, and Tom and +his chums were kept busy renewing old acquaintances, or making new ones. + +"There are a raft of Freshies," commented Jack to his chum, as they +lingered over the dessert. "We'll have our hands full hazing them, all +right!" + +"Oh, we can do it," declared Bert. "We always have." + +"Humph! We've been Sophs such a terrible long time," murmured Tom with +a smile. + +Discipline was rather lax that night, and there was much visiting to +and fro in the rooms. The proctor and the professors were kept busy +registering new students and did not pay much attention to the older +ones, including Tom and his chums, who made merry. + +"Oh, you boys!" exclaimed Demosthenes Miller, or "Demy" as he was +called--the studious janitor. "Oh, you boys! Will you ever settle +down?" + +"I'm afraid not," replied Tom, as he invaded the lower regions of the +man who attended to the fires, to borrow a long poker. "We want this +for some fun. There's a prof. who has a room just under ours, and he +wears a wig. It's out on the window sill to air, and I think I can +hook it." + +"Oh, young gentlemen, don't, I beg of you!" expostulated the janitor. +But they paid no heed to him, and hurried off with the long poker, +while the studious janitor, to drown his apprehension, took up a Latin +book which he was struggling through, endeavoring to educate himself in +the classics. + +Tom was engaged in the exciting, if forbidden, sport of trying to lift +the wig of the unfortunate professor from the ledge beneath his room +window, when there came a knock on his door. + +"Oh ho!" ejaculated Bruce Bennington, as he entered. "Up to your old +tricks, I see. Well I can't blame you. I did the same thing once. +What are you after, a bottle of pop?" + +"A wig," explained Tom, briefly. "Want a try for it?" + +"Not me. I've got to walk pretty straight you know. I'm regarded as a +sort of professor now, and I suppose, if I did my strict duty, I'd +report you. But I'm off duty to-night. I say, Tom, are you ready now +for that experiment I spoke of?" + +"Sure I am. But--" and Tom looked suggestively at the poker and +motioned downward to where the wig was still reposing. + +"We'll get it up while you're gone," said Jack. + +"You will not!" cried Tom. "Do you think I want to miss all the fun? +Wait until I get back. Will your experiment take long, Bruce?" + +"It may take most of the evening. But the wig will keep, and you may +think up a better plan in regard to it. Why not substitute another for +it while you're at it?" + +"By Jove! The very thing!" cried Jack. + +"You can get one while you're in town if you like," went on Bruce +dryly, "for I'm going to drag you off to town, Tom." + +"Good! I'm with you. Mind now," he cautioned his chums, "don't touch +that wig until I get back." + +They promised, and, though wondering what Bruce had in mind, they asked +no questions. + +"I guess it's safe to run the guard to-night," remarked Bruce, as he +and Tom crossed the campus on their way to the trolley line running +into Elmwood. + +"Oh, sure," assented our hero. "But what's in the wind?" + +"I'm going to prove to you that it would be bad policy to make a class +matter of sending Sam to Coventry, or of trying to run him out of the +school. And to do that I invite you to have a little lunch with me in +town." + +"All right," assented Tom, wondering what his friend had in store for +him. + +A little later they were seated in a private room in one of the Elmwood +restaurants much patronized by the students. Bruce ordered a tasty +little lunch, and they were in the midst of eating it when there came +the sound of several lads entering the next room. There was talk and +laughter, somewhat boisterous, and then a voice exclaimed: + +"Sit down, fellows, and make yourselves at home. This is on me and +Nick. We'll have a jolly time, and I'll run you back in my car!" + +Tom started. "Sam Heller!" he exclaimed, half rising in his seat. + +"Keep quiet," advised Bruce. "Of course it's Sam. This is part of my +experiment. Now you listen." + +There was some more talk and laughter, and then a waiter came to take +the orders. Sam called for a rather elaborate lunch, and while it was +being gotten ready a voice, which Tom recognized as that of a Sophomore +with whom he was slightly acquainted, asked: + +"You had great sport this summer, didn't you, Sam?" + +"I should say we did! Nick and I helped find a treasure in an old +mill." + +"Whew!" gasped Tom. "So he found it, did he?" + +"Keep quiet," whispered Bruce. "Listen!" + +"And what's this I hear about playing a joke on Tom Fairfield, and some +of his friends?" asked another voice. + +"A joke!" gasped Tom. + +"Quiet!" warned his friend. + +"Ha! Ha!" laughed Sam. "Yes, it was a _joke_ all right. You know +those fellows happened to go camping near where Nick and I were. We +met old Skeel--you know, the prof. who used to be here. Well, he had +some scheme of finding a hermit's money hidden in the old mill, and we +went in with him. Then we found that Tom and his crowd were on the +same trail. + +"Nick and I decided to have some fun with 'em. So one day we sneaked +into their camp, when Tom was out, and just took Bert, Jack and a +fellow named Dick something-or-other prisoners. Say! but they did kick +and struggle, but we managed 'em. + +"We carted 'em off to the old mill, and there we put 'em in a secret +room. It was jolly fun, until Tom came, made quite a row, and got 'em +out. But it was all a joke." + +"By Jove! and a good one, too!" cried several laughing voices. + +"Did you get the treasure?" someone wanted to know. + +"Yes, it was there all right. The old hermit got it. I don't know +just how that was, for Nick and I left. But I think Tom and the old +chap had a row, and part of a wall fell down, showing a secret room. +Oh, but you should hear how indignant Jack and Bert got when they found +we were standing guard over them! It was as good as a hazing." + +"It must have been!" agreed his friends, laughing heartily. + +"Aren't they sore on you?" someone asked. + +"Oh, well, maybe a bit," admitted Sam, with a show of frankness. "But +if a fellow can't take a joke what good is he?" + +"That's right!" came in a chorus. "If they make any trouble for you, +Sam, let us know." + +"I will, but I don't think they will. Ah! here comes the eats! Pitch +in, fellows!" + +"You're the stuff, Sam!" came from several. "And that sure was a joke +on Tom Fairfield and his crowd," added a voice. "A corking good joke!" + +There was more laughter and talk, and in the next room to the jolly +party sat Tom, looking at his friend Bruce in wonder. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +TOM DECIDES + +"Well?" asked Bruce questioningly, after a pause. "What do you think +of my experiment, Tom?" + +"Is this it?" + +"It is. Are you ready now to go on with your plan of reading Sam out +of the class, so to speak?" + +Tom did not answer for a moment. + +"Take time to think it over," advised his friend. "You have heard +Sam's version of the affair. And it's reasonable to suppose that many +will believe him--as many perhaps as would believe you and your chums." + +"But he treated Jack and Bert miserably," declared Tom, "he and Nick." + +"Of course he did," admitted Bruce. "He isn't denying that. But he +makes a joke of it, and it will be hard to convince the Sophomore class +that it wasn't done in fun. That's what you're up against, Tom. I +rather suspected it would be that way from the first, and that's why I +wanted you to hear for yourself just how Sam would tell his side of the +story. He makes himself out in rather a better light than you and the +others shine in, Tom. And you've got to consider that. I was waiting +for a chance to let you hear him talk to some of his friends, but I +didn't think I'd have the opportunity so soon. Now, what are you going +to do about it?" + +Again Tom was silent, while from the next room there came the sound of +jolly laughter, mingling with the clatter of the dishes and cutlery. + +"Here's to Sam Heller!" cried someone, toasting the bully. + +"And Nick Johnson!" added another. + +"The fellows who know how to play jokes!" put in a third voice, and the +toast was drunk amid laughter. + +"You see how it is," went on Bruce. "There are a lot of Sophomores in +with him--probably some of your own intimate acquaintances, if not +friends. They'll side with Sam, after this, no matter how much of a +case you make out against him." + +"I suppose so," admitted Tom ruefully. "Well, I guess I'll have to let +things go by default. There's no use splitting the class in twain." + +"That's the way I look at it," said Bruce eagerly, "I'm glad you see it +in that light, Tom. Save the class. But if you feel that you are +entitled to revenge------" + +"I sure do!" interrupted Tom. + +"Then take it privately--some other time," went on Bruce. "Football is +coming on now, and you may play on the team--so may Sam. It wouldn't +do to have bad feeling------" + +"I understand," said Tom. "I'll let the thing slide for the time +being." + +"And Jack and Bert?" queried Bruce. + +"I'll get them to do the same thing. But there'll be a day of +reckoning for that bully all right!" and Tom clenched his fists. + +"I don't blame you a bit," admitted Bruce. "Now go ahead with the +meal. My experiment is over." + +"Come on," suggested Bruce when he had paid the bill. "What do you say +to a walk back to the Hall? It's a fine night, and the tramp will do +you good." + +"I'm for it," agreed Tom, and they set out. + +"Hark!" exclaimed Bruce a little later, pausing in the middle of the +road, which was flooded with moonlight. "What's that noise?" + +"Auto coming," replied Tom. "Let's pull over here where we won't get +so much dust." + +As they shifted to the side of the highway they heard the sound of +singing from the rear, mingling with the exhaust from a car. + +"Elmwood Hall fellows," spoke Tom briefly, as he recognized one of the +school songs. "I wonder who they are?" + +"Don't know," answered Bruce. "Joy-riders, I guess. The fellows are +getting more and more sporty every year." + +"Get out!" laughed Tom. "You were as bad as any of us!" + +The car came nearer. Tom and Bruce were well over to one side of the +road, but in a spirit of mischief the lad at the wheel yelled: + +"Get out the way! Give us room! We're the cheese!" + +"They've got all the room they're entitled to," murmured Tom, for he +and Bruce were on the extreme left of the highway, and the auto should +have been on the right. + +"Look out!" yelled a voice suddenly. "Pull that wheel over, Sam!" + +But it was too late. A moment later Tom felt something strike him on +the hip, and he went down in the dust. + +"Put on the brakes!" + +"You've hit someone, Sam!" + +"Pull up!" + +These cries followed the striking of Tom. There was a screech from the +brake bands and the car came to a quick stop. + +"You knocked him down," someone said. + +"I don't care. Served him right. No business to get in my way!" +snapped Sam. + +"Are you hurt, Tom?" asked Bruce anxiously, as he bent over his friend. +"Were you hit hard?" + +Tom's head cleared. It had struck rather heavily as he went down, yet +it was but a passing faintness. He struggled to his feet, with the aid +of Bruce, and some of the lads who leaped from the auto. + +"I--I guess I'm all right," Tom answered slowly. "What happened?" + +"Sam Heller's car struck you," said Bruce quietly. "And it was on the +wrong side of the road. Where's Heller?" he asked of some of that +lad's friends. + +"Here I am," blustered the bully. "What's the matter? I didn't mean +to hit him. The steering gear is stiff. I tried to turn out. Anyhow, +only the mud guard brushed him. Who is it?" + +There was no need to answer for, as the group about our hero parted, +Sam Heller came face to face with Tom. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +ON THE GRIDIRON + +Sam started back, almost as though he expected Tom to strike him, but +our hero did not raise his hand. There came a grim tightening of his +lips, and into his eyes that had been dazed by the fall there was a +look of anger, but that was all. + +"By Jove! Fairfield!" exclaimed Sam. "I--I didn't know it was you. I +wouldn't for the world have------" + +"I suppose if it had been someone else you'd have ridden right over +him," said Tom quietly. + +"No, indeed. But--er--I guess I was going a bit too fast. I didn't +see you--or--rather, I thought you'd step over a bit more." + +"Step over more!" exclaimed Bruce. "What do you want; the whole road? +We were on the proper side for you to pass. What's the matter with +you, Heller?" + +"Oh, I didn't mean to do it I tell you. My car is a new one, and the +steering gear is a bit stiff. I wouldn't have done it intentionally +for the world." + +"That's right!" exclaimed Frank Nelson, a Sophomore who had been riding +on the front seat with Sam. "I thought Tom would get out of the way." + +"Thanks," responded Tom briefly. "I would have, if I'd known what was +going to happen." + +"Are you--are you hurt--much?" faltered Sam. + +"No, it was only a glancing blow," and Tom began to brush the dust from +his clothes, assisted by Bruce and some of those with Sam. + +"I--I'm sorry," faltered the owner of the car. "I wouldn't have done +that for anything, and------" + +"Especially after the 'trick' you played on my friends this summer," +cut in Tom. + +"Oh, I say now," began Sam. "Look here, Fairfield, I'm as sorry as can +be over this. Will you--will you shake hands?" and he advanced with +outstretched palm. + +"I will--not!" said Tom sharply, turning aside. + +There was a moment of tense silence, and then Sam went on: + +"Well, if you won't--you won't--that's all. I've done my share." + +"That's right," chimed in some of his cronies, including Nick Johnson. + +"It was an accident, anyhow," the latter added. + +"An _avoidable_ accident," put in Bruce quietly. "You are lucky it was +no worse, Heller. Tom might have been seriously injured." + +"A miss is as good as a mile," quoted someone. "Better give him a lift +back, Sam. I'll walk." + +"Will you ride in the car?" asked Sam, half eagerly, for he realized +how popular Tom was, and he knew how thin was the ice on which he was +skating. "Come on, there's lots of room." + +"No--thank you," said Tom between his teeth, and it was an effort to +add the last two words. "I can walk." + +There was a little pause--an embarrassed silence, and then Nick said: + +"Well, we might as well go on, Sam." + +"Yes, I guess so. We can't do any good here. Come on, fellows." + +They piled back into the car. There were some good-nights in which Sam +and his crony did not join, and then the auto rolled off in the +moonlight. + +"Can you walk, Tom?" asked Bruce, with his arm around his friend's +shoulders. + +"Oh, yes. I'm a bit stiff, that's all." + +"Too bad. This is my fault. You may be lame for football practice +now." + +"No, I guess not. I'll use some liniment when I get back. It wasn't +your fault at all. It was that Heller's confounded meanness, and I've +a good notion to------" + +"You're not going to make a row over it; are you!" asked Bruce quickly. +"You won't go back on what you said?" + +"No, but I'll watch my chance for getting back at him. I almost +believe he did it deliberately." + +"I hardly think so, though it was mighty careless of him. But we might +as well be getting on. It isn't far to the Hall now." + +Tom found himself a trifle stiff and lame but he could walk all right, +though with a slight limp. Bruce bade him good-night and passed on to +his own dormitory, while Tom silently made his way to the room he had +picked out for himself and his chums. There was a light burning in it, +though it was after hours. + +"Guess all rules are suspended for a while yet," mused our hero as he +entered. "Well, we'll pass the wig joke for a while. I forgot to get +one anyhow." + +"Hello, what's up?" demanded Bert, who was getting ready for bed. + +"Steam roller hit you?" inquired Jack. "Why, your head is cut, Tom!" + +"Yes, I had a little go with Sam Heller's auto, and I got the worst of +it," and our hero told his story of the evening. + +"The cad!" cried Jack. "We'll fix him for this. I almost wish you +hadn't given Bruce that promise, Tom." + +"Oh, that's all right. There are more ways of getting back at Sam than +making a class matter of it. Let's forget all about it. Whew! but I'm +stiff. Any of you fellows got any liniment?" + +"I have," declared Bert, producing a bottle of highly-flavored +compound. "It's home-made but it goes to the spot," and Tom was soon +bathing his injured hip, and telling the story of Bruce's "experiment." +Much against their desires his chums promised with Tom not to proceed +against Sam and Nick. + +Elmwood Hall began to buzz and hum with activities, not alone of +lessons and lectures, but of sports and the rumors of sports. There +were also whispers of hazings to come, and the luckless Freshmen +cowered in their rooms, and trembled at the sound of a knock on their +portals. + +"Did you see the notice?" exclaimed Jack one afternoon as he rushed +into the room he shared with Tom and Bert. + +"What notice?" asked Bert. "Has that sneak Heller left? If he has it +will save trouble later." + +"No such luck," was the answer. "But football practice starts +to-morrow on the gridiron. Hurray! Let's get out our suits, and see +how many holes there are in 'em." + +Books were tossed aside, and from the trunks were pulled the jackets +and trousers that had seen yeoman service. + +"Mine are all right," announced Tom. + +"Whew! There's an all-fired big rip here," declared Jack, as he viewed +his trousers. "Anyone got a needle and thread with 'em?" + +"Use some wire," suggested Bert. "That's what I do. Thread won't +hold." + +And then began a busy session for the chums. + +It was the day of the first football practice. Out on the field +assembled half a hundred lads from whom the leading school team would +be picked. There were at least a dozen lads for every position, and +only a few positions to fill, for many of the former players had come +back. + +"What are you going to try for, Tom?" asked Bert, as he delivered a +beautiful drop kick down the field. + +"One of the backs--left half for choice." + +"Here comes Morse," remarked Jack, as the captain came into sight, +surrounded by a score of lads seeking to curry favor. + +"And there's Jackson, the coach," added Tom. "He's got a suit on. +Guess he'll go in for practice." + +The field soon became a scene of activity. From one side two lads +strolled from under the grandstand where some of the dressing rooms +were, and advanced toward the coach and captain. + +"There are Heller and Johnson," said Bert in a low voice. "They're +going to have a try, too." + +"Did you hear where Sam wants to play?" asked Tom. + +"No," answered his chums. + +"Come on now, boys, line up!" called the captain. "We'll play a scrub +game. Hecker, Miller, Jones, Reilley, you'll be on the scrub for a +while," and Morse called on other names to make an eleven. + +"Regular team over here!" went on the young captain--"that is what's +left of 'em. Tom Fairfield, you'll be left half, I guess. Bert, get +in at guard, though I may change you later. Jack, you'll do at tackle, +I think." + +"Where am I to play?" asked Sam Heller as though it was all +settled--that is all but naming his position. "I'd like to go in at +quarterback." + +Morse looked at him. So did the coach, and the latter nodded at the +captain. + +"Very well, Heller. Try it at quarter," assented Morse, "though I +can't promise to always play you there in matches. Now then line up. +Tom will take the ball for a try through the scrub. Be careful in +passing it, Heller." + +There was rather a gasp of astonishment from the other players and some +of the spectators as the two enemies were thus brought into the +limelight. As for Tom, he felt a sinking at his heart, for he realized +that Sam had it in his power to make or mar his play by the manner in +which he passed the ball. + +"But they shan't say it was my fault!" said Tom grimly to himself. +"I'll play a straight game, and if Heller wants to do any crooked +work--well, let him, that's all!" + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +A CROSS-COUNTRY RUN + +"Line up! Line up!" + +It was the call of the coach and captain to the improvised regular +eleven and the scrub. Twenty-two rather nervous lads faced each +other--no, not all of the twenty-two were nervous, for there were some +veterans--warriors of past battles--who were as cool as the proverbial +cucumber. But the new lads--those who hoped to make the first +eleven--were undoubtedly nervous. And so, too, were some of those who +had played before, for they had not yet found themselves this season, +and they did not know but what their playing might be so poor and +ragged that they would be ordered to the side lines. + +"Line up! Line up!" + +Again came the stirring cry. The scrub team, under the leadership of +their captain, withdrew for a short consultation regarding signals, and +to plan how best to stop the rushes of the regular lads. The latter, +under the guidance of Morse, were ready to put the ball into play, for +the captain and coach had decided to see what value their side was in +rushing tactics, before going on the defense. + +"All ready now, boys!" exclaimed the coach briskly. "Get into the +plays on the jump. You can do twice as well if you have speed than if +you have not. Hit the defense hard, get some momentum back of you. A +moving body, and all that sort of thing you know, that you learn in +your physics class. + +"Jump into the plays. Meet the ball; don't wait for it to get to you. +That applies to you backs," and he nodded at Tom and his two mates. +"Quarter, don't fumble when you pass the ball back. Be accurate. +Don't make a mistake in the signals. + +"You guards and tackles, hold hard. Tear holes big enough for the man +with the ball to get through. Don't be afraid. Ends, you want to get +down like lightning on kicks. Nail in his tracks the man who catches +the ball, but don't, for the love of the pigskin, touch him until he +has it, or you'll be offside. Watch out for fake kicks, forward +passes, double passes--watch out for all tricks. If there's a fumble, +fall on the ball and stay there, unless you see a chance to run with +it. You fellows who expect to do any toe work, don't get nervous. The +boys will hold the others back until you get a chance to boot the ball +away. And you fellows in the line, see that you do hold. + +"There!" concluded the coach with a sigh. "I've given you enough +football instructions to last all season. Now get busy and let's see +how much of it you remember." + +"Line up!" cried Captain Morse Denton, and, the preliminaries having +been arranged, the ball was kicked off by the scrub, as the other +players wanted to see how well they could rush it back. + +It was Tom's luck to capture the yellow spheroid as it descended, and, +well protected by interference, he raced down the field. + +"Get him, fellows! Get him!" appealed the scrub captain, and several +made an effort to break through to tackle Tom. Our hero noticed that +Sam Heller was running interference for him on the left, and for a +moment Tom felt that perhaps he had misjudged Sam in one particular. + +"He certainly is making good interference for me," mused our hero. +"Maybe he won't play me false after all. But I'm going to be on the +watch." + +There was now but the scrub fullback between Tom and the opposite goal +line, though it was some distance away. Most of the leading team lads, +streaming and straggling along, were shouting to encourage Tom. + +"Go on! Go on!" + +"Touchdown! Touchdown!" + +"Good run, Tom old man!" + +Tom was getting into his stride. Sam was just ahead of him seemingly +getting ready to bowl over the scrub fullback, who was racing down the +field, eager-eyed, to tackle Tom. + +"If Sam disposes of him I will make a touchdown," mused Tom, and then +Sam and the fullback came together. Sam went down in a heap at the +first impact, and the fullback--who was Henry Everett--came on, +scarcely hindered. + +The next moment he tackled Tom and threw him heavily, though Tom kept +possession of the ball. + +"Down!" gasped Tom, as he felt the weight of his opponent. The latter +arose. + +"Got you; didn't I?" he asked, grinning. + +"Yes," replied Tom, looking to where Sam Heller was leisurely getting +to his feet. Our hero watched his enemy narrowly. Was it only a +fancy, or was it true that Sam had not made half a try to throw off the +interference of the fullback? + +"You were easy," laughed the scrub lad. "I thought I was going to have +trouble with you, Sam, but you were easy." + +"Aw, my foot slipped, and I fell, or you wouldn't have gotten me," +asserted Sam, but to Tom's ears, somehow, the words did not ring true. + +"I believe he deliberately let Everett get me so I wouldn't have the +honor of making a touchdown," thought our hero. + +The players ran up to Tom. + +"Good work, old man!" complimented Coach Jackson. + +"Some run, Tom," added the captain. "Come on now, line up boys, and +we'll walk through 'em!" + +"Yes you will--nit!" jeered the scrub captain. + +As Tom was panting from his long run, the other halfback was sent at +the line with the ball. He did not gain much, and then the fullback +was allowed to try. He gained a few feet. + +"We'd better kick," whispered the captain to Sam, who was giving the +signals. + +"No, keep the ball," advised the coach. "I want the boys to have +practice in bucking the line. Let Fairfield try again. He has his +wind back now." + +"All right," assented Morse, nodding at Sam, who began to give the +signal. + +Tom stiffened, ready to take the pigskin, and, at the same time he +moved up a little nearer Sam, for somehow, he felt that the passing of +his enemy might not be just accurate. And it was well that he did, for +the quarterback threw the ball short. + +"Look out!" cried the captain, but his warning was not needed, for Tom +made a jump and met the pigskin. With it safely tucked under his arm, +he made a jump between guard and tackle in the hole made for him by his +players, and completed the gaining of the necessary distance. + +"Down!" he panted, as nearly half a score of lads threw themselves on +top of him. "Down!" + +"Good work, old man!" the captain shouted in his ear. "Great +line-bucking!" + +"But almost a fumble!" came the sharp voice of Coach Jackson. "What +was the matter, Fairfield? You nearly dropped the ball." + +"It wasn't passed accurately," asserted Tom. + +"Aw, go on! It was so!" snapped Sam. + +"Well, don't let it happen again," advised the coach. "Fumbles are +costly--they mean the loss of a game many a time. Watch yourselves!" + +The play went on, with the luckless scrubs being shoved slowly back +toward their own goal. There they took a brace, and held for downs, +getting the ball. They quickly kicked it out of danger, and then the +regulars went to work to do it all over again. + +Tom was called on several times, and, though he watched Sam narrowly, +there was no further cause for complaint about the passing of the ball. + +"Maybe it was a mistake," thought Tom, "but I'm going to be on the +lookout just the same. I don't trust Sam Heller." + +"That will do for to-day," called the coach, after two touchdowns had +been rolled up against the scrub, Tom making one of them. "Take a good +shower and a rub now, all of you, scrub included, for there's no +telling when I may want one of you scrub lads on the first team. +You're doing pretty well," he allowed himself to compliment them. "But +there's lots to be done yet. We're only beginning. Morse, come here, +I want to talk to you," and captain and coach walked off the gridiron, +arm in arm. + +"Well, what do you think of it?" asked Jack of Tom, as the two came out +of the gymnasium, glowing from a rub and shower. + +"Oh, it seemed to go all right." + +"Heller try any mean tricks?" asked Bert. + +"I thought he did, but maybe I was mistaken. Oh, but I got one beaut +kick on the shin," and Tom gently massaged the leg in question. + +"Some lad tried to gouge out one of my eyes," added Bert. + +"And if I have any skin left on my nose I'm lucky," asserted Jack, +trying to look cross-eyed at his nasal member. + +"It's just a little sunburned," said Tom, with a laugh. "I guess we'll +have a team after a bit." + +"Sure!" chorused his chums. + +Practice went on for several days after this, and there were a number +of changes of position made, though Sam was still at quarterback, and +Tom held his same place. + +"Now, fellows, we're going to have a little different form of exercise +to-morrow," announced the coach, at the conclusion of a short game one +afternoon. "I want you all to take part in a cross-country run. It +will improve your wind, and work some of the fat off you fellows that +can stand losing it. It will be good for your legs, too. + +"We'll start from the gym after last lectures, hit the turnpike for +Aldenhurst, cross the river at Weldon, circle up the hill through +Marsden, and come back along the river road. You can go in bunches, or +singly as you choose, but you must all make those towns, and there'll +be checkers at each one to see that you don't skip. It's only fifteen +miles, and you ought to do it in four hours without turning a hair. +There'll be a five-hour time limit, and those who don't make all the +checking points, and report back by eight o'clock will be scratched off +the active football list. That's all." + +A silence followed the announcement of the coach, and then came several +murmurs of disapproval. + +"Fifteen miles!" came from Sam Heller. "That's a stiff run all right." + +"I should say yes," agreed Nick Johnson. + +"Can't we shorten it in some way?" asked Sam of his crony in a whisper, +but not so low that Tom did not overhear him. + +"Dry up!" commanded Nick. "I'll see. Maybe we can cut off a few +miles. Fifteen is too much!" + +"He sure is working us," said Jack to Tom. + +"And a time limit," added Bert, with a note of grievance in his voice. + +"Oh pshaw!" exclaimed, Tom. "Anyone would think you fellows had never +tramped before. Why in camp you thought nothing of doing twenty miles +in a day." + +"But we could take our time," asserted Bert. + +"Nonsense! We always did better than four miles an hour and never +minded it. Come on, be sports! We'll go together, won't we?" + +"Sure," said Bert. "Well, if it has to be, it has to--that's all. +Hang it! I wonder if I want to play football anyhow?" + +"Of course you do," said Tom. "We'll have some fun on the run. And +think of the supper we will eat after it. I'm going to see if we can't +have a little something extra." + +And he went to the kitchen of the eating hall where he and his chums +dined, to wheedle the chef into serving generous portions after the +cross-country run. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +LOST IN THE WOODS + +"Fairfield, Fitch, Wilson, Abbot," remarked the official checker-out, +as Tom and his three chums trotted out of the door of the gymnasium on +the afternoon of the cross-country run. "All right boys. Getting away +in good time," and the Senior student who was acting in the official +capacity smiled in rather a patronizing manner. "Now if you check in +together you'll be doing well. Take it easy. You haven't got much of +a run, and you've oceans of time to do it in." + +"Huh! I guess you think this isn't much of a Marathon," remarked Jack, +pausing to address the checker, who had marked their names down on a +slip of paper. + +"Neither it is, son," came the answer. "In my day we had lots of +stiffer ones." + +"And did the fellows all make good?" asked Tom, for though he and his +chums had spent one year at Elmwood Hall this was the first big run +they had taken part in, and on it depended much--their chance to play +on the big eleven. + +"Oh, most of 'em did," replied the Senior. "Of course some couldn't +stand the pace, and others wouldn't. But, as I say, it was stiffer in +those days. I don't know what the world is coming to, anyhow," and he +looked as though he had on his shoulders a large share of the +responsibility of regulating the universe. "You'd better cut away, +fellows," he added, "for, though you've got lots of time, it's better +to loaf on the other end of the run than on this one. Hike!" + +"He doesn't give himself any airs; does he? Oh no!" exclaimed Bert +sarcastically, as he jogged along beside his chums. + +"Oh, that's the way with all Seniors," said Jack. + +"I hope we'll not be," murmured Tom. + +"Do you think we will?" asked George Abbot. "I wonder what makes +Seniors think they're so high and mighty? Do you think we'll make this +run? Will------" + +"Foolish question number six thousand four hundred and twenty-one!" +interrupted Tom, with a laugh. "Now if you're going to start on your +interrogatory stunt, Georgie my lad, you'll make this run alone. I'm +not going to get dry in the roof of my mouth answering questions." + +"All right, I won't ask any more," promised the lad who was such a +questioner. + +"I wonder who are just ahead of us?" asked Bert, as he stopped a second +to tie a loose shoe lace. + +"Let's ask," suggested Tom. + +He halted and hurled back this question at the checking Senior, who sat +near the door of the gymnasium. + +"Who's ahead of us, Rockford?" + +"Let's see," and the checker consulted his slips. "Oh, Sam Heller and +Nick Johnson," he answered. "They've got four minutes start of you." + +"All right; thanks!" shouted Tom, as he again took up his stride. + +"Say, let's pass 'em," suggested Jack. "I'd rather be ahead of 'em, +than behind, anyhow." + +"All right," assented Tom. "Shall we pass 'em now, or later?" + +"Oh, wait a bit," said Bert. "Let's get our second wind, first." + +This suited the others, and they jogged along at an easy pace. The day +was pleasant, not too warm, and there was a refreshing breeze when one +got on the hilltops. The run was through a rolling country, and the +roads were in good condition. + +"Say, this is fun!" exclaimed Bert, when they had covered the first +half mile. "I like it better than I thought I would." + +"Wait a bit," advised Jack. "It hasn't half started yet. When you've +done about ten miles the next five will seem twice as long." + +On they swung, down a slope that made for easy going. When they topped +the next rise Jack uttered an exclamation: + +"There are a couple of lads just ahead of us," he said, pointing down +in a small valley into which the runners must now descend. + +"And if they aren't Sam Heller and his crony I'm a goat!" said Tom. +"That's Sam's run, all right." + +"So it is," agreed Bert. "Shall we make a sprint and pass 'em?" + +"Oh, there's time enough yet," said George. "Don't let's rush things." + +They accepted this easy way out of it, and, as a matter of fact, none +of them cared very much about passing Sam and Nick. They jogged down +the slope, to strike a level stretch, and, by this time, Sam and his +companion were out of sight beyond a turn in the road. + +"There's Aldenhurst!" exclaimed Tom at length, as they came in view of +a small but pretty village. + +"And if there isn't a soda water stand in it I'm going to make a +complaint to the police!" gasped Bert. "I'm as dry as a fish." + +"Don't fill up on trash," advised Tom. "The rules said that was bad to +do;" for a few simple directions as to the best way of making the run +had been circulated by Coach Jackson. + +"Well, I'm going to swab out with seltzer, anyhow," declared Jack, +"rules or no rules." + +"Oh, I guess that won't hurt," admitted Tom, and a little later they +had lined up before a crossroads grocery, in front of which was the +magical sign: "Ice Cold Soda!" + +"Ginger ale! Birch beer! Sasp'rilla! Cream sody!" rattled off the +snub-nosed and freckle-faced lad behind the counter, when our four +friends filed in and asked for some cool drink. "That's all I've got." + +"Any seltzer?" asked Tom, who knew the risk of taking into an +over-heated system the artificially flavored and colored concoctions +that pass current as summer drinks. + +"Seltzer?" queried the lad. "Do you mean that there fizzy stuff that +squirts all over when you press down on the handle of the bottle?" + +"That's her!" laughed Jack. "Pass it out--if it's cold." + +"Oh, it's cold all right, but nobody around here likes it," volunteered +the lad. "I took some once, and it tasted like salt water with needles +in it. I'd rather have strawberry pop." + +"Seltzer's good for your system, son. Pass it out," ordered Tom, with +a laugh at the description of the mineral water, and the lad went to a +big refrigerator where, after moving out some tubs of butter, and some +bottles of milk, he came upon the seltzer which he set before our +heroes. + +"That's good!" exclaimed Tom, as he drained his glass, and then, after +a brief rest, they started off on the cross-country run again, waving +farewell to the lad who had so aptly characterized the seltzer. + +They crossed the river at Weldon, and circled up the hill to Marsden. +There the going was stiff, and they realized why Jackson had given them +such leeway in time, for the slope was a steep one. + +"This is good for our legs," remarked Jack, as he plodded on. + +"Yes, and Sam and Nick seem to be still ahead of us," remarked Tom. +"They're keeping up well--better than I thought they would." + +"Unless they've taken a short cut," suggested George. + +"They have to check in at Marsden," said Bert. + +"Well, they may take a cut there. However, it doesn't matter," said +Tom. + +It was beginning to get dusk now, the September days being short. +There were about five miles of the run left when the four lads paused +at a wayside farmhouse located at the fork of the highway to make sure +they were on the right route to reach the river road. + +"Yes, you kin git to it this way," remarked a tall, lanky lad, who was +hanging over the front gate, seemingly waiting for someone. "There's a +bad hill, though." + +"Is there any other road to the river?" asked Tom. + +"Yes, you kin cut through the woods, and it's level all the way," was +the answer. "I'd take that road." + +"But we don't want a _shorter_ way," said Tom quickly. "We're doing a +school endurance run," he explained, "and we have to cover just so many +miles. We don't want to cheat." + +"Oh, you won't cheat," chuckled the farm lad. "If any thing it's +longer through them woods," and he pointed to a patch of forest just +ahead. "There's a wagon road through them trees, that comes out on the +river road. The only difference is that it cuts off the hill." + +"Then let's take it!" suggested Jack. "I hate hills, and it's all +right as long as we cover the distance. There's no more checking to be +done until we hit the gym. I say let's take to the woods." + +"All right," agreed Tom. "Is the path a plain one?" he asked the lad. +"We don't want to get lost." + +"Oh, yes, it's plain enough. A couple of other fellows passed here a +while ago, and I told them about it." + +"Sam Heller, and Nick, I'll wager!" exclaimed Bert. + +"Sure," assented Jack. "Much obliged," he called to the farm lad, as +the four struck off toward the woods. + +"Maybe you won't be--after a bit," murmured the lad, as he turned away +from the gate, a twinkle coming into his pig-like eyes. "I earned that +dollar easy enough--jest directin' 'em to the wood-road," and he looked +at a bill crumpled in his hand. "I never made money any easier. Them +two fellers, jest ahead, who told me to direct the next bunch into the +woods, must have lots of coin. I guess it'll be a while afore them +four lads strike the river, goin' through the woods," and, chuckling, +he went into the house, after a look at Tom and his chums. + +"Say it's going to be dark before we get back," remarked George, when +they were well within the woods. "I wonder if we can see?" + +"Sure," asserted Tom. "The trees are cut away at the top and it's +going to be moonlight a little later. This is a good road, and, even +if it's longer than the other, we cut off a big hill. We can explain +how we came to take it, and it's fair as long as we do the distance." + +"If we only get in on time," murmured Bert. + +"Oh, I guess we will," said Jack. + +Together they jogged on. It became more and more dark, and, as the +wood road was not in the best of condition, they stumbled over roots +and tree branches. But, as Tom said, it was light enough to see their +way fairly well. + +"Say!" exclaimed Jack, after nearly an hour spent in tramping the +woodland path, "this doesn't seem just right. The road is narrower +than it was at first." + +"Let's strike a match and take a look," suggested Tom. + +"And we ought to have been at the river some time ago," added Bert. "I +wonder if we came right?" + +Tom lighted a match, and set fire to a wisp of bark. It blazed up +brightly, and as he held it to the ground he cried out: + +"Fellows, we're off the main road. We must have made a turn in the +dark. We're on some by-path." + +"Then turn back right away!" exclaimed Bert. + +They did, using the torch to see by. But, after they had retraced +their steps for fifteen minutes, Tom again called a halt. + +"Fellows!" he said, "there's no use going on. + +"Why not?" asked Jack. + +"Because we're lost. We've been going around in a circle. There's the +same fallen beech tree we passed a little while ago. We're lost!" + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +AN ANGRY FARMER + +Everyone had come to a halt, and, while the bark torch burned dimly his +three companions gazed blankly at Tom. + +"What's that you said?" asked Jack, as if he had not comprehended. + +"We're lost!" repeated Tom. + +"Come again!" invited Bert. "You're jollying us!" + +"Indeed I'm not!" exclaimed Tom indignantly. "You can see for yourself +that we've passed this place before. Here are some of the ashes I +knocked off the bark torch," and he showed his chums the place where he +had hit the burning bark against a stone. + +"That's right," Bert and the others were forced to admit. + +"Well, what are we going to do about it?" asked Jack. "We're +lost--that's evident and we don't need a pair of opera glasses to see +it. But how are we going to get back to school? Or even on the right +road? I wish we'd stuck to the way, even if it did go up hill. This +taking of short cuts never did appeal to me, anyhow." + +"But we didn't take a short cut," insisted Tom. "We took a long cut, +and that's the trouble." + +"I wonder if that farm fellow directed us wrong on purpose?" asked +George. + +"He might have," said Jack. "And yet what would have been his object?" +If he could have seen that same farm-hand gloating over a crumpled +dollar bill about that time, Jack might have found an answer to his +inquiry. + +"Well, there's no use going into that part of it," spoke Tom. "The +question is, what are we going to do?" + +"Get back on the main road as soon as we can," suggested Bert, "and +stick to it, hills or no hills, I never wanted to come this way anyhow." + +"Neither did I," asserted Tom, a bit nettled. + +In a short time they had several improvised torches, made of bark, and, +each one lighting his own, and holding it down close to the ground, +they started off again. + +"Here comes a shower!" exclaimed Tom, as he felt the first drops of a +September storm. "Lucky we got the dry bark in time." + +"Say, but this is punk!" grumbled Bert, as he stumbled on in the +half-darkness. + +By carefully noting the path, and keeping to it, they managed to avoid +going in a circle again. Their torches smoked and spluttered, as the +rain increased, and, though they were under the shelter of trees, they +soon were quite wet. + +"Cross-country runs!" murmured Jack, as he stepped into a bog-hole up +to his ankles. "No more for yours truly!" + +"It's all in the game," said Tom, with a laugh. "We'll soon be out of +it." + +"We're out of it now," snapped Bert, looking at his watch. "We've got +half an hour to make the gym, for it's half-past seven now, and I'll +wager a can of beans that we're five miles from it." + +"Not as bad as that," asserted Tom. "We may make it yet, if we can +strike a good road. This looks like something here, fellows," he +added, as he emerged from the woodland path upon a firm footing. "It +is!" he cried a moment later. "I guess we can make it now! Come on!" + +Holding his torch of bark above his head, Tom led the way. He was +quite sure of himself now, even though he did not know just where the +path was coming out. It was broadening as he advanced, and he was +positive it did not lead deeper into the woods. + +"Ugh!" suddenly grunted Tom, as he came to an abrupt halt. + +"What's wrong?" asked Jack. + +"I ran into a fence, or something. Yes, It's a fence," Tom went on. +"We must have struck some sort of a farm." + +"I wish it was the one where that fellow works," put in Jack. "I'd +like to rub his nose in the mud for sending us on the wrong path." + +"There's a light over there!" cried Bert, as he and the others came up +to where Tom had come to a halt at the barrier. It was a rail fence of +the "snake" variety, and Tom had run full tilt into it in the darkness, +his torch having burned out. + +"A light!" cried Bert. "That means a house, or some sort of human +habitation. Let's head for it, fellows, and maybe we can get on the +right road." + +"Over the fence is out!" cried Jack, as he leaped the barrier. "Come +on, fellows!" + +The others followed him, the torch of George being the only one aglow. + +"It's a cornfield!" cried Tom, as he landed in it. "Look out, and +don't trample too much of it down." + +"Oh, it's only late fodder corn, and I guess it won't matter much," was +Jack's opinion, as he floundered on through the field. They could hear +him crashing down the corn stalks, and being wet, tired and miserable, +and perhaps a little unthinking, the others did the same thing. + +"Head for the light!" called George. "My torch is on the blink." + +It went out a moment later, and in the darkness and rain the lads +stumbled on. The light grew plainer as they advanced toward it, and, +in a little while, trampling through the corn, they saw a farm house +just beyond the field through which they had come. + +"That's not where the fellow lives who sent us wrong," asserted Jack, +and the others agreed with him. + +"Now to see where we are," suggested Tom, as he vaulted another fence, +and found himself in the big front yard of a farmhouse. There was a +barking of dogs, and, as Tom's chums followed his lead, a door opened, +letting out a flood of light, and a rasping voice asked: + +"Who's there? What d'ye want this time of night?" + +"We're from Elmwood Hall," replied Tom. "We were out on a +cross-country run, and we lost our way. Can you direct us to the river +road?" + +"Which way did you come," the rasping voice went on, and a man, with a +small bunch of whiskers on his chin, stood in the lamp-illuminated +doorway. + +"Through the woods," said Tom. "We got lost there." + +"And then we cut through a cornfield," went on Jack. + +"Through a cornfield!" cried the farmer in accents of anger. "D'ye +mean t' say you tromped through my field of corn?" + +"I--I'm afraid we did," answered Tom ruefully. "We couldn't see in the +dark, and it was the only way to come. I hope we didn't do much +damage." + +"Well, if ye did ye'll pay for it!" snapped the man, as he came from +the doorway. "I don't allow nobody t' tromp through my prize corn. +I'll have th' law on ye fer this, that's what I will! Knocked down my +corn; did ye? Well, ye kin find th' road the best way ye like now. +I'll never tell ye. And I want t' see how much damage ye done. You +wait till I git a lantern. Tromped through my corn! That's jest like +you good-fer-nothin' school snips! I'll fix ye fer this all right, or +my name ain't Jed Appleby!" + + + + +CHAPTER X + +A HAY STACK FIRE + +Cold, wet and altogether miserable, Tom and his chums stood in the +farmer's yard, waiting for they scarcely knew what. Their reception +had been anything but cordial, and, considering that they were unaware +that they had done any damage to the field of corn, it was almost +unwarranted. + +"Well, what do you know about this?" asked Bert, as he took off his cap +and dashed the rain drops from it. + +"I don't know much," replied Jack, dubiously as he turned the collar of +his coat closer up around his neck. + +"He's a cheerful chap--not," murmured George. + +"He might at least treat us decently," said Tom, and there was a note +of defiance in his voice. "If we've damaged his corn I'm willing to +pay for it, but he might at least direct us to the road." + +"That's right," chimed in Jack. "What's he doing now?" + +"Getting a lantern, from the looks of things," replied Bert. The +farmer had gone to the barn and in a few moments he returned carrying a +light that swung to and fro, casting queer fantastic shadows on the +rain-soaked ground. + +"Now I'll see what sort of damage ye done t' my corn!" grumbled the +man. "I don't see what right a passel of youngsters have t' tramp +through a man's field for, anyhow?" + +"We got lost, I told you!" exclaimed Tom, a bit provoked. "We didn't +do it on purpose. If we've done any damage we're responsible for it." + +"Yes, I know what that means!" sneered the man. By this time he was at +the fence over which the boys had leaped into his yard, and, swinging +the lantern about, he endeavored to see how much damage had been done +to his corn. + +"Tromped down! A whole passel of ye tromped it down!" he muttered. "I +thought so, an' that's my best field, too! I've a notion t' have ye +arrested fer trespass." + +"Oh, be sensible," ripped out Tom, who was fast losing his temper, a +thing that seldom occurred to him. "Tell us what the damage is, and +I'll settle. And then tell us how we can get on the river road, and +back to Elmwood Hall." + +"Huh! A nice lot of school boys you are!" sneered the, man. "Th' fust +thing they ought t' teach ye is manners! Spilin' a man's corn!" + +"Can't you say what the damage is?" put in Jack. + +"No, I can't--not until mornin', anyhow." + +"Then tell us how to get on the right road, and you can send your bill +to Elmwood Hall. Fairfield is my name--Tom Fairfield," cried our hero. + +"Oh, I'll send you the bill all right," snapped the farmer. "I'll +attend to that, and ye'll pay th' last cent due, too, let me tell you +that!" + +"All right," agreed Tom with a sigh. "I suppose you'll charge us +double, but we've got to expect that from such as you." + +"What do you mean?" snapped, the man swinging his lantern up so he +could see Tom's face. + +"You know what I mean! You don't seem to want to be reasonable. Now, +if it's all the same to you, will you kindly direct us to the right +road? And as soon as your bill comes in I'll settle it, though I want +to say that we had no idea of injuring your corn, and wouldn't have +gotten into your field but that we got lost." + +"Huh! That's a likely story. I know you fresh young school squabs!" + +"Oh, where's the road?" asked Tom impatiently. "We don't care much for +your opinions!" + +"Find it yourself!" snapped the man. "I'll not show you, and the +sooner you get off my property the better for you!" + +"Humph! I can't say that I admire your disposition," spoke Tom, in +exasperation, for he was cold and wet, and the prospect of reporting in +late, and making a failure of the cross-country run, was not pleasant. + +"None of your sass!" growled the man. "Be off, now, or I'll turn the +dogs loose!" + +With another took at the trampled rows of corn he went into the house, +taking the lantern with him, and shutting the door after him. It +seemed darker than ever in the farmyard with the light gone, and the +rain was coming down in torrents. + +"Nice prospect!" murmured George. + +"What are we going to do?" asked Bert. + +"He's the man with the original grouch all right," contributed Jack. +"Where'll we go?" + +"Over this way!" called Tom, who had been looking about. "I think I +see something like a gate leading into a lane. It may take us to a +road. Come on." + +They followed him, splashing through the mud puddles and darkness. +Then came a flash of lightning, which showed them the lane in question. +It did lead into the road, and a little later they were on the river +highway, headed toward the Hall. + +"Let's run and get warmed up," proposed Bert, and they set off on a dog +trot. + +"I wonder if any of the others are as badly off as we are?" spoke Jack. + +"I hope not," came from George. + +"I suppose we're out of the running," remarked Bert. "It must be after +eight." + +"Half-past," said Tom, managing to see the dial of his watch by a +lightning flash. + +"Ugh!" grunted Jack. "It's all up with us." + +In silence they plowed on, and a little later they saw the welcome +lights of Elmwood Hall. + +"Humph! Late, young gentlemen," remarked Mr. Porter, the proctor, as +they filed in the gate. "Report to Doctor Meredith at once." + +"It was an accident--we got lost," explained Bert. + +"And a crusty old farmer wouldn't show us the road," added Tom. + +"I'm sorry, but I can't help it. Report to the doctor," was all the +satisfaction they received. + +But the head master was not at all unkind about it. He listened to +their explanation, and consoled them for their ill luck. + +They managed to get something to eat, and then, paying a surreptitious +visit to the rooms of some of their chums, they learned that they were +fully three-quarters of an hour later in coming back than were the last +of the stragglers. + + + + +"Did Sam and Nick make good time?" asked Tom, of the football captain. + +"Very good, yes. They were among the first ones in. I'm sorry about +you boys." + +"I suppose we're out of the game," hinted Jack. + +"Well, not altogether, but it'll set you back. However, I'll do what I +can. Better turn in now. You must be tired." + +"Tired isn't a name for it!" groaned Bert. "I'll sleep like a +locomotive to-night." + +They were all slumbering almost as soon as they tumbled into bed, and, +though they had been well soaked, they experienced no ill effects the +next morning. + +To their delight the football captain and coach said nothing about +their ill-luck in being outside the time limit for the cross-country +run, and they went to practice as usual. + +"Huh! I wonder if they call that fair?" sneered Sam, when he saw his +enemy, and the latter's friends, in their usual places. + +"It's not right," asserted Nick, "after we made the run, and got in on +time." + +"Well, you didn't get lost in the woods," said George Abbot, who was at +least on speaking terms with Sam and his crony. "A farm fellow told us +to take the wrong road to avoid a hill." + +"Did he?" asked Sam, and there was a trace of a smile on his face. +"Well, you can't always trust farm hands," and he nudged Nick in the +ribs, though George did not see it. + +Two days later Doctor Meredith called Tom to his office. + +"There has been a complaint made against you," said the school head. +"Trampling down the corn of one--er--Jed Appleby----" went on Doctor +Meredith, reading from a memoranda. "He says you agreed to pay for it, +and his bill is--ten dollars!" + +"What!" cried Tom. "We didn't do half that damage! But I'm willing to +pay." + +"And after this, please be careful not to annoy the farmers hereabout," +warned the head of the school. "We have to guard against the students +doing that." + +"I'll be careful," promised Tom grimly. "Ten dollars! Whew!" he +exclaimed, as he took the bill and went out. "If he got a dollar he'd +be getting more than the corn we trampled was worth. But I'll not +dispute it. Only I'll get square with him," he boasted to his chums. + +On going to pay the amount assessed against him, Tom found that the +possessions of Mr. Appleby extended to within a short distance of the +school grounds. At least one of the farmer's hay fields did, being +connected to a main road by a long lane. + +"And if he'd been decent," mused Tom, on his way back, after settling +the score, "he could have shown us the way through his hay field, and +we might have gotten into the Hall on time. The old grouch!" + +He cut through the lot, passing a big pile of hay that was stacked and +thatched for winter. + +"Well, did you fix him up?" asked Jack, as his chum entered the room on +his return. + +"I did--worse luck to him. Some day we'll have to have the white-caps +visit him, or treat him to a coat of tar and feathers. It isn't the +ten dollars that I mind so much as it is being gouged by a farmer. +I'll get square though!" + +It was several nights after this that Tom, gathering up some packages +from his dresser, slipped on his coat and cap. + +"Where you going?" asked Jack, yawning and tossing aside a book he had +been pretending to study. + +"Oh, just out for a walk," replied Tom, evasively. + +"Want any company?" + +"I'll be right back," was the remark, which would seem to indicate that +company was not desired. + +"All right. Bring me back some peanuts if you go past Pop's place," +and Jack tossed over a dime. + +Tom's chums were in bed when he returned, and without awakening them, +as he supposed, he undressed in the dark and tumbled into his cot. + +"That you, Tom?" murmured Jack sleepily. + +"Yes." + +"What smells so queer? Have you been smoking?" + +"No, but I came home in a trolley and there were some fellows in it +hitting the pipe." + +"Oh, I thought it couldn't be you," for neither Tom nor his chums used +the weed. + +Jack turned over, and was soon breathing heavily, and Tom, too, was not +long in getting to sleep. + +It was Bert who awakened them some hours later. + +"Hello fellows!" he called. "There's a fire somewhere. I can see the +reflection of it on the windows." + +They all jumped up, and Jack, going to the casement, exclaimed: + +"It isn't here. None of the school buildings are ablaze." + +"No, it's over that hill," said Bert. "I have it!" he cried. "Some of +Farmer Appleby's hay ricks are on fire, or maybe a barn. Come on +fellows, let's help put 'em out!" + +"Oh, what's the use?" asked Tom. "It serves him right. He gouged us +enough to pay for a ton of hay anyhow. Let it burn!" + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +HOT WORK + +Tom's chums looked at him for a moment in the reflected light of the +blaze, as it shone in the windows of their room. Then Jack exclaimed: + +"Oh, quit your kidding, Tom. Get on your clothes and we'll go over and +play firemen. You're not going to stay here." + +"No, I meant it!" insisted Tom. "I don't see why we fellows should go +to a lot of trouble, and get all smoked up, to save the hay stacks of a +grouchy old codger who raised a row just because we trampled down a few +hills of his corn." + +"Oh, forget it and come along," urged Bert. "There are some of our +fellows going now," and he pointed down to the campus, across which +several figures could be seen hurrying. + +"Sure, come ahead," added Jack, beginning to dress. "It will be +something new, anyhow. It isn't like you, Tom, to hold back, even +though you have been gouged." + +"All right I'll come along," assented our hero, with a short laugh, +"though if I get a chance I'll tell Jed Appleby what I think of him, +the old skinflint!" + +"Better not have a row," suggested Jack calmly. + +In a short tune the three chums, followed by George Abbot, were +hurrying out of the school dormitory. Some of the monitors began a +remonstrance, but when a Senior or two pointed out to Doctor Meredith, +who had been hastily aroused, that it was the duty of the students to +help prevent the spread of the conflagration, so near the Hall, the +head of the school allowed as many as cared to go to the blaze. + +"Say, it's a big one all right!" exclaimed Jack, as they hurried on. + +"Yes, I shouldn't wonder but what more than one stack is going," added +Bert, for they were below the hill now, and could see only the +increased reflection of the flames on the sky. + +"How did it start? Who set it on fire? Is it hay or straw?" asked +George excitedly. + +"Stow that!" commanded Tom sharply. "How do we know; and how do _you_ +know it was set on fire, George?" + +"I don't know. But hay stacks don't generally set themselves ablaze; +do they?" + +"How about spontaneous combustion?" asked Tom, quickly. + +"Or a tramp sleeping under the hay with a pipe going?" added Bert. +"Come on, hit it up, or we'll be the last ones there." + +This was evident, for a number of groups of school lads had passed our +friends, who were jogging along rather leisurely. + +"There goes Sam Heller and Nick," remarked Bert. + +"All right. Let 'em get ahead," advised Tom. "We don't want their +company." + +As they reached the top of the hill the blaze burst full on their sight. + +"Two stacks on fire!" yelled Jack. + +"Big ones, too!" added Bert. + +"And they're near the barn," said Tom. "That'll go next, if the wind +shifts." + +"They've formed a bucket brigade," said George. "Come on, fellows, +let's hurry and get busy!" + +He broke into a sharp run, the others following, and soon they were at +the scene, together with a number of their friends from all classes. +Farmer Appleby was running about "like a hen with her head cut off," as +Tom expressed it, calling out various orders. + +"Git more water there!" he shouted. "Fill them buckets faster! Hurry +up, boys, or th' hull place'll go! Lively now! Oh when I git holt of +th' rask'il thet set fire t' my hay I'll have th' law on him!" + +"He thinks someone set the fire," remarked Bert to Tom. + +"Very likely," was the calm reply. "Most farmers do when it's their +own carelessness that's to blame. But he'll never get the fire out +that way." + +This was only too evident. Half a score of men and boys, some of them +the hired help of Mr. Appleby, were filling pails from a cistern, and +at a pump, and dashing the water on the blazing hay. They could not +get near enough to make the water effective, and what little they did +dash on was almost at once turned to steam by the heat. Then, too, the +stack was so large in diameter at the bottom that only one side could +be attacked at a time. + +"Have you any more pails?" yelled Jack into the farmer's ear. + +"I don't know. Don't bother me! Look in the barn! Oh what a +calamity!" was the answer. "If I get holt of th' rask'l------" and +then the farmer rushed off to grab a bucket from a staggering lad, who +was advancing with it. Mr. Appleby slipped in the mud, and went down, +spilling the precious fluid. + +"Jupiter's crab apples!" he cried. "What d' ye mean by that, Hank +Norton? Butterfingers!" + +"You spilled it! I didn't!" snapped the lad. + +"All right, git more! Oh, what a fire! My barns'll go, sure!" and the +distracted man rushed about not knowing what to do. + +"He's half crazy," decided Tom. "He'll never get the fire out in the +world acting that way. And if the wind shifts the blaze will blow +right toward the barns." + +This was evident. Two large stacks of hay, for which there had been no +room in the barn, stood in the farmyard not far from the big buildings +that contained the farm products, horses and machinery. Both stacks +were afire in several places, but as there was only a slight wind the +flames went almost straight up, inclining away from the buildings. But +it would need only a slight shift of the wind to cause much damage. + +"What's to be done?" asked Jack. + +"Get the horses out first," decided Tom. "That is if they're not out +already. Let's have a look." Now that he was on the scene, even his +feeling against the old farmer would not allow him to stand idly by and +see property destroyed. + +"That's the way to talk!" cried Bert. "Let's save the horses." + +They found the animals in their stalls, trying to break loose, and +tramping excitedly on the wooden floor. + +"Steady, boys! Steady!" called Tom soothingly, and at the sound of his +voice the steeds were a bit less restless. + +"How are you going to manage?" asked Jack. "I don't know much about +horses, but I've heard that they'll rush into a blaze if you cut 'em +loose." + +"That's bosh!" cried Tom. "It's hard to get 'em past a fire, unless +you blind 'em. Get me some old bags and I'll lead 'em out. Come on, +Bert. You used to live on a farm." + +From the light of the blazing stacks, shining in the barn windows, Jack +and George saw where a pile of grain sacks were lying. They passed +some to Tom and Bert, and a little later the two lads each led a horse +out, the bags having been tossed over the steeds' heads to shut out +their view of the fire. The animals were restive, but allowed +themselves to be led. + +"Here you go!" called Tom to some of his school friends. "Take the +horses quite a way off, and tie 'em to the fence. There are four more +in here!" + +He and Bert went back, and soon had led out two more steeds, while one +of the farmer's hired men, becoming aware of the need of haste, led out +the other two. Thus the horses were saved. + +"Whew!" exclaimed Tom, as he came from the barn after the last of the +steeds were safe. "That was hot work!" + +"And look at the hay stacks!" cried Jack. "They're blazing fiercer +than ever." + +"Yep. Water's give out!" exclaimed a hired man. "I guess th' hull +place'll go now. I'm goin' t' save my trunk. I've got a new shirt an' +a pair of pants I ain't wore yit!" and he scurried toward the house. + +"Water's gone!" cried Tom. "Then there's only one way to save the +barns." + +"How?" asked Jack. + +"They'll have to pull the stacks to pieces, and throw the hay that +isn't blazing as far off as they can. Scatter it, and then the fire +will eat itself out. It's the only way, and it can be done if they +hurry, and the wind doesn't shift." + +"Come on then!" yelled Bert. "It's up to us. No one else seems to +know what to do." + +"Grab these pitchforks!" yelled Tom, pointing to several of the +implements standing near the barn. "Tear the stacks apart!" + +With the sharp-pointed tools ready for service, Tom and his three chums +rushed toward the burning stacks. The farmer and his men were standing +helplessly by. + +"Tear 'em apart! Tear 'em apart!" yelled Tom. "It's the only way!" + +The next second, in spite of the intense heat, he and the other lads +were scattering the hay on the side of the stack that was not yet +ablaze. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +ACCUSATIONS + +"That's the way to do it!" + +"Why didn't we think of that before?" + +"Get busy, everybody! Scatter the hay!" + +These cries greeted the activity of Tom and his three friends, and, a few +seconds later, as many of the crowd of students as could get near were +picking and tearing at the stacks of hay, with whatever they could lay +their hands on--pitchforks, rakes, sticks, clothes-poles--anything that +would serve to scatter the inflammable mass, that was not yet ablaze, far +enough off so that the tongues of fire could not reach it. + +It was hot work and disagreeable work, for the smoke and ashes were blown +into the faces of the lads time and again. Yet they persisted, not from +any love for the farmer, since his treatment of Tom was well known, but +because of the lads' inherent desire to do something--especially at a +fire. + +Meanwhile, Mr. Appleby, seeing that the blaze was now in competent hands, +turned his attention to the barns, getting out, with the help of some +students and his hired men, the farm machinery, and some sacks of grain. + +But there was no need of this, as it developed, for, in a comparatively +short time, Tom's tactics proved effective. The fire, from lack of +material to feed on, gradually died out, and though the greater part of +the two stacks were consumed, the scattering of the remaining hay solved +the problem. + +The fierce heat and blaze began to subside, and in a short time all that +was left was a pile of glowing ashes. Tom and his friends ceased their +efforts, and withdrew to the cooler area near the barn, that had been +half emptied of their contents before it was certain that they would not +go up in flames and smoke. + +"Well, that's over," remarked Jack, as he stood his pitchfork up against +the building, "and I'm glad of it." + +"So am I," declared Bert. + +"And you're a mighty lucky man, Mr. Appleby," said one of his neighbors, +"that you have any out-buildings left." + +"But look at the hay that's burned!" whined the farmer. "Nigh on to +three tons of it gone, an' the rest spiled by smoke, I reckon." + +"But you're lucky just the same," insisted another neighbor who had come +over to help fight the blaze. "If it hadn't been for these school boys, +and that one in particular who had the gumption to think of scattering +the hay, you'd be many thousands of dollars poorer than you are now. +What's a few tons of hay compared to that?" + +"Of course!" came a murmur from several other farmers. + +"Humph!" almost sneered Mr. Appleby. "Them school fellers! Maybe they +know more about this fire than they're lettin' on!" + +"What's that?" cried Tom, who overheard the words. "What do you mean?" + +"Oh, nothin'--at least not yet, until I've looked around a bit," replied +Mr. Appleby. "You needn't be so touchy. Ain't I seen you before, +somewhere?" he asked, peering into Tom's face by the dying glow of the +fire. + +"You have," answered our hero calmly. "I had the pleasure of paying you +ten dollars for some corn you said we spoiled the night we were lost on +the cross-country run, and you refused to direct us to the right road." + +"Humph! I thought I recognized you," and the farmer turned away without +so much as a word of thanks to Tom and his chums. + +"Keep the change," called Tom after him. "Next time you have a fire send +for us!" + +"The old grouch!" gasped Jack. "Isn't he the limit?" + +"And then some more," added Bert. "Come on back to bed. I smell like a +smoked ham I imagine." + +"We all do," agreed Jack. "But I wonder what old Appleby was driving at +when he said some of our lads might know more about this fire than they +were saying?" + +"Oh, just talk I imagine," said Tom quickly. "He hedged when I tried to +corner him. He's so excited he doesn't know what he is saying. Come on; +let's go back." + +They filed out of the still smoky farmyard and made their way back to the +Hall, other lads doing the same thing. The excitement was over now, and +soon Elmwood Hall had taken on her normal appearance at night, with her +students resuming their interrupted slumbers. + +There was much talk of the fire the next morning, the topic forming a +fruitful source of conversation at the breakfast tables, and on the way +to chapel. Then came lessons, when the lads separated. But in Tom's +mind there rankled the words the old farmer had used. + +"I wonder what will come of it?" he mused. + +He had not long to wait to find out. That afternoon, following some hard +football practice, when he and his two particular chums were on their way +to the gymnasium for a shower bath, they heard a voice behind them asking: + +"I say, kin you boys tell me where I kin find Doctor Meredith? I want t' +have a talk with him." + +They turned, to behold Farmer Appleby, dressed in what were apparently +his best clothes, and with a "biled" shirt, the collar of which obviously +galled his neck. + +"There is the doctor's residence, over there," indicated Tom. "I trust +the fire is all out," he added, half sarcastically. + +"Humph! Yes, it's out, but I ain't done with it yet," and the farmer +nodded his head vigorously. "I've got some suspicions, and I've come t' +tell 'em. I want t' have a talk with Doctor Meredith about that fire." + +"Here he comes now," said Jack, as the tall form of the head master was +seen approaching over the campus. Seeing the group of lads, and +recognizing them, the doctor turned and approached Tom and his mates. +Mr. Appleby, assuming an air of importance, stood waiting. + +"Well, boys, none the worse from the excitement of last night, I hope," +began the head of the school. "At least I see you are able to resume +football practice," and he smiled at the rather soiled appearance of the +lads. + +"Yes, we're all right," assented Jack. + +"Be you Doctor Meredith?" broke in the farmer. + +"I am," was the quiet answer, and a pair of eyes that had an +uncomfortable habit of seeming to bore right through one, looked sharply +at the farmer. "Did you wish to see me?" + +"Yes, I'm Mr. Appleby. It was my hay stacks that burned last night." + +"Oh, yes, I heard about it. I am sorry for you. I understand that had +it not been for some of my students the fire would have been much worse. +You have come to thank them, through me, I take it." + +"Well, no, Doctor Meredith, I don't know as I have," and the farmer's +voice seemed harsh and grating. + +"You have not? Pray, then, what------" + +"I come t' tell you, Doctor Meredith, that perhaps if it hadn't been fer +some of your boys maybe there wouldn't have been any fire!" + +"What's that?" exclaimed the doctor, drawing himself up sharply and +looking at the farmer intently. "Just what do you mean, Mr. Appleby?" + +"Jest what I said. I'm not satisfied as t' how that fire started, and I +suspect that some of your students set it." + +"Preposterous! Why should they do such a thing as that?" + +"Because some of them have a grudge against me. It ain't th' fust time +the school boys has played tricks on me. Two years ago they burned up an +old shed." + +"So you said at the time, but you could never prove it, I believe. You +should be careful how you make accusations, sir." + +"I am careful, Doctor Meredith, an' that's why I didn't come sooner. +I've got evidence now." + +"Evidence? What kind?" + +"Well, one of my hired men saw a fellow, who looked like a school lad, +sneaking around the hay stacks a leetle while afore they begun to blaze." + +"Is that all? If it is, I call that very flimsy evidence; and I again +warn you to be careful how you make accusations." + +"It ain't all, Doctor Meredith. Th' same hired man picked up this pin +near the stacks," and the farmer held out a pin such as was worn by +nearly every Elmwood Hall student. + +"Picked up the pin near the stacks; did he?" asked the head master +coolly, as he looked at the ornament. "Well, seeing that a number of my +students were helping put out the fire, it is but natural that one might +lose a pin there. I see no evidence in that, and again----" + +"This here pin were picked up at the stacks just _afore_ th' fire was +discovered--not _afterward_," said the farmer in a harsh voice, as his +gaze swept the faces of Tom and his chums. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +THE POISONED HORSES + +For the space of several seconds there was silence--a portentous +silence--and then the head of the school, looking from the pin in his +hand at the accusing farmer, and thence to the three lads said: + +"Do you know, Mr. Appleby, to whom this pin belongs?" + +"No, sir, I don't. But I thought maybe you could tell. That's why I +come t' see you. If anybody set my stacks afire I want t' know it, an' +I want damages, same as I had when some fellers tromped through my +corn," and Mr. Appleby looked straight at Tom, who returned the gaze +fearlessly. + +"Again I warn you to be careful in your accusations, Mr. Appleby," said +the head master sharply. + +"I am, Doctor. I ain't namin' no names, but I brought that pin t' you, +thinkin' you could tell who owned it. Then, when it is knowed who was +sneakin' around my barns, I may be able t' say who sot the fire!" + +"Preposterous!" exclaimed Doctor Meredith. "I will not, for one +moment, entertain a suspicion, even, against one of my lads on such +flimsy evidence as this." + +"'Tain't flimsy!" retorted the farmer. "There's been men convicted +of serious crimes on less evidence than a gold pin. That's a school +emblem, an' I know it!" + +"True enough," agreed the head master. + +"Then I ask you to say who owns it?" demanded the incensed farmer. + +"That I cannot say," was the cool answer. "This is not a class pin--it +is a hall emblem--that is, any lad in the school is entitled to wear +it, and nearly every one does." + +"Then call the roll, an' find out who's lost his pin!" suggested Mr. +Appleby eagerly. "That's an easy way to find out." + +"I shall do nothing of the sort!" answered the doctor firmly. + +"Then I'll go t' law about it. I tell you, Doctor Meredith, that pin +was picked up near the stack before the hay was found t' be on fire. +It belongs to one of your students, an' I demand an investigation." + +"Well, you may demand as much as you please, Mr. Applesauce----" + +"Appleby's my name--Jed Appleby." + +"Very well, Mr. Appleby. You may demand as much as you please, but I +shall not inflict an accusation on any of my students in general, and +certainly on none in particular, on such flimsy evidence as this. Here +is the pin, you may advertise it if you like." + +"Huh! Yes, an' d' ye s'pose th' owner would claim it? Not much. I +don't want th' pin. It ain't mine. But I want t' know who sot that +fire, an' I'm goin' t' find out! One of my men seen a school lad near +the hay early in th' evenin', I tell ye!" + +"Can he identify him?" asked the doctor. + +"No, I don't know as he kin. It was dark, an'----" + +"That will do," interrupted the head master. "I am afraid I have no +more time to listen to you. Good day. I shall keep the pin, since you +refuse to take it," and the doctor, with a curt nod to the farmer, and +a smile at the lads, passed on. + +For a moment Tom and his chums stood looking at the somewhat bewildered +farmer, and then Tom spoke. + +"You've got a lot of nerve!" he said cuttingly. + +"I should say so," added Bert. + +"The worst ever," added Jack. "After we help you put out the fire, and +practically saved your barns and horses, you come and make trouble like +this. You're a peach, you are!" + +"Don't you give me none of your back talk!" snapped Mr. Appleby. "I +know what I'm doin'." + +"Yes, and I suppose you did when you charged us ten dollars for a +little corn," said Tom. + +"That's all right," replied the farmer, doggedly. "I'll find out who +sot that fire, and I'll have th' law on 'em, student or no student. +An' I'll find out who lost that pin." + +"Good luck to you!" called Bert sarcastically. + +"Maybe you lost it yourself," said the farmer quickly. "Will you show +me your pin, an' will you swear you wasn't away from the school early +in th' evenin' of the fire? Will you?" + +"I sure will!" exclaimed Bert, "and here's my pin," and he showed where +it was fastened on his sweater that he used to throw over his broad +shoulders when resting from football practice. + +"Where's yours?" demanded Mr. Appleby, turning to Tom and Jack. + +Bert, who was looking at Tom, fancied he saw a start on the part of his +chum. There was just the suggestion of a flush under the tan of his +cheeks, and then he answered: + +"It's in my room probably. I don't wear it all the while." + +"Neither do I," added Jack quickly. "I haven't mine on. Maybe I lost +it." + +"Why, Jack!" began Bert. "I saw your pin on you this af------" + +He subsided quickly, for, as Tom turned aside Jack administered a swift +kick to Bert, at the same time hissing into his ear: "Shut up, you +chump! Why do you want to bother answering a fellow like him?" + +"Oh--er--all right," stammered Bert, and he looked from Jack to Tom, +wonderingly. + +"All right. You may think you're smart, but you'll find that th' law's +smarter than any of ye!" threatened the farmer, as he turned aside with +a scowl. + +"Nice sort of chap--not," murmured Tom, as he strode on, his companions +hurrying to catch up to him. + +"I should say so," agreed Jack. "Why, any fellow might lose his +pin--not necessarily at Appleby's hay stacks--and that, in his eyes, +would make him guilty. I don't even know where my school pin is at +this moment." + +Once more Bert looked at Jack, and he wondered much, for he was sure he +had seen Jack's pin gleaming on his sweater a short time before the +farmer appeared, and yet now Jack said he did not have it. + +"It's too much for me!" murmured Bert. He was not much given to +solving puzzles, and this one was beyond him. Why had Jack pretended +not to have his pin, when all the while Bert was sure he had seen it? +Could it be that------? + +"Oh, pshaw!" exclaimed Bert, to himself. "I'm not going to get into +deep water over this. I'll wait and see what happens." + +And, though he did not know it, much was to happen soon. + +It was soon noised about the college that Farmer Appleby had made a +"crack" about his hay fire, and great was the indignation of the lads. + +"After what we did for him, he ought to be glad enough to keep quiet, +if we burned half a dozen stacks!" exclaimed Reddy Burke, the genial +Irish lad. "Sure and it's meself would tell him that same if I got a +chance," Reddy always lapsed into the idioms of his forebears when he +grew excited. + +"Oh, it isn't worth bothering about," declared Bruce Bennington. +"Appleby is naturally sore at losing some of his crops, for he's a +regular miser. I know him of old. Every time something happened on +his farm he always complained that we boys did it or had a hand in it." + +"And did you?" asked Tom. + +"Sometimes, but oftener not. Don't let it worry you. He's only +looking for money. I'll wager if he was to be paid for his hay, and if +he knew who set fire to it--if any one did--he'd keep quiet and +compound the felony. Forget it." + +It was about two weeks later, just prior to the first match football +game of the season, that Bert and Jack, coming in from practice which +Tom had left earlier because of a slight injury to his shoulder, found +their chum busy with bottles and test tubes in their room. + +"Whew! What a smell!" cried Jack, as he opened the door. "What in the +world be you a doin' of, Tommy, my boy?" + +"Oh, working out some physics problems. I'm a bit back in my work." + +"Noble youth! I ought to be doing the same thing. My! but I'm dry. +Got any ice water? What's this?" and Jack caught up a glass filled +with a colorless liquid. + +"Here! Drop that!" cried Tom, quickly. "That's had cyanide of +potassium in. There may be some in it yet. If you want to go to an +early grave, taste it." + +"Not on your life!" gasped Jack, a bit white. "But you shouldn't leave +such stuff around carelessly, Tom." + +"I didn't intend to. I didn't think you fellows would be back so soon. +I'm just cleaning up. I'm done now. How did practice go after I left?" + +"Oh, we shoved the scrub all over, and made two more touchdowns. Say, +though, I hope you can play Saturday," and Jack looked anxiously at Tom. + +"Oh, sure I can play. I just didn't want to get laid up, and that's +why I pulled out. I'll play all right." + +The Elmwood regular eleven was being whipped into good shape by captain +and coach, and to their delight our three friends were promised places +for the first match game of the season. + +It was a night or two before the game when Jack, who had been to town, +came back with an evening paper. + +"I say!" he exclaimed, looking it over before the summons to supper, +"here's more trouble for our friend Appleby." + +"What is it?" asked Tom quickly, looking up from a book. + +"Why, it seems all his horses were poisoned night before last, all six +of 'em. And they found traces of a white powder in the mangers this +morning." + +"Really?" cried Bert. + +"Sure. Here's a long piece in the paper about it." + +"Are they dead?" asked Tom. + +"No, but it says it's doubtful if they'll get better. I say, I s'pose +he'll make another row now, and charge some of us fellows with doing +it," and Jack pored over the item. + +"Why will he?" asked Tom. + +"Because--Oh, just on general principles I fancy. Or he may find +another school pin. I guess I'll put mine in a safe deposit box--when +I find it," and Jack laughed, but there was no mirth in his voice. + +"When you find it," repeated Bert. "Why--er--I thought you------" + +Again he subsided, as Jack kicked him under the table, and an +embarrassing pause was broken by the ringing of the supper gong. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +SAM HELLER'S EVIDENCE + +"Young gentlemen, I have a serious matter to bring before you. A very +serious matter, involving not only the personal honor and reputation of +every student here, but the school itself. I must ask for your close +attention." + +It was Doctor Pliny Meredith who was speaking, and the place was +chapel, after the usual morning exercises. The students had been about +to go to their lectures when the venerable head of the school, entering +most unexpectedly, asked them to remain a moment. + +"Two nights ago," went on Doctor Meredith, "several horses belonging to +our neighbor, Mr. Appleby, were poisoned!" + +There was a gasp of surprise from several students, not only those who +had read the account in the paper, as Jack and his chums had done, but +from others, who wondered what was coming next. They had not long to +wait. + +"You young gentlemen will recollect," went on Doctor Meredith gravely, +"that, some time ago, there was a fire at the farm of this same Mr. +Appleby. I made no reference to something that happened directly +afterward, for I scouted the idea that any of our boys could be +involved. Yet, as some of you may know, the farmer intimated that the +fire might have been set by some of the Elmwood Hall students." + +There were several hisses, but Doctor Meredith raised a quick hand for +silence. + +"That will do," he said calmly. "That is undignified, and we must meet +this in a dignified and fair spirit. As I said, I took no action at +that time, for the evidence was absolutely nil. However, since the +affair of the poisoning I am compelled to take some notice of an +accusation that has been brought to my notice." + +Again there was a gasp of surprise. Had the farmer dared to intimate +that any Elmwood Hall lads had poisoned his horses? + +"Since the last unfortunate affair," went on the head master, "I have +received a visit from Mr. Appleby. He states to me that some kind of +chemical poison was administered to all his horses after his men had +fed them In the evening. One of the animals has since died, and the +others are in a precarious state. If they recover it will be some time +before they are fit for service. Now comes the part that interests us. + +"Mr. Appleby states that he himself saw, and recognized, one of our +students about his barrio shortly before it was discovered that the +horses were poisoned." + +"How does he know?" asked one of the Seniors--a privileged character, +evidently, for he was not rebuked. + +"He says he recognized a peculiar colored sweater the student wore, and +also his manner of walking. This student was seen near the barn, and +when Mr. Appleby hurried out to warn him away, the individual ran off, +dropping a small package. This Mr. Appleby picked up, not paying much +attention to it at the time. But later, when he learned that his +horses had been poisoned, he gave this package to a veterinarian. It +was found to contain a powder, one ingredient of which was cyanide of +potassium, a deadly poison, but which, blended with other things, may +only cause severe illness. It was this poison that was administered to +the horses." + +Once more came a murmur from the students. It was hushed as Doctor +Meredith went on. + +"Mr. Appleby insists on an investigation," said the head master, "and I +must admit that he has several points in his favor. I have told him I +would bring the matter before you. I might add that the sweater worn +by the person the farmer saw was dropped in flight. I--er--I have it +here," and Doctor Meredith unwrapped a small bundle. He held up to +view a sweater--of a deep purple tint, with yellow stripes on it. It +was an atrociously-hued garment, such as only a student would dare wear. + +Once more that gasp, for several of the students at once recognized the +garment. There were but two in the college. One like it had been worn +by Tom Fairfield, and the other by Sam Heller. + +"Does--er does anyone wish to claim this sweater?" proceeded the +doctor, "and--er--and state how it came to be on the premises of Mr. +Appleby?" + +In spite of their self-control, nearly all eyes were turned in Tom's +direction. He felt the hot blood leap to his face. There was a +roaring in his ears as he arose and said: + +"I think that is my sweater, Doctor Meredith. At least I had one like +it and------" + +"You _had_ it?" asked the doctor, emphasizing the word. + +"Yes, but I disposed of it some days ago." + +"How did you--er--dispose of it?" + +"I would rather not state--unless I am compelled to." + +"You may have to, Fairfield. But of that more later. You say this is +your garment?" + +"I think so, yes, sir. At least there is only one other like it in +this school, as far as I know, and that one------" + +"Belongs to me!" interrupted Sam Heller. "I have mine here," and, +opening his coat, he showed, beneath it, the brightly-colored sweater. + +This time there was not an eye but what was turned on Tom. He felt the +gaze and straightened up. + +"But I wish to state, Doctor Meredith," he said quickly, "that I had +nothing to do with the poisoning of the horses, and I did not know of +the occurrence until I saw the account in the paper." + +"Very well, we will note your denial, Fairfield, but about this +sweater. It is rather damaging evidence, since you yourself admit that +it is yours." + +"I do, but, as I said, I had disposed of it some time before." + +"And you do not care to state to whom?" + +"No, sir, except to say that it was not to any one connected in the +most remote way with Elmwood Hall." + +Again there came a murmur, quickly hushed. + +"Is there anyone who can throw any light on this rather important +subject?" asked the head master. "I must not conceal from you that +this is a serious matter. Mr. Appleby threatens to go to the police +with it, unless the guilty one confesses, and unless reparation is +made. Even then, it will be in the nature of compounding a felony +unless certain legal action is taken. Is there anyone who wishes to +say something?" + +For a moment there was silence, and then Sam Heller slowly arose again. + +"Since this matter has assumed a certain phase," he said, speaking +calmly, "and since it is a question of the identification of a certain +garment, of which I own one, I wish to state that I was not at the +farm, nor have I ever been there as far as I can recollect. At the +same time, in justice to myself, I must state that I saw a certain +student from this school on the lane leading to the farm, night before +last." + +"I will not ask you to state now who that was," said the head master, +quickly, "as it would not be fair, and you may be called on, in a court +of justice, to give evidence." + +"But I prefer to state now!" almost shouted Sam. "I have a right to +clear my own name. I saw Tom Fairfield, wearing that sweater, leave +his dormitory on the night the horses were poisoned, and, a little +later, I saw him heading for the lane leading to the farm!" + +"That's not true!" cried Tom, leaping to his feet. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +TOM'S SILENCE + +There were subdued murmurings from every student in the chapel. Never, +in the history of Elmwood Hall, had there been such an occurrence. An +implied charge against one of the school lads--a serious charge; the +denial on the part of one to whom suspicion might point, and the retort +direct from another. It was unheard of. + +Silence followed Tom's dramatic announcement. He remained on his feet, +looking at Sam Heller, who also stood, and then the gaze of our hero +wandered to the troubled, but still serene, countenance of Doctor +Meredith. + +"Young gentlemen," began the head of the School gently, "I must ask you +to be calm." + +"But, Doctor," said Tom respectfully, "I must deny the charge that has +been brought against me. I never had the most remote connection with +setting the hay stacks afire, nor in poisoning the horses. I cannot +make my denial too strong." + +"No one has accused you of either crime, my dear boy," said the doctor. +"You are a bit too hasty, I fear." + +"But Heller has seen fit to say that he suspects me," went on Tom, +looking his enemy full in the face. + +"No," said Sam, and he could not conceal the triumph in his voice. "I +did not say that. What I did say, and what I repeat was, that on the +night the horses were poisoned I saw Tom Fairfield leave the dormitory, +wearing a sweater like mine, and later I saw him near the lane leading +to Mr. Appleby's farm. That's all I care to say." + +"And what do you answer to that, Fairfield?" asked the doctor gravely. +"Were you or were you not there?" + +"I do not see how that affects the matter at all," said Tom, trying to +speak calmly. "I, or anyone, might have been in the vicinity of the +farm without having had a hand in the poisoning of the horses." + +"That is true, but will you answer the question. Were you there?" + +"I was not, sir," exclaimed Tom, steadily. There was a breath of +relief from Jack and Bert. + +"I saw him!" insisted Sam doggedly. + +"Are you sure?" asked Doctor Meredith. "Remember this is a serious +matter, Heller." + +"I am sure, Doctor." + +"Perhaps Fairfield can throw more light on the subject," went on the +puzzled head master. "Is there any way you can account for Heller's +seeming identification? Could anyone else have worn your sweater?" and +he looked at Tom. + +Once more there was a silence. Tom seemed strangely affected. He took +a long breath, and then stammered: + +"I--I do not care to state, Doctor Meredith." + +"You mean that someone else had your sweater?" + +"I prefer not to answer." + +"You realize what that means?" + +"Yes, I suppose so. It means that I will be suspected of having done +these things." + +"I am afraid so, yes, Tom, my boy," and the doctor, dropping his more +formal tone, addressed Tom almost as if he were his own son. "Not that +I believe you guilty," he added. "Far be it from me to suspect one of +my students when he has assured me that he is innocent. I have never +yet known an Elmwood Hall lad to tell an untruth!" and the doctor drew +himself up proudly. + +"Therefore, I believe you, Tom," he went on, "but I am in duty bound to +point out to you that many will believe you had a hand in this +unless--unless you can account for your sweater being worn by someone +else, on the night in question, near the farm. Can you?" + +Once more a silence. Then Tom said: + +"I prefer to say nothing, Doctor." + +"Very well. Then this painful scene had best end. I request you all +to keep silence on this matter. I will see Mr. Appleby, and explain +that all of my students deny having had a hand in this occurence. That +should be sufficient for him." + +The doctor paused a moment, and then, holding out the gaudily-colored +sweater, asked: + +"Do you wish to claim this, Tom?" + +"Yes, sir, it is mine," and with a steady step Tom walked forward to +get the garment. As he went down the aisle toward the rostrum there +were one or two faint hisses, that seemed to come from the section +where Sam Heller and his cronies sat. + +"Silence!" cried Doctor Meredith, in a ringing voice. + +The noise subsided. Tom took his garment, and turned back to his seat. +As he passed Sam he looked him full in the face, and there was that in +the glance which boded no good to that sneaking coward when the tables +should be turned. + +Had it not been in chapel, and had Tom not held himself well in hand, +there might have been a session then and there that Sam Heller would +not have liked. His gaze quailed before the steady look of Tom, and as +the latter sat down he heard Nick Johnson whisper to Sam: + +"Are you sure of what you saw, old man? He might make trouble for you." + +"Of course I'm sure. I saw him as plainly as I see you now. He can't +bluff out of it. I've got him just where I want him!" + +"You think so, do you," murmured Tom to himself. "Well, we'll see, Sam +Heller! I've got pluck enough to stand out against you, I think. You +can't drive me from Elmwood Hall." + +"Young gentlemen, you are dismissed," said the voice of Doctor +Meredith, and the students filed from chapel to their various +classrooms. + +Jack and Bert made a rush for their chum as soon as they were outside +the building. Each grabbed an arm, while several of Tom's other +friends grouped about him. But it was noticed that some, with whom he +had been quite intimate, held aloof, and hurried away. Tom was, but he +only smiled. + +Another group surrounded Sam Heller, some of whom had never troubled to +make his acquaintance before. But they were either curious to hear +more of that of which he had spoken, or else were ready to enlist under +his banner, as it were. + +"By Jove this is bad!" half groaned Bruce Bennington, as he noticed the +school split, in the ranks of Sophomores, more especially. "There'll +be two factions among the second-year men now if something isn't done +to head it off." + +"That's right," agreed Reddy Burke. "Confound Tom's stubbornness, +anyhow! Why doesn't he say if it was someone else who wore his +thunder-and-lightning sweater?" + +"Did someone?" asked Bruce, significantly. + +"Of course he must have, and Tom is shielding him, I'll wager. You +don't s'pose he poisoned those horses; do you?" + +"Well--er--Oh, of course not!" + +"Then forget it. Things'll come out right sooner or later." + +"Later, I'm afraid. And look at the damage that will be done in the +meanwhile." + +"Well, it can't be helped," and Bruce and Reddy strolled away, not +altogether happy. + +"Tom, old man!" exclaimed Jack, slipping his arm about his chum, +"what's got into you, anyhow?" + +"Nothing, Jack." + +"Then why don't you come back at Heller and make him out the +prevaricator he is?" + +Tom did not answer. + +"Aren't you going to say anything?" demanded Jack. "Are you going to +keep quiet about that sweater?" + +"I am afraid I'll have to," said Tom quietly, as he turned aside. "But +if you fellows think------" + +"Say, if you intimate such a thing as that we believe you guilty I'll +punch your face!" cried Jack, with a laugh, in which there was no +mirth. "Won't we, Bert?" + +"We sure will! Now come on to Latin class;" and with their arms still +about their chum, showing their loyalty to him in his time of trouble, +the boys passed on across the campus, followed by many eyes. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +TOM SEEKS CLEWS + +"Well, Tom, what's the answer; anyhow?" + +"Don't talk about it if you don't want to." + +Thus Jack and Bert spoke as they entered their room with their chum +shortly before luncheon on the day of the sensational disclosures in +chapel. + +Tom looked at his two friends, and then sank down rather wearily in a +chair. + +"I don't mind talking about it," he said, with an attempt at a smile. +"In fact I was going to propose it myself. I've got some hard work +ahead of me." + +"What kind?" asked Jack quickly. "Let us help you." + +"Sure," chimed in Bert. "Count on us, Tom. What are you going to do?" + +"Clear my name, that's what I going to do. And I've got a hard job +ahead of me." + +"Not with us to help you!" exclaimed Jack. + +"That's the worst of it," spoke Tom ruefully. "You fellows can't help +me." + +"Why not, I'd like to know," came from Bert quickly. + +"Well, there are certain reasons. Look here, fellows, I'd tell you in +a minute, if I could, but I can't. I'm bound to silence in a way, and +I can't speak as I'd like to." + +"But surely it oughtn't to be so hard for you to clear your name," +insisted Jack. "All you've got to do is to prove that you weren't near +the farm at the time the horses were poisoned, nor were you when the +stacks caught fire. That ought to be easy." + +"And surely you can show that if it wasn't you wearing that sweater, at +the time the farmer saw you, it was someone else," went on Bert. "It +was someone else; wasn't it, Tom?" + +"Say, don't ask me any more questions," begged Tom. "I can't answer +'em all, and I don't want to get tangled up. All I can say is that I +didn't have the first thing to do with those crimes, and I'm going to +work to prove that I didn't. It's harder than it seems, but I'll do +it." + +"That's right!" exclaimed Jack. "You've got pluck enough Tom, old man." + +"And I may need some luck, too," added our hero. "If I have that I +think I'll be all right." + +"Not a bad combination," commented Bert. "Pluck and luck. With 'em +both you can do a heap." + +"That's right," admitted Tom. "And now I'm going to do some boning, +and get ahead with my work so I'll have a little time to hunt for +clews." + +"Clews?" murmured Jack. + +"Yes, clews as to who poisoned these horses and set the hay on fire. +You see it's not enough to say that I _didn't_ do it. I've got to find +the person who _did_." + +"Well, I wish you luck," murmured Jack. + +"And if there's anything we can do, don't hesitate to let us know," +added Bert, at which his chum nodded. + +"Don't let this get on your nerves so you can't play football +Saturday," suggested Jack. + +"I guess it won't," laughed Tom. + +But whether it was the suspicion hanging over him, or because he was +nervous, certainly he did not play well in that first gridiron match of +the season. Nor was he the only one of the eleven who did poorly. + +From the very first it was seen that Elmwood Hall had met her match. +Her opponents scored a touchdown in the first five minutes of play, and +this rather took the heart out of Tom and his chums. + +True they braced, and prevented any more scoring for the next two +periods. Then came a chance fer them to rush the ball over the line. +Tom worked to his limit and managed to gain much ground. Then came a +fatal fumble, just when he might have been shoved over for the tieing +of the score. + +In his own heart Tom felt that Sam had deliberately passed the ball to +him short. Tom had to lean forward to grab it, his foot slipped, and +the coveted pigskin was grabbed by an opposing player. It was run out +of danger before the man was downed, and then it was too late to make +good the loss. Tom groaned in anguish, and for one wild moment he felt +like accusing Sam openly. + +"No, that would never do," he reasoned. "They would all say I did it +for spite, and because he gave that information against me. I've got +to grin and bear it." + +Nor was Tom much surprised when he was shifted to the scrub at the next +practice. + +"I hate to do it, old man," said the coach, "but you seem to have gone +a bit stale. You aren't overtrained; are you?" + +"I don't think so," said Tom bitterly. + +"Well, maybe a change will do you good. I'll give you a game later on, +if you pick up." + +And, deeply regretting what he felt he had to do, the coach went off to +talk to the captain about some other changes. + +"Say, this is sure tough!" complained Jack to Bert, that night in their +room. "Tom off the team!" + +"And with this cloud hanging over him," added his chum. "Where is Tom +now, anyhow?" + +"Give it up. He said he was going for a walk." + +"He feels bad I guess. I don't blame him. Say, what do you think of +this thing, anyhow, Jack?" + +"I don't know, Bert, it--well, hang it all, it looks mighty queer. I +might as well say it as think it." + +"What! You don't believe Tom guilty; do you?" + +"Of course not, and yet he's so plagued stiff he won't say anything, or +let us help him. Who do you suppose he's shielding, anyhow?" + +"Give it up. If he would only tell a fellow," and Bert stalked about +the room in something of a rage against his absent chum. + +"While I don't for a second believe Tom had anything to do with this +business," went on Jack, "it's up to us, as his friends, to look the +thing squarely in the face." + +"Yes, I suppose so. But what do you mean?" + +"I mean we ought to consider the evidence against him as well as in his +favor." + +"I suppose so. Well, what's the worst?" + +"There are some things we know, that other people don't know," said +Jack slowly. "For instance, we know he was out on the night the hay +stacks burned." + +"Yes, that's right," admitted Bert. + +"And he came in, smelling horribly of smoke." + +"So he did, but the hay wasn't ablaze until long after he was in, Jack." + +"Hay would smoulder a long time. Mind!" Jack added quickly, "I'm not +for a minute hinting that Tom did it. I'm only considering what his +enemies would say." + +"That's right. Well, what else?" + +"Well, he was out on the night the horses were poisoned, and he wore +that horribly-colored sweater. I don't see what possessed him to buy +such a scream of a thing." + +"Me either." + +"He went out with it," went on Jack slowly, "and he came in without it." + +"By Jove! So he did!" cried Bert. "I'd forgotten about that. It +begins to look bad." + +"Not at all!" cried Jack quickly. "I'm only considering a possible +case, mind you. And there's one other point." + +"Out with it. We might as well have the worst and then we can begin to +work to help him." + +"Well, you know that day we came in, and found him doing some +experiments?" + +"Yes. He was monkeying with------" + +"Cyanide," broke in Jack. "The very stuff the horses were poisoned +with." + +"So he was!" whispered Bert In tense tones. "But for the love of +heaven don't tell anyone!" + +"No danger. I'm only saying this to show how bad it might be made to +look for Tom in case anyone put all these things together." + +"But no one will." + +"I hope not. And now let's see how we can help him." + +"Say, what about the school pin?" asked Bert. "Have you really lost +yours?" + +"No, I haven't." + +"Then why------" + +"It's this way," went on Jack. "I saw that Tom's was gone, and, +fearing that it might look bad for him, I pretended it was a common +thing for us to lose or mislay our emblems." + +"You did?" + +"Sure. I wasn't going to make it look too bad for Tom." + +"That's right. But are you going to mention it to him?" + +"I am not--not until this thing is cleared up, anyhow." + +"Jove! It looks bad!" murmured Bert. + +The two chums talked the matter over from several different +standpoints, and the only conclusion they arrived at was that unless +Tom gave them more information as to who, if anyone other than himself, +wore the sweater on the night in question, they could do nothing. + +"Except keep still," suggested Bert. + +"Sure," assented Jack. + +Several days went by. The first excitement over the implied charges +against Tom had died away. Farmer Appleby had wanted to cause the +arrest of the lad against whom his suspicions were directed, but his +lawyer pointed out that he had such slight evidence that it would be a +dangerous proceeding. + +But Jack, Bert, George, Bruce Bennington and several of Tom's closest +friends stuck to him most loyally. Of course Sam Heller was against +our hero, but that was to be expected, and many sided with Sam. + +"Fairfield ought to be run out of Elmwood Hall!" exclaimed the bully. + +"That's what!" added his crony. "And if he doesn't withdraw soon we'll +run him out." + +"Will you?" cried Sam. "I'm with you. How can we do it?" and the two +went off by themselves to plot. + +As Bruce Bennington had feared, there were now two factions in the +school, those who were for and against Tom. And it seriously +interfered with the work of the eleven. For there were some who hated +Sam cordially, and as he was the quarterback of the team there were +internal dissensions, and such ragged playing, in consequence, that +Elmwood lost many games she should have won. + +"Say, this is getting fierce!" cried the coach after a disastrous +gridiron battle. "What's to be done? We're in bad shape back of the +line." + +"Maybe we ought to put Tom back." + +"We ought to, and yet I'm afraid if we do it will cause more trouble. +But I've a notion to," and they discussed the matter in all its phases. + +Meanwhile Tom went on seeking clews, wandering off by himself, lonely +at times, but never giving up. + +"I'll clear my name yet!" he said to himself, fiercely. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +THE EMPTY BOTTLE + +"Great Caesar's grandmother, Jack, why didn't you think of that before?" + +"I don't know, Bert. It just seemed to come to me as I sat here +thinking about it." + +"Well, it's a good thing you think once in a while." + +"Why don't you help out then, if you think I don't do enough of it?" +asked Jack rather snappily. + +"Oh, come now," went on Bert. "I was only joking. I sure am glad you +thought of it. It's a wonder some of us didn't fall to that idea +before this. We'll tell Tom, as soon as he comes in, and I'll wager +that if we go about it right we can clear this thing up in a day or so." + +"I'm sure I hope so," assented Jack. "It's getting on my nerves as +well as on Tom's." + +"Yes, and I guess every fellow in college will be glad to know the +truth of it. Why, the team's going to pieces just on account of this +miserable horse-poisoning case, and the burning of a little hay." + +"Still, it did look black for Tom, especially when he had that quarrel +with Appleby over the trampled corn, and made some remarks about +getting even because he had to pay for it." + +"Yes, that was where Tom made a mistake. I guess he's ready to admit +that himself," and Bert paced the room. "I wish he'd come, so we could +tell him," he added. "Do you know where he is?" + +"No, except that he said he was going off alone to take a walk, as he's +done several times of late. I offered to go along, but he said he +wanted to be by himself, so I didn't urge it." + +"Off getting clews, I expect." + +"Yes," assented Jack. + +The two chums sat silent in the room, waiting for the lad whom they +both loved even better than a brother. The past days had been trying +on all of them--on every one in Elmwood Hall--from the most lordly +Senior, or calm post-graduate, to the "fuzziest" Freshman, who thought +he bore the weight of the whole school on his narrow shoulders. + +For one and all felt the stigma that rested upon the institution--Tom +most of all. True, as it happened, the affair was not as serious as +had at first seemed. Only one of the farmer's horses died, and that +was not a very valuable beast. The others had been very sick, though. + +Fortunately, however, most of the fall crops were in, and the fact of +not having his steeds to work for him did not seriously inconvenience +Mr. Appleby. His neighbors helped him with the loan of their horses. + +Still the farmer was a vindictive man, and he determined to have +punished, if possible, the guilty person. That it was Tom, with whom +he had quarreled, he had no doubt. + +And, it might be added, though most of the students bore in mind the +injunction of Dr. Meredith not to talk about the matter, and make +useless accusations, Sam Heller and his cronies, did not observe that +silence. Indeed, Sam even went to the trouble of repeating to Mr. +Appleby all the evidence he had discovered against our hero. + +"Oh, I know he's guilty!" the vindictive farmer had said, when Sam and +his crony called at the house one day, ostensibly to ask for a drink of +water, but in reality to talk of Tom. "I know he's guilty, but my +lawyer won't let me have him up on charges. He says I might get sued." + +"Oh, I guess you could win the case," asserted Sam. He was aching to +see Tom humiliated further. But the farmer shook his head. + +"I've lost a heap of money already," he complained, "an' I ain't +a-goin' t' lose no more!" + +And thus the case stood when Jack had his inspiration, as he sat in the +gloaming with his chum Bert. + +"Here he comes!" exclaimed the latter, as a footfall was heard in the +corridor. + +"Yes, that's Tom. Now to tell him." + +"Well, Tom, how goes it?" asked Jack, as he arose to open the door in +response to the code knock. "Anything new?" + +"I don't know, yet, but I think--why, what's up?" he asked quickly, +surprised at the looks on the faces of his chums. + +"You tell him, Jack," insisted Bert generously. "You thought of it." + +"It's only this," said Jack modestly. "I've been thinking over this +confounded thing, as of course you have, and I've come to the sudden +conclusion that it was Sam Heller who poisoned those horses." + +"Sam Heller?" cried Tom. "What makes you think so?" + +"Several reasons," insisted Jack. "Sit down and I'll tell you about +'em. + +"Now, to begin at the beginning, who else but Sam would want to throw +the blame on you, Tom?" + +"No one, I suppose, unless it was Nick. And even he hasn't the grudge +against me that Sam has." + +"Right. It was all to Sam's interest to make it appear that you were +guilty, and things just fitted in with his scheme. There was your +quarrel with the farmer, your threats to get even which you foolishly +uttered in public------" + +"Yes, that's where I was wrong," admitted Tom with a sigh. + +"And there's another thing, Tom," went on Jack. "About your school +pin. Where is it?" + +"Well, to tell you the truth," said Jack with a smile and a blush, "I +loaned it to a girl I met at a dance. She took quite a fancy to it." + +"Then you didn't drop it at the hay stacks?" + +"No, indeed! Was that why you made believe you couldn't find yours?" +asked Tom. + +"Sure it was. I thought------" + +"You old Damon and Pythias!" cried Tom, obviously much pleased. "But +it was a useless sacrifice." + +"Then whose pin was it that Appleby found?" asked Bert. + +"Give it up," spoke Tom. + +"But then there's that sweater business," went on Jack, after a pause. + +"If you'd only explain that," put in Bert. Tom shook his head. + +"I can't--not yet," he said. "But go on. What other evidence have you +that Sam is guilty?" + +"No other direct evidence, perhaps," admitted Jack, "but, somehow I +just feel in my bones that Sam poisoned those horses, and threw the +blame on you. He must have seen you leave here with that sweater on, +and come back without it. It was just pie for him to say what he did." + +Tom slowly shook his head. + +"What? Don't you believe Sam guilty?" asked Bert. + +"No, I can't say that I do." + +"But he is!" asserted Jack. "It was his sweater the farmer saw instead +of yours. You're both about the same height and build. Of course Sam +did it, Tom." + +"No, I can't agree with you. I'll admit I did wear my sweater when I +left here the night the horses were poisoned, and I came back without +it, but------" + +"What in the world happened to it?" demanded Jack. + +"That I can't say--yet." + +"Will you ever be able to?" Bert wanted to know. + +"I hope to in time--perhaps soon now. Mr. Appleby picked it up--that +much I'll have to admit." + +"And can you clear your name?" asked Jack, rather rueful that the fine +theory he had built up was thus easily passed over by his chum. + +"I hope to, Jack." + +"Have you any new clews?" asked Bert. "I presume that's what you've +been looking for?" + +"Yes, I did go off hunting for them," said Tom slowly. + +"Well, did you find any?" burst out Jack. "Can't you relieve the +suspense?" + +"I found this," said Tom, placing an empty bottle on the table. + +"Why--why, there's nothing in it!" exclaimed Jack, looking at it. "How +can that form a clew?" + +"Not because of what is in it but what _was_ in it," said Tom with a +smile. "Unless I'm mistaken this will help to prove my innocence--that +is, if the experiment I'm going to try works out. We'll soon see. I +wonder if the laboratory is closed," and he went out into the corridor. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +ON THE TRAIL + +"What's he up to now?" asked Bert of Jack, as the two stood in the +room, looking at one another. + +"Give up. We'll have to wait and see. It's something important +though, to judge by Tom's actions." + +"Yes, but an empty bottle! What can he hope to do with that for a +clew?" + +"I don't know. Leave it to Tom." + +The latter came back in a little while, carrying several bottles, test +tubes and an alcohol lamp. + +"Well, for the class's sake!" cried Jack. "Are you going to give us a +demonstration of the action of liquids on solids?" + +"No, I'm going to prove that mind is superior to matter," laughed Tom. + +"Say, it sounds good to hear that!" cried Jack. "You haven't laughed +before in two weeks." + +"Well, I feel a bit like it now," said Tom. "I'm beginning to get a +glimpse of daylight in this darkness." + +He arranged his material on the table in front of him, having removed +the books and papers. Then, taking a bottle of some colorless liquid +which he had brought from the college laboratory, he poured some into +the apparently empty bottle he had first exhibited. + +"What's that?" asked Bert. + +"Sterilized water." + +"Say, where did you find that bottle?" demanded Jack. + +"In Farmer Appleby's barn," was the calm rejoinder. "I picked it up +just by chance, but it may mean something big." + +"What?" cried Jack. "You don't mean to say you've been around there?" + +"Surely. Why not?" + +"Why, he might think you wanted to do away with the rest of his horses." + +"He didn't see me. I took care of that. Besides that's the only place +where I can consistently look for clews. I was sure whoever poisoned +the horses must have left some trace behind him, and this may be it." + +"The empty bottle?" asked Bert incredulously. + +"It may not be altogether empty," replied Tom. "That's what I'm going +to test for. I saw traces of some powder on the sides, and I want to +see if my suspicions are true." + +"Then you think it contained----" began Jack. + +"I'm not going to think anything until I finish this experiment," +laughed Tom. + +He shook the sterilized water about in the bottle, rinsing it well, and +the contents he then poured into a test tube. This, after heating, he +mixed with some other chemicals. + +"Would you mind telling us what you're testing for?" asked Jack. + +"Not at all," said Tom quietly. "I'm trying to see if this bottle had +any cyanide of potassium in it." + +"What! Cyanide?" gasped Bert. + +"The stuff that killed the one horse and sickened the others?" asked +Jack. + +"That's it. I may find it--I may not." + +Tom poured a few drops of another chemical into the test tube. There +was a reaction, and at once he uttered a cry: + +"There it is!" he fairly shouted. "I'm on the right trail at last! +There was cyanide in the bottle!" + +"There sure was," agreed Jack, who had seen the same test made in one +of the classes a few days before. + +"But I don't see what good that is," remarked Bert. "Everyone knew +that cyanide was used on the horses. It's a common enough poison. +Naturally whoever used it would have it in a bottle. Then you +accidentally find the bottle in the stable, but that doesn't tell you +who dropped it there." + +"No, but this may," said Tom quietly, taking a small piece of paper +from his pocket and smoothing it out on the table. + +"What is it?" asked Jack, and then, before he could be answered he +added. "Oh, I see, part of a druggist's label." + +"Yes," admitted Tom. "It was near the bottle. It had been washed off, +I imagine. I didn't show it to you at first, for I wanted to make sure +of what the bottle had contained." + +"And now that you're sure," began Bert, "I suppose------" + +"I'm going to the druggist who sold this, and ask if he can remember +who bought it," went on Tom, for, though the label from the bottle was +torn, there was enough of it left to show part of the firm name. And, +as there were but three drug shops in Elmwood, it was not difficult to +pick out the one represented. + +"We'll go with you!" exclaimed Jack. "Hurray, Tom! I do believe +you're on the trail at last." + +"Sure," assented Bert. "Let's go at once." + +"I'd like to have you along," explained Tom, "but I think maybe I'd +better go by myself. I've got to go at this thing quietly, and if +three of us trooped in the drug store, and began asking questions, it +would make a scene. Besides, lots of our fellows hang out there for +soda, and they'd see us. I don't want this talked about until I get it +a little more cleared up. I don't want you fellows to feel that------" + +"Oh get out!" interrupted Jack. "You do just as you please, Tom, and +we'll fill in, or play wherever you want us. This is your game, +anyhow, though we want to help you all we can. Just say the word." + +"That's good of you," assented our hero. "I think it would be best if +I went alone. I'll tell you later what I find out. I think I'll go +now. It isn't too late." + +"It's after hours," said Bert. + +"Well, I'll take a chance," decided Tom, and putting on his hat and +coat he prepared to leave the dormitory, first having ascertained that +the coast was clear. + +Tom was half way down the corridor of the building where he and his +chums roomed, and he was thinking of what might come from his +prospective interview with the druggist, when, as he turned a dark +corner, he ran full tilt into someone who was coming with some speed in +the other direction. + +"Wha--what's the matter! Who--who are you?" gasped Tom, when he had +recovered his breath. + +"I--I--who are _you_?" came the quick retort, and the voice was +suspicious. Whoever it was evidently was not going to be caught by a +prowling monitor. + +"George Abbot!" gasped Tom, as he recognized the voice of his chum. +"What in the world is the rush? What's the hurry?" + +"News! I've got great news!" cried George. "Cats! But you knocked +the wind out of me all right. I--I was coming fast myself, I guess. +Where are you going?" + +"Out," replied Tom briefly. "But what's the news?" + +"Better not go," advised George, speaking more composedly now. +"There's been a lot of fellows cutting for it to-night, and just before +I came in a bunch was rounded up by the proctor, and rushed to Merry's +office. I just escaped. Don't you take a chance, Tom." + +"No, I guess I'd better not. But was that the news you had to tell me. +If it is, why----" + +"It isn't that," cried George. "It's great. Sam Heller was just +brought across the campus by old Farmer Appleby. He had him by the +collar." + +"Who had who by the collar?" demanded Tom, much excited now. "Did Sam +have------" + +"No, it was the other way around. Appleby had Sam, and he was making +all sorts of threats." + +"Who was; Sam?" + +"No, the old farmer. Can't you understand? He had Sam, and he was +begging to be let go." + +"Sam was?" + +"Sure." + +"Say, George," advised Tom. "Calm down and tell me the whole thing. +There may be something big in this. I guess I won't go out to-night +after all," and, grasping the human question box by the arm, Tom led +him back toward the room of the chums. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +DISAPPOINTMENT + +"Hello! What's up?" + +"What's the excitement, Tom?" + +Thus his two chums greeted our hero when he entered with the human +interrogation mark in tow. + +"Something doing," responded Tom briefly. + +"Did you trace the empty bottle so soon?" asked Jack. + +"No, I didn't have time. But George here--out with it! Tell 'em what +you told me." + +"I was coming along," began George, "when Tom ran into me and +knocked------" + +"Never mind those horrible details," advised Tom, reflectively rubbing +that portion of his anatomy that had come in contact with George. "Cut +along faster." + +"Well, I was coming to tell Tom that I saw Sam Heller being taken to +the doctor's office by old Appleby," went on George. + +"Get out!" cried Bert, incredulously. + +"Sam Heller!" gasped Jack. "I wonder if Appleby's found out that it +was Sam who poisoned his horses, and set the hay on fire?" + +"That's it, I believe," said George. "That's why I came to tell Tom. +You're cleared all right now, old man." + +His chums looked at him, but Tom only shook his head. "No such luck," +he said in disappointed tones. "Sam may have been corralled by the old +farmer, but it's for something else besides the fire and poisoning." + +"What makes you think so?" asked Jack. "Why won't you believe Sam +Heller guilty, Tom." + +"Because I know he isn't." + +"You do? Then you must know who is." + +"No, that doesn't follow." + +"Look here!" cried Jack, coming close to his chum, and placing his +hands on his shoulders, the while looking him squarely into the eyes. +"I can't understand you. Here you go and say Sam isn't guilty, and you +know it. And yet you say you don't know who did the business. You +didn't do it yourself, I'm sure, and yet------" + +"Say Jack," spoke Tom gently. "Believe me, if I was _sure_ of what I +only _suspect_ now I couldn't really tell who poisoned those horses. +There's a mystery about it, and I'm trying to get to the bottom of it. +I want my name cleared more than anything else in the world, but I want +it done in the right way. I don't want to cast suspicion on the wrong +person. Now, George, tell us all you know about Sam being caught. It +may help some." + +"Well, I don't know an awful lot," went on George, as he accepted a +chair that Jack pushed out for him. "I was coming in from a little +trip to town when I saw, coming across the campus, two fellows--at +least I thought they were two of our fellows, but when they got under +one of the lights I saw it was Sam and the old farmer. And, believe +me, Appleby had hold of Sam as if he was a thief and him the constable." + +"As if Appleby was the thief?" asked Bert. + +"No, as if Sam was. What's the matter with you fellows, anyhow, that +you can't understand United States talk?" and George looked around half +indignantly. + +"The trouble is that you mix up your pronouns," said Tom. "Go ahead. +We got as far as that Appleby had hold of Sam as if Sam was a thief." + +"Yes, and Sam was demanding to be let go, while the old farmer was +saying: 'Now I've got ye! Consarn ye! I'll teach ye t' come sneakin' +around my place! I'll have ye up afore th' doctor'!" + +The boys all laughed at George's realistic imitation of the farmer's +talk, for it was quite correct. + +"And then what happened?" asked Jack. + +"That's all, except that I came on here in a hurry, and Sam was fairly +dragged into the doctor's office by Appleby." + +There was silence in the room of the chums for a moment, and then Bert +remarked: + +"Well, Tom, what do you make of it?" + +"I don't know," was the answer, slowly given. "It looks queer, and yet +Sam may have only trespassed on Appleby's place by chance." + +"Don't you believe it!" exclaimed Jack. "He had some object all right." + +"And it's up to us to find out what it is," added Bert. + +"No, I'll try it," insisted Tom. "This is my game." + +"But we're going to help you play it!" exclaimed Jack. "What's the +matter with you, anyhow? Don't you want us to help you clear yourself +of this suspicion that's hanging over you?" + +"Of course I do, but------" + +"'But me no buts,' old man. Just you let us help you out in this. Now +it wouldn't look well for you to go around sneaking under the doctor's +windows, trying to hear what's going on. But it wouldn't hurt either +of us," and he indicated, by a sweeping gesture, himself and his two +close chums. + +"So, Tom, my boy," he went on, "we'll just see what we can learn. The +doctor's sure to hold an audience with Appleby and Sam in the big front +office, and he always has a window open, for Merry is a fresh air +fiend, you know. Some of the talk will leak out and it may give us a +clew." + +"All right," assented Tom, after a moment's thought. "Go ahead. I +don't believe it will amount to anything, though. Then I can go on +with my drug store end of it," and he briefly explained to George where +he had been headed for when the interruption came. + +"Shall we all go?" asked Bert. "Won't it look sort of queer for three +of us to be hanging around the doctor's house?" + +"It will," assented Jack, "and, therefore, we won't all hang out in the +same place. I'll get under the big office window; Bert, you can take +the window on the other side, and George will guard the front door." + +"Guard the front door? For what?" + +"Well, just sort of drape yourself around it," suggested Jack, who had +assumed the direction of matters. "Maybe you can overhear something as +Sam and Appleby come out. I don't just like this sort of thing," he +added, "but the end justifies the means, I think." + +Tom nodded gravely. The stain against his name had affected him more +than he cared to admit. The three lads went out and Tom sat down in +moody silence to await their return. They were not long away, and came +back together, rather silent. + +"Well?" asked Tom questioningly, as his chums entered. + +"Nothing much," answered Jack in despondent tones. "We were almost too +late, but I did manage to overhear something. Sam and Appleby came out +a short time after we got there. It seems that the farmer caught Sam +sneaking around his barn, and as he's been suspicious, and on the watch +ever since the poisoning of his horses, he rushed out in a hurry and +collared him." + +"What explanation did Sam make?" asked Tom. + +"All I could hear was that it was a mistake, and that he wandered off +the road in the darkness." + +"The same as we did when we got in the corn," said Tom. "So that's all +there was to it?" + +"Except that Appleby was ripping mad, and threatened to have the next +school lad arrested whom he found on his property. We'll have to make +a new course for cross-country runs after this I guess, for we used to +run across his big meadow." + +"Yes," assented Tom. "Well, I didn't think it would amount to +anything. I'm much obliged, though." + +"You wait!" insisted Jack. "This isn't the bottom of it yet, not by a +long shot." + +"What do you mean?" asked Tom curiously. + +"I mean that Sam isn't such a loon as to get off the road on to +Appleby's land just by mistake, or because it was dark." + +"You mean he went there purposely?" + +"I sure do." + +"What for?" and Tom gazed curiously at his chum. + +"That's what I've got to find out. He had some object, and I shouldn't +be surprised but what it was you, Tom." + +"Me?" + +"Yes. He hasn't succeeded in driving you out of the Hall as he hoped, +and now he's up to some more mean tricks." + +Tom shook his head. He had a curious disbelief in Sam's guilt. + +"Go ahead on that line if you like, Jack," he said. "But I can't agree +with you. I'm going to follow my bottle clew to-morrow, and nothing +the others could say would make Tom admit that Sam had a hand in +poisoning the horses, or in setting the hay on fire. + +"But look how ready he was to accuse you," insisted Bert. + +"That was only to clear himself," said Tom. "The fact of his sweater +being like mine was a strange coincidence, and he had to say something." + +"He was ready enough to accuse you," put in Jack. "Say, Tom, old man, +why don't you come out and tell us where you went that night--and why? +Tell us what you did--how your sweater got away from you, and was found +on the farm. Go ahead!" + +"Do!" urged Bert. + +But Tom shook his head. + +"I can't--not yet," he said. "I promised Ray------" + +He stopped suddenly. His chums leaned forward eagerly. + +"Well, I can't say any more," he finished. "Now let's forget all this, +and have a game of chess, somebody. It will make me sleep good." + +"I'm going to cut," said George. "You fellows can play." + +Tom and Jack sat down to the royal game, while Bert got out a book, and +for a time silence reigned in the apartment. + +Tom made an early trip to town the next day. He went directly to the +drugstore, the torn label of which was on the bottle he had found to +contain a trace of poison. + +Without going into details, but announcing who he was, he asked if the +druggist could give him any information as to who had bought the +cyanide. + +"Well, I can look at my records," said the pharmacist. "I keep a list +of all persons to whom I sell poison, and make them sign a receipt for +it. Of course I have no means of knowing that the names are true ones. +There are some poisons I sell only on a doctor's prescription, but it +is not against the local law to dispense cyanide, and it has many +legitimate uses. I'll look it up for you." + +He disappeared behind his ground-glass partition, to return presently, +announcing: + +"My clerk made that sale. He'll be in presently, and he can tell you +who bought the stuff. The name signed is Jacob Crouse, however." + +"Jacob Crouse," mused Tom, and he slowly shook his head. Yet there was +a gleam of hope in his eyes. "Maybe it isn't him after all." + +Tom spent a fretful half hour, waiting for the clerk to come in, and he +was nervous lest some of the school lads enter and question him as to +his presence in the place. For Tom was not anxious that his errand be +known except to his chums. But none from Elmwood Hall came in, and +shortly the clerk arrived. There was a whispered conference between +him and the proprietor, and the clerk addressed Tom. + +"You wish to know who bought cyanide, some time ago?" asked the young +man. + +"Yes," said Tom. "Can you describe Jacob Crouse?" + +"I don't know that he gave me the right name," said the clerk. "In +fact I suspect he didn't. But he was a young fellow, about your own +age and build." + +"He was!" exclaimed Tom, and his voice showed disappointment. + +"Yes, but he was not so well dressed. In fact he was rather shabby. +He said he wanted the stuff to kill rats, and asked the best way to +prepare it. I tried to sell him some regular rat poison, but he wanted +the cyanide. I told him to mix it with corn meal. He said there were +lots of rats on his father's farm." + +"He said that?" cried Tom. + +"Yes. Oh, they make up all sorts of stories when they want to get +suspicious stuff, though there's no law here against cyanide. Why, did +some one of your friends poison someone, or commit suicide?" + +"Oh, not as bad as that," replied Tom. "Is that all you can tell me +about this--this person?" + +[Transcriber's note: The next piece of text has several missing +fragments, which seem to have been caused during printing. I have +indicated the missing text with brackets.] + +"Well, about all--hold on, though, he had a big scar on--let me see--on +his left cheek. It extended from his eye almost to his [missing words] +livid, ugly scar." + +[missing line] + +[missing words] good! [missing words] I'm much obliged to you, and +with a smile of hope our hero hurried from the drug store, followed by +the curious glances of the proprietor and the clerk. + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +MORE SEEKING + +Tom Fairfield hurried on back toward Elmwood Hall. His brain was busy +with many thoughts. At first he felt a spirit of elation. + +"A scar--a big scar," he murmured. "Then it couldn't have been him, +unless he got hurt after I saw him. And yet if he had, it was too +short a time for a scar to form. The clerk would have said a wound, +and not a scar. And yet--oh, I'm not sure after all! It may have been +him, and he may have gotten into a fight after he left me. He was +desperate. And until I am sure it wasn't him I can't say anything, for +mother's sake, as well as his. I can't bring disgrace on her, even +though I suffer myself. Oh, hang it all! If I hadn't had that quarrel +with Appleby they never would have suspected me, and I wouldn't have +had all this trouble." + +Poor Tom, hardly knowing what to do, or which way to turn, flung +himself down on the couch in his room, and thought deeply. Neither +Jack nor Bert was in and the apartment was quiet. + +"If I could only reach him," mused Tom, "I could get him to explain, or +even come here and clear me. And yet I can't even say I met him, and +helped him, on account of my promise, and what saying such a thing +would mean. But he might release me from my promise, and even help me +to prove my innocence." + +Then Tom thought of other things--of how much easier it would be to +drop out of school entirely and let matters take their course. + +"But I won't!" he exclaimed, sitting up and clenching his fists. "I'm +in this fight to stay. I'm going to clear my name and do it in the +right way. To leave now would be to do just what Sam Heller most +wants, and I won't give him that satisfaction. I'll stick!" + +Jack and Bert came bursting in, having heard from George that Tom was +back. + +"Any luck?" asked Jack, for they knew of Tom's trip to the drug store. + +"Well, in a way, yes, and yet not. I found out who bought the poison." + +"Was it Sam Heller?" asked Bert eagerly. + +"No," answered Tom. "Haven't I told you that I'm sure he hadn't any +hand in it?" + +"You wait and see," advised Jack. "I think you're away off, Tom. But +say, you want to come out to football practice this afternoon. Strict +orders for everyone to be on the job." + +"Oh, what's the use?" + +"Lots! What's getting into you lately?" asked Bert. + +"Oh, you know how it is. Sam is sure to try to make a fumble for me; +and what's the fun of playing when you don't know what minute you'll +lose the game?" + +"Why don't you complain of him to Morse, or Mr. Jackson?" asked Jack. + +"What good would it do? Sam would get on his ear, and say I was away +off. Then, too, almost everyone would say I was doing spite work. No, +I guess I'll just keep out of the game." + +"No, you won't!" exclaimed Jack with a laugh. "You'll come out to +practice, and Bert and I will watch Sam as a cat does a mouse. He'll +get no chance to try any of his tricks." + +Thus urged, Tom gave in, and donned his suit. The practice was hard +and snappy that afternoon against the scrub. The regular eleven, made +desperate by the recent drubbings administered to it, played fiercely, +with the result that several touchdowns were scored. + +"This is something like!" exulted the coach. + +"Yes, if they'll only keep it up and play like this on Saturday," +assented Captain Morse Denton. "But I'm afraid of a slump." + +"Oh, I guess not. Say! Look at Tom go through with the ball." + +"Yes. He's playing better. I'm sorry he and Sam are on the outs. I'm +always afraid of a clash." + +"Yes, that's likely. See him go! Say! if he'll play that way Saturday +we'll wipe up the gridiron with Holwell." + +"Let's hope so!" exclaimed the captain. + +Indeed, Tom was playing as he had seldom played before. And Sam was +passing the ball to him accurately. There was not a fumble. + +Perhaps it was because he realized that he was being narrowly-watched, +not only by Tom but by Bert and Jack as well. In fact Jack, at the +beginning of practice, had taken the opportunity to whisper into Sam's +ear: + +"None of your funny business now!" + +"What do you mean?" asked Sam with a show of innocence. + +"Oh, you know very well what I mean," insisted Jack. "If you fumble +the ball when you're passing it to me, or Tom or Bert, I'll see you +afterward, and it won't be a pleasant interview, either," and Jack +playfully dug Sam in the ribs. + +"Here! What are you doing?" demanded the quarterback. + +"That's a sample of what to expect," said Jack grimly. + +And so the practice went on, hard, and fast, and the hearts of the +coach, captain and players were glad, for they felt that Elmwood Hall +was coming back into her own. Even hazing, which went on +intermittently, ceased in favor of football practice. + +Meanwhile nothing more had been heard about the hay fire, the poisoning +of the horses, nor about Sam's trouble with the old farmer. In regard +to the latter, Sam had boastingly explained to his chums, whence it +sifted to our friends, that he had gotten the best of Appleby. + +"The old codger!" Sam exclaimed. "I didn't hurt his land anyhow. It +was so all-fired dark that I couldn't see where I was going." + +"What were you doing over there?" asked one of his few admirers--one +who hoped for a ride in Sam's auto. + +"Oh, just out for my health," replied Sam, with a wink at his crony, +Nick. + +As to Tom's position, it was the same as it had been. No official +action had been taken against him--indeed none could be, since there +was no good evidence to connect him with the crime. And yet he was +suspected, and could not seem to prove his innocence. + +"It's the queerest thing why he won't tell about where he went that +night when he came in, smelling of smoke, and later, how he lost his +sweater," commented Jack to Bert. "If I didn't know Tom, I'd say he +had some hand in the business." + +"And yet Tom didn't. And it wasn't his pin." + +"Of course not. But a lot of the fellows think he's guilty. And Sam +keeps his crowd on edge about it. He's always referring to Tom as the +'poisoner' and so he keeps the thing alive, when, if it wasn't +mentioned, it might die out." + +"That's right. The mean sneak! And yet I guess Tom would rather have +it kept alive until he makes out his case, than to have it die down, +and the suspicion still be against him." + +"Oh, of course. And yet it doesn't seem as if he had a chance to make +good." + +"Oh, you leave it to Tom," said Bert. "He's got pluck, and if he has +any decent sort of luck he'll pull out ahead." + +"Well, maybe. Tom Fairfield's luck is proverbial you know. Look how +he came out ahead in the shipwreck, and the finding of the treasure in +the old mill." + +The two chums were still discussing the case of their friend when they +entered their room, and saw our hero busy writing letters. + +"Who's the girl?" asked Jack, playfully. + +"There doesn't happen to be any particular one," answered Tom with a +smile. "I'm writing letters, trying to pick up a new clew to this +mysterious case." + +"Still seeking clews?" asked Bert. + +"Of course. I'm not going to stop until I get what I want. Anything +new outside?" + +"Nothing much, except our football stock has gone up a few more points. +Everyone seems to think we're going to do Holwell good and proper." + +"I hope so," murmured Tom, as he bent over his writing. "I'm going to +play my best, if they let me go in the game." + +"Oh, I guess they will," said Jack; and then the silence in the room +was broken only by the scratching of Tom's pen. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +IN THE STORM + +"'Rah! 'Rah! 'Rah! Elmwood!" + +"Three cheers for Holwell!" + +"Now, boys, all together, give 'em the 'Chase Down the Field!' song!" + +"Over this way, Elmwood. We'll run through the signals again!" + +"Over here, Holwell, for some snappy work!" + +These were only a few of the many things heard on the Elmwood gridiron +the Saturday of one of the big games. The grandstands were piling up +with their crowds, many dashes of color being added by the hats and +wraps of the girls, while the sweaters and cap-bands of their +brothers--or perhaps other girls' brothers---increased the riot of +color. + +"Oh, what a fine looking lot of fellows the Elmwood Hall boys are," +confided one girl to her chum. + +"Do you think so? I think they look small compared to the Holwell +players." + +"Why Mabel, how can you say such a thing? There's Billy over there. +Isn't he stunning? Did you see him kick?" + +"Oh, there goes Fred with the ball!" and the other girl with her eyes +on the Holwell contingent, never looked at her friend who had looks +only for "Billy" who was lucky enough to play on Tom's team. + +There was a consultation of the officials and a toss for choice. +Holwell got the kick-off, and Captain Denton was rather glad of it, for +he had instructed his lads, in case they got the ball, to make the most +of the early periods of the game, and rush the pigskin for all they +were worth. + +"If we can get a touchdown in the first period it will almost mean +winning the game," he said to the coach. + +"That's right. Well, play as fast as you can, for I think we're in for +a storm, and there are too many chances on a wet field to make anything +certain. Strike while the iron is hot. Slam-bang through for a +touchdown, if you can, before the rain comes." + +It was a raw, chilly day, with every promise of rain or snow, and +though the crowds in the stands kept themselves warm by stamping their +feet and singing, there was much discomfort. + +Tom had been given his old position back of the line, and as he trotted +out for practice he felt a sense of elation in the coming struggle. + +"I'm not going to think about that miserable old business," he told +himself, but his resolution received a rude shock when, as he passed +where Sam was talking to one of the Holwell players, the bully was +heard to say: + +"Yes, lots of us think he dropped the poison in the mangers to get even +with Appleby. But of course there's nothing proven." + +"I see. A sort of Scotch verdict." + +"Something like that. I should think he'd get out of the eleven at +least, if not out of the school, but he sticks." + +"Indeed I do!" murmured Tom, clenching his fists, and almost deciding +to challenge Sam. But he knew a row would do no good, and would only +hurt his case; so he kept silent. + +"Line up!" came the call, and with the last of the preliminaries the +practice balls were called in, and the new, yellow one placed on a +little mound of earth in the center of the field. + +There was that ever-inspiring thrill as the spheroid was booted high +into the air. Tom had the luck to grab it and then, with fairly good +interference, he dashed down the field. + +"Stick to him, boys! Stick to him!" yelled the captain as he raced +onward. But some of the Holwell school players broke through, and Tom +was thrown heavily. + +"Now, boys, tear 'em up!" entreated Morse, as the first scrimmage was +to come. Sam began on a signal that would have sent Tom through guard +and tackle, but Morse, hearing it, quickly stepped to the quarterback, +whispering: + +"Not yet! Tom's too winded. Give him a chance to get his breath. Try +a forward pass." + +Sam scowled, but he had to obey. It had been his intention to play Tom +fiercely until, out of weariness, our hero would have been [missing +words] or would have played so raggedly that he would be sent to the +side lines. But Sam's plan was frustrated. + +The forward pass was not much of a success, and a fake kick was called +for. This netted a slight gain and then Morse again whispered to Sam. + +"Let Tom take the ball through now." + +The signal was given, and, with head well down, Tom hit the opposing +line on the run. It held better than he had expected it would, and he +was dizzy with the shock, but he had made a good gain, and there came a +yell of delight from the supporters of Elmwood Hall. + +Then the game sea-sawed back and forth, with matters a little in favor +of Tom's team. + +"Get a touchdown! Get a touchdown!" pleaded the captain. + +"By Jove I will!" thought Tom, grimly. "If I only get half a chance." + +He got it a moment later. A fake kick was called for, but there was a +fumble, and Tom grabbed up the ball on the bounce. Tucking it under +his arm, he ran for a hole he spied in the other line. Hands reached +out for him, but he eluded them, and the fullback of Holwell, having +been drawn in fatally close, was not able to stop our hero, who was +running well. + +"Touchdown! Touchdown!" screamed the crowd, as Tom sprinted over mark +after mark. + +"I'll do it!" he cried fiercely. + +Now the other players had disentangled themselves from the mass into +which they had been hurled, and were after him. One of the fleetest +was approaching our hero. + +"I've got to out-distance him," murmured Tom, looking back over his +shoulder, and he let out a little more of the speed he had been +reserving. Then, panting and weary, he crossed the goal line------and +only just in time, for, as he leaped over it, the hand of the Holwell +fullback was on his jacket. + +"Touchdown!" gasped Tom, as he fell on the ball. + +Then broke out a riot of cheers, cries and songs of victory! The goal +was missed, owing to a strong wind, but the Elmwood Hall lads cared +little for that. They were in winning luck, they felt sure. + +The first period was practically over, and soon came the second, during +which Holwell tried desperately to score. But she could not, though +several of her players were injured in the fierce rushes, and two of +Elmwood's lads had to be replaced by substitutes. + +It began to rain shortly after the third period started, and it came +down in such torrents that the field was soon a sea of mud and +mud-soaked grass. Still the game went on, though many of the +spectators deserted the field. + +"Keep playing! Keep playing!" begged Captain Denton. "We can win if +we only hold them from scoring." + +At first it looked as if this was not to be, for the Holwell team was +heavier, and this told on a slippery gridiron. But Tom and his mates +had pluck, and they held well in the rushes. Once there was a chance +for Elmwood to make another touchdown, but Jack Fitch slipped and fell +in a mud-puddle, the ball rolling out of his hands. Then a Holwell +played grabbed it, and kicked it out of danger on the next line-up. + +"Only a few minutes more," called the coach encouragingly, as the +fourth quarter neared a close. "Hold 'em, boys!" + +And hold Tom and his chums did. They had lost the ball on downs, and +it was dangerously near their goal mark. But they were like bulldogs +now--fighting in the last ditch. A touchdown and a goal would beat +them. It must not be! + +There was a short, sharp, quick signal, and one of the Holwell players +seemed to take the ball around left end. But Tom's sharp eye saw that +it was a trick play, and he cried to his mates to beware. They did not +hear him, and nearly all of them rushed to intercept the ball. Tom, +however, swung the other way, and headed for the player who really had +the pigskin. + +On the latter came with a rush. He was a big tackle, and Tom was much +smaller. Yet he did not hesitate. + +"Look out!" yelled the Holwell player, hoping to intimidate Tom, as he +rushed at him. But Tom was not made of the material that frightens +easily. Gritting his teeth, he braced himself for the tackle. He +fairly hurled himself at the man, through a mist of rain, and he caught +him. Down they went together in a heap, Tom groaning as he felt his +left ankle giving way under the strain. + +In vain the big tackle tried to get up and struggle on. Tom held fast; +and then it was all over, for the other Elmwood players, seeing their +mistake, hurried to Tom's aid, and a small human mountain piled up on +him and the Holwell lad. + +"Down!" howled the latter, ceasing his wriggling. The whistle blew, +ending the game, with the ball but a scant foot from Elmwood's goal +line. + +"Good boy!" called Captain Denton into Tom's ear. "You saved our bacon +for us." + +"I'm glad I did," replied Tom, limping around. + +"Are you hurt much?" asked Morse. + +"No, only a bit of sprained ankle. I'll be all right in a little +while, I guess." + +"It was great! Simply great!" exclaimed Jack a few hours later, when +he and Tom and Bert sat in their room, the smell of arnica filling the +apartment, coming from Tom's bandaged ankle. "You sure played your +head off, old man!" + +"I know I nearly played my leg off," agreed Tom, with a wry face. "I +can just step on it, and that's all." + +"Never mind, we beat 'em," consoled Bert. "And you did it, Tom." + +"Nonsense. It was team work. Sam played a fair game too. That helped +a lot. I was afraid of him at first." + +"He didn't dare do anything," said Jack. "I told him I'd have my eye +on him." + +They talked over the plays in detail. Tom was just beginning to feel +sleepy when there came a knock on the door. + +"Come in," he called, for it was not yet the hour for lights to be out, +and even a professor would find nothing out of the way. One of the +school messengers entered. + +"Here's a note for you, Mr. Fairfield," he Said. "A special delivery +letter." + +Tom read it quickly. A change came over his face. + +"I've got to go out!" he exclaimed, crumpling up the missive. He +reached for his raincoat limping across the room. + +"Go out in this storm!" cried Jack. "You oughtn't to!" + +"Not with a lame ankle," added Bert. + +"I've got to," insisted Tom. "It means more than you think," and +telling his chums not to sit up for him, he hurried out into the storm +and darkness. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +THE RAGGED MAN + +"Well, what do you think of that?" gasped Bert. + +"Isn't he the limit?" demanded Jack. "Running off that way before you +have a chance to draw your breath. But that's just like Tom Fairfield, +anyhow." + +"Isn't it? What do you imagine he's up to, this time?" + +"Give it up. It must be something important, to go out in this storm, +after a hard football game." + +"And with an ankle that's on the blink, speaking poetically." + +They looked at each other, and in the silence that followed their +exclamation after Tom left, they heard the dash of rain on the window, +and the howl of the wind as it scattered the cold drops about. For it +was a cold November storm that had suddenly descended, not cold enough +to snow, yet chilling. + +"He said it meant more to him than we thought," spoke Bert, musingly. + +"And that's only one thing," said Jack. + +"You mean the poison business?" + +"Sure." + +"Maybe we'd better follow him," suggested Bert. "He may stumble or +fall, and get hurt." + +"Tom doesn't like anyone to follow him. I guess we'd better stay where +we are until he gets back." + +Jack got up to walk about the room and quiet his nerves that, all on +edge after the football game, had been further excited by Tom's strange +action. Suddenly he came to a halt and exclaimed: + +"He dropped his letter, Bert. It's here on the floor." + +Jack picked up the crumpled sheet. It had been wadded up with the +envelope, and the latter showed the blue special delivery stamp. + +"Had we better--Oh, of course we can't read it," said Jack. "Only I +wish I knew what it was that made Tom go out in such a hurry." + +He walked toward his chum's desk, intending to thrust the letter in it, +but, as he did so, his eye caught a few words that he could not help +reading. They were: + +"Meet me down the lane. I'll explain everything. Sorry you had the +trouble. I'm straight again. + + "RAY BLAKE." + + +"Ray Blake," murmured Jack. "Ray Blake. I never heard that name +before, and I never knew Tom to mention it. And yet--Oh, hang it all, +Bert!" he ejaculated. "You might as well know as much as I know, +though I couldn't help reading this much," and he told his chum what he +had seen. + +"What does it mean?" asked Bert. + +"Give it up, except I think that this is the beginning of the end. +Someone is evidently going to confess." + +"And clear Tom?" + +"It looks that way. I wish he'd taken us into his confidence. We +might have helped him. Wow, what a night!" + +There came a fiercer blast of the storm, and a harder dash of rain +against the window. + +The two chums decided they could do nothing. They would have to wait +until Tom returned. And they sat in anxious silence, until that should +happen. + +"What lane do you think was meant in the letter?" asked Bert, when Jack +had placed the missive in Tom's desk. + +"The lane leading to Appleby's farm, maybe." + +"And if Tom goes there he may get into another row with the old farmer." + +"Not much danger to-night. I guess Appleby will stay in where it's dry +and warm. I wish Tom had." + +Meanwhile the subject of their remarks was tramping on through the +storm. His ankle pained him very much, and he realized that he would +be better off in bed. But something drove him forward. He saw +daylight ahead, even through the blackness of the night. + +"At last!" Tom murmured, as he plunged on. "I'll see him, and get him +to release me from my promise. Maybe he'll own up that he did the +thing himself, and that will free me, though it will be terrible for +mother. She never dreamed that Ray would get into such trouble. + +"I wonder which of my letters reached him? And why did he have to pick +out such a night to want to see me? Well, I give it up. I'll have to +wait until I have a talk with him. I wonder what his plans are?" + +Thus musing, and half talking to himself, Tom staggered on through the +rain and darkness. He had to be careful of his ankle, for he did not +want to permanently injure himself, nor get so lame that he could not +play in future football games. + +"Let's see," said Tom, coming to a halt after an uphill struggle +against the November gale. "The lane ought to be somewhere around +here." It was so dark that he could scarcely see a few feet ahead of +him, and a lantern would have been blown out in an instant. "I hope +Appleby isn't prowling around," he went on. "It would look sort of +awkward if he caught me. I wish Ray had named some other place. And +yet, it was here I saw him the other time. Maybe it will be all right." + +Tom went on a little farther, stepping into mud puddles, and slipping +off uneven stones, sending twinges of pain through his sprained ankle. + +"I guess I'm there now," he murmured as he felt a firm path under his +feet. "Now to see if Ray is here." + +Tom had advanced perhaps a hundred feet down the lane that led from the +main road to the farm of Mr. Appleby when he came to an abrupt halt. + +"Was that a whistle, or just the howling of the wind?" he asked +himself, half aloud. He paused to listen. + +"It was a whistle," he answered himself. "I'll reply." + +He shrilled out a call through the storm and darkness, in reply to the +few notes he had heard. + +"Are you there?" demanded a voice. + +"Yes. Is that you, Ray?" asked Tom. + +"Ray? No! who are you?" came the query. + +Tom felt his heart sink. Had he made a mistake? He did not know what +to do. + +Through the darkness a shape loomed up near him. He started back, and +then came a dazzling flash of light. It shone in his face--one of +those portable electric torches. By the reflected glare Tom saw that +it was held and focused on him by a ragged man--by a man who seemed to +be a tramp--a man with a broad, livid scar running from his eye down +his cheek nearly to his mouth! + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + +THE PURSUIT + +They stood staring at each other--Tom Fairfield and the ragged man, the +latter holding the electric torch so that it was focused on our hero. +And yet this did not prevent some of the rays from glinting back and +revealing himself. He seemed too surprised to make any move, and, as +for Tom himself, he remained motionless, not knowing what to do. He +had come out in the storm expecting to meet a certain person, and a +totally different one had appeared, and yet one whom he much desired to +meet. + +"Well," finally growled the ragged man. "What is it, young feller? +Was you lookin' for me?" + +"Not exactly," replied Tom with a half smile, "and yet I'm glad to see +you." + +"Oh, you are, eh? Well, I don't know as I can say the same. What do +you want, anyhow?" + +"A few words with you." + +"And s'posin' I don't want any words with you?" + +"I fancy it will be to your advantage to talk to me," said Tom coolly. +He was glad of a chance to stand still, for his ankle was paining him +very much, and even though the rain was coming down in torrents, and it +was cold and dreary, he did not mind, for he felt that at last he was +at the end of the trail that meant the clearing of his name. + +"Nice time for a talk," sneered the tramp. "If you have anything to +say, out with it. I'm not going to stand here all night." + +"I don't fancy the job myself," remarked Tom easily. "In the first +place, you came here to meet the same person I did, I think." + +"What makes you think so?" asked the tramp uneasily, and he lowered his +light so that it no longer pointed in Tom's face. + +"Well, I have reasons. Assuming that you did come here to meet a +certain Ray Blake, what do you want of him?" + +"I'm not going to tell you--how did you know I wanted to see Ray?" +stammered the ragged man, hastily correcting himself. + +"He told me so," replied Tom frankly. "Now I want you to let him alone +after this. You've done him harm enough, and you have done much to +ruin his life. I want you to promise not to make any more attempts to +force him to lead the kind of a life you're leading." + +"S'posin' I won't?" + +"Then I'll make you!" + +"You'll make me? Come, that's pretty good! That's rich, that is! Ha! +You'll make me, young feller? Why it'll take more'n you to make me do +what I don't want to do." + +"I fancy not," said Tom easily, and with a cautious movement he +advanced a step nearer the tramp. The latter did not appear to notice +it. + +"Well, what else do you want?" asked the ragged fellow. "That's not +sayin' I'm goin' to do what you asked me first, though," he sneered. +His light was now flickering about on the rain-soaked ground, making +little rings of illumination. + +"Will you tell me how you got that scar on your cheek?" asked Tom +suddenly. + +Involuntarily the man's hand went to the evidence of the old wound. Up +flashed the light into Tom's face again, and as it was held up there +came this sharp question, asked with every evidence of fear: + +"What--what do you know about that?" + +"I know more than you think I do," said Tom, still speaking with a +confidence he did not feel. Again he took a cautious step forward. He +was now almost within leaping distance of the tramp. + +"Well then, if you know so much there's no need of me telling you," +sneered the ragged man. "I've had enough of this," he went on, +speaking roughly. "I don't see why I should waste time talking to you +in this confounded rain. I'm going to leave." + +"Not until you answer me one more question," said Tom firmly, and he +gathered himself together for that which he knew must follow. + +"Seems to me you're mighty fond of askin' questions," sneered the +tramp, "an' you don't take the most comfortable places to do it in. +Well, fire ahead, and I'll answer if I like." + +Tom paused a moment. He looked about in the surrounding blackness, as +if to note whether help was at hand, or perhaps to discover if the +person he had come out to meet was near. But, there was no movement. +There was no sound save the swish of the rain about the two figures so +strangely contrasted, confronting one another. Off in the distance, +down the hill, could be seen the dim lights in the old farmhouse of Mr. +Appleby. + +"Well?" asked the tramp, in a hard voice. "Go ahead, an' get done with +it. I'm tired of standing here." He had released his thumb from the +spring of the electric torch, and the light went out, making the spot +seem all the blacker by contrast. + +Tom drew in his breath sharply. Taking a stride forward, and reaching +out his two muscular arms in the darkness, he asked in a low voice: + +"How much did you pay for that cyanide of potassium, Jacob Crouse?" + +Tom could hear the surprised gasp from the tramp, he could hear his +teeth chatter, not with cold, but from fright, and a moment later, with +a half audible cry, the man turned and fled away in the storm and +darkness. + +"No, you don't!" cried Tom, and with, a spring he sought to grab the +ragged fellow. But the lad was just the fraction of a second too late, +and though he did manage to grasp a portion of the tramp's coat, the +ragged and rotten cloth parted in his hand. + +"I'll get you yet!" exclaimed Tom fiercely, as he took up the pursuit +in the darkness. He had been expecting this, and yet it had come so +suddenly that he was not quite prepared for it. He had hoped to get +near enough to the tramp, undetected, to grab him before asking that +question which so startled the fellow. Now the man, on whom so much +depended in the clearing of Tom's name, was sprinting down the farm +lane. + +"My ankle!" gasped Tom, as a sudden turn on it sent a twinge of pain +through him. "If it wasn't for that I'd stand a better chance. And +yet I'm not going to give up. I've got to get him, or all my work will +go for nothing." + +On he ran, the rain-soaked ground giving forth scarcely a sound save +when he or the man ahead of him stepped into some mud puddle, of which +there were many. + +Tom, however, could hear the footfalls of the tramp, who was seeking to +escape, and by their nearness he judged that the fellow was not very +far in advance. + +"He hasn't much the start of me," mused Tom. "But if he gets out on +the main road he can easily give me the slip. I've got to corner him +in this lane." + +The lane was a long one, bordered on either side by big fields, some of +which were pastures, where the patient cattle stood in the storm, and +others whence fall crops had been gathered by the farmer. Tom glanced +ahead, and from side to side, to see if the tramp had leaped a fence +and was seeking to get away across some pasture. But he saw nothing, +and was aware of a dim moving spot just ahead of him. It was as if the +spot was a little lighter in darkness than the surrounding night. + +"He's in the lane yet, I think," said Tom, to himself, trying to run so +as to bring as little weight as possible on his injured ankle. "At +least I hope he is. And the lane doesn't end yet for some distance." + +A moment later he was given evidence that the fellow was still running +straight ahead. There came a muttered exclamation, and the sound of +splashing water. Then there shone a brilliant patch of light for an +instant. The tramp had blundered into some puddle, and had flashed his +electric torch to get his bearings. This Tom saw, and he also saw that +the man had increased the distance between them. + +"He's going to get away from me if I can't do a little better sprinting +work," murmured Tom grimly. "If I was making a touchdown I'd have to +do better than this. I'll just pretend that I am out for a touchdown." + +Clenching his teeth to keep back exclamations of pain, that, somehow or +other, would force themselves out, as his ankle twinged him, Tom swept +on. He fancied he was gaining a bit, for he could hear the labored +breathing of the man ahead of him. + +"Wind's giving out!" thought Tom, and he was glad that he was well +trained. Undoubtedly the life of dissipation the tramp had led would +tell on him. He could not keep up the race long. And yet the lane +must soon end. + +"I've got to get him! I've got to get him!" said Tom to himself, over +and over again, and he lowered his head and raced on in the storm and +darkness. + +He came to the same puddle where the tramp had flashed his light, and +the muddy water splashed high. It was slippery, too, and, in an +endeavor to maintain his balance, Tom further wrenched his ankle. + +"I'll be laid up for fair!" he groaned. "No more football for me this +season. Well, I can't help it. This is more important. Oh, if I can +only land him in jail where he belongs!" + +Recovering himself, he dashed on. He could still hear the lumbering +footsteps of the tramp. And then suddenly, out of the blackness ahead +of Tom there came a strange sound. It was like a grunt. Then the echo +of voices. + +"Look out where you're going!" someone exclaimed. + +"Get out of my way!" snarled another, and Tom recognized the tramp's +tones. + +"Ray! Ray Blake!" cried Tom, as he again heard the first voice. "Hold +that man! Don't let him get away. That's Jake Crouse!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + +CORNERED + +Tom Fairfield heard the sound of a struggle ahead of him in the +blackness. He heard the panting of breaths, heavily drawn, and the +impact of blows. + +"I'm coming, Ray! I'm coming. Hold him!" yelled Tom. "Don't let him +get away!" + +"I--I won't, Tom!" was the answer. "But--hurry up!" + +Tom sprang forward, but it was almost his undoing, for he slipped in +the mud and went down heavily. For a moment he lay in the slime and +water, with the rain beating on him, and the wind whipping about him, +half stunned. + +"Worse than ever!" he murmured, making a wry face. "Tve got to hop on +and help Ray." + +Just touching the toes of his injured foot to the ground, and hopping +on his uninjured leg, our hero made his way forward to where he could +hear the struggle going on between the tramp and the youth called Ray. + +"Let go of me!" snarled the tramp. "I'll fix you for this!" + +"You've nearly fixed me already, Jake," was the grim response. "I'm +not going to let you go. Where are you, Tom?" + +"Coming!" Tom hopped on, slipping and stumbling. As he neared the +struggling figures he stepped on something round that rolled under his +foot, and he picked it up. It was the tramp's flashlight, and an +instant later Tom had focused the brilliant rays on the struggling +figures. He saw that Ray had the man in a tight grip, while the ragged +fellow was beating the lad in an endeavor to break the hold. + +"That'll do!" cried Tom, and, thrusting the electric torch into his own +pocket, he clasped the tramp's arms from behind. Then the battle was +practically over, for the two lads could easily handle the man, whose +breath was nearly spent from his running. + +"Do you give up?" asked Tom, still holding the man's elbows. + +"I s'pose I've got to," was the half-growled answer. "You've got me +cornered." + +"And you'll be cornered worse than this before I'm done with you!" said +Tom grimly. "Are you hurt, Ray?" + +"Not much. A few scratches and some blows in the face. But what's the +matter with you, Tom? You're lame." + +"Yes, my ankle is on the blink--football game to-day; just before I got +your letter. Oh, but I'm glad I reached you in time!" + +"Yes, you just caught me. I'd been on my way West to-morrow. Oh Tom, +I can't tell you how sorry I am about it all!" + +"Never mind. It's all right now, and all can be explained, I guess." + +"Of course it can." + +"Say, when you fellows get through chinnin' maybe you'll tell me what +you're goin' to do with me?" snarled the tramp. + +"We surely will," said Tom. "We're going to tie you up, and then send +for the police." + +"You are! Not if I know it!" With an angry cry the man endeavored to +break from the hold of the two lads. But they were too much for the +fellow, though the struggle was not an easy one. + +"We'd better fasten him in some way," suggested Ray. "Rip off his +coat, Tom, and tie his arms in it. Maybe we'd better call for help." + +"Where could we get any?" + +"At Appleby's house. I fancy the old man would be glad to meet Mr. +Crouse again," and Ray Blake laughed. + +"Don't take me to him!" whined the tramp, now much subdued. "Take me +to jail, but not to that old skinflint." + +"I'm afraid we haven't much choice," said Tom. "No more fighting now, +or we won't be so gentle with you." + +It was a threat the tramp knew would be carried out, and he made no +further attempt to escape. The two lads took off his ragged coat, and +made it fast about the fellow's arms, tying them behind him. Then, +walking on either side, while Tom flashed the electric torch at +intervals, they turned back toward the farmhouse, our hero limping +along as best he could. + +"Hello! Hello, there Appleby!" yelled Tom, when they came within +hailing distance of the building. It was still raining hard. "Hello +there, show a light!" + +There was a pause, and then a door opened, letting out a flood of +illumination that cut the blackness like a knife. A voice demanded: + +"What's th' matter? Who be ye, makin' a racket this time of night? +What right ye got on my land, anyhow?" + +"That's all right, Mr. Appleby," put in Ray. "I guess you'll be glad +to see us. We've got a man you've been looking for." + +The tramp said nothing, but he did not make an effort to escape. +Probably he realized that it was too late, now. His young captors +advanced with him into the lighted kitchen of the farmhouse. + +"Jake Crouse!" exclaimed the farmer. "Good land, where'd ye git him, +boys? An' Ray Blake! Wa'al I never! Where'd ye pick him up?" + +"In your lane," answered Ray. "We thought you'd be glad to see him." + +"Me glad to see him?" exclaimed the puzzled farmer. "What for?" + +"Because," answered Tom slowly, "he is the man who poisoned your +horses, Mr. Appleby, and, unless I'm much mistaken, he also set fire to +your hay ricks. I've got the evidence for the first charge, and------" + +"I've got the evidence for the other," interrupted Ray. "It's all up, +Jake. You'd better confess right now and save yourself heavier +punishment." + +"Good land!" gasped the farmer. "Jake Crouse--the feller who used t' +work fer me--poisoned my horses--sot fire t' my hay? It don't seem +possible!" + +"I'd a done a heap more to you if I'd had the chance!" snarled the +tramp. "You're the meanest man in seven counties, and you cheated me +out of my money. I said I'd get even with you and I did." + +"Then you admit you're Crouse?" asked Tom eagerly. + +"Might as well, as long as you've got the goods on me. I'll take my +medicine now, but I'll get back at you later, Jed Appleby!" and he shot +a black look at the farmer. + +"It will be some time before he can carry out that threat," said Tom +easily. "Now, Mr. Appleby, I suppose you haven't a grudge against me +any longer, as it's been proved that I had no hand in your troubles." + +"No, of course not. I--I'm sorry I made a complaint against ye. But +it did look mighty suspicious." + +"Yes, it did," admitted Tom, "and I couldn't say anything, for certain +reasons. But they no longer exist." + +"I don't exactly understand it all," said the still-puzzled farmer, +"but it's all right, an' I begs yer pardon, Tom Fairfield, an' here's +my hand!" and he held out a big palm. + +"That's all right," said Tom easily, as he shook hands. "I'll explain +everything soon." + +"And I'll do my share," added Ray. "I haven't acted just as I should +in this matter. But I'm on a different road now." + +"I hope so," put in Mrs. Appleby, who had been a silent spectator of +the happenings. "I allers said you had a good streak in you somewhere, +Ray Blake, and if you had a mother------" + +"Please don't speak of her," the boy asked gently. + +"Have you a telephone?" asked Tom, anxious to change the subject, for +he saw that Ray was much affected. "If you have, we can 'phone for the +authorities to call for our friend here," and he nodded at the tramp +who, bound, sat in sullen silence. + +"No, we don't have such luxuries," answered the farmer, "but I'll send +one of my hired men into town. We can lock Jake up in the smoke house +'till the constable gets here." + +This was done, Jake Crouse submitting sullenly. Then, when the hired +man had driven off in the rain, the farmer and his wife insisted on +providing dry garments for Ray and Tom, and in making them hot coffee. + +In two hours the constable arrived, and only just in time, for the +tramp had nearly forced open the smoke house door, and would soon have +escaped. He was handcuffed, and driven to the town lockup. + +"I'll appear agin' him to-morrow," said Mr. Appleby. "Now hadn't you +boys better stay here all night? It's rainin' cats an' dogs." + +"No, I must get back to the school," said Tom. "And I'd like Ray to +come with me. I want him to help explain certain things to my chums. +They know I'm not an incendiary, or a horse poisoner, but some others +don't believe that." + +"We'll soon make 'em!" exclaimed Ray. + +"I'm with you Tom. I can't make up all you suffered on my account, but +I will do all I can." + +"Wa'al, if ye will go back I s'pose I can't stop ye," said the farmer. +"I'll have Hank drive ye in, though." + +Mr. Appleby's nature seemed to have undergone a sudden change. He was +no longer mean and inhospitable. In a short time Tom and Ray were on +their way in a covered carriage to Elmwood Hall. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV + +EXPLANATIONS + +"Look who's here!" + +"Back again!" + +"Tom Fairfield, what in the name of the seven sacred scribes has +happened, anyhow?" + +Thus Tom's chums--George, Jack, and Bert, greeted him about an hour +later when he entered his room in the borrowed garments of the farmer. +Ray Blake followed him into the apartment, a trifle embarrassed. The +boys had managed, through the friendly offices of Demy Miller, the +studious janitor, to enter the dormitory unseen by the proctor or any +of his scouts. + +"Yes, I'm here," said Tom with a smile, as he limped to an easy chair. +"Ray, have a seat. Boys, allow me to introduce my cousin, Ray Blake." + +"Your--your cousin!" gasped Jack. + +"Yes. He's the one who had my sweater," went on Tom. + +"Your sweater?" gasped George. + +"Yes--that rather brilliant one that connected me with the +horse-poisoning case." + +"But--but," stammered Bert. "Did he--your cousin--?" + +"No, he didn't use any cyanide," said Tom quickly. "Now for some +explanations. But first shake hands, and then maybe we'd better stuff +our keyhole so the light won't show. No use being interrupted." + +"That's already been attended to," said Jack. "We always take those +precautions," and in turn he and the others shook hands with Ray. + +"To begin at the beginning," said Tom, "this is my cousin--a son of my +mother's sister. I haven't seen him in some years, for he went West, +where his parents died. How he managed to come to work as a hired man +for Appleby I don't know, but he did----" + +"It was just chance," cut in Ray. "Suppose you let me explain, Tom." + +"All right, go ahead. I'm going to rub some liniment on my ankle. +It's got to be treated, if I'm to play football again." + +"I might as well own up to it first as last," went on Ray, "that I +haven't been altogether what I should be. When my mother died--I--I +sort of went to the bad." He choked up for a moment and then resumed. + +"I got in with a lot of tough characters in the West and I lived a fast +life. Then I drifted East, lost what money I had and went to work for +Mr. Appleby. I didn't know Tom was going to school here or I wouldn't +have run the chance of disgracing him." + +"If you had only let me know earlier that you were here," said Tom, +"everything might have been all right." + +"Well, I didn't," said Ray, with a smile at his cousin. "Things went +from bad to worse. Appleby wasn't the best man in the world to work +for. Then Jake Crouse happened along. I had known him out West. He +came of a good family, but he went to the bad and became a common +tramp, though he had a good education. Crouse isn't his right name, I +guess. + +"Appleby treated us very mean--he does that way to all his hired men, I +guess, and he used to fine us if we accidentally broke any tools, or +made mistakes. In fact about all our money was eaten up in fines, so +we had very little coming to us. + +"Finally Jake Crouse got mad when he was heavily fined, and he said he +was going to get even. He wanted me to go in with him, but I wouldn't, +and I decided to skip out, and look for another place. I had no money, +and then, accidentally, I learned that Tom was a student at Elmwood +Hall. I heard Appleby mention his name as having gotten ten dollars +from him for about a dollar's worth of trampled-down corn. Then I +decided to appeal to Tom to help me get away. + +"I sent him a note, and he came to see me. It was in a pool room in +town--a place where I used to go for amusement, but I've dropped all +that sort of thing now. There Tom gave me money enough to straighten +up and begin life over again." + +"Say!" interrupted Jack, "was that where you got so all smelled up with +smoke, Tom?" + +"I guess it was. I know everybody in the place seemed to be smoking," +answered our hero. + +"That was the night Jake Crouse set fire to the hay stacks," went on +Ray Blake. "He fixed it so suspicion wouldn't fall on him, as he was +away from the farm at the time. He used a sort of chemical fuse that +would cause the fire several hours after it was set. + +"After I met Tom, and got the money, and told him about the prospective +hay fire," said Ray, "I sneaked back to the farm to get what few +clothes I owned. Jake Crouse was waiting for me, and when he found out +I was going to run away, and that I had some money, he threatened to +implicate me in the burning of the hay. He had me in his power and I +didn't dare--or at least I thought I didn't dare--refuse him. So I +stayed on, and he got most of my money over cards. He wasn't suspected +of the fire, and I never knew Tom was, or I'd have made a clean breast +of everything. + +"Well, things went from bad to badness. Appleby got worse toward us +instead of better, and Crouse said he'd teach him a lesson. I +suspected he would do something desperate so I made up my mind to get +away. I laid my plans carefully, and, ashamed as I was, I decided to +ask Tom for more money. + +"I appealed to him, and he answered. He gave me all he could spare, +and more too, I guess and I promised to reform. I made him promise he +would never say anything about me, and he didn't. As much on his +mother's account as mine, I guess, for my mother and his were sisters, +and I knew my aunt would be broken-hearted if she knew how much I'd +gone to the bad. + +"Well, to make a long story short Tom fixed me up--he even gave me his +sweater when I sneaked up and called on him in this dormitory, for I +was cold and hadn't many clothes--and I lit out. I guess I must have +made some wild threats against Appleby before I left, for he had +treated me mean." + +"You did make all sorts of wild declarations," put in Tom, "and it was +that which made me fear you had poisoned the horses when it was known +that they had been given cyanide." + +"But I didn't," said Ray. "I ran off that night, and later, as I +passed by the barn, carrying Tom's sweater, I saw Jake Crouse going in +with a package and a bottle. I got scared and ran as fast as I could, +fearing he would see me and force me to have a hand in the crime. But +I got away, though I dropped Tom's sweater, and didn't dare go back for +it. + +"I went to New York, and I've been there ever since, until recently. I +stayed with a man I had known in the West, but I never knew Tom was in +such trouble on my account. What happened here, after I left, I don't +know, except as Tom has told me. But the other day I got a letter from +him, asking me to release him from his promise to keep silent about my +presence here, and about what a life I had led, and I came on. I +couldn't get here until to-night and I sent word that I'd meet him near +the Appleby house and explain everything. + +"In his letter Tom told me about how he was suspected of the poisoning, +and how he wanted to clear his name. The reason I appointed the lane +near the farm house was because I intended to go with him to Mr. +Appleby and explain everything. I never thought it would storm so, but +it was too late to get word to Tom, so I kept the appointment." + +"And so did I," added Tom. "How Jake Crouse got there is a mystery." + +"Not much of one, I guess," said Ray. "I fancy he was mad because he +didn't kill all the horses and he was going to try it again. Then too, +foolishly, I wrote him a final letter, saying I was going to see you +and I guess he went there to meet me." + +"At any rate he was there," said Tom, "and we both had a run-in with +him. He's now safely in jail, having confessed to both crimes. So my +name is cleared." + +"Yes, by the plucky way you kept after the clews," said Jack. + +"And the luck he had of running into Jake," added Bert. + +"No, Jake ran into me," explained Ray, with a laugh. "Well, I've +released Tom from his promise of silence. Perhaps it was foolish to +bind him to it, for I should have been willing to take my medicine. +But, for a time, I could not bear the thought of his mother knowing how +low I'd fallen--I didn't want anyone to know how nearly I'd disgraced +Tom's family." + +"That's why I couldn't say anything about to whom I gave my sweater," +explained Tom. "And, for a time, I feared Ray was guilty of poisoning +the horses. His threats, and the fact that he had some time before +experimented with chemicals, with me, made me suspicious. So I had a +double motive in keeping silent. + +"At last I could stand it no longer, and I began to try and trace my +cousin. I had accidentally found the clew of the bottle, and I knew +that someone giving the name of Crouse had purchased the poison. But +even then I was afraid Ray had given the tramp's name to shield +himself. Though when the drug clerk said a man with a scar had bought +the cyanide I had my doubts. Still I was not sure but what Ray had +been hurt in a fight." + +"I was a pretty wild character," admitted Tom's cousin, "but I'm done +with that sort of life now." + +"So I wrote several letters," went on Tom, "asking my cousin to come +and explain things. It was some time before one reached him, as I sent +to his last known address out West." + +"But I finally got one," put in Ray, "and then I came on, as soon as I +could. It's all explained now, and Tom's name is cleared." + +"How do you suppose Sam Heller saw you--or thought he saw you--with +your gay sweater on--at the barn?" asked Jack. + +"Give it up," said Tom. "Maybe we'll find out that too." + +They did--the next morning, when Tom and his cousin, in an interview +with Doctor Meredith, told the whole story. But it had leaked out +before that, and when Sam Heller was sent for he was not to be found. +He had left Elmwood Hall in a hurry. + +In order to clear himself of any part in the unjust accusation against +Tom, Nick Johnson made a clean breast of the whole affair. To him Sam +had confided a plan of throwing suspicion, of some mean act against Mr. +Appleby, on Tom. Sam's plan was to go to the barns, and damage some +farm machinery, at the same time leaving behind some object with Tom's +name on it to implicate him. Nick would have nothing to do with this, +and Sam went off by himself. + +That was the night the horses were poisoned, and Sam, seeing Crouse and +Ray about the barns, became frightened and sneaked off without playing +his mean trick. It was Ray he had seen wearing the sweater, leaving +the dormitory after Ray had borrowed it, and Sam thought it was Tom, +for the cousins were much alike. And it was Ray whom Mr. Appleby had +seen, though the empty package of poison was dropped by Crouse, and not +by Ray, so in that the farmer was mistaken. And Sam testified against +Tom, at the time believing him guilty. + +Later, though, in one of the resorts of Elmwood, Sam overheard Crouse +boasting to some boon companions of what he had done, but, instead of +telling what he knew, and clearing our hero, Sam kept silent, letting +the blame rest on Tom. And it was Sam's school pin the farmer found +near the hay. + +And it was also Sam and Nick who had bribed the farm boy to send Tom +and his chums on the wrong road, thus leading them into the cornfield +and causing the quarrel with Mr. Appleby. + +"Well, all's well that ends well," said Tom's cousin a few days later, +when he made ready to go back to the West, where he promised to begin a +new life. "I can't tell you how sorry I am Tom, for the trouble I made +you." + +"Never mind," answered our hero. "It's all right." + +"Tom's pluck and luck won for him," said Jack, and Tom was the hero of +the school, for Doctor Meredith publicly commended the youth for his +action, and Mr. Appleby was fair enough to beg Tom's pardon before the +whole school. + +"But we've got to have a new quarterback," said the perplexed football +captain as the time approached for the last big game--that for the +championship. + +"Yes," admitted the coach. "Better a new one than that sneak Sam +Heller. I'm glad he's gone. Is Tom's ankle fit for him to play?" + +"He says he'll play, anyhow!" + +"Good for him. Well, I guess we can make a shift." + +The football game was one long to be remembered. It was played on a +cold, crisp day, and a record-breaking crowd was in attendance. For +the first three quarters neither side scored. There were brilliant +runs, sensational kicks and tackles, brilliant passing, and good plays +generally, but the teams seemed too evenly matched. + +Then came the last quarter. Foot by foot the ball had been worked to +within striking distance of the rival's goal. + +"Now, boys, a touchdown!" cried the captain. + +Smith, the new quarterback, gave the signal for Tom to take the pigskin +through center, and Tom, with lowered head and fiercely beating heart, +leaped forward. There was a crash as the two lines of players met, and +then, struggling forward, tearing himself loose from restraining +hands--pushed, shoved and all but torn apart, Tom forced his way onward. + +His vision became black! His breath was all but gone, and then, with a +last mighty heave, he shoved the ball over the last line. + +"Touchdown! Touchdown!" + +"Tom Fairfield's touchdown!" + +"Elmwood Hall forever!" + +"Three cheers!" + +"Three cheers for Tom Fairfield!" + +The players and spectators went wild, and the game came to an end a few +minutes later, with Tom's team the champions. + +"Well, old man, we did 'em," said Jack some hours later, when the +chums, and as many of their friends as possibly could crowd into the +room of our heroes, had gathered there. "We did 'em." + +"Good and proper," added Bert. + +"How's the ankle, Tom?" asked the captain anxiously. "We don't want to +permanently cripple you, for there'll be more games next year." + +"Oh, I guess I'll be all right by then," said Tom, with a smile. +"Jack, pass those sandwiches," for an impromptu banquet was under way. + +"Yes, and don't hold that mustard for a loss," added George. + +"Pass those pickles up this way for a touchdown," begged Reddy Burke. + +"Well, Tom," asked Bruce Bennington in a low voice, "are you glad or +sorry you didn't insist on having a row with Sam, right off the bat?" + +"Glad," answered Tom. "It came out all right anyhow." + +"Sure it did. He's gone, and you're here," said Bruce. + +"A song, boys! A song!" called Jack Fitch, and a moment later, in +spite of the danger of a visit from the proctor, there swelled out the +strains of "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow!" + +But the proctor did not come. As he heard the forbidden sounds of +gaiety he smiled grimly. + +"It Isn't every day that Elmwood Hall wins a championship," he remarked +to Doctor Meredith. + +"No, indeed," agreed the head master. "And so young Fairfield made the +winning touchdown?" + +"Yes. As plucky a lad as we have in the school. He played the game +with an injured ankle." + +"Oh, it isn't alone physical pluck that Fairfield has," remarked the +head of the school thoughtfully, as he remembered what Tom had endured. + +Those had been strenuous times for Tom, but other happenings were still +in store for him, and what some of them were will be related in another +volume, to be called "Tom Fairfield's Hunting Trip; Or, Lost in the +Wilderness," in which we shall see how Tom's pluck was put to the +supreme test. + +"All ready for the grand march!" cried one of the boys, and soon a big +line was formed, and the boys began to march around the school +buildings. And here we will say good-bye to Tom Fairfield. + + + +THE END + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Tom Fairfield's Pluck and Luck, by Allen Chapman + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TOM FAIRFIELD'S PLUCK AND LUCK *** + +***** This file should be named 14083.txt or 14083.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/4/0/8/14083/ + +Produced by Al Haines + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. 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