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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/18939-8.txt b/18939-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..e80cca0 --- /dev/null +++ b/18939-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,9234 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Andy at Yale, by Roy Eliot Stokes + +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: Andy at Yale + The Great Quadrangle Mystery + +Author: Roy Eliot Stokes + +Release Date: July 30, 2006 [EBook #18939] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ANDY AT YALE *** + + + + +Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + +ANDY AT YALE +OR +THE GREAT QUADRANGLE MYSTERY + +BY +ROY ELIOT STOKES + +THE WORLD SYNDICATE PUBLISHING CO. +CLEVELAND, O. NEW YORK, N. Y. + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +Copyright, MCMXIV, by +SULLY AND KLEINTEICH + +Printed in the United States of America +by +THE COMMERCIAL BOOKBINDING CO. +CLEVELAND, OHIO + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +CONTENTS + +I. A Horse-Whipping 1 +II. Good Samaritans 12 +III. An Unpleasant Prospect 19 +IV. The Picture Show 28 +V. Final Days 36 +VI. The Bonfire 45 +VII. Link Again 51 +VIII. Off For Yale 63 +IX. On The Campus 72 +X. Missing Money 78 +XI. "Rough House" 85 +XII. A Fierce Tackle 94 +XIII. Bargains 102 +XIV. Dunk Refuses 113 +XV. Dunk Goes Out 123 +XVI. In Bad 131 +XVII. Andy's Despair 138 +XVIII. Andy's Resolve 146 +XIX. Link Comes To College 150 +XX. Queer Disappearances 158 +XXI. A Gridiron Battle 166 +XXII. Andy Says 'No!' 177 +XXIII. Reconciliation 185 +XXIV. Link's Visit 193 +XXV. The Missing Watch 198 +XXVI. The Girls 205 +XXVII. Jealousies 213 +XXVIII. The Book 219 +XXIX. The Accusation 230 +XXX. The Letter 237 +XXXI. On The Diamond 245 +XXXII. Victory 256 +XXXIII. The Trap 281 +XXXIV. Caught 291 +XXXV. For The Honor Of Yale 300 + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + + + + +ANDY AT YALE + +CHAPTER I + +A HORSE-WHIPPING + + +"Come on, Andy, what are you hanging back for?" + +"Oh, just to look at the view. It's great! Why, you can see for twenty +miles from here, right off to the mountains!" + +One lad stood by himself on the summit of a green hill, while, a little +below, and in advance of him, were four others. + +"Oh, come on!" cried one of the latter. "View! Who wants to look at a +view?" + +"But it's great, I tell you! I never appreciated it before!" exclaimed +Andy Blair. "You can see----!" + +"Oh, for the love of goodness! Come on!" came in protest from the +objecting speaker. "What do we care how far we can see? We're going to +get something to eat!" + +"That's right! Some of Kelly's good old kidney stew!" + +"A little chicken for mine!" + +"I'm for a chop!" + +"Beefsteak on the grill!" + +Thus the lads, waiting for the one who had stopped to admire the fine +view, chanted their desires in the way of food. + +"Come on!" finally called one in disgust, and, with a half sigh of +regret, Andy walked on to join his mates. + +"What's getting into you lately?" demanded Chet Anderson, a bit +petulantly. "You stand mooning around, you don't hear when you're spoken +to, and you don't go in for half the fun you used to." + +"Are you sick? Or is it a--girl?" queried Ben Snow, laughing. + +"Both the same!" observed Frank Newton, cynically. + +"Listen to the old dinkbat!" exclaimed Tom Hatfield. "You'd think he +knew all about the game! You never got a letter from a girl in your +life, Frank!" + +"I didn't, eh? That's all you know about it," and Frank made an +unsuccessful effort to punch his tormentor. + +"Well, if we're going on to Churchtown and have a bit of grub in +Kelly's, let's hoof it!" suggested Chet. "You can eat; can't you, Andy? +Haven't lost your appetite; have you, looking at that blooming view?" + +"No, indeed. But you fellows don't seem to realize that in another month +we'll never see it again, unless we come back to Milton for a visit." + +"That's right!" agreed Ben Snow. "This _is_ our last term at the old +school! I'll be sorry to leave it, in a way, even though I do expect to +go to college." + +"Same here," came from Tom. "What college are you going to, Ben?" + +"Hanged if I know! Dad keeps dodging from one to another. He's had all +the catalogs for the last month, studying over 'em like a fellow going +up for his first exams. Sometimes it's Cornell, and then he switches to +Princeton. I'm for the last myself, but dad is going to foot the bills, +so I s'pose I'll have to give in to him." + +"Of course. Where are you heading for, Andy?" + +"Oh, I'm not so sure, either. It's a sort of toss-up between Yale and +Harvard, with a little leaning toward Eli on my part. But I don't have +to decide this week. Come on, let's hoof it a little faster. I believe +I'm getting hungry." + +"And yet you would stop to moon at a view!" burst out Frank. "Really, +Andy, I'm surprised at you!" + +"Oh, cut it out, you old faker! You know that view from Brad's Hill +can't be beat for miles around." + +"That's right!" chorused the others, and there seemed to have come over +them all a more serious manner with the mention of the pending break-up +of their pleasant relations. They had hardly realized it before. + +For a few minutes they walked on over the hills in silence. The green +fields, with here and there patches of woodland, stretched out all +around them. Over in the distance nestled a little town, its white +church, with the tall, slender spire, showing plainly. + +Behind them, hidden by these same green hills over which they were +tramping this beautiful day in early June, lay another town, now out of +sight in a hollow. It was Warrenville, on the outskirts of which was +located the Milton Preparatory School the five lads attended. They were +in their last year, would soon graduate, and then separate, to go to +various colleges, or other institutions. + +School work had ended early this day on account of coming examinations, +and the lads, who had been chums since their entrance at Milton, had +voted to go for a walk, and end up with an early supper at Kelly's, a +more or less celebrated place where the students congregated. This was +at Churchtown, about five miles from Warrenville. The boys were to walk +there and come back in the trolley. + +They had spent two years at the Milton school, and had been friends for +years before that, all of them living in the town of Dunmore, in one of +our Middle States. There was much rejoicing among them when they found +that all five who had played baseball and football together in Dunmore, +were to go to the same preparatory school. It meant that the pleasant +relations were not to be severed. But now the shadow of parting had cast +itself upon them, and had tempered their buoyant spirits. + +"Yes, boys, it will soon be good-bye to old Milton!" exclaimed Chet, +with a sigh. + +"I wonder if we'll get anybody like Dr. Morrison at any of the colleges +we go to?" spoke Ben. + +"You can't beat him--no matter where you go!" declared Andy. "He's the +best ever!" + +"That's right! He knows just how to take a fellow," commented Tom. +"Remember the time I smuggled the puppy into the physiology class?" + +"I should say we did!" laughed Andy. + +"And how he yelped when I pinched his tail that stuck out from under +your coat," added Ben. "Say, it was great!" + +"I'll never forget how old Pop Swann looked up over the tops of his +glasses," put in Frank. + +"Dr. Morrison was mighty decent about it when he had me up on the +carpet, too," added Tom. "I thought sure I was in for a wigging--maybe a +suspension, and I couldn't stand that, for dad had written me one +warning letter. + +"But all Prexy did was to look at me in that calm, withering, pitying +way he has, and then say in that solemn voice of his: 'Ah, Hatfield, I +presume you are going in for vivisection?' Say, you could have floored +me with a feather. That's the kind of a man Dr. Morrison is." + +"Nobody else like him," commented Andy, with a sigh. + +"Oh, well, if any of us go to Yale, or Princeton, or Harvard, I guess +we'll find some decent profs. there," spoke Ben. "They can't all be +riggers." + +"Sure not," said Andy. "But those colleges will be a heap sight +different from Milton." + +"Of course! What do you expect? This is a kindergarten compared to +them!" exclaimed Frank. + +"But it's a mighty nice kindergarten," commented Tom. "It's like a +school in our home town, almost." + +"I sure will be sorry to leave it," added Andy. "But come on; we'll +never get to Kelly's at this rate." + +The sun was sinking behind the western hills in a bank of golden and +purple clouds. Two miles yet lay between the lads and their objective +point--the odd little oyster and chop house so much frequented by the +students of Milton. It was an historic place, was Kelly's; a beloved +place where the lads foregathered to talk over their doings, their +hopes, their fears, their joys and sorrows. It was an old-fashioned +place, with little, dingy rooms, come upon unexpectedly; rooms just +right for small parties of congenial souls--with tall, black settles, +and tables roughened with many jack-knifed initials. + +"We can cut over to the road, and get there quicker," remarked Andy, +after a pause. "Suppose we do it. I don't want to get back too late." + +"All right," agreed Tom. "I want to write a couple of letters myself." + +"Oh, ho! Now who's got a girl?" demanded Chet, suspiciously. + +"Nobody, you amalgamated turnip. I'm going to write to dad, and settle +this college business. Might as well make a decision now as later, I +reckon." + +"We'll have to sign soon, or it will be too late," spoke Chet. "Those +big colleges aren't like the small prep. schools. They have waiting +lists--at least for the good rooms in the campus halls. That's where I'd +like to go if I went to Yale--in Lawrance Hall, or some place like +that, where I could look out over the campus, or the Green." + +"There are some dandy rooms in front of Lawrance Hall where you can look +out over the New Haven Green," put in Ben. "I was there once, and how I +did envy those fellows, lolling in their windows on their blue cushions, +puffing on pipes and making believe study. It was great!" + +"Making believe study!" exclaimed Andy. "I guess they do study! You +ought to see the stiff list of stuff on the catalog!" + +"You got one?" asked Chet. + +"Sure. I've been doping it out." + +"I thought you said you hadn't decided where to go yet," remarked Frank. + +"Well, I have," returned Andy, quietly. + +"You have! When, for the love of tripe? You said a while ago--" + +"I know I did. But I've decided since then. I'm going to Yale!" + +"You are? Good for you!" cried Tom, clapping his chum on the back with +such energy that Andy nearly toppled over. "That's the stuff! Rah! Rah! +Rah! Yale! Bulldog!" + +"Here! Cut it out!" ordered Andy. "I'm not at Yale yet, and they don't +go around doing that sort of stuff unless maybe after a game. I was +down there about a month ago, and say, there wasn't any of that +'Rah-rah!' stuff on the campus at all. But of course I wasn't there +long." + +"So that's where you went that time you slipped off," commented Chet. +"Down at Yale. And you've decided to sign for there?" + +"I have. It seemed to come to me as we walked down the hill. I've made +my choice. I'm going to write to dad." + +They walked on silently for a few moments following Andy's remarks. + + "'It was the King of France, + He had ten thousand men. + He marched them up the hill, + And marched them down again!'" + +Thus suddenly quoted Chet in a sing-song voice, adding: + +"If we're going to get any grub at Kelly's, it's up to us to march down +this hill faster than we've been going, or we'll get left. That other +crowd from Milton will have all the good places." + +"Come on then, fellows, hit her up!" exclaimed Frank. "Hep! Hep! Left! +Left!" and they started off at a good pace. + +They reached the country road that led more directly to Churchtown, and +swung off along this. The setting sun made a golden aurora that June +day, the beams filtering through a haze of dust. The boys talked of many +things, but chiefly of the coming parting--of the colleges they might +attend. + +As they passed a farmhouse near the side of the road, and came into view +of the barnyard, they saw two men standing beside a team of horses +hitched to a heavy wagon. One was tall and heavily built, evidently the +farmer-owner. The other was a young man, of about twenty-two years, his +left arm in a sling. + +The boys would have passed on with only a momentary glance at the pair +but for something that occurred as they came opposite. They saw the big +man raise a horse-whip and lash savagely at the young man. + +The lash cracked like the shot of a revolver. + +"I'll teach you!" fairly roared the big man. "I'll teach you to soldier +on me! Playin' off, that's what you are, Link Bardon! Playing off!" + +"I'm not playing off! My arm is injured. And don't you strike me again, +Mr. Snad, or I'll----" + +"You will, eh?" burst out the other. "You'll threaten me, will you? +Well, I'll teach you! Tryin' to pretend your arm is sprained so you +won't have to work. I'll teach you! Take that!" + +Again the cruel whip came down with stinging force. The face of the +young man, that had flamed with righteous anger, went pale. + +"Take that, you lazy, good-for-nothing!" + +Again the whip descended, and the young man put up his uninjured arm to +defend himself. The farmer rained blow after blow on his hired man, +driving him toward a fence. + +"Fellows! I can't stand this!" exclaimed Andy Blair, with sudden energy. +"That big brute is a coward! Are you with me?" + +"We sure are!" came in an energetic chorus from the others. + +"Then come on!" cried Andy, and with a short run he cleared the fence +and dashed up toward the farmer, who was still lashing away with the +horse-whip. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +GOOD SAMARITANS + + +"Here! Quit that!" exclaimed Andy, panting a bit from his exertion. +"Drop that whip!" + +The farmer wheeled around, for Andy had come up behind him. Surprise and +anger showed plainly on the man's flushed face, and blazed from his +blood-shot eyes. + +"Wha--what!" he stammered in amazement. + +"I said quit it!" came in resolute tones from Andy. "Don't you hit him +any more! You ought to be ashamed of yourself. Using a whip! Why don't +you take some one your size, and use your hands if you have to. You're a +coward!" + +"That's right!" chimed in Chet Anderson. + +"It's a blooming shame--that's what it is!" protested Tom Hatfield. +"Let's make a rough-house of him, fellows!" + +"What's that?" cried the farmer. "You threaten me, do you? Get out of my +barnyard before I treat you as I did him! Get out, do you hear!" + +"No!" exclaimed Andy. "We don't go until you promise to leave him +alone," and he nodded at the shrinking youth. + +"Say, I'll show you!" blustered the big farmer. "I'll thrash you young +upstarts----" + +"Oh no, you won't!" exclaimed Tom, easily. And when big Tom Hatfield, +left guard on the Milton eleven, spoke in this tone trouble might always +be looked for. "Oh, no you won't, my friend! And, just to show you that +you won't--there goes your whip!" + +With a quick motion Tom pulled the lash from the man's hand, and sent it +whirling over the fence into the road. + +"You--you!" blustered the farmer. He was too angry to be able to speak +coherently. His hands were clenched and his little pig-like eyes roved +from one to the other of the lads as though he were trying to decide +upon which one to rush first. + +"Take it easy, now," advised Tom, his voice still low. "We're five to +one, and we'll certainly tackle you, and tackle you hard, if you don't +be nice. We're not afraid of you!" + +Perhaps the angry man realized this. Certainly he must have known that +he would stand little chance in attacking five healthy, hearty +youngsters, each of whom had the glow of clean-living on his cheeks, +while their poise showed that they were used to active work, and ready +for any emergency. + +"Get out of this yard!" roared the farmer. "What right have you got +interfering between me and my hired man, anyhow? What right, I'd like to +know?" + +"The right of every lover of fair-play!" exclaimed Andy. "Do you think +we'd stand quietly by and let you use a horse-whip on a young fellow +that you ought to be able to handle with one hand? And he with his arm +in a sling! To my way of thinking, you ought to be ashamed of yourself." + +The farmer growled out something unintelligible. + +"We ought to do you up good and brown!" exclaimed Tom, his fists +clenched. + +"He's only playing off on me--he ain't hurt a mite!" growled the farmer. +"He's only fakin' on me." + +"I certainly am not," spoke the young fellow in firm but respectful +terms. "I sprained my arm unloading your wagon, Mr. Snad, and I can't +drive the team any more to-day. I put my handkerchief around it because +the sprain hurt me so. I certainly can't work!" His voice faltered and +he choked. His spirit seemed as much hurt as his body--perhaps more. + +"Huh! Can't work, eh? Then get out!" snarled Mr. Snad. "I want no +loafer around here! Get out!" + +"I'm perfectly willing to go when you pay me what you owe me," said the +helper, quietly. + +"Owe you! I don't owe you nothin', you lazy lout!" snapped the farmer. + +"You certainly do. You owe me twelve dollars, and as soon as you pay me +I'll get out, and be glad to go!" + +"Twelve dollars! I'd like to see myself giving you that much money!" +grumbled the farmer. "You ain't wuth but ten dollars at the most, an' I +won't pay you that for you busted my mowin' machine, an' it'll take that +t' pay for fixin' it." + +"That mowing machine was in bad order when you had me take it out," +replied the young fellow, "and you know it. It was simply an accident +that it broke, and not my fault in the least." + +"Well, you'll pay for it, just the same," was the sneering reply. "Now +be off!" + +"Not until I get my wages. You agreed to pay me twelve dollars a month, +and board me. My month is up to-day, and I want my money. It's about all +I have in the world; I need it." + +"You'll not get it out of me," and the farmer turned aside. Evidently he +had given up the idea of further chastising his hired man. The presence +of Andy and his chums was enough to deter him. + +"Mr. Snad, I demand my money!" exclaimed the young farm hand. + +"You'll not get it! Leave my premises! Clear off, all of you," and he +glared at the schoolboys. + +"Mr. Snad, I'll go as soon as you give me my twelve dollars," persisted +the youth, his voice trembling. + +"You'll get no twelve dollars out of me," snapped the man. + +"Oh, yes, I think he will," spoke Andy. "You'd better pay over that +money, Mr. Snad." + +"Eh? What's that your business?" + +"It's the business of everyone to see fair play," said Andy. + +"And we're going to do it in this case," added Tom, still in even tones. + +"Are you? Well, I'd like to know how?" sneered the farmer. + +"Would you? Then listen and you will hear, my friend," went on Tom. +"Unless you pay this young man the money you owe him we will swear out a +warrant against you, have you arrested, and use him as a witness against +you." + +For a moment there was a deep silence; then the farmer burst out with: + +"Have me arrested! Me? What for?" + +"For assault and battery," answered Tom. "We saw you assault this young +man with a horse-whip, and, while it might take some time to have him +sue you for his wages, it won't take us any time at all to get an +officer here and have you taken to jail on a criminal charge. The matter +of the wages may be a civil matter--the horse-whipping is criminal. + +"So, take your choice, Mr. Snad, if that's your name. Pay this young man +his twelve dollars, or we'll cause your arrest on this assault charge. +Now, my friend, it's up to you," and taking out his pocket knife Tom +began whittling a stick picked from the ground. Andy and his chums +looked admiringly at Tom, who had thus found such an effective lever of +persuasion. + +The angry farmer glanced from one to the other of the five lads. They +gave him back look for look--unflinchingly. + +"And don't be too long about it, either," added Tom, making the +splinters fly. "We're due at Kelly's for a little feed, and then we want +to get back to Milton. Don't be too long, my friend, unless you want to +spend the night in jail." + +The farmer gulped once or twice. The Adam's apple in his throat went up +and down. Clearly he was struggling with himself. + +"I--I--you----" he began. + +"Tut! Tut!" chided Tom. "You'd better go get the money. We can't wait +all day." + +"I--er--I----" The farmer seemed at a loss for words. Then, turning on +his heel, he started toward the house. He was beaten. + +"I--I'll get it," he flung back over his shoulder. "And then I'll swear +out warrants for your arrest. You're trespassers, that's what you are. +I'll fix you!" + +"Trespassers? Oh, no," returned Andy, sweetly. "We're only good +Samaritans. Perhaps you may have read of them in a certain book. Also we +are acting as the attorneys for this gentleman, in collecting a debt due +him. We are his counsel, and the law allows a man to have his counsel +present at a hearing. I hardly think an action in trespass would lie +against us, Mr. Snad; so don't put yourself out about it." + +"That's the stuff!" + +"Good for you, Andy!" + +"Say, you got his number all right!" + +Thus Andy's chums called to him laughingly as the farmer went into the +house. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +AN UNPLEASANT PROSPECT + + +"Say, I can't tell how much obliged to you I am," impulsively exclaimed +the young fellow with his arm in a sling. "That--that----" + +"He's a brute, that's what he is!" broke out Andy. "Don't be afraid to +call him one." + +"He sure is," came from Tom. "I just wish he'd rough it up a bit. I +wouldn't have asked anything better than to take and roll him around his +own barnyard. Talk about tackling a fellow on the gridiron--Oh me! Oh +my!" + +"It was mighty nice of you boys to take my part," went on the young +fellow. "I'm not feeling very well. He's worked me like a horse since +I've been here, and that, on top of spraining my arm, sort of took the +tucker out of me. Then, when he came at me with the whip, just because I +said I couldn't work any more----" + +"There, never mind. Don't think about it," advised Chet, seeing that the +youth was greatly affected. + +"Do you live around here?" asked Andy. + +"Well, I don't live much of anywhere," was the reply. "I'm a sort of +Jack-of-all-trades. My name is Lincoln Bardon--Link, I'm generally +called. I work mostly at farming, but I'll never work for Amos Snad +again. He's too hard." + +"Where are you going after you leave here?" asked Frank Newton. + +"Oh, I've got a friend who works on a farm over in Cherry Hollow. I can +go there and get a place. The farming season is on now, and there's lots +of help wanted. But I sure am much obliged to you for helping me get my +money. I've earned it and I need it. That mowing machine was broken when +he had me take it out of the shed." + +"How'd he come to use the whip?" asked Andy. + +"It was when I came back with the team, and said I couldn't work any +more on account of my arm. He has a lot of work to do," explained Link, +"and he ought to keep two men. Instead, he tries to get along with one, +and works him like a slave. I'm glad I'm going to quit." + +"When I said my arm was hurt he didn't believe me. I insisted. One word +led to another and he came at me with the lash. Then you boys jumped in. +I can't thank you enough." + +"That's all right," said Tom. "We were glad to do it. I like a good +scrap!" + +And to do him justice, he did--a good, clean, manly "scrap." + +"I wonder if he will bring that money?" remarked Ben Snow. "He's gone a +long time." + +"Oh, he keeps it hidden away in an old boot," replied Link. "He'll have +to dig it out. But don't let me detain you." + +"We like the fun," spoke Andy. "We'll stick around for a while yet." + +And, while the boys are thus "sticking around," may I be permitted to +introduce them more formally to you, and speak just a word about them? + +With their names I think you are already familiar. Andy Blair was a +tall, good-looking lad, with light hair and snapping blue eyes that +seemed to look right through you. Yet, withal, they were merry eyes, and +dancing with life. + +Chet Anderson was rather short and stocky, not to say fat; but if any of +his friends mentioned such a thing Chet was up in arms at once. Chet, I +might explain, was a contraction for Chetfield; the lad being named for +his grandfather. + +Ben Snow was always jolly. In spite of his name he was of a warm and +impulsive nature, always ready to forgive an injury and continually +seeking a chance to help someone. Clever, full of life and usually +looking on the bright side, Ben was a humorous relief to his sometimes +more sober comrades. + +Quiet and studious was Frank Newton, a good scholar, always standing +well in his class, and yet with his full share of fun and sport. He was +a mainstay on the baseball team, where he had pitched many a game to +victory. + +With the exception of Tom Hatfield you have now met the lads with whom +the first part of this story is chiefly concerned. Tom was one of the +nicest fellows you could know. His parents were wealthy, but wealth had +not spoiled Tom. He was happy-go-lucky, of a generous, whole-souled +nature, always jolly and happy, and yet with a temper that at times +blazed out and amazed his friends. Seldom was it directed against any of +them; but when Tom spoke quietly, with a sort of ring like the clang of +steel in his voice, then was the time to look out. + +The five lads came from the same town, as has been said, and had been +friends, more or less, all their lives. With their advent at Milton +their friendship was cemented with that seal which is never +broken--school-comradeship. You boys know this. You men who may chance +to read this book know it. How many of you, speaking of someone, has not +at one time said: + +"Why, he and I used to go to school together!" + +And is there anything in life better than this--an old school chum? It +means so much. + +But there. I started to tell a story, and I find myself getting off on +the side lines. To get back into the game: + +Link Bardon had hardly finished telling his good Samaritan boy friends +of his trouble with Mr. Snad, when the burly farmer reappeared. Striding +up to his hired man--his former employee--he thrust some crumpled bills +into his hand, and growled: + +"Now you get out of here as fast as you can. I've seen enough of you!" + +"And I may say the same thing!" retorted Link. He was getting back his +nerve. Perhaps Andy and his chums had contributed to this end. + +"Huh! Don't you go to gettin' fresh!" snapped Mr. Snad. + +"Don't let him get your goat!" exclaimed Tom, with a cheerful grin. + +"I've had enough of you young upstarts!" cried the farmer, turning +fiercely on Andy and his chums. "Be off!" + +"Wait until we see if Link has his money all right," suggested Andy. "He +might ring in a counterfeit bill on you if you don't watch out." + +"Bah!" sneered the farmer. + +Link counted over his wages. They were all right. + +"Now I'll get my things and go," he said, calmly. + +"And don't you ever come around askin' me for a job," warned his former +employer. + +"I guess there isn't much danger," spoke Tom, quietly. "Come on, +fellows. I'm hungry enough to eat two of Kelly's steaks." + +They followed Andy, who again lightly leaped the fence into the road. +Link went on toward the house to pack up his few belongings. He waved +his hand toward the boys, and they waved back. They hardly expected to +see him again, and certainly Andy Blair never dreamed of the strange +part the young farmer would play in his coming life at Yale. Such odd +tricks does fate play upon us. + +The Milton lads swung on down the road in the direction of Churchtown. +It was early evening by now. + +"Some doings!" commented Chet as he slipped his arm into that of Andy. + +"I should say!" exclaimed Ben. "Andy, you took the right action that +time." + +"Well, I just couldn't bear to see that chap, with his arm in a sling, +being beaten up by that brute of a farmer," was the reply. "It got my +dander up." + +"Same here," spoke Tom. + +"You'd never know it, from the way you acted," put in Frank. + +"Tom is always worst when he's quietest," remarked Andy. "Well, now for +a good feed. Let's cut through here, hop a car, and get to Kelly's +quicker." + +"Go ahead, we're with you," announced Chet, and soon the lads were in +the "eating joint," as they called it. + +"Broiled steak with French fried potatoes, Adolph!" + +"Yah!" + +"I want an omelet with green peppers!" + +"Liver and bacon for mine!" + +"Ham and eggs! Plenty of gravy!" + +"Yah!" + +"Coffee with my order, Adolph!" + +"Yah!" + +"And say, I want some of those rolls with moon-seeds on top, Adolph! +Don't forget!" + +"Nein!" + +"And my coffee comes with my steak, not afterward. Hoch der Kaiser!" + +"Shure!" + +"How's the soup, Adolph?" + +"Fine und hot!" + +"That's good! One on you, Tom!" + +"Bring me a plate!" + +"Oh, say, Adolph, make my order a chop instead of those ham and eggs." + +"Yah!" + +"And, Adolph." + +"Yes, sir." + +"I want a glass of milk, with a squirt of vichy in it. Don't forget." + +"Nein, I vunt!" + +"And speed up, Adolph, we're all in a hurry." + +"Shure. You vos allvays in a hurry!" + +The German waiter scurried away. How he ever remembered it all is one of +the mysteries that one day may be solved. But he never forgot, and never +made a mistake. + +The boys were seated at a table in one of the small rooms of Kelly's. +They stretched out their legs and took their ease, for they felt they +had earned a little relaxation. + +About them in other rooms, in small recesses made by the high-backed +seats, were other students. There was a calling back and forth. + +"Hello, Spike!" + +"Stick out your head, Bender!" + +"Over here, Buster--here's room!" + +"There's Bunk now!" + +You could not tell who was saying what or which, nor to whom, any more +than I can. Hence the rather disjointed style of the preceding. But you +know what I mean, for you must have been there yourself. If not, I beg +of you to get into some such place where "good fellows," in the truest +sense of the word, meet together. For where they congregate it is always +"good weather," no matter if it snows or hails, or even if the stormy +winds do blow--do blow--do blow! + +But at last a measure of quietness settled down in Kelly's, and the +chatter of voices was succeeded by the clatter of knives and forks. + +Then came a reaction--a time when one settled back on one's bench, the +first tearing edge of the appetite dulled. It was at this time that Tom +Hatfield, leaning over to Andy, said: + +"And so you are going to Yale?" + +"Yes, I've made up my mind." + +"Well, I congratulate you. It's a grand old place. Wish I was with you." + +"Say, Andy!" piped up Chet Anderson, "if you go to Yale you'll meet an +old friend of yours there." + +"Who, for the love of bacon?" + +"Mortimer Gaffington!" + +Andy's knife fell to his plate with a clash that caused the other diners +to look up hurriedly. + +"Mortimer Gaffington!" gasped our hero. "For cats' sake! That's so. I +forgot he went to Yale! Oh, wow! Well, it can't be helped. I've made my +choice!" + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +THE PICTURE SHOW + + +Andy's chums looked curiously at him. Chet's chance remark had brought +back to them the memory of the old enmity between Andy Blair and +Mortimer Gaffington, the rich young "sport" of Dunmore. It was an enmity +that had happily been forgotten in the joy of life at Milton. Now it +loomed up again. + +"That's right, that cad Mort does hang out at New Haven," remarked Tom. +"That is, he did. But maybe they've fired him," he added, hopefully. + +"No such luck," spoke Andy, ruefully. "I had a letter from my sister +only the other day, and she mentioned some row that Mort had gotten into +at Yale. Came within an ace of being taken out, but it was smoothed +over. No, I'll have to rub up against him if I go there." + +"Well, you don't need to have much to do with him," suggested Frank. + +"And you can just make up your mind that I won't," spoke Andy. "I'll +steer clear of him from the minute I strike New Haven. But don't let's +talk about it. Where's that waiter, anyhow? Has he gone out to kill a +fatted calf?" + +"Here he comes," announced Ben. "Get a move on there, Adolph!" + +"Yah!" + +"And don't wait for my French fried potatoes to sprout, either," added +Chet. + +"Yah, shure not!" + +"Oh, look who's here!" exclaimed Tom, nodding toward a newcomer. "Shoot +in over here, Swipes!" he called to a tall lad, whose progress through +the room was marked by friendly calls on many sides. He was a general +favorite, Harry Morton by name, but seldom called anything but "Swipes," +from a habit he had of taking or "swiping" signs, and other mementoes of +tradesmen about town; the said signs and insignia of business later +adorning his room. + +"Got space?" asked Harry, as he paused at the little compartment which +held our friends. + +"Surest thing you know, Swipes. Shove over there, Frank. Are you trying +to hog the whole bench?" + +"Not when Swipes is around," was the retort. "I'll leave that to him." + +"Half-ton benches are a little out of my line," laughed the newcomer, as +he found room at the table. "Bring me a rarebit, Adolph, and don't leave +out the cheese." + +"No, sir, Mr. Morton! Ho! ho! Dot's a goot vun! A rarebit mitout der +cheese! Ach! Dot is goot!" and the fat German waiter went off chuckling +at the old joke. + +"What's the matter, Andy, you look as if you'd had bad news from your +best girl?" asked Harry, clapping Andy on the shoulder. "Cheer up, the +worst is yet to come." + +"You're right there!" exclaimed Andy, heartily. "The worst _is_ yet to +come. I'm going to Yale----" + +"Hurray! Rah! rah! That's the stuff! But talk about the worst, I can't +see it. I wish I were in your rubbers." + +"And that dub Mortimer Gaffington is there, too," went on Andy. "That's +the worst." + +"I don't quite get you," said Harry, in puzzled tones. "Is this +Gaffington one of the bulldog profs. who eats freshmen alive?" + +"No, he's a fellow from our town," explained Andy, "and he and I are on +the outs. We've been so for a long time. It was at a ball game some time +ago. Our town team was playing and I was catching. Mort was pitching. He +accused me of deliberately throwing away the game, and naturally I went +back at him. We had a fight, and since then we haven't spoken. He's +rich, and all that, but I don't like him; not because I beat him in a +fair fight, either. Well, he went to Yale last year, and I was glad +when he left town. Now I'm sorry he's at Yale, since I'm going there. I +know he'll try to make it unpleasant for me." + +"Oh, well, make the best of it," advised Harry, philosophically. "He +can't last for ever. Here comes my eats! Let's get busy." + +"So Mort will be a sophomore when you get to New Haven, will he?" asked +Frank of Andy. + +"He will if he doesn't flunk, and I don't suppose he will. He's smart +enough in a certain way. Oh, well, what's the use of worrying? As Harry +says, here come the eats." + +Adolph staggered in with a well-heaped tray containing Harry's order, +and he and his chums finished their meal talking the while. The evening +wore on, more students dropping in to make merry in Kelly's. A large +group formed about the nucleus made by Andy and his chums. These lads +were seniors in the preparatory school, and, as such, were looked up to +by those who had just started the course, or who were finishing their +first year. In a way, Milton was like a small college in some matters, +notably in class distinction, though it was not carried to the extent it +is in the big universities. + +"What are you fellows going to do?" asked Harry, as he pushed back his +chair. "I'm feeling pretty fit now. I haven't an enemy in the world at +this moment," and he sighed in satisfaction. "That rarebit was sure a +bird! Are you fellows out for any fun?" + +"Not to-night," replied Andy. "I'm going to cut back and write some +letters." + +"Forget it," advised Harry. "It's early, and too nice a night to go to +bed. Let's take in a show." + +"I've got some boning to do," returned Frank, with a sigh. + +"And I ought to plug away at my Latin," added Chet, with another sigh. + +"Say, but you fellows are the greasy grinds!" objected Harry. "Why don't +you take a day off once in a while?" + +"It's easy enough for you, Swipes; Latin comes natural to you!" +exclaimed Tom. "But I have to plug away at it, and when I get through I +know less than when I started." + +"And as for me," broke in Chet, "I can read a page all right in the +original, but when I come to translate I can make two pages of it in +English, and have enough Latin words left over to do half another one. +No, Swipes, it won't do; I've got to do some boning." + +"Aw, forget it. Come on to a show. There's a good movie in town this +week. I'll blow you fellows. Some vaudeville, too, take it from me. +There's a pair who roll hoops until the stage looks like a barrel +factory having a tango dance. Come on. It's great!" + +"Well, a movie wouldn't be so bad," admitted Tom. "It doesn't last until +midnight. What do you say, fellows?" + +"Oh, I don't know," came from Andy, uncertainly. + +"I'll go if you fellows will," remarked Frank. + +"Oh, well, then let's do it!" cried Tom. "I guess we won't flunk +to-morrow. We can burn a little midnight electricity. Let 'er go!" + +And so they went to the moving picture show. It was like others of its +kind, neither better nor worse, with vaudeville acts and songs +interspersed between the reels. There was a good attendance, scores of +the Milton lads being there, as well as many persons from the town and +surrounding hamlets. + +Our friends found seats about the middle of the house. It was a sort of +continuous performance, and as they entered a girl was singing a song on +a well-lighted stage. Andy glanced about as he took his seat, and met +the gaze of Link Bardon. He nodded at him, and the young farmer nodded +back. + +"Who's that--a new fellow?" asked Harry, who was next to Andy. + +"Not at school--no. He's a hired man we found being beaten up by an old +codger of a farmer when we walked out this afternoon. We took his part +and made the farmer trot Spanish. I guess Link is taking a day off with +the wages we got for him," and he detailed the incident. + +The show went on. Some of the students became boisterous, and there were +hisses from the audience, and demands that the boys remain quiet. One +lad, who did not train in the set of Andy and his friends, insisted on +joining in the chorus with one of the singers, and matters got to such a +pass that the manager rang down the curtain and threatened to stop the +performance unless the students behaved. Finally some of the companions +of the noisy one induced him to quiet down. + +Following a long picture reel a girl came out to sing. She was pretty +and vivacious, though her songs were commonplace enough. In one of the +stage boxes were a number of young fellows, not from Milton, and they +began to ogle the singer, who did not seem averse to their attentions. +She edged over to their box, and threw a rose to one of the occupants. + +Gallantly enough he tossed back one he was wearing, but at that moment a +companion in front of him had raised a lighted match to his cigarette. + +The hand of the young man throwing the rose to the singer struck the +flaring match and sent it over the rail of the box straight at the +flimsy skirts of the performer. + +In an instant the tulle had caught fire, and a fringe of flame shot +upward. + +The singer ceased her song with a scream that brought the orchestra to a +stop with a crashing chord, and the girl's cries of horror were echoed +by the women in the audience. The girl started to run into the wings, +but Andy, springing from his seat on the aisle, made a leap for the +brass rail behind the musicians. + +"Stand still! Stand still! Don't go back there in the draft!" cried +Andy, as he jumped upon the stage over the head of the orchestra leader +and began stripping off his coat. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +FINAL DAYS + + +"Fire! Fire!" yelled some foolish ones in the audience. + +"Keep still!" shouted Tom Hatfield, who well knew the danger of a panic +in a hall with few exits. "Keep still! Play something!" he called to the +orchestra leader, who was staring at Andy, dazed at the flying leap of +the lad over his head. "Play any old tune!" + +It was this that saved the day. The leader tapped with his violin bow on +the tin shade over his electric light and the dazed musicians came to +attention. They began on the number the girl had been singing. It was +like the irony of fate to hear the strains of a sentimental song when +the poor girl was in danger of death. But the music quieted the +audience. Men and women sank back in their seats, watching with +fear-widened eyes the actions of Andy Blair. + +And while Tom had thus effectively stopped the incipient panic, Andy had +not been idle. Working with feverish haste, he had wrapped his heavy +coat about the girl, smothering the flames. She was sobbing and +screaming by turns. + +"There! There!" cried Andy. "Keep quiet. I have the fire out. You're in +no danger!" + +"Oh--oh! But--but the fire----" + +"It's out, I tell you!" insisted Andy. "It was only a little blaze!" + +He could see tiny tongues of flame where his coat did not quite reach, +and with swift, quick pats of his bare hands he beat them out, burning +himself slightly. He took good care not to let the flames shoot up, so +that the frantic girl would inhale them. That meant death, and her +escape had been narrow enough as it was. + +As Andy held the coat closely about her he glanced over toward the box +whence the match had come. He saw the horror-stricken young men looking +at him and the girl in fascination, but they had not been quick to act. +After all, it was an accident and the fault of no one in particular. + +The stage was now occupied by several other performers, and the frantic +manager. But it was all over. Andy patted out the last of the +smouldering sparks. The girl was swaying and he looked up in time to see +that she was going to faint. + +"Look out!" he cried, and caught her in his arms. + +"Back this way! Carry her back here!" ordered the manager, motioning to +the wings. "Keep that music going!" he added to the orchestra leader. + +They carried the unfortunate little singer to a dressing room, and a +doctor was summoned. One of the stage hands brought Andy's coat to him. +The garment was seared and scorched, and rank with the odor of smoke. + +"If you don't want to wear it I'll see Mr. Wallack, and get another for +you," offered the man. + +"Oh, this isn't so bad," said Andy, slipping it on. "It's an old one, +anyhow." + +He looked curiously about him. It was the first time he had been behind +the scenes, though there was not as much to observe in this little +theatre as in a larger one. Beyond the dropped curtain he could hear the +strains of the music and the murmur in the audience. The show had come +to a sudden ending, and many were departing. + +As Andy was leaving, to go back to his chums, the doctor came in +hastily, and hurried to the room of the performer. + +"Say, some little hero act, eh, Andy?" exclaimed Chet, as Andy rejoined +his friends. + +"Forget it!" was the retort. "Tom, here, had his wits about him." + +"All right, old man. But you never got down the field after a football +punt any quicker than you hurdled that orchestra leader, and made a +flying tackle of that singer!" exclaimed Tom, admiringly. "My hat off to +you, Andy, old boy!" + +"Same here!" cried Chet. + +The young men in the box were talking to the manager, and the one who +had knocked the lighted match on the stage came over to speak to Andy, +who was standing with his chums in the aisle near their seats. + +"Thanks, very much, old man!" exclaimed the chap whose impulsive act had +so nearly caused a tragedy. "It was mighty fine of you to do that. I had +heart failure when I saw her on fire." + +"You couldn't help it," replied Andy. "They ought not to allow smoking +in places like this." + +"That's right. Next time I throw a rose at a girl I'll look to see +what's going to happen." + +The theatre was almost deserted by now. All that remained to tell of the +accident was the smell of smoke, and a few bits of charred cloth on the +stage. + +A man came out in front of the curtain. + +"Miss Fuller wants to see the young fellow who put out the fire," he +announced. + +"That's you, Andy!" cried his chums. + +"Aw, I'm not going back there." + +"Yes, she would like to see you. She wants to thank you," put in the +stage manager. "Come along." + +Rather bashfully Andy went back. He found the singer--a mere +girl--propped up on a couch. Her arms and hands were in bandages, but +she did not seem to have been much burned. + +"I'm sorry I can't shake hands with you," she said, with a smile. She +was pale, for the "make-up" had been washed from her face. + +"Oh, that's all right," responded Andy, a bit embarrassed. + +"It was awfully good and brave of you," she went on, with a catch in her +voice. "I don't--I don't know how to thank you. I--I just couldn't seem +to do anything for myself. It was--awful," and her voice broke. + +"Oh, it might have been worse," spoke Andy, and he knew that it wasn't +just the thing to say. But, for the life of him, he could not fit proper +words together. "I'm glad you're all right, Miss Fuller," he said. He +had seen her name on the bills--Mazie Fuller. He wondered whether it was +her right one, or a stage cognomen. At any rate, he decided from a +casual glance, she was very pretty. + +"You must give me your address," the girl went on. "I want to pay for +the coat you spoiled on my account." + +"Oh, that's all right," and Andy was conscious that he was blushing. "It +isn't hurt a bit. I'll have to be going now." + +"Oh, you must let me have your name and address," the girl went on. + +"Oh, all right," and Andy pulled out a card. "I'm at Milton Prep.," he +added, thinking in a flash that he would not be there much longer. But +then he did not want her to send him a new coat. + +"I'm afraid I'll have to ask you to leave now," said the doctor kindly. +"She has had quite a shock, and I want her to be quiet." + +"Sure," assented Andy, rather glad, on the whole, that he could make his +escape. One of his hands was blistered and he wanted to get back to his +room and put on some cooling lotion. He would not admit this before Miss +Fuller, for he did not want to cause her any more pain. + +The girl sank back on a couch as Andy went out of the dressing room. But +she smiled brightly at him, and murmured: + +"I'll see you again, some time." + +"Sure," assented the lad. He wondered whether she would. + +Then he rejoined his chums and they left the theatre. There was a +little crowd in front, attracted by the rumor that an actress had been +burned. As Andy and his friends made their way through the throng to a +car he heard someone call: + +"Dat's de guy what saved her!" + +"You're becoming famous, Andy, my boy!" whispered Tom. + +"Forget it," advised his chum. + +The boys reached their dormitory with a scant minute or so to spare +before locking-up time, for the rules were rather strict at Milton. +There were hasty good-nights, promises to meet on the morrow, and then +quiet settled down over the school. + +Andy went to his room, and for a minute, before turning on the light, he +stood at the window looking over the campus. Many thoughts were surging +through his brain. + +"It sure has been one full little day," he mused. "The scrap with the +farmer, dousing the sparks on that girl, and--deciding on going to Yale! + +"Jove, though, but I'm glad I've made up my mind! Yale! I wonder if I'll +be worthy of it?" + +Andy leaned against the window and looked out to where the moonlight +made fantastic shadows through the big maples on the green. Before his +eyes came a picture of the elm-shaded quadrangle at Yale, which once he +had crossed, hardly dreaming then that he would ever go there. + +"Yale! Yale!" he whispered to himself. "What a lot it means! What a lot +it might mean! What a lot it often doesn't signify. Oh, if I can only +make good there!" + +For some time Andy had been vacillating between two colleges, but +finally he had settled on Yale. His parents had left him his choice, and +now he had made it. + +"I must write to dad," he said. "He'll want to know." + +It was too late to do it now. They had not come back as early as they +had intended. The bell for "lights out," clanged, and Andy hastily +prepared for bed. + +"Only a few more days at old Milton," he whispered to himself. "And then +for Yale!" + +The closing days of the term drew nearer. Examinations were the order of +the day, and many were the anxious hearts. There was less fun and more +hard work. + +Andy wrote home, detailing briefly his decision and telling of the +affair of the theatre. For it got into the papers, and Andy was made +quite a hero. He wanted his parents to understand the true situation. + +A letter of thanks came from the theatre manager, and with it a pass, +good for any time, for Andy and his friends. In the letter it was said +that Miss Fuller was in no danger, and had gone to the home of relatives +to recover from the shock. + +Andy was rather surprised when he received, one day, a fine mackinaw +coat, of the latest style. With it was a note which said: + +"To replace the one you burned." + +There was no name signed, but he knew from whom it came. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +THE BONFIRE + + +"This way, freshmen! This way!" + +"Over here now! No let-outs!" + +"Keep 'em together, Blink! Don't let any of 'em sneak away!" + +"Wood! Everybody bring wood!" + +"Look out for that fellow! He's a grind! He'll try to skip!" + +"Wood! Everybody get wood!" + +The cries echoed and re-echoed over the campus at Milton. It was the +final night of the term. The examinations were over and done. Some had +fallen by the wayside, but Andy and his chums were among those elected. + +They had passed, and they were to move on out of the preparatory school +into the larger life of the colleges. + +And, as always was the case on an occasion of this kind, a celebration +was to mark the closing of the school for the long summer vacation. The +annual bonfire was to be kindled on the campus, and about it would +circle those lads who were to leave the school, while their mates did +them honor. + +Thus it was that the cries rang out. + +"Wood!" + +"More wood!" + +"Most wood!" + +The town had been gleaned for inflammable material. The ash boxes of not +even the oldest citizen were sacred on an occasion like this. For weeks +the heap of wood had accumulated, until now there was a towering pile +ready for the match. + +And still the cries echoed from the various quarters. + +"Freshmen, get wood!" + +"On the job, freshmen!" + +More wood was brought, and yet more. The pile grew. + +"Gee, this is fierce!" groaned a fat freshman, staggering along under +the burden of two big boxes. "Those fellows want too much. I'm going to +quit!" + +"Look out! Don't let 'em hear you!" warned a companion. "They'll keep +you carting it all night if you kick." + +"Kick! (puff) Kick! (puff) I ain't got wind enough to do any kickin'. +I'm (puff) all (puff) in!" + +"Oh, well, it's all in the game. We'll be out of this class next term, +and we can watch the other fellows sweat! Cut along!" + +"Wood! Wood over here!" + +"Where's Andy Blair?" + +"I don't know. Oh you Swipes! What you got!" + +"All right! This'll make a flare, all right!" + +"Oh, for the love of Peter! Look what Swipes has!" + +Harry, otherwise "Swipes" Morton, was convoying four laboring and +perspiring freshmen who were carting over the campus a big box that had +ones contained a piano. + +"Oh, you Swipes!" + +"Where'd you crab that?" + +"Say, ain't he the little peach, though!" + +"Oh wow! What a lark!" + +"I guess this won't make some nifty little blaze, eh?" demanded Harry. +"Eh, Andy?" + +"Sure thing! Where'd you get it?" + +"Over back of Hanson's store. He used it for a coal box, but I made +these boobs dump out the anthracite and cart it along. Maybe I ain't +some nifty little wood gatherer, eh?" + +"You sure are, Swipes!" came the admiring retort from many voices. + +"Wood!" + +"More wood!" + +Still the pile grew apace. And with it grew the fun, the jollity, the +excitement, the cries and the spirit of the school. + +Dr. Morrison, the head master, and his teachers, had wisely retired to +their rooms. On such an occasion as this it is not wise on the part of +discerning professors to see too much. There are matters to which one +must shut one's eyes. And Dr. Morrison, from contact with many boys, was +wise in his day and generation. + +For he knew it would be only honest, clean fun; and what matter if there +was much noise and shouting? What matter if the fire blazed high? The +boys never so far forgot themselves as to endanger the school buildings +by their beacon, which was kindled well out on the big campus. + +What if numerous rules were cracked or broken? It only happened once a +year. And what if ginger pop and sandwiches were surreptitiously +introduced into the dormitories? That, too, need not be seen by the +authorities. + +"Wood! More wood!" + +"Where's Tom Hatfield?" + +"Yes, and Chet Anderson?" + +"Over here boys!" + +"Heads up!" + +"Slap on Swipes's piano box!" + +"Oh, what a find!" + +You could not have told who was saying which or what. It was all one +happy, unintelligible jumble. + +"Light her up!" + +It was the signal for the kindling of the fire. + +A score of matches flared in the darkness of the June night. The straw +and paper piled under the chaos of wood blazed with puffs of flame. The +wood caught and the tongues of fire leaped high, bringing into bold +relief the faces of the lads who joined hands and circled about the +ruddy beacon. + +"Hurray!" + +"That's the stuff!" + +"Let her burn!" + +"Say, that's a dandy, all right!" + +"Biggest in years!" + +"Well, we want to give the boys a good send-off!" + +"Look at old Swipes's piano box sizzle!" + +The shouting and excitement grew. The fire blazed higher and higher. The +campus was bright with yellow gleams. + +"Here's good-bye to old Milton!" chanted Andy. + +"That's right! Good-bye to the old school!" echoed Chet, and there was +not much joy in his tones. + +"Now, fellows, the old song. 'Milton Forever!'" called Ben, and the +melody burst forth. + +Hardly was it finished than the silence that succeeded was broken by the +strident tooting of an auto horn. + +"What's that?" cried Andy. "Who's coming here in a car?" + +"On the campus, too! It's against the rules!" cried Chet. + +"It's some fresh fellow from town trying to butt in," someone called. + +"Come on!" yelled Andy. "We'll upset him, fellows! The nerve of him!" + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +LINK AGAIN + + +There was a rush of the celebrating seniors toward the place where the +disturbance arose. Then others left the big bonfire to see the fun. + +An automobile horn tooted discordantly--defiantly, Andy thought. + +"Who has had the nerve to come in here, of all nights--on the one when +we have our fire?" he thought. "It can't be any of the freshmen; they +wouldn't dare." + +"What are you going to do?" asked Ben in Andy's ear, as he trotted +beside his chum. + +"We'll upset his apple cart--that's the least we'll do, for one thing." + +"I should say yes!" chimed in Chet. "Surely!" + +They had now reached the spot where, from all appearances, was located +the center of disturbance. A crowd of the freshmen, whose labors in +gathering wood for the fire had now ceased, were gathered around a large +touring car that, in defiance of all rules and customs, had been run to +the very center of the school campus. + +"Come down out of that!" + +"Get away from here!" + +"You fellows have nerve!" + +"Puncture their tires!" + +These are only a few of the cries and threats hurled at those in the +auto--four young fellows who seemed anxious to make trouble not only for +themselves, but for the school boys, whose celebration they had +interrupted. + +The campus was a sort of sacred place. It stood in the midst of the +school buildings and dormitories, and, though visitors were always +welcome, there was a rule against vehicles crossing it, for the turf was +the pride not only of the students, but the faculty as well. So it is no +wonder that the sight of a heavy auto rolling over the lawn aroused the +ire of all. + +"Get out of the way there, you fellows, if you don't want to be run +over!" snapped the youth at the steering wheel of the auto. "I'll smash +through you in another minute!" + +"Oh, you will, eh?" + +"Isn't he the sassy little boy!" + +"Yank him out of there!" + +The freshmen surrounding the auto thus reviled those in the car. + +The auto had come to a stop, but the engine was still running, free +from the gears. Now and then, as he saw an opening, the lad at the wheel +would slip in his clutch and the car would advance a few feet. Then more +of the school boys would swarm about it, and progress would be impeded. + +"Smash through 'em, old man!" advised one on the rear seat. "We don't +want to stay here all night!" + +"That's right; run 'em down," advised his companion. "We're--we're--what +are we, anyhow?" he asked, and it did not need a look at him to tell the +cause of his condition. In fact, all in the auto were in a rather +hilarious state, and the running of the car over the campus had been the +result of a suggestion made after a too-long lingering in a certain +road-house, where stronger stuff than ginger ale was dispensed. + +"We're all right--noshin matter us," declaimed one. "Run 'em down, ole +man!" + +"Look out! I'm going through you!" cried the lad at the wheel. The +freshmen in front of the car parted instinctively, but before the young +chauffeur could put his threat into execution, Andy and his chums had +reached the machine. + +"Get out of here!" cried Andy, and, reaching up, he fairly pulled the +steersman from his seat. The chap came down in a rush, nearly upsetting +Andy, who, however, managed to yank the lad to his feet. + +"Pull 'em all out!" came the cry from Tom, and a moment later he, with +the aid of Ben, Chet and Frank, had pulled from the car the other young +men, who seemed too dazed to resist. + +"Hop in that car, Peterson," ordered Andy, to a freshman who could +operate an auto. "Run it out to the street and leave it. Then we'll rush +these chaps out to it and chuck 'em in. We'll show 'em what it means to +run over our campus." + +All this time Andy had kept hold of the collar of the youth whom he had +pulled from the car. Then the latter turned about, and raised his fist. +He had been taken so by surprise that he at first had seemed incapable +of action. + +At this moment the big bonfire flared up brightly, and by its glare Andy +had a look at the face of the lad with whom he had clashed. The sight +caused him suddenly to drop his hold and exclaim: + +"Mortimer Gaffington!" + +"Huh! So it's you, is it, Andy Blair? What do you mean by acting this +way?" demanded Mortimer, the shock of whose rough handling had seemed to +sober temporarily. "What do you mean? I demand an apology! That's what I +do. Ain't I 'titled to 'pology, fellers?" and he appealed to his chums. + +"Sure you are. Make the little beggar 'pologize!" leered one. "If he +was at Yale, now, we'd haze him good and proper." + +"Yale!" cried Tom Hatfield. "Yale fires out such fellows as you!" + +"Mortimer Gaffington!" gasped Andy. "I rather wish this hadn't happened. +Or, rather I wish it had been anyone but he. I can see where this may +lead." + +"You goin' 'pologize?" asked Mortimer, trying to fix a stern gaze on +Andy. + +"Apologize! Certainly not!" cried Andy, indignantly. "It is you fellows +who ought to apologize. What would you do if some one ran an auto over +Yale Campus?" + +"Ho! Ho! That's good. That's rich, that is!" laughed one who had been +yanked out of his seat by Tom Hatfield. "That's a good joke, that is! An +auto on Yale campus! Why we bulldogs would eat it up, that's what we'd +do!" + +"Well, that's what we'll do here!" cried Chet, angered by the +supercilious tone of the lad. "Come on, boys; run 'em off Spanish +fashion!" + +It needed but this suggestion to further rouse the feelings of the +Milton lads, and in an instant several of them had grabbed each of the +trespassers. Andy stepped back from Mortimer. Because of the already +strained relations between himself and this society "swell," he did not +wish to take a part in the proceedings. + +"Come on! Run 'em off!" was the rallying cry. + +The auto had already been steered out on a road that circled the campus, +and was soon in the street. Then, heading their victims toward the old +gateway that formed the chief entrance to the school the Milton lads +began running out the intruders. + +"You wait! I--I'll fix you for this,--Andy Blair!" threatened Mortimer +as he was rapidly propelled over the campus. + +"Forget it!" advised Chet. "Rush 'em, fellows!" + +And rushed off Mortimer and his companions were. They were fairly tossed +into their auto, and then, with jeers and shouted advice not to repeat +the trick, the school boys turned back to their fire. + +Andy had lingered near the spot where he had hauled Mortimer out of the +auto. He was thinking of many things. He did not forget what had +happened to the intruders. Indeed it was nothing short of what they +deserved, for they had deliberately tried to harass the school boys, and +make a mockery of one of the oldest traditions of Milton--one that held +inviolate the beautiful campus. + +"Only I wish it had been someone else than I who got hold of Mort," +mused Andy. "He'll be sure to remember it when I get to Yale, and he'll +have it in for me. He can make a lot of trouble, too, I reckon. Well, it +can't be helped. They only got what was coming to 'em." + +With this thought Andy consoled himself, but he had an uneasy feeling +for all that. The students came trooping back, after having disposed of +Mortimer and his crowd. + +"You missed the best part of the fun," said Chet to Andy. "Those fellows +thought a cyclone struck them when we tossed 'em into the car. They +don't know yet whether they're going or coming back," and he laughed, +his mates joining in. + +"Yes?" asked Andy, non-committally. + +"What's up?" asked Tom, curiously. "You don't act as though it had any +flavor for you. What's the matter?" + +"Oh, well--nothing," said Andy. "Come on, let's get back to the fire, +and have a last song. Then I'm going to pack. I want to leave on that +early train in the morning." + +"Same here. Come on, boys. Whoop her up once more for Old Milton, and +then we'll say good-bye." + +"I know what ails Andy," spoke Tom in a low tone to Frank, walking along +arm in arm with him. + +"What?" + +"It's about that fellow Gaffington. Andy's sorry he had a run-in with +him, and I don't blame Andy. He had trouble before, and this will only +add to it. And that Gaffington is just mean enough, and small-spirited +enough, to make trouble for Andy down there at Yale. He's a sport--but +one of the tin-horn brand. I don't blame Andy for wishing it had been +someone else." + +"Oh, well, here's hoping," said Frank. "We all have our troubles." + +"But those fellows won't trouble us again to-night," declared Chet, +laughing. "They'll be glad to go home and get in bed." + +"Did you know any of 'em, Andy, except Gaffington?" asked Tom. + +"No, the others were strangers to me." + +"How do you reckon they got here, all the way from New Haven?" + +"Oh, they didn't come from Yale," declared Andy. "The university closed +last week, you know. Probably Mort had some of his chums out to visit +him in Dunmore. That was his car. And he wanted to show 'em the sights, +and let 'em see he could run all over little Milton, so he brought 'em +out here. It isn't such a run from Dunmore, you know." + +"I reckon that's it," agreed Tom. "Well, they got more than they were +looking for, that's one consolation. Now boys, whoop her up for the +last time." + +Again they gathered about the blazing fire, and sang their farewell +song. + +The annual celebration was drawing to a close. Another group of lads +would leave Milton to go out into the world, mounting upward yet another +step. From then on the ways of many who had been jolly good comrades +together would diverge. Some might cross again; others be as wide apart +as the poles. + +The fire died down. The big piano box commandeered by "Swipes" was but a +heap of ashes. The fun was over. + +There were cheers for the departing senior lads, who, in turn, cheered +the others who would take their places. Then came tributes to the +industrious freshmen. + +"Good night! Good night! Good night!" was shouted on all sides. + +Less and less brilliant grew the fire. Now it was but a heap of glowing +coals that would soon be gray, dead and cold ashes, typical in a way, of +the passing of the senior boys. And yet, phoenix-like, from these same +ashes would spring up a new fire--a fire in the hearts that would never +die out. Such are school friendships. + +Of course there were forbidden little feasts in the various rooms to +mark the close of the term--spreads to which monitors, janitors and +professors discreetly closed their eyes. + +Andy and his friends gathered in his apartment for a last chat. They +were to journey to their home town on the morrow and then would soon +separate for the long summer vacation. + +"Well, it was a rare old celebration!" sighed Tom, as he flopped on the +bed. + +"It sure was!" agreed Chet, with conviction. "I hope I have as much fun +as this if I go to Harvard." + +"Same here, only I think I'll make mine Princeton," added Ben. "Oh, but +it's sort of hard to leave Milton!" + +"Right you are," came from Andy, who was opening ginger ale and soda +water. + +And, after a time, quiet settled down over the school, and Dr. Morrison +and his colleagues breathed freely again. Milton had stood steadfast +through another assault of "bonfire night." + +The next morning there were confused goodbyes, multiplied promises to +write, or to call, vows never to forget, and protestations of eternal +friendship. There were arrangements made for camping, boating, tramping +and other forms of vacation fun. There were dates made for assembling +next year. There was a confused rushing to and fro, a looking up of the +time of trains, hurried searches for missing baggage. + +And, after much excitement, Andy and his chums found themselves in the +same car bound for Dunmore. They settled back in their seats with sighs +of relief. + +"Hear anything more of Mort and his crowd?" asked Tom of Andy. + +"Not a thing." + +"I did," spoke Chet. "They were nearly arrested for making a row in town +after we got through with 'em." + +"Hum!" mused Andy. "I s'pose Mort will blame me for that, too. Well, no +use worrying until I have to." + +At Churchtown, where the train stopped to give the boys at least a last +remembrance of Kelly's place, several passengers got on. Among them was +a young man who seemed familiar to Andy and his chums. A second look +confirmed it. + +"Why, that's the Bardon chap we took away from that farmer!" exclaimed +Frank. + +"That's right!" cried Andy. "Hello, Link!" he called genially. "What you +doing here?" + +"Oh, how are you?" asked the farm lad. "Glad to see you all again," and +he nodded to each one in turn. He did not at all presume on his +acquaintance with them, and was about to pass on, when Andy said: + +"Sit down. How's your arm?" + +"Oh much better, thank you. I've been working steadily since you helped +me." + +"That's good. Where are you bound for now?" went on Andy. + +"Why, I'm going to look up an uncle of mine I haven't seen in years. I +hear he has a big farm, and I thought I'd like to work for him." + +"Where is it?" asked Andy. + +"In a place called Wickford, Connecticut." + +"Wickford!" exclaimed Andy. "Why that's near New Haven, and Yale--where +I'm going this fall. Maybe I'll see you there, Link." + +"Maybe," assented the young farmer, and then, declining Andy's +invitation to sit with the school lads, he passed on down the car +aisle. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +OFF FOR YALE + + +Andy Blair had signed for Yale University. He had, as before noted, +communicated to his father his desire to attend the New Haven +institution, and Mr. Blair, who had given his son a free hand in the +matter, had acquiesced. + +Milton was well known among the various preparatory schools, and her +final examinations admitted to Yale with few other formalities. So Andy +had no trouble on that score, save in a few minor matters, which were +easily cleared up. + +He had matriculated, and all that remained was to select a room or +dormitory. He had been studying over a Yale catalog, and looking at the +accompanying map which gave the location of the various buildings. + +"Now the question is," said Andy, talking it over with the folks at +home, "the question is do I want to go to a private house and room, or +had I better take a place in one of the Halls. I rather like the idea of +a Hall room myself--Wright for choice--but of course that might cost +more than going to a private house." + +"If it's a question of cost, don't let that stand in the way," replied +Mr. Blair, generously. "I'm not given to throwing money away, Andy, my +boy, and a college education isn't a cheap thing, no matter how you look +at it. But it's worth all it costs, I believe, and I want you to have +the best. + +"If you can get more into the real life of Yale by having a room in +Wright Hall, or in any of the college dormitories, why do so. There's +something in being right on the ground, so to speak. You can absorb so +much more." + +"Good for you, Dad!" cried Andy. "You're a real sport. Then I vote for a +Hall. I'll take a run down and see what I can arrange." + +"But wouldn't a private house be quieter?" suggested Mrs. Blair. "You +know you'll have to do lots of studying, Andy, and if you get in a big +building with a lot of other students they may annoy you." + +"Oh, I guess, Mother," said Bertha, Andy's sister, "that he'll do his +share of annoying, too." + +"Come again, Sis. Get out your little hammer, and join the anvil +chorus!" sarcastically commented Andy. + +"No, but really," went on Mrs. Blair, "wouldn't a private house be +quieter, Andy?" + +"Not much more so, I believe," spoke the prospective Yale freshman. +"When there's any excitement going on those in the private houses get +as much of it as those in the college buildings. But, as a matter of +fact, when there's nothing on--like a big game or some of the +rushes--Yale is as quiet as the average Sunday school. + +"Why, the day I was there I walked all around and nothing happened. The +fellows came and went, and seemed very quiet, not to say meek. I walked +over the campus, and I expected every minute some big brute of a +sophomore would smash my hat down over my eyes, and give a 'Rah! Rah!' +yell. But nothing like that happened. It was sort of disappointing." + +"Well, you need quiet if you're going to study," went on Mrs. Blair. She +had an idea that Yale was a sort of higher-grade boarding school, it +seemed. + +"Then I'll decide on Wright Hall," remarked Andy. "That is, if I can get +in." + +Then followed some correspondence which resulted in Andy being informed +that a room on the campus side of Wright Hall, and on the second floor, +was available. The only trouble was that it was a double room, and Andy +would have to share it with another student. + +"Hum!" he exclaimed when he had this information. "Now I'm up against it +once more. Who can I get to go in with me? I don't want to take a total +stranger, and yet I guess I'll have to." + +"You might advertise for a roommate?" suggested his mother. + +"I guess they don't do things that way at Yale," spoke Andy, with a +smile. + +"Why don't you wait until you get there, and maybe you'll find somebody +in the same fix you are?" asked Bertha. + +"I guess that is good advice," remarked Andy. "I'll take a run down +there some time before term opening, and maybe I can get some nice chap +wished on me. If Tom, or Chet, or some of the Milton lads, were coming +to Yale it would be all right." + +"Didn't any of them pick out Yale?" asked Mr. Blair. + +"Not as far as I know." + +"Oh, well, I guess you'll make out all right, son. A good roommate is a +fine companion to have, so I hope you won't be disappointed. But there's +no hurry." + +The long summer vacation was at hand. Andy's people were to go to a lake +resort, and soon after coming home from Milton, Andy, with his mother +and sister, was installed in a comfortable cottage. Mr. Blair would come +up over week-ends. + +Chet Anderson and Tom Hatfield were at a nearby resort, so Andy knew he +was in for a good summer of fun. And he was not disappointed. He and his +chums spent much time on the water, living in their bathing suits for +whole days at a time. But I will not weary you with a description of the +various things they did. Sufficient to say that the vacation was like a +good many others Andy had enjoyed, and expected to enjoy again. Nothing +in particular happened. + +The Summer wore on. The dog-days came and there loomed in the distance +the Fall months. Tom had called on Andy one day, and they went out in +the canoe together. + +"Well, it will soon be study-grind again," remarked Tom, as he sent the +light boat under a fringe of bushes out of the sun. + +"Yes, and I won't be sorry," spoke Andy. "I'm anxious to see what life +at Yale is like. I've got to take a run down in a week or so, to fix up +about my room. You haven't heard of anyone I know who is going to be a +freshman there; do you?" + +"No, but I saw an old friend of yours the other day." + +"You did! Who?" + +"Remember that little actress you did the fireman-save-my-child act for +this Spring?" + +"Miss Fuller? Sure I do. Did you see her?" + +"I did." + +"Where?" + +"Oh, at a vaudeville theater. She remembered me, too." + +"Did she ask for me?" + +"Naturally. I told her you were going to Yale, and she said she might +see you there." + +"How?" + +"Why, she's playing a couple of weeks early in October at Poli's. You +want to look her up." + +"I sure will. You saw the mackinaw she sent me?" + +"Yes, it'll come in handy for Yale. I wish I was with you, but I'm +wished on to Cornell--I yell!" + +"Oh, well, we can't all go to the same place, but it sure would be fine +if we could." + +Then they began to talk of the old days at Milton, until the shadows +lengthened over the lake and it was time to paddle back to the cottage. + +Andy took a run down to New Haven the next week, and made his final +arrangements. He was walking about the now deserted quadrangle, looking +up at the window of the room he had selected in Wright Hall, when he was +aware that a youth of his own age was doing the same thing. + +Something seemed to attract Andy to this stranger. There was a frank, +open, ingenuous look in his face that Andy liked. And there was that in +the air and manner of the lad which told he came of no common stock. His +clothing betokened the work of a fashionable tailor, though the garments +were quiet, and just a shade off the most up-to-date mode. + +"Are you a student here?" asked the stranger of Andy. + +"No, but I expect to be. I'm going to start in." + +"So am I. Chamber is my name--Duncan Chamber, though I'm always called +Dunk for short." + +"Glad to know you. My name's Blair--Andy Blair." + +They shook hands, and then followed the usual embarrassed pause. Neither +knew what to say next. Finally Duncan broke the silence by asking: + +"Got your room yet?" + +"Up there," and Andy pointed to it. + +"Gee! That's all right--a peach! I'm up a stump myself." + +"How so?" + +"Well, I've about taken one in Pierson Hall, but it's a double one, and +I've got to share it with a fellow I don't take much of a leaning to. +He's a stranger to me. I like it better here, though. Better view of the +campus." + +Andy took a sudden resolve. + +"I'm about in the same boat," he said. "That's a double room of mine up +there in Wright, and I haven't a chum yet. I don't know what to do. Of +course I'm a stranger to you, but if you'd like to share my joint----" + +"Friend Andy, say no more!" interrupted Duncan. "Lead me to thy +apartment!" + +Andy laughed. He was liking this youth more and more every minute. + +The room was inspected. Andy was still the only one who had engaged it. + +"It suits me to a T if I suit you," exclaimed Duncan. "What do you say, +Blair? Shall we hitch it up?" + +"I'm willing." + +"Shake!" + +They shook. Thus was the pact made, a union of friends that was to have +a strange effect on both. + +"Now that's settled I'll call the Pierson game off," said Dunk, as we +shall call him from now on. "I'm wished onto you, Blair." + +"I'm glad of it!" + +The final arrangements were made, and thus Andy had his new roommate. +They went to dinner together, and planned to do all sorts of possible +and impossible things when the term should open. + +Andy returned to the Summer cottage with the good news, and then began +busy days for him. He replenished his stock of clothes and other +possessions and selected his favorite bats and other sporting +accessories with which to decorate his room. He had a big pennant +enscribed with the name MILTON, and this was to drape one side wall. +Dunk Chamber was from Andover, and his school colors would flaunt +themselves on the opposite side of the room. + +And then the day came. + +Andy, spruce and trim in a new suit, had sent on his trunk, and, with +his valise in hand, bade his parents and sister good-bye. + +The family was still at the summer cottage, which would not be closed +for another month. Then they would go back to Dunmore. + +Yale was calling to Andy, and one hazy September morning he took the +train that, by dint of making several changes, would land him in New +Haven. + +"And at Yale!" murmured Andy as the engine puffed away from the dingy +station. "I'm off for Yale at last!" + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +ON THE CAMPUS + + +Andy's train rolled into the New Haven station shortly before dusk. On +the way the new student had been surreptitiously "sizing up" certain +other young men in the car with him, trying to decide whether or not +they were Yale students. One was, he had set that down as certain--a +quiet, studious-looking lad, who seemed poring over a book and papers. + +Then Andy, making an excuse to get a drink of water, passed his seat and +looked at the documents. They were a mass of bills which the young man +evidently had for collection. + +"Stung!" murmured Andy. "But he sure did look like a Yale senior." He +was yet to learn that college men are not so different from ordinary +mortals as certain sensational writers would have had him believe. + +There was the usual bustle and rush of alighting passengers. Now indeed +Andy was sure that a crowd of students had come up on the train with him +for, once out of the cars their exuberance manifested itself. + +There were greetings galore from one to another. Renewals of past +acquaintance came from every side. There were hearty clappings on the +backs of scores and scores, and re-clappings in turn. + +Youths were tumbling out here, there, everywhere, colliding with one +another, bumping up against baggage trucks, running through the station, +one or two stopping to snatch a hasty cup of coffee and some doughnuts +from the depot restaurant. + +Andy stood almost lost for the moment amid the excitement. It had come +on suddenly. He had never dreamed there were so many Yale men on the +train. They gave no evidence of it until they had reached their own +precincts. + +Then, like a dog that hesitates to bark until he is within the confines +of his own yard, they "cut loose." + +Taxicab chauffeurs were bawling for customers. Hackmen with ancient +horses sent out their call of: + +"Keb! Keb! Hack, sir! Have a keb!" + +The motor bus of the Hotel Taft was being jammed with prosperous looking +individuals. Around the curve swept the clanging trolley cars. + +"I guess I'll walk," mused Andy. "I want to get my mind straightened +out." + +He managed to locate an expressman to whom he gave the check for his +trunk, with directions where to send it. Then, gripping his valise, +which contained enough in the way of clothing and other accessories to +see him through the night, in case his baggage was delayed, our hero +started up State Street. + +In the distance he could see, looming up, the lighted top stories of the +Hotel Taft, and he knew that from those same stories one could look down +on the buildings and campus at Yale. It thrilled him as he had not been +thrilled before on any of his visits to this great American university. + +He paid no attention to those about him. The sidewalks, damp with the +hazy dew of the coming September night, were thronged with pedestrians. +Many of them were college students, as Andy could tell by their talk. + +On he swung, breathing in deep of the air of dusk. He squared back his +shoulders and raised his head, widening his nostrils to take in the air, +as his eyes and ears absorbed the other impressions of the place. + +Past the stores, the hotels, the moving picture places Andy went, until +he came to where Chapel Street cuts across State. At the corner a +confectionery store thrust out its rounded doorway, and in the windows +were signs of various fountain drinks. + +"A hot chocolate wouldn't be so bad," thought Andy. "It's a bit chilly." + +He went in rather diffidently, wondering if some of the pretty girls +lined up along the marble counter knew that he was a Yale man. + +He heard a titter of laughter and grew red behind the ears, fearing it +might be directed against him. + +But no one seemed to notice him, the girl who passed him out his check +making change as nonchalantly as though he was but the veriest traveling +man instead of a Yale student. + +"Very blasé, probably," thought Andy, with a sense of resentment. + +He stood on the steps a moment as he came out, and then walked toward +the Green, with its great elm trees, now looming mistily in the +September haze. + +Three churches on Temple street seemed to stand as a sort of guard in +front of the college buildings that loomed behind them. Three silent and +closed churches they were. + +Up Chapel street walked Andy, and he came to a stop on College street, +opposite Phelps Gateway. Through the gathering dusk he could make out +the inscription over it: + +LUX ET VERITAS + +"That's it! That's what I came here for," he said. "Light and truth! +Oh, but it's great! Great!" + +He drew in a long breath, and stood for a moment contemplating the +beautiful outlines of the college buildings. + +"Oh, but I'm glad I'm here!" he whispered. + +Other students were pouring through the classic gateway. Andy crossed +the street and joined them. Already lights were beginning to glow in +Lawrance and Farnam Halls, where the sophomores had their rooms. Andy +could see some of them lolling on cushions in their window seats. Yale +blue cushions, they were. + +He passed in through the gateway, his footsteps clanging back to his +ears, reflected by the arch overhead. He emerged onto the campus, and +started across it toward Wright Hall, with its raised courtyard, and its +curtained windows of blue. + +"I wonder if Dunk is there yet?" thought Andy. "Hope he is. Oh, it's +Yale at last! Yale! Yale!" + +He breathed in deep of the night air. He looked at the shadows of the +electric lights of the campus filtering through the trees. He paused a +moment. + +A confusion of sounds came to him. Outside the quadrangle in which he +stood he could hear the hum of the busy city--the clang of trolleys, +the clatter of horses, the hoarse croak of auto horns. Within the +precincts of the college buildings he could hear the hum of voices. Now +and then came the tinkle of a piano or the vibration of a violin. Then +there were shouts. + +"Oh, you, Pop! Stick out your head!" + +The call of one student to another. + +"I wonder if they'll ever call me?" mused Andy. + +He started across the campus. Coming toward him were several dark +figures. Andy met them under a light, and started back. Before he had a +chance to speak someone shouted at him: + +"There he is now! The freshest of the fresh! Take off that hat!" + +It was Mortimer Gaffington. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +MISSING MONEY + + +For a moment Andy stood there, not knowing what to do or say. It was so +unexpected, and yet he knew he must meet Mortimer at Yale--meet and +perhaps clash with the lad who was now a sophomore--the lad who had such +good cause now to dislike Andy. + +On his part the young "swell" leered into Andy's face, then glanced +sidelong at the youths who accompanied him. Andy recognized them as the +same who had been in the auto that night of the bonfire at Milton. + +"That's he!" exclaimed Mortimer; then to Andy: "I didn't think I'd meet +you quite so soon, Blair! So you're here, eh?" + +"Yes," answered Andy. + +"Put a 'sir' on that!" commanded one of the other lads. + +"Yes--sir!" + +Andy took his own time with the last word. He knew the rites and customs +of Yale, at least by hearsay, and was willing to abide by the unwritten +laws that make a first-year man demean himself to the upperclassmen. It +would not last long. + +"That's better," commented the third lad. "Never forget your +manners--er--what's your name?" + +"Blair." + +"Sir!" snapped the one who had first reminded Andy of the lapse. + +"Sir!" + +"You know him," put in Mortimer. "The fellow who put us out of the auto, +eh?" + +"Oh, sure, I remember now. Nervy little rat! It's a wonder I remember +anything that happened that night. We were pretty well pickled. Oh, +land, yes!" + +He seemed proud of it. + +"Take off that hat!" commanded Mortimer. "Don't forget you're a freshman +here." + +"And a fresh freshman, too," added one of his chums. "Take it off!" + +Andy was perfectly willing to abide by this unwritten law also, and +doffed his derby. He made a mental note that as soon as he could he +would get a cap, or soft hat, such as he saw other students wearing. + +"The brute has some manners," commented one of the trio. + +"I'll teach him some more before I get through with him!" muttered +Mortimer. He, as well as his two companions, seemed to have been dining, +"not wisely but too well." + +"Anything more?" asked Andy, good-naturedly. He knew that he must put up +with insults, if need be, from Mortimer; for he realized that, in a way, +class distinction at Yale is strong in its unwritten laws, and he wanted +to do as the others did. It takes much nerve to vary from the customs +and traditions of any country or place, more especially a big college. +And Andy knew his turn would come. + +He also knew that it was all done in good-natured fun, and really with +the best intentions. For a first-year man is very likely to become what +his name indicates--fresh--and there is need of toning down. + +Besides, it is discipline that is good for the soul, and somewhat +necessary. It makes for good in after life, in most cases, though of +course there are some exceptions. Hazing, after all, is designed, +primarily, to bring out a candidate's character. A lad who will give way +to his temper if made to take off his hat to one perhaps below him in +social station, or if he sulks when tossed in a blanket--such a lad, in +after life, is very apt to do the same thing when he has to knuckle +under to a business rival, or to go into a passion when he receives the +hard knocks of life. So, then, hazing, if not carried to extremes, has +its uses in adversity, and Andy had sense enough to realize this. So he +was ready for what might come. + +He knew, also, that Mortimer might, and probably would, be actuated by a +mean spirit, and a desire for what he might think was revenge. But he +was only one of a large number of college youths. Andy was willing to +take his chances. + +Andy looked over toward Wright Hall, with its raised courtyard. Lights +were gleaming in the windows, and he fancied he could see his own room +aglow. + +"I hope Dunk is there," he thought. + +"Shall we put him through the paces?" asked one of Mortimer's companions +suggestively, nodding at Andy. + +"Not to-night. We've got something else on," answered the society swell. +"Trot along, Blair, and don't forget what we've told you. I'll see you +again," he added, significantly. + +The trio had come to a stop some little distance from Andy, and had +stood with arms linked. Now they were ready to proceed. On the various +walks, that traversed the big campus in the quadrangle of Yale, other +students were hurrying to and fro, some going to their rooms, others +coming from them. Some were going towards their eating clubs or to the +University dining hall. And Andy was feeling hungry. + +"Well, come on," urged Mortimer to his companions. "I guess we've +started this freshman on the right road. Just see that you follow it, +Blair. I'll be watching you." + +"And I'll be watching you!" thought Andy. And at that moment he was +gazing intently at Gaffington. As he looked, Andy saw something fall +from below the flap of the coat of one of the trio, and land softly on +the pavement. It fell limp, making no noise. + +One of Mortimer's companions, who, Andy afterward learned, was Leonard, +or "Len," Scott, reached his hand into his pocket, and brought it out +with a strange look on his face. + +"Hello!" he exclaimed, blankly, "my wallet's gone!" + +"Gone!" exclaimed the other, Clarence Boyle by name. "Are you sure you +had it?" + +"I sure did!" said Len, feeling in various pockets. "Just cashed a +check, too!" + +"Come on back to your room and have a look for it," suggested Mortimer +pulling his chum half-way around. "If it's gone I can lend you some. I'm +flush to-night." + +"But I'm sure I had it," went on Len. "I remember feeling it just as we +came out of Lawrance. I had about fifty dollars in it!" + +"Whew!" whistled Mortimer. "Some little millionaire, you are, Len. Never +mind, I can let you have twenty-five if you need it." Andy knew that +Mortimer's father was reputed to be several times a millionaire. + +"But I don't like to lose that," went on Len. "I guess I will go back +and have a look in my shack. If I can't find it I'll stick up a notice." + +"You might have dropped it when we met that other bunch of freshmen and +had the little argument with them about their hats," suggested Clarence. + +"That's right," went on Mortimer, still pulling on Len's arm, as though +to get him away from the spot. "Maybe one of the freshmen frisked it off +you," he added, looking at Andy. + +By this time the trio had turned half-way around, evidently to go back +to Scott's room and look for the missing pocketbook. Andy had a clear +view of the object that had fallen from under the coat of one of them. + +"There is something," the freshman said, pointing to the object on the +pavement. "I saw one of you drop it. Perhaps it is the pocketbook." + +Len wheeled and made a grab for it. + +"That's mine!" he cried. "It must have worked up out of my pocket and +fallen. Thanks!" he added, warmly, to Andy. + +With a quick motion Len opened his wallet. A strange look came over his +face as he cried: + +"It's empty!" + +"Empty!" gasped Mortimer. "Let's see!" + +He leaned forward, as did Clarence, all three staring into the opened +pocketbook. Andy looked on curiously. + +"It was one of those freshmen!" declared Mortimer, with conviction. +"They must have slipped their hand up in your coat when we were frisking +them, and taken out the money." + +"But how could they when I still had the pocketbook?" asked Len, much +puzzled. + +"They must have taken out the bills, and put the wallet back," went on +Mortimer, quickly. "They didn't get it all the way in your pocket and it +tumbled out when you were standing here. Lucky we noticed it or we +wouldn't have known what happened. Come on back. We'll find those +freshmen." + +And, without another look at Andy, they wheeled and hurried across the +campus toward Vanderbilt Hall. + +"Huh! That's queer!" mused Andy, as he continued on his way toward +Wright. "I'm glad I saw that wallet when I did." + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +"ROUGH HOUSE" + + +"Oh, you, Dunk!" + +"Stick out your noodle, Chamber!" + +"Where are you?" + +These were the cries that greeted Andy as he entered the passage leading +to his room in Wright Hall--the room he was to share with Duncan +Chamber. Down the hall he saw a group of lads who had evidently come to +rouse Andy's prospective chum. Somehow, our hero felt a little hurt that +he had to share his friend with others. But it was only momentarily. + +"Open up there, Dunk! Open up!" + +Thus came the appeal, and fists banged on the door. It was opened a +crack, and the rattle of a chain was heard. + +"Get on to the beggar!" + +"He must think we're a bunch of sophs!" + +"Don't be afraid, Dunky, we're only your sweethearts!" + +Thus the three callers gibed him. + +"Oh, it's you fellows, is it?" asked Chamber, flinging wide the door, +and letting out a flood of light. "I thought I was in for a hazing, so I +was keeping things on the safe side. Come on in. I'm just straightening +up." + +The three tumbled into the room. Andy followed, and at the sound of his +footsteps coming to a pause outside the portal Dunk peered out. + +"Oh, hello, Blair!" he greeted, cordially! "I thought you were never +coming! Put her there, old man! How are you?" + +He caught Andy's hand in a firm pressure with a mighty slap, and hauled +him inside. + +"Fellows, here's my roommate!" went on Dunk. "Andy Blair. I hope you'll +like him as well as I do. Blair, these are some luckless freshmen like +ourselves. Take 'em in the order of their beauty--Bob Hunter--never hit +the bull's eye in his life; Ted Wilson--just Ted, mostly; Thad +Warburton--no end of a swell, and money to burn! Shake!" + +They shook in turn, looking into each other's eyes with that quick +appraising glance that means so much. Andy liked all three. He hoped +they would like him. + +"So this is your hangout, eh, Dunk?" asked Ted, when the little +formality of introduction was over. + +"Yes, Andy had this picked out and kindly agreed to share it with me." + +"I sure was glad to!" said Andy, heartily. + +"Some swell little joint," commented Thad Warburton, looking around. + +"Wait until we get her fixed up," advised Dunk. "Then we'll have +something to show you! I haven't decided on a bed yet," he added to +Dick. "Pick out the one you want." + +"I'm not particular. They all look alike to me." + +"Yes, they're just the same. Fed your face yet?" + +"No, but I'm hungry. Thought I'd wait for you." + +"Say, where is your eating joint?" asked Thad. + +"I haven't picked out one yet," answered Andy. "I was thinking of going +to the Hall----" + +"Oh, that's no fun!" cried Bob. "Come with us. We have a swell place. +Run by one of our Andover crowd. Good grub and a nice bunch of fellows." + +"I'm willing," agreed Andy. + +"We could try it for a while," assented Dunk, "and if we didn't like it +we could switch to the University Hall. What do you say, Andy?" + +"I'm with you. The sooner the quicker. I'm starved." + +"All right, then, we'll let the room go until after grub. I was going +to stick up a few of my things, but they can wait. Get your trunk, +Andy?" + +"Did it come? I gave a man the check." + +"Not yet. Sounds like it now." + +There was a bumping and thumping out in the corridor, and an expressman +came in with Andy's baggage. It was stowed away in a corner and then the +five lads prepared to set out for the "eating joint." + +"It's around on York street, not far from Morey's," volunteered Thad. + +"Oh, yes, Morey's!" exclaimed Andy. "I've heard lots about that joint. I +wish we could get in there." + +"No freshman need apply," quoted Dunk, with a laugh. "That's for our +betters. We'll get there some day." + +"Oh, I say----" began Ted, as they were about to go out. He looked at +Andy rather queerly. + +"What is it?" asked our hero, with a frank laugh. "Am I togged up +wrong?" + +"Your--er--derby," said Bob, obviously not liking to mention it. + +"Oh, yes, that's right!" chimed in Dunk. "Hope you don't mind, Andy, but +a cap or a crusher would be in better form." + +Andy noticed that the others had on soft hats. + +"Sure," he said. "I was going to get one. I had a soft hat at Milton, +but it's all initialed, and covered with dates from down there. I don't +suppose that would go here." + +"Hardly," agreed Dunk. "I've got an odd one, though. Stick it on until +you get yours," and he hauled a soft hat from under a pile of things on +his dresser. + +Andy hung up his offending derby and clapped the other on the back of +his head. Then the five sallied forth, locking the door behind them. + +Their feet echoed on the stone flagging of the open courtyard as they +headed out on the campus. Past Dwight Hall, the home of the Young Men's +Christian Association, they went, out into High street and through +Library to York. The thoroughfares were thronged with many students now, +for it was the hour for supper. + +Calls, cries, hails, gibes, comments and appeals were bandied back and +forth. For it was the beginning of the term, and many of the new lads +had not yet found themselves or their places. It was all pleasurable +excitement and anticipation. + +Huddled close together, talking rapidly of many things they had seen, or +hoped to see--of the things they had done or expected to do, Andy, Dunk, +and their chums walked on to the eating place. Dunk informed Andy, in a +whisper, that his three friends had been at Phillips Academy, in +Andover, with him. + +"Over here!" + +"This way!" + +"Lots of room!" + +"Shove in, Hunter!" + +"There's Wilson!" + +"Dunk Chamber, too! Oh, you, Dunk!" + +"Oh! Thad Warburton, give us your eye!" + +It was a call to health, and several lads arose holding aloft foaming +mugs of beer. For a moment Andy's heart failed him. He did not drink, +and he did not intend to, yet he realized that to refuse might be very +embarrassing. Yet he resolved on this course. + +There were more good-natured cries, and healths proposed, and then Andy +and his companions found room at the table. Dunk introduced Andy to +several lads. + +"Oh, you, Dunk, your eyes on us!" + +Several lads called to him, holding aloft their steins. Dunk hesitated a +moment and then, with a quick glance at Andy, let his glass be filled. +Rising, he gave the pledge and drank. + +Andy felt a tug at his heart strings. He was not a crank, nor a stickler +for forms or reforms, yet he had made up his mind never to touch +intoxicants. And it gave him a shock to find his roommate taking the +stuff. + +"Well, he's his own master," thought Andy. "It's up to him!" + +And then, amid that gay scene--not at all riotous--there came to Andy +the memory of a half-forgotten lesson. + +"Am I my brother's keeper?" + +Andy wanted to close his mind to it, but that one question seemed to +repeat itself over and over again to him. + +"Have some beer?" + +The voice of a waiter was whispering to him. + +"No--not to-night," said Andy, softly. And what a relief he felt. No one +seemed to notice him, nor was his refusal looked upon as strange. Then +he noticed with a light heart that only a few of the lads, and the older +ones at that, were taking the beverage. Andy noticed, too, with more +relief, that Dunk only took one glass. + +The meal went on merrily, and then Andy and Dunk, refusing many +invitations to come to the rooms of friends, or downtown to a show, went +to their own room. + +"Let's get it in shape," proposed Dunk. + +"Sure," agreed Andy, and they set to work. + +Each one had brought from home certain trophies--mementoes of school +life--and these soon adorned the walls. Then there were banners and +pennants, sofa cushions--the gift of certain girls--and photographs +galore. + +"Well, I call this some nifty little joint!" exclaimed Dunk, stepping +back to admire the effect of the photograph of a pretty girl he had +fastened on the wall. + +"It sure is," agreed Andy, who was himself putting up a picture. + +"I say, who's that?" asked Dunk, indicating it. "She's some little +looker, if you don't mind me saying so." + +"My sister." + +"Congrats! I'd like to meet her." + +"Maybe--some day." + +"Who's this--surely not your sister?" asked Dunk, indicating another +picture. "I seem to know her." + +"She's a vaudeville actress, Miss Fuller." + +"Oh, ho! So that's the way the wind blows, is it? Say, you are going +some, Andy." + +"Nothing doing! I happened to save her from a fire----" + +"Save her from a fire! Worse and more of it. I must tell this to the +boys!" + +"Oh, it wasn't anything," and Andy explained. "She sent me a mackinaw in +place of my burned coat, and her picture was in the pocket. I kept it." + +"I should think you would. She's a peach, and clever, too, I understand. +She's billed at Poli's." + +"Yes, I'm going to see her." + +"Take me around, will you?" + +"Sure, if you like." + +"I like all right. Hark, someone's coming!" and Dunk slipped to the door +and put on the chain. + +"What's the matter?" asked Andy. + +"Oh, the sophs are around and may come in and make a rough house any +minute." + +But the approaching footsteps did not prove to be those of vengeful +sophomores. They were the three friends, Bob, Thad, and Ted, who were +soon admitted. + +As they were sitting about and talking there was a commotion out in the +hall. The door, which Dunk had neglected to chain after the admission of +his friends, was suddenly burst open, and in came, with a rush, Mortimer +Gaffington and several other sophomores. + +"Rough house!" was their rallying cry. + +"Rough house for the freshies!" + +"Rough house!" + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +A FIERCE TACKLE + + +Andy and his chums were taken completely by surprise. The approach of +Mortimer and the other sophomores had been so silent that no warning had +been given. + +Immediately on gaining admittance to the room the intruders began +tossing things about. They pulled open the drawers of the dresser, +scattering the garments all over. They tore down pictures from the walls +and ripped off the banners and pennants. + +"Rough house!" they kept repeating. "Rough house on the freshmen!" + +One of the sophomores pushed Bob and Ted over on Andy's bed, together. + +Then Gaffington pulled from his pocket a handful of finely chopped paper +of various colors--"confetti"--and scattered it in a shower over +everyone and everything. + +"Snow, snow! beautiful snow!" he declaimed. "Shiver, freshmen!" + +A momentary pause ensued. Andy and his chums were getting back their +breaths. + +"Well, why don't you shiver?" demanded Mortimer. "That's snow--beautiful +snow--all sorts of colored snow! Shiver, I tell you! It's snowing! +Little Eva in Uncle Tom's Cabin--Eliza crossing the ice! Shiver now, you +freshmen, shiver!" + +He was laughing in a silly sort of way. + +"That's right--shiver!" commanded some of Mortimer's companions. + +"Well, what are you waiting for?" jeered the society swell at Andy. "Why +don't you shiver?" + +"I've forgotten how," said Andy, calmly. + +"Hang you, _shiver_!" and Mortimer fairly howled out the word. He +started toward Andy, with raised arm and clenched fist. + +Among the possessions disturbed by the intruders was Andy's favorite +baseball bat, which he had brought with him. Instinctively, as he +retreated a step, his fingers clutched it. He swung it around and held +it in readiness. Mortimer recoiled, and Andy, seeing his advantage, +cried: + +"Get out of here! All of you. Come on, fellows, put 'em out!" + +He raised the bat above his head, without the least intention in the +world of using it, but the momentum swung it from his hand and it struck +Mortimer on the forehead. + +The lad who had led the "rough house" attack staggered for a moment, +and then, blubbering, sank down in a heap on the floor. + +A sudden silence fell. In an instant Andy had sunk down on his knees +beside his enemy and was feeling his pulse and heart. There was only a +slight bruise on the forehead. + +"You--you've killed him!" whimpered one of the sophomores. + +"Nonsense!" exclaimed Dunk. "He's only over-excited." This was putting +it mildly. Mortimer had been "celebrating," and had really fainted. +"That was only a love tap," went on Dunk. "Chuck a little water in his +face and he'll be all right." + +This was done and proved to be just what was needed. Mortimer opened his +eyes. + +"What--what happened?" he asked, weakly. "Where--where am I?" + +"Where you don't belong," replied Dunk, sharply. "It's your move--get +out!" + +"You--you struck me!" went on Mortimer, accusingly to Andy. + +"No, indeed, I did not! I thought you were coming for me, and so I +raised the bat. It slipped." + +"I guess that's right, old man," said one of the sophomores, frankly. "I +saw it. Mort has been going it too heavily. We'll get him out of here. +No offense, I hope," and he looked around the dismantled room. "This is +the usual thing." + +"Oh, all right," said Dunk. "We're not kicking. I guess we held up our +end." + +"You sure did," returned one of the sophomores, as he glanced at the +wilted Mortimer. "Come on, fellows." + +Andy, feeling easier now that he was sure Mortimer was not badly hurt, +looked at the other lads. Two of them he recognized as the ones who had +been with Gaffington when the loss of the money was discovered. Andy +wondered whether it had been found, but he did not like to ask. + +"I--I'll get you for this! I'll fix you!" growled Mortimer, as his chums +led him out of the room. "You--you----" and he swayed unsteadily, +gazing at Andy. + +"Oh, dry up and come on!" advised Len Scott. "We'll go downtown and have +some fun." + +They withdrew and the dazed freshmen began helping Andy and Dunk +straighten up the room. It took some time and it was late when they +finished. Then, thinking the day had been strenuous enough, Andy and +Dunk declined invitations to go out, and got ready for bed. + +So ended Andy's first day at Yale. + +There was a hurried run to chapel next morning, and Andy, who had to +finish arranging his scarf on the way, found that he was not the only +tag-ender. Chapel was not over-popular. + +That Len Scott did not recover his lost money was made evident the next +day, for there were several notices posted in various places offering a +reward for the return of the bills. Andy heard, indirectly, that Len and +Mortimer made half-accusations against the freshmen they had "frisked" +earlier in the evening, and had been soundly trounced for their +impudence. + +Andy told Dunk of his connection in the affair and was advised to keep +quiet, which Andy thought wise to do. But the loss of the money did not +seem to be of much permanent annoyance to Len, for a few days later he +was again spending royally. + +Andy began now to settle down to his life at Yale. He was duly +established in his room with Dunk, and it was the congregating place of +many of their freshmen friends. Andy and Dunk continued to eat at the +"joint" in York street, though our hero made up his mind that he would +shift to University Hall at the first opportunity. He hoped Dunk would +come with him, but that was rather doubtful. + +"I can try, anyhow," thought Andy. + +Our hero did not find the lessons and lectures easy. There was a spirit +of hard work at Yale as he very soon found out, and he had not as much +leisure time as he had anticipated, which, perhaps, was a good thing for +him. But Andy wanted to do well, and he applied himself at first with +such regularity that he was in danger of becoming known as a "dig." But +he was just saved from that by the influence of Dunk, who took matters a +little easier. + +Following the episode of the "rough house," Andy did not see Mortimer +for several days, and when he did meet him the latter took no notice of +our hero. + +"I'm just as pleased," Andy thought. "Only it looks as though he'd make +more trouble." + +Candidates for the football team had been called for, and, as Andy had +made good at Milton, he decided to try for at least a place on the +freshman team. + +So then, one crisp afternoon, in company with other candidates, all +rather in fear and trembling, he hopped aboard a trolley to go out to +Yale Field. + +Dunk was with him, as were also Bob, Ted, and Thad, who likewise had +hopes. There was talk and laughter, and admiring and envying glances +were cast at the big men--those who had played on the varsity team last +year. They were like the lords of creation. + +The car stopped near the towering grandstands that hemmed in the +gridiron, and Andy swarmed with the others into the dressing rooms. + +"Lively now!" snapped Holwell, one of the coaches. "Get out on the +field, you fellows, and try tackling the dummy." + +A grotesque figure hung from a cross beam, and against this the +candidates hurled themselves, endeavoring to clasp the elusive knees in +a hard tackle. There were many failures, some of the lads missing the +figure entirely and sliding along on their faces. Andy did fairly well, +but if he looked for words of praise he was disappointed. + +This practice went on for several days, and then came other gridiron +work, falling on the ball, punting and drop kicking. Andy was no star, +but he managed to stand out among the others, and there was no lack of +material that year. + +Then came scrimmage practice, the tentative varsity eleven lining up +against the scrub. With all his heart Andy longed to get into this, but +for days he sat on the bench and watched others being called before him. +But he did not neglect practice on this account. + +Then, one joyful afternoon he heard his name called by the coach. + +"Get in there at right half and see what you can go," was snapped at +him. "Don't fuddle the signals--smash through--follow the interference, +and keep your eyes on the ball. Blake, give him the signals." + +The scrub quarter took him to one side and imparted a simple code used +at practice. + +"Now, scrub, take the ball," snapped the coach, "and see what you can +do." + +There was a quick line-up. Andy was trembling, but he managed to hold +himself down. He looked over at the varsity. To his surprise Mortimer +was being tried at tackle. + +"Ready!" shrilly called the scrub quarter. +"Signal--eighteen--forty-seven--shift--twenty-one--nineteen--" + +It was the signal for Andy to take the ball through right tackle and +guard. He received the pigskin and with lowered head and hunched +shoulders shot forward. He saw a hole torn in the varsity line for him, +and leaped through it. The opening was a good one, and the coach raved +at the fatal softness of the first-team players. Andy saw his chance and +sprinted forward. + +But the next instant, after covering a few yards, he was fiercely +tackled by Mortimer, who threw him heavily. He fell on Andy, and the +breath seemed to leave our hero. His eyes saw black, and there was a +ringing in his ears as of many bells. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +BARGAINS + + +"That's enough! Get up off him! Don't you know enough, Gaffington, to +tell when a man's down?" + +Andy heard the sharp voice of the coach, Holwell, but the tones seemed +to come from a great distance. + +"Water here!" + +"Somebody's keeled over!" + +"It's that freshman, Blair. Plucky little imp, too!" + +"Who tackled him?" + +"Gaffington. Took him a bit high and fell on him!" + +"Oh, well, this is football; it isn't kindergarten beanbag." + +Dimly Andy heard these comments. He opened his eyes, only to close them +again as he felt a dash of cold water in his face. + +"Feel all right now?" + +It was the voice of the coach in his ears. Andy felt himself being +lifted to his feet. His ears rang, and he could not see clearly. There +was a confused mass of forms about him, and the ground seemed to reel +beneath his feet. + +Then like another dash of cold water came the thought to him, sharply +and clearly: + +"This isn't playing the game! If I'm going to go over like this every +time I'm tackled I'll never play for Yale. Brace up!" + +By sheer effort of will Andy brought his staggering senses back. + +"I--I'm all right," he panted. "Sort of a solar plexus knock, I guess." + +"That's the way to talk!" exclaimed the coach, grimly. "Now then, +fellows, hit it up. Where's that ball? Oh, you had it, did you, Blair? +That's right, whatever happens, keep the ball! Get into the play now. +Varsity, tear up that scrub line! What's the matter with you, anyhow? +You're letting 'em go right through you. Smash 'em! Smash 'em good and +hard. All right now, Blair?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"Get in the game then. Scrub's ball. Hurry up! Signal!" + +Sharp and incisive came his tones, like some bitter tonic. Not a word of +praise--always finding fault; and as for sympathy--you might as well +have looked for it from an Indian ready to use his scalping knife. And +yet--that is what made the Yale team what it was--a fighting machine. + +Once more came the line-up, the scrub quarter snapping out his signals. + +Andy took his old place. He was rapidly feeling better, yet his whole +body ached and he felt as though he had fallen from a great height. He +was terribly jarred, for Mortimer had put into the tackle all his fierce +energy, adding to it a spice of malice. + +Andy heard the signal given for the forward pass, and felt relieved. He +could take another few seconds to get his breathing into a more regular +cadence. He looked over at Mortimer, who grinned maliciously. Andy knew, +as well as if he had been told, that the tackle had been needlessly +fierce. But there was no earthly use in speaking of it. Rather would it +do him more harm than good. This, then, was part of the "getting even" +game that his enemy had marked out. + +"He won't get me again, though!" thought Andy, fiercely. "If he does, it +will be my own fault. Wait until I get a chance at him!" + +It came sooner than he expected. The forward pass on the part of the +scrub was a fluke and after a few more rushing plays the ball was given +to the varsity to enable them to try some of their new plays. + +Several times Mortimer had the pigskin, and was able to make good gains. +Then the wrath of the coach was turned against the luckless scrubs. + +"What do you fellows mean?" cried Holwell. "Letting 'em go through you +this way! Get at 'em! Break up their plays if you can! Block their +kicks. They'll think they're playing a kid team! I want 'em to work! +Smash 'em! Kill 'em!" + +He was rushing about, waving his hands, stamping his feet--a veritable +little cyclone of a coach. + +"Signal!" he cried sharply. + +It came from the varsity quarter, and Andy noticed, with a thrill in his +heart, that Gaffington was to take the ball. + +"Here's where I get him!" muttered Andy, fiercely. + +There was a rush--a thud of bodies against bodies--gaspings of breaths, +the cracking of muscles and sinews. Andy felt himself in a maelstrom of +pushing, striving, hauling and toppling flesh. Then, in an instant, there +came an opening, and he saw before him but one player--Mortimer--with +the ball. + +Like a flash Andy sprang forward and caught his man in a desperate +embrace--a hard, clean tackle. Andy put into it all his strength, +intent only upon hurling his opponent to the turf with force enough to +jar him insensible if possible. + +Perhaps he should not have done so, you may say, but Andy was only +human. He was playing a fierce game, and he wanted his revenge. + +Into Mortimer's eyes came a look of fear, as he went down under the +impact of Andy. But there was this difference. Mortimer's previous +experience had taught him how to take a fall, and he came to no more +hurt through Andy's fierce tackle than from that of any other player, +however much Andy might have meant he should. Our hero did not stop to +think that he might have injured one of the varsity players so as to put +him out of the game, and at a time when Yale needed all the good men she +could muster. And Gaffington, in spite of his faults, was a good player. + +There was a thud as Andy and Mortimer struck the earth--a thud that told +of breaths being driven from their bodies. Then Andy saw the ball jarred +from his opponent's arms, and, in a flash he had let go and had rolled +over on it. An instant later there was an animated pile of players on +both lads, smothering their winded "Downs!" + +"That'll do! Get up!" snapped the coach. "What's the matter with you, +Gaffington, to let a freshman get you that way and put you out of the +game? Porter!" he shouted and a lad came running from the bench, pulling +off his sweater as he ran, and tossing it to a companion. He had been +called on to take Gaffington's place, and the latter, angry and +shamed-faced, walked to the side lines. + +As he went he gave Andy a look, as much as to say: + +"You win this time; but the battle isn't over. I'll get you yet." + +As for Andy, his revenge had been greater than he had hoped. He had put +his enemy out of the game more effectively than if he had knocked the +breath from him by a tremendous tackle. + +"Good tackle, Blair!" called the scrub captain to him, as the line-up +formed again. "That's the way to go for 'em!" + +The coach said nothing, but to the varsity captain he whispered: + +"Keep your eye on Blair. If he keeps on, he may make a player yet. He's +a little too wild, though. Don't say anything that will give him a +swelled head." + +The practice went on unrelentingly, and then the candidates were ordered +back to the gymnasium on the run, to be followed by a shower and a brisk +rub. + +Glowing with health and vigor, and yet lame and sore from the hard +tackle, Andy went to his room, to find Dunk Chamber impatiently waiting +for him. + +"Oh, there you are, you old mud lark!" was the greeting. "I've been +waiting for you. Come on around to Burke's and have some ale and a +rarebit." + +"No thanks. I'm in training, you know." + +"That's so. Been out on the field?" + +"Yes. I wonder you don't go in for that." + +"Too much like work. I might try for the crew or the nine. I'm afraid of +spoiling my manly beauty by getting somebody's boot heel in the eye. By +the way, you don't look particularly handsome. What has somebody been +doing to you?" + +"Nothing more than usual. It's all in the game." + +"Then excuse me! Are you coming to Burke's? You can take sarsaparilla, +you know. Thad and his bunch are coming." + +"Sure, I don't mind trailing along. Got to get at a little of that +infernal Greek, though." + +"All right, I'll wait. The fellows will be along soon." + +And as Andy did a little of necessary studying he could not help +wondering where Dunk would end. A fine young fellow, with plenty of +money, and few responsibilities. Yale--indeed any college--offered +numberless temptations for such as he. + +"Well, I can't help it," thought Andy. "He's got to look out for +himself." + +And again there seemed to come to him that whisper: + +"Am I my brother's keeper?" + +Surely Dunk was a college brother. + +Andy had scarcely finished wrestling with his Homer when there came a +series of loud and jolly hails: + +"Oh, you Dunk!" + +"Stick out your top, Blair!" + +"Here come the boys!" exclaimed Dunk. "Now for some fun!" + +The three friends trooped in. + +"Some little practice to-day, eh, Blair?" remarked Bob Hunter. + +"And some little tackle Gaffington gave you, too!" added Thad. + +"Yes, but Andy got back at him good and proper, and put him out of the +game," remarked Ted. "It was a beaut!" + +"Did you and Mortimer have a run-in?" asked Dunk quickly. + +"Oh, no more than is usual in practice," replied Andy, lightly. "He +shook me up and I came back at him." + +"If that's football, give me a good old-fashioned fight!" laughed Dunk. +"Well, if we're going to have some fun, come on." + +As they were leaving the room they were confronted by two other +students. Andy recognized one as Isaac Stein, more popularly known as +Ikey, a sophomore, and Hashmi Yatta, a Japanese student of more than +usual brilliancy. + +"Oh boys, such a business!" exclaimed Ikey. He was a Jew, and not +ashamed of it, often making himself the butt of the many expressions +used against his race. On this account he was more than tolerated--he +had many friends out of his own faith. "Such a business!" he went on, +using his hands, without which he used to say he could not talk. + +"Well, what is it now?" asked Dunk with good-humored patience. "Neckties +or silk shirts?" for Ikey was working his way through college partly by +acting as agent for various tradesmen, getting a commission on his +sales. Dunk was one of his best customers. + +"Such a business!" went on Ikey, mocking himself. "It is ornaments, +gentlemans! Beautiful ornaments from the Flowery Kingdom. Such +vawses--such vawses! Is it not, my friend Hashmi Yatta?" and he appealed +to the Japanese. + +"Of a surely they are beautiful," murmured the little yellow lad. "There +is some very good cloisonne, some kisku, and one or two pieces in +awaji-yaki. Also there is some satsuma, if you would like it." + +"And the prices!" interrupted Ikey. "Such bargains! Come, you shall see. +It is a crime to take them!" + +"What's it all about?" asked Dunk. "Have you fellows been looting a +crockery store?" + +"No, it is Hashmi here," said the Jew. "I don't know whether his +imperial ancestors willed them to him, or sent them over as a gift, but +they are wonderful. A whole packing case full, and he'll sell them dirt +cheap." + +"What do we want of 'em?" asked Andy. + +"Want of 'em, you beggar? Why they'll be swell ornaments for your room!" + +That was an appeal no freshman could resist. + +"What do you say?" asked Dunk, weakly. "Shall we take a look, Andy?" + +"I don't mind." + +"You will never regret it!" vowed Ikey. "It is wonderful. Such bargains! +It is a shame. I wonder Hashmi can do it." + +"They are too many for me to keep," murmured the Jap. + +"And so he will sell some," interrupted Ikey, eagerly. + +"And pay you a commission for working them off, I suppose," spoke Thad. + +Ikey looked hurt. + +"Believe me," he said, earnestly, "believe me, what little I get out of +it is a shame, already. It is nothing. But I could not see the bargains +missed. Come, we will have a look at them. You will never regret it!" + +"You ought to be in business--not college," laughed Dunk, as he slipped +into a mackinaw. "Come on, Andy, let's go and get stuck good and +proper." + +"Stuck! Oh, such a business!" gasped Ikey, with upraised hands. "They +are bargains, I tell you!" + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +DUNK REFUSES + + +"This way, fellows! Don't let anybody see us come in!" + +Thus cautioned Ikey as he led his "prospective victims," as Dunk +referred to himself and the others, through various back streets and +alley ways. + +"Why the caution?" Andy wanted to know, stumbling over an unseen +obstruction, and nearly falling. + +"Hush!" whispered the Jew. "I want you, my friends, to have the pick of +the bargains first. After that the others may come in. If some of the +seniors knew of these vawses there wouldn't be one left." + +"Oh, well we mustn't let that happen!" laughed Dunk. "I know I'm going to +get stuck, but lead on, Horatio. I'm game." + +"Stuck, is it?" cried Ikey, and he seemed hurt at the suggestion. "Wait +until you have seen, eh, Hashmi?" + +"Of a surely, yes. They are beautiful!" + +"And so cheap; are they not, Hashmi?" + +"Of a surely, yes." + +"Where are you taking us, anyhow?" demanded Thad. "I thought we were +going to Burke's." + +"So we are, later," said Dunk. "I want to see some of this junk, though. +Our room does need a bit of decoration, eh, Andy?" + +"Yes, it can stand a few more things." + +"But where are we going, anyhow?" Bob demanded. "This looks like a +chop-suey joint." + +"Hush!" cautioned Ikey again. "Some of the fellows may be around. There +is a Chinese restaurant upstairs." + +"And what's downstairs?" asked Andy. + +"Why, Hashmi had to hire a vacant room to put the packing box in when it +came from Japan," explained Ikey. "It was too big to take up to his +joint. Besides, it's filled with straw, you know, so the vawses couldn't +smash. He's just got it in this vacant store temporarily. You fellows +have the first whack at it." + +"Well, let's get the whacking over with," suggested Andy. "I had all I +wanted at Yale Field this afternoon." + +They came to a low, dingy building, at the side of which ran a black +alley. + +"In here--mind your steps!" warned Ikey. + +They stumbled on, and then came to a halt behind the college salesman. +He shot out a gleam of radiance from a pocket electric flashlight and +opened a door. + +"Hurry up!" he whispered, and as the others slipped in he closed and +locked the portal. "Are the shades down, Hashmi?" he asked. + +"Of a surely, yes." + +"Then show the fellows what your ancestors sent you." + +There was the removal of boards from a big packing case that stood in +the middle of a bare room. There was the rustle of straw, and then, in +the gleam of the little electric flash the boys saw a confused jumble of +Japanese vases and other articles in porcelain, packed in the box. + +"There, how's that?" demanded Ikey, triumphantly, as he picked one up. +"Wouldn't that look swell on your mantel, Dunk?" + +"It might do to hold my tobacco." + +"Tobacco! You heathen! Why, that jar is to hold the ashes of your +ancestors!" + +"Haven't any ancestors that had ashes as far as I know," said Dunk, +imperturbably. "I can smoke enough cigar ashes to fill it, though." + +"Hopeless--hopeless," murmured Ikey. "But look--such a bargain, only +seven dollars!" + +"Holy mackerel!" cried Andy. "Seven dollars for a tobacco jar!" + +"It isn't a tobacco jar, I tell you!" cried Ikey. "It's like the old +Egyptian tear vawses, only different. Seven dollars--why it's worth +fifteen if it's worth a cent. Ain't it, Hashmi?" + +"Of a surely, yes," said the Jap, with an inscrutable smile. + +"But he'll let you have it for just a little more than the wholesale +price in Japan, mind you--in Japan!" cried Ikey. "Seven dollars. Think +of it!" + +"What about your commission?" asked Thad, with a grin. + +"A mere nothing--I must live, you know," and Ikey shrugged his +shoulders. "Do you want it, Dunk? Why don't you fellows pick out +something? You'll wait until they're gone and be kicking yourselves. +They're dirt cheap--bargains every one. Look at that vawse!" and he held +up another to view in the pencil of light from the flash torch. + +"It would do for crackers, I suppose," said Andy, doubtfully. + +"Crackers!" gasped Ikey. "Tell him what it is for, Hashmi. I haven't the +heart," and he pretended to weep. + +"This jar--he is for the holding of the petals of roses that were sent +by your loved ones--the perfumes of Eros," murmured the poetical +Japanese. + +"Oh, for the love of tripe! Hold me, I'm going to faint, Gertie!" cried +Bob. "Rose petals from your loved ones! Oh, slush!" + +"It is true," and Hashmi did not seem to resent being laughed at. "But +it would do for crackers as well." + +"How much?" asked Andy. + +"Only five dollars--worth ten," whispered Ikey. + +"Well, it would look nice on my stand," said Andy weakly. "I--I'll take +it." + +"And I guess you may as well wish me onto that dead ancestor jar," added +Dunk. "I'm always getting stuck anyhow. Seven plunks is getting off +easy." + +"You will never regret it," murmured Ikey. "Where is that paper, Hashmi? +Now don't you fellows let anyone else in on this game until I give the +word. I'm taking care of my friends first, then the rest of the bunch. +Friends first, say I." + +"Yes, if you're going to stick anybody, stick your friends first," +laughed Dunk. "They're the easiest. Go ahead, now you fellows bite," and +he looked at Bob, Thad and Ted. + +"What's this--a handkerchief box?" asked Ted, picking up one covered +with black and gold lacquer. + +"Handkerchief box! Shades of Koami!" cried Ikey. "That, you dunce, is a +box made to----Oh, you tell him, Hashmi, I haven't the heart." + +"No, he wants to figure out how much he's made on us," added Andy. + +"That box--he is for the retaining of the messages from the departed," +explained the Japanese. + +"You mean it's a spiritualist cabinet?" demanded Thad. "I say now, will +it do the rapping trick?" + +"You misapprehend me," murmured Hashmi. "I mean that you conserve in +that the letters your ancestors may have written you. But of a +courseness you might put in it your nose beautifiers if you wish, and +perfume them." + +"Nose beautifiers--he means handkerchiefs," explained Ikey. "It's a +bargain--only three dollars." + +"I'll take it," spoke Thad. "I know a girl I can give it to. No +objection to putting a powder puff in it; is there, Hashmi?" + +"Of a surely, no." + +More of the wares from the big box were displayed and the two other lads +took something. Then Dunk insisted on having another look, and bought +several "vawses," as Ikey insisted on calling them. + +"They'll look swell in the room, eh, Andy? he asked. + +"They sure will. I only hope there's no more rough house or you'll be +out several dollars." + +"If those rusty sophs smash any of this stuff I'll go to the dean about +it!" threatened Dunk, well knowing, however, that he would not. + +"Such bargains! Such bargains!" whispered Ikey, as he let them out of +the side door, first glancing up and down the dark alley to make sure +that no other college lads were lying in wait to demand their share of +the precious stuff. The coast was clear and Andy and his chums slipped +out, carrying their purchases. + +"Are you coming?" Dunk asked of Ikey. + +"No, I'll stay and help Hashmi pack up the things. If you want any more +let me know." + +"Huh! You mean you'll stay and count up how much you've stuck us!" said +Dunk. "Oh, well, it looks like nice stuff. But I've got enough for the +present. I've overdrawn my allowance as it is." + +"Well, we'll leave this junk in your room, Andy, and then go out and +have some fun," suggested Thad. + +They piled their purchases on the beds in Andy's and Dunk's room in +Wright Hall and then proceeded on to Burke's place, an eating and +drinking resort for many students. + +There was a crowd there when Andy and his chums entered and they were +noisily greeted. + +"Oh, you Dunk!" + +"Over here! Lots of room!" + +"Waiter, five more cold steins!" + +"None for me!" said Andy with a smile. + +"That's all right--he's trying for the team," someone said, in a low +tone. + +"Oh!" + +Through the haze of the smoke of many pipes Andy saw some of the +football crowd. They were all taking "soft stuff," which he himself +ordered. + +Then began an evening of jollity and clean fun. It was rather rough, and +of the nature of horseplay, of course, and perhaps some of the lads did +forget themselves a little, but it was far from being an orgy. + +"I'm going to pull out soon," spoke Andy to Dunk, when an hour or so had +passed. + +"Oh, don't be in a rush. I'll be with you in a little while." + +"All right, I'll wait." + +Again to Andy had come the idea that he might, after all, prove a sort +of "brother's keeper" to his chum. + +The fun grew faster and more furious, but there was a certain line that +was never overstepped, and for this Andy was glad. + +The door opened to admit another throng, and Andy saw Mortimer and +several of his companions of the fast set. How Gaffington kept up the +pace and still managed to retain his place on the football team was a +mystery to many. He had wonderful recuperative powers, though, and was +well liked by a certain element. + +"Hello, Dunk!" he greeted Andy's roommate. "You're looking pretty fit." + +"Same to you--though you look as though you'd been having one." + +"So I have--rather strenuous practice to-day. Oh, there's the fellow who +did me up!" and he looked at Andy and, to our hero's surprise, laughed. + +"It's all right, old man--no hard feelings," went on Mortimer. "Will you +shake?" + +"Sure!" exclaimed Andy, eagerly. He was only too anxious not to have any +enmity. + +"Put her there! Shake!" exclaimed the other. "You shook me and I shook +you. No hard feelings, eh?" + +"Of course not!" + +"That's all right then. Fellows, I'll give you one--Andy Blair--a good +tackier!" and Mortimer raised his glass on high. + +"Andy Blair! Oh, you Andy! Your eye on us!" + +And thus was Andy pledged by his enemy. What did it mean? + +Faster grew the fun. The room was choking blue with tobacco smoke, and +Andy wanted to get away. + +"Come on, Dunk," he said. "Let's pull out. We've got some stiff +recitations to-morrow." + +"All right, I'm willing." + +Mortimer saw them start to leave, and coming over put his arm +affectionately around Dunk. + +"Oh, you're not going!" he expostulated. "Why, it's early yet and the +fun's just starting. Don't be a quitter!" + +Dunk flushed. He was not used to being called that. + +"Yes, stay and finish out," urged others. + +Andy felt that it was a crisis. Yet he could say nothing. Dunk seemed +undecided for a moment, and Mortimer renewed his pleadings. + +"Be a sport!" he cried. "Have a good time while you're living--you're a +long time dead!" + +There was a moment's hush. Then Dunk gently removed Mortimer's arm and +said: + +"No, I'm going back with Blair. Come on, Andy." + +And they went out together. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +DUNK GOES OUT + + +"Look at that!" + +"Why, it's the same stuff!" + +"There's a rose jar like the one I bought for seven dollars marked two +seventy-five!" + +"Oh, the robber! Why, there's a handkerchief box, bigger than the one he +stuck me with, and it's only a dollar!" + +"Say, let's rough-house Ikey and that Jap!" + +Andy, Dunk, and their three friends were standing in front of a Japanese +store, looking in the window, that held many articles associated with +the Flowery Kingdom. Price tags were on them, and the lads discovered +that they had paid dearly for the ornaments they had so surreptitiously +viewed in the semi-darkness, under the guidance of Ikey Stein. + +This was several days after they had purchased their bric-a-brac and +meanwhile they had seen Ikey and Hashmi going about getting other +students into their toils. + +"Say, that was a plant, all right!" declared Dunk. "I'm going to make +Ikey shell out." + +"And the Jap, too!" added Andy. "We sure were stuck!" + +For the articles in the window were identical, in many cases, with those +they had bought, but the prices were much less. + +"I thought there was something fishy about it," commented Thad. "Never +again do I buy a pig in a poke!" + +"I'll poke Ikey when I catch him," said Bob. + +"Here he comes now," spoke Ted, in a low voice. "Don't seem to see him +until he gets close, and then we'll grab him and make him shell out!" + +So the five remained looking steadfastly in the window until the +unsuspecting Ikey came close. Then Andy and Dunk made a quick leap and +caught him. + +"What--what is it?" asked the surprised student. + +"We merely want your advice on the purchase of some more art objects," +said Andy, grimly. "You're such an expert, you know." + +"Some other time--some other time! I'm due at a lecture now!" pleaded +Ikey, squirming to get away. + +"The lecture can wait," said Dunk. "Look at that vawse for the holding +of the rose petals from your loved one. See it there--now would you +advise me to buy it? It's much cheaper than the one you and your +beloved Hashmi stuck me with." + +Ikey looked at the faces of his captors. He saw only stern, unrelenting +glares, and realized that his game had been discovered. + +"I--er--I----" he stammered. + +"Come, what's your advice?" demanded Dunk. "Did I pay too much?" + +"I--er--perhaps you did," admitted Ikey, slowly. + +"Then fork over the balance." + +"And what about my cracker jar--for the ashes of dead ancestors?" asked +Andy. "Was I stuck, too?" + +"Oh, no, not at all. Why, that is a very rare piece." + +"What about that one in the window?" demanded Andy. "That's only rare to +the tune of several dollars less than I paid." + +"Oh, but you are mistaken!" Ikey assured him. "It takes an expert to +tell the difference. You can ask Hashmi----" + +"Hashmi be hanged!" cried Dunk, giving the captured one a shake. A +little crowd had gathered in the street to see the fun. + +"I--I'll give you whatever you think is right," promised Ikey. "Only let +me go. I shall be late." + +"The late Mr. Stein," laughed Andy. + +"What about the rare satsuma piece you wished onto me?" demanded Ted. + +"And that cloisonne flower vawse that has a crack in it?" Thad wanted to +know. + +"That's because it's so old," whined Ikey. "It is more valuable." + +"There's one in the window without a crack for three dollars less," was +the retort. + +"Oh, well, if you fellows are dissatisfied with your bargains----" + +"Oh, we're not going to back down," said Andy, "but we're not going to +pay more than they're worth, either. It was a plant, and you know it. +Now you shell out all we paid above what the things are marked at in +this window, and we'll call it square--that is, if you don't go around +blabbing how you took us in." + +"All right! All right!" cried Ikey. "I'll do it, only let me go!" + +"No; pay first! Run him over to our rooms," suggested Dunk. They were +not far from the quadrangle, and catching hold of Ikey they ran him +around into High Street and through the gateway beside Chittenden Hall +to Wright. There, up in Andy's and Dunk's room, Ikey was made to +disgorge his cash. But they were merciful to him and only took the +difference in price. + +"Now you tell us how it happened, and we'll let you go," promised Andy. + +"It was all Hashmi's fault," declared Ikey. "I believed him when he said +his brother in Japan had sent him a box of fine vawses. Hashmi said he +didn't need 'em all, and I said maybe we could sell 'em. So I did." + +"That was all right; but why did you stick up the price?" asked Andy. + +"A fellow has to make money," returned Ikey, innocently enough, and Dunk +laughed. + +"All right," said Andy's roommate. "Don't do it again, that's all. Who +is Hashmi's brother?" + +"One of 'em keeps that Jap store where you were looking in the window," +said Ikey, edging out of the room, "and the other is in Japan. He sent +the stuff over to be sold in the regular way, but that sly Hashmi fooled +me. Never again!" + +"And you passed it on to us," said Andy with a laugh. + +"Well, it's all in the game." + +"Still, we've got the stuff," said Ted. + +They had, but had they known it all they would have learned that, even +at the lowered price they were paying dearly enough for the ornaments, +and at that Hashmi and Ikey divided a goodly sum between them. + +The college days passed on. Andy and Dunk were settling down to the +grind of study, making it as easy as they could for themselves, as did +the other students. + +Andy kept on with his football practice, and made progress. He was named +as second substitute on the freshman team and did actually play through +the fourth quarter in an important game, after it had been taken safely +into the Yale camp. But he was proud even to do that, and made a field +goal that merited him considerable applause. + +Mortimer had dropped out of the varsity team. There was good reason, for +he would not train, and, though he could play brilliantly at times, he +could not be depended on. + +"I don't care!" he boasted to his sporting crowd. "I can have some fun, +now." + +Several times he and his crowd had come around to ask Dunk to go out +with them, but Dunk had refused, much to Mortimer's chagrin. + +"Oh, come on, be a good fellow!" he had urged. + +"No, I've got to do some boning." + +"Oh, forget it!" + +But Dunk would not, for which Andy was glad. + +Then came a period when Dunk went to pieces in his recitations. He was +warned by his professors and tried to make up for it by hard study. He +was not naturally brilliant and certain lessons came hard to him. + +He grew discouraged and talked of withdrawing. Andy did all he could for +him, even to the neglect of his own standing, but it seemed to do no +good. + +"What's the use of it all, anyhow?" demanded Dunk. "I'll spend four +mortal years here, and come out with a noddle full of musty old Latin +and Greek, go to work in dad's New York office and forget it all in six +months. I might as well start forgetting it now." + +"You've got the wrong idea," said Andy. + +"Well, maybe I have. Hanged if I see how you do it!" + +"I don't do so well." + +"But you don't get floored as I do! I'm going to chuck it!" and he threw +his Horace across the room, shattering the Japanese vase he had bought. + +"Look out!" cried Andy. + +"Too late! I don't give a hang!" + +Someone came along the hall. + +"What are you fellows up to?" asked a gay voice. "Trying to break up +housekeeping?" + +"It's Gaffington!" murmured Andy. + +"Come on in!" invited Dunk. + +"You fellows come on out!" retorted the newcomer. "There's a peach of a +show at Poli's. Let's take it in and have supper at Burke's afterward." + +Dunk got up. + +"Hanged if I don't!" he said, with a defiant look at Andy. + +"That's the stuff! Be a sport!" challenged Mortimer. "Coming along, +Blair?" + +"No." + +Mortimer laughed. + +"Go down among the dead ones!" he cried. "Come on, Dunk, we'll make a +night of it!" + +And they went out together, leaving Andy alone in the silent room. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +IN BAD + + +The clock was ticking. To Andy it sounded as loud as a timepiece in a +tower. The rhythmic cadence seemed to fill the room. Somewhere off in +the distance a bell boomed out--a church bell. + +Andy sat in a brown study, looking into the fireplace. A little blaze +was going on the hearth, and the young student, gazing at the embers saw +many pictures there. + +For some time Andy sat without stirring. He had listened to the +retreating footsteps of Dunk and Mortimer as the boys passed down the +corridor, laughing. + +Through Wright Hall there echoed other footsteps--coming and +going--there was the sound of voices in talk and in gay repartee. +Students called one to the other, or in groups hurried here and there, +intent on pleasure. Andy sat there alone--thinking--thinking. + +A log in the fireplace broke with a suddenness that startled him. A +shower of sparks flew up the chimney, and a little puff of smoke shot +out into the room. Andy roused himself. + +"Oh, hang it all!" he exclaimed aloud. "Why should I care? Let him go +with that crowd--with Mort and his bunch if he likes. What difference +does it make to me?" + +He stood up, his arm on the mantel where had rested the Japanese vase +purchased so mysteriously. Now only the fragments of it were there. + +A comparison between that shattered vase and what might be the shattered +friendship between himself and his roommate came to Andy, but he +resolutely thrust it aside. + +"What difference does it make to me?" he asked himself. "Let him go his +own way, and I'll go mine." + +He crossed to the book rack on the window sill, intending to do some +studying. On the broad stone ledge outside the casement he kept his +bottle of spring water. It was a cooler place than the room. Andy poured +himself out a drink, and as he sipped it he said again: + +"Why should I care what he does?" + +Then, from off in the distance he heard the chimes of a church, playing +"Adestes Fideles." + +He stood listening--entranced as the tones came to him, softened by the +night air. + +And there seemed to whisper to him a still, small voice that asked: + +"Am I my brother's keeper?" + +Andy shut the window softly, and, going back to his chair sat staring +into the fire. It was dying down, the embers settling into the dead +ashes. It was very still and quiet in the little room. All Wright Hall +was very still and quiet now. + +"I--I guess I'll have to care--after all," whispered Andy. + +Footsteps were heard coming along the corridor, and, for a moment Andy +had a wild hope that it might be Dunk returning. But as he listened he +knew it was not his chum. + +Someone knocked on the door. + +"Come!" called Andy sharply. It could be none of his friends, he knew. + +A messenger entered with a note, and, observing an unfamiliar +handwriting, Andy wondered from whom it could be. He ripped it open and +uttered an exclamation. He read: + + "Dear Mr. Blair: + + "I am doing a little engagement at Poli's. Won't you drop around + and see me? I promise not to compel you to play the fireman. + + "Sincerely yours, + "MAZIE FULLER." + +"Jove!" murmured Andy. "I forgot all about her." + +"Any answer?" asked the messenger. + +"No." + +The boy started out. + +"Oh, yes. Wait a minute." Andy scribbled an acceptance. + +"Here," he said, and handed the boy a quarter. + +"T'anks!" exclaimed the urchin. Then with a roguish glance he added: +"Gee, but you college guys is great!" + +"Hop along!" commanded Andy briefly. + +Should he go, after all? He had said he would and yet---- + +"Oh, hang it! I guess I'd better go!" he said aloud, just as though he +had not intended to all along. He turned up the light and began throwing +about a pile of neckties. He tried first one and then another. None +seemed to satisfy him, and when he did get the hue that suited him it +would not allow itself to be properly tied. + +"Oh, rats!" Andy exclaimed. "Why should I care?" + +Why indeed? It is one of the mysteries. "Vanity of vanities" and the +rest of it. + +As he entered Poli's Andy was aware that something unusual was going on. +The ushers were grinning with good-natured tolerance, but there was +rather an anxious look on the faces of some of the women in the +audience. Some of their male escorts appeared resentful. + +Andy had been obliged to purchase a box seat, as there were no vacant +ones in the body of the house. As he sank into his chair, rather back, +for the box was well filled, he saw a college classmate. + +"What's up?" he asked, the curtain then being down to allow of a change +of scene. + +"Oh, Gaffington and his crowd are joshing some of the acts." + +"Any row?" + +"No, everybody takes it good-naturedly. Bunch of our fellows here +to-night." + +"Show any good?" + +"Pretty fair. Some of the things are punk. There's a good number +coming--Mazie Fuller--she's got a new act. And Bodkins--you know the +tramp juggler--the one who does things with cigar boxes--he's coming on +next. He's a scream." + +"Yes, I know him. He's all right." + +The curtain went up and from the wings came Miss Fuller. She had +prospered in vaudeville, it seemed, for she had on a richer costume than +the one she wore when she had been so nearly burned to death. + +She was well received, and while singing her first number she looked +about the house. Presently she caught the eyes of Andy--he had leaned +forward in the box, perhaps purposely. Miss Fuller smiled at him, and +at once a chorus of cries arose from the students in the different parts +of the theater. Up to then, since Andy's entrance, there had been no +commotion. Now it broke out again. + +"Oh, get on to that!" + +"The lad with the dreamy eyes!" + +"Oh, you Andy Blair!" + +Andy sank back blushing, but Miss Fuller took it in good part. + +Her act went on, and was well received. She did not again look at Andy, +possibly fearing to embarrass him. And then, as she retired after her +last number--a veritable whirlwind song--there came a thunder of +applause, mingled with shrill whistles, to compel an encore. + +Andy was aware of a disturbance in the front of the house. It was where +a number of the students were seated, and Andy had a glimpse of Dunk +Chamber. Beside him was Gaffington. Dunk had arisen and was swaying +unsteadily on his feet. + +"Sit down!" + +"Keep him quiet!" + +"Put him out!" + +"Call the manager!" + +"Make him sit down!" + +Andy began to feel uneasy. He could see the unhappy condition of his +roommate and those with him. The worst he feared had come to pass. + +Swaying, but still managing not to step on anyone, Dunk made his way to +the aisle, and then, getting close to the box where Andy sat, climbed +over the rail. The manager motioned to an usher not to interfere. +Probably he thought it was the best means of producing quiet. + +"Here I am, Andy," announced Dunk gravely. + +"So I see," spoke Andy, his face blazing at the notice he was receiving. +"Sit down and keep quiet. There's a good act coming." + +"Hush!" exclaimed a number of voices as the curtain slid up, to give +place to "Bustling Bodkins," the tramp juggler. The actor came out in +his usual ragged make-up, and proceeded to do things with a pile of +empty cigar boxes--really a clever trick. Dunk watched him with curious +gravity for a while and then started to climb over the footlights on to +the stage. + +"No, you don't, Dunk!" cried Andy, firmly, and despite his chum's +protests he hauled him back. Then he took Dunk firmly by the arm and +marched him out of a side entrance of the show-house. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +ANDY'S DESPAIR + + +"Pretty bad; was I, Andy?" + +"Yes." + +"Whew! What a headache! Any ice water left?" + +"I'll get some." + +"Never mind. What's there'll do." + +It was morning--there always is a "morning after." Perhaps it is a good +thing, for it is nature's protest against violations of her code of +health. + +Dunk drank deep of the water Andy handed him. + +"That's better," he said, with a sigh. "Guess I won't get up just yet." + +"Going to cut out chapel?" + +"I should say yes! My head is splitting now and to go there and hear +that old organ booming out hymns would snap it off my neck. No chapel +for me!" + +"You know what it means." + +"Well, I can't be in much worse than I am. I'll straighten up after a +bit. No lectures to-day." + +"You're going the pace," observed Andy. It was not said with that false +admiration which so often keeps a man on the wrong road from sheer +bravado. Andy was rather white, and his lips trembled. + +"It does seem so," admitted Dunk, gloomily enough. + +"Any more water there?" he asked, presently. + +"I'll get some," offered Andy, and he soon returned with a pitcher in +which ice tinkled. + +"That sounds good," murmured his roommate. "Was I very bad last night?" + +"Oh, so-so." + +"Made a confounded idiot of myself, I suppose?" and he glanced sharply +at Andy over the top of the glass. + +"Oh, well, we all do at times." + +"I haven't seen you do it yet." + +"You will if you room with me long enough, Dunk." + +"Yes, but not in the way I mean." + +"Oh, well, I'm no moralist; but I hope you never will see me that way. +Understand, I'm not preaching, but----" + +"I know. You don't care for it." + +"That's it." + +"I wish I didn't. But you don't understand." + +"Maybe not," said Andy slowly. "I'm not judging you in the least." + +"I know, old man. How'd you get me home?" + +"Oh, you were tractable enough. I got a taxi." + +"I'll settle with you later. I don't seem to have any cash left." + +"Forget it. I can lend you some." + +"I may need it, Andy. Hang Gaffington and his crowd anyhow! I'm not +going out with them again." + +Andy made no reply. He had been much pained and hurt by the episode in +the theater. Public attention had been attracted to him by Dunk's +conduct; but, more than this, Andy remembered a startled and surprised +look in the eyes of Miss Fuller, who came out on the stage when Dunk +interrupted the tramp act. + +"If only I could have had a chance to explain," thought Andy. But there +had been no time. He had helped to take Dunk away. When this Samaritan +act was over the theater had closed, and Andy did not think it wise to +look up Miss Fuller at her hotel. + +"I'll see her again," he consoled himself. + +The chapel bell boomed out, and Andy started for the door. + +"What a head!" grumbled Dunk again. "I say, Andy, what's good when a +fellow makes an infernal idiot of himself?" + +"In your case a little bromo might help." + +"Got any?" + +"No, but I can get you some." + +"Oh, don't bother. When you come back, maybe----" + +"I'll get it," said Andy, shortly. + +He was late for chapel when he had succeeded in administering a dose of +the quieting medicine to Dunk, and this did not add to the pleasures of +the occasion. However, there was no help for it. + +Somehow the miserable day following the miserable night ended, and Andy +was again back in the room with Dunk. The latter was feeling quite +"chipper" again. + +"Oh, well, it's a pretty good old world after all," Dunk said. "I think +I can eat a little now. Never again for me, Andy! Do you hear that?" + +"I sure do, old man." + +"And that goes. Put her there!" + +They shook hands. It meant more to Andy than he would admit. He had +gone, that afternoon, to the theater, where Miss Fuller was on for a +matinee, and, sending back his card, with some flowers, had been +graciously received. He managed to make her understand, without saying +too much. + +"I'm so glad it wasn't--you!" she said, with a warm pressure of her +hand. + +"I'm glad too," laughed Andy. + +"No sir--never again!" said Dunk that evening, as he got out his books. +"You hear me, Andy--never again!" + +"That's the way to talk!" + +It was hard work at Yale. No college is intended for children, and the +New Haven University in particular has a high aim for its students. + +Andy "buckled down," and was doing well. His standing in class, while +not among the highest, was satisfactory, and he was in line for a place +on the freshman eleven. + +How he did practice! No slave worked harder or took more abuse from the +coaches. Andy was glad of one thing--that Gaffington was out of it. +There were others, though, who tackled Andy hard in the scrimmages, but +he rather liked it, for there was no vindictiveness back of it. + +As for Mortimer, he and his crowd went on their sporting way, doing just +enough college work not to fall under the displeasure of the Dean or +other officials. But it was a "close shave" at times. + +Dunk seemed to stick to his resolution. He, too, was studying hard, and +for several nights after the theater escapade did not go out evenings. +Andy was rejoicing, and then, just when his hopes were highest, they +were suddenly dashed. + +There had been a period of hard work, and it was followed by a football +disaster. Yale met Washington and Jefferson, and while part of the +Bulldog's poor form might be ascribed to a muddy field, it was not all +that. There was fumbling and ragged playing, and Yale had not been able +to score. Nor was it any consolation that the other team had not either. +Several times their players had menaced Yale's goal line, and only by +supreme efforts was a touchdown avoided. As it stood it was practically +a defeat for Yale, and everybody, from the varsity members to the digs, +were as blue as the cushions in the dormitory window seats. + +Andy and Dunk sat in their room, thankful that it was Saturday night, +with late chapel and no lessons on the morrow. + +"Rotten, isn't it, Andy?" said Dunk. + +"Oh, it might be worse. The season is only just opening. We'll beat +Harvard and Princeton all right." + +"Jove! If we don't!" Dunk looked alarmed. + +"Oh, we will!" asserted Andy. + +Dunk seemed nervous. He was pacing up and down the room. Finally, +stopping in front of Andy he said: + +"Come on out. Let's go to a show--or something. Let's go down to Burke's +place and see the fellows. I want to get rid of this blue feeling." + +"All right, I'll go," said Andy, hesitating only a moment. + +They were just going out together when there came the sound of footsteps +and laughter down the corridor. Andy started as he recognized the voice +of Gaffington. + +"Oh Dunk! Are you there?" was called, gleefully. + +"Yes, I'm here," was the answer, and it sounded to Andy as though his +chum was glad to hear that voice. + +"Come out and have some fun. Bully show at the Hyperion. No end of +sport. Come on!" + +Mortimer, with Clarence Boyle and Len Scott, came around the corner of +the corridor, arm in arm. + +"Oh, you and Blair off scouting?" asked Gaffington, pausing before the +two. + +"We were going out--yes," admitted Dunk. + +"We'll make a party of it then. Fall in, Blair!" + +Andy rather objected to the patronizing tone of Mortimer, but he did not +feel like resenting it then. Should he go? + +Dunk glanced at his chum somewhat in doubt. + +"Will you come, Andy?" he asked, hesitatingly. + +"Yes--I guess so." + +"We'll make a night of it!" cried Len. + +"Not for mine," laughed Andy. "I'm in training, you know." + +"Well, we'll keep Dunk then. Come on." + +They set out together, Andy with many misgivings in his heart. + +Noisy and stirring was the welcome they received at Burke's. It was the +usual story. The night wore on, and Dunk's good resolutions slipped away +gradually. + +"Come on, Andy, be a sport!" he said, raising his glass. + +Andy smiled and shook his head. Then a bitter feeling came into his +heart--a feeling mingled with despair. + +"Hang it all!" he murmured to himself. "I'm going to quit. I'll let him +go the pace as he wants to. I'm done with him!" + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +ANDY'S RESOLVE + + +"Come on back!" + +"Don't be a quitter!" + +"It's early yet!" + +"The fun hasn't started!" + +These cries greeted Andy as he rose to leave Burke's place. His eyes +smarted from the smoke of many pipes, and his ears rang with the echoes +of college songs. His heart ached too, as he saw Dunk in the midst of +the gay and festive throng surrounding Gaffington and his wealthy chums. + +"I've got to turn in--training, you know," explained Andy with a smile. +It was the one and almost only excuse that would be accepted. Two or +three more of the athletic set dropped out with him. + +"Goin', Andy?" asked Dunk, standing rather unsteadily at a table. + +"Yes. Coming?" asked Andy pausing, and hoping, with all his heart, that +Dunk would come. + +"Not on your life! There's too much fun here. Have a good time when +you're living, say I. You're an awful long time dead! Here you are, +waiter!" and Dunk beckoned to the man. + +Andy paused a moment--and only for a moment. Then he hardened his heart +and turned to go. + +"Leave the door open," Dunk called after him. "I'll be home in th' +mornin'." + +And then the crowd burst out into the refrain: + + "He won't be home until morning, + He won't be home until morning." + +Over and over again rang the miserable chant that has bolstered up so +many a man who, otherwise, would stop before it was too late. + +Andy breathed deep of the cool night air as he got outside. The streets +were quiet and deserted, save for those who had come out with him, and +who went their various ways. As Andy turned down a side street he could +still hear, coming faintly to him through the quiet night the strains +of: + + "We won't go home until morning." + +"Poor old Dunk!" mused Andy. "I hate to quit him, but I've got to. I'm +not going to be looking after him all the while. It's too much work. +Besides, he won't stay decent permanently." + +He was angry and hurt that all his roommate's good resolutions should +thus easily be cast to the winds. + +"I'm just going to quit!" exclaimed Andy fiercely. "I've done all I +could. Besides, it isn't my affair anyhow. I'll get another room--one by +myself. Oh, hang it all, anyhow!" + +Moody, angry, rather dissatisfied with himself, wholly dissatisfied with +Dunk, Andy stumbled on. As he turned out of Chapel into High Street he +saw before him two men who were talking earnestly. Andy could not help +hearing what they said. + +"Is the case hopeless?" one asked. + +"Oh, no, I wouldn't say that." + +"Yet he's promised time and again to reform, and every time he slips +back again." + +"Yes, I know. He isn't the only one at the mission who does that." + +Andy guessed they were church workers. + +"Don't you get tired?" asked the questioner. + +"Oh, yes, often. But then I get rested." + +"But this chap seems such a bad case." + +"They're all bad, more or less. I don't mind that." + +"And you're going to try again?" + +"I sure am. He's worth saving." + +Andy felt as though some one had dealt him a blow. "Worth saving!" Yes, +that was it. He saw a light. + +The two men passed on. Andy hesitated. + +"Worth saving!" + +It seemed as though some one had shouted the words at him. + +"Worth saving!" + +Andy's heart was beating tumultuously. His head and pulses throbbed. His +ears rang. + +He stood still on the sidewalk, near the gateway beside Chittenden Hall. +His room was a little way beyond. It would be easy to go there and go to +bed, and Andy was very tired. He had played a hard game of football that +day. It was so easy to go to his room, and leave Dunk to look after +himself. + +What was the use? And yet---- + +"He is worth saving!" + +Andy struggled with himself. Again he seemed to hear that voice +whispering: + +"Am I my brother's keeper?" + +Andy turned resolutely away from the college buildings. He set his face +again down High Street, and swung out into Chapel. + +"I'll go get him," he said, simply. "He's worth saving. Maybe I can't do +it--but--I'll try!" + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +LINK COMES TO COLLEGE + + +With hesitating steps Andy pushed open the door of Burke's place and +entered. At first he could make out little through the haze of tobacco +smoke, and his return was not noticed. Most of the college boys were in +the rear room, and the noise of their jollity floated out to Andy. + +"I wonder if Dunk is still there?" he murmured. + +He learned a moment later, for he heard some one call: + +"Stand up, Dunk! Your eye on us!" + +"He's in there--and I've got to save him!" Andy groaned. Then, with +clenched teeth and a firm step he went into the rear room, among that +crowd of roistering students. + +Andy's reappearance was the signal for a burst of good-natured jibing, +mingled with cries of approval. + +"Here he comes back!" + +"I knew he couldn't stay away!" + +"Who said he was a quitter?" + +From among the many glasses offered Andy selected a goblet of ginger +ale. He looked about the tables, and saw Dunk at one, regarding him with +a rather uncertain eye. + +"There he is!" cried Andy's roommate, waving his hand. "That's him. My +old college chum! I'm his protector! I always look after him. I say," +and he turned to the youth beside him, "I say, what is it I protect my +old college from anyhow? Hanged if I haven't forgotten. What is it I +save him from?" + +"From himself, I guess," was the answer. "You're all right, Dunk!" + +"Come on, Dunk," said Andy good naturedly. "I'm going to the room. +Coming?" + +Instantly there was a storm of protest. + +"Of course he's not coming!" + +"It's early yet!" + +"Don't you go, Dunk!" + +Mortimer Gaffington, fixing an insolent and supercilious stare on Andy, +said: + +"Don't mind him, Dunk. You're not tied to him, remember. The +little-brother-come-in-out-of-the-wet game doesn't go at Yale. Every man +stands on his own feet. Eh, Dunk?" + +"That's right." + +"You're not going to leave your loving friends and go home so early; are +you, Dunk?" + +"Course not. Can't leave my friends. But Andy's my friend, too; ain't +you, Andy?" + +"I hope so, Dunk," Andy replied, gravely. + +Somebody interrupted with a song, and there was much laughter. Mortimer +alone seemed to be the sinister influence at work, and he hovered near +Dunk as if to counteract the good intentions of Andy. + +"Here you are, waiter!" cried Dunk. "Everybody have something--ginger +ale, soda water, pop, anything they like. Cigars, too." He pulled out a +bill--a yellow-back--and Andy saw Mortimer take it from his shaking +fingers. + +"Don't be so foolish!" exclaimed the sophomore. "You don't want to spend +all that. Here, I'll hand out a fiver and keep this for you until +morning. You can settle with me later," and Gaffington slipped the big +bill into his own pocket, and produced one of his own--of smaller +denomination. + +"That's good," murmured Dunk. "You're my friend and protector--same as +I'm Andy's protector. We're all protectors. Come on, fellows, another +song!" + +Andy was beginning to wonder how he would get his chum home. It was +getting very late and to enter Wright Hall at an unseemly hour meant +trouble. + +"Come on, Dunk--let's light out," said Andy again, making his way to +his roommate's side. + +"No, you don't!" + +"That game won't go!" + +"Let Dunk alone, he can look out for himself." + +Laughing and expostulating, the others got between Andy and his friend. +It was all in good-natured fun, for most of the boys, beyond perhaps +smoking a little more than was good for them, were not at all reckless. +But the spirit of the night seemed to have laid hold of all. + +"Come on, Dunk," appealed Andy. + +"He's going to stay!" declared Mortimer, thrusting himself between Andy +and Dunk, and sticking out his chin in aggressive fashion. "I tell you +he's going to stay! We don't want any of your goody-goody methods here, +Blair!" + +Andy ignored the affront. + +"Are you coming, Dunk?" he repeated softly. + +Dunk raised his head and flashed a look at his roommate. Something in +Dunk's better nature must have awakened. And yet he was all good nature, +so it is difficult to speak of the "better" side. The trouble was that +he was too good-natured. Yet at that instant he must have had an +understanding of what Andy's plan was--to save him from himself. + +"You want me to come with you?" he asked slowly. + +"Yes, Dunk." + +"Then I'm coming." + +Mortimer put his arm around Dunk and whispered in his ear. + +"You don't want to go," he insisted. + +"Yes, he does," said Andy, firmly. + +For a moment he and the other youth faced each other. It was a struggle +of wills for the mastery of a character, and Andy won--at least the +first "round." + +"I'm going with my friend," said Dunk firmly, and despite further +protests he went out with his arm over Andy's shoulder. There were cries +and appeals to remain, but Dunk heeded them not. + +"I'm going to quit," he announced. "Had enough fun for to-night." + +Out in the clear, cool air Andy breathed free again. + +"Shall I get a cab?" he asked. "There must be one somewhere around." + +"Certainly not," answered Dunk. "I--I can walk, I guess." + +They reached Wright Hall, neither speaking much on the way. Andy was +glad--and sorry. Sorry that Dunk had allowed his resolution to be +broken, but glad that he had been able to stop his friend in time. + +"Thanks, old man," said Dunk, briefly, as they reached their room. +"You've done more than you know." + +"That's all right," replied Andy, in a low voice. + +Dunk went to chapel with Andy the next morning, but he was rather silent +during the day, and he flunked miserably in several recitations on the +days following. Truth to tell he was in no condition to put his mind +seriously on lessons, but he tried hard. + +Andy, coming in from football practice one afternoon, found Dunk +standing in the middle of the apartment staring curiously at a +yellow-backed ten-dollar bill he was holding in both of his hands. + +"What's the matter?" asked Andy. "A windfall?" + +"No, Gaffington just sent it in to me. Said it was one he took the other +night when I flashed it at Burke's." + +"Oh, yes, I remember," spoke Andy. "You were getting too generous." + +"I know that part of it--Gaffington meant all right. But I don't +understand this." + +"What?" asked Andy. + +"Why, this is a ten-spot, and I'm sure I had a twenty that night. +However, I may be mistaken--I guess I couldn't see straight. But I was +sure it was a twenty. Don't say anything about it, though--probably I +was wrong. It was decent of Gaffington not to let me lose it all." + +And Dunk thrust the ten dollar bill into his pocket. + +It was several days after this when Andy, crossing the quadrangle, saw a +familiar figure raking up the leaves on the campus. + +"What in the world is he doing here--if that's him?" he asked himself. +"And yet it does look like him." + +He came closer. The young fellow raking up the leaves turned, and Andy +exclaimed: + +"Link Bardon! What in the world are you doing here?" + +"Oh, I've come to college!" replied the young farm hand, smiling. "How +do you do, Mr. Blair?" + +"Come to college, eh?" laughed Andy. "What course are you taking?" + +"I expect to get the degree B. W.--bachelor of work," was the rejoinder. +"I'm sort of assistant janitor here now." + +"Is that so! How did it happen?" + +"Well, you know the last time I saw you I was on my way to see if I +could locate an uncle of mine, just outside of New Haven. I didn't, for +he'd moved away. Then I got some odd bits of work to do, and finally, +coming to town with a young fellow, who, like myself was out of work, I +heard of this place, applied for it and got it. I like it." + +"Well, I'm glad you are here," said Andy. "If I can help you in any way +let me know." + +"I will, Mr. Blair. You did help a lot before," and he went on raking +leaves, while Andy, musing on the strange turns of luck and chance, +hurried on to his lecture. + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +QUEER DISAPPEARANCES + + +"Come in!" cried Andy as a knock sounded. + +"I'm not going out, I don't care who it is!" exclaimed Dunk, fidgeting +in his chair. "I've just _got_ to get this confounded Greek." + +"Same here," said Andy. + +The door was pushed open and a shock of dark, curly hair was thrust in. + +"Like to look at some swell neckties!" a voice asked. + +"Oh, come in, you blooming old haberdasher!" cried Andy with a laugh, +and Ikey Stein, with a bundle under his arm, slid in. + +"Fine business!" he exclaimed. "Give me a chance to make a little money, +gentlemen; I need it!" + +"No more of that Japanese 'vawse' business!" warned Dunk. "I won't stand +for it." + +"No, these are genuine bargains," declared the student who was working +his way through college. "I'll show you. I got 'em from a friend of +mine, who's selling out. I can make a little something on them, and +you'll get swell scarfs at less than you'd pay for them in a store." + +"Let's see," suggested Andy, rather glad of the diversion and of the +chance to stop studying, for he had been "boning" hard. "But I don't +want any satsuma pattern, nor yet a cloisonne," he added. + +"Say, forget that," begged Ikey. "That Jap took me in, as well as he did +you fellows." + +"Well, if anybody can take _you_ in, Ikey, he's a good one!" laughed +Dunk. + +"Oh, don't mind me!" exclaimed the merchant-student. "You can't hurt my +feelings. I'm used to it. And I'm not ashamed of my nature, either. My +ancestors were all merchants, and they had to drive hard bargains to +live. I don't exactly do that, you understand, but I guess it's in my +blood. I'm not ashamed that I'm a Jew!" + +"And we're not ashamed of you, either!" cried Andy, heartily. + +"Same here," added Dunk. "Trot out your ties, Ikey." + +In spite of the fact that he sometimes insisted on the students buying +things they did not really need, Ikey was a general favorite in the +college. + +"There's a fine one!" he exclaimed, holding up a hideous red and green +scarf. "Only a dollar--worth two." + +"Wouldn't have it if you paid me for it!" cried Andy. "Show me something +that a fellow could wear without hearing it yell a block away." + +"Oh, you want something chaste and quiet," suggested Ikey. "I have the +very thing. There!" holding it up. "That is a mere whisper!" + +"It's a pretty loud whisper," commented Dunk, "but at that it isn't so +bad. I'll take it, if you don't want it, Andy." + +"You're welcome to it. I want something in a golden brown." + +"Here you are!" exclaimed Ikey, sorting over his stock. + +He succeeded in selling Andy and Dunk two scarfs each, and tried to get +them to take more, but they were firm. Then the merchant-student +departed to other rooms. + +"It's a queer way to get along," commented Andy, when he had finished +admiring his purchases. + +"Yes, but I give him credit for it," went on Dunk. "He meets with a lot +of discouragement, and some of the fellows are positively rude to him, +but he's always the same--good-natured and willing to put up with it. +He's working hard for his education." + +"Harder than you and I," commented Andy. "I wonder if we'd do it?" + +"I'd hate to have it thrust on me. But I do give Stein credit." + +"Yes, only for that Japanese vase business." + +"Oh, well, I believe that oily Jap did put one over on him." + +"Possibly. Oh, rats! Here come some of the fellows!" + +The sound of footsteps was heard in the corridor. Andy glanced at Dunk. +If it should prove to be Mortimer Gaffington, who, of late had tried in +vain to get Dunk to go out with him, what was to be done? Andy caught +his breath sharply. + +But it proved to be a needless alarm, for Bob Hunter, Ted Wilson and +Thad Warburton came in with noisy greetings. + +"Look at the digs!" + +"Boning away on a night like this!" + +"'Come into the garden, Maud!' Chuck that, you fellows, and let's go +downtown. What's the matter with a picture show?" + +It was Thad who asked this, but Bob, with a wry face, put his hand in +his pocket and drew out seven cents. + +"It doesn't look much like a picture show for me to-night," he said. + +"Oh, I'll stake you!" exclaimed Ted. "Come on." + +"Shall we?" asked Dunk doubtfully of Andy. + +"Might as well, I guess," was the answer. Andy was glad it had not been +Gaffington, and he realized that it might be better to take this chance +now of getting Dunk out, before the rich youth and his fast companions +came along, as they might later in the evening. He knew that with Bob, +Ted and Thad, there would be no long session at Burke's. + +"I haven't done my Greek," objected Dunk, hesitatingly. + +"Oh, well, I'll set the alarm clock, and we'll get up an hour earlier in +the morning and floor it," suggested Andy. + +"Burning the candle at both ends!" protested Dunk, with a sigh. "Ain't I +terrible? But lead me to it!" + +As they went out of Wright Hall, Andy looked across the campus and saw +Gaffington, and some of his boon companions, approaching. + +"Just in time," he murmured. When Gaffington saw Dunk in charge of his +friends he and the others turned aside. + +"That's when I got ahead of him!" exulted our hero. + +They spent a pleasant evening, and Andy and Dunk were back in their room +at a reasonable hour. + +"I declare!" exclaimed Dunk, "I feel pretty fresh yet. I think I'll have +another go at that Greek. We won't have to get up with the chickens +then." + +"I'm with you," agreed Andy, and they did more studying than they had +done in some time. + +"Well, I'm through," yawned Dunk, flinging his book on the table. "Now +I'm going to hit the hay." + +The next day Dunk was complimented on his recitation. + +"Oh, I tell you it pays to bone a bit!" Andy cried, clapping Dunk on the +back as they came out. + +"That's right," agreed the other. + +In the days that followed Andy watched Dunk closely. And, to our hero's +delight, Gaffington seemed to be losing his influence. Several times +Dunk refused to go out with him--refused good-naturedly enough, but +steadfastly. + +Andy tried to get Dunk interested in football, and did to a certain +extent. Dunk went out to the practice, and Andy tried to get him to go +into training. + +"No, it's too late," was the answer. "Next year, maybe. But I like to +see you fellows rub your noses in the dirt. Go to it, Andy!" + +Link Bardon seemed to find his employment at Yale congenial. Andy met +him several times and had some little talk with him. The young farmer +said he hoped to get permanent employment at the college, his present +position being only for a limited time. + +Andy had received letters from some of his former chums at Milton. Among +them were missives from Ben Snow and Chet Anderson. Chet wrote from +Harvard, where he had gone, that he would see Andy at the Yale-Harvard +game, while from Ben, who had gone to Princeton, came a similar message, +making an appointment for a good old-fashioned talk at the annual clash +of the Bulldog and Tiger. + +"I'll be glad to see them again," said Andy. + +It was about two weeks after the arrival of Link Bardon at Yale that +some little disturbance was occasioned throughout the college, when an +announcement was made at chapel one morning. It was from the Dean, and +stated that a number of articles had been reported as missing from the +rooms of various students. + +"You are requested to keep your doors locked when you are out of your +rooms," the announcement concluded. + +There was a buzz of excitement as the students filed out. + +"What does it mean?" + +"Who lost anything?" + +"I have," said one. "My new sapphire cuff buttons were swiped." + +"I lost a ring," added another. + +"And a diamond scarf pin I left on my dresser walked off--or someone +walked off with it," spoke a third. + +There were several other mysterious losses mentioned. + +"How did it happen?" asked Andy of a fellow student who had said a few +dollars had been taken from his dresser. + +"Hanged if I know," was the answer. "I left the money in my room, and +when I came back it was gone." + +"Was the room locked?" + +"It sure was." + +"Did any of the monitors or janitors see anyone go in?" + +"Not that I know of; but of course it could happen. There are a lot of +new men working around here, anyhow." + +Andy thought of Link, and hoped that the farmer lad would not be +suspected on account of being a stranger. + +But as the days went on the number of mysterious thefts grew. Every +dormitory in the quadrangle had been visited, but the buildings outside +the hollow square seemed immune. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +A GRIDIRON BATTLE + + +Harvard was about to meet Yale in the annual football game between the +freshman teams. The streets were filled with pretty girls, and more +pretty girls, with "sporty" chaps in mackinaws, in raglans--with all +sorts of hats atop of their heads, and some without hats at all. + +There had been the last secret final practice on Yale Field the day +before. That night the Harvard team and its followers had arrived, +putting up at Hotel Taft. + +Andy, in common with other candidates for the team, was sitting quietly +in his room, for Holwell, the coach, had forbidden any liveliness the +night before the game. And Andy had a chance to play. + +True, it was but a bare chance, but it was worth saving. He had played +brilliantly on the scrub team for some time, and had been named as a +possible substitute. If several backs ahead of him were knocked out, or +slumped at the last moment, Andy would go in. And, without in the least +wishing misfortune to a fellow student, how Andy did wish he could play! + +There came a knock at the door--a timid, hesitating sort of knock. + +"Oh, hang it! If that's Ikey, trying to sell me a blue sweater, I'll +throw him down stairs!" growled Andy. He was nervous. + +"Come in!" called Dunk, laughing. + +"Is Andy Blair----Oh, hello, there you are, old man!" cried a voice and +Chet Anderson thrust his head into the room. + +"Well, you old rosebud!" yelled Andy, leaping out of the easy chair with +such energy that the bit of furniture slid almost into the big +fireplace. "Where'd you blow in from?" + +"I came with the Harvard bunch. I told you I'd see you here." + +"I know, but I didn't expect to see you until the game. You're not going +to play?" + +"No--worse luck! Wish I was. Hear you may be picked." + +"There's a chance, that's all." + +"Oh, well, we'll lick you anyhow!" + +"Yes, you will, you old tomcat!" and the two clasped hands warmly, and +looked deep into each other's eyes. + +"Oh!" exclaimed Andy. "I forgot. Chet, this is my chum, Duncan +Chamber--Dunk for short. Dunk--Chet Anderson. I went to Milton with +him." + +The two shook hands, and Chet sat down, he and Andy at once exchanging a +fund of talk, with Dunk now and then getting in a word. + +"Did you come on with the team?" asked Andy. + +"Yes, and it's some little team, too, let me tell you!" + +"Glad to hear it!" laughed Andy. "Yale doesn't like to punch a bag of +mush!" + +"Oh, you won't find any mush in Harvard. Say, have you heard from Ben?" + +"Yes, saw him at the Princeton game." + +"How was he?" + +"Fine and dandy." + +"That's good. Then he likes it down there?" + +"Yes. He's going in for baseball. Hopes to pitch on the freshman team, +but I don't know." + +"You didn't play against the Tiger?" + +"No, there wasn't any need of me. Yale had it all her own way." + +"She won't to-morrow." + +"Wait and see." + +Thus they talked until Chet, knowing that Andy must want to get rest, in +preparation for the gridiron battle, took his leave, promising to see +his friend again. + +The stands were a mass of color--blue like the sky on one side of Yale +Field, and red like a sunset on the other. The cheering cohorts, under +the leadership of the various cheer leaders, boomed out their voices of +defiance. + +Out trotted the Yale team and substitutes, of whom Andy was one. +Instantly the blue of the sky seemed to multiply itself as a roar shook +the sloping seats--the seats that ran down to the edge of green field, +marked off in lines of white. + +"Come on now, lively!" yelled the coaches, hardly making their voices +heard above the frantic cheers. + +The players lined up and went through some rapid passes and kicking. +Andy and the other substitutes took their places on the bench, enveloped +in blankets and their blue sweaters. + +Then a roar and a smudge of crimson, that flashed out from the other +side of the field, told of the approach of the Harvard team. + +"Harvard! Harvard! Harvard!" + +It was an acclaim of welcome. + +Andy watched Yale's opponents go through their snappy practice. + +"They're big and beefy," he murmured, "but we can do 'em. We've got to! +Yale has got to win!" + +The captains consulted, the coin was flipped, and Harvard was to kick +off. The teams gathered in a knot at either end of the field for a last +consultation. Then the new ball was put in the center of the field. + +Andy found difficulty in getting his breath, and he noticed that the +other players beside him had the same trouble. + +The whistle shrilled out, and the Harvard back, running, sent the yellow +pigskin sailing well down the field. A wild yell greeted his +performance. One of the Yale players caught it and his interference +formed before him. But he had not run it back ten yards before he was +tackled. Now would come the first line-up, and it would be seen how Yale +could buck the crimson. + +"Signal!" Andy could hear their quarterback yell, and then the rest was +swallowed up in a hum of excitement in the songs and cheers with which +the students sought to urge on the defenders of the blue. + +There was a vicious plunge into the line, but the gain was small. + +"They's holding us!" murmured Blake, at Andy's side. + +"Oh, it's early yet," answered Andy. He wondered why his hands pained +him, and, looking at them found that he had been clenching them until +the nails had made deep impressions in his palms. + +Again came a plunging, smashing attack at Harvard's line, and a groan +from the Yale substitutes followed. The Yale back had been thrown for a +loss. + +"We've got to kick now," murmured Andy, and the signal came. + +Then it was the Yale ends showed their fleetness and they nailed the +Harvard man before he had gained much. An exchange of punts followed, +both teams having good kickers that year. + +Then came more line smashing, in which Yale gained a little. It was a +fiercely fought game, so fierce that before five minutes of play Harvard +had to take one man out, and Yale lost two, from injuries that could not +be patched up on the field. + +"I've got a chance! I've got a chance!" exulted Andy. + +But it was not rejoicing at the other fellows' misfortunes. Unless you +have played football you can not understand Andy's real feelings. + +The first quarter ended with neither side making a score, and there was +a consultation on both teams during the little breathing spell. + +"We've got to do more line plunging," thought Andy, and he was right, +for Yale began that sort of a game when the whistle blew again. The +wisdom of it was apparent, for at once the ball began to go down toward +Harvard's goal, once Yale got possession of the pigskin after an +exchange of kicks. + +"That's the way! That's the way!" yelled Andy. "Touchdown! Touchdown!" + +This was being yelled all over the Yale stands. But it was not to be. +After some magnificent playing, and bucking that tore the Harvard line +apart again and again, time for the half was called, Yale having the +ball on Harvard's eight-yard line. Another play might have taken it +over. + +But both teams had been forced to call on more substitutes, and Harvard +lost her best punter. Yale suffered, too, in the withdrawal of Michaels, +a star end. + +The third quarter had not been long under way when, following a +scrimmage, a knot of Yale players gathered about a prostrate figure. + +"Who is it? Who is it?" was asked on all sides. + +"Brooks--right half!" was the despondent answer. "This cooks our goose!" + +"Blair--Blair!" cried the coach. "Get in there! Rip 'em up!" + +A mist swam before Andy's eyes. Some one fairly pulled him from the +bench, and his sweater was ripped off him, one sleeve tearing out. But +what did it matter--he had a chance to play! + +"We've got to buck their line!" the freshman captain whispered in his +ear. "They're weak there, and we dare not kick too much. Our ends can't +get down fast enough. I'm going to send you through for all you're +worth." + +"All right!" gasped Andy. His mouth was dry--his throat parched. + +"Steady there! Steady!" warned the coach. + +"Ready, Yale?" asked the referee. + +"Yes!" + +Again the whistle blew. Yale had the ball, and on the first play Andy +was sent bucking the line with it. He hit it hard, and felt himself +being pushed and pulled through. Some one seemed in his way, and then a +body gave suddenly and limply, and he lurched forward. + +"First down!" he heard some one yell. He had gained the required +distance. Yale would not have to kick. + +Panting, trembling, with a wild, eager rage to again get into the fight, +Andy waited for the signal. A forward pass was to be tried. He was glad +he was not to buck the line again. + +The pass was not completed, and the ball was brought back. Again came a +play--a double pass that netted a little. Yale was slowly gaining. + +But now Harvard took a brace and held for downs so that Yale had to +kick. Then the Crimson took her turn at rushing the ball down the field +by a series of desperate plunges. Yale's goal was in danger when the +saving whistle for the third quarter shrilled out. + +"Fellows, we've got to get 'em now or never!" cried the Yale captain, +fiercely. "Break your necks--but get a touchdown!" + +Once more the line-up. Andy's ears were ringing. He could scarcely hear +the signals for the cheering from the stands. He was called upon to +smash through the line, and did manage to make a small gain. But it was +not enough. It was the second down. The other back was called on, and +went through after good interference, making the necessary gain. + +"We've got 'em on the run!" exulted Yale. + +The blue team was within striking distance of the Harvard goal. The +signal came for a kick in an attempt to send the ball over the crossbar. + +How it happened no one could say. It was one of the fumbles that so +often occur in a football game--fumbles that spell victory for one team +and defeat for another. The Yale full-back reached out his hands for the +pigskin, caught it and--dropped it. There was a rush of men toward him, +and some one's foot kicked the ball. It rolled toward Andy. In a flash +he had it tucked under his arm, and started in a wild dash for the +Harvard goal line. + +"Get him! Get that man!" + +"Smear him!" + +"Interference! Interference! Get after him!" + +"It's Blair! Andy Blair!" + +"Yale's ball!" + +"Go on, you beggar! Run! Run!" + +"Touchdown! Touchdown!" + +There was a wild riot of yells. With his ears ringing as with the jangle +of a thousand bells, with his lungs nearly bursting, and his eyes +scarcely seeing, Andy ran on. + +He had ten yards to go--thirty feet--and between him and the goal was +the Harvard full-back--a big youth. Andy heard stamping feet behind him. +They were those of friends and foes, but no friends could help him now. + +Straight at the Harvard back he ran--panting, desperate. The Crimson +player crouched, waiting for him. Andy dodged. He was midway between the +side lines. He circled. The Harvard back turned and raced after him, +intent on driving him out of bounds. That was what Andy did not want, +but he did want to wind his opponent. Again Andy circled and dodged. The +other followed his every move. + +Then Andy came straight at him again, with outstretched hand to ward him +off. There was a clash of bodies, and Andy felt himself encircled in a +fatal embrace. He hurled himself forward, for he could see the goal line +beneath his feet. Over he went, bearing the Harvard player backward, +and, when they fell with a crash, Andy reached out, his arms over his +head, and planted the ball beyond the goal line. He had made the winning +touchdown! + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +ANDY SAYS "NO!" + + +Men were thumping each other on the back. Some had smashed their hats +over other persons' heads. Others had broken their canes from much +exuberant pounding on the floors of the stands. + +Everyone was yelling. On one side there was a forest of blue flags +waving up and down, sideways, around in circles. Pretty girls were +clinging to their escorts and laughing hysterically. The escorts +themselves scarcely noticed the said pretty girls, for they were gazing +down on the field--the field about which were scattered eleven players +in blue, and eleven in dull red, all motionless now, amazed or joyful, +according to their color, over the feat of Andy Blair. + +On the Harvard stands there was glumness. The red banners slumped in +nerveless hands. It had come as a shock. They had been so sure that Yale +could not score--what matter if the Crimson could not herself--if she +could keep the mighty Bulldog from biting a hole in her goal line? + +But it was not to be. Yale had won. There was no time to play more. Yale +had won--somewhat by a fluke, it is true, but she had won nevertheless. +Flukes count in football--fumbles sometimes make the game--for the other +fellow. + +"Oh, you Andy Blair!" + +"It's a touchdown!" + +"Yale wins!" + +"Yale! Yale! Yale!" + +Some one started the "Boola" song, and it was roared out mightily. Then +came the locomotive cheer. + +Slowly Andy got up from behind the Harvard goal line. The other player +who had tackled him, but too late, himself arose. His face was white and +drawn, not from any physical pain, though the fall of himself and Andy +had not been gentle. It was from the sting of defeat. + +"Well--well," he faltered, gulping hard. "You got by me, old man!" + +"I--I had to," gasped Andy, for neither had his breath yet. + +The other players came crowding up. + +"It'll be the dickens of a job to kick a goal from there with that +wind," spoke the Yale captain. "But we'll try it." + +The whistle ending the game had blown, but time was allowed for a try at +kicking the ball over the crossbar. A hush fell over the assemblage +while the ball was taken out and the player stretched out to hold it for +the kicker. The referee stood with upraised hand, to indicate when the +ball started to rise--the signal that the Harvard players might rush +from behind their goal in an attempt, seldom successful, to block the +kick. + +The hand fell. There was a dull boom. The ball rose and sailed toward +the posts as the Harvard team rushed out. And then fate again favored +Yale, for a little puff of wind carried the spheroid just inside the +posts and over the bar. The goal had been kicked, adding to Yale's +points. She had won. + +Once more the cheers broke forth, and Andy's team-mates surrounded him. +They slapped him on the back; they called him all sorts of +harsh-sounding but endearing names; they jostled him to and fro. + +"Come on, now!" cried the Yale captain. "A cheer for Harvard! No better +players in the world! Altogether, boys!" + +It was a ringing tribute. + +And then the vanquished, tasting the bitterness of defeat, sent forth +their acclaim of the lads who had bested them. + +Andy found himself in the midst of a mad throng, of which his own mates +formed but a small part, for the field was now overflowing with the +spectators who had rushed down from the stands. + +Some one pushed a way through and grabbed Andy by the hand. + +"You did it, old man! You did it!" a frantic voice exclaimed. "I give +you credit for it, Andy!" + +Andy found himself confronting Chet. + +"I told you we'd win," answered Andy, with a laugh. + +"Yes, but you never said you were going to do it yourself," spoke Chet, +ruefully. + +"Come on, fellows, up with him!" called the quarterback, and before Andy +could stop them they had lifted him to their shoulders, while behind the +students had formed themselves into a queue to do the serpentine dance. + +Cheer after cheer was given, and then the team passed into the dressing +rooms, and into comparative quiet. Comparative quiet only, for the +players were babbling among themselves, living the game over again. + +"And to think that a substitute did it, after we've thought ourselves +the whole show all season," groaned one of the regulars. + +"Oh, well, it was just an accident," said Andy, modestly. + +"A mighty lucky accident for Yale, my friend!" exclaimed Holwell. "May +there be more of such accidents!" + +Back in the gymnasium, later, after a refreshing shower, Andy managed to +get away from the admiring crowd, and finding Chet took him to his room. +Dunk was there before them. + +"This is a great and noble occasion!" he cried, as Andy came in. "I'm +proud of you, my boy! Proud! Put her there!" + +Andy sent his hand into that of his roommate with a resounding whack. + +"We've got to celebrate!" cried Dunk. "The freshman football season is +over. You break training. You've got to celebrate!" + +"I don't mind--in a mild sort of way," laughed Andy. + +"Oh, strictly proper--strictly proper!" agreed Dunk. + +"I think I'd better be getting back," remarked Chet. + +"No, stay and see the fun," insisted Dunk, and Chet agreed to do so. + +There came a rush of feet along the corridor, and some one whistled "See +the conquering hero comes!" + +"There are some of the fellows now!" cried Dunk. "Oh! this is great. We +must make this a noteworthy occasion. We must celebrate properly!" he +was getting quite excited, and Andy began to worry somewhat, for he did +not want his roommate to celebrate in the wrong way, and there was some +danger lest he might. + +"Where is he?" + +"Lead me to him!" + +"Oh, you Andy Blair!" + +Bob, Ted and Thad came bursting into the room, which would not hold many +more. + +"Shake!" was the general command, and Andy's arm ached from the +pump-handle process. + +"What are you going to do?" asked Ted. + +"We're going to eat!" cried Dunk. "This is on me--a little supper by +ourselves at Burke's." + +"Count us in on that!" cried some one out in the corridor, and Mortimer +Gaffington and some of his cronies shoved their way into the room. "We +want to have a share in the blow-out! Congratulations, old man!" and he +pumped Andy's arm. + +"Oh, what a night we'll have!" cried Clarence Boyle. + +"The wildest and stormiest ever!" added Len Scott. "Yale's night!" + +"Got to go easy, though!" cautioned Dunk. + +"Oh, fudge on you and being easy!" laughed Mortimer. "This thing has to +be done good and proper. Come on, let's go out. We'll smear this old +town with a mixture of red and blue." + +"That makes purple," laughed Dunk. + +"No matter!" cried Mortimer. "Come on." + +Andy could not very well refuse and a little later he found himself with +some of the other football players, at a table in Burke's place. + +The air was blue with smoke--veritable Yale air. There was laughter, +talk, and the clatter of glasses on every side. The evening wore on, +with the singing of songs, the telling of stories and the playing of the +game all over again. It was such a night as occurs but seldom. + +Andy noticed that Dunk was slipping back into his old habits. And, as +the celebration went on this became more and more noticeable. + +Finally, after a rollicking song, Dunk arose from his place near Andy +and cried: + +"Fellows--your eyes on me. I'm going to propose a toast to the best one +among us." + +"Name your man!" + +Dunk was thus challenged. + +"I'll name him in a minute," he went on, raising his glass on high. +"He's the best friend I've got. I give you--Andy Blair!" + +"Andy Blair!" was roared out. + +"Stand up, Andy!" + +He arose, a glass of ginger ale in his hand. + +"We're goin' drink your health!" said Dunk. + +"Thank you!" said Andy. + +"Then fill up your glass!" + +"It is filled, Dunk. Can't you see?" + +"That's no stuff to drink a health in. Here, waiter, some real ale for +Mr. Blair." + +"No--no," said Andy quickly. "I don't drink anything stronger than soft +stuff--you know it, Dunk." + +For a moment there was a silence in the room. Andy felt himself growing +pale. + +"You--you won't drink with me?" asked Dunk slowly. + +"I'd like to--but I can't--I don't touch it." + +"He's a quitter!" cried Mortimer, angrily, from the other side of the +table. "A rank quitter! He won't drink his own toast!" + +"Won't you drink with me, Andy?" asked Dunk, in sorrowful tones. + +"In soft stuff--yes." + +"No, in the real stuff!" + +"I can't!" + +"Then, by Cæsar, you are a quitter, and here's where you and I part +company!" + +Dunk crashed his glass down on the table in front of Andy, and staggered +away from his side. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + +RECONCILIATION + + +Seldom had anything like that occurred before, and, for the moment every +student in the room remained motionless, breathing hard and wondering +what would come next. Andy, who had been pale, now was flushed. It was +an insult; but how could he resent it? + +There seemed no way. If Dunk wanted to break off their friendship that +was his affair, but he might have done it more quietly. Probably all in +the room, save perhaps Mortimer Gaffington, realized this. As for that +youth, he smiled insultingly at Andy and murmured to Dunk, who was now +passing to another table: + +"That's the way to act. Be a sport!" + +It was clear that if Andy dropped Dunk, Mortimer stood ready to take him +up. + +"Don't mind him, old chap. Dunk isn't just himself to-night," murmured +Thad in Andy's ear. "He'll see differently in the morning." + +"He'll have to see a good bit differently to see me," spoke Andy +stiffly. "I can't pass that up." + +"Try," urged Thad. "You don't know what it may mean to Dunk." + +Andy did not reply. Some one started a song and under cover of it Andy +slipped out, Chet following. + +"Too bad, old man," consoled Andy's Harvard friend. "Is he often as bad +as that?" + +"Not of late. It's getting in with that Gaffington crowd that starts him +off. I guess he and I are done now." + +"I suppose so. But it's too bad." + +"Yes." + +Andy walked on in silence for a time, and then said: + +"Come on up to the room and have a chat. I won't see you for some time +now. Not till Christmas vacation." + +"That's right. But I've got to get back to Cambridge. I'll go down and +get a train, I guess. Come on to the station with me. The walk will do +you good." + +The two chums strolled through the lighted streets, which were much more +lively than usual on account of the celebration of the football victory. +But Andy and Chet paid little heed to the bustle and confusion about +them. + +When Andy got back to his room, after bidding Chet good-bye, Dunk had +not come in. Andy lay awake some time waiting for him, wondering what +he would say when he did come in. But finally he dozed off, and awaking +in the morning, from fitful slumbers, he saw the other bed empty. Dunk +had not come home. + +"Well, if he's going to quit me I guess it can't be helped," remarked +Andy. "And I guess I'd better give up this room, and let him get some +one else in. It wouldn't be pleasant for me to stay here if he pulled +out. I'd remember too much. Yes, I'll look for another room." + +He went to chapel, feeling very little in the mood for it, but somehow +the peaceful calm of the Sunday service eased his troubled mind. He +looked about for Dunk, but did not see him. Perhaps it was just as well. + +After chapel Andy went back to his room, and debated with himself what +was best to be done. He was in the midst of this self-communion when +there was a knock on the door, and to Andy's call of "Shove in!" there +followed the shock of curly hair that belonged to nobody but Ikey Stein. + +"Oh, dear!" groaned Andy in spirit. "That bargainer, at this, of all +times." + +"Hello, Andy," greeted Ikey. "Are you busy?" + +"Too busy to buy neckties." + +"Forget it! Do you think I'd come to you now on such a business!" + +There was a new side to the character of Ikey--a side Andy had never +before seen. There was a quiet air of authority about him, a gentle air +that contrasted strangely with his usual carefree and easy manners that +he assumed when he wanted to sell his goods. + +"Sit down," invited Andy, shoving a pile of books and papers off a +chair. + +"Thanks. Nice day, isn't it?" + +"Yes," answered Andy slowly, wondering what was the object of the call. + +"Nice day for a walk." + +"Yes." + +"Ever go for a walk?" + +"Sure. Lots of times." + +"Going to-day?" + +"I don't know. Are you?" + +"Oh, I didn't mean with me. I've got a date, anyhow. Say, look here, +Blair, if you don't mind me getting personal. If you were to take a walk +out toward East Rock Park you might meet a friend of yours." + +"A friend?" + +"Yes." + +"You mean----" + +"Now look here!" exclaimed Ikey, and his manner was serious. "You may +order me out of your room, and all that, but I'm going to speak what's +in my mind. I want you to make up with Dunk!" + +"Make up with him--after what he did to me!" + +"That's all right--I know. But I'm sure he'll meet you more than +half-way." + +"Well, he'll have to." + +"Now, don't take that view of it," urged the kindly Jew. "Say, let me +tell you something, will you?" + +"Fire away," and Andy walked over and stood looking out of the window +across the campus. + +"It's only a little story," went on Ikey, "and not much of a one at +that. When I was in prep school I had a friend--a very dear friend. + +"He was what you call a sport, too, in a way, and how he ever took up +with me I never could understand. I hadn't any money--I had to work like +the dickens to get along. All my people are dead, and I was then, as I +am now, practically alone in the world. But this fellow, who came of a +good family, took me up, and we formed a real friendship. + +"I think I did him good in a way, and I know he did me, for I used to +have bitter feelings against the rich and he did a lot to show me that I +was wrong. This friend went in a fast set and one day I spoke to him +about it. I said he was throwing away his talents. + +"Well, he was touchy--he'd been out late the night before--and he +resented what I said. We had a quarrel--our first one--and he went out +saying he never wanted to see me again. I had a chance to make up with +him later, but I was too proud. So was he, I guess. Anyhow, when I put +my pride in my pocket and went after him, a little later, it was too +late." + +"Too late--how?" asked Andy, for Ikey had come to a stop and there was a +break in his voice. + +"He went out in an auto with his fast crowd; there was an upset, and my +friend was killed." + +Andy turned sharply. There were tears in the other's eyes, and his face +was twitching. + +"I--I always felt," said Ikey, softly, "that perhaps if I hadn't been so +proud and hard that--maybe--maybe he'd be alive to-day." + +There was silence in the room, broken only by the monotonous ticking of +the clock. + +"Thanks," said Andy, softly, after a pause. "I--I guess I understand +what you mean, Stein." He held out his hand, which was warmly clasped. + +"Then you will go for a walk--maybe?" asked Ikey, eagerly. + +"I--I think I will," spoke Andy, softly. "I don't understand it; but +I'll go." + +"You--you'll find him there," went on Ikey. "I sent him out to--meet +you!" + +And before Andy could say anything more the peacemaker had left the +apartment. + +For several minutes Andy stood still. He looked about the room--a room +suggestive in many ways of the presence and character of Dunk. There was +even on the mantel a fragment of the Japanese vase he had broken that +time. + +"I'll go to him," spoke Andy, softly. + +He went out on the campus, not heeding many calls from friends to join +them. When they noted his manner they, wisely, did not press the matter. +Perhaps they guessed. Andy walked out Whitney Avenue to East Rock Road +and turned into the park. + +"I wonder where I'll find him?" he mused, as he gazed around. + +"Queer that Ikey should put up a game like this." + +Walking on a little way, Andy saw a solitary figure under a tree. He +knew who it was. The other saw him coming, but did not stir. + +Presently they were within speaking distance. Andy paused a moment and +then, holding out his hand, said softly: + +"Dunk!" + +The figure looked up, and a little smile crept over the moody face. + +"Andy!" cried Dunk, stepping forward. + +The next moment their hands had met in a clasp such as they never had +felt before. They looked into each other's eyes, and there was much +meaning in the glance. + +"Andy--Andy--can you--forgive me?" + +"Of course, Dunk; I understand." + +"All right, old man. That is the last time. Never again! Never again!" + +And Dunk meant it. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + +LINK'S VISIT + + +Busy days followed. After the football game, the quarrel of Dunk and +Andy, and their reconciliation, brought about so effectively by Ikey +Stein, little of moment happened except the varsity football games, +which Andy followed with devoted interest, hoping that by the next term +he would be chosen for a place on the team. + +The students settled down to hard work, with the closing of the outdoor +sporting season, and there were days of hard study. Yale is no place for +weak students, and Andy soon found that he must "toe the mark" in more +senses than one. He had to give his days and some of his nights to +"grinding." + +For some time Andy did not understand how Ikey had brought about the +meeting of Dunk and himself--at least, he did not know how the +peacemaker had induced Dunk to go to the park. But one day the latter +explained. + +Following the dramatic scene in Burke's, Dunk had gone out. Not wishing +to face Andy he had stayed at a hotel all night. In the morning, while +he was remorseful and nearly ill, Ikey, the faithful, had sought him +out, having in some way heard of the quarrel. Ikey was not given to +frequenting Burke's, but he had his own way of ferreting out news. + +To Dunk he had gone, then, and had told much the same story he had +related to Andy, giving it a different twist. And he had so worked on +Dunk's feelings, picturing how terribly Andy must feel, that finally +Dunk had consented to go to the park. + +"Well, I'm glad I did, old man!" said Dunk, clapping Andy on the back. + +"And so am I. I'm only wondering whether Ikey faked that 'sob story' or +not." + +"What of it? It certainly did the business, all right." + +"It sure did." + +Dunk and Andy were better friends than ever, and, to the relief of Andy, +Mortimer and his crowd ceased coming to the room in Wright Hall, and +taking Dunk off with them. + +Occasionally Andy's chum would go off with a rather "sporty" crowd, and +sometimes Andy went also. But Dunk held himself well in hand, for which +Andy was very glad. + +"It's all your doing, old man!" said Dunk, gratefully. + +"Nonsense!" exclaimed Andy, but his heart glowed nevertheless. + +The quiet and rather calm atmosphere of college life was rudely broken +when one night, following a mild celebration over the victory of the +basketball team, several robberies were discovered. + +A number of rooms in the college buildings had been entered, and various +articles of jewelry and some money had been taken. Freshmen were mainly +the ones who sustained the losses, though no class was exempt. + +"This is getting serious!" exclaimed Dunk, as he and Andy talked the +matter over. "We'd better get a new lock put on our door." + +"I'm willing, though I haven't got much that would tempt anyone." + +"I haven't either, only this," and he pulled out a handsome gold watch. +"I'm so blamed careless about it that most of the time I forget to carry +it." + +"Well, let's put on a lock, then. The one we have doesn't catch half the +time." + +"No, it's been busted too many times by the raiding sophs. I'll buy +another first time I'm down town." + +But the matter slipped Dunk's mind, and Andy did not again think of it. + +The thefts created no little excitement, and it was said that a private +detective agency had been engaged by the faculty. Of the truth of this +no one could vouch. + +Another warning was given by the Dean, and students were urged to see to +the fastening of their doors, not only for their own protection, but in +order not to put temptation in the way of servants. + +Andy came in from a late lecture one afternoon, to find open the door of +his room he had left locked, as he thought. At first he supposed Dunk +was within, but entering the apartment he saw Link Bardon there. The +helper arose as Andy came in and said, rather embarrassedly: + +"Mr. Blair, I'm in trouble." + +"Trouble!" exclaimed Andy. "What kind?" + +"Well, I need money. You see I've got a sick sister and the other day +she wrote to me, saying she'd have to have some money to buy an +expensive medicine. I sent it to her. She said her husband would get his +pay this week, and she'd send it back to me. Now she writes that he is +sick, and can't earn anything, so she can't pay me back. + +"I was counting on that money, for my wages aren't due for several days, +and I have to pay my board. I don't like to ask my landlady to wait, and +I thought maybe----" + +"Of course I'll let you have some!" exclaimed Andy quickly. "How much +do you need?" + +"Oh, about seven dollars." + +"Better have ten. You can pay me back when you like," said Andy as he +extended the bill. + +"I don't know how to thank you!" exclaimed Link, gratefully. + +"Then don't try," advised Andy, with a smile. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV + +THE MISSING WATCH + + +Andy was "boning" on his German, with which he had had considerable +difficulty. The dusk was settling down that early December day, and he +was thinking of lighting a lamp to continue work on his books, when he +heard a familiar step, and a whistle down the corridor. Then a voice +broke into a college refrain. + +"Dunk!" murmured Andy. "It sounds good to hear him, and to know that +there's not much more danger of our getting on the outs. He sure was +worth saving--that is, what little I did toward it. He did the most +himself, I fancy." + +"Hello, old top, hard at it?" greeted Dunk, as he entered. + +"Have to be," replied Andy. "You've no idea how tough this German is." + +"Oh, haven't I? Didn't I flunk in it the other day? And on something I +ought to have known as well as I do my first reader lesson? It's no +cinch--this being at Yale. Wonder if I've got time to slip down town +before we feed our faces?" and he began fumbling for his watch. + +"What's on?" asked Andy, rather idly. + +Then, as he saw Dunk giving his shoes a hasty rub, and delving among a +confused mass of ties in a drawer, Andy added: + +"The witness need not answer. It's a skirt." + +"A which?" asked Dunk in pretended ignorance. + +"A lady. I didn't know you knew any here, Dunk!" + +"Huh! Think you've got the preserves all to yourself, eh? Well, I'll +show you that you haven't." + +"Who is she?" asked Andy. + +"Friend of a friend of mine. I think I'll take a chance and go down just +for a little while. Save some grub for me. I won't be long. May make a +date for to-night. Want to fill in?" + +"If there's room." + +"Sure, we'll make room, and I'll get you a girl. Some of us are going to +the Hyperion. Nice little play there," and Dunk went on "dolling up," +until he was at least partly satisfied with himself. + +Dunk was about to leave when a messenger came to announce that he was +wanted on the 'phone in the public booth in Dwight Hall, where the Y. M. +C. A. of Yale has headquarters. + +"I guess that's her now," said Dunk, as he hurried out. "I told her to +call up," and he rushed down the corridor. + +Andy heard him call back: + +"I say, old man, look out for my watch, will you? I must have left it +somewhere around there." + +"The old fusser," murmured Andy, as he rose from the easy chair. "When +Dunk goes in for anything he forgets everything else. He'd leave his +head if it wasn't fastened on, or if I didn't remind him of it," and +Andy felt quite a righteous glow as he began to look about for the +valuable timepiece belonging to his roommate. + +"He must have it on him," went on Andy, as a hasty search about the room +did not reveal it. "Probably he's stuck it in his trousers' pocket with +his keys and loose change. He oughtn't to have a good watch the way he +uses it. Well, it isn't here--that's sure." + +Andy, a little later, turned on the electric light, but no glow followed +the snapping of the button. + +"Current off again--or else it's burned out," he murmured. A look in the +hall outside showed him other lamps gleaming and he knew that his own +light must be at fault. + +"Guess I'll go get another bulb," he remarked. + +When he returned with the new one he was aware that some one was in the +darkened room. + +"That you, Dunk?" he asked. + +"No," answered a voice he recognized as that of Ikey Stein. "I saw you +going down the hall and guessed what you were after, so I took the +liberty of coming in and waiting. I've got some real bargains." + +"Nothing doing, Ikey," laughed Andy, as he screwed the lamp in the +socket and lighted up the room. "Got all the ties I need for my whole +course in Yale." + +"It isn't ties," said Ikey, and his voice was so serious that Andy +wondered at it. "It's handkerchiefs," went on the student-salesman. +"Andy, I'm in bad. I bought a big stock of these things, and I've got to +sell 'em to get my money out of 'em. I thought I would have plenty of +time, but I owe a bill that's due now, and the man wants his money. So +I've got to sell these handkerchiefs quicker than I expected. I need the +cash, so I'll let 'em go for just what I paid for 'em. I don't care if I +don't make a cent." + +"Let's see 'em," suggested Andy. The talk sounded familiar. It was +"bargain" patter, but an inspection of the handkerchiefs showed Andy +that they were worth what was asked for them. And, as it happened, he +was in need of some. He bought two dozen, and suggested to Ikey several +other students in Wright Hall on whom he might call. + +"Thanks," said the salesman, as he departed after a lengthy visit in +Andy's room. "I won't forget what you've done for me, Blair. I'm having +a hard time, and some people try to make it all the harder. They think, +because I'm a Jew, that I have no feelings--that I like to be laughed +at, and made to think that all I care about is money. Wait! Some day +I'll show 'em!" and his black eyes flashed. + +Andy felt really sorry for him. Certainly Ikey did not work his way +through college on any easy path. + +"I'm only too glad to do this for you," said the purchaser. He could not +forget what a service Ikey had rendered to him and Dunk, bringing them +together when they were on the verge of taking paths that might never +converge. + +"Well, I'll see if I can't find some other easy mark like you," laughed +Ikey as he went down the hall. + +Andy was about to go to the "eating joint" alone when Dunk came in +whistling gaily. + +"Ah, ha! Methinks thou hast had a pleasant meeting!" Andy "spouted." + +"Right--Oh!" exclaimed his roommate. "It's all right for to-night, too. +I've got a peach for you." + +"Light or dark?" asked Andy, critically. + +"Dark! Say, but you're getting mighty particular, though, for a young +fellow." + +"The same to you. Where do we meet 'em, and where do we go?" + +"I've got it all fixed. Hyperion. Come on, let's get through grub, I +want to dress." + +He began searching hurriedly through his pockets, a puzzled look coming +over his face. + +"Where in the world----" he began. "Oh, I know, I left it here." + +"What?" + +"My watch. I called to you about it when I went out to the telephone, +and----" + +"It isn't here. I looked." + +"What!" + +"Fact! Unless you stuck it in something." + +"No, I left it right on my dresser, on a pile of clean +handkerchiefs--hello, where'd these come from?" and he looked at the +ones Andy had bought of Ikey. + +"Oh, another bargain from our mutual friend," and Andy mentioned the +price. + +"That is a bargain, all right. I must get some. But look here, where's +my watch?" + +"I'm sure I don't know. Did you leave it here?" + +"I certainly did. I remember now, I put it on the pile of handkerchiefs +just before I went to last lecture. Then I came in here, to go out to +keep my date, and I didn't have it. I was going to slip it in my pocket +when I was called to the 'phone. Look here, here's the impression of it +in the handkerchiefs," and Dunk pointed to a round depression in the +pile of soft linen squares. It was just the shape of a watch. + +"It was there," said Dunk slowly, looking at Andy. + +"And now it's gone," finished his roommate. Then he remembered several +things, and his start of surprise made Dunk look at his chum in a +strange way. + +"What's the matter?" asked Dunk. + +"I'll tell you in a minute," said Andy. "I want to think a bit." + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI + +THE GIRLS + + +"Well?" asked Dunk, after a pause, during which Andy had sat staring at +the fireplace. A blaze had been kindled there, but it had died down, and +now there was only a mere flicker. + +"Are you sure you left your watch on that pile of handkerchiefs?" asked +Andy, slowly. + +"Dead sure. I remember it because I thought at the time that I was a +chump to treat that ticker the way I did, and I made up my mind I'd get +a good chain for it and have my watch pocket lined with chamois leather. +That's what made me think of it--the softness of the handkerchiefs. Why, +Andy, you can see the imprint of it plainly enough." + +"Yes, I guess you're right." + +"And it's gone." + +"Right again." + +"Were you in the room all the time I was out?" + +"Most all the while. I went to get a new electric lamp for the one that +had burned out." + +"Was anyone here besides you?" + +Andy hesitated. Then he answered: + +"Yes, two persons." + +"Who?" + +"Ikey Stein----" + +"That----" + +Andy held up a warning hand. + +"Don't call any names," he advised. "Ikey did you and me a good service. +We mustn't forget that." + +"All right, I won't. Who else was in here?" + +"Link Bardon." + +"Who's he?" + +"That farmer lad I was telling you about--the one we fellows saved from +a beating." + +"Oh, yes. I remember." + +"He's working here now. He came in to borrow some money. I found him +here when I came back--our door was open." + +"By Jove! That lock! I meant to get it fixed. Well, I can see what +happened. The quadrangle mystery deepens, and I'm elected. The beggar +got my watch!" Dunk started out. + +"Where are you going?" asked Andy. + +"To telephone for a locksmith. I'm going to have our door fixed. Don't +laugh--the old saying--'lock the stable after the horse is stolen.' I +know it." + +"Wait a minute," suggested Andy. "While you're at it hadn't you better +give notice of the robbery?" + +"I suppose so. But what good will it do? None of the fellows have gotten +back anything that's been taken. But I sure am sorry to lose that +watch." + +"So am I," spoke Andy. "Look here, Dunk, there are two persons who might +have taken it--no, three." + +"How three?" + +"Counting me." + +"Oh, piffle. But I suppose if I made a row it would look bad for Ikey +and your friend Link." + +"It sure would. I think maybe you'd better not make a row." + +"You mean sit down and let 'em walk off with my watch without saying a +word?" + +"Oh, no. Report the loss, of course. But don't mention any names." + +"Well, I wouldn't like to mention Ikey--for the honor of Yale, and all +that, you know." + +"I agree with you. And, for certain reasons, I wouldn't like you to +mention Link. I don't know about him, but I believe he's as honest as +can be. Of course he was in need of money, and if your watch lay in +plain sight there'd be a big temptation. But I'd hate to think it." + +"So would I, after what you've told me about him. I won't think it, +until, at least, we get more information. It was my fault for leaving +it around that way. It's too bad! Dad will sure be sorry to hear it's +gone. I'm going to keep mum about it--maybe it will turn up." + +"I hope so," returned Andy. "I hardly believe Link would take it, yet +you never can tell." + +"Anyhow, we'll get a new lock put on, and I'll report my watch," said +Dunk. "Then we'll forget all about it and have some fun. Come on, I'm +hungry. It isn't so much the money value of the thing, as the +associations. Hang it all--what a queer world this is. Oh, but you +should see the girls, Andy!" + +"I'm counting on it!" + +When they came back, after a hasty session at the "eating joint," there +was a note for each of them tucked under the door, which they had +managed to lock pending the attaching of the new mechanism. + +"From Gaffington," announced Dunk, ripping his open. "He's giving a +blow-out to-night. Wants me to come." + +"Same here," announced Andy, reading his, and then glancing anxiously at +his roommate. + +"I'm not going," said Dunk, wadding up the missive and tossing it into +the waste-paper basket. + +"Neither am I," said Andy, doing the same. + +They began to "doll up," which, being interpreted, means to attire +oneself in one's best raiment, including the newest tie, the stiffest +collar and the most uncomfortable shirt, to say nothing of patent +leather shoes a size too small. + +"Whew!" panted Andy, as he adjusted his scarf for the fourth or fifth +time, "these bargains of Ikey's aren't what they're cracked up to be." + +"I should say not. I don't believe they're real silk." + +"Maybe not. They say the Japs can make something that looks like it, but +which isn't any more silk than a shoestring." + +"I believe you. Maybe Ikey has been dabbling in some more of Hashmi's +stuff." + +"I wouldn't wonder. Say, it's a queer way for a fellow to get through +college, isn't it?" + +"It sure is. Yet he's a decent sort of chap. Only for that affair of the +vases." + +"Oh, he made restitution in that case." + +They went on dressing, with hurried glances at the clock now and then to +make sure they would not be late. From out in the raised court came a +hail: + +"Oh, you, Dunk!" + +"Stick out your noddle, Blair!" + +"Come on down!" + +"That's Thad and his crowd," announced Andy. + +"Let 'em holler," advised Dunk. "I'm not going with them." + +"Oh, you Dunk!" + +"Go on away!" called Dunk, shouting out of the window. + +"Oh, for the love of mush!" + +"Look at him!" + +"Girls, all right!" + +"Come on up and rough-house 'em!" + +These cries greeted the appearance out of the window of the upper part +of Dunk's body, attired in a gaudy waistcoat. + +"Is that door locked, Andy?" gasped Dunk, hurriedly pulling in his head. + +"Yes." + +"Slip the bolt then. They'll make no end of a row if they get in!" + +Andy slipped it, and only in time, for there came a rush of bodies +against the portal, and insistent demands from Thad and his crowd to be +admitted. Failing in that they besought Andy and Dunk to come out. + +"Nothing doing! We've got dates!" announced Andy, and this was accepted +as final. + +They were just about to leave, quiet having been restored, when there +came a knock. + +"Who is it?" asked Dunk, suspiciously. + +"Gaffington," was the unexpected answer. "Are you fellows coming to my +blow-out." + +Dunk looked at Andy and paused. Following the affair in Burke's, where +Gaffington had incited Dunk against Andy, the rich youth from Andy's +town had had little to say to him. He seemed to take it for granted that +his condition that night was enough of an apology without any other, and +treated Andy exactly as though nothing had occurred. + +"Well?" asked Gaffington, impatiently. + +"Sorry, old man," said Dunk, "but we both have previous engagements." + +"Oh, indeed!" sneered Mortimer, and they could hear him muttering to +himself as he walked away. + +Then the two chums sallied forth. On the way Dunk reported the loss of +his watch, to the discomfiture of the Dean, who seemed much disturbed by +the successive robberies. + +"Something must be done!" he exclaimed, pacing up and down the room. + +Dunk also left word at the college maintenance office about the door +that would not lock, and got the promise that it would be seen to. + +"And now for the girls!" exclaimed Andy. "Do I know them?" + +"No, but you soon will." + +Andy was much pleased with the two young ladies to whom Dunk introduced +him later. It appeared that one was a distant relative of Dunk's mother, +and the two were visiting friends in New Haven. Dunk's "cousin," as he +called her, had sent him a card, asking him to call, and he had made +arrangements to bring Andy and spend the evening at the theatre. + +Thither they went, happy and laughing, and to the no small envy of a +number of college lads, the said lads making unmistakable signals to +Dunk and Andy, between the acts, that they wanted to be introduced +later. + +But Andy and Dunk ignored their chums. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII + +JEALOUSIES + + +"Well, how did you like 'em?" demanded Dunk. + +"Do you mean both--or one?" asked Andy. + +"Huh, you ought to know what I mean?" + +"Or--_who_, I suppose," and Andy smiled. + +He and his chum had come back to their room after taking home the girls +with whom they had spent the evening at the theatre. There had followed +a little supper, and the affair ended most enjoyably. That is, it seemed +to, but there was an undernote of irritation in Dunk's voice and he +regarded Andy with rather a strange look as they sat in the room +preparatory to going to bed. + +"What did you and she find to talk about so much?" asked Dunk, +suspiciously. "I brought Kittie Martin around for you." + +"So I imagined." + +"Yet nearly all the time you kept talking to Alice Jordan. Didn't you +like Miss Martin?" + +"Sure. She's a fine girl. But Miss Jordan and I found we knew the same +people back home, where I come from, and naturally she wanted to hear +about them." + +"Huh! Well, the next time I get you a girl I'll make sure the one I +bring along doesn't come from the same part of the country you do." + +"Why?" asked Andy, innocently enough. + +"Why? Good land, man! Do you think I want the girl I pick out +monopolized by you?" + +"I didn't monopolize her." + +"It was the next thing to it." + +"Look here, Dunk, you're not mad, are you?" + +"No, you old pickle; but I'm the next thing to it." + +"Why, I couldn't help it, Dunk. She talked to me." + +"Bah! The same old story that Adam rung the changes on when Eve handed +him the apple. Oh, forget it! I suppose I oughtn't to have mentioned it, +but when I was all primed for a nice cozy talk to have you butting in +every now and then with something about the girls and boys back in +Oshkosh----" + +"It was Dunmore," interrupted Andy. + +"Well, Dunmore then. It's the same thing. I'll do--more to you if you do +it again." + +"I tell you she kept asking me questions, and what could I do but +answer," replied Andy. + +"You might have changed the subject. Kittie didn't like it for a cent." + +"She didn't?" + +"No. I saw her looking at you and Alice in a queer way several times." + +"She did?" + +"She did. So did Katy!" mocked Dunk, and his voice was rather snappish. + +"Well, I didn't intend anything," said Andy. "Gee, but when I try to do +the polite thing I get in Dutch, as the saying is. I guess I wasn't cut +out for a lady's man." + +"Oh, you're all right," Dunk assured his chum, "only you want to hunt on +your own grounds. Keep off my preserves." + +"All right, I will after this. Just give me the high sign when you see +me transgressing again." + +"There isn't likely to be any 'again,' Andy. They're going home +to-morrow." + +"I've got her address, anyhow," laughed Andy. + +"Whose?" asked Dunk, suspiciously. + +"Kittie Martin's. She's the one you picked out for me; isn't she?" + +"Yes, and I wish you'd stick to her!" and with this Dunk tumbled into +bed and did not talk further. Andy put out the light with a thoughtful +air, and did not try to carry on the conversation. It was as near to a +quarrel as the roommates had come since the affair of Burke's. + +But matters were smoothed over, at least for a time, when, next day, +came notes from the girls saying they had decided to prolong their visit +in New Haven. + +"Good!" cried Dunk. "We can take them out some more." + +And this time Andy was careful not to pay too much attention to Miss +Alice Jordan, though, truth to tell, he liked her better than he did +Kittie Martin. And it is betraying no secret to confess that Alice +seemed to like Andy very much. + +The boys hired a carriage and took the girls for a drive one day, going +to the beautiful hill country west of the new Yale Field. + +As they were going slowly along they met a taxicab coming in the +opposite direction. When it drew near Andy was somewhat surprised to +find it contained Miss Mazie Fuller, the actress. She laughed and bowed, +waving her hand to Andy. + +"Who was that?" asked Dunk, who had been too busy talking to Alice to +notice the occupant of the taxi. + +"Miss Fuller," answered Andy. + +"Oh, your little actress. Yes." + +Andy blushed and Miss Martin, who sat beside the youth, rather drew +away, while Alice gave him a queer, quick look. + +"An actress?" murmured Miss Martin. "She looks young--a mere girl." + +"That's all she is," said Andy, eagerly. Too eagerly, in fact. He rather +overdid it. + +"Tell 'em how you saved her life," suggested Dunk, laughing. + +"Forget it," returned Andy, with another blush. "I'm tired of being a +hero." + +"Oh, I heard about that," said Miss Jordan. "There was something in the +papers about it. She's real pretty, isn't she?" and again she looked +queerly at Andy. + +"Oh, yes," he admitted, taking warning now. "Say, tell me, shall we go +over that cross road?" + +"To change the subject," observed Miss Martin, with a little laugh, and +a sidewise glance at Andy. + +He was beginning to find that jealousy was not alone confined to Dunk. + +The ride came to an end at last and Andy wondered just how he stood with +Dunk and the girls. + +"Hang it all!" he mused, "I seem to get in Dutch all along the line." + +The girls left New Haven, having been given a little farewell supper by +Dunk and Andy. The two boys had hard work to resist the many +self-invited guests among their chums. + +Several days later there came some letters to Dunk and Andy. One, to the +latter, was from Miss Fuller, the actress, telling Andy that she +expected to be in New Haven again, and asking Andy to call on her. + +"You are going it!" said Dunk, when Andy told of this missive, and also +mentioned receiving one from Miss Martin, thanking him for the +entertainment he and Dunk had given to her and her chum. "You sure are +going it, Andy! Two strings to your bow, all right." + +"Never you mind me," retorted Andy. "I'm not on your side of the fence +_this_ time." + +There was the sound of running feet in the corridor, and someone rushed +past the room, the door of which was open. + +"Did you see anyone pass?" cried Frank Carr, who roomed a few apartments +away from Andy and Dunk. "Did someone run past here just now?" + +"We didn't see nor hear anyone," answered Dunk. "Why?" + +"Because just as I was coming upstairs I saw someone run out of my room. +I thought of the quadrangle robberies at once, and took a look in. One +of my books, and the silver vase I won in the tennis match, were gone. +The thief came down this way!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII + +THE BOOK + + +Andy and Dunk, who had jumped up and come to the door of their room on +hearing Frank's explanation, stood looking at him for a second, rather +startled by his news. Then Andy, realizing that this might be a chance +to discover who had been carrying on the mysterious quadrangle +robberies, exclaimed: + +"Come on down this way! The hall ends just around the corner and there's +no way out. It's a blind alley, and if the fellow went down here we sure +have him!" + +"Good for you!" cried Dunk. "Wait until we get something to tackle him +with in case he fights." + +"That's so," said Andy. "Here, I'll take our poker, and you can have the +fire tongs, Dunk." + +From a brass stand near the fireplace Andy caught up the articles he +mentioned. + +"Where's something for me?" asked Frank. + +"Here, take the shovel," spoke Dunk passing it over. "Say, what sort of +a fellow was it you saw run out of your room?" + +"I didn't have much chance to notice, he went so like a flash." + +"Was it--er--one of our fellows--I mean a college man--did he look like +that?" asked Andy. He was conscious of the fact that he had rather +stammered over this. Truth to tell, he feared lest Link might have +yielded to temptation. Since the episode of Dunk's watch Andy had been +doing some hard thinking. + +"Well, the fellow did look like a college chap," admitted Frank, "but of +course it couldn't be. No Yale man would be guilty of a thing like +that." + +"Of course not!" agreed Dunk. "But say, if we're going to make a capture +we'd better get busy. Are you sure there's no way out from this +corridor, Andy?" + +"Sure not. It ends blank. The fellow is surely trapped." + +They hurried out into the corridor, and started down it, armed with the +fire irons. Though they had talked rather loudly, and were under +considerable excitement, no attention had been attracted to them. Most +of the rooms on that floor were not occupied just then, and if there +were students in the others they did not come out to see what was taking +place. + +"Say, it would be great if we could capture the thief!" said Dunk. + +"Yes, and end the quadrangle mystery," added Andy. + +"I don't care so much about ending the mystery as I do about getting +back my tennis cup and the book," spoke Frank. + +"What sort of a book was it?" Andy inquired. + +"A reference work on inorganic chemistry," answered Frank. "Cost me ten +plunks, too. I can't afford to lose it for I need it in my work." + +"Some book!" murmured Andy, as the three hastened on. + +They tried door after door as they passed, but most of them were locked. +One or two opened to disclose students dressing or shaving, and to the +rather indignant inquiries as to what was wanted, Dunk would exclaim +hastily: + +"Oh, we are looking for a fellow--that's all." + +"Hazing?" sometimes would be inquired. + +"Sort of," Dunk would answer. "No use telling 'em what it is until we've +got something to show," he added to his companions. They agreed with +him. + +They had now reached the turn of corridor where a short passage, making +an L, branched off. So far they had seen no trace of the thief. + +"There's a big closet, or storeroom, at the end," explained Andy. "The +fellow may be hiding in there." + +An examination of the few rooms remaining on this short turn of the +passage did not disclose the youth they sought. All of the doors were +locked. + +"He may be hiding in one of them," suggested Dunk. + +"If he is all we'll have to do will be to wait down at the other end, if +we don't find him in the store room," spoke Andy. "He'll have to come +out some time, and it's too high up for him to jump." + +"It's queer we didn't hear him run past our room," remarked Dunk. + +"He had on rubber shoes--that's why," explained Frank. "He went out of +my room like a shadow. At first I didn't realize what it was, but when I +found my stuff had vanished I woke up." + +"Rubber shoes, eh?" said Andy. "He's an up-to-date burglar all right." + +"Well, let's try the storeroom," suggested Dunk, as they neared it. They +were rather nervous, in spite of the fact that their forces outnumbered +the enemy three to one. With shovel, tongs and poker held in readiness, +they advanced. The door of the big closet was closed, and, just as Andy +was about to put his hand on the knob, the portal swung open, and out +stepped--Mortimer Gaffington. + +"Why--er--why--you--you----!" stammered Andy. + +"Did you--have you----?" This was what Dunk tried to say. + +"Is he in there?" Frank wanted to know. + +Mortimer looked coolly at the three. + +"I say," he drawled, "what's up? Are you looking for a rat?" + +"No, the quadrangle thief!" exclaimed Andy. "He went in Frank's room and +took his book and silver cup, and lit out. Came down here and we're +after him! Have you seen him?" + +"No," replied Mortimer, slowly. "I came up here to get Charley Taylor's +mushroom bat. He said he stuck it in here when the season was over, and +he told me I could have it if I could fish it out. I had the dickens of +a time in there, pawing over a lot of old stuff." + +"Did you get the bat?" asked Dunk. + +"No. I don't believe it's there. If it is I'd have to haul everything +out to get at it. I'm going to give it up." + +As he spoke he threw open the closet door. An electric light was burning +inside, and there was revealed to the eyes of Andy and his chums a +confused mass of material. Most of it was of a sporting character, and +belonged to the students on that floor, they using the store room for +the accumulation that could not be crowded into their own apartments. + +"A regular junk heap," commented Frank. "But where the mischief did that +fellow go who was in my room?" + +"It _is_ sort of queer," admitted Andy, as he looked down. Without +intending to do so he noticed that Mortimer did not wear rubber-soled +shoes, but had on a heavy pair that would have made noise enough down +the corridor had he hurried along the passage. + +"Maybe you dreamed it," suggested Mortimer. "I didn't see anything of +anyone coming down here, and I was in that closet some time, rummaging +away." + +"Must have been pretty warm in there--with the door closed," suggested +Dunk. + +"It was hot. The door swung shut when I was away back in a corner trying +to fish out that bat, and I didn't want to climb back and open it. Well, +I guess I'll go clean up. I'm all dust." + +Truth to tell, he was rather disheveled, his clothes being spotted in +several places with dust and cobwebs, while his face and hands were also +soiled. + +"Well, I guess he fooled us," commented Andy. "I can't understand it, +though. We came down this hall right after him, and there's no stairway +going up or down from this end. How could he give us the slip?" + +"Easily enough," said Mortimer. "He could have slid into some empty +room, locked the door on the inside and waited until you fellows rushed +past. Then he could come out and go down the stairs behind you without +you seeing him." + +"That's what he did then, all right," decided Dunk. "We might as well +give it up. Report your loss, Frank." + +"Yes, I will. Whew! Another quadrangle robbery to add to the list. I +wonder when this thing will stop?" + +No one could answer him. Mortimer switched off the light in the store +room, remarking that he'd have another look for the bat later. Then he +accompanied Andy and the others on their way back down the corridor. +Gaffington departed to his own dormitory, while Frank went to report to +the Dean, and Andy and Dunk turned into their room. + +"Well, what do you think of it?" asked Andy. + +"I don't know," responded his roommate. "Mortimer's explanation seems to +cover it." + +"All the same we'll leave our door open, on the chance that the thief +may still be hiding in some empty room, and will try to sneak out," +suggested Andy. + +"Sure, that's good enough." + +But, though they watched for some time, no one came down the corridor +past their room but the regular students. + +And so the theft of the book and silver cup passed into history with the +other mysteries. Further search was made, and the private detective +agency, that had been engaged by the Dean, sent some active men scouting +around, but nothing came of it. + +The Christmas vacation was at hand and Andy went home to spend it in +Dunmore. Chet, Ben and his other school chums were on hand, and as Andy +remarked concerning the occasion, "a jolly time was had by all." + +Chet and Ben were with Andy most of the time, and when Andy told of the +doings at Yale, Chet responded with an account of the fun at Harvard, +while Ben related the doings of the Jersey Tiger. + +Andy's second term at Yale began early in the new year, and he arrived +in New Haven during a driving snow storm. He went at once to his room, +where he found a note from Dunk, who had come in shortly before. + +"Come over to the eating joint," the missive read, and Andy, stowing +away his bag, headed for the place. + +"Over in here!" + +"Shove in, plenty of room!" + +"Oh, you, Andy Blair!" + +"Happy New Year!" + +Thus was he greeted and thus he greeted in turn. Then, amid laughter and +talk, and the rattle of knives and forks, acquaintanceship and +friendship were renewed. Andy was beginning to feel like a seasoned Yale +man now. + +The studies of the second term were of increasing difficulty, and Andy +and Dunk found they had to buckle down to steady work. But they had +counted on this. + +Still they found time for fun and jollity and spent many a pleasant +evening in company with their other friends. Once or twice Mortimer and +his cronies tried to get Dunk to spend the night with them, but he +refused; or, if he did go, he took Andy with him, and the two always +came home early, and with clear heads. + +"They're a pair of quitters!" said Len Scott, in disgust, after one +occasion of this kind. "What do you want to bother with 'em for, Mort?" + +"That's what I say," added Clarence Boyle. + +"Oh, well, I may have my reasons," returned Mortimer, loftily. "Dunk +would be a good sort if he wasn't tied fast to Andy. I can't get along +with him, though." + +"Me either," added Len. "He's too goody-goody." Which was somewhat +unjust to Andy. + +The winter slowly wore on. Now and then there would be another of the +mysterious robberies, and on nearly every occasion the article taken was +of considerable value--jewelry, sporting trophies or expensive books. +There was suspicion of many persons, but not enough to warrant an +arrest. + +One day Hal Pulter, who roomed in Wright Hall, near Dunk and Andy, +reported that an expensive reference book had been taken from his room. +The usual experience followed, with no result. + +Then, about a week later, as Andy was walking past the small building at +High and Elm streets, where the University Press had its quarters, he +came up behind Mortimer Gaffington, who seemed to be studying a book. + +Andy wondered somewhat at Mortimer's application, particularly as it was +snowing at the time. This enabled Andy to come close up behind +Gaffington without the latter being aware of it, and, looking over the +shoulder of the youth, Andy saw on the fly-leaf of the volume a peculiar +ink blot. + +At once a flash of recollection came to Andy. Well did he know that ink +blot, for he had made it himself. + +"Why, that's Pulter's book!" he exclaimed, speaking aloud +involuntarily. "Where did you get it?" + +Mortimer turned quickly and faced Andy. + +"What's that?" he asked, sharply. + +"I say that's Pulter's book," Andy went on. + +"How do you know?" asked Mortimer. + +"Why, by that big ink blot. I made it. Pulter was in our room with the +book just before it was stolen, and my fountain pen leaked on it. That +sure is Pulter's book. Where did you get it? That's the one he made such +a fuss about!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX + +THE ACCUSATION + + +"Pulter's book, eh?" murmured Mortimer, slowly, as he turned it about, +looking on the front and back blank pages. + +"It sure is," went on Andy, eagerly. "I'd know that ink blot anywhere. +Pulter let out a howl like an Indian when my pen leaked on his book. The +blot looks like a Chinese laundryman turned upside down." + +"That's right," agreed Mortimer. "Queer, isn't it?" + +"Yes," went on Andy, his curiosity growing. "Where did you get it?" + +"Found it," spoke the rich lad, quickly. "I went out to the new Yale +Field to see how the stadium was coming on, and I saw this under a clump +of bushes. I knew it was a valuable book, so I brought it back with me. +It hasn't got Pulter's name in it, though." + +"No," went on Andy. "His name was on the other front leaf. That was +worse blotted with the ink than this one, and he tore it out. But I'm +sure that's Pulter's book." + +"Very likely," admitted Mortimer, coolly. "I'll take it to him. I'm glad +I found it. Going my way?" + +"Yes," and Andy walked beside the lad from his home town, thinking of +many things. Mortimer went into Wright Hall, but Pulter was not in. + +"I'll leave the book for him," Mortimer said to Andy, "and you can call +his attention to it. If it isn't his let me know, and I'll post a notice +saying that I've found it." + +"All right," agreed our hero. "But I know it's Pulter's." + +He was telling Dunk about the incident, when his roommate came in a +little later, and they were discussing the queer coincidence, when +Pulter came bursting in. + +"Oh, I say!" he cried. "I've got my book back! What do you know about +that? It was on my table, and----" + +He stopped and looked queerly at Andy and Dunk, who were smiling. + +"What's the joke?" demanded Pulter. "Did you fellows----" + +"Gaffington found it," said Andy. "Sit down and I'll explain," which he +did. + +"Well, that is a queer go!" exclaimed Pulter. "How in the world did my +book get out to Yale Field? It isn't so queer that Gaffington would +find it, for I understand he goes out there a lot, on walks. But how did +my book get there?" + +"Probably whoever took it found they couldn't get much by pawning or +selling it, and threw it away," suggested Dunk. + +"Looks that way," agreed Andy. "But it sure is a queer game all around." + +They discussed it from many standpoints. Pulter was very glad to get his +book back, for he was not a wealthy lad, and the cost of a new volume +meant more to him than it would to others. + +"Well, Andy, how do you size it up?" asked Dunk, when Pulter had gone +back to his apartment and Andy and his chum sat in their cozy room +before a crackling fire. + +"How do you mean?" asked Andy, to gain time. + +"Why, about Gaffington having that book. Didn't it look sort of fishy to +you?" + +"It did in a way, yes. But his explanation was very natural. It all +_might_ have happened that way." + +"Oh, yes, of course. But do _you_ believe it?" + +"I don't know why I shouldn't. Gaffington's folks have no end of money, +you know. He wouldn't be guilty of taking a book. If he did want to crib +something he'd go in for something big." + +"Well, some of these quadrangle robberies have been big enough. There's +my watch, for instance." + +"What! You don't mean you believe Gaffington is the quadrangle thief!" +exclaimed Andy, in surprise. + +"I don't believe it, exactly, no. If he's rich, as you say, certainly he +wouldn't run the risk for the comparatively few dollars he could get out +of the thefts. But I will admit that this book business did make me +suspicious." + +"Oh, forget it," advised Andy, with a laugh. "I don't like Gaffington, +and I never did, but I don't believe that of him." + +"Oh, well, I dare say I'm wrong. It was only a theory." + +"I would like to know who's doing all this business, though," went on +Andy. + +"It's probably some of the hired help they have around here," suggested +Dunk. "They can't investigate the character of all the men and women +employed in the kitchens, the dormitories and around the grounds." + +"No, that's right. I only hope my friend Link doesn't fall under +suspicion." + +For a week or so after this, matters went on quietly at Yale. There were +no further thefts and the authorities had begun to hope there would be +no more. They had about given up the hope of solving the mystery of +those already committed. + +Then came a sensation. Some very valuable books were taken one night +from Chittenden Hall--rare volumes worth considerable money. The next +morning there was much excitement when the fact became known. + +"Now something will be done!" predicted Andy. + +"Well, what can they do that hasn't already been done?" asked Dunk. +"They may make a search of every fellow's room. I wish they'd come here. +Maybe they'd find that my watch, after all, has hidden itself away +somewhere instead of being taken." + +"They're welcome if they want to look here," said Andy. "But I don't +believe they'll do that. They'll probably get a real detective now." + +And that was what the Dean did. He disliked very much to call in the +public police, but the loss of the rare books was too serious a theft to +pass over with the hiring of a private detective. + +Just what was done was not disclosed, but it leaked out that a close +watch was being kept on all the employees at Yale, and suspicion, it was +said, had narrowed down to one or two. + +One day Link called on Andy to pay back the money he had borrowed. + +"There's no hurry," said Andy. "I don't need it." + +"Oh, I want to pay it back," said the young farmer. "I have plenty of +cash now," and he exhibited quite a roll of bills. + +"Been drawing your salary?" asked Andy, with a laugh. + +"No, this is a little windfall that came to me," was the answer. + +"A windfall? Did someone die and leave you a fortune?" + +"No, not exactly. It came to me in a curious way. I got it through the +mail, and there wasn't a word of explanation with it. Just the bill +folded in a letter. A hundred-dollar bill, it was, but I had it +changed." + +"Do you mean someone sent you a hundred dollars, and you don't know who +it's from?" asked Andy, in surprise. + +"That's right!" exclaimed Link, with a laugh. "I wish I did know, for +I'd write and thank whoever it was. It surely came in handy." + +"Why, it's very strange," spoke Andy, slowly. "Could you tell by the +postmark where the letter came from?" + +"It was from New York, but I haven't a friend there that I know of." + +"Well, I'm glad you've got it. Take care of it, Link." + +"I intend to. I can lend you some now, if you need it, Mr. Blair." + +"Thank you, I have enough at present." + +Andy watched his protege walk across the campus, and near the middle +observed him stopped by a stranger. Link appeared surprised, and started +back. There was a quick movement, and the young farmer was seized by the +other. + +"That's queer!" exclaimed Andy. "I wonder what's up? Link may be in +trouble. Maybe that fellow's trying to rob him." + +The quadrangle was almost deserted at the time. Andy hurried down and +ran over to where Link was standing. The student caught the gleam of +something on the wrist of his friend. It was a steel handcuff! + +"What--what's up, Link?" Andy gasped. + +"Why, Mr. Blair--I don't know. This man--he says he's a detective, +and----" + +"So I am a detective, and I don't want any of your funny work!" was the +snappish retort. "There's my badge," and it was flashed from under the +armhole of the man's vest, being fastened to his suspenders, where most +plain-clothes men carry their official emblem. + +"A detective!" gasped Andy. "What's the matter? Why do you want Link +Bardon?" + +"We want him because he's accused of being the quadrangle thief!" was +the unexpected answer. "Stand aside now, I'm going to take him to the +station house!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXX + +THE LETTER + + +Andy could scarcely understand it. Surely, he thought, there must be +some mistake. He was glad there was not a crowd of students about to +witness the humiliation of Link--a humiliation none the less acute if +the charge was groundless. + +"Wait a minute--hold on!" exclaimed Andy, sharply, and there was +something in his voice that caused the detective to pause. + +"Well, what is it?" the officer growled. "I haven't any time to waste." + +"Do you really want him on a robbery charge?" asked Andy. + +"I do--if his name is Link Bardon," was the cool answer. "I guess he +won't attempt to deny it. I've been on his trail for some time." + +"That's my name, sure enough--I have no reason to deny it," said Link, +who had turned pale. His eyes had traces of tears in them. After all, he +was not much older than Andy and he was a gentle sort of youth, unused +to the rough ways of the world. + +"I thought I was right," the detective went on. "I've been watching for +you. Now the question is--are you coming along quietly, or shall I have +any trouble?" + +"I won't give you any trouble--certainly not," protested Link. "But this +is all a mistake! I haven't taken a thing! You know I wouldn't steal, +don't you, Mr. Blair?" + +"I certainly believe it, Link, and I'll do all I can to help you. What +are you going to do with him?" he asked the detective. + +"Lock him up--what do you suppose?" + +"But can't he get out on bail?" + +"Oh, it could be arranged. I have nothing to do with that. I'm just +supposed to get him--and I've got him!" + +"But I--I haven't done anything!" insisted Link. + +"That's what they all say," sneered the detective. "Come along!" + +"Do--do I have to go with him?" asked Link, turning to Andy in appeal. + +"I'm afraid so," was the answer. "But I'll go with you and try to get +bail. Don't worry, Link. It's all a mistake. You'll soon be free." + +"Don't be too sure of that," warned the officer. "I've been searching +your room, young man, and I guess you know what I found there." + +"You certainly found in my room only the things that belonged to me!" +exclaimed Link, indignantly. + +"Did I? What do you call this?" and the detective took from his pocket a +small book. Andy recognized it at once as one of the valuable ones taken +from Chittenden Hall. + +"You--you found that in my room?" cried Link, aghast. + +"I sure did. In your room on Crown street. Now maybe you won't be so +high and mighty." + +"If you found that in my room, someone else put it there!" declared +Link. "I certainly never did." + +"Well, I won't say that couldn't happen," spoke the officer coolly, "but +if you think I planted it there to frame up some evidence against you, +you've got another guess coming. I took your landlady into the room with +me, to have a witness, and she saw me pull this book out from the bottom +of a closet." + +"I never put it there!" protested Link. + +"You can tell that to the judge," went on the officer. "How about all +the money you've been sporting around to-day, too?" + +Link started. Andy, too, saw how dangerous this evidence might be. + +"I've had some money--certainly," admitted Link. + +"Where'd you get it?" + +Link hesitated. He realized that the story would sound peculiar. + +"It was sent to me," he answered. + +"Who sent it?" + +"I don't know. It came in the mail without a word of explanation." + +The detective laughed. + +"I thought you'd have some such yarn as that," he said. "They all do. I +guess you'll have to come with me. I'm sorry," he went on in a more +gentle tone. "I'm only doing my duty. I've been working on the +quadrangle case for some time, and I think I've landed my man. But it +isn't as much fun as you might think. I'll only say that I believe I +have the goods on you, and I'll warn you that anything you say now may +be used against you. So you'd better keep still. Come along." + +"Must I go?" asked Link again of Andy. + +"I'm afraid so. But I'll have you out on bail as soon as I can. Don't +worry, Link." + +Andy learned from the detective before what judge Link would be +arraigned and then, as the young farmer lad was led away in disgrace, +Andy started back to his room. + +"I've got to get Dunk to help me in this," he reasoned. "To go on bail +you have to own property, or else put up the cash, and I can't do that. +Maybe Dunk can suggest a way." + +Andy was glad it was so dark that no one could see Link being taken away +by the officer. + +"How did that book get in Link's room?" mused Andy. "That sure will tell +against him. But I know he didn't steal it. Some other janitor or helper +who could get into Chittenden may have taken it, and then got afraid and +dumped it in Link's closet. A lot of college employees live on Crown +street. I must get Link a lawyer and tell him that." + +Andy found Dunk in the room, and excitedly broke the news to him. + +"Whew! You don't say so!" cried Dunk. "Your friend Link arrested! What +do you know about that? And the book in his room!" + +"Somebody else put it there," suggested Andy. + +"Possibly. But that money-in-a-letter story sounds sort of fishy." + +"That _is_ a weak point," Andy admitted. "But we'll have to consider +all that later. The question is: How can we get Link out on bail? Got any +money?" + +Dunk pulled out his pocketbook and made a hurried survey. + +"About thirty plunks," he said. + +"I've got twenty-five," said Andy. "Link has nearly a hundred himself." + +"That won't be enough," said Dunk. "This is a grand larceny charge and +the bail will be five hundred dollars anyhow. Now I'll tell you the +best thing to do." + +"What?" + +"Hire a good lawyer. We've got money enough, with what Link has, to pay +a good retaining fee. Let the lawyer worry about the bail. Those fellows +always have ways of getting it." + +"I believe you're right," agreed Andy. "We can put up fifty dollars for +a retainer to the lawyer." + +"I'll telegraph for more from home to-night," said Dunk. "Andy, we'll +see this thing through." + +"It's mighty good of you, Dunk." + +"Nonsense! Why shouldn't I help out your friend?" + +"Do you think he's guilty?" + +"I wouldn't want to say. Certainly I hope he isn't; but I'd like to get +my watch back." + +"Well, let's go get a lawyer," suggested Andy. + +A sporty senior, whom Dunk knew, and who had more than once been in +little troubles that required the services of a legal man, gave them the +address of a good one. They were fortunate in finding him in his office, +though it was rather late, and he agreed to take the case, and said he +thought bail could be had. + +Andy and Dunk made a hasty supper and then, letting their studies go, +hurried to the police court, where, occasionally, night sessions were +held. + +Link was brought out before the judge, having first had a conference +with the lawyer Dunk and Andy had engaged. The charge was formally made. + +"We plead not guilty," answered the lawyer, "and I ask that my client be +admitted to bail." + +"Hum!" mused the judge. "The specific charge only mentions one book, of +the value of two hundred dollars, but I understand there are other +charges to follow. I will fix bail at one thousand dollars, the prisoner +to stand committed until a bond is signed." + +Andy and Dunk gasped at the mention of a thousand dollars, but the +lawyer only smiled quietly. + +"I have a bondsman here, your Honor," he said. + +A man, looking like an Italian, came forward, but he proved to have the +necessary property, and signed the bond. Then Link was allowed to go, +being held, however, to answer to a higher court for the charge against +him. + +"Now if you'll come to my office," suggested the lawyer, "we'll plan out +this case." + +"Oh, I can't thank you two enough!" gasped Link, when he was free of the +police station. "It was awful back there in the cell." + +"Forget it," advised Dunk, with a laugh. "You'll never go back there +again." + +The consultation with the lawyer took some time, and when it was over +Link started for his room. He was cheered by the prospect that the case +against him was very slight. + +"Unless they get other evidence," specified the lawyer. + +"They can't!" cried Link, proudly. + +Andy and Dunk went back to their room, to do some necessary studying. On +their way they stopped in the Yale branch postoffice. There was a letter +from home for Andy, and when he had read it he uttered such an +exclamation that Dunk asked: + +"Any bad news?" + +"Yes, but not for me," replied Andy. "This is from my mother. She writes +that Mr. Gaffington--that's Mortimer's father--has failed in business +and lost all his money. This occurred some time ago, but the family has +been keeping it quiet. The Gaffingtons aren't rich at all, and Mortimer +will probably have to leave Yale." + +"Too bad," said Dunk, and then he started off, leaving Andy to read the +letter again. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXI + +ON THE DIAMOND + + +Andy Blair stood in the middle of his room, carefully examining a bat he +had taken from a closet containing, among other possessions, his +sporting things. The bat was a favorite he had used while at Milton, and +he was considering having it sand-papered and oiled. Or, rather, he was +considering doing the work himself, for he would not trust his choicest +stick to the hands of another. + +"Yes, she'll look a little better for a bit of attention, I think," said +Andy, half aloud. "Though I don't know as I can bat any better with it." + +He gave two or three preliminary swings in the air, when the door +suddenly opened, a head was thrust in and Andy gave it a glancing blow. + +"Wow! What's that for?" the newcomer gasped. "A nice way to receive +company, Andy! Where'd you learn that?" + +"I beg your pardon, Bob, old man!" exclaimed Andy, as he recognized +Hunter, Dunk's friend. "I was just getting out my bat to see how it +felt and----" + +"I can tell you how it felt," interrupted Bob, with emphasis. "It felt +hard! Better put up a sign outside your door--'Beware of the bat.'" + +"And have the fellows think this is a zoological museum," laughed Andy. +"I will not. But, Bob, I'm very sorry you got in the way of my stick. +Does it hurt? Want any witch hazel or anything like that?" + +"Oh, no, it isn't so worse. Good thing I wear my hair long or I might +have a headache. But say--where's Dunk?" + +"He was with me a little while ago. We stopped in the postoffice, and I +thought he came on here. But he didn't. Have you seen him?" + +"No, but I want to. Gaffington and his crowd are going to have another +blow-out to-night, and I wanted to make sure Dunk wouldn't fall by the +wayside." + +"That's so. Glad you told me. I'll do all I can. But say, he and I have +had a strenuous time to-day." + +"What's up?" asked Bob. "I've been so blamed busy getting primed for a +quiz that I haven't had time to eat." + +"It's about the robberies--the quadrangle thefts," explained Andy. "They +arrested Link Bardon." + +"What! Your farmer friend?" + +"Yes. Dunk and I bailed him out." + +"Good for you! Now I suppose the thefts will stop." + +"Not necessarily," returned Andy, quickly. "Link wasn't the thief." + +"He wasn't? Then why did they pinch him? Of course I don't know anything +about it, and if he's your friend, why, of course, you have a right to +stick up for him." + +"Oh, it isn't that so much," explained Andy. "I don't know him very +well; but I'm sure he isn't guilty of the thefts. There are some queer +circumstances about them, but I'm sure they can all be explained." + +"Well, it's your funeral--not mine," said Bob, with a shrug of his +shoulders. "I wonder where Dunk is. I think I'll go hunt him up." + +"All right, bring him back here when you come," urged Andy. + +"Yes, and I suppose you'll stand ready to greet us with a club--you +cheerful reception committee!" laughed Bob. "Well, I'll see you later." + +Andy sat down, placing his bat across his knees. + +"So Gaffington is going to give another spread, eh?" he mused. "That's +queer--on top of the news mother sends in her letter. What did I do with +it?" + +He found it after looking through a mass of papers in his pockets, and +read it again. Following its receipt at the college branch postoffice +Andy had imparted the news to Dunk. Then the latter, meeting a friend, +had walked off with him, while Andy came on to his room. + +On reaching his apartment, Dunk not having come in, Andy found a notice +from the Freshman Athletic Committee, stating that baseball practice +would soon start in the indoor cage. + +Andy was an enthusiastic player, and had made a good record at Milton. +As a freshman he was not eligible for the Yale varsity nine, but he +could play on his class team, and he was glad the chance had come to +him. + +Andy was thinking of many things as he sat there in the room, now and +then swinging his bat. But he was careful not to let it go too close to +the door, in case other visitors might chance in. + +"A whole lot of things have happened since morning," said Andy to +himself. "That sure was a strenuous time over poor Link. I wonder what +he'll do? Probably the college will fire him from his job. I guess I'll +have to see what I can do to get him another. But that won't be easy +when it becomes known that he's out on bail on a theft charge. + +"Then there's that news about Mortimer. And to think that he's known all +along that he might have to leave Yale, yet he's been going on and +living as if his father's millions were in a safe deposit box. I +wonder----By Jove!" exclaimed Andy, leaping up. "I never thought of +that. Why not? If he needs money----" + +His train of thought was interrupted by a knock on his door, which had +swung shut as Bob Hunter went out. + +"Come in!" invited Andy, and he started as Mortimer Gaffington slid in. +Andy gave him a quick glance, but either Mortimer was a good actor, or +he did not feel his father's loss of money, providing the news Mrs. +Blair had sent her son was correct. + +"Hello, Andy," greeted Gaffington, as he slumped into an easy chair. +"Where's Dunk?" + +"I don't know. Bob Hunter was just in looking for him. Make yourself at +home--he may be in soon." In spite of his dislike of Gaffington, and his +fear lest he influence Dunk for evil, Andy could do no less than play +the part of host. + +"Thanks, I will stay for a while," answered Mortimer. "Been looking for +thieves again?" he asked, noting the bat in Andy's hand. He referred to +the time when Andy and his two friends had sought an intruder down the +corridor, and had only found Mortimer delving in a storeroom. + +"No, not this time," laughed Andy. "But the freshman team is going to +get together, so I thought I'd get out my fishing tackle, so to speak." + +"I see. I guess the varsity indoor practice will start soon. Say, what's +this I hear about someone being arrested for the quadrangle thefts?" + +"It's true enough," replied Andy, looking sharply at his visitor. "Link +Bardon was arrested, and Dunk and I got him bailed out." + +"You did!" cried Mortimer, almost jumping from the chair. + +"Why, was there anything strange in that?" asked Andy, in surprise. + +"I should think so!" exclaimed Mortimer, sharply. "Here the whole +college has been upset by a lot of robberies, and your own roommate +loses a valuable watch. Then, as soon as the thief is arrested, you +fellows go on his bail! Strange? Well, I should say so!" + +"I didn't say we went on his bond," spoke Andy, quietly. "Dunk and I +only got him a lawyer who arranged for it. But I don't believe Link is +guilty." + +"Well, that's a matter of opinion," said Mortimer, and there was anger +in his voice. "Of course, though, if he's your friend you do right to +stick up for him." + +"Yes," agreed Andy, "he is my friend. And it's at a time like this that +he needs friends." + +"Oh, well," said Mortimer, with a shrug of his shoulders, "let's forget +it. I wonder what's keeping Dunk?" + +"Anything I can do?" asked Andy, wishing Mortimer would leave before +Dunk came in. He did not want his chum taken to Burke's for a "won't be +home until morning" affair if he could help it. + +"No, I want to see Dunk on a personal matter," said the caller. "Guess I +won't wait any longer, though," and he arose to go out. Just as he +reached the door Dunk came in whistling. + +"Anything on?" Andy heard Mortimer ask quickly. + +"No. Why?" + +"Can I see you a moment outside?" + +"Sure. I'll be back in a minute, Andy," said Dunk. "I met Bill Hagan +just as I left the postoffice and he wanted me to look at a bull pup he +wants to sell." + +Dunk and Mortimer walked down the hall. Andy was a little anxious as to +what might develop, but he need have had no fears. Dunk returned +presently, looking rather grave. + +"Did he want you to go to his blow-out?" asked Andy, with the privilege +of a roommate. + +"Yes, but I'm not going. He wanted some money. Said he was dead broke." + +"And yet he's going to blow in a lot. Did you give it to him?" + +"What else could I do? When a fellow's down and out that's just the time +he needs help." + +"That's right," agreed Andy, thinking of Link. "But did Mortimer say +anything about his father's losses?" + +"Not a thing. Just said he was temporarily broke, and asked for a loan. +I couldn't refuse." + +"No, I suppose not. But you must be strapped after putting up for Link. +I know I am. I'm going to telegraph home." + +"You needn't. I got a check in the mail to-night and I cashed it. I can +lend you some if you want it." + +"Well, I may call on you. But say, it's queer about Mortimer, isn't it?" + +"Yes, but we don't know all the ins and outs of it yet. Maybe that rumor +about his folks losing all they had isn't true." + +"Maybe. I'll write home and find out. Say, but I'm tired!" + +"So am I! I'm going to stay in to-night." + +So it came about that neither Dunk nor Andy went to the little affair +Mortimer gave on borrowed money. It was "quite some affair," too, as Bob +Hunter reported later, having heard stories about it, and one or two +participants were suspended as a result of their performances after the +spread. + +After the rather exciting time concerning Link's arrest matters at Yale, +as regards the happenings with which this chronicle concerns itself, +quieted down. Link's case would not come up for trial for some time. +Meanwhile he was allowed his liberty on bail. He was, of course, +discharged from his position. + +"But I've got another job," he said to Andy, a day or so later. "That +lawyer is a good sort. He helped me. I'm just going to stick here until +I prove that I didn't have a hand in those robberies." + +"That's the way to talk!" cried Andy. "You didn't hear where the hundred +dollars came from, did you?" + +"No, and I can see that my explanation of how I got it isn't going to be +believed in court. But it's true, just the same." + +"Then the truth will come out--some time," said Andy, firmly. "In the +meanwhile, if I can do anything, let me know." + +"Thank you." + +The months passed. Spring was faintly heralded in milder weather, by the +return of the birds, and the presence of little buds on the leafless +trees. + +Somewhat to the disappointment of Andy there were no more quadrangle +robberies. That is, Andy was disappointed to a certain extent. For if +the thefts had still kept up after the discharge of Link, it would at +least show that someone besides the young farmer was guilty. As it was, +it made his case appear all the worse. + +"But I'm not going to believe it!" exclaimed Andy. "Link is not guilty!" + +"Go to it, old man!" cried Dunk. "I'm with you to the end." + +Indoor baseball practice was held in the cage on Elm street, back of the +gymnasium, and Andy was picked to catch for the freshman nine. Dunk, to +his delight, was first choice for pitcher. Then came intense longings to +get out on the real diamond. + +The chance came sooner than was expected, for there was an early Spring. +The ground was still a little soft and damp, but it could be played on, +and soon crowds of students began pouring out to Yale Field to watch the +practice and the games between the class nines, or the varsity and the +scrubs. + +"Come on now, Dunk, sting 'em in!" + +"Fool him, boy, fool him!" + +"Make him give you a nice one!" + +"Watch his glass arm break!" + +These cries greeted Dunk, who was pitching for the freshmen against a +scrub nine one afternoon. It was a few days before the game with the +Princeton freshmen--the first game of the season, and the Yale freshman +coaches were anxious to get their nine into good shape. + +"Ah! There he goes!" came a yell, as the scrub batter hit the ball Dunk +pitched in to Andy. But the ball went straight back into the hands of +Dunk, who stopped it, hot liner though it was, and the batter was +out--retiring the side. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXII + +VICTORY + + +Mortimer Gaffington stayed on at Yale. How he did it Andy and Dunk, who +alone seemed to know of his father's failure, could not tell. Andy's +mother confirmed her first news about Mr. Gaffington's losses. Yet +Mortimer stayed at college. + +Afterward it developed that he was in dire straits, and only by much +ingenuity did he manage to raise enough to keep up appearances. He +borrowed right and left, taking from one to satisfy the demands of +another--an endless chain sort of arrangement that was bound to break +sooner or later. + +But Mortimer had managed to make a number of new friends in the "fast" +set and these were not careful to remind him of the loans he solicited. +Then, also, these youths had plenty of money. On them Mortimer preyed. + +He gave a number of suppers which were the talk of the college, but he +was wise enough to keep them within certain bounds so that he was not +called to account. But he was walking over thin ice, and none knew it +better than himself. But there was a fatal fascination in it. + +Several times he came to Dunk to invite him to attend some of the +midnight affairs, but Dunk declined, and Andy was very glad. Dunk said +Mortimer had several times asked for loans, but had met with refusals. + +"I'm not going to give him any more," said Dunk. "He's had enough of my +cash now." + +"Hasn't he paid any back?" asked Andy. + +"Some, yes, and the next time he wants more than at first. I'm done." + +"I should think so," remarked Andy. "He's played you long enough." + +"Oh, Mortimer isn't such a bad sort when you get to know him," went on +Dunk, easily. "I rather like him, but I can see that it isn't doing +anyone any good to be in his crowd. That's why I cut it out. I came here +to make something of myself--I owe it to dad, who's putting up the cash, +and I'm not going to disappoint him. Then, too, you old scout, I suppose +you wouldn't let me go sporting around the way I used to." + +"Not much!" laughed Andy, but there was an undernote of seriousness in +his words. + +There was nothing new in Link's case. It was still hanging fire in the +courts. And there were no more robberies. It was somewhat of a puzzle +to Andy that they should cease with the arrest of Link, whom he could not +believe guilty. + +Dunk's watch had not been recovered, nor had any more of the valuable +books, one of which was found by the detective in Link's room, been +discovered. How it got in the closet of the young farmer, unless he put +it there, the lawyer whom Andy and Dunk had hired said he could not +understand. + +"I've had my man interview the boarding mistress at the house in Crown +street," the lawyer told the boys, "and she says no one went to Link's +room, but himself, the day the book was found. But I haven't given up +yet." + +It was the night before the Yale-Princeton freshman baseball game, which +was to take place at Yale Field. Andy and Dunk were in their room, +talking over the possibilities, and perfecting their code of signals. + +"It looks as though it would be good weather," observed Andy, getting up +and going to the window. "Nice and clear outside." + +"If it only keeps so," returned Dunk. "Hope we have a good crowd." + +Someone knocked on the door. + +"Come!" called Andy and Dunk together. The two chums looked at each +other curiously. + +Ikey Stein entered, his face all smiles. + +"Such bargains!" he began. + +"Socks or neckties?" asked Andy, looking for a book to throw at the +intruder. + +"Socks--silk ones, and such colors! Look!" and from various pockets he +pulled pairs of half hose. They fell about the room, giving it a +decidedly rainbow effect. + +"Oh, for the love of tomatoes!" cried Dunk. "Have you been raiding a +paint store?" + +"These are all the latest shades--the fashion just over from Paris!" +exclaimed Ikey, indignantly. "I bought a fellow's stock out and I can +let you have these for a quarter a pair. They're worth fifty in any +store." + +"Take 'em away!" begged Andy. "They hurt my eyes. I won't be able to +play ball to-morrow." + +"You ought to buy some--look, I have some dark blue ones," urged Ikey, +holding them up. "These are very--chaste!" + +"Those aren't so bad," conceded Dunk, tolerantly. + +"Take 'em for twenty cents," said the student salesman, suddenly. "I +need the money!" + +"Tell you what I'll do," spoke Andy. "If we win the game to-morrow I'll +buy a dollar's worth, provided you let us alone now." + +"It's a bargain!" cried Ikey, gathering up the scattered socks. + +"And I'll do the same," promised Dunk, whereupon the salesman departed +for other rooms. + +"Queer chap, isn't he?" remarked Dunk, after a pause that followed +Ikey's departure. + +"Yes, but do you know, I rather like him," said Andy, with a quick look +at his chum. "There's one thing that a fellow gets into the habit of +when he comes to Yale--or, for that matter, to any good college, I +suppose." + +"What's that?" asked Dunk, his mind quickly snapping to some of the not +very good habits he had fallen into. + +"It's learning how to take the measure of a fellow," went on Andy, "I +mean his measure in the right way--not according to the standards we are +used to." + +"Quite philosophical; aren't you?" laughed Dunk, as he picked up a book, +and leafed it. + +"Well, that's another habit you get into here," said Andy, with a smile. +"But you know what I mean, don't you Dunk?" + +"Well, I suppose you mean that you get tolerant of persons--fellows and +so on--that you have a natural dislike for otherwise; is that it?" + +"Partly. You learn to appreciate a fellow for what he is really +worth--not because his dad can write a check in any number of figures, +and not turn a hair. It's _worth_ that counts at Yale, and not cash." + +"You're right there, Andy. I think I've learned that, too. Take some of +the fellows here--we needn't mention any names--their popularity, such +as it is, depends on how much they can spend, or how many spreads they +can give in the course of the year. And the worst of it is, that their +popularity would go out like a candle in a tornado, once they lost their +money." + +"Exactly," agreed Dunk. "They get so to depending on the power of their +cash they think its all that counts." + +"And another bad thing about that," continued Andy, "is that those +fellows, if they wanted to, could make a reputation on something else +besides their cash. Now there's one chap here--no names, of course--but +he's a fine musician, and he could make the glee club, and the dramatic +association too, if he liked. But he's just to confounded lazy. He'd +rather draw a check, give an order for a spread, and let it go at that. + +"Of course the fellows like to go to the blow-outs, and--come home with +a headache. This fellow thinks he gets a lot of fun out of it, but it's +dollars to some of these socks Ikey sells, that he'd have a heap more +fun, and make a lot more permanent friends, if he'd get out and take +part in something that was worth while. + +"Now you take our friend Ikey. I don't imagine it's any great fun for +him to be going around selling things the way he does--he has to, I +understand it. And yet at that, he has a better time of it than maybe +you or I do--and we don't exactly have to worry where our next allowance +check is coming from." + +"Right, Andy old man. Jove! You'd better have taken up the divinity +school. I'm thinking. You're a regular preacher." + +"I don't feel a bit like preaching though, Dunk old boy. In fact I'd a +heap sight rather turn in and snooze. But, do you know I'm so nervous +over this game that I'm afraid I'll lie awake and toss until morning, +and then I won't be much more use than a wet dishrag, as far as my nerve +is concerned." + +"I feel pretty nearly the same as you do, Andy. Let's sit up a while and +talk. I s'pose, though, if we ever make the varsity we'll laugh at the +way we're acting now." + +"Oh, I don't know," spoke Andy musingly. "Some of these varsity fellows +have as bad a case of nerves before a big game as we have now, before +our little Freshman one." + +"It isn't such a little one!" and Dunk bridled up. "The winning of this +game from Princeton means as much to our class, and to Yale, in a way, +as though the varsity took a contest. It all counts--for the honor of +the old college. How are you feeling, anyhow?" + +"Pretty fit. I'm only afraid, though, that I'll make some horrible break +in front of the crowd--muff a foul, or let one of your fast ones get by +me with the bases full," concluded Andy. + +"If you do," exclaimed Dunk, with a falsetto tone calculated to impress +the hearer that a petulant girl was speaking--"if you do I'll never +speak to you again--so there!" and he pretended to toss back a +refractory lock of hair. + +Andy laughed, and pitched a book at his chum, which volume Dunk +successfully dodged. + +"Well, I wouldn't want that to happen," said the catcher. "And that +reminds me. There's a rip in my glove, and I've got to sew it." + +"Can you sew?" + +"Oh, a bit," answered Andy. "I'm strictly an amateur though, mind you. I +don't do it for pay, so if you've got any buttons that need welding to +your trousers don't ask me to do it." + +"Never!" exclaimed Dunk. "I've found a better way than that." + +"What is it--the bachelor's friend--or every man his own tailor? Fasten +a button on with a pair of gas-pliers so that you have to take the +trousers apart when you want to get it off?" + +"Something like that, yes," laughed Dunk, "only simpler. Look here!" + +He pulled up the back of his vest and showed Andy where a suspender +button was missing. In its place Dunk had taken a horseshoe nail, +pushed it through a fold of the trousers, and had caught the loop of the +braces over the nail. + +"Isn't that some classy little contrivance?" he asked, proudly. "Not +that I take any credit to myself, though. Far be it! I got the idea out +of the comic supplement. But it works all right, and the beauty of it is +that you can use the nail over and over again. It is practically +indestructible. + +"So you see if you are wearing the nail all day, to lectures and so on, +and if you have to put on your glad rags at night to go see a girl, or +anything like that, and find a button missing, you simply remove the +nail from your day-pants and attach it to your night ones. Same +suspenders--same nail. It beats the bachelor's friend all to pieces." + +"I should imagine so," laughed Andy. "I'll have to lay in a stock of +those nails myself. The way tailors sew buttons on trousers nowadays is +a scandal. They don't last a week." + +"There's one trouble, though," went on Dunk, and he carefully examined +his simple suspender attachment as if in fear of losing it. "With the +increasing number of autos, and the decrease in horses, there is bound +to be a corresponding decrease in horseshoe nails. That's a principle of +economics which I am going to bring to the attention of Professor +Shandy. He likes to lecture on such cute little topics as that. He might +call it 'Bachelor's future depends on the ratio of increase of +automobiles.'" + +"I see!" exclaimed Andy with a chuckle. "Just as Darwin, or one of those +evolutionists proved that the clover crop depended on old maids." + +"How do you make that out?" asked Dunk. + +"I guess you've forgotten your evolution. Don't you remember? Darwin +found that certain kinds of clover depended for growth and fertilization +on humble bees, which alone can spread the pollen. Humble bees can't +exist in a region where there are many field mice, for the mice eat the +honey, nests and even the humble bees themselves. + +"Now, of course you know that the more cats there are in a neighborhood +the less field mice there are, so if you find a place where cats are +plentiful you'll find plenty of humble bees which aren't killed off by +the mice, since the mice are killed off by the cats. So Darwin proved +that the clover crop, in a certain section, was in direct proportion to +the number of cats." + +"But what about old maids?" + +"Oh, I believe it was Huxley who went Darwin one better, come to think +of it. Huxley said it was well known that the more old maids there were +the more cats there were. So in a district well supplied with old maids +there'd be plenty of cats, and in consequence plenty of clover." + +"Say, are you crazy, or am I?" asked Dunk, with a wondering look at his +friend. "This thing is getting me woozy! What did we start to talk +about, anyhow?" + +"Horseshoe nails." + +"And now we're at old maids. Good-night! Come on out and walk about a +bit. The fresh air will do us good, and maybe we'll sleep." + +"I'll go you!" exclaimed Andy. "Let's go get some chocolate. I'm hungry +and there isn't a bit of grub left," and he looked in the box where he +usually kept some biscuits. + +They went out together, passing across the quadrangle, in which scores +of students were flitting to and fro, under the elms, and in and out of +the shadows of the electric lights. + +Dunk was saying something over to himself in a low voice. + +"What is that--a baseball litany?" asked Andy, with a laugh. + +"No, I was trying to get that straight what you said about the supply of +old maids in a community depending on the number of clover blossoms." + +"It's the other way around--but cut it out. You'll be droning away at +that all night--like a tune that gets in your head and can't get out. +Where'll we go?" + +"Oh, cut down Chapel street. Let's take in the gay white way for a +change. We may meet some of the fellows." + +"But no staying out late!" Andy warned his chum. + +"I guess not! I want to be as fit as a fiddle in the morning." + +"For we're going to chew up Princeton in the morning!" chanted Andy to +the tune of a well-known ballad. + +"I hope so," murmured Dunk. "Look, there goes Ikey," and as he spoke he +pointed to a scurrying figure that shot across the street and into a +shop devoted to the auctioning of furnishing goods. + +"What's he up to, I wonder?" spoke Andy. + +"Oh, this is how he lays in his stock of goods that he sticks us with. +He watches his chance, and buys up a lot, and then works them off on +us." + +"Well, I give him credit for it," spoke Andy, musingly. "He works hard, +and he's making good. I understand he's in line for one of the best +scholarships." + +"Then he'll get it!" affirmed Dunk. "I never knew a fellow yet, like +Ikey, who didn't get what he set out after. I declare! it makes me +ashamed, sometimes, to think of all the advantages we have, and that we +don't do any better. And you take a fellow like him, who has to work for +every dollar he gets--doesn't belong to any of the clubs--doesn't have +any of the sports--has to study at all hours to get time to sell his +stuff--and he'll pull down a prize, and we chaps----" + +"Oh, can that stuff!" interrupted Andy. "We're worse than a couple of +old women to-night. Let's be foolish for once, and we'll feel better for +it. This game is sure getting our goats." + +"I believe you. Well, if you want a chance to be foolish, here comes the +crowd to stand in with." + +Down the street marched a body of Yale students, arm in arm, singing and +chanting some of the latest songs, and now and then breaking into +whistling. + +"Gaffington's bunch," murmured Andy. + +"Yes, but he isn't with 'em," added Dunk. "Slip in here until they get +past," and Dunk pulled his chum by the arm as they came opposite a dark +hallway. + +But it was too late. Some of the sporty students had seen the two, and +made a rush for them. + +"Come on, Andy!" + +"Oh, you, Dunk! Grab him, fellows!" + +Immediately the two were surrounded by a gay and laughing throng. + +"Bring 'em along!" + +"Down to the rathskeller!" + +"We'll make a night of it!" + +"And we won't go home until morning!" + +Thus the gay and festive lads chanted, meanwhile circling about Andy and +Dunk, who sought in vain to break through. Passersby went on their way, +smiling indulgently at the antics of the students. + +"Fetch 'em along!" commanded the leader of the "sports." + +"Come on!" came the orders, and Andy and Dunk were dragged off toward a +certain resort. + +"No, we can't go--really!" protested Dunk, holding back. + +"We just came out for a glass of soda," insisted Andy, "and we've got to +get right back!" + +"Oh, yes! That's all right." + +"Soda!" + +"Listen to him!" + +"Regular little goody-goody boys!" + +"They were trying to sneak off by themselves and have a good time by +their lonesomes!" + +And thus the various laughing and disbelieving comments came, one after +another. + +"Bring 'em along with us, and we'll show 'em how to enjoy life!" +someone called. "Gaffington will meet us at Paddy's!" + +Dunk flashed Andy a signal. It would not do, he knew, to spend this +night--of all nights--the one before an important game--with this crowd +of fun-loving lads. They must get away. + +"Look here, fellows!" expostulated Andy, "we really can't come, you +know!" + +"That's right," chimed in Dunk. "Let us off this time and maybe +to-morrow night----" + +"There may never be a to-morrow night!" chanted one of the tormentors. +"Live while you can, and enjoy yourself. You're a long time dead. +To-morrow is no man's time. The present alone is ours. Who said that, +fellows? Did I make that up or not? It's blamed good, anyhow. Let's see, +what was it? The present----" + +"Oh, dry up! You talk too much!" protested one of his companions, with a +laugh. + +"What's the matter with you fellows, anyhow?" demanded another of Andy +and Dunk, who were making more strenuous efforts to get away. "Don't you +love us any more?" + +"Sure, better than ever," laughed Andy. "But you know Dunk and I have to +pitch and catch in the Princeton freshman game to-morrow, and we----" + +"Say no more! I forgot about that," exclaimed the leader. "They can't be +burning the midnight incandescents. Let 'em go, fellows. And may we +have the honor and pleasure of your company to-morrow night?" he asked, +with an elaborate bow. + +"If we win--yes," said Dunk. + +"It's a bargain, then. Come on, boys, we're late now," and they started +off. + +Andy and Dunk, glad of their escape, flitted around a corner, to be out +of sight. A moment later, however, they heard renewed cries and laughter +from the throng they had just left. + +"Now what's up?" asked Dunk. "Are they after us again?" + +"Listen!" murmured Andy, looking for a place in which to hide. + +Then they heard shouts like these: + +"That's the idea!" + +"Come on down to the Taft!" + +"We'll give the Princeton bunch a cheer that will put the kibosh on them +for to-morrow." + +"No, don't go down there," cautioned cooler heads. "We'll only get into +a row. Come on to the rathskeller!" + +"No, the Taft!" + +"The rathskeller!" + +Thus the dispute went on, until those who were opposed to disturbing the +Princeton players had their way, and the crowd moved out of hearing. + +"Thank our lucky stars!" murmured Dunk. "Let's get our chocolate and +get back to our room." + +"I'm with you," said Andy. + +"Oh, by the way, isn't there one of your friends on the Princeton team?" +asked Dunk, as he and Andy were sipping their chocolate in a drugstore, +on a quiet street. + +"Yes, Ben Snow. He's with the crowd at the Taft." + +"Did you see him?" + +"For a little while this evening." + +"I reckon he thinks his nine is going to win." + +"Naturally," laughed Andy. "The same as we do. But don't let's talk +about it until to-morrow. I've gotten over some of my fit of nerves, and +I want to lose it for good." + +"Same here. That little run-in did us good." + +The two chums were back again in their room, and Andy brought out his +catching glove, which he proceeded to mend. + +Quiet was settling down over the quadrangle and in the dormitories about +the big, elm-shaded square. Light after light in the rooms of the +students went out. In the distant city streets the hum of traffic grew +less and less. + +It was quiet in the room where Dunk and Andy sat. Now and then, from +some room would come the tinkle of a piano, or the hum of some +soft-voiced chorus. + +"What was that you said about horseshoe nails and bees?" asked Dunk, +drowsily, from his corner of the much be-cushioned sofa. + +"Forget it," advised Andy, sleepily. "I'm going to turn in. I'm in just +the mood to drowse off now, and I don't want to get roused up." + +"Same here, Andy. Say, but I wish it were to-morrow!" + +"So do I, old man!" + +The room grew more quiet. Only the night wind sighed through the opened +window, fluttering the blue curtains. + +Andy and Dunk were asleep. + +The day of the ball game came, as all days do--if you wait long enough. +There was a good crowd on the benches and in the grandstand when Andy +and his mates came out for practice. Of course it was not like a varsity +championship contest, but the Princeton nine had brought along some +"rooters" and there were songs and cheers from the rival colleges. + +"Play ball!" called the umpire, and Andy took his place behind the +rubber, while Dunk went to the mound. The two chums felt not a little +nervous, for this was their first real college contest, and the result +meant much for them. + +"Here's where the Tiger eats the Bulldog!" cried a voice Andy recognized +as that of Ben Snow. Ben had come on with the Princeton delegation the +night before, and had renewed acquaintance with Andy. They had spent +some time together, Ben and the players stopping at the Hotel Taft. + +There was a laugh at Ben's remark, and the Princeton cheer broke forth +as Dunk delivered his first ball. Then the game was on. + +"Wow! That was a hot one!" + +"And he fanned the air!" + +"Feed 'em another one like that, Dunk, and you'll have 'em eating out of +your hand and begging for more!" + +Joyous shouts and cheers greeted Dunk's first ball, for the Princeton +batter had missed it cleanly, though he swung at it with all his force. + +"Good work!" Andy signaled to his chum, as he sent the ball back. Then, +stooping and pawing in the dirt, Andy gave the sign for a high out. He +thought he had detected indications that the batter would be more easily +deceived by such a delivery. + +Dunk, glancing about to see that all his supporting players were in +position, shook his head in opposition to Andy's signal. Then he signed +that he would shoot an in-curve. + +Andy had his doubts as to the wisdom of this, but it was too late to +change for Dunk was winding up for his delivery. A moment later he sent +in the ball with vicious force. Andy had put out his hands to gather it +into his big mitt, but it was not to be. + +With a resounding thud the bat met the ball squarely and sent it over +center field in a graceful ascending curve that bid fair to carry it far. + +"Oh, what a pretty one!" + +"Right on the nose!" + +"Didn't he swat it! Go on, you beggar! Run! Run!" + +"Make it a home run!" + +The crowd of Princeton adherents had leaped to their feet, and were +cheering like mad. + +"Go on, old man!" + +"Take another base. He can't get it!" + +"Go to third!" + +"Come on home!" + +The centerfielder had been obliged to run back after the far-knocked +ball. It was seen that he could not possibly get under it, but he might +field it home in time to save a score. + +The runner, going wildly, looked to get a signal from the coach. He +received it, in a hasty gesture, telling him to stay at third. He +stayed, panting from his speed, while the Princeton lads kept up their +cheering. + +"Now will you feed us some more of those hot cross buns?" cried a wag to +Dunk. + +"Make him eat out of the bean trough!" + +"He's got a glass arm!" + +"Swat it, Kelly! A home run and we'll score two!" + +This was cried to the next man up. Dunk looked at Andy and shrugged his +shoulders. His guessing had not been productive of much good to Yale, +for the first man had gotten just the kind of a ball he wanted. Dunk +made up his mind to be more wary. + +"Play for the runner," Andy signaled to his chum, meaning to make an +effort to kill off the run, and not try to get the batsman out in case +of a hit. + +"All right," Dunk signaled back. + +"Ball one!" howled the umpire, after the first delivery. + +"That's the way! Make him give you a nice one." + +"Take your time! Wait for what you want!" This was the advice given the +batter. + +And evidently the man at the plate got the sort of ball he wanted, for +he struck at and hit the next one--hit it cleanly and fairly, and it +sailed out toward left field. + +"Get it!" cried the Yale captain. + +The fielder was right under it--certainly it looked as though he could +not miss. The batsman was speeding for first, while the man on third was +coming home, and the crowd was yelling wildly. + +Andy had thrown off his mask, and was waiting at home for the ball, to +kill off the player speeding in from third. + +"Here's where we make a double play!" he exulted, for the man going to +first had stumbled slightly, and was out of his stride. It looked as +though it could be done. But alas for the hopes of Yale! The fielder got +the ball fairly in his hands, but whether he was nervous, or whether the +ball had such speed that it tore through, was not apparent. At any rate, +he muffed the fly. + +"Good-night!" + +"That settles it!" + +"Go on, Ranter! Go on, Cooney!" + +Coaches, the captain, Princeton players and the crowd of Tiger +sympathizers were wildly calling to the two runners. And indeed they +were coming on. + +Andy groaned. He could not help it. Dunk threw up his hands in a gesture +of despair. The fielder, with a gulp and a gone feeling at the pit of +his stomach, picked up the muffed ball, and threw it to second. It was +the only play left. And the batsman, who had started to make his +two-bagger, went back to first. But the run had come in. + +"That's the way we do it!" + +"Come on, fellows, the 'Orange and Black' song!" + +"No, the new one! 'Watch the Tiger Claw the Bulldog!'" + +The cheer leaders were trying to decide on something with which to +celebrate the drawing of "first blood." + +The grandstands were a riot of waving yellow and black, while, on the +other side, the blue banners dropped most disconsolately. But it was not +for long. + +"Come on, boys!" cried the plucky Yale captain. "That's only one run. We +only need three out and we'll show 'em what we can do! Every man on the +job! Lively! Play ball!" + +Dunk received the horsehide from the second baseman, and began to wind +up for his next delivery. He narrowly watched the man on first, and once +nearly caught him napping. Several times Dunk threw to the initial sack, +in order to get the nerve of the runner. Then he suddenly stung in one +to the man at the plate. + +"Strike--one!" yelled the umpire. The batter gave a sign of protest, but +he thought better of any verbal comment. + +"That's the way!" cried the Yale captain. "Two more like that, and he's +down!" + +Dunk did it, though the man struck one foul which Andy muffed, much to +his chagrin. + +"Give 'em the Boola song!" called a Yale cheer leader, and it was +rousingly sung. This seemed to make the Yale players have more +confidence, and they were on their mettle. But, though they did their +best, Princeton scored two more runs, and, with this lead against her, +Yale came to the bat. + +"Steady all!" counseled the captain. "We're going to win, boys." + +But it did not seem so, when the first inning ended with no score for +Yale. Princeton's pitcher was proving his power, and he was well +supported. Man after man--some of them Yale's best hitters--went down +before his arm. + +The situation looked desperate. In spite of the frantic cheering of the +Yale freshmen, it seemed as if her players could not take the necessary +brace. + +"Fellows, come here!" yelled the captain, when it came time for Andy and +his chums to take the field after a vain attempt to score. "We've got to +do something. Dunk, I want you to strike out a couple of men for a +change!" + +"I--I'll do it!" cried the pitcher. + +Then Dunk pulled himself together, and the Tiger's lead was cut down. +Once the game was a tie Yale's chances seemed to brighten, and when she +got a lead of one run in the eighth her cohorts went wild, the stand +blossoming forth into a waving mass of blue. + +This good feeling was further added to when Princeton was shut out +without a run in the beginning of the ninth, and as Andy, Dunk and the +other Yale players came in, having won the game, they received an +ovation for their victory. + +Ikey Stein, sitting in the grandstand near an elderly gentleman, yelled, +shouted and stamped his feet at the Yale victory. + +"You seem wonderfully exercised about it, my young friend," remarked the +elderly gentleman. "Did you have a large wager up on this game?" + +"No, sir, but now I can sell two dollars worth of socks," replied Ikey, +hurrying off to get Dunk and Andy to redeem their promises. + +"Hum, very strange college customs these days--very strange," murmured +the elderly gentleman, shaking his head. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIII + +THE TRAP + + +Joyous was the crowd of Yale players as they trooped off the field. The +freshmen had opened their season well by defeating Princeton, and the +wearers of the orange and black gave their victors a hearty cheer, which +was repaid in kind. + +"It's good to be on the winning side," exulted Andy, as he walked along +with Dunk. + +"It sure is, old man." + +Someone touched Andy on the shoulder. He looked around to see Ikey +holding out a package. One in the other hand was offered to Dunk. + +"The socks," spoke the student salesman, simply. + +"Say, give us time to get into our clothes!" demanded Andy. "Do you +think we carry cash in our uniforms?" + +"I didn't want you to forget," said Ikey, with a grin. "There is another +fellow taking up my business now, and I've got to hustle if I want the +trade. Going to your room?" + +"Sure." + +"I'll go on ahead and wait for you," said Ikey. "I need the money." + +"Say, you're the limit! You're as bad as a sheriff with an attachment," +complained Dunk. But he could not help laughing at the other's +persistence. + +Andy and Dunk were a little late getting back to Wright Hill, and when +they entered their room they found a note on the table. It was from +Ikey, and read: + +"I found your door open, and waited a while, but I just heard of a +bargain lot of suspenders I can buy, so I went off to see about them. I +will be back with the socks in a little while." + +"He found our door open!" exclaimed Dunk. "Didn't we lock it?" + +"We sure did!" declared Andy. "I wonder----" He paused, and looked at +his chum wonderingly. Then they both began a hasty search among their +possessions. The same thought had come to each. + +"Did you have my amethyst cuff buttons?" asked Andy of Dunk, who was +rummaging among his effects. + +"I did not. Why?" + +"They're gone!" + +"Another robbery! Say, we've got to report this right away, and let +Link's lawyer know!" Dunk cried. "This may clear him!" + +They paused, trying to map out a line of procedure, when a messenger +came in to say that either Dunk or Andy was wanted on the telephone in a +hurry. + +"You go," suggested Andy. "As long as either of us will answer I'll stay +here and take another look for my buttons. But I'm sure I left them in +my collar box, and they aren't there now." + +Dunk hurried off, while Andy conducted a careful but ineffectual search. + +"It was Link's lawyer," Dunk reported when he came back. "His case comes +up to-morrow, and he wants to know if we have any evidence that will +help to prove Link innocent." + +"Not an awful lot," said Andy, ruefully, "unless this latest robbery is. +We'd better go see that lawyer. Did he say anything about the mysterious +hundred dollars Link got by mail?" + +"He mentioned it. There's no explanation of it yet, and he says it will +look queer if it comes out, and if that's the only explanation Link can +give." + +"Why need it come out?" + +"Oh, it seems that Link showed the bills to several helpers around +college, and some of them have been subpoenaed to testify. The detective +will be sure to bring it out. Then there's that story about the book +found in Link's room." + +"Hello!--" exclaimed Andy, looking around the apartment in order to +collect his thoughts. "There's another note someone left for us. It must +have been knocked off the table." He picked it up off the floor. It was +addressed to him, and proved to be from Charley Taylor. It read: + + "DEAR ANDY. I watched you play to-day. You did well. I've got a + peach of a mushroom bat that I don't want, for I'm going in for + rowing instead of baseball this season. I left the bat in the + storeroom on your corridor when I moved out of Wright Hall. You can + have it if you like. I gave it to Mortimer Gaffington once, but he + said he never could find it. I don't believe he cared much about + it, anyhow. Take it and good luck." + +"By jinks!" cried Andy, as he read the missive and passed it to Dunk. +"Do you remember that time Mortimer was hunting for Charley's bat in the +closet?" + +"I should say I did! That was the time we were looking for the thief who +took Frank Carr's silver cup and his book." + +"Sure. Well, I'm just going to have a look for that bat now. Maybe I'll +have better luck than Mortimer did." + +"Go ahead. I'll stay here in case Ikey comes in with the socks. No use +having him bother us. Might as well pay him so he'll quit running in." + +"Sure. Well, I'm going to rummage for the bat," and Andy, thinking of +many things, went down the corridor to the large closet that was used as +a store room by the students. + +It was more filled than before with many things, and Andy had some +difficulty in locating the bat. Finally he found it away down in a +corner, under an old football suit, and drew it out. As he did so +something fell to the closet floor with a clang of metal. + +"I wonder what that was?" mused Andy. "It sounded like----" He did not +finish the thought, but made his way to the far end of the closet. It +was dark there, but, groping around, his fingers touched something hard, +round, smooth and cold. With trembling hand Andy drew it out, and when +the single electric light in the center of the storeroom fell upon it +Andy uttered a cry of surprise. + +"Frank's silver cup!" he cried. "The thief hid it in there! I wonder if +the book's here, too?" + +He made a hasty but unsuccessful search and then, with the bat and cup, +he hurried to the room where Dunk awaited him. + +"What's up?" demanded Dunk, as Andy fairly burst into the room. + +"Lots! Look here!" + +"Frank Carr's silver cup! Where'd you get it?" + +"In the closet where Mortimer Gaffington hid it!" + +"Mortimer Gaffington?" gasped Dunk. "You mean----" + +"I mean that I'm sure now of what I've suspected for some time--that +Mortimer is the quadrangle thief!" + +"You don't say so! How do you figure it out?" + +"Just think and you'll see it for yourself," went on Andy. "When we had +the chase after the thief down this corridor that time, the trail seemed +to lead right to this closet, didn't it?" + +"Sure," agreed Dunk. + +"And who did we find in there?" + +"Why, Mort, of course. But he said he was looking for Charley Taylor's +bat." + +"Well, he may have been, but that was only an excuse. Mortimer didn't +want that bat, but he was almost caught and he did want a place to hide +the stuff. The book he could slip in his pocket, but he couldn't do that +with the cup. So he threw it back in a corner, and it's been there ever +since. Probably he was afraid to come for it." + +"Andy, I believe you're right!" cried Dunk. "But one thing more--did you +find a pair of rubber shoes? You know Frank said the fellow that went +out of his room in such a hurry wore rubber shoes." + +"I forgot about that. I'll have another look." + +"I'll go with you. Ikey was here and I paid him for your socks and mine. +So we can lock up." + +"And be sure you do lock," warned Andy. "I don't want to lose any more +stuff. Say, Mortimer must have my sleeve links, all right." + +"All wrong, you mean. And my watch, too! I wonder if we're on the verge +of a discovery?" + +"It looks so," said Andy, grimly. + +Quickly and silently they went to the storeroom. They were not +disturbed, for there were several class dinners on that night, and most +of the occupants of Wright Hall were out. Andy and Dunk intended going +later. + +They rummaged in the closet and, when about to give up, not having found +what they sought, Andy unearthed a pair of rubbers. + +"These might be what the fellow wore," said Dunk, as he looked at them. +"He could easily have slipped them off. See if there are any marks +inside." + +Andy looked and uttered a startled cry. For there, on the inner canvas +of the rubber, printed in ink, were the initials "M. G." + +"They're his, all right!" spoke Andy, in a low tone. + +"Then he's the quadrangle thief," went on Dunk. "Come on back to our +room, and we'll talk this over. Something's has got to be done." + +"That's right," agreed Andy. "But what?" + +"We must set a trap," suggested Dunk. + +"A trap?" + +"Yes, do something to catch this mean thief--Mortimer or whoever he +is--in the act." + +"Hadn't we better tell the Dean--or someone." + +"No," said Dunk, after thinking over the matter. "Let's see if we can't +do this on our own hook. Then if we make a mistake we won't be laughed +at." + +"But when can we do it?" Andy asked. + +"This very night. It couldn't happen better. Nearly all the fellows will +be out of Wright Hall in a little while. We're booked to go, and +Mortimer knows it, for I was making arrangements with Bert Foley about +our seats, and Mortimer was standing near me. He came to borrow ten +dollars, but I didn't let him have it. So he will be sure to figure that +we'll be out to-night." + +"But how do you know he'll come to our room?" + +"I don't know it. I've got to take a chance there. But we can hide down +in the lower corridor, and watch to see if he comes in this dormitory. +If he does, knowing that 'most all the fellows are out, it will look +suspicious. We can watch for him to go out and then tackle him. If he +has the goods on him the jig is up." + +"Well, I guess that is a good plan," agreed Andy. "I hate to have to do +it, but we owe it to ourselves, to the college and to poor Link to +discover this thief. I only hope it doesn't prove to be Mortimer, but it +looks very bad for him." + +"We can go farther than that," went on Dunk. "We can leave some marked +money on our table, leave our door open and see what happens." + +"It sounds sort of mean," spoke Andy, doubtfully; "but I suppose if we +have to have a trap that would be the best way to do it." + +"Then let's get busy," suggested Dunk. "He may not come to-night after +all. We may have to watch for several nights. Meanwhile we'd better +telephone the lawyer that we're on a new lead." + +This was done, and the man in charge of Link's case agreed to see Andy +and Dunk early the next day to learn what success they had. + +Then the trap was laid. The two who were doing this, not so much to +prove Mortimer guilty as to free Link and others upon whom suspicion had +fallen, went about their work. + +As Dunk had surmised, Wright Hall was almost deserted. They found a +hiding place in the lower corridor where they could see whoever came in. +Their own door they left ajar, with a light burning. On the table where +they had been put, as if dropped by accident, were a couple of marked +bills. + +"If he takes those, we'll have him with the goods," said Dunk, grimly. + +Then he and Andy began their vigil. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIV + +CAUGHT + + +The silence got on the nerves of Andy and Dunk. It was very quiet in +Wright Hall, but outside they could hear the calls of students, one to +the other. Occasionally someone would come up on the raised courtyard of +the dormitory and shout loudly for some chum. But there were no answers. +Nearly all the freshmen were at an annual affair. The hall was all but +deserted. + +"Who do you think it will be?" asked Dunk in a whisper, after a long +quiet period. + +"Why, Mortimer, of course," answered Andy. "Do you have suspicions of +anybody else?" + +"Well, I don't know," was the hesitating answer. + +"Everything points to him," went on Andy. "He's in need of money, and +has been for some time, though we didn't know it. As soon as I heard +that news about his father losing all his fortune, and the possibility +that Mortimer might have to leave Yale, I said to myself that he was the +most likely one to have been doing this quadrangle thieving. + +"But I really hated to think it, for it seems an awful thing to have a +Yale man guilty of anything like that." + +"It sure is," agreed Dunk. "What are we going to do if we catch him?" + +"Time enough to think of that after we get him," said Andy, grimly. + +"No, there isn't," insisted Dunk. "Look here, old man, this is a serious +matter. It means a whole lot, not only to Mortimer, but to us. We don't +want to make a mistake." + +"We won't," said Andy. "We'll get him right, whether it's Mortimer, or +someone else. But I can't see how it could be anybody else. Everything +points to him. It's very plain to me." + +"You don't quite get me," went on Dunk, trying to get into a more +comfortable position in their small hiding place. "I'll admit that we +may get the thief, and I'm willing to admit, for the sake of argument, +that it may be Mortimer--in fact, I'm pretty sure, now, that it is he. +But look what it's going to mean to Yale. This thing will have to come +out--it will probably get into the papers, and how will it look to have +a Yale man held up as a thief. It doesn't make any difference to say +that he isn't a representative Yale man--it's the name of the university +that's going to suffer as much as is Mortimer." + +"That's so--I didn't think of that," admitted Andy, rather ruefully. +"Shall we call it off?" + +"No, it's too late to do that now. But we must consider what we ought to +do once we capture the thief." + +"What do you suggest?" asked Andy, after a pause. + +"I hardly know. Let's puzzle over it a bit." Again there fell a silence +between them--a silence fraught with much meaning. They could hear +revelry in other college rooms, and the call of lads on the campus. From +farther off came the roar and hum of the city. It reminded Andy of the +night he had first come to New Haven. How many things had happened in +that time. He would soon be a sophomore now--no more a callow freshman. + +"Do you know," spoke Dunk, in a low voice, as he again changed his +position, seeking ease. "I had an idea that Ikey might turn out to be +the guilty one." + +"So did I," admitted Andy. "That was after your watch was missing, and I +found he had been in the room while I was out. But, for that matter, +Link was in there, too. It was a sort of toss-up between the two. Poor +Link, it's been mighty unpleasant for him, to be accused wrongly. I +wonder how that valuable book got in his room?" + +"The quadrangle thief put it there, of course." + +"And there's that case of Pulter's book--found out near Yale Field," +went on Andy. "I suppose Mortimer had that, too." + +"Very likely, though it seems queer that he'd stoop so low as to take +books." + +"He could pawn 'em, I suppose, same as he did the other things he took," +Andy continued. + +"The way he used to borrow money from me and some of the other fellows +was a caution!" exclaimed Dunk. "Seems as though he'd have enough to +worry along on without stealing." + +"He spent a lot, though," said Andy. "He was used to high living and I +suppose when he found the money wasn't coming from his father any more +he had to get it the best way he could." + +"Or the worst," commented Dunk, grimly. "I know he never paid me back +all he got, and the same way with a lot of the fellows. But if he's +coming I wish he'd show up. I don't wish him any bad luck, and I'd give +a whole lot, even now, if it would prove to be someone else besides +Mortimer. But I'm getting tired of waiting here." + +"So am I," said Andy, with a yawn. + +Again there was a silence, while they kept their strange vigil. Then, +far down the lower corridor, there sounded footsteps. + +"He--he's coming!" whispered Andy in a tense voice. + +"Yes," assented Dunk. + +But it was a false alarm. As the footsteps came nearer the waiting lads +saw one of the janitors on his rounds. He did not see them, and passed +on. + +Andy was doing some hard thinking. The suggestion made by Dunk that the +capture of the thief would be more of a black spot for Yale than the +fact of the robberies taking place was bearing fruit. + +"But what can we do?" Andy asked himself. "We've got to stop these +thefts if we can, and the only way is to catch the fellow who's doing +it." + +They had been in their hiding place nearly an hour, and were getting +exceedingly weary. Dunk shifted about, as did Andy, and it was on the +tip of the latter's tongue to suggest that they give up their plan for +the night when they heard a distant door opened cautiously. + +"Listen!" whispered Andy. + +"All right," assented his chum. "I hope it amounts to something." + +With strained ears they listened. Now they heard steps coming along the +corridor. Curious, shuffling steps they were, not hard, honest +heel-and-toe steps--rather those of someone treading softly, as on soles +of rubber. + +"It's him all right this time!" whispered Andy in Dunk's ear. + +"I guess so--yes. Shall we follow him?" + +"Yes. Take off your shoes." + +Silently they removed them, and waited. The steps were nearer now, and a +long shadow was thrown athwart the place where Andy and Dunk were +hiding. They could not recognize it, however. + +The shadow came nearer, flickering curiously as the swaying of an +electric lamp threw it in black relief on the corridor floor. + +Then a figure came past the recess where the two lads were concealed. +They hardly breathed, and, peering out they beheld Mortimer Gaffington +stealing into Wright Hall. + +It was only what they had expected to see, but, nevertheless, it gave +them both a shock. + +Mortimer moved on. They could see now why he could walk so silently. He +had on rubbers over his shoes. The same trick used by the thief who had +entered Frank's room. + +Mortimer looked all around. He stood in a listening attitude for a +moment, and then, as if satisfied that the coast was clear, started up +the stairs toward the corridor from which opened the room of Andy and +Dunk. + +The two waited until he was out of sight, and then followed, making no +more noise than the thief himself. They timed their movements by his. +When he advanced they went forward, and when he stopped to listen, they +stopped also. It was like some game--a very grim sort of game, though. + +There was only a dim light in the upper corridor, and, coming to a halt +where the shadows were deepest, Andy and Dunk watched. They saw Mortimer +stop before a student's door, try it and then came the faint tinkle of a +bunch of keys. + +"Skeletons," whispered Dunk. + +Andy nodded in assent. + +The manipulation of the lock by means of a false key seemed to come easy +to Mortimer. In a moment he was inside the room. What he did there Andy +and Dunk could not see, but he remained but a few minutes, and came out, +softly closing the door after him. + +"I wonder what he got?" whispered Dunk. + +"We'll soon know," was Andy's answer. + +Mortimer went softly down the corridor. He did not try every door, but +only went in certain rooms, and these, the two watchers noticed, were +those where well-to-do students lived. + +Mortimer made four or five visits, and then moved towards the apartment +of Andy and Dunk. + +"It's our turn now," whispered the latter. + +Silently they turned a corner, just in time to see Mortimer enter their +room. + +"Now we've got him!" exulted Andy. + +"Not yet; we've got to nab him," whispered Dunk. "Oh, Andy, this is +fierce! To think that we're spying on a Yale man! To think that a Yale +man should turn out to be a common thief! It makes me sick!" + +"Same here," sighed Andy. "But the only way to stop suspicion from +falling on others is to get Mortimer with the goods. We've got to save +Link, too." + +"That's right," assented Dunk. "He isn't a Yale man, but he's a heap +better than the kind in there." He nodded his head in the direction of +their room, where Mortimer now was. + +They had left a light burning, and could see, as its beams were cut off +now and then, that the intruder was moving about in their apartment. + +"Come on, let's get him--and have it over with," suggested Dunk. + +"No, we've got to get the goods on him," said Andy. + +"Well, hasn't he got plenty of stolen goods--those from the other +fellows' rooms?" + +"I know. But if we went in on him now he'd bluff it off--say he came in +to borrow a book--or money maybe." + +"But we could search him." + +"You can't search a fellow for coming to borrow something," declared +Andy. "Come on, let's go where we can look in." + +Silently they stole forward until they were opposite their door. From +it they had a good view of Mortimer. + +Just at that moment they saw him reach for the bills on the table and, +with a quick motion, pocket them. Then the thief started toward a +bureau. + +"Come on!" whispered Andy, hoarsely. "We've got to get him now, Dunk!" + +With beating hearts the two sped silently but swiftly into the room. +They fairly leaped for Mortimer, who turned like a flash, glaring at +them. Fear was in his startled eyes--fear and shame. Then in an instant +he determined to face it out. + +"We--we've got you!" cried Dunk, exultantly. + +"Got me? I don't know what you mean?" said Mortimer, trying to speak +easily. But his voice broke--his tones were hoarse, and Andy noticed +that his hands were trembling. Mortimer edged over toward the door. + +"I came in to get a book," he faltered, "but I----" + +"Grab him, Dunk!" commanded Andy, and the two threw themselves upon the +intruder. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXV + +FOR THE HONOR OF YALE + + +"What does this mean? You fellows sure have your nerve with you! Let me +go, or I'll----" + +Mortimer stormed and raved, struggling to get loose from the grip of +Andy and Dunk. + +"I'll make you fellows sweat for this!" he cried "I'll fix you! +I--I'll----" + +"You'd better keep quiet, if you know what's best for you," panted Andy. +"We hate this business as much as you ever can, Gaffington! Don't let +the whole college know about it. Keep quiet, for the honor of Yale whose +name you've disgraced. Keep quiet, for we've got the goods on you and +the jig is up!" + +It was a tense moment, and Andy might well be pardoned for speaking a +bit theatrically. Truth to tell he hardly knew what he was saying. + +"Yes, take it easy, Gaffington," advised Dunk. "We don't want to make a +holiday of this affair; but you're at the end of your rope and the +sooner you know it the better. We've caught you. Take it easy and we'll +be as easy as we can." + +"Caught me! What do you mean?" asked the unfortunate lad excitedly. +"Can't I come to your room to borrow a book without being jumped on as +if I----" + +"Exactly! As though you were the thief that you are!" said Andy, +bitterly. "What does this mean?" + +With a quick motion, letting go of one of Mortimer's wrists, Andy +reached into the other's pocket and pulled out the bills. "They're +marked with our initials," he said, and his voice was sad, rather than +triumphant. "We left them there to see if you'd take them." + +The production of the bills took all the fight out of Mortimer +Gaffington. He ceased his struggling and sank limply into a chair which +Dunk pushed forward for him. + +There followed a moment of silence--a silence that neither Andy or Dunk +ever forgot. The quadrangle thief moistened his dry lips once or twice +and then said hoarsely: + +"Well, what are you going to do about it?" + +"That's the question," spoke Andy, wearily. "What _are_ we going to +do about it?" + +"Are you going to deny it?" asked Dunk. "Before you answer, think what +it means. An innocent man is under charges for these thefts." + +Mortimer did not answer for a moment. When he did speak it was to say: + +"No, I'm going to deny nothing. You have caught me. I own up. What are +you going to do about it?" + +"That's just it," said Dunk. "We don't know what to do about it." + +Silently Mortimer began taking from his pockets several pieces of +jewelry, evidently the things he had stolen from the rooms of other +students. + +"That's all I have," he said, bitterly. + +Andy and Dunk looked at him a moment without speaking and then Andy +asked: + +"Why did you do it, Mortimer?" + +"Why? I guess you know as well as I do. Everything is gone--dad's whole +fortune wiped out. We haven't a dollar, and I had to leave Yale. We kept +it quiet as long as we could. I didn't want to leave. I couldn't bear +to! + +"Oh, call it what you like--foolish pride perhaps, but I wanted to stay +here and finish as I'd begun--with the best of the spenders. That's what +I've been--a spender. I couldn't be otherwise--I was brought up that +way. So, when I found I couldn't get any money any other way I began +stealing. I'm not looking for sympathy--I'm telling the plain truth. I +took your watch, Dunk. I took those books. I smuggled one into Link +Bardon's room, hoping he'd be suspected. There's no use in saying I'm +sorry. You wouldn't believe me. It's all up. You've got me right!" + +He leaned forward and buried his face in his hands. + +Andy and Dunk felt the lumps rising in their throats. They had to fight +back the tears from their eyes. Never before had they taken part in such +a grim tragedy--never again did they want to. + +"You--you admit all the quadrangle thefts?" faltered Andy. + +"Every one," was the low answer. "I took Carr's book and silver cup--I +hid them in the closet that day you fellows caught me. I took Pulter's +book, too. I was desperate--I'd take anything. I just had to have the +money. I took the money Len thought he lost that night in the campus. +Well, this is the end." + +"Yes, it's the end," said Dunk, softly, "but not for us. We've got to +think of Yale." + +There was a footstep outside the door. The three started up in some +alarm. They were not ready yet for disclosures. + +"Beg pardon," said a calm voice, "but I could not help hearing what was +said. Perhaps I can help you." + +Andy swung open the door wider, and saw, standing in the hall, a man he +recognized as one taking a post-graduate course in the Medical School. +He was Nathan Conklin, and had taken a room in the freshman dormitory +because no other was available just at that time. + +"Do you want some advice?" asked Conklin. He was a pleasant chap, +considerably older than Andy or Dunk. And he seemed to know life. + +"I guess that's just what we do want," said Andy. "We are up against +it. We have caught--er----" + +"You needn't explain," said Conklin. "The less said on such occasions +the better. I happened to be passing and I could not help hearing. What +I didn't hear I guessed. Now I'm going to say a few words. + +"Boys, Yale is bigger than any of us--better than any of us. We've got +to consider the honor of Yale above everything else." + +Andy and Dunk nodded. Mortimer sat with his face buried in his hands. + +"Now then," went on Conklin, "for the honor of Yale, and not to save the +reputation of anybody, we must hush up this scandal. It must go no +farther than this room. Gaffington, are you willing to leave Yale?" + +"I suppose I'll have to," Mortimer answered, without looking up. + +"Yes, you would have to go if this came out, and it's better that you +should go without it becoming known. Now then, are you willing to make +restitution?" + +"I can't. I haven't a dollar in the world." + +"Let that go," said Dunk, quickly. "We fellows will see to that. I guess +those that have missed things won't insist on getting them back; they'll +do that much for the honor of Yale." + +"About this other man who is under charges, are you willing to give +testimony--in private to the judge--that will result in freeing him?" +asked Conklin. + +"Yes," whispered Mortimer. + +"Then that's all that's necessary," went on the medical student. "I'll +go see the Dean. You'd better come with me, Gaffington. I'll take charge +of this case." + +"Thank heaven!" said Andy, with a sigh of relief. "It was getting too +much for me." + +With bowed head Mortimer Gaffington followed the medical student from +the room. What transpired at the interview with the Dean neither Dunk +nor Andy ever learned. Nor did they ask. It was better not to know too +much. + +But Mortimer left Yale, and the honor of the college was untarnished, at +least by anything that became known of his actions. He slipped away +quietly, it being given out that his family was going abroad. And the +Gaffingtons did leave Dunmore, going no one knew whither. + +A certain secret meeting was held, when without a name being mentioned, +it was explained by Andy, Dunk and Conklin that the quadrangle thief +had been discovered. It was stated that those who had suffered losses +would be reimbursed by private subscription, but the idea was rejected +unanimously. + +How Mortimer worked, and how he accomplished the various robberies, +without being detected, remained a mystery. No one cared to go into it, +for it was too delicate a subject. + +The charge against Link was dismissed after a certain interview the Dean +had with the county prosecutor, and Link was given his old place back. + +"But if it had come to a trial," he said to Andy, when he was told that +the thief (no name being mentioned) had confessed, "if I had been tried +I could have told where that mysterious hundred dollars came from." + +"Where?" asked Andy interestedly. + +"From that farmer you saved me from. He got religion lately, and felt +remorse for my injured arm. So he sent me the hundred dollars for my +doctor's bill and other expenses." + +"And never said a word about it?" asked Dunk. + +"Not a word. But he died the other day, and the truth came out. A fellow +I know in the town wrote me about it. So I could have proved that I +didn't get the money by stealing." + +"It wasn't necessary," said Andy. "So everything is explained now." + +Andy's first year at Yale was nearing its close. The season was to wind +up with a series of affairs and with several ball games, including one +for the freshman team. Of course Dunk and Andy played. I wish I could +say that Yale won, but truth compels me to state that Princeton +"trimmed" her. + +"And we'll do it again!" exulted Ben Snow, as he greeted Andy after the +contest. + +"I don't know about that!" was the answer. Then Andy hurried off to +where a certain pretty girl waited for him. No, I'm not going to mention +her name. You wouldn't know her, anyhow. + +"Well," remarked Andy, as he and Dunk were packing up to go home for the +summer holidays, "college is a great place." + +"Especially Yale." + +"Oh, I don't know. Of course I think there's no place like Yale, but +there are others." + +And so Andy and Dunk packed up and prepared to start for home, agreeing +to room together again during their sophomore year, and until they had +completed their college course. + +They had locked their trunks, and their valises where ready. When came a +knock on their door, and a voice said: + +"Such bargains! Never before have I had such neckties and silk socks! +Fellows, let me show you----" + +"Get out, you Shylock!" laughed Andy, locking the portal. "We've only +got money enough for our railroad fare!" + +And Ikey Stein departed, looking for other bargain victims. + +"Come on," suggested Dunk, "let's take a walk over the campus and say +good-bye to the fellows." + +"I'm with you," agreed Andy. + +And arm in arm they departed. + +THE END + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Andy at Yale, by Roy Eliot Stokes + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ANDY AT YALE *** + +***** This file should be named 18939-8.txt or 18939-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/1/8/9/3/18939/ + +Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + +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. 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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: Andy at Yale + The Great Quadrangle Mystery + +Author: Roy Eliot Stokes + +Release Date: July 30, 2006 [EBook #18939] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ANDY AT YALE *** + + + + +Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<table width='450' cellpadding='2' cellspacing='0' summary='' border='1'> +<col style='width:100%;' /> +<tr> +<td align='center'> +<span style='font-size: 200%;'><br /><br />ANDY AT YALE</span><br /> +<span style='font-size: 100%;'><br />OR</span><br /><br /> +<span style='font-size: 130%;'><i>THE GREAT QUADRANGLE MYSTERY</i></span><br /><br /><br /> +<span style='font-size: 100%;'>BY</span><br /> +<span style='font-size: 120%;'>ROY ELIOT STOKES</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> +<span style='font-size: 100%;'>THE WORLD SYNDICATE PUBLISHING CO. </span><br /> +<span style='font-size: 100%;'>CLEVELAND, O. NEW YORK, N. Y.<br /><br /></span><br /> +</td> +</tr> +</table> + +<hr class='major' /> + +<table width='450' cellpadding='2' cellspacing='0' summary='' border='0'> +<col style='width:100%;' /> +<tr> +<td align='center'><span style='font-size: 100%;'>Copyright, MCMXIV, by</span><br /> +<span style='font-size: 100%;'>SULLY AND KLEINTEICH</span><br /><br /><br /> +<span style='font-size: 80%;'><i>Printed in the United States of America</i></span><br /> +<span style='font-size: 80%;'>by</span><br /> +<span style='font-size: 80%;'>THE COMMERCIAL BOOKBINDING CO.</span><br /> +<span style='font-size: 80%;'>CLEVELAND, OHIO</span><br /> +</td> +</tr> +</table> + +<hr class='major' /> + +<h2><a name='Contents' id='Contents'></a>Contents</h2> +<div class='smcap'> +<table border='0' width='600' cellpadding='2' cellspacing='0' summary='Contents'> +<col style='width:20%;' /> +<col style='width:70%;' /> +<col style='width:10%;' /> +<tr><td align='right'>I.</td><td align='left'> A Horse-Whipping</td><td align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_I'>1</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>II.</td><td align='left'> Good Samaritans</td><td align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_II'>12</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>III.</td><td align='left'> An Unpleasant Prospect</td><td align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_III'>19</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>IV.</td><td align='left'> The Picture Show</td><td align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_IV'>28</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>V.</td><td align='left'> Final Days</td><td align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_V'>36</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>VI.</td><td align='left'> The Bonfire</td><td align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_VI'>45</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>VII.</td><td align='left'> Link Again</td><td align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_VII'>51</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>VIII.</td><td align='left'> Off For Yale</td><td align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_VIII'>63</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>IX.</td><td align='left'> On The Campus</td><td align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_IX'>72</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>X.</td><td align='left'> Missing Money</td><td align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_X'>78</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XI.</td><td align='left'> “Rough House”</td><td align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_XI'>85</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XII.</td><td align='left'> A Fierce Tackle</td><td align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_XII'>94</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XIII.</td><td align='left'> Bargains</td><td align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_XIII'>102</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XIV.</td><td align='left'> Dunk Refuses</td><td align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_XIV.'>113</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XV.</td><td align='left'> Dunk Goes Out</td><td align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_XV'>123</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XVI.</td><td align='left'> In Bad</td><td align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_XVI'>131</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XVII.</td><td align='left'> Andy’s Despair</td><td align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_XVII'>138</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XVIII.</td><td align='left'> Andy’s Resolve</td><td align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_XVIII'>146</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XIX.</td><td align='left'> Link Comes To College</td><td align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_XIX'>150</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XX.</td><td align='left'> Queer Disappearances</td><td align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_XX'>158</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XXI.</td><td align='left'> A Gridiron Battle</td><td align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_XXI'>166</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XXII.</td><td align='left'> Andy Says “No!”</td><td align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_XXII'>177</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XXIII.</td><td align='left'> Reconciliation</td><td align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_XXIII'>185</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XXIV.</td><td align='left'> Link’s Visit</td><td align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_XXIV'>193</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XXV.</td><td align='left'> The Missing Watch</td><td align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_XXV'>198</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XXVI.</td><td align='left'> The Girls</td><td align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_XXVI'>205</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XXVII.</td><td align='left'> Jealousies</td><td align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_XXVII'>213</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XXVIII.</td><td align='left'> The Book</td><td align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_XXVIII'>219</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XXIX.</td><td align='left'> The Accusation</td><td align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_XXIX'>230</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XXX.</td><td align='left'> The Letter</td><td align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_XXX'>237</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XXXI.</td><td align='left'> On The Diamond</td><td align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_XXXI'>245</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XXXII.</td><td align='left'> Victory</td><td align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_XXXII'>256</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XXXIII.</td><td align='left'> The Trap</td><td align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_XXXIII'>281</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XXXIV.</td><td align='left'> Caught</td><td align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_XXXIV'>291</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XXXV.</td><td align='left'> For The Honor Of Yale</td><td align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_XXXV'>300</a></td></tr> +</table> +</div> + +<hr class='major' /> + +<h1>ANDY AT YALE</h1> + +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'> +<a name='CHAPTER_I' id='CHAPTER_I'></a> +<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_1' id='Page_1'>1</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER I</h2><h3>A HORSE-WHIPPING</h3> +</div> + + +<p>“Come on, Andy, what are you hanging back for?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, just to look at the view. It’s great! Why, you can see for twenty +miles from here, right off to the mountains!”</p> + +<p>One lad stood by himself on the summit of a green hill, while, a little +below, and in advance of him, were four others.</p> + +<p>“Oh, come on!” cried one of the latter. “View! Who wants to look at a +view?”</p> + +<p>“But it’s great, I tell you! I never appreciated it before!” exclaimed +Andy Blair. “You can see——!”</p> + +<p>“Oh, for the love of goodness! Come on!” came in protest from the +objecting speaker. “What do we care how far we can see? We’re going to +get something to eat!”</p> + +<p>“That’s right! Some of Kelly’s good old kidney stew!”</p> + +<p>“A little chicken for mine!”<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_2' id='Page_2'>2</a></span></p> + +<p>“I’m for a chop!”</p> + +<p>“Beefsteak on the grill!”</p> + +<p>Thus the lads, waiting for the one who had stopped to admire the fine +view, chanted their desires in the way of food.</p> + +<p>“Come on!” finally called one in disgust, and, with a half sigh of +regret, Andy walked on to join his mates.</p> + +<p>“What’s getting into you lately?” demanded Chet Anderson, a bit +petulantly. “You stand mooning around, you don’t hear when you’re spoken +to, and you don’t go in for half the fun you used to.”</p> + +<p>“Are you sick? Or is it a—girl?” queried Ben Snow, laughing.</p> + +<p>“Both the same!” observed Frank Newton, cynically.</p> + +<p>“Listen to the old dinkbat!” exclaimed Tom Hatfield. “You’d think he +knew all about the game! You never got a letter from a girl in your +life, Frank!”</p> + +<p>“I didn’t, eh? That’s all you know about it,” and Frank made an +unsuccessful effort to punch his tormentor.</p> + +<p>“Well, if we’re going on to Churchtown and have a bit of grub in +Kelly’s, let’s hoof it!” suggested Chet. “You can eat; can’t you, Andy? +Haven’t lost your appetite; have you, looking at that blooming view?”<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_3' id='Page_3'>3</a></span></p> + +<p>“No, indeed. But you fellows don’t seem to realize that in another month +we’ll never see it again, unless we come back to Milton for a visit.”</p> + +<p>“That’s right!” agreed Ben Snow. “This <i>is</i> our last term at the old +school! I’ll be sorry to leave it, in a way, even though I do expect to +go to college.”</p> + +<p>“Same here,” came from Tom. “What college are you going to, Ben?”</p> + +<p>“Hanged if I know! Dad keeps dodging from one to another. He’s had all +the catalogs for the last month, studying over ’em like a fellow going +up for his first exams. Sometimes it’s Cornell, and then he switches to +Princeton. I’m for the last myself, but dad is going to foot the bills, +so I s’pose I’ll have to give in to him.”</p> + +<p>“Of course. Where are you heading for, Andy?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, I’m not so sure, either. It’s a sort of toss-up between Yale and +Harvard, with a little leaning toward Eli on my part. But I don’t have +to decide this week. Come on, let’s hoof it a little faster. I believe +I’m getting hungry.”</p> + +<p>“And yet you would stop to moon at a view!” burst out Frank. “Really, +Andy, I’m surprised at you!”</p> + +<p>“Oh, cut it out, you old faker! You know that view from Brad’s Hill +can’t be beat for miles around.”<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_4' id='Page_4'>4</a></span></p> + +<p>“That’s right!” chorused the others, and there seemed to have come over +them all a more serious manner with the mention of the pending break-up +of their pleasant relations. They had hardly realized it before.</p> + +<p>For a few minutes they walked on over the hills in silence. The green +fields, with here and there patches of woodland, stretched out all +around them. Over in the distance nestled a little town, its white +church, with the tall, slender spire, showing plainly.</p> + +<p>Behind them, hidden by these same green hills over which they were +tramping this beautiful day in early June, lay another town, now out of +sight in a hollow. It was Warrenville, on the outskirts of which was +located the Milton Preparatory School the five lads attended. They were +in their last year, would soon graduate, and then separate, to go to +various colleges, or other institutions.</p> + +<p>School work had ended early this day on account of coming examinations, +and the lads, who had been chums since their entrance at Milton, had +voted to go for a walk, and end up with an early supper at Kelly’s, a +more or less celebrated place where the students congregated. This was +at Churchtown, about five miles from Warrenville. The boys were to walk +there and come back in the trolley.<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_5' id='Page_5'>5</a></span></p> + +<p>They had spent two years at the Milton school, and had been friends for +years before that, all of them living in the town of Dunmore, in one of +our Middle States. There was much rejoicing among them when they found +that all five who had played baseball and football together in Dunmore, +were to go to the same preparatory school. It meant that the pleasant +relations were not to be severed. But now the shadow of parting had cast +itself upon them, and had tempered their buoyant spirits.</p> + +<p>“Yes, boys, it will soon be good-bye to old Milton!” exclaimed Chet, +with a sigh.</p> + +<p>“I wonder if we’ll get anybody like Dr. Morrison at any of the colleges +we go to?” spoke Ben.</p> + +<p>“You can’t beat him—no matter where you go!” declared Andy. “He’s the +best ever!”</p> + +<p>“That’s right! He knows just how to take a fellow,” commented Tom. +“Remember the time I smuggled the puppy into the physiology class?”</p> + +<p>“I should say we did!” laughed Andy.</p> + +<p>“And how he yelped when I pinched his tail that stuck out from under +your coat,” added Ben. “Say, it was great!”</p> + +<p>“I’ll never forget how old Pop Swann looked up over the tops of his +glasses,” put in Frank.</p> + +<p>“Dr. Morrison was mighty decent about it<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_6' id='Page_6'>6</a></span> when he had me up on the +carpet, too,” added Tom. “I thought sure I was in for a wigging—maybe a +suspension, and I couldn’t stand that, for dad had written me one +warning letter.</p> + +<p>“But all Prexy did was to look at me in that calm, withering, pitying +way he has, and then say in that solemn voice of his: ‘Ah, Hatfield, I +presume you are going in for vivisection’ Say, you could have floored +me with a feather. That’s the kind of a man Dr. Morrison is.”</p> + +<p>“Nobody else like him,” commented Andy, with a sigh.</p> + +<p>“Oh, well, if any of us go to Yale, or Princeton, or Harvard, I guess +we’ll find some decent profs. there,” spoke Ben. “They can’t all be +riggers.”</p> + +<p>“Sure not,” said Andy. “But those colleges will be a heap sight +different from Milton.”</p> + +<p>“Of course! What do you expect? This is a kindergarten compared to +them!” exclaimed Frank.</p> + +<p>“But it’s a mighty nice kindergarten,” commented Tom. “It’s like a +school in our home town, almost.”</p> + +<p>“I sure will be sorry to leave it,” added Andy. “But come on; we’ll +never get to Kelly’s at this rate.”</p> + +<p>The sun was sinking behind the western hills<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_7' id='Page_7'>7</a></span> in a bank of golden and +purple clouds. Two miles yet lay between the lads and their objective +point—the odd little oyster and chop house so much frequented by the +students of Milton. It was an historic place, was Kelly’s; a beloved +place where the lads foregathered to talk over their doings, their +hopes, their fears, their joys and sorrows. It was an old-fashioned +place, with little, dingy rooms, come upon unexpectedly; rooms just +right for small parties of congenial souls—with tall, black settles, +and tables roughened with many jack-knifed initials.</p> + +<p>“We can cut over to the road, and get there quicker,” remarked Andy, +after a pause. “Suppose we do it. I don’t want to get back too late.”</p> + +<p>“All right,” agreed Tom. “I want to write a couple of letters myself.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, ho! Now who’s got a girl?” demanded Chet, suspiciously.</p> + +<p>“Nobody, you amalgamated turnip. I’m going to write to dad, and settle +this college business. Might as well make a decision now as later, I +reckon.”</p> + +<p>“We’ll have to sign soon, or it will be too late,” spoke Chet. “Those +big colleges aren’t like the small prep. schools. They have waiting +lists—at least for the good rooms in the campus halls. That’s where I’d +like to go if I went to<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_8' id='Page_8'>8</a></span> Yale—in Lawrance Hall, or some place like +that, where I could look out over the campus, or the Green.”</p> + +<p>“There are some dandy rooms in front of Lawrance Hall where you can look +out over the New Haven Green,” put in Ben. “I was there once, and how I +did envy those fellows, lolling in their windows on their blue cushions, +puffing on pipes and making believe study. It was great!”</p> + +<p>“Making believe study!” exclaimed Andy. “I guess they do study! You +ought to see the stiff list of stuff on the catalog!”</p> + +<p>“You got one?” asked Chet.</p> + +<p>“Sure. I’ve been doping it out.”</p> + +<p>“I thought you said you hadn’t decided where to go yet,” remarked Frank.</p> + +<p>“Well, I have,” returned Andy, quietly.</p> + +<p>“You have! When, for the love of tripe? You said a while ago—”</p> + +<p>“I know I did. But I’ve decided since then. I’m going to Yale!”</p> + +<p>“You are? Good for you!” cried Tom, clapping his chum on the back with +such energy that Andy nearly toppled over. “That’s the stuff! Rah! Rah! +Rah! Yale! Bulldog!”</p> + +<p>“Here! Cut it out!” ordered Andy. “I’m not at Yale yet, and they don’t +go around doing that sort of stuff unless maybe after a game. I<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_9' id='Page_9'>9</a></span> was +down there about a month ago, and say, there wasn’t any of that +‘Rah-rah!’ stuff on the campus at all. But of course I wasn’t there +long.”</p> + +<p>“So that’s where you went that time you slipped off,” commented Chet. +“Down at Yale. And you’ve decided to sign for there?”</p> + +<p>“I have. It seemed to come to me as we walked down the hill. I’ve made +my choice. I’m going to write to dad.”</p> + +<p>They walked on silently for a few moments following Andy’s remarks.</p> + +<p class='blockquot'> +“‘It was the King of France,<br /> +He had ten thousand men.<br /> +He marched them up the hill,<br /> +And marched them down again!’”<br /> +</p> + +<p>Thus suddenly quoted Chet in a sing-song voice, adding:</p> + +<p>“If we’re going to get any grub at Kelly’s, it’s up to us to march down +this hill faster than we’ve been going, or we’ll get left. That other +crowd from Milton will have all the good places.”</p> + +<p>“Come on then, fellows, hit her up!” exclaimed Frank. “Hep! Hep! Left! +Left!” and they started off at a good pace.</p> + +<p>They reached the country road that led more<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_10' id='Page_10'>10</a></span> directly to Churchtown, and +swung off along this. The setting sun made a golden aurora that June +day, the beams filtering through a haze of dust. The boys talked of many +things, but chiefly of the coming parting—of the colleges they might +attend.</p> + +<p>As they passed a farmhouse near the side of the road, and came into view +of the barnyard, they saw two men standing beside a team of horses +hitched to a heavy wagon. One was tall and heavily built, evidently the +farmer-owner. The other was a young man, of about twenty-two years, his +left arm in a sling.</p> + +<p>The boys would have passed on with only a momentary glance at the pair +but for something that occurred as they came opposite. They saw the big +man raise a horse-whip and lash savagely at the young man.</p> + +<p>The lash cracked like the shot of a revolver.</p> + +<p>“I’ll teach you!” fairly roared the big man. “I’ll teach you to soldier +on me! Playin’ off, that’s what you are, Link Bardon! Playing off!”</p> + +<p>“I’m not playing off! My arm is injured. And don’t you strike me again, +Mr. Snad, or I’ll——”</p> + +<p>“You will, eh?” burst out the other. “You’ll threaten me, will you? +Well, I’ll teach you! Tryin’ to pretend your arm is sprained so<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_11' id='Page_11'>11</a></span> you +won’t have to work. I’ll teach you! Take that!”</p> + +<p>Again the cruel whip came down with stinging force. The face of the +young man, that had flamed with righteous anger, went pale.</p> + +<p>“Take that, you lazy, good-for-nothing!”</p> + +<p>Again the whip descended, and the young man put up his uninjured arm to +defend himself. The farmer rained blow after blow on his hired man, +driving him toward a fence.</p> + +<p>“Fellows! I can’t stand this!” exclaimed Andy Blair, with sudden energy. +“That big brute is a coward! Are you with me?”</p> + +<p>“We sure are!” came in an energetic chorus from the others.</p> + +<p>“Then come on!” cried Andy, and with a short run he cleared the fence +and dashed up toward the farmer, who was still lashing away with the +horse-whip.</p> + + + +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'> +<a name='CHAPTER_II' id='CHAPTER_II'></a> +<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_12' id='Page_12'>12</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER II</h2><h3>GOOD SAMARITANS</h3> +</div> + + +<p>“Here! Quit that!” exclaimed Andy, panting a bit from his exertion. +“Drop that whip!”</p> + +<p>The farmer wheeled around, for Andy had come up behind him. Surprise and +anger showed plainly on the man’s flushed face, and blazed from his +blood-shot eyes.</p> + +<p>“Wha—what!” he stammered in amazement.</p> + +<p>“I said quit it!” came in resolute tones from Andy. “Don’t you hit him +any more! You ought to be ashamed of yourself. Using a whip! Why don’t +you take some one your size, and use your hands if you have to. You’re a +coward!”</p> + +<p>“That’s right!” chimed in Chet Anderson.</p> + +<p>“It’s a blooming shame—that’s what it is!” protested Tom Hatfield. +“Let’s make a rough-house of him, fellows!”</p> + +<p>“What’s that?” cried the farmer. “You threaten me, do you? Get out of my +barnyard before I treat you as I did him! Get out, do you hear!”<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_13' id='Page_13'>13</a></span></p> + +<p>“No!” exclaimed Andy. “We don’t go until you promise to leave him +alone,” and he nodded at the shrinking youth.</p> + +<p>“Say, I’ll show you!” blustered the big farmer. “I’ll thrash you young +upstarts——”</p> + +<p>“Oh no, you won’t!” exclaimed Tom, easily. And when big Tom Hatfield, +left guard on the Milton eleven, spoke in this tone trouble might always +be looked for. “Oh, no you won’t, my friend! And, just to show you that +you won’t—there goes your whip!”</p> + +<p>With a quick motion Tom pulled the lash from the man’s hand, and sent it +whirling over the fence into the road.</p> + +<p>“You—you!” blustered the farmer. He was too angry to be able to speak +coherently. His hands were clenched and his little pig-like eyes roved +from one to the other of the lads as though he were trying to decide +upon which one to rush first.</p> + +<p>“Take it easy, now,” advised Tom, his voice still low. “We’re five to +one, and we’ll certainly tackle you, and tackle you hard, if you don’t +be nice. We’re not afraid of you!”</p> + +<p>Perhaps the angry man realized this. Certainly he must have known that +he would stand little chance in attacking five healthy, hearty +youngsters, each of whom had the glow of clean-living on his cheeks, +while their poise showed<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_14' id='Page_14'>14</a></span> that they were used to active work, and ready +for any emergency.</p> + +<p>“Get out of this yard!” roared the farmer. “What right have you got +interfering between me and my hired man, anyhow? What right, I’d like to +know?”</p> + +<p>“The right of every lover of fair-play!” exclaimed Andy. “Do you think +we’d stand quietly by and let you use a horse-whip on a young fellow +that you ought to be able to handle with one hand? And he with his arm +in a sling! To my way of thinking, you ought to be ashamed of yourself.”</p> + +<p>The farmer growled out something unintelligible.</p> + +<p>“We ought to do you up good and brown!” exclaimed Tom, his fists +clenched.</p> + +<p>“He’s only playing off on me—he ain’t hurt a mite!” growled the farmer. +“He’s only fakin’ on me.”</p> + +<p>“I certainly am not,” spoke the young fellow in firm but respectful +terms. “I sprained my arm unloading your wagon, Mr. Snad, and I can’t +drive the team any more to-day. I put my handkerchief around it because +the sprain hurt me so. I certainly can’t work!” His voice faltered and +he choked. His spirit seemed as much hurt as his body—perhaps more.</p> + +<p>“Huh! Can’t work, eh? Then get out!”<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_15' id='Page_15'>15</a></span> snarled Mr. Snad. “I want no +loafer around here! Get out!”</p> + +<p>“I’m perfectly willing to go when you pay me what you owe me,” said the +helper, quietly.</p> + +<p>“Owe you! I don’t owe you nothin’, you lazy lout!” snapped the farmer.</p> + +<p>“You certainly do. You owe me twelve dollars, and as soon as you pay me +I’ll get out, and be glad to go!”</p> + +<p>“Twelve dollars! I’d like to see myself giving you that much money!” +grumbled the farmer. “You ain’t wuth but ten dollars at the most, an’ I +won’t pay you that for you busted my mowin’ machine, an’ it’ll take that +t’ pay for fixin’ it.”</p> + +<p>“That mowing machine was in bad order when you had me take it out,” +replied the young fellow, “and you know it. It was simply an accident +that it broke, and not my fault in the least.”</p> + +<p>“Well, you’ll pay for it, just the same,” was the sneering reply. “Now +be off!”</p> + +<p>“Not until I get my wages. You agreed to pay me twelve dollars a month, +and board me. My month is up to-day, and I want my money. It’s about all +I have in the world; I need it.”</p> + +<p>“You’ll not get it out of me,” and the farmer turned aside. Evidently he +had given up the idea of further chastising his hired man. The<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_16' id='Page_16'>16</a></span> presence +of Andy and his chums was enough to deter him.</p> + +<p>“Mr. Snad, I demand my money!” exclaimed the young farm hand.</p> + +<p>“You’ll not get it! Leave my premises! Clear off, all of you,” and he +glared at the schoolboys.</p> + +<p>“Mr. Snad, I’ll go as soon as you give me my twelve dollars,” persisted +the youth, his voice trembling.</p> + +<p>“You’ll get no twelve dollars out of me,” snapped the man.</p> + +<p>“Oh, yes, I think he will,” spoke Andy. “You’d better pay over that +money, Mr. Snad.”</p> + +<p>“Eh? What’s that your business?”</p> + +<p>“It’s the business of everyone to see fair play,” said Andy.</p> + +<p>“And we’re going to do it in this case,” added Tom, still in even tones.</p> + +<p>“Are you? Well, I’d like to know how?” sneered the farmer.</p> + +<p>“Would you? Then listen and you will hear, my friend,” went on Tom. +“Unless you pay this young man the money you owe him we will swear out a +warrant against you, have you arrested, and use him as a witness against +you.”</p> + +<p>For a moment there was a deep silence; then the farmer burst out with:</p> + +<p>“Have me arrested! Me? What for?”<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_17' id='Page_17'>17</a></span></p> + +<p>“For assault and battery,” answered Tom. “We saw you assault this young +man with a horse-whip, and, while it might take some time to have him +sue you for his wages, it won’t take us any time at all to get an +officer here and have you taken to jail on a criminal charge. The matter +of the wages may be a civil matter—the horse-whipping is criminal.</p> + +<p>“So, take your choice, Mr. Snad, if that’s your name. Pay this young man +his twelve dollars, or we’ll cause your arrest on this assault charge. +Now, my friend, it’s up to you,” and taking out his pocket knife Tom +began whittling a stick picked from the ground. Andy and his chums +looked admiringly at Tom, who had thus found such an effective lever of +persuasion.</p> + +<p>The angry farmer glanced from one to the other of the five lads. They +gave him back look for look—unflinchingly.</p> + +<p>“And don’t be too long about it, either,” added Tom, making the +splinters fly. “We’re due at Kelly’s for a little feed, and then we want +to get back to Milton. Don’t be too long, my friend, unless you want to +spend the night in jail.”</p> + +<p>The farmer gulped once or twice. The Adam’s apple in his throat went up +and down. Clearly he was struggling with himself.</p> + +<p>“I—I—you——” he began.<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_18' id='Page_18'>18</a></span></p> + +<p>“Tut! Tut!” chided Tom. “You’d better go get the money. We can’t wait +all day.”</p> + +<p>“I—er—I——” The farmer seemed at a loss for words. Then, turning on +his heel, he started toward the house. He was beaten.</p> + +<p>“I—I’ll get it,” he flung back over his shoulder. “And then I’ll swear +out warrants for your arrest. You’re trespassers, that’s what you are. +I’ll fix you!”</p> + +<p>“Trespassers? Oh, no,” returned Andy, sweetly. “We’re only good +Samaritans. Perhaps you may have read of them in a certain book. Also we +are acting as the attorneys for this gentleman, in collecting a debt due +him. We are his counsel, and the law allows a man to have his counsel +present at a hearing. I hardly think an action in trespass would lie +against us, Mr. Snad; so don’t put yourself out about it.”</p> + +<p>“That’s the stuff!”</p> + +<p>“Good for you, Andy!”</p> + +<p>“Say, you got his number all right!”</p> + +<p>Thus Andy’s chums called to him laughingly as the farmer went into the +house.</p> + + + +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'> +<a name='CHAPTER_III' id='CHAPTER_III'></a> +<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_19' id='Page_19'>19</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER III</h2><h3>AN UNPLEASANT PROSPECT</h3> +</div> + + +<p>“Say, I can’t tell how much obliged to you I am,” impulsively exclaimed +the young fellow with his arm in a sling. “That—that——”</p> + +<p>“He’s a brute, that’s what he is!” broke out Andy. “Don’t be afraid to +call him one.”</p> + +<p>“He sure is,” came from Tom. “I just wish he’d rough it up a bit. I +wouldn’t have asked anything better than to take and roll him around his +own barnyard. Talk about tackling a fellow on the gridiron—Oh me! Oh +my!”</p> + +<p>“It was mighty nice of you boys to take my part,” went on the young +fellow. “I’m not feeling very well. He’s worked me like a horse since +I’ve been here, and that, on top of spraining my arm, sort of took the +tucker out of me. Then, when he came at me with the whip, just because I +said I couldn’t work any more——”</p> + +<p>“There, never mind. Don’t think about it,” advised Chet, seeing that the +youth was greatly affected.<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_20' id='Page_20'>20</a></span></p> + +<p>“Do you live around here?” asked Andy.</p> + +<p>“Well, I don’t live much of anywhere,” was the reply. “I’m a sort of +Jack-of-all-trades. My name is Lincoln Bardon—Link, I’m generally +called. I work mostly at farming, but I’ll never work for Amos Snad +again. He’s too hard.”</p> + +<p>“Where are you going after you leave here?” asked Frank Newton.</p> + +<p>“Oh, I’ve got a friend who works on a farm over in Cherry Hollow. I can +go there and get a place. The farming season is on now, and there’s lots +of help wanted. But I sure am much obliged to you for helping me get my +money. I’ve earned it and I need it. That mowing machine was broken when +he had me take it out of the shed.”</p> + +<p>“How’d he come to use the whip?” asked Andy.</p> + +<p>“It was when I came back with the team, and said I couldn’t work any +more on account of my arm. He has a lot of work to do,” explained Link, +“and he ought to keep two men. Instead, he tries to get along with one, +and works him like a slave. I’m glad I’m going to quit.”</p> + +<p>“When I said my arm was hurt he didn’t believe me. I insisted. One word +led to another and he came at me with the lash. Then you boys jumped in. +I can’t thank you enough.”<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_21' id='Page_21'>21</a></span></p> + +<p>“That’s all right,” said Tom. “We were glad to do it. I like a good +scrap!”</p> + +<p>And to do him justice, he did—a good, clean, manly “scrap.”</p> + +<p>“I wonder if he will bring that money?” remarked Ben Snow. “He’s gone a +long time.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, he keeps it hidden away in an old boot,” replied Link. “He’ll have +to dig it out. But don’t let me detain you.”</p> + +<p>“We like the fun,” spoke Andy. “We’ll stick around for a while yet.”</p> + +<p>And, while the boys are thus “sticking around,” may I be permitted to +introduce them more formally to you, and speak just a word about them?</p> + +<p>With their names I think you are already familiar. Andy Blair was a +tall, good-looking lad, with light hair and snapping blue eyes that +seemed to look right through you. Yet, withal, they were merry eyes, and +dancing with life.</p> + +<p>Chet Anderson was rather short and stocky, not to say fat; but if any of +his friends mentioned such a thing Chet was up in arms at once. Chet, I +might explain, was a contraction for Chetfield; the lad being named for +his grandfather.</p> + +<p>Ben Snow was always jolly. In spite of his name he was of a warm and +impulsive nature, always ready to forgive an injury and continually<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_22' id='Page_22'>22</a></span> +seeking a chance to help someone. Clever, full of life and usually +looking on the bright side, Ben was a humorous relief to his sometimes +more sober comrades.</p> + +<p>Quiet and studious was Frank Newton, a good scholar, always standing +well in his class, and yet with his full share of fun and sport. He was +a mainstay on the baseball team, where he had pitched many a game to +victory.</p> + +<p>With the exception of Tom Hatfield you have now met the lads with whom +the first part of this story is chiefly concerned. Tom was one of the +nicest fellows you could know. His parents were wealthy, but wealth had +not spoiled Tom. He was happy-go-lucky, of a generous, whole-souled +nature, always jolly and happy, and yet with a temper that at times +blazed out and amazed his friends. Seldom was it directed against any of +them; but when Tom spoke quietly, with a sort of ring like the clang of +steel in his voice, then was the time to look out.</p> + +<p>The five lads came from the same town, as has been said, and had been +friends, more or less, all their lives. With their advent at Milton +their friendship was cemented with that seal which is never +broken—school-comradeship. You boys know this. You men who may chance +to read this book know it. How many of you, speaking of someone, has not +at one time said:<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_23' id='Page_23'>23</a></span></p> + +<p>“Why, he and I used to go to school together!”</p> + +<p>And is there anything in life better than this—an old school chum? It +means so much.</p> + +<p>But there. I started to tell a story, and I find myself getting off on +the side lines. To get back into the game:</p> + +<p>Link Bardon had hardly finished telling his good Samaritan boy friends +of his trouble with Mr. Snad, when the burly farmer reappeared. Striding +up to his hired man—his former employee—he thrust some crumpled bills +into his hand, and growled:</p> + +<p>“Now you get out of here as fast as you can. I’ve seen enough of you!”</p> + +<p>“And I may say the same thing!” retorted Link. He was getting back his +nerve. Perhaps Andy and his chums had contributed to this end.</p> + +<p>“Huh! Don’t you go to gettin’ fresh!” snapped Mr. Snad.</p> + +<p>“Don’t let him get your goat!” exclaimed Tom, with a cheerful grin.</p> + +<p>“I’ve had enough of you young upstarts!” cried the farmer, turning +fiercely on Andy and his chums. “Be off!”</p> + +<p>“Wait until we see if Link has his money all right,” suggested Andy. “He +might ring in a counterfeit bill on you if you don’t watch out.”</p> + +<p>“Bah!” sneered the farmer.<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_24' id='Page_24'>24</a></span></p> + +<p>Link counted over his wages. They were all right.</p> + +<p>“Now I’ll get my things and go,” he said, calmly.</p> + +<p>“And don’t you ever come around askin’ me for a job,” warned his former +employer.</p> + +<p>“I guess there isn’t much danger,” spoke Tom, quietly. “Come on, +fellows. I’m hungry enough to eat two of Kelly’s steaks.”</p> + +<p>They followed Andy, who again lightly leaped the fence into the road. +Link went on toward the house to pack up his few belongings. He waved +his hand toward the boys, and they waved back. They hardly expected to +see him again, and certainly Andy Blair never dreamed of the strange +part the young farmer would play in his coming life at Yale. Such odd +tricks does fate play upon us.</p> + +<p>The Milton lads swung on down the road in the direction of Churchtown. +It was early evening by now.</p> + +<p>“Some doings!” commented Chet as he slipped his arm into that of Andy.</p> + +<p>“I should say!” exclaimed Ben. “Andy, you took the right action that +time.”</p> + +<p>“Well, I just couldn’t bear to see that chap, with his arm in a sling, +being beaten up by that brute of a farmer,” was the reply. “It got my +dander up.”<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_25' id='Page_25'>25</a></span></p> + +<p>“Same here,” spoke Tom.</p> + +<p>“You’d never know it, from the way you acted,” put in Frank.</p> + +<p>“Tom is always worst when he’s quietest,” remarked Andy. “Well, now for +a good feed. Let’s cut through here, hop a car, and get to Kelly’s +quicker.”</p> + +<p>“Go ahead, we’re with you,” announced Chet, and soon the lads were in +the “eating joint,” as they called it.</p> + +<p>“Broiled steak with French fried potatoes, Adolph!”</p> + +<p>“Yah!”</p> + +<p>“I want an omelet with green peppers!”</p> + +<p>“Liver and bacon for mine!”</p> + +<p>“Ham and eggs! Plenty of gravy!”</p> + +<p>“Yah!”</p> + +<p>“Coffee with my order, Adolph!”</p> + +<p>“Yah!”</p> + +<p>“And say, I want some of those rolls with moon-seeds on top, Adolph! +Don’t forget!”</p> + +<p>“Nein!”</p> + +<p>“And my coffee comes with my steak, not afterward. Hoch der Kaiser!”</p> + +<p>“Shure!”</p> + +<p>“How’s the soup, Adolph?”</p> + +<p>“Fine und hot!”</p> + +<p>“That’s good! One on you, Tom!”</p> + +<p>“Bring me a plate!”<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_26' id='Page_26'>26</a></span></p> + +<p>“Oh, say, Adolph, make my order a chop instead of those ham and eggs.”</p> + +<p>“Yah!”</p> + +<p>“And, Adolph.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, sir.”</p> + +<p>“I want a glass of milk, with a squirt of vichy in it. Don’t forget.”</p> + +<p>“Nein, I vunt!”</p> + +<p>“And speed up, Adolph, we’re all in a hurry.”</p> + +<p>“Shure. You vos allvays in a hurry!”</p> + +<p>The German waiter scurried away. How he ever remembered it all is one of +the mysteries that one day may be solved. But he never forgot, and never +made a mistake.</p> + +<p>The boys were seated at a table in one of the small rooms of Kelly’s. +They stretched out their legs and took their ease, for they felt they +had earned a little relaxation.</p> + +<p>About them in other rooms, in small recesses made by the high-backed +seats, were other students. There was a calling back and forth.</p> + +<p>“Hello, Spike!”</p> + +<p>“Stick out your head, Bender!”</p> + +<p>“Over here, Buster—here’s room!”</p> + +<p>“There’s Bunk now!”</p> + +<p>You could not tell who was saying what or which, nor to whom, any more +than I can. Hence the rather disjointed style of the preceding. But you +know what I mean, for you must<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_27' id='Page_27'>27</a></span> have been there yourself. If not, I beg +of you to get into some such place where “good fellows,” in the truest +sense of the word, meet together. For where they congregate it is always +“good weather,” no matter if it snows or hails, or even if the stormy +winds do blow—do blow—do blow!</p> + +<p>But at last a measure of quietness settled down in Kelly’s, and the +chatter of voices was succeeded by the clatter of knives and forks.</p> + +<p>Then came a reaction—a time when one settled back on one’s bench, the +first tearing edge of the appetite dulled. It was at this time that Tom +Hatfield, leaning over to Andy, said:</p> + +<p>“And so you are going to Yale?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, I’ve made up my mind.”</p> + +<p>“Well, I congratulate you. It’s a grand old place. Wish I was with you.”</p> + +<p>“Say, Andy!” piped up Chet Anderson, “if you go to Yale you’ll meet an +old friend of yours there.”</p> + +<p>“Who, for the love of bacon?”</p> + +<p>“Mortimer Gaffington!”</p> + +<p>Andy’s knife fell to his plate with a clash that caused the other diners +to look up hurriedly.</p> + +<p>“Mortimer Gaffington!” gasped our hero. “For cats’ sake! That’s so. I +forgot he went to Yale! Oh, wow! Well, it can’t be helped. I’ve made my +choice!”</p> + + + +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'> +<a name='CHAPTER_IV' id='CHAPTER_IV'></a> +<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_28' id='Page_28'>28</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER IV</h2><h3>THE PICTURE SHOW</h3> +</div> + + +<p>Andy’s chums looked curiously at him. Chet’s chance remark had brought +back to them the memory of the old enmity between Andy Blair and +Mortimer Gaffington, the rich young “sport” of Dunmore. It was an enmity +that had happily been forgotten in the joy of life at Milton. Now it +loomed up again.</p> + +<p>“That’s right, that cad Mort does hang out at New Haven,” remarked Tom. +“That is, he did. But maybe they’ve fired him,” he added, hopefully.</p> + +<p>“No such luck,” spoke Andy, ruefully. “I had a letter from my sister +only the other day, and she mentioned some row that Mort had gotten into +at Yale. Came within an ace of being taken out, but it was smoothed +over. No, I’ll have to rub up against him if I go there.”</p> + +<p>“Well, you don’t need to have much to do with him,” suggested Frank.</p> + +<p>“And you can just make up your mind that I won’t,” spoke Andy. “I’ll +steer clear of him from the minute I strike New Haven. But don’t<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_29' id='Page_29'>29</a></span> let’s +talk about it. Where’s that waiter, anyhow? Has he gone out to kill a +fatted calf?”</p> + +<p>“Here he comes,” announced Ben. “Get a move on there, Adolph!”</p> + +<p>“Yah!”</p> + +<p>“And don’t wait for my French fried potatoes to sprout, either,” added +Chet.</p> + +<p>“Yah, shure not!”</p> + +<p>“Oh, look who’s here!” exclaimed Tom, nodding toward a newcomer. “Shoot +in over here, Swipes!” he called to a tall lad, whose progress through +the room was marked by friendly calls on many sides. He was a general +favorite, Harry Morton by name, but seldom called anything but “Swipes,” +from a habit he had of taking or “swiping” signs, and other mementoes of +tradesmen about town; the said signs and insignia of business later +adorning his room.</p> + +<p>“Got space?” asked Harry, as he paused at the little compartment which +held our friends.</p> + +<p>“Surest thing you know, Swipes. Shove over there, Frank. Are you trying +to hog the whole bench?”</p> + +<p>“Not when Swipes is around,” was the retort. “I’ll leave that to him.”</p> + +<p>“Half-ton benches are a little out of my line,” laughed the newcomer, as +he found room at the table. “Bring me a rarebit, Adolph, and don’t leave +out the cheese.”<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_30' id='Page_30'>30</a></span></p> + +<p>“No, sir, Mr. Morton! Ho! ho! Dot’s a goot vun! A rarebit mitout der +cheese! Ach! Dot is goot!” and the fat German waiter went off chuckling +at the old joke.</p> + +<p>“What’s the matter, Andy, you look as if you’d had bad news from your +best girl?” asked Harry, clapping Andy on the shoulder. “Cheer up, the +worst is yet to come.”</p> + +<p>“You’re right there!” exclaimed Andy, heartily. “The worst <i>is</i> yet to +come. I’m going to Yale——”</p> + +<p>“Hurray! Rah! rah! That’s the stuff! But talk about the worst, I can’t +see it. I wish I were in your rubbers.”</p> + +<p>“And that dub Mortimer Gaffington is there, too,” went on Andy. “That’s +the worst.”</p> + +<p>“I don’t quite get you,” said Harry, in puzzled tones. “Is this +Gaffington one of the bulldog profs. who eats freshmen alive?”</p> + +<p>“No, he’s a fellow from our town,” explained Andy, “and he and I are on +the outs. We’ve been so for a long time. It was at a ball game some time +ago. Our town team was playing and I was catching. Mort was pitching. He +accused me of deliberately throwing away the game, and naturally I went +back at him. We had a fight, and since then we haven’t spoken. He’s +rich, and all that, but I don’t like him; not because I beat him in a +fair fight, either. Well, he went<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_31' id='Page_31'>31</a></span> to Yale last year, and I was glad +when he left town. Now I’m sorry he’s at Yale, since I’m going there. I +know he’ll try to make it unpleasant for me.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, well, make the best of it,” advised Harry, philosophically. “He +can’t last for ever. Here comes my eats! Let’s get busy.”</p> + +<p>“So Mort will be a sophomore when you get to New Haven, will he?” asked +Frank of Andy.</p> + +<p>“He will if he doesn’t flunk, and I don’t suppose he will. He’s smart +enough in a certain way. Oh, well, what’s the use of worrying? As Harry +says, here come the eats.”</p> + +<p>Adolph staggered in with a well-heaped tray containing Harry’s order, +and he and his chums finished their meal talking the while. The evening +wore on, more students dropping in to make merry in Kelly’s. A large +group formed about the nucleus made by Andy and his chums. These lads +were seniors in the preparatory school, and, as such, were looked up to +by those who had just started the course, or who were finishing their +first year. In a way, Milton was like a small college in some matters, +notably in class distinction, though it was not carried to the extent it +is in the big universities.</p> + +<p>“What are you fellows going to do?” asked Harry, as he pushed back his +chair. “I’m feeling pretty fit now. I haven’t an enemy in the<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_32' id='Page_32'>32</a></span> world at +this moment,” and he sighed in satisfaction. “That rarebit was sure a +bird! Are you fellows out for any fun?”</p> + +<p>“Not to-night,” replied Andy. “I’m going to cut back and write some +letters.”</p> + +<p>“Forget it,” advised Harry. “It’s early, and too nice a night to go to +bed. Let’s take in a show.”</p> + +<p>“I’ve got some boning to do,” returned Frank, with a sigh.</p> + +<p>“And I ought to plug away at my Latin,” added Chet, with another sigh.</p> + +<p>“Say, but you fellows are the greasy grinds!” objected Harry. “Why don’t +you take a day off once in a while?”</p> + +<p>“It’s easy enough for you, Swipes; Latin comes natural to you!” +exclaimed Tom. “But I have to plug away at it, and when I get through I +know less than when I started.”</p> + +<p>“And as for me,” broke in Chet, “I can read a page all right in the +original, but when I come to translate I can make two pages of it in +English, and have enough Latin words left over to do half another one. +No, Swipes, it won’t do; I’ve got to do some boning.”</p> + +<p>“Aw, forget it. Come on to a show. There’s a good movie in town this +week. I’ll blow you fellows. Some vaudeville, too, take it from me. +There’s a pair who roll hoops until the stage<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_33' id='Page_33'>33</a></span> looks like a barrel +factory having a tango dance. Come on. It’s great!”</p> + +<p>“Well, a movie wouldn’t be so bad,” admitted Tom. “It doesn’t last until +midnight. What do you say, fellows?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, I don’t know,” came from Andy, uncertainly.</p> + +<p>“I’ll go if you fellows will,” remarked Frank.</p> + +<p>“Oh, well, then let’s do it!” cried Tom. “I guess we won’t flunk +to-morrow. We can burn a little midnight electricity. Let ’er go!”</p> + +<p>And so they went to the moving picture show. It was like others of its +kind, neither better nor worse, with vaudeville acts and songs +interspersed between the reels. There was a good attendance, scores of +the Milton lads being there, as well as many persons from the town and +surrounding hamlets.</p> + +<p>Our friends found seats about the middle of the house. It was a sort of +continuous performance, and as they entered a girl was singing a song on +a well-lighted stage. Andy glanced about as he took his seat, and met +the gaze of Link Bardon. He nodded at him, and the young farmer nodded +back.</p> + +<p>“Who’s that—a new fellow?” asked Harry, who was next to Andy.</p> + +<p>“Not at school—no. He’s a hired man we found being beaten up by an old +codger of a<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_34' id='Page_34'>34</a></span> farmer when we walked out this afternoon. We took his part +and made the farmer trot Spanish. I guess Link is taking a day off with +the wages we got for him,” and he detailed the incident.</p> + +<p>The show went on. Some of the students became boisterous, and there were +hisses from the audience, and demands that the boys remain quiet. One +lad, who did not train in the set of Andy and his friends, insisted on +joining in the chorus with one of the singers, and matters got to such a +pass that the manager rang down the curtain and threatened to stop the +performance unless the students behaved. Finally some of the companions +of the noisy one induced him to quiet down.</p> + +<p>Following a long picture reel a girl came out to sing. She was pretty +and vivacious, though her songs were commonplace enough. In one of the +stage boxes were a number of young fellows, not from Milton, and they +began to ogle the singer, who did not seem averse to their attentions. +She edged over to their box, and threw a rose to one of the occupants.</p> + +<p>Gallantly enough he tossed back one he was wearing, but at that moment a +companion in front of him had raised a lighted match to his cigarette.</p> + +<p>The hand of the young man throwing the rose to the singer struck the +flaring match and sent<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_35' id='Page_35'>35</a></span> it over the rail of the box straight at the +flimsy skirts of the performer.</p> + +<p>In an instant the tulle had caught fire, and a fringe of flame shot +upward.</p> + +<p>The singer ceased her song with a scream that brought the orchestra to a +stop with a crashing chord, and the girl’s cries of horror were echoed +by the women in the audience. The girl started to run into the wings, +but Andy, springing from his seat on the aisle, made a leap for the +brass rail behind the musicians.</p> + +<p>“Stand still! Stand still! Don’t go back there in the draft!” cried +Andy, as he jumped upon the stage over the head of the orchestra leader +and began stripping off his coat.</p> + + + +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'> +<a name='CHAPTER_V' id='CHAPTER_V'></a> +<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_36' id='Page_36'>36</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER V</h2><h3>FINAL DAYS</h3> +</div> + + +<p>“Fire! Fire!” yelled some foolish ones in the audience.</p> + +<p>“Keep still!” shouted Tom Hatfield, who well knew the danger of a panic +in a hall with few exits. “Keep still! Play something!” he called to the +orchestra leader, who was staring at Andy, dazed at the flying leap of +the lad over his head. “Play any old tune!”</p> + +<p>It was this that saved the day. The leader tapped with his violin bow on +the tin shade over his electric light and the dazed musicians came to +attention. They began on the number the girl had been singing. It was +like the irony of fate to hear the strains of a sentimental song when +the poor girl was in danger of death. But the music quieted the +audience. Men and women sank back in their seats, watching with +fear-widened eyes the actions of Andy Blair.</p> + +<p>And while Tom had thus effectively stopped the incipient panic, Andy had +not been idle. Working with feverish haste, he had wrapped his<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_37' id='Page_37'>37</a></span> heavy +coat about the girl, smothering the flames. She was sobbing and +screaming by turns.</p> + +<p>“There! There!” cried Andy. “Keep quiet. I have the fire out. You’re in +no danger!”</p> + +<p>“Oh—oh! But—but the fire——”</p> + +<p>“It’s out, I tell you!” insisted Andy. “It was only a little blaze!”</p> + +<p>He could see tiny tongues of flame where his coat did not quite reach, +and with swift, quick pats of his bare hands he beat them out, burning +himself slightly. He took good care not to let the flames shoot up, so +that the frantic girl would inhale them. That meant death, and her +escape had been narrow enough as it was.</p> + +<p>As Andy held the coat closely about her he glanced over toward the box +whence the match had come. He saw the horror-stricken young men looking +at him and the girl in fascination, but they had not been quick to act. +After all, it was an accident and the fault of no one in particular.</p> + +<p>The stage was now occupied by several other performers, and the frantic +manager. But it was all over. Andy patted out the last of the +smouldering sparks. The girl was swaying and he looked up in time to see +that she was going to faint.</p> + +<p>“Look out!” he cried, and caught her in his arms.<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_38' id='Page_38'>38</a></span></p> + +<p>“Back this way! Carry her back here!” ordered the manager, motioning to +the wings. “Keep that music going!” he added to the orchestra leader.</p> + +<p>They carried the unfortunate little singer to a dressing room, and a +doctor was summoned. One of the stage hands brought Andy’s coat to him. +The garment was seared and scorched, and rank with the odor of smoke.</p> + +<p>“If you don’t want to wear it I’ll see Mr. Wallack, and get another for +you,” offered the man.</p> + +<p>“Oh, this isn’t so bad,” said Andy, slipping it on. “It’s an old one, +anyhow.”</p> + +<p>He looked curiously about him. It was the first time he had been behind +the scenes, though there was not as much to observe in this little +theatre as in a larger one. Beyond the dropped curtain he could hear the +strains of the music and the murmur in the audience. The show had come +to a sudden ending, and many were departing.</p> + +<p>As Andy was leaving, to go back to his chums, the doctor came in +hastily, and hurried to the room of the performer.</p> + +<p>“Say, some little hero act, eh, Andy?” exclaimed Chet, as Andy rejoined +his friends.</p> + +<p>“Forget it!” was the retort. “Tom, here, had his wits about him.”<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_39' id='Page_39'>39</a></span></p> + +<p>“All right, old man. But you never got down the field after a football +punt any quicker than you hurdled that orchestra leader, and made a +flying tackle of that singer!” exclaimed Tom, admiringly. “My hat off to +you, Andy, old boy!”</p> + +<p>“Same here!” cried Chet.</p> + +<p>The young men in the box were talking to the manager, and the one who +had knocked the lighted match on the stage came over to speak to Andy, +who was standing with his chums in the aisle near their seats.</p> + +<p>“Thanks, very much, old man!” exclaimed the chap whose impulsive act had +so nearly caused a tragedy. “It was mighty fine of you to do that. I had +heart failure when I saw her on fire.”</p> + +<p>“You couldn’t help it,” replied Andy. “They ought not to allow smoking +in places like this.”</p> + +<p>“That’s right. Next time I throw a rose at a girl I’ll look to see +what’s going to happen.”</p> + +<p>The theatre was almost deserted by now. All that remained to tell of the +accident was the smell of smoke, and a few bits of charred cloth on the +stage.</p> + +<p>A man came out in front of the curtain.</p> + +<p>“Miss Fuller wants to see the young fellow who put out the fire,” he +announced.<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_40' id='Page_40'>40</a></span></p> + +<p>“That’s you, Andy!” cried his chums.</p> + +<p>“Aw, I’m not going back there.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, she would like to see you. She wants to thank you,” put in the +stage manager. “Come along.”</p> + +<p>Rather bashfully Andy went back. He found the singer—a mere +girl—propped up on a couch. Her arms and hands were in bandages, but +she did not seem to have been much burned.</p> + +<p>“I’m sorry I can’t shake hands with you,” she said, with a smile. She +was pale, for the “make-up” had been washed from her face.</p> + +<p>“Oh, that’s all right,” responded Andy, a bit embarrassed.</p> + +<p>“It was awfully good and brave of you,” she went on, with a catch in her +voice. “I don’t—I don’t know how to thank you. I—I just couldn’t seem +to do anything for myself. It was—awful,” and her voice broke.</p> + +<p>“Oh, it might have been worse,” spoke Andy, and he knew that it wasn’t +just the thing to say. But, for the life of him, he could not fit proper +words together. “I’m glad you’re all right, Miss Fuller,” he said. He +had seen her name on the bills—Mazie Fuller. He wondered whether it was +her right one, or a stage cognomen. At any rate, he decided from a +casual glance, she was very pretty.</p> + +<p>“You must give me your address,” the girl<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_41' id='Page_41'>41</a></span> went on. “I want to pay for +the coat you spoiled on my account.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, that’s all right,” and Andy was conscious that he was blushing. “It +isn’t hurt a bit. I’ll have to be going now.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, you must let me have your name and address,” the girl went on.</p> + +<p>“Oh, all right,” and Andy pulled out a card. “I’m at Milton Prep.,” he +added, thinking in a flash that he would not be there much longer. But +then he did not want her to send him a new coat.</p> + +<p>“I’m afraid I’ll have to ask you to leave now,” said the doctor kindly. +“She has had quite a shock, and I want her to be quiet.”</p> + +<p>“Sure,” assented Andy, rather glad, on the whole, that he could make his +escape. One of his hands was blistered and he wanted to get back to his +room and put on some cooling lotion. He would not admit this before Miss +Fuller, for he did not want to cause her any more pain.</p> + +<p>The girl sank back on a couch as Andy went out of the dressing room. But +she smiled brightly at him, and murmured:</p> + +<p>“I’ll see you again, some time.”</p> + +<p>“Sure,” assented the lad. He wondered whether she would.</p> + +<p>Then he rejoined his chums and they left the<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_42' id='Page_42'>42</a></span> theatre. There was a +little crowd in front, attracted by the rumor that an actress had been +burned. As Andy and his friends made their way through the throng to a +car he heard someone call:</p> + +<p>“Dat’s de guy what saved her!”</p> + +<p>“You’re becoming famous, Andy, my boy!” whispered Tom.</p> + +<p>“Forget it,” advised his chum.</p> + +<p>The boys reached their dormitory with a scant minute or so to spare +before locking-up time, for the rules were rather strict at Milton. +There were hasty good-nights, promises to meet on the morrow, and then +quiet settled down over the school.</p> + +<p>Andy went to his room, and for a minute, before turning on the light, he +stood at the window looking over the campus. Many thoughts were surging +through his brain.</p> + +<p>“It sure has been one full little day,” he mused. “The scrap with the +farmer, dousing the sparks on that girl, and—deciding on going to Yale!</p> + +<p>“Jove, though, but I’m glad I’ve made up my mind! Yale! I wonder if I’ll +be worthy of it?”</p> + +<p>Andy leaned against the window and looked out to where the moonlight +made fantastic shadows through the big maples on the green. Before his +eyes came a picture of the elm-shaded quadrangle<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_43' id='Page_43'>43</a></span> at Yale, which once he +had crossed, hardly dreaming then that he would ever go there.</p> + +<p>“Yale! Yale!” he whispered to himself. “What a lot it means! What a lot +it might mean! What a lot it often doesn’t signify. Oh, if I can only +make good there!”</p> + +<p>For some time Andy had been vacillating between two colleges, but +finally he had settled on Yale. His parents had left him his choice, and +now he had made it.</p> + +<p>“I must write to dad,” he said. “He’ll want to know.”</p> + +<p>It was too late to do it now. They had not come back as early as they +had intended. The bell for “lights out,” clanged, and Andy hastily +prepared for bed.</p> + +<p>“Only a few more days at old Milton,” he whispered to himself. “And then +for Yale!”</p> + +<p>The closing days of the term drew nearer. Examinations were the order of +the day, and many were the anxious hearts. There was less fun and more +hard work.</p> + +<p>Andy wrote home, detailing briefly his decision and telling of the +affair of the theatre. For it got into the papers, and Andy was made +quite a hero. He wanted his parents to understand the true situation.</p> + +<p>A letter of thanks came from the theatre manager, and with it a pass, +good for any time, for<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_44' id='Page_44'>44</a></span> Andy and his friends. In the letter it was said +that Miss Fuller was in no danger, and had gone to the home of relatives +to recover from the shock.</p> + +<p>Andy was rather surprised when he received, one day, a fine mackinaw +coat, of the latest style. With it was a note which said:</p> + +<p>“To replace the one you burned.”</p> + +<p>There was no name signed, but he knew from whom it came.</p> + + + +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'> +<a name='CHAPTER_VI' id='CHAPTER_VI'></a> +<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_45' id='Page_45'>45</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER VI</h2><h3>THE BONFIRE</h3> +</div> + + +<p>“This way, freshmen! This way!”</p> + +<p>“Over here now! No let-outs!”</p> + +<p>“Keep ’em together, Blink! Don’t let any of ’em sneak away!”</p> + +<p>“Wood! Everybody bring wood!”</p> + +<p>“Look out for that fellow! He’s a grind! He’ll try to skip!”</p> + +<p>“Wood! Everybody get wood!”</p> + +<p>The cries echoed and re-echoed over the campus at Milton. It was the +final night of the term. The examinations were over and done. Some had +fallen by the wayside, but Andy and his chums were among those elected.</p> + +<p>They had passed, and they were to move on out of the preparatory school +into the larger life of the colleges.</p> + +<p>And, as always was the case on an occasion of this kind, a celebration +was to mark the closing of the school for the long summer vacation. The +annual bonfire was to be kindled on the<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_46' id='Page_46'>46</a></span> campus, and about it would +circle those lads who were to leave the school, while their mates did +them honor.</p> + +<p>Thus it was that the cries rang out.</p> + +<p>“Wood!”</p> + +<p>“More wood!”</p> + +<p>“Most wood!”</p> + +<p>The town had been gleaned for inflammable material. The ash boxes of not +even the oldest citizen were sacred on an occasion like this. For weeks +the heap of wood had accumulated, until now there was a towering pile +ready for the match.</p> + +<p>And still the cries echoed from the various quarters.</p> + +<p>“Freshmen, get wood!”</p> + +<p>“On the job, freshmen!”</p> + +<p>More wood was brought, and yet more. The pile grew.</p> + +<p>“Gee, this is fierce!” groaned a fat freshman, staggering along under +the burden of two big boxes. “Those fellows want too much. I’m going to +quit!”</p> + +<p>“Look out! Don’t let ’em hear you!” warned a companion. “They’ll keep +you carting it all night if you kick.”</p> + +<p>“Kick! (puff) Kick! (puff) I ain’t got wind enough to do any kickin’. +I’m (puff) all (puff) in!”<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_47' id='Page_47'>47</a></span></p> + +<p>“Oh, well, it’s all in the game. We’ll be out of this class next term, +and we can watch the other fellows sweat! Cut along!”</p> + +<p>“Wood! Wood over here!”</p> + +<p>“Where’s Andy Blair?”</p> + +<p>“I don’t know. Oh you Swipes! What you got!”</p> + +<p>“All right! This’ll make a flare, all right!”</p> + +<p>“Oh, for the love of Peter! Look what Swipes has!”</p> + +<p>Harry, otherwise “Swipes” Morton, was convoying four laboring and +perspiring freshmen who were carting over the campus a big box that had +ones contained a piano.</p> + +<p>“Oh, you Swipes!”</p> + +<p>“Where’d you crab that?”</p> + +<p>“Say, ain’t he the little peach, though!”</p> + +<p>“Oh wow! What a lark!”</p> + +<p>“I guess this won’t make some nifty little blaze, eh?” demanded Harry. +“Eh, Andy?”</p> + +<p>“Sure thing! Where’d you get it?”</p> + +<p>“Over back of Hanson’s store. He used it for a coal box, but I made +these boobs dump out the anthracite and cart it along. Maybe I ain’t +some nifty little wood gatherer, eh?”</p> + +<p>“You sure are, Swipes!” came the admiring retort from many voices.</p> + +<p>“Wood!”</p> + +<p>“More wood!”<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_48' id='Page_48'>48</a></span></p> + +<p>Still the pile grew apace. And with it grew the fun, the jollity, the +excitement, the cries and the spirit of the school.</p> + +<p>Dr. Morrison, the head master, and his teachers, had wisely retired to +their rooms. On such an occasion as this it is not wise on the part of +discerning professors to see too much. There are matters to which one +must shut one’s eyes. And Dr. Morrison, from contact with many boys, was +wise in his day and generation.</p> + +<p>For he knew it would be only honest, clean fun; and what matter if there +was much noise and shouting? What matter if the fire blazed high? The +boys never so far forgot themselves as to endanger the school buildings +by their beacon, which was kindled well out on the big campus.</p> + +<p>What if numerous rules were cracked or broken? It only happened once a +year. And what if ginger pop and sandwiches were surreptitiously +introduced into the dormitories? That, too, need not be seen by the +authorities.</p> + +<p>“Wood! More wood!”</p> + +<p>“Where’s Tom Hatfield?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, and Chet Anderson?”</p> + +<p>“Over here boys!”</p> + +<p>“Heads up!”</p> + +<p>“Slap on Swipes’s piano box!”</p> + +<p>“Oh, what a find!”</p> + +<p>You could not have told who was saying which<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_49' id='Page_49'>49</a></span> or what. It was all one +happy, unintelligible jumble.</p> + +<p>“Light her up!”</p> + +<p>It was the signal for the kindling of the fire.</p> + +<p>A score of matches flared in the darkness of the June night. The straw +and paper piled under the chaos of wood blazed with puffs of flame. The +wood caught and the tongues of fire leaped high, bringing into bold +relief the faces of the lads who joined hands and circled about the +ruddy beacon.</p> + +<p>“Hurray!”</p> + +<p>“That’s the stuff!”</p> + +<p>“Let her burn!”</p> + +<p>“Say, that’s a dandy, all right!”</p> + +<p>“Biggest in years!”</p> + +<p>“Well, we want to give the boys a good send-off!”</p> + +<p>“Look at old Swipes’s piano box sizzle!”</p> + +<p>The shouting and excitement grew. The fire blazed higher and higher. The +campus was bright with yellow gleams.</p> + +<p>“Here’s good-bye to old Milton!” chanted Andy.</p> + +<p>“That’s right! Good-bye to the old school!” echoed Chet, and there was +not much joy in his tones.</p> + +<p>“Now, fellows, the old song. qlMilton Forever!’” called Ben, and the +melody burst forth.<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_50' id='Page_50'>50</a></span></p> + +<p>Hardly was it finished than the silence that succeeded was broken by the +strident tooting of an auto horn.</p> + +<p>“What’s that?” cried Andy. “Who’s coming here in a car?”</p> + +<p>“On the campus, too! It’s against the rules!” cried Chet.</p> + +<p>“It’s some fresh fellow from town trying to butt in,” someone called.</p> + +<p>“Come on!” yelled Andy. “We’ll upset him, fellows! The nerve of him!”</p> + + + +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'> +<a name='CHAPTER_VII' id='CHAPTER_VII'></a> +<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_51' id='Page_51'>51</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER VII</h2><h3>LINK AGAIN</h3> +</div> + + +<p>There was a rush of the celebrating seniors toward the place where the +disturbance arose. Then others left the big bonfire to see the fun.</p> + +<p>An automobile horn tooted discordantly—defiantly, Andy thought.</p> + +<p>“Who has had the nerve to come in here, of all nights—on the one when +we have our fire?” he thought. “It can’t be any of the freshmen; they +wouldn’t dare.”</p> + +<p>“What are you going to do?” asked Ben in Andy’s ear, as he trotted +beside his chum.</p> + +<p>“We’ll upset his apple cart—that’s the least we’ll do, for one thing.”</p> + +<p>“I should say yes!” chimed in Chet. “Surely!”</p> + +<p>They had now reached the spot where, from all appearances, was located +the center of disturbance. A crowd of the freshmen, whose labors in +gathering wood for the fire had now ceased, were gathered around a large +touring car that, in defiance of all rules and customs,<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_52' id='Page_52'>52</a></span> had been run to +the very center of the school campus.</p> + +<p>“Come down out of that!”</p> + +<p>“Get away from here!”</p> + +<p>“You fellows have nerve!”</p> + +<p>“Puncture their tires!”</p> + +<p>These are only a few of the cries and threats hurled at those in the +auto—four young fellows who seemed anxious to make trouble not only for +themselves, but for the school boys, whose celebration they had +interrupted.</p> + +<p>The campus was a sort of sacred place. It stood in the midst of the +school buildings and dormitories, and, though visitors were always +welcome, there was a rule against vehicles crossing it, for the turf was +the pride not only of the students, but the faculty as well. So it is no +wonder that the sight of a heavy auto rolling over the lawn aroused the +ire of all.</p> + +<p>“Get out of the way there, you fellows, if you don’t want to be run +over!” snapped the youth at the steering wheel of the auto. “I’ll smash +through you in another minute!”</p> + +<p>“Oh, you will, eh?”</p> + +<p>“Isn’t he the sassy little boy!”</p> + +<p>“Yank him out of there!”</p> + +<p>The freshmen surrounding the auto thus reviled those in the car.</p> + +<p>The auto had come to a stop, but the engine<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_53' id='Page_53'>53</a></span> was still running, free +from the gears. Now and then, as he saw an opening, the lad at the wheel +would slip in his clutch and the car would advance a few feet. Then more +of the school boys would swarm about it, and progress would be impeded.</p> + +<p>“Smash through ’em, old man!” advised one on the rear seat. “We don’t +want to stay here all night!”</p> + +<p>“That’s right; run ’em down,” advised his companion. “We’re—we’re—what +are we, anyhow?” he asked, and it did not need a look at him to tell the +cause of his condition. In fact, all in the auto were in a rather +hilarious state, and the running of the car over the campus had been the +result of a suggestion made after a too-long lingering in a certain +road-house, where stronger stuff than ginger ale was dispensed.</p> + +<p>“We’re all right—noshin matter us,” declaimed one. “Run ’em down, ole +man!”</p> + +<p>“Look out! I’m going through you!” cried the lad at the wheel. The +freshmen in front of the car parted instinctively, but before the young +chauffeur could put his threat into execution, Andy and his chums had +reached the machine.</p> + +<p>“Get out of here!” cried Andy, and, reaching up, he fairly pulled the +steersman from his seat. The chap came down in a rush, nearly upsetting +Andy, who, however, managed to yank the lad to his feet.<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_54' id='Page_54'>54</a></span></p> + +<p>“Pull ’em all out!” came the cry from Tom, and a moment later he, with +the aid of Ben, Chet and Frank, had pulled from the car the other young +men, who seemed too dazed to resist.</p> + +<p>“Hop in that car, Peterson,” ordered Andy, to a freshman who could +operate an auto. “Run it out to the street and leave it. Then we’ll rush +these chaps out to it and chuck ’em in. We’ll show ’em what it means to +run over our campus.”</p> + +<p>All this time Andy had kept hold of the collar of the youth whom he had +pulled from the car. Then the latter turned about, and raised his fist. +He had been taken so by surprise that he at first had seemed incapable +of action.</p> + +<p>At this moment the big bonfire flared up brightly, and by its glare Andy +had a look at the face of the lad with whom he had clashed. The sight +caused him suddenly to drop his hold and exclaim:</p> + +<p>“Mortimer Gaffington!”</p> + +<p>“Huh! So it’s you, is it, Andy Blair? What do you mean by acting this +way?” demanded Mortimer, the shock of whose rough handling had seemed to +sober temporarily. “What do you mean? I demand an apology! That’s what I +do. Ain’t I ’titled to ’pology, fellers?” and he appealed to his chums.</p> + +<p>“Sure you are. Make the little beggar ’pologize!”<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_55' id='Page_55'>55</a></span> leered one. “If he +was at Yale, now, we’d haze him good and proper.”</p> + +<p>“Yale!” cried Tom Hatfield. “Yale fires out such fellows as you!”</p> + +<p>“Mortimer Gaffington!” gasped Andy. “I rather wish this hadn’t happened. +Or, rather I wish it had been anyone but he. I can see where this may +lead.”</p> + +<p>“You goin’ ’pologize?” asked Mortimer, trying to fix a stern gaze on +Andy.</p> + +<p>“Apologize! Certainly not!” cried Andy, indignantly. “It is you fellows +who ought to apologize. What would you do if some one ran an auto over +Yale Campus?”</p> + +<p>“Ho! Ho! That’s good. That’s rich, that is!” laughed one who had been +yanked out of his seat by Tom Hatfield. “That’s a good joke, that is! An +auto on Yale campus! Why we bulldogs would eat it up, that’s what we’d +do!”</p> + +<p>“Well, that’s what we’ll do here!” cried Chet, angered by the +supercilious tone of the lad. “Come on, boys; run ’em off Spanish +fashion!”</p> + +<p>It needed but this suggestion to further rouse the feelings of the +Milton lads, and in an instant several of them had grabbed each of the +trespassers. Andy stepped back from Mortimer. Because of the already +strained relations between himself and this society “swell,” he did not +wish to take a part in the proceedings.<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_56' id='Page_56'>56</a></span></p> + +<p>“Come on! Run ’em off!” was the rallying cry.</p> + +<p>The auto had already been steered out on a road that circled the campus, +and was soon in the street. Then, heading their victims toward the old +gateway that formed the chief entrance to the school the Milton lads +began running out the intruders.</p> + +<p>“You wait! I—I’ll fix you for this,—Andy Blair!” threatened Mortimer +as he was rapidly propelled over the campus.</p> + +<p>“Forget it!” advised Chet. “Rush ’em, fellows!”</p> + +<p>And rushed off Mortimer and his companions were. They were fairly tossed +into their auto, and then, with jeers and shouted advice not to repeat +the trick, the school boys turned back to their fire.</p> + +<p>Andy had lingered near the spot where he had hauled Mortimer out of the +auto. He was thinking of many things. He did not forget what had +happened to the intruders. Indeed it was nothing short of what they +deserved, for they had deliberately tried to harass the school boys, and +make a mockery of one of the oldest traditions of Milton—one that held +inviolate the beautiful campus.</p> + +<p>“Only I wish it had been someone else than I who got hold of Mort,” +mused Andy. “He’ll<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_57' id='Page_57'>57</a></span> be sure to remember it when I get to Yale, and he’ll +have it in for me. He can make a lot of trouble, too, I reckon. Well, it +can’t be helped. They only got what was coming to ’em.”</p> + +<p>With this thought Andy consoled himself, but he had an uneasy feeling +for all that. The students came trooping back, after having disposed of +Mortimer and his crowd.</p> + +<p>“You missed the best part of the fun,” said Chet to Andy. “Those fellows +thought a cyclone struck them when we tossed ’em into the car. They +don’t know yet whether they’re going or coming back,” and he laughed, +his mates joining in.</p> + +<p>“Yes?” asked Andy, non-committally.</p> + +<p>“What’s up?” asked Tom, curiously. “You don’t act as though it had any +flavor for you. What’s the matter?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, well—nothing,” said Andy. “Come on, let’s get back to the fire, +and have a last song. Then I’m going to pack. I want to leave on that +early train in the morning.”</p> + +<p>“Same here. Come on, boys. Whoop her up once more for Old Milton, and +then we’ll say good-bye.”</p> + +<p>“I know what ails Andy,” spoke Tom in a low tone to Frank, walking along +arm in arm with him.</p> + +<p>“What?”<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_58' id='Page_58'>58</a></span></p> + +<p>“It’s about that fellow Gaffington. Andy’s sorry he had a run-in with +him, and I don’t blame Andy. He had trouble before, and this will only +add to it. And that Gaffington is just mean enough, and small-spirited +enough, to make trouble for Andy down there at Yale. He’s a sport—but +one of the tin-horn brand. I don’t blame Andy for wishing it had been +someone else.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, well, here’s hoping,” said Frank. “We all have our troubles.”</p> + +<p>“But those fellows won’t trouble us again to-night,” declared Chet, +laughing. “They’ll be glad to go home and get in bed.”</p> + +<p>“Did you know any of ’em, Andy, except Gaffington?” asked Tom.</p> + +<p>“No, the others were strangers to me.”</p> + +<p>“How do you reckon they got here, all the way from New Haven?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, they didn’t come from Yale,” declared Andy. “The university closed +last week, you know. Probably Mort had some of his chums out to visit +him in Dunmore. That was his car. And he wanted to show ’em the sights, +and let ’em see he could run all over little Milton, so he brought ’em +out here. It isn’t such a run from Dunmore, you know.”</p> + +<p>“I reckon that’s it,” agreed Tom. “Well, they got more than they were +looking for, that’s<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_59' id='Page_59'>59</a></span> one consolation. Now boys, whoop her up for the +last time.”</p> + +<p>Again they gathered about the blazing fire, and sang their farewell +song.</p> + +<p>The annual celebration was drawing to a close. Another group of lads +would leave Milton to go out into the world, mounting upward yet another +step. From then on the ways of many who had been jolly good comrades +together would diverge. Some might cross again; others be as wide apart +as the poles.</p> + +<p>The fire died down. The big piano box commandeered by “Swipes” was but a +heap of ashes. The fun was over.</p> + +<p>There were cheers for the departing senior lads, who, in turn, cheered +the others who would take their places. Then came tributes to the +industrious freshmen.</p> + +<p>“Good night! Good night! Good night!” was shouted on all sides.</p> + +<p>Less and less brilliant grew the fire. Now it was but a heap of glowing +coals that would soon be gray, dead and cold ashes, typical in a way, of +the passing of the senior boys. And yet, phoenix-like, from these same +ashes would spring up a new fire—a fire in the hearts that would never +die out. Such are school friendships.</p> + +<p>Of course there were forbidden little feasts in the various rooms to +mark the close of the term—spreads<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_60' id='Page_60'>60</a></span> to which monitors, janitors and +professors discreetly closed their eyes.</p> + +<p>Andy and his friends gathered in his apartment for a last chat. They +were to journey to their home town on the morrow and then would soon +separate for the long summer vacation.</p> + +<p>“Well, it was a rare old celebration!” sighed Tom, as he flopped on the +bed.</p> + +<p>“It sure was!” agreed Chet, with conviction. “I hope I have as much fun +as this if I go to Harvard.”</p> + +<p>“Same here, only I think I’ll make mine Princeton,” added Ben. “Oh, but +it’s sort of hard to leave Milton!”</p> + +<p>“Right you are,” came from Andy, who was opening ginger ale and soda +water.</p> + +<p>And, after a time, quiet settled down over the school, and Dr. Morrison +and his colleagues breathed freely again. Milton had stood steadfast +through another assault of “bonfire night.”</p> + +<p>The next morning there were confused goodbyes, multiplied promises to +write, or to call, vows never to forget, and protestations of eternal +friendship. There were arrangements made for camping, boating, tramping +and other forms of vacation fun. There were dates made for assembling +next year. There was a confused rushing to and fro, a looking up of the +time of trains, hurried searches for missing baggage.<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_61' id='Page_61'>61</a></span></p> + +<p>And, after much excitement, Andy and his chums found themselves in the +same car bound for Dunmore. They settled back in their seats with sighs +of relief.</p> + +<p>“Hear anything more of Mort and his crowd?” asked Tom of Andy.</p> + +<p>“Not a thing.”</p> + +<p>“I did,” spoke Chet. “They were nearly arrested for making a row in town +after we got through with ’em.”</p> + +<p>“Hum!” mused Andy. “I s’pose Mort will blame me for that, too. Well, no +use worrying until I have to.”</p> + +<p>At Churchtown, where the train stopped to give the boys at least a last +remembrance of Kelly’s place, several passengers got on. Among them was +a young man who seemed familiar to Andy and his chums. A second look +confirmed it.</p> + +<p>“Why, that’s the Bardon chap we took away from that farmer!” exclaimed +Frank.</p> + +<p>“That’s right!” cried Andy. “Hello, Link!” he called genially. “What you +doing here?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, how are you?” asked the farm lad. “Glad to see you all again,” and +he nodded to each one in turn. He did not at all presume on his +acquaintance with them, and was about to pass on, when Andy said:<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_62' id='Page_62'>62</a></span></p> + +<p>“Sit down. How’s your arm?”</p> + +<p>“Oh much better, thank you. I’ve been working steadily since you helped +me.”</p> + +<p>“That’s good. Where are you bound for now?” went on Andy.</p> + +<p>“Why, I’m going to look up an uncle of mine I haven’t seen in years. I +hear he has a big farm, and I thought I’d like to work for him.”</p> + +<p>“Where is it?” asked Andy.</p> + +<p>“In a place called Wickford, Connecticut.”</p> + +<p>“Wickford!” exclaimed Andy. “Why that’s near New Haven, and Yale—where +I’m going this fall. Maybe I’ll see you there, Link.”</p> + +<p>“Maybe,” assented the young farmer, and then, declining Andy’s +invitation to sit with the school lads, he passed on down the car +aisle.</p> + + + +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'> +<a name='CHAPTER_VIII' id='CHAPTER_VIII'></a> +<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_63' id='Page_63'>63</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER VIII</h2><h3>OFF FOR YALE</h3> +</div> + + +<p>Andy Blair had signed for Yale University. He had, as before noted, +communicated to his father his desire to attend the New Haven +institution, and Mr. Blair, who had given his son a free hand in the +matter, had acquiesced.</p> + +<p>Milton was well known among the various preparatory schools, and her +final examinations admitted to Yale with few other formalities. So Andy +had no trouble on that score, save in a few minor matters, which were +easily cleared up.</p> + +<p>He had matriculated, and all that remained was to select a room or +dormitory. He had been studying over a Yale catalog, and looking at the +accompanying map which gave the location of the various buildings.</p> + +<p>“Now the question is,” said Andy, talking it over with the folks at +home, “the question is do I want to go to a private house and room, or +had I better take a place in one of the Halls. I rather like the idea of +a Hall room myself—Wright for choice—but of course that might cost +more than going to a private house.”<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_64' id='Page_64'>64</a></span></p> + +<p>“If it’s a question of cost, don’t let that stand in the way,” replied +Mr. Blair, generously. “I’m not given to throwing money away, Andy, my +boy, and a college education isn’t a cheap thing, no matter how you look +at it. But it’s worth all it costs, I believe, and I want you to have +the best.</p> + +<p>“If you can get more into the real life of Yale by having a room in +Wright Hall, or in any of the college dormitories, why do so. There’s +something in being right on the ground, so to speak. You can absorb so +much more.”</p> + +<p>“Good for you, Dad!” cried Andy. “You’re a real sport. Then I vote for a +Hall. I’ll take a run down and see what I can arrange.”</p> + +<p>“But wouldn’t a private house be quieter?” suggested Mrs. Blair. “You +know you’ll have to do lots of studying, Andy, and if you get in a big +building with a lot of other students they may annoy you.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, I guess, Mother,” said Bertha, Andy’s sister, “that he’ll do his +share of annoying, too.”</p> + +<p>“Come again, Sis. Get out your little hammer, and join the anvil +chorus!” sarcastically commented Andy.</p> + +<p>“No, but really,” went on Mrs. Blair, “wouldn’t a private house be +quieter, Andy?”</p> + +<p>“Not much more so, I believe,” spoke the prospective Yale freshman. +“When there’s<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_65' id='Page_65'>65</a></span> any excitement going on those in the private houses get +as much of it as those in the college buildings. But, as a matter of +fact, when there’s nothing on—like a big game or some of the +rushes—Yale is as quiet as the average Sunday school.</p> + +<p>“Why, the day I was there I walked all around and nothing happened. The +fellows came and went, and seemed very quiet, not to say meek. I walked +over the campus, and I expected every minute some big brute of a +sophomore would smash my hat down over my eyes, and give a qbRah! Rah!’ +yell. But nothing like that happened. It was sort of disappointing.”</p> + +<p>“Well, you need quiet if you’re going to study,” went on Mrs. Blair. She +had an idea that Yale was a sort of higher-grade boarding school, it +seemed.</p> + +<p>“Then I’ll decide on Wright Hall,” remarked Andy. “That is, if I can get +in.”</p> + +<p>Then followed some correspondence which resulted in Andy being informed +that a room on the campus side of Wright Hall, and on the second floor, +was available. The only trouble was that it was a double room, and Andy +would have to share it with another student.</p> + +<p>“Hum!” he exclaimed when he had this information. “Now I’m up against it +once more. Who can I get to go in with me? I don’t want<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_66' id='Page_66'>66</a></span> to take a total +stranger, and yet I guess I’ll have to.”</p> + +<p>“You might advertise for a roommate?” suggested his mother.</p> + +<p>“I guess they don’t do things that way at Yale,” spoke Andy, with a +smile.</p> + +<p>“Why don’t you wait until you get there, and maybe you’ll find somebody +in the same fix you are?” asked Bertha.</p> + +<p>“I guess that is good advice,” remarked Andy. “I’ll take a run down +there some time before term opening, and maybe I can get some nice chap +wished on me. If Tom, or Chet, or some of the Milton lads, were coming +to Yale it would be all right.”</p> + +<p>“Didn’t any of them pick out Yale?” asked Mr. Blair.</p> + +<p>“Not as far as I know.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, well, I guess you’ll make out all right, son. A good roommate is a +fine companion to have, so I hope you won’t be disappointed. But there’s +no hurry.”</p> + +<p>The long summer vacation was at hand. Andy’s people were to go to a lake +resort, and soon after coming home from Milton, Andy, with his mother +and sister, was installed in a comfortable cottage. Mr. Blair would come +up over week-ends.</p> + +<p>Chet Anderson and Tom Hatfield were at a<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_67' id='Page_67'>67</a></span> nearby resort, so Andy knew he +was in for a good summer of fun. And he was not disappointed. He and his +chums spent much time on the water, living in their bathing suits for +whole days at a time. But I will not weary you with a description of the +various things they did. Sufficient to say that the vacation was like a +good many others Andy had enjoyed, and expected to enjoy again. Nothing +in particular happened.</p> + +<p>The Summer wore on. The dog-days came and there loomed in the distance +the Fall months. Tom had called on Andy one day, and they went out in +the canoe together.</p> + +<p>“Well, it will soon be study-grind again,” remarked Tom, as he sent the +light boat under a fringe of bushes out of the sun.</p> + +<p>“Yes, and I won’t be sorry,” spoke Andy. “I’m anxious to see what life +at Yale is like. I’ve got to take a run down in a week or so, to fix up +about my room. You haven’t heard of anyone I know who is going to be a +freshman there; do you?”</p> + +<p>“No, but I saw an old friend of yours the other day.”</p> + +<p>“You did! Who?”</p> + +<p>“Remember that little actress you did the fireman-save-my-child act for +this Spring?”</p> + +<p>“Miss Fuller? Sure I do. Did you see her?”<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_68' id='Page_68'>68</a></span></p> + +<p>“I did.”</p> + +<p>“Where?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, at a vaudeville theater. She remembered me, too.”</p> + +<p>“Did she ask for me?”</p> + +<p>“Naturally. I told her you were going to Yale, and she said she might +see you there.”</p> + +<p>“How?”</p> + +<p>“Why, she’s playing a couple of weeks early in October at Poli’s. You +want to look her up.”</p> + +<p>“I sure will. You saw the mackinaw she sent me?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, it’ll come in handy for Yale. I wish I was with you, but I’m +wished on to Cornell—I yell!”</p> + +<p>“Oh, well, we can’t all go to the same place, but it sure would be fine +if we could.”</p> + +<p>Then they began to talk of the old days at Milton, until the shadows +lengthened over the lake and it was time to paddle back to the cottage.</p> + +<p>Andy took a run down to New Haven the next week, and made his final +arrangements. He was walking about the now deserted quadrangle, looking +up at the window of the room he had selected in Wright Hall, when he was +aware that a youth of his own age was doing the same thing.</p> + +<p>Something seemed to attract Andy to this stranger. There was a frank, +open, ingenuous look in his face that Andy liked. And there was<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_69' id='Page_69'>69</a></span> that in +the air and manner of the lad which told he came of no common stock. His +clothing betokened the work of a fashionable tailor, though the garments +were quiet, and just a shade off the most up-to-date mode.</p> + +<p>“Are you a student here?” asked the stranger of Andy.</p> + +<p>“No, but I expect to be. I’m going to start in.”</p> + +<p>“So am I. Chamber is my name—Duncan Chamber, though I’m always called +Dunk for short.”</p> + +<p>“Glad to know you. My name’s Blair—Andy Blair.”</p> + +<p>They shook hands, and then followed the usual embarrassed pause. Neither +knew what to say next. Finally Duncan broke the silence by asking:</p> + +<p>“Got your room yet?”</p> + +<p>“Up there,” and Andy pointed to it.</p> + +<p>“Gee! That’s all right—a peach! I’m up a stump myself.”</p> + +<p>“How so?”</p> + +<p>“Well, I’ve about taken one in Pierson Hall, but it’s a double one, and +I’ve got to share it with a fellow I don’t take much of a leaning to. +He’s a stranger to me. I like it better here, though. Better view of the +campus.”</p> + +<p>Andy took a sudden resolve.<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_70' id='Page_70'>70</a></span></p> + +<p>“I’m about in the same boat,” he said. “That’s a double room of mine up +there in Wright, and I haven’t a chum yet. I don’t know what to do. Of +course I’m a stranger to you, but if you’d like to share my joint——”</p> + +<p>“Friend Andy, say no more!” interrupted Duncan. “Lead me to thy +apartment!”</p> + +<p>Andy laughed. He was liking this youth more and more every minute.</p> + +<p>The room was inspected. Andy was still the only one who had engaged it.</p> + +<p>“It suits me to a T if I suit you,” exclaimed Duncan. “What do you say, +Blair? Shall we hitch it up?”</p> + +<p>“I’m willing.”</p> + +<p>“Shake!”</p> + +<p>They shook. Thus was the pact made, a union of friends that was to have +a strange effect on both.</p> + +<p>“Now that’s settled I’ll call the Pierson game off,” said Dunk, as we +shall call him from now on. “I’m wished onto you, Blair.”</p> + +<p>“I’m glad of it!”</p> + +<p>The final arrangements were made, and thus Andy had his new roommate. +They went to dinner together, and planned to do all sorts of possible +and impossible things when the term should open.</p> + +<p>Andy returned to the Summer cottage with the<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_71' id='Page_71'>71</a></span> good news, and then began +busy days for him. He replenished his stock of clothes and other +possessions and selected his favorite bats and other sporting +accessories with which to decorate his room. He had a big pennant +enscribed with the name MILTON, and this was to drape one side wall. +Dunk Chamber was from Andover, and his school colors would flaunt +themselves on the opposite side of the room.</p> + +<p>And then the day came.</p> + +<p>Andy, spruce and trim in a new suit, had sent on his trunk, and, with +his valise in hand, bade his parents and sister good-bye.</p> + +<p>The family was still at the summer cottage, which would not be closed +for another month. Then they would go back to Dunmore.</p> + +<p>Yale was calling to Andy, and one hazy September morning he took the +train that, by dint of making several changes, would land him in New +Haven.</p> + +<p>“And at Yale!” murmured Andy as the engine puffed away from the dingy +station. “I’m off for Yale at last!”</p> + + + +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'> +<a name='CHAPTER_IX' id='CHAPTER_IX'></a> +<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_72' id='Page_72'>72</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER IX</h2><h3>ON THE CAMPUS</h3> +</div> + + +<p>Andy’s train rolled into the New Haven station shortly before dusk. On +the way the new student had been surreptitiously “sizing up” certain +other young men in the car with him, trying to decide whether or not +they were Yale students. One was, he had set that down as certain—a +quiet, studious-looking lad, who seemed poring over a book and papers.</p> + +<p>Then Andy, making an excuse to get a drink of water, passed his seat and +looked at the documents. They were a mass of bills which the young man +evidently had for collection.</p> + +<p>“Stung!” murmured Andy. “But he sure did look like a Yale senior.” He +was yet to learn that college men are not so different from ordinary +mortals as certain sensational writers would have had him believe.</p> + +<p>There was the usual bustle and rush of alighting passengers. Now indeed +Andy was sure that a crowd of students had come up on the train with him +for, once out of the cars their exuberance manifested itself.<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_73' id='Page_73'>73</a></span></p> + +<p>There were greetings galore from one to another. Renewals of past +acquaintance came from every side. There were hearty clappings on the +backs of scores and scores, and re-clappings in turn.</p> + +<p>Youths were tumbling out here, there, everywhere, colliding with one +another, bumping up against baggage trucks, running through the station, +one or two stopping to snatch a hasty cup of coffee and some doughnuts +from the depot restaurant.</p> + +<p>Andy stood almost lost for the moment amid the excitement. It had come +on suddenly. He had never dreamed there were so many Yale men on the +train. They gave no evidence of it until they had reached their own +precincts.</p> + +<p>Then, like a dog that hesitates to bark until he is within the confines +of his own yard, they “cut loose.”</p> + +<p>Taxicab chauffeurs were bawling for customers. Hackmen with ancient +horses sent out their call of:</p> + +<p>“Keb! Keb! Hack, sir! Have a keb!”</p> + +<p>The motor bus of the Hotel Taft was being jammed with prosperous looking +individuals. Around the curve swept the clanging trolley cars.</p> + +<p>“I guess I’ll walk,” mused Andy. “I want to get my mind straightened +out.”</p> + +<p>He managed to locate an expressman to whom<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_74' id='Page_74'>74</a></span> he gave the check for his +trunk, with directions where to send it. Then, gripping his valise, +which contained enough in the way of clothing and other accessories to +see him through the night, in case his baggage was delayed, our hero +started up State Street.</p> + +<p>In the distance he could see, looming up, the lighted top stories of the +Hotel Taft, and he knew that from those same stories one could look down +on the buildings and campus at Yale. It thrilled him as he had not been +thrilled before on any of his visits to this great American university.</p> + +<p>He paid no attention to those about him. The sidewalks, damp with the +hazy dew of the coming September night, were thronged with pedestrians. +Many of them were college students, as Andy could tell by their talk.</p> + +<p>On he swung, breathing in deep of the air of dusk. He squared back his +shoulders and raised his head, widening his nostrils to take in the air, +as his eyes and ears absorbed the other impressions of the place.</p> + +<p>Past the stores, the hotels, the moving picture places Andy went, until +he came to where Chapel Street cuts across State. At the corner a +confectionery store thrust out its rounded doorway, and in the windows +were signs of various fountain drinks.<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_75' id='Page_75'>75</a></span></p> + +<p>“A hot chocolate wouldn’t be so bad,” thought Andy. “It’s a bit chilly.”</p> + +<p>He went in rather diffidently, wondering if some of the pretty girls +lined up along the marble counter knew that he was a Yale man.</p> + +<p>He heard a titter of laughter and grew red behind the ears, fearing it +might be directed against him.</p> + +<p>But no one seemed to notice him, the girl who passed him out his check +making change as nonchalantly as though he was but the veriest traveling +man instead of a Yale student.</p> + +<p>“Very blasé, probably,” thought Andy, with a sense of resentment.</p> + +<p>He stood on the steps a moment as he came out, and then walked toward +the Green, with its great elm trees, now looming mistily in the +September haze.</p> + +<p>Three churches on Temple street seemed to stand as a sort of guard in +front of the college buildings that loomed behind them. Three silent and +closed churches they were.</p> + +<p>Up Chapel street walked Andy, and he came to a stop on College street, +opposite Phelps Gateway. Through the gathering dusk he could make out +the inscription over it:</p> + +<p>LUX ET VERITAS</p> + +<p>“That’s it! That’s what I came here for,”<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_76' id='Page_76'>76</a></span> he said. “Light and truth! +Oh, but it’s great! Great!”</p> + +<p>He drew in a long breath, and stood for a moment contemplating the +beautiful outlines of the college buildings.</p> + +<p>“Oh, but I’m glad I’m here!” he whispered.</p> + +<p>Other students were pouring through the classic gateway. Andy crossed +the street and joined them. Already lights were beginning to glow in +Lawrance and Farnam Halls, where the sophomores had their rooms. Andy +could see some of them lolling on cushions in their window seats. Yale +blue cushions, they were.</p> + +<p>He passed in through the gateway, his footsteps clanging back to his +ears, reflected by the arch overhead. He emerged onto the campus, and +started across it toward Wright Hall, with its raised courtyard, and its +curtained windows of blue.</p> + +<p>“I wonder if Dunk is there yet?” thought Andy. “Hope he is. Oh, it’s +Yale at last! Yale! Yale!”</p> + +<p>He breathed in deep of the night air. He looked at the shadows of the +electric lights of the campus filtering through the trees. He paused a +moment.</p> + +<p>A confusion of sounds came to him. Outside the quadrangle in which he +stood he could hear the hum of the busy city—the clang of trolleys,<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_77' id='Page_77'>77</a></span> +the clatter of horses, the hoarse croak of auto horns. Within the +precincts of the college buildings he could hear the hum of voices. Now +and then came the tinkle of a piano or the vibration of a violin. Then +there were shouts.</p> + +<p>“Oh, you, Pop! Stick out your head!”</p> + +<p>The call of one student to another.</p> + +<p>“I wonder if they’ll ever call me?” mused Andy.</p> + +<p>He started across the campus. Coming toward him were several dark +figures. Andy met them under a light, and started back. Before he had a +chance to speak someone shouted at him:</p> + +<p>“There he is now! The freshest of the fresh! Take off that hat!”</p> + +<p>It was Mortimer Gaffington.</p> + + + +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'> +<a name='CHAPTER_X' id='CHAPTER_X'></a> +<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_78' id='Page_78'>78</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER X</h2><h3>MISSING MONEY</h3> +</div> + + +<p>For a moment Andy stood there, not knowing what to do or say. It was so +unexpected, and yet he knew he must meet Mortimer at Yale—meet and +perhaps clash with the lad who was now a sophomore—the lad who had such +good cause now to dislike Andy.</p> + +<p>On his part the young “swell” leered into Andy’s face, then glanced +sidelong at the youths who accompanied him. Andy recognized them as the +same who had been in the auto that night of the bonfire at Milton.</p> + +<p>“That’s he!” exclaimed Mortimer; then to Andy: “I didn’t think I’d meet +you quite so soon, Blair! So you’re here, eh?”</p> + +<p>“Yes,” answered Andy.</p> + +<p>“Put a ‘sir’ on that!” commanded one of the other lads.</p> + +<p>“Yes—sir!”</p> + +<p>Andy took his own time with the last word. He knew the rites and customs +of Yale, at least by hearsay, and was willing to abide by the unwritten<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_79' id='Page_79'>79</a></span> +laws that make a first-year man demean himself to the upperclassmen. It +would not last long.</p> + +<p>“That’s better,” commented the third lad. “Never forget your +manners—er—what’s your name?”</p> + +<p>“Blair.”</p> + +<p>“Sir!” snapped the one who had first reminded Andy of the lapse.</p> + +<p>“Sir!”</p> + +<p>“You know him,” put in Mortimer. “The fellow who put us out of the auto, +eh?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, sure, I remember now. Nervy little rat! It’s a wonder I remember +anything that happened that night. We were pretty well pickled. Oh, +land, yes!”</p> + +<p>He seemed proud of it.</p> + +<p>“Take off that hat!” commanded Mortimer. “Don’t forget you’re a freshman +here.”</p> + +<p>“And a fresh freshman, too,” added one of his chums. “Take it off!”</p> + +<p>Andy was perfectly willing to abide by this unwritten law also, and +doffed his derby. He made a mental note that as soon as he could he +would get a cap, or soft hat, such as he saw other students wearing.</p> + +<p>“The brute has some manners,” commented one of the trio.</p> + +<p>“I’ll teach him some more before I get<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_80' id='Page_80'>80</a></span> through with him!” muttered +Mortimer. He, as well as his two companions, seemed to have been dining, +“not wisely but too well.”</p> + +<p>“Anything more?” asked Andy, good-naturedly. He knew that he must put up +with insults, if need be, from Mortimer; for he realized that, in a way, +class distinction at Yale is strong in its unwritten laws, and he wanted +to do as the others did. It takes much nerve to vary from the customs +and traditions of any country or place, more especially a big college. +And Andy knew his turn would come.</p> + +<p>He also knew that it was all done in good-natured fun, and really with +the best intentions. For a first-year man is very likely to become what +his name indicates—fresh—and there is need of toning down.</p> + +<p>Besides, it is discipline that is good for the soul, and somewhat +necessary. It makes for good in after life, in most cases, though of +course there are some exceptions. Hazing, after all, is designed, +primarily, to bring out a candidate’s character. A lad who will give way +to his temper if made to take off his hat to one perhaps below him in +social station, or if he sulks when tossed in a blanket—such a lad, in +after life, is very apt to do the same thing when he has to knuckle +under to a business rival, or to go into a passion when he receives the +hard knocks of<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_81' id='Page_81'>81</a></span> life. So, then, hazing, if not carried to extremes, has +its uses in adversity, and Andy had sense enough to realize this. So he +was ready for what might come.</p> + +<p>He knew, also, that Mortimer might, and probably would, be actuated by a +mean spirit, and a desire for what he might think was revenge. But he +was only one of a large number of college youths. Andy was willing to +take his chances.</p> + +<p>Andy looked over toward Wright Hall, with its raised courtyard. Lights +were gleaming in the windows, and he fancied he could see his own room +aglow.</p> + +<p>“I hope Dunk is there,” he thought.</p> + +<p>“Shall we put him through the paces?” asked one of Mortimer’s companions +suggestively, nodding at Andy.</p> + +<p>“Not to-night. We’ve got something else on,” answered the society swell. +“Trot along, Blair, and don’t forget what we’ve told you. I’ll see you +again,” he added, significantly.</p> + +<p>The trio had come to a stop some little distance from Andy, and had +stood with arms linked. Now they were ready to proceed. On the various +walks, that traversed the big campus in the quadrangle of Yale, other +students were hurrying to and fro, some going to their rooms, others +coming from them. Some were going<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_82' id='Page_82'>82</a></span> towards their eating clubs or to the +University dining hall. And Andy was feeling hungry.</p> + +<p>“Well, come on,” urged Mortimer to his companions. “I guess we’ve +started this freshman on the right road. Just see that you follow it, +Blair. I’ll be watching you.”</p> + +<p>“And I’ll be watching you!” thought Andy. And at that moment he was +gazing intently at Gaffington. As he looked, Andy saw something fall +from below the flap of the coat of one of the trio, and land softly on +the pavement. It fell limp, making no noise.</p> + +<p>One of Mortimer’s companions, who, Andy afterward learned, was Leonard, +or “Len,” Scott, reached his hand into his pocket, and brought it out +with a strange look on his face.</p> + +<p>“Hello!” he exclaimed, blankly, “my wallet’s gone!”</p> + +<p>“Gone!” exclaimed the other, Clarence Boyle by name. “Are you sure you +had it?”</p> + +<p>“I sure did!” said Len, feeling in various pockets. “Just cashed a +check, too!”</p> + +<p>“Come on back to your room and have a look for it,” suggested Mortimer +pulling his chum half-way around. “If it’s gone I can lend you some. I’m +flush to-night.”</p> + +<p>“But I’m sure I had it,” went on Len. “I remember feeling it just as we +came out of Lawrance. I had about fifty dollars in it!”<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_83' id='Page_83'>83</a></span></p> + +<p>“Whew!” whistled Mortimer. “Some little millionaire, you are, Len. Never +mind, I can let you have twenty-five if you need it.” Andy knew that +Mortimer’s father was reputed to be several times a millionaire.</p> + +<p>“But I don’t like to lose that,” went on Len. “I guess I will go back +and have a look in my shack. If I can’t find it I’ll stick up a notice.”</p> + +<p>“You might have dropped it when we met that other bunch of freshmen and +had the little argument with them about their hats,” suggested Clarence.</p> + +<p>“That’s right,” went on Mortimer, still pulling on Len’s arm, as though +to get him away from the spot. “Maybe one of the freshmen frisked it off +you,” he added, looking at Andy.</p> + +<p>By this time the trio had turned half-way around, evidently to go back +to Scott’s room and look for the missing pocketbook. Andy had a clear +view of the object that had fallen from under the coat of one of them.</p> + +<p>“There is something,” the freshman said, pointing to the object on the +pavement. “I saw one of you drop it. Perhaps it is the pocketbook.”</p> + +<p>Len wheeled and made a grab for it.</p> + +<p>“That’s mine!” he cried. “It must have worked up out of my pocket and +fallen. Thanks!” he added, warmly, to Andy.<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_84' id='Page_84'>84</a></span></p> + +<p>With a quick motion Len opened his wallet. A strange look came over his +face as he cried:</p> + +<p>“It’s empty!”</p> + +<p>“Empty!” gasped Mortimer. “Let’s see!”</p> + +<p>He leaned forward, as did Clarence, all three staring into the opened +pocketbook. Andy looked on curiously.</p> + +<p>“It was one of those freshmen!” declared Mortimer, with conviction. +“They must have slipped their hand up in your coat when we were frisking +them, and taken out the money.”</p> + +<p>“But how could they when I still had the pocketbook?” asked Len, much +puzzled.</p> + +<p>“They must have taken out the bills, and put the wallet back,” went on +Mortimer, quickly. “They didn’t get it all the way in your pocket and it +tumbled out when you were standing here. Lucky we noticed it or we +wouldn’t have known what happened. Come on back. We’ll find those +freshmen.”</p> + +<p>And, without another look at Andy, they wheeled and hurried across the +campus toward Vanderbilt Hall.</p> + +<p>“Huh! That’s queer!” mused Andy, as he continued on his way toward +Wright. “I’m glad I saw that wallet when I did.”</p> + + + +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'> +<a name='CHAPTER_XI' id='CHAPTER_XI'></a> +<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_85' id='Page_85'>85</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XI</h2><h3>“ROUGH HOUSE”</h3> +</div> + + +<p>“Oh, you, Dunk!”</p> + +<p>“Stick out your noodle, Chamber!”</p> + +<p>“Where are you?”</p> + +<p>These were the cries that greeted Andy as he entered the passage leading +to his room in Wright Hall—the room he was to share with Duncan +Chamber. Down the hall he saw a group of lads who had evidently come to +rouse Andy’s prospective chum. Somehow, our hero felt a little hurt that +he had to share his friend with others. But it was only momentarily.</p> + +<p>“Open up there, Dunk! Open up!”</p> + +<p>Thus came the appeal, and fists banged on the door. It was opened a +crack, and the rattle of a chain was heard.</p> + +<p>“Get on to the beggar!”</p> + +<p>“He must think we’re a bunch of sophs!”</p> + +<p>“Don’t be afraid, Dunky, we’re only your sweethearts!”</p> + +<p>Thus the three callers gibed him.</p> + +<p>“Oh, it’s you fellows, is it?” asked Chamber,<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_86' id='Page_86'>86</a></span> flinging wide the door, +and letting out a flood of light. “I thought I was in for a hazing, so I +was keeping things on the safe side. Come on in. I’m just straightening +up.”</p> + +<p>The three tumbled into the room. Andy followed, and at the sound of his +footsteps coming to a pause outside the portal Dunk peered out.</p> + +<p>“Oh, hello, Blair!” he greeted, cordially! “I thought you were never +coming! Put her there, old man! How are you?”</p> + +<p>He caught Andy’s hand in a firm pressure with a mighty slap, and hauled +him inside.</p> + +<p>“Fellows, here’s my roommate!” went on Dunk. “Andy Blair. I hope you’ll +like him as well as I do. Blair, these are some luckless freshmen like +ourselves. Take ’em in the order of their beauty—Bob Hunter—never hit +the bull’s eye in his life; Ted Wilson—just Ted, mostly; Thad +Warburton—no end of a swell, and money to burn! Shake!”</p> + +<p>They shook in turn, looking into each other’s eyes with that quick +appraising glance that means so much. Andy liked all three. He hoped +they would like him.</p> + +<p>“So this is your hangout, eh, Dunk?” asked Ted, when the little +formality of introduction was over.</p> + +<p>“Yes, Andy had this picked out and kindly agreed to share it with me.”<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_87' id='Page_87'>87</a></span></p> + +<p>“I sure was glad to!” said Andy, heartily.</p> + +<p>“Some swell little joint,” commented Thad Warburton, looking around.</p> + +<p>“Wait until we get her fixed up,” advised Dunk. “Then we’ll have +something to show you! I haven’t decided on a bed yet,” he added to +Dick. “Pick out the one you want.”</p> + +<p>“I’m not particular. They all look alike to me.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, they’re just the same. Fed your face yet?”</p> + +<p>“No, but I’m hungry. Thought I’d wait for you.”</p> + +<p>“Say, where is your eating joint?” asked Thad.</p> + +<p>“I haven’t picked out one yet,” answered Andy. “I was thinking of going +to the Hall——”</p> + +<p>“Oh, that’s no fun!” cried Bob. “Come with us. We have a swell place. +Run by one of our Andover crowd. Good grub and a nice bunch of fellows.”</p> + +<p>“I’m willing,” agreed Andy.</p> + +<p>“We could try it for a while,” assented Dunk, “and if we didn’t like it +we could switch to the University Hall. What do you say, Andy?”</p> + +<p>“I’m with you. The sooner the quicker. I’m starved.”</p> + +<p>“All right, then, we’ll let the room go until<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_88' id='Page_88'>88</a></span> after grub. I was going +to stick up a few of my things, but they can wait. Get your trunk, +Andy?”</p> + +<p>“Did it come? I gave a man the check.”</p> + +<p>“Not yet. Sounds like it now.”</p> + +<p>There was a bumping and thumping out in the corridor, and an expressman +came in with Andy’s baggage. It was stowed away in a corner and then the +five lads prepared to set out for the “eating joint.”</p> + +<p>“It’s around on York street, not far from Morey’s,” volunteered Thad.</p> + +<p>“Oh, yes, Morey’s!” exclaimed Andy. “I’ve heard lots about that joint. I +wish we could get in there.”</p> + +<p>“No freshman need apply,” quoted Dunk, with a laugh. “That’s for our +betters. We’ll get there some day.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, I say——” began Ted, as they were about to go out. He looked at +Andy rather queerly.</p> + +<p>“What is it?” asked our hero, with a frank laugh. “Am I togged up +wrong?”</p> + +<p>“Your—er—derby,” said Bob, obviously not liking to mention it.</p> + +<p>“Oh, yes, that’s right!” chimed in Dunk. “Hope you don’t mind, Andy, but +a cap or a crusher would be in better form.”</p> + +<p>Andy noticed that the others had on soft hats.<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_89' id='Page_89'>89</a></span></p> + +<p>“Sure,” he said. “I was going to get one. I had a soft hat at Milton, +but it’s all initialed, and covered with dates from down there. I don’t +suppose that would go here.”</p> + +<p>“Hardly,” agreed Dunk. “I’ve got an odd one, though. Stick it on until +you get yours,” and he hauled a soft hat from under a pile of things on +his dresser.</p> + +<p>Andy hung up his offending derby and clapped the other on the back of +his head. Then the five sallied forth, locking the door behind them.</p> + +<p>Their feet echoed on the stone flagging of the open courtyard as they +headed out on the campus. Past Dwight Hall, the home of the Young Men’s +Christian Association, they went, out into High street and through +Library to York. The thoroughfares were thronged with many students now, +for it was the hour for supper.</p> + +<p>Calls, cries, hails, gibes, comments and appeals were bandied back and +forth. For it was the beginning of the term, and many of the new lads +had not yet found themselves or their places. It was all pleasurable +excitement and anticipation.</p> + +<p>Huddled close together, talking rapidly of many things they had seen, or +hoped to see—of the things they had done or expected to do, Andy, Dunk, +and their chums walked on to the eating place. Dunk informed Andy, in a +whisper, that<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_90' id='Page_90'>90</a></span> his three friends had been at Phillips Academy, in +Andover, with him.</p> + +<p>“Over here!”</p> + +<p>“This way!”</p> + +<p>“Lots of room!”</p> + +<p>“Shove in, Hunter!”</p> + +<p>“There’s Wilson!”</p> + +<p>“Dunk Chamber, too! Oh, you, Dunk!”</p> + +<p>“Oh! Thad Warburton, give us your eye!”</p> + +<p>It was a call to health, and several lads arose holding aloft foaming +mugs of beer. For a moment Andy’s heart failed him. He did not drink, +and he did not intend to, yet he realized that to refuse might be very +embarrassing. Yet he resolved on this course.</p> + +<p>There were more good-natured cries, and healths proposed, and then Andy +and his companions found room at the table. Dunk introduced Andy to +several lads.</p> + +<p>“Oh, you, Dunk, your eyes on us!”</p> + +<p>Several lads called to him, holding aloft their steins. Dunk hesitated a +moment and then, with a quick glance at Andy, let his glass be filled. +Rising, he gave the pledge and drank.</p> + +<p>Andy felt a tug at his heart strings. He was not a crank, nor a stickler +for forms or reforms, yet he had made up his mind never to touch +intoxicants. And it gave him a shock to find his roommate taking the +stuff.<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_91' id='Page_91'>91</a></span></p> + +<p>“Well, he’s his own master,” thought Andy. “It’s up to him!”</p> + +<p>And then, amid that gay scene—not at all riotous—there came to Andy +the memory of a half-forgotten lesson.</p> + +<p>“Am I my brother’s keeper?”</p> + +<p>Andy wanted to close his mind to it, but that one question seemed to +repeat itself over and over again to him.</p> + +<p>“Have some beer?”</p> + +<p>The voice of a waiter was whispering to him.</p> + +<p>“No—not to-night,” said Andy, softly. And what a relief he felt. No one +seemed to notice him, nor was his refusal looked upon as strange. Then +he noticed with a light heart that only a few of the lads, and the older +ones at that, were taking the beverage. Andy noticed, too, with more +relief, that Dunk only took one glass.</p> + +<p>The meal went on merrily, and then Andy and Dunk, refusing many +invitations to come to the rooms of friends, or downtown to a show, went +to their own room.</p> + +<p>“Let’s get it in shape,” proposed Dunk.</p> + +<p>“Sure,” agreed Andy, and they set to work.</p> + +<p>Each one had brought from home certain trophies—mementoes of school +life—and these soon adorned the walls. Then there were banners and +pennants, sofa cushions—the gift of certain girls—and photographs +galore.<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_92' id='Page_92'>92</a></span></p> + +<p>“Well, I call this some nifty little joint!” exclaimed Dunk, stepping +back to admire the effect of the photograph of a pretty girl he had +fastened on the wall.</p> + +<p>“It sure is,” agreed Andy, who was himself putting up a picture.</p> + +<p>“I say, who’s that?” asked Dunk, indicating it. “She’s some little +looker, if you don’t mind me saying so.”</p> + +<p>“My sister.”</p> + +<p>“Congrats! I’d like to meet her.”</p> + +<p>“Maybe—some day.”</p> + +<p>“Who’s this—surely not your sister?” asked Dunk, indicating another +picture. “I seem to know her.”</p> + +<p>“She’s a vaudeville actress, Miss Fuller.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, ho! So that’s the way the wind blows, is it? Say, you are going +some, Andy.”</p> + +<p>“Nothing doing! I happened to save her from a fire——”</p> + +<p>“Save her from a fire! Worse and more of it. I must tell this to the +boys!”</p> + +<p>“Oh, it wasn’t anything,” and Andy explained. “She sent me a mackinaw in +place of my burned coat, and her picture was in the pocket. I kept it.”</p> + +<p>“I should think you would. She’s a peach, and clever, too, I understand. +She’s billed at Poli’s.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, I’m going to see her.”<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_93' id='Page_93'>93</a></span></p> + +<p>“Take me around, will you?”</p> + +<p>“Sure, if you like.”</p> + +<p>“I like all right. Hark, someone’s coming!” and Dunk slipped to the door +and put on the chain.</p> + +<p>“What’s the matter?” asked Andy.</p> + +<p>“Oh, the sophs are around and may come in and make a rough house any +minute.”</p> + +<p>But the approaching footsteps did not prove to be those of vengeful +sophomores. They were the three friends, Bob, Thad, and Ted, who were +soon admitted.</p> + +<p>As they were sitting about and talking there was a commotion out in the +hall. The door, which Dunk had neglected to chain after the admission of +his friends, was suddenly burst open, and in came, with a rush, Mortimer +Gaffington and several other sophomores.</p> + +<p>“Rough house!” was their rallying cry.</p> + +<p>“Rough house for the freshies!”</p> + +<p>“Rough house!”</p> + + + +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'> +<a name='CHAPTER_XII' id='CHAPTER_XII'></a> +<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_94' id='Page_94'>94</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XII</h2><h3>A FIERCE TACKLE</h3> +</div> + + +<p>Andy and his chums were taken completely by surprise. The approach of +Mortimer and the other sophomores had been so silent that no warning had +been given.</p> + +<p>Immediately on gaining admittance to the room the intruders began +tossing things about. They pulled open the drawers of the dresser, +scattering the garments all over. They tore down pictures from the walls +and ripped off the banners and pennants.</p> + +<p>“Rough house!” they kept repeating. “Rough house on the freshmen!”</p> + +<p>One of the sophomores pushed Bob and Ted over on Andy’s bed, together.</p> + +<p>Then Gaffington pulled from his pocket a handful of finely chopped paper +of various colors—“confetti”—and scattered it in a shower over +everyone and everything.</p> + +<p>“Snow, snow! beautiful snow!” he declaimed. “Shiver, freshmen!”</p> + +<p>A momentary pause ensued. Andy and his chums were getting back their +breaths.<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_95' id='Page_95'>95</a></span></p> + +<p>“Well, why don’t you shiver?” demanded Mortimer. “That’s snow—beautiful +snow—all sorts of colored snow! Shiver, I tell you! It’s snowing! +Little Eva in Uncle Tom’s Cabin—Eliza crossing the ice! Shiver now, you +freshmen, shiver!”</p> + +<p>He was laughing in a silly sort of way.</p> + +<p>“That’s right—shiver!” commanded some of Mortimer’s companions.</p> + +<p>“Well, what are you waiting for?” jeered the society swell at Andy. “Why +don’t you shiver?”</p> + +<p>“I’ve forgotten how,” said Andy, calmly.</p> + +<p>“Hang you, <i>shiver</i>!” and Mortimer fairly howled out the word. He +started toward Andy, with raised arm and clenched fist.</p> + +<p>Among the possessions disturbed by the intruders was Andy’s favorite +baseball bat, which he had brought with him. Instinctively, as he +retreated a step, his fingers clutched it. He swung it around and held +it in readiness. Mortimer recoiled, and Andy, seeing his advantage, +cried:</p> + +<p>“Get out of here! All of you. Come on, fellows, put ’em out!”</p> + +<p>He raised the bat above his head, without the least intention in the +world of using it, but the momentum swung it from his hand and it struck +Mortimer on the forehead.</p> + +<p>The lad who had led the “rough house” attack<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_96' id='Page_96'>96</a></span> staggered for a moment, +and then, blubbering, sank down in a heap on the floor.</p> + +<p>A sudden silence fell. In an instant Andy had sunk down on his knees +beside his enemy and was feeling his pulse and heart. There was only a +slight bruise on the forehead.</p> + +<p>“You—you’ve killed him!” whimpered one of the sophomores.</p> + +<p>“Nonsense!” exclaimed Dunk. “He’s only over-excited.” This was putting +it mildly. Mortimer had been “celebrating,” and had really fainted. +“That was only a love tap,” went on Dunk. “Chuck a little water in his +face and he’ll be all right.”</p> + +<p>This was done and proved to be just what was needed. Mortimer opened his +eyes.</p> + +<p>“What—what happened?” he asked, weakly. “Where—where am I?”</p> + +<p>“Where you don’t belong,” replied Dunk, sharply. “It’s your move—get +out!”</p> + +<p>“You—you struck me!” went on Mortimer, accusingly to Andy.</p> + +<p>“No, indeed, I did not! I thought you were coming for me, and so I +raised the bat. It slipped.”</p> + +<p>“I guess that’s right, old man,” said one of the sophomores, frankly. “I +saw it. Mort has been going it too heavily. We’ll get him out of here. +No offense, I hope,” and he looked<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_97' id='Page_97'>97</a></span> around the dismantled room. “This is +the usual thing.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, all right,” said Dunk. “We’re not kicking. I guess we held up our +end.”</p> + +<p>“You sure did,” returned one of the sophomores, as he glanced at the +wilted Mortimer. “Come on, fellows.”</p> + +<p>Andy, feeling easier now that he was sure Mortimer was not badly hurt, +looked at the other lads. Two of them he recognized as the ones who had +been with Gaffington when the loss of the money was discovered. Andy +wondered whether it had been found, but he did not like to ask.</p> + +<p>“I—I’ll get you for this! I’ll fix you!” growled Mortimer, as his chums +led him out of the room. “You—you——” and he swayed unsteadily, +gazing at Andy.</p> + +<p>“Oh, dry up and come on!” advised Len Scott. “We’ll go downtown and have +some fun.”</p> + +<p>They withdrew and the dazed freshmen began helping Andy and Dunk +straighten up the room. It took some time and it was late when they +finished. Then, thinking the day had been strenuous enough, Andy and +Dunk declined invitations to go out, and got ready for bed.</p> + +<p>So ended Andy’s first day at Yale.</p> + +<p>There was a hurried run to chapel next morning,<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_98' id='Page_98'>98</a></span> and Andy, who had to +finish arranging his scarf on the way, found that he was not the only +tag-ender. Chapel was not over-popular.</p> + +<p>That Len Scott did not recover his lost money was made evident the next +day, for there were several notices posted in various places offering a +reward for the return of the bills. Andy heard, indirectly, that Len and +Mortimer made half-accusations against the freshmen they had “frisked” +earlier in the evening, and had been soundly trounced for their +impudence.</p> + +<p>Andy told Dunk of his connection in the affair and was advised to keep +quiet, which Andy thought wise to do. But the loss of the money did not +seem to be of much permanent annoyance to Len, for a few days later he +was again spending royally.</p> + +<p>Andy began now to settle down to his life at Yale. He was duly +established in his room with Dunk, and it was the congregating place of +many of their freshmen friends. Andy and Dunk continued to eat at the +“joint” in York street, though our hero made up his mind that he would +shift to University Hall at the first opportunity. He hoped Dunk would +come with him, but that was rather doubtful.</p> + +<p>“I can try, anyhow,” thought Andy.</p> + +<p>Our hero did not find the lessons and lectures easy. There was a spirit +of hard work at Yale<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_99' id='Page_99'>99</a></span> as he very soon found out, and he had not as much +leisure time as he had anticipated, which, perhaps, was a good thing for +him. But Andy wanted to do well, and he applied himself at first with +such regularity that he was in danger of becoming known as a “dig.” But +he was just saved from that by the influence of Dunk, who took matters a +little easier.</p> + +<p>Following the episode of the “rough house,” Andy did not see Mortimer +for several days, and when he did meet him the latter took no notice of +our hero.</p> + +<p>“I’m just as pleased,” Andy thought. “Only it looks as though he’d make +more trouble.”</p> + +<p>Candidates for the football team had been called for, and, as Andy had +made good at Milton, he decided to try for at least a place on the +freshman team.</p> + +<p>So then, one crisp afternoon, in company with other candidates, all +rather in fear and trembling, he hopped aboard a trolley to go out to +Yale Field.</p> + +<p>Dunk was with him, as were also Bob, Ted, and Thad, who likewise had +hopes. There was talk and laughter, and admiring and envying glances +were cast at the big men—those who had played on the varsity team last +year. They were like the lords of creation.</p> + +<p>The car stopped near the towering grandstands<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_100' id='Page_100'>100</a></span> that hemmed in the +gridiron, and Andy swarmed with the others into the dressing rooms.</p> + +<p>“Lively now!” snapped Holwell, one of the coaches. “Get out on the +field, you fellows, and try tackling the dummy.”</p> + +<p>A grotesque figure hung from a cross beam, and against this the +candidates hurled themselves, endeavoring to clasp the elusive knees in +a hard tackle. There were many failures, some of the lads missing the +figure entirely and sliding along on their faces. Andy did fairly well, +but if he looked for words of praise he was disappointed.</p> + +<p>This practice went on for several days, and then came other gridiron +work, falling on the ball, punting and drop kicking. Andy was no star, +but he managed to stand out among the others, and there was no lack of +material that year.</p> + +<p>Then came scrimmage practice, the tentative varsity eleven lining up +against the scrub. With all his heart Andy longed to get into this, but +for days he sat on the bench and watched others being called before him. +But he did not neglect practice on this account.</p> + +<p>Then, one joyful afternoon he heard his name called by the coach.</p> + +<p>“Get in there at right half and see what you can go,” was snapped at +him. “Don’t fuddle the signals—smash through—follow the interference,<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_101' id='Page_101'>101</a></span> +and keep your eyes on the ball. Blake, give him the signals.”</p> + +<p>The scrub quarter took him to one side and imparted a simple code used +at practice.</p> + +<p>“Now, scrub, take the ball,” snapped the coach, “and see what you can +do.”</p> + +<p>There was a quick line-up. Andy was trembling, but he managed to hold +himself down. He looked over at the varsity. To his surprise Mortimer +was being tried at tackle.</p> + +<p>“Ready!” shrilly called the scrub quarter. +“Signal—eighteen—forty-seven—shift—twenty-one—nineteen—”</p> + +<p>It was the signal for Andy to take the ball through right tackle and +guard. He received the pigskin and with lowered head and hunched +shoulders shot forward. He saw a hole torn in the varsity line for him, +and leaped through it. The opening was a good one, and the coach raved +at the fatal softness of the first-team players. Andy saw his chance and +sprinted forward.</p> + +<p>But the next instant, after covering a few yards, he was fiercely +tackled by Mortimer, who threw him heavily. He fell on Andy, and the +breath seemed to leave our hero. His eyes saw black, and there was a +ringing in his ears as of many bells.</p> + + + +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'> +<a name='CHAPTER_XIII' id='CHAPTER_XIII'></a> +<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_102' id='Page_102'>102</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XIII</h2><h3>BARGAINS</h3> +</div> + +<p>“That’s enough! Get up off him! Don’t you know enough, Gaffington, to +tell when a man’s down?”</p> + +<p>Andy heard the sharp voice of the coach, Holwell, but the tones seemed +to come from a great distance.</p> + +<p>“Water here!”</p> + +<p>“Somebody’s keeled over!”</p> + +<p>“It’s that freshman, Blair. Plucky little imp, too!”</p> + +<p>“Who tackled him?”</p> + +<p>“Gaffington. Took him a bit high and fell on him!”</p> + +<p>“Oh, well, this is football; it isn’t kindergarten beanbag.”</p> + +<p>Dimly Andy heard these comments. He opened his eyes, only to close them +again as he felt a dash of cold water in his face.</p> + +<p>“Feel all right now?”</p> + +<p>It was the voice of the coach in his ears. Andy felt himself being +lifted to his feet. His ears<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_103' id='Page_103'>103</a></span> rang, and he could not see clearly. There +was a confused mass of forms about him, and the ground seemed to reel +beneath his feet.</p> + +<p>Then like another dash of cold water came the thought to him, sharply +and clearly:</p> + +<p>“This isn’t playing the game! If I’m going to go over like this every +time I’m tackled I’ll never play for Yale. Brace up!”</p> + +<p>By sheer effort of will Andy brought his staggering senses back.</p> + +<p>“I—I’m all right,” he panted. “Sort of a solar plexus knock, I guess.”</p> + +<p>“That’s the way to talk!” exclaimed the coach, grimly. “Now then, +fellows, hit it up. Where’s that ball? Oh, you had it, did you, Blair? +That’s right, whatever happens, keep the ball! Get into the play now. +Varsity, tear up that scrub line! What’s the matter with you, anyhow? +You’re letting ’em go right through you. Smash ’em! Smash ’em good and +hard. All right now, Blair?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, sir.”</p> + +<p>“Get in the game then. Scrub’s ball. Hurry up! Signal!”</p> + +<p>Sharp and incisive came his tones, like some bitter tonic. Not a word of +praise—always finding fault; and as for sympathy—you might as well +have looked for it from an Indian ready to use his scalping knife. And +yet—that is what<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_104' id='Page_104'>104</a></span> made the Yale team what it was—a fighting machine.</p> + +<p>Once more came the line-up, the scrub quarter snapping out his signals.</p> + +<p>Andy took his old place. He was rapidly feeling better, yet his whole +body ached and he felt as though he had fallen from a great height. He +was terribly jarred, for Mortimer had put into the tackle all his fierce +energy, adding to it a spice of malice.</p> + +<p>Andy heard the signal given for the forward pass, and felt relieved. He +could take another few seconds to get his breathing into a more regular +cadence. He looked over at Mortimer, who grinned maliciously. Andy knew, +as well as if he had been told, that the tackle had been needlessly +fierce. But there was no earthly use in speaking of it. Rather would it +do him more harm than good. This, then, was part of the “getting even” +game that his enemy had marked out.</p> + +<p>“He won’t get me again, though!” thought Andy, fiercely. “If he does, it +will be my own fault. Wait until I get a chance at him!”</p> + +<p>It came sooner than he expected. The forward pass on the part of the +scrub was a fluke and after a few more rushing plays the ball was given +to the varsity to enable them to try some of their new plays.<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_105' id='Page_105'>105</a></span></p> + +<p>Several times Mortimer had the pigskin, and was able to make good gains. +Then the wrath of the coach was turned against the luckless scrubs.</p> + +<p>“What do you fellows mean?” cried Holwell. “Letting ’em go through you +this way! Get at ’em! Break up their plays if you can! Block their +kicks. They’ll think they’re playing a kid team! I want ’em to work! +Smash ’em! Kill ’em!”</p> + +<p>He was rushing about, waving his hands, stamping his feet—a veritable +little cyclone of a coach.</p> + +<p>“Signal!” he cried sharply.</p> + +<p>It came from the varsity quarter, and Andy noticed, with a thrill in his +heart, that Gaffington was to take the ball.</p> + +<p>“Here’s where I get him!” muttered Andy, fiercely.</p> + +<p>There was a rush—a thud of bodies against bodies—gaspings of breaths, +the cracking of muscles and sinews. Andy felt himself in a maelstrom of +pushing, striving, hauling and toppling flesh. Then, in an instant, there +came an opening, and he saw before him but one player—Mortimer—with +the ball.</p> + +<p>Like a flash Andy sprang forward and caught his man in a desperate +embrace—a hard, clean tackle. Andy put into it all his strength, +intent<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_106' id='Page_106'>106</a></span> only upon hurling his opponent to the turf with force enough to +jar him insensible if possible.</p> + +<p>Perhaps he should not have done so, you may say, but Andy was only +human. He was playing a fierce game, and he wanted his revenge.</p> + +<p>Into Mortimer’s eyes came a look of fear, as he went down under the +impact of Andy. But there was this difference. Mortimer’s previous +experience had taught him how to take a fall, and he came to no more +hurt through Andy’s fierce tackle than from that of any other player, +however much Andy might have meant he should. Our hero did not stop to +think that he might have injured one of the varsity players so as to put +him out of the game, and at a time when Yale needed all the good men she +could muster. And Gaffington, in spite of his faults, was a good player.</p> + +<p>There was a thud as Andy and Mortimer struck the earth—a thud that told +of breaths being driven from their bodies. Then Andy saw the ball jarred +from his opponent’s arms, and, in a flash he had let go and had rolled +over on it. An instant later there was an animated pile of players on +both lads, smothering their winded “Downs!”</p> + +<p>“That’ll do! Get up!” snapped the coach. “What’s the matter with you, +Gaffington, to let a freshman get you that way and put you out of<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_107' id='Page_107'>107</a></span> the +game? Porter!” he shouted and a lad came running from the bench, pulling +off his sweater as he ran, and tossing it to a companion. He had been +called on to take Gaffington’s place, and the latter, angry and +shamed-faced, walked to the side lines.</p> + +<p>As he went he gave Andy a look, as much as to say:</p> + +<p>“You win this time; but the battle isn’t over. I’ll get you yet.”</p> + +<p>As for Andy, his revenge had been greater than he had hoped. He had put +his enemy out of the game more effectively than if he had knocked the +breath from him by a tremendous tackle.</p> + +<p>“Good tackle, Blair!” called the scrub captain to him, as the line-up +formed again. “That’s the way to go for ’em!”</p> + +<p>The coach said nothing, but to the varsity captain he whispered:</p> + +<p>“Keep your eye on Blair. If he keeps on, he may make a player yet. He’s +a little too wild, though. Don’t say anything that will give him a +swelled head.”</p> + +<p>The practice went on unrelentingly, and then the candidates were ordered +back to the gymnasium on the run, to be followed by a shower and a brisk +rub.</p> + +<p>Glowing with health and vigor, and yet lame<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_108' id='Page_108'>108</a></span> and sore from the hard +tackle, Andy went to his room, to find Dunk Chamber impatiently waiting +for him.</p> + +<p>“Oh, there you are, you old mud lark!” was the greeting. “I’ve been +waiting for you. Come on around to Burke’s and have some ale and a +rarebit.”</p> + +<p>“No thanks. I’m in training, you know.”</p> + +<p>“That’s so. Been out on the field?”</p> + +<p>“Yes. I wonder you don’t go in for that.”</p> + +<p>“Too much like work. I might try for the crew or the nine. I’m afraid of +spoiling my manly beauty by getting somebody’s boot heel in the eye. By +the way, you don’t look particularly handsome. What has somebody been +doing to you?”</p> + +<p>“Nothing more than usual. It’s all in the game.”</p> + +<p>“Then excuse me! Are you coming to Burke’s? You can take sarsaparilla, +you know. Thad and his bunch are coming.”</p> + +<p>“Sure, I don’t mind trailing along. Got to get at a little of that +infernal Greek, though.”</p> + +<p>“All right, I’ll wait. The fellows will be along soon.”</p> + +<p>And as Andy did a little of necessary studying he could not help +wondering where Dunk would end. A fine young fellow, with plenty of +money, and few responsibilities. Yale—indeed any college—offered<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_109' id='Page_109'>109</a></span> +numberless temptations for such as he.</p> + +<p>“Well, I can’t help it,” thought Andy. “He’s got to look out for +himself.”</p> + +<p>And again there seemed to come to him that whisper:</p> + +<p>“Am I my brother’s keeper?”</p> + +<p>Surely Dunk was a college brother.</p> + +<p>Andy had scarcely finished wrestling with his Homer when there came a +series of loud and jolly hails:</p> + +<p>“Oh, you Dunk!”</p> + +<p>“Stick out your top, Blair!”</p> + +<p>“Here come the boys!” exclaimed Dunk. “Now for some fun!”</p> + +<p>The three friends trooped in.</p> + +<p>“Some little practice to-day, eh, Blair?” remarked Bob Hunter.</p> + +<p>“And some little tackle Gaffington gave you, too!” added Thad.</p> + +<p>“Yes, but Andy got back at him good and proper, and put him out of the +game,” remarked Ted. “It was a beaut!”</p> + +<p>“Did you and Mortimer have a run-in?” asked Dunk quickly.</p> + +<p>“Oh, no more than is usual in practice,” replied Andy, lightly. “He +shook me up and I came back at him.”</p> + +<p>“If that’s football, give me a good old-fashioned<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_110' id='Page_110'>110</a></span> fight!” laughed Dunk. +“Well, if we’re going to have some fun, come on.”</p> + +<p>As they were leaving the room they were confronted by two other +students. Andy recognized one as Isaac Stein, more popularly known as +Ikey, a sophomore, and Hashmi Yatta, a Japanese student of more than +usual brilliancy.</p> + +<p>“Oh boys, such a business!” exclaimed Ikey. He was a Jew, and not +ashamed of it, often making himself the butt of the many expressions +used against his race. On this account he was more than tolerated—he +had many friends out of his own faith. “Such a business!” he went on, +using his hands, without which he used to say he could not talk.</p> + +<p>“Well, what is it now?” asked Dunk with good-humored patience. “Neckties +or silk shirts?” for Ikey was working his way through college partly by +acting as agent for various tradesmen, getting a commission on his +sales. Dunk was one of his best customers.</p> + +<p>“Such a business!” went on Ikey, mocking himself. “It is ornaments, +gentlemans! Beautiful ornaments from the Flowery Kingdom. Such +vawses—such vawses! Is it not, my friend Hashmi Yatta?” and he appealed +to the Japanese.</p> + +<p>“Of a surely they are beautiful,” murmured the little yellow lad. “There +is some very good<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_111' id='Page_111'>111</a></span> cloisonne, some kisku, and one or two pieces in +awaji-yaki. Also there is some satsuma, if you would like it.”</p> + +<p>“And the prices!” interrupted Ikey. “Such bargains! Come, you shall see. +It is a crime to take them!”</p> + +<p>“What’s it all about?” asked Dunk. “Have you fellows been looting a +crockery store?”</p> + +<p>“No, it is Hashmi here,” said the Jew. “I don’t know whether his +imperial ancestors willed them to him, or sent them over as a gift, but +they are wonderful. A whole packing case full, and he’ll sell them dirt +cheap.”</p> + +<p>“What do we want of ’em?” asked Andy.</p> + +<p>“Want of ’em, you beggar? Why they’ll be swell ornaments for your room!”</p> + +<p>That was an appeal no freshman could resist.</p> + +<p>“What do you say?” asked Dunk, weakly. “Shall we take a look, Andy?”</p> + +<p>“I don’t mind.”</p> + +<p>“You will never regret it!” vowed Ikey. “It is wonderful. Such bargains! +It is a shame. I wonder Hashmi can do it.”</p> + +<p>“They are too many for me to keep,” murmured the Jap.</p> + +<p>“And so he will sell some,” interrupted Ikey, eagerly.</p> + +<p>“And pay you a commission for working them off, I suppose,” spoke Thad.<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_112' id='Page_112'>112</a></span></p> + +<p>Ikey looked hurt.</p> + +<p>“Believe me,” he said, earnestly, “believe me, what little I get out of +it is a shame, already. It is nothing. But I could not see the bargains +missed. Come, we will have a look at them. You will never regret it!”</p> + +<p>“You ought to be in business—not college,” laughed Dunk, as he slipped +into a mackinaw. “Come on, Andy, let’s go and get stuck good and +proper.”</p> + +<p>“Stuck! Oh, such a business!” gasped Ikey, with upraised hands. “They +are bargains, I tell you!”</p> + + + +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'> +<a name='CHAPTER_XIV.' id='CHAPTER_XIV.'></a> +<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_113' id='Page_113'>113</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XIV</h2><h3>DUNK REFUSES</h3> +</div> + + +<p>“This way, fellows! Don’t let anybody see us come in!”</p> + +<p>Thus cautioned Ikey as he led his “prospective victims,” as Dunk +referred to himself and the others, through various back streets and +alley ways.</p> + +<p>“Why the caution?” Andy wanted to know, stumbling over an unseen +obstruction, and nearly falling.</p> + +<p>“Hush!” whispered the Jew. “I want you, my friends, to have the pick of +the bargains first. After that the others may come in. If some of the +seniors knew of these vawses there wouldn’t be one left.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, well we mustn’t let that happen!” laughed Dunk. “I know I’m going to +get stuck, but lead on, Horatio. I’m game.”</p> + +<p>“Stuck, is it?” cried Ikey, and he seemed hurt at the suggestion. “Wait +until you have seen, eh, Hashmi?”</p> + +<p>“Of a surely, yes. They are beautiful!”<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_114' id='Page_114'>114</a></span></p> + +<p>“And so cheap; are they not, Hashmi?”</p> + +<p>“Of a surely, yes.”</p> + +<p>“Where are you taking us, anyhow?” demanded Thad. “I thought we were +going to Burke’s.”</p> + +<p>“So we are, later,” said Dunk. “I want to see some of this junk, though. +Our room does need a bit of decoration, eh, Andy?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, it can stand a few more things.”</p> + +<p>“But where are we going, anyhow?” Bob demanded. “This looks like a +chop-suey joint.”</p> + +<p>“Hush!” cautioned Ikey again. “Some of the fellows may be around. There +is a Chinese restaurant upstairs.”</p> + +<p>“And what’s downstairs?” asked Andy.</p> + +<p>“Why, Hashmi had to hire a vacant room to put the packing box in when it +came from Japan,” explained Ikey. “It was too big to take up to his +joint. Besides, it’s filled with straw, you know, so the vawses couldn’t +smash. He’s just got it in this vacant store temporarily. You fellows +have the first whack at it.”</p> + +<p>“Well, let’s get the whacking over with,” suggested Andy. “I had all I +wanted at Yale Field this afternoon.”</p> + +<p>They came to a low, dingy building, at the side of which ran a black +alley.</p> + +<p>“In here—mind your steps!” warned Ikey.</p> + +<p>They stumbled on, and then came to a halt<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_115' id='Page_115'>115</a></span> behind the college salesman. +He shot out a gleam of radiance from a pocket electric flashlight and +opened a door.</p> + +<p>“Hurry up!” he whispered, and as the others slipped in he closed and +locked the portal. “Are the shades down, Hashmi?” he asked.</p> + +<p>“Of a surely, yes.”</p> + +<p>“Then show the fellows what your ancestors sent you.”</p> + +<p>There was the removal of boards from a big packing case that stood in +the middle of a bare room. There was the rustle of straw, and then, in +the gleam of the little electric flash the boys saw a confused jumble of +Japanese vases and other articles in porcelain, packed in the box.</p> + +<p>“There, how’s that?” demanded Ikey, triumphantly, as he picked one up. +“Wouldn’t that look swell on your mantel, Dunk?”</p> + +<p>“It might do to hold my tobacco.”</p> + +<p>“Tobacco! You heathen! Why, that jar is to hold the ashes of your +ancestors!”</p> + +<p>“Haven’t any ancestors that had ashes as far as I know,” said Dunk, +imperturbably. “I can smoke enough cigar ashes to fill it, though.”</p> + +<p>“Hopeless—hopeless,” murmured Ikey. “But look—such a bargain, only +seven dollars!”</p> + +<p>“Holy mackerel!” cried Andy. “Seven dollars for a tobacco jar!”</p> + +<p>“It isn’t a tobacco jar, I tell you!” cried Ikey.<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_116' id='Page_116'>116</a></span> “It’s like the old +Egyptian tear vawses, only different. Seven dollars—why it’s worth +fifteen if it’s worth a cent. Ain’t it, Hashmi?”</p> + +<p>“Of a surely, yes,” said the Jap, with an inscrutable smile.</p> + +<p>“But he’ll let you have it for just a little more than the wholesale +price in Japan, mind you—in Japan!” cried Ikey. “Seven dollars. Think +of it!”</p> + +<p>“What about your commission?” asked Thad, with a grin.</p> + +<p>“A mere nothing—I must live, you know,” and Ikey shrugged his +shoulders. “Do you want it, Dunk? Why don’t you fellows pick out +something? You’ll wait until they’re gone and be kicking yourselves. +They’re dirt cheap—bargains every one. Look at that vawse!” and he held +up another to view in the pencil of light from the flash torch.</p> + +<p>“It would do for crackers, I suppose,” said Andy, doubtfully.</p> + +<p>“Crackers!” gasped Ikey. “Tell him what it is for, Hashmi. I haven’t the +heart,” and he pretended to weep.</p> + +<p>“This jar—he is for the holding of the petals of roses that were sent +by your loved ones—the perfumes of Eros,” murmured the poetical +Japanese.</p> + +<p>“Oh, for the love of tripe! Hold me, I’m<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_117' id='Page_117'>117</a></span> going to faint, Gertie!” cried +Bob. “Rose petals from your loved ones! Oh, slush!”</p> + +<p>“It is true,” and Hashmi did not seem to resent being laughed at. “But +it would do for crackers as well.”</p> + +<p>“How much?” asked Andy.</p> + +<p>“Only five dollars—worth ten,” whispered Ikey.</p> + +<p>“Well, it would look nice on my stand,” said Andy weakly. “I—I’ll take +it.”</p> + +<p>“And I guess you may as well wish me onto that dead ancestor jar,” added +Dunk. “I’m always getting stuck anyhow. Seven plunks is getting off +easy.”</p> + +<p>“You will never regret it,” murmured Ikey. “Where is that paper, Hashmi? +Now don’t you fellows let anyone else in on this game until I give the +word. I’m taking care of my friends first, then the rest of the bunch. +Friends first, say I.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, if you’re going to stick anybody, stick your friends first,” +laughed Dunk. “They’re the easiest. Go ahead, now you fellows bite,” and +he looked at Bob, Thad and Ted.</p> + +<p>“What’s this—a handkerchief box?” asked Ted, picking up one covered +with black and gold lacquer.</p> + +<p>“Handkerchief box! Shades of Koami!” cried Ikey. “That, you dunce, is a +box made to——Oh,<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_118' id='Page_118'>118</a></span> you tell him, Hashmi, I haven’t the heart.”</p> + +<p>“No, he wants to figure out how much he’s made on us,” added Andy.</p> + +<p>“That box—he is for the retaining of the messages from the departed,” +explained the Japanese.</p> + +<p>“You mean it’s a spiritualist cabinet?” demanded Thad. “I say now, will +it do the rapping trick?”</p> + +<p>“You misapprehend me,” murmured Hashmi. “I mean that you conserve in +that the letters your ancestors may have written you. But of a +courseness you might put in it your nose beautifiers if you wish, and +perfume them.”</p> + +<p>“Nose beautifiers—he means handkerchiefs,” explained Ikey. “It’s a +bargain—only three dollars.”</p> + +<p>“I’ll take it,” spoke Thad. “I know a girl I can give it to. No +objection to putting a powder puff in it; is there, Hashmi?”</p> + +<p>“Of a surely, no.”</p> + +<p>More of the wares from the big box were displayed and the two other lads +took something. Then Dunk insisted on having another look, and bought +several “vawses,” as Ikey insisted on calling them.</p> + +<p>“They’ll look swell in the room, eh, Andy? he asked.<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_119' id='Page_119'>119</a></span></p> + +<p>“They sure will. I only hope there’s no more rough house or you’ll be +out several dollars.”</p> + +<p>“If those rusty sophs smash any of this stuff I’ll go to the dean about +it!” threatened Dunk, well knowing, however, that he would not.</p> + +<p>“Such bargains! Such bargains!” whispered Ikey, as he let them out of +the side door, first glancing up and down the dark alley to make sure +that no other college lads were lying in wait to demand their share of +the precious stuff. The coast was clear and Andy and his chums slipped +out, carrying their purchases.</p> + +<p>“Are you coming?” Dunk asked of Ikey.</p> + +<p>“No, I’ll stay and help Hashmi pack up the things. If you want any more +let me know.”</p> + +<p>“Huh! You mean you’ll stay and count up how much you’ve stuck us!” said +Dunk. “Oh, well, it looks like nice stuff. But I’ve got enough for the +present. I’ve overdrawn my allowance as it is.”</p> + +<p>“Well, we’ll leave this junk in your room, Andy, and then go out and +have some fun,” suggested Thad.</p> + +<p>They piled their purchases on the beds in Andy’s and Dunk’s room in +Wright Hall and then proceeded on to Burke’s place, an eating and +drinking resort for many students.</p> + +<p>There was a crowd there when Andy and his chums entered and they were +noisily greeted.<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_120' id='Page_120'>120</a></span></p> + +<p>“Oh, you Dunk!”</p> + +<p>“Over here! Lots of room!”</p> + +<p>“Waiter, five more cold steins!”</p> + +<p>“None for me!” said Andy with a smile.</p> + +<p>“That’s all right—he’s trying for the team,” someone said, in a low +tone.</p> + +<p>“Oh!”</p> + +<p>Through the haze of the smoke of many pipes Andy saw some of the +football crowd. They were all taking “soft stuff,” which he himself +ordered.</p> + +<p>Then began an evening of jollity and clean fun. It was rather rough, and +of the nature of horseplay, of course, and perhaps some of the lads did +forget themselves a little, but it was far from being an orgy.</p> + +<p>“I’m going to pull out soon,” spoke Andy to Dunk, when an hour or so had +passed.</p> + +<p>“Oh, don’t be in a rush. I’ll be with you in a little while.”</p> + +<p>“All right, I’ll wait.”</p> + +<p>Again to Andy had come the idea that he might, after all, prove a sort +of “brother’s keeper” to his chum.</p> + +<p>The fun grew faster and more furious, but there was a certain line that +was never overstepped, and for this Andy was glad.</p> + +<p>The door opened to admit another throng, and Andy saw Mortimer and +several of his companions<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_121' id='Page_121'>121</a></span> of the fast set. How Gaffington kept up the +pace and still managed to retain his place on the football team was a +mystery to many. He had wonderful recuperative powers, though, and was +well liked by a certain element.</p> + +<p>“Hello, Dunk!” he greeted Andy’s roommate. “You’re looking pretty fit.”</p> + +<p>“Same to you—though you look as though you’d been having one.”</p> + +<p>“So I have—rather strenuous practice to-day. Oh, there’s the fellow who +did me up!” and he looked at Andy and, to our hero’s surprise, laughed.</p> + +<p>“It’s all right, old man—no hard feelings,” went on Mortimer. “Will you +shake?”</p> + +<p>“Sure!” exclaimed Andy, eagerly. He was only too anxious not to have any +enmity.</p> + +<p>“Put her there! Shake!” exclaimed the other. “You shook me and I shook +you. No hard feelings, eh?”</p> + +<p>“Of course not!”</p> + +<p>“That’s all right then. Fellows, I’ll give you one—Andy Blair—a good +tackier!” and Mortimer raised his glass on high.</p> + +<p>“Andy Blair! Oh, you Andy! Your eye on us!”</p> + +<p>And thus was Andy pledged by his enemy. What did it mean?</p> + +<p>Faster grew the fun. The room was choking<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_122' id='Page_122'>122</a></span> blue with tobacco smoke, and +Andy wanted to get away.</p> + +<p>“Come on, Dunk,” he said. “Let’s pull out. We’ve got some stiff +recitations to-morrow.”</p> + +<p>“All right, I’m willing.”</p> + +<p>Mortimer saw them start to leave, and coming over put his arm +affectionately around Dunk.</p> + +<p>“Oh, you’re not going!” he expostulated. “Why, it’s early yet and the +fun’s just starting. Don’t be a quitter!”</p> + +<p>Dunk flushed. He was not used to being called that.</p> + +<p>“Yes, stay and finish out,” urged others.</p> + +<p>Andy felt that it was a crisis. Yet he could say nothing. Dunk seemed +undecided for a moment, and Mortimer renewed his pleadings.</p> + +<p>“Be a sport!” he cried. “Have a good time while you’re living—you’re a +long time dead!”</p> + +<p>There was a moment’s hush. Then Dunk gently removed Mortimer’s arm and +said:</p> + +<p>“No, I’m going back with Blair. Come on, Andy.”</p> + +<p>And they went out together.</p> + + + +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'> +<a name='CHAPTER_XV' id='CHAPTER_XV'></a> +<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_123' id='Page_123'>123</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XV</h2><h3>DUNK GOES OUT</h3> +</div> + + +<p>“Look at that!”</p> + +<p>“Why, it’s the same stuff!”</p> + +<p>“There’s a rose jar like the one I bought for seven dollars marked two +seventy-five!”</p> + +<p>“Oh, the robber! Why, there’s a handkerchief box, bigger than the one he +stuck me with, and it’s only a dollar!”</p> + +<p>“Say, let’s rough-house Ikey and that Jap!”</p> + +<p>Andy, Dunk, and their three friends were standing in front of a Japanese +store, looking in the window, that held many articles associated with +the Flowery Kingdom. Price tags were on them, and the lads discovered +that they had paid dearly for the ornaments they had so surreptitiously +viewed in the semi-darkness, under the guidance of Ikey Stein.</p> + +<p>This was several days after they had purchased their bric-a-brac and +meanwhile they had seen Ikey and Hashmi going about getting other +students into their toils.</p> + +<p>“Say, that was a plant, all right!” declared Dunk. “I’m going to make +Ikey shell out.”<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_124' id='Page_124'>124</a></span></p> + +<p>“And the Jap, too!” added Andy. “We sure were stuck!”</p> + +<p>For the articles in the window were identical, in many cases, with those +they had bought, but the prices were much less.</p> + +<p>“I thought there was something fishy about it,” commented Thad. “Never +again do I buy a pig in a poke!”</p> + +<p>“I’ll poke Ikey when I catch him,” said Bob.</p> + +<p>“Here he comes now,” spoke Ted, in a low voice. “Don’t seem to see him +until he gets close, and then we’ll grab him and make him shell out!”</p> + +<p>So the five remained looking steadfastly in the window until the +unsuspecting Ikey came close. Then Andy and Dunk made a quick leap and +caught him.</p> + +<p>“What—what is it?” asked the surprised student.</p> + +<p>“We merely want your advice on the purchase of some more art objects,” +said Andy, grimly. “You’re such an expert, you know.”</p> + +<p>“Some other time—some other time! I’m due at a lecture now!” pleaded +Ikey, squirming to get away.</p> + +<p>“The lecture can wait,” said Dunk. “Look at that vawse for the holding +of the rose petals from your loved one. See it there—now would you +advise me to buy it? It’s much cheaper<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_125' id='Page_125'>125</a></span> than the one you and your +beloved Hashmi stuck me with.”</p> + +<p>Ikey looked at the faces of his captors. He saw only stern, unrelenting +glares, and realized that his game had been discovered.</p> + +<p>“I—er—I——” he stammered.</p> + +<p>“Come, what’s your advice?” demanded Dunk. “Did I pay too much?”</p> + +<p>“I—er—perhaps you did,” admitted Ikey, slowly.</p> + +<p>“Then fork over the balance.”</p> + +<p>“And what about my cracker jar—for the ashes of dead ancestors?” asked +Andy. “Was I stuck, too?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, no, not at all. Why, that is a very rare piece.”</p> + +<p>“What about that one in the window?” demanded Andy. “That’s only rare to +the tune of several dollars less than I paid.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, but you are mistaken!” Ikey assured him. “It takes an expert to +tell the difference. You can ask Hashmi——”</p> + +<p>“Hashmi be hanged!” cried Dunk, giving the captured one a shake. A +little crowd had gathered in the street to see the fun.</p> + +<p>“I—I’ll give you whatever you think is right,” promised Ikey. “Only let +me go. I shall be late.”</p> + +<p>“The late Mr. Stein,” laughed Andy.<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_126' id='Page_126'>126</a></span></p> + +<p>“What about the rare satsuma piece you wished onto me?” demanded Ted.</p> + +<p>“And that cloisonne flower vawse that has a crack in it?” Thad wanted to +know.</p> + +<p>“That’s because it’s so old,” whined Ikey. “It is more valuable.”</p> + +<p>“There’s one in the window without a crack for three dollars less,” was +the retort.</p> + +<p>“Oh, well, if you fellows are dissatisfied with your bargains——”</p> + +<p>“Oh, we’re not going to back down,” said Andy, “but we’re not going to +pay more than they’re worth, either. It was a plant, and you know it. +Now you shell out all we paid above what the things are marked at in +this window, and we’ll call it square—that is, if you don’t go around +blabbing how you took us in.”</p> + +<p>“All right! All right!” cried Ikey. “I’ll do it, only let me go!”</p> + +<p>“No; pay first! Run him over to our rooms,” suggested Dunk. They were +not far from the quadrangle, and catching hold of Ikey they ran him +around into High Street and through the gateway beside Chittenden Hall +to Wright. There, up in Andy’s and Dunk’s room, Ikey was made to +disgorge his cash. But they were merciful to him and only took the +difference in price.</p> + +<p>“Now you tell us how it happened, and we’ll let you go,” promised Andy.<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_127' id='Page_127'>127</a></span></p> + +<p>“It was all Hashmi’s fault,” declared Ikey. “I believed him when he said +his brother in Japan had sent him a box of fine vawses. Hashmi said he +didn’t need ’em all, and I said maybe we could sell ’em. So I did.”</p> + +<p>“That was all right; but why did you stick up the price?” asked Andy.</p> + +<p>“A fellow has to make money,” returned Ikey, innocently enough, and Dunk +laughed.</p> + +<p>“All right,” said Andy’s roommate. “Don’t do it again, that’s all. Who +is Hashmi’s brother?”</p> + +<p>“One of ’em keeps that Jap store where you were looking in the window,” +said Ikey, edging out of the room, “and the other is in Japan. He sent +the stuff over to be sold in the regular way, but that sly Hashmi fooled +me. Never again!”</p> + +<p>“And you passed it on to us,” said Andy with a laugh.</p> + +<p>“Well, it’s all in the game.”</p> + +<p>“Still, we’ve got the stuff,” said Ted.</p> + +<p>They had, but had they known it all they would have learned that, even +at the lowered price they were paying dearly enough for the ornaments, +and at that Hashmi and Ikey divided a goodly sum between them.</p> + +<p>The college days passed on. Andy and Dunk were settling down to the +grind of study, making<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_128' id='Page_128'>128</a></span> it as easy as they could for themselves, as did +the other students.</p> + +<p>Andy kept on with his football practice, and made progress. He was named +as second substitute on the freshman team and did actually play through +the fourth quarter in an important game, after it had been taken safely +into the Yale camp. But he was proud even to do that, and made a field +goal that merited him considerable applause.</p> + +<p>Mortimer had dropped out of the varsity team. There was good reason, for +he would not train, and, though he could play brilliantly at times, he +could not be depended on.</p> + +<p>“I don’t care!” he boasted to his sporting crowd. “I can have some fun, +now.”</p> + +<p>Several times he and his crowd had come around to ask Dunk to go out +with them, but Dunk had refused, much to Mortimer’s chagrin.</p> + +<p>“Oh, come on, be a good fellow!” he had urged.</p> + +<p>“No, I’ve got to do some boning.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, forget it!”</p> + +<p>But Dunk would not, for which Andy was glad.</p> + +<p>Then came a period when Dunk went to pieces in his recitations. He was +warned by his professors and tried to make up for it by hard study.<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_129' id='Page_129'>129</a></span> He +was not naturally brilliant and certain lessons came hard to him.</p> + +<p>He grew discouraged and talked of withdrawing. Andy did all he could for +him, even to the neglect of his own standing, but it seemed to do no +good.</p> + +<p>“What’s the use of it all, anyhow?” demanded Dunk. “I’ll spend four +mortal years here, and come out with a noddle full of musty old Latin +and Greek, go to work in dad’s New York office and forget it all in six +months. I might as well start forgetting it now.”</p> + +<p>“You’ve got the wrong idea,” said Andy.</p> + +<p>“Well, maybe I have. Hanged if I see how you do it!”</p> + +<p>“I don’t do so well.”</p> + +<p>“But you don’t get floored as I do! I’m going to chuck it!” and he threw +his Horace across the room, shattering the Japanese vase he had bought.</p> + +<p>“Look out!” cried Andy.</p> + +<p>“Too late! I don’t give a hang!”</p> + +<p>Someone came along the hall.</p> + +<p>“What are you fellows up to?” asked a gay voice. “Trying to break up +housekeeping?”</p> + +<p>“It’s Gaffington!” murmured Andy.</p> + +<p>“Come on in!” invited Dunk.</p> + +<p>“You fellows come on out!” retorted the newcomer. “There’s a peach of a +show at<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_130' id='Page_130'>130</a></span> Poli’s. Let’s take it in and have supper at Burke’s afterward.”</p> + +<p>Dunk got up.</p> + +<p>“Hanged if I don’t!” he said, with a defiant look at Andy.</p> + +<p>“That’s the stuff! Be a sport!” challenged Mortimer. “Coming along, +Blair?”</p> + +<p>“No.”</p> + +<p>Mortimer laughed.</p> + +<p>“Go down among the dead ones!” he cried. “Come on, Dunk, we’ll make a +night of it!”</p> + +<p>And they went out together, leaving Andy alone in the silent room.</p> + + + +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'> +<a name='CHAPTER_XVI' id='CHAPTER_XVI'></a> +<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_131' id='Page_131'>131</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XVI</h2><h3>IN BAD</h3> +</div> + + +<p>The clock was ticking. To Andy it sounded as loud as a timepiece in a +tower. The rhythmic cadence seemed to fill the room. Somewhere off in +the distance a bell boomed out—a church bell.</p> + +<p>Andy sat in a brown study, looking into the fireplace. A little blaze +was going on the hearth, and the young student, gazing at the embers saw +many pictures there.</p> + +<p>For some time Andy sat without stirring. He had listened to the +retreating footsteps of Dunk and Mortimer as the boys passed down the +corridor, laughing.</p> + +<p>Through Wright Hall there echoed other footsteps—coming and +going—there was the sound of voices in talk and in gay repartee. +Students called one to the other, or in groups hurried here and there, +intent on pleasure. Andy sat there alone—thinking—thinking.</p> + +<p>A log in the fireplace broke with a suddenness that startled him. A +shower of sparks flew up the chimney, and a little puff of smoke shot +out into the room. Andy roused himself.<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_132' id='Page_132'>132</a></span></p> + +<p>“Oh, hang it all!” he exclaimed aloud. “Why should I care? Let him go +with that crowd—with Mort and his bunch if he likes. What difference +does it make to me?”</p> + +<p>He stood up, his arm on the mantel where had rested the Japanese vase +purchased so mysteriously. Now only the fragments of it were there.</p> + +<p>A comparison between that shattered vase and what might be the shattered +friendship between himself and his roommate came to Andy, but he +resolutely thrust it aside.</p> + +<p>“What difference does it make to me?” he asked himself. “Let him go his +own way, and I’ll go mine.”</p> + +<p>He crossed to the book rack on the window sill, intending to do some +studying. On the broad stone ledge outside the casement he kept his +bottle of spring water. It was a cooler place than the room. Andy poured +himself out a drink, and as he sipped it he said again:</p> + +<p>“Why should I care what he does?”</p> + +<p>Then, from off in the distance he heard the chimes of a church, playing +“Adestes Fideles.”</p> + +<p>He stood listening—entranced as the tones came to him, softened by the +night air.</p> + +<p>And there seemed to whisper to him a still, small voice that asked:</p> + +<p>“Am I my brother’s keeper?”<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_133' id='Page_133'>133</a></span></p> + +<p>Andy shut the window softly, and, going back to his chair sat staring +into the fire. It was dying down, the embers settling into the dead +ashes. It was very still and quiet in the little room. All Wright Hall +was very still and quiet now.</p> + +<p>“I—I guess I’ll have to care—after all,” whispered Andy.</p> + +<p>Footsteps were heard coming along the corridor, and, for a moment Andy +had a wild hope that it might be Dunk returning. But as he listened he +knew it was not his chum.</p> + +<p>Someone knocked on the door.</p> + +<p>“Come!” called Andy sharply. It could be none of his friends, he knew.</p> + +<p>A messenger entered with a note, and, observing an unfamiliar +handwriting, Andy wondered from whom it could be. He ripped it open and +uttered an exclamation. He read:</p> + +<div class='blockquot'> +<p>“Dear Mr. Blair:</p> +<p>”I am doing a little engagement at +Poli’s. Won’t you drop around and see me? I +promise not to compel you to play the fireman.</p> +<p style='margin-left:60%'>“Sincerely yours,<br /> +<span class='smcap'>”Mazie Fuller</span>.“</p> +</div> + +<p>“Jove!” murmured Andy. “I forgot all about her.”</p> + +<p>“Any answer?” asked the messenger.<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_134' id='Page_134'>134</a></span></p> + +<p>“No.”</p> + +<p>The boy started out.</p> + +<p>“Oh, yes. Wait a minute.” Andy scribbled an acceptance.</p> + +<p>“Here,” he said, and handed the boy a quarter.</p> + +<p>“T’anks!” exclaimed the urchin. Then with a roguish glance he added: +“Gee, but you college guys is great!”</p> + +<p>“Hop along!” commanded Andy briefly.</p> + +<p>Should he go, after all? He had said he would and yet——</p> + +<p>“Oh, hang it! I guess I’d better go!” he said aloud, just as though he +had not intended to all along. He turned up the light and began throwing +about a pile of neckties. He tried first one and then another. None +seemed to satisfy him, and when he did get the hue that suited him it +would not allow itself to be properly tied.</p> + +<p>“Oh, rats!” Andy exclaimed. “Why should I care?”</p> + +<p>Why indeed? It is one of the mysteries. “Vanity of vanities” and the +rest of it.</p> + +<p>As he entered Poli’s Andy was aware that something unusual was going on. +The ushers were grinning with good-natured tolerance, but there was +rather an anxious look on the faces of some of the women in the +audience. Some of their male escorts appeared resentful.<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_135' id='Page_135'>135</a></span></p> + +<p>Andy had been obliged to purchase a box seat, as there were no vacant +ones in the body of the house. As he sank into his chair, rather back, +for the box was well filled, he saw a college classmate.</p> + +<p>“What’s up?” he asked, the curtain then being down to allow of a change +of scene.</p> + +<p>“Oh, Gaffington and his crowd are joshing some of the acts.”</p> + +<p>“Any row?”</p> + +<p>“No, everybody takes it good-naturedly. Bunch of our fellows here +to-night.”</p> + +<p>“Show any good?”</p> + +<p>“Pretty fair. Some of the things are punk. There’s a good number +coming—Mazie Fuller—she’s got a new act. And Bodkins—you know the +tramp juggler—the one who does things with cigar boxes—he’s coming on +next. He’s a scream.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, I know him. He’s all right.”</p> + +<p>The curtain went up and from the wings came Miss Fuller. She had +prospered in vaudeville, it seemed, for she had on a richer costume than +the one she wore when she had been so nearly burned to death.</p> + +<p>She was well received, and while singing her first number she looked +about the house. Presently she caught the eyes of Andy—he had leaned +forward in the box, perhaps purposely. Miss<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_136' id='Page_136'>136</a></span> Fuller smiled at him, and +at once a chorus of cries arose from the students in the different parts +of the theater. Up to then, since Andy’s entrance, there had been no +commotion. Now it broke out again.</p> + +<p>“Oh, get on to that!”</p> + +<p>“The lad with the dreamy eyes!”</p> + +<p>“Oh, you Andy Blair!”</p> + +<p>Andy sank back blushing, but Miss Fuller took it in good part.</p> + +<p>Her act went on, and was well received. She did not again look at Andy, +possibly fearing to embarrass him. And then, as she retired after her +last number—a veritable whirlwind song—there came a thunder of +applause, mingled with shrill whistles, to compel an encore.</p> + +<p>Andy was aware of a disturbance in the front of the house. It was where +a number of the students were seated, and Andy had a glimpse of Dunk +Chamber. Beside him was Gaffington. Dunk had arisen and was swaying +unsteadily on his feet.</p> + +<p>“Sit down!”</p> + +<p>“Keep him quiet!”</p> + +<p>“Put him out!”</p> + +<p>“Call the manager!”</p> + +<p>“Make him sit down!”</p> + +<p>Andy began to feel uneasy. He could see the unhappy condition of his +roommate and those<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_137' id='Page_137'>137</a></span> with him. The worst he feared had come to pass.</p> + +<p>Swaying, but still managing not to step on anyone, Dunk made his way to +the aisle, and then, getting close to the box where Andy sat, climbed +over the rail. The manager motioned to an usher not to interfere. +Probably he thought it was the best means of producing quiet.</p> + +<p>“Here I am, Andy,” announced Dunk gravely.</p> + +<p>“So I see,” spoke Andy, his face blazing at the notice he was receiving. +“Sit down and keep quiet. There’s a good act coming.”</p> + +<p>“Hush!” exclaimed a number of voices as the curtain slid up, to give +place to “Bustling Bodkins,” the tramp juggler. The actor came out in +his usual ragged make-up, and proceeded to do things with a pile of +empty cigar boxes—really a clever trick. Dunk watched him with curious +gravity for a while and then started to climb over the footlights on to +the stage.</p> + +<p>“No, you don’t, Dunk!” cried Andy, firmly, and despite his chum’s +protests he hauled him back. Then he took Dunk firmly by the arm and +marched him out of a side entrance of the show-house.</p> + + + +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'> +<a name='CHAPTER_XVII' id='CHAPTER_XVII'></a> +<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_138' id='Page_138'>138</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XVII</h2><h3>ANDY'S DESPAIR</h3> +</div> + + +<p>“Pretty bad; was I, Andy?”</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“Whew! What a headache! Any ice water left?”</p> + +<p>“I’ll get some.”</p> + +<p>“Never mind. What’s there’ll do.”</p> + +<p>It was morning—there always is a “morning after.” Perhaps it is a good +thing, for it is nature’s protest against violations of her code of +health.</p> + +<p>Dunk drank deep of the water Andy handed him.</p> + +<p>“That’s better,” he said, with a sigh. “Guess I won’t get up just yet.”</p> + +<p>“Going to cut out chapel?”</p> + +<p>“I should say yes! My head is splitting now and to go there and hear +that old organ booming out hymns would snap it off my neck. No chapel +for me!”</p> + +<p>“You know what it means.”</p> + +<p>“Well, I can’t be in much worse than I am.<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_139' id='Page_139'>139</a></span> I’ll straighten up after a +bit. No lectures to-day.”</p> + +<p>“You’re going the pace,” observed Andy. It was not said with that false +admiration which so often keeps a man on the wrong road from sheer +bravado. Andy was rather white, and his lips trembled.</p> + +<p>“It does seem so,” admitted Dunk, gloomily enough.</p> + +<p>“Any more water there?” he asked, presently.</p> + +<p>“I’ll get some,” offered Andy, and he soon returned with a pitcher in +which ice tinkled.</p> + +<p>“That sounds good,” murmured his roommate. “Was I very bad last night?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, so-so.”</p> + +<p>“Made a confounded idiot of myself, I suppose?” and he glanced sharply +at Andy over the top of the glass.</p> + +<p>“Oh, well, we all do at times.”</p> + +<p>“I haven’t seen you do it yet.”</p> + +<p>“You will if you room with me long enough, Dunk.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, but not in the way I mean.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, well, I’m no moralist; but I hope you never will see me that way. +Understand, I’m not preaching, but——”</p> + +<p>“I know. You don’t care for it.”</p> + +<p>“That’s it.”<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_140' id='Page_140'>140</a></span></p> + +<p>“I wish I didn’t. But you don’t understand.”</p> + +<p>“Maybe not,” said Andy slowly. “I’m not judging you in the least.”</p> + +<p>“I know, old man. How’d you get me home?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, you were tractable enough. I got a taxi.”</p> + +<p>“I’ll settle with you later. I don’t seem to have any cash left.”</p> + +<p>“Forget it. I can lend you some.”</p> + +<p>“I may need it, Andy. Hang Gaffington and his crowd anyhow! I’m not +going out with them again.”</p> + +<p>Andy made no reply. He had been much pained and hurt by the episode in +the theater. Public attention had been attracted to him by Dunk’s +conduct; but, more than this, Andy remembered a startled and surprised +look in the eyes of Miss Fuller, who came out on the stage when Dunk +interrupted the tramp act.</p> + +<p>“If only I could have had a chance to explain,” thought Andy. But there +had been no time. He had helped to take Dunk away. When this Samaritan +act was over the theater had closed, and Andy did not think it wise to +look up Miss Fuller at her hotel.</p> + +<p>“I’ll see her again,” he consoled himself.</p> + +<p>The chapel bell boomed out, and Andy started for the door.<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_141' id='Page_141'>141</a></span></p> + +<p>“What a head!” grumbled Dunk again. “I say, Andy, what’s good when a +fellow makes an infernal idiot of himself?”</p> + +<p>“In your case a little bromo might help.”</p> + +<p>“Got any?”</p> + +<p>“No, but I can get you some.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, don’t bother. When you come back, maybe——”</p> + +<p>“I’ll get it,” said Andy, shortly.</p> + +<p>He was late for chapel when he had succeeded in administering a dose of +the quieting medicine to Dunk, and this did not add to the pleasures of +the occasion. However, there was no help for it.</p> + +<p>Somehow the miserable day following the miserable night ended, and Andy +was again back in the room with Dunk. The latter was feeling quite +“chipper” again.</p> + +<p>“Oh, well, it’s a pretty good old world after all,” Dunk said. “I think +I can eat a little now. Never again for me, Andy! Do you hear that?”</p> + +<p>“I sure do, old man.”</p> + +<p>“And that goes. Put her there!”</p> + +<p>They shook hands. It meant more to Andy than he would admit. He had +gone, that afternoon, to the theater, where Miss Fuller was on for a +matinee, and, sending back his card, with some flowers, had been +graciously received. He<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_142' id='Page_142'>142</a></span> managed to make her understand, without saying +too much.</p> + +<p>“I’m so glad it wasn’t—you!” she said, with a warm pressure of her +hand.</p> + +<p>“I’m glad too,” laughed Andy.</p> + +<p>“No sir—never again!” said Dunk that evening, as he got out his books. +“You hear me, Andy—never again!”</p> + +<p>“That’s the way to talk!”</p> + +<p>It was hard work at Yale. No college is intended for children, and the +New Haven University in particular has a high aim for its students.</p> + +<p>Andy “buckled down,” and was doing well. His standing in class, while +not among the highest, was satisfactory, and he was in line for a place +on the freshman eleven.</p> + +<p>How he did practice! No slave worked harder or took more abuse from the +coaches. Andy was glad of one thing—that Gaffington was out of it. +There were others, though, who tackled Andy hard in the scrimmages, but +he rather liked it, for there was no vindictiveness back of it.</p> + +<p>As for Mortimer, he and his crowd went on their sporting way, doing just +enough college work not to fall under the displeasure of the Dean or +other officials. But it was a “close shave” at times.<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_143' id='Page_143'>143</a></span></p> + +<p>Dunk seemed to stick to his resolution. He, too, was studying hard, and +for several nights after the theater escapade did not go out evenings. +Andy was rejoicing, and then, just when his hopes were highest, they +were suddenly dashed.</p> + +<p>There had been a period of hard work, and it was followed by a football +disaster. Yale met Washington and Jefferson, and while part of the +Bulldog’s poor form might be ascribed to a muddy field, it was not all +that. There was fumbling and ragged playing, and Yale had not been able +to score. Nor was it any consolation that the other team had not either. +Several times their players had menaced Yale’s goal line, and only by +supreme efforts was a touchdown avoided. As it stood it was practically +a defeat for Yale, and everybody, from the varsity members to the digs, +were as blue as the cushions in the dormitory window seats.</p> + +<p>Andy and Dunk sat in their room, thankful that it was Saturday night, +with late chapel and no lessons on the morrow.</p> + +<p>“Rotten, isn’t it, Andy?” said Dunk.</p> + +<p>“Oh, it might be worse. The season is only just opening. We’ll beat +Harvard and Princeton all right.”</p> + +<p>“Jove! If we don’t!” Dunk looked alarmed.</p> + +<p>“Oh, we will!” asserted Andy.<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_144' id='Page_144'>144</a></span></p> + +<p>Dunk seemed nervous. He was pacing up and down the room. Finally, +stopping in front of Andy he said:</p> + +<p>“Come on out. Let’s go to a show—or something. Let’s go down to Burke’s +place and see the fellows. I want to get rid of this blue feeling.”</p> + +<p>“All right, I’ll go,” said Andy, hesitating only a moment.</p> + +<p>They were just going out together when there came the sound of footsteps +and laughter down the corridor. Andy started as he recognized the voice +of Gaffington.</p> + +<p>“Oh Dunk! Are you there?” was called, gleefully.</p> + +<p>“Yes, I’m here,” was the answer, and it sounded to Andy as though his +chum was glad to hear that voice.</p> + +<p>“Come out and have some fun. Bully show at the Hyperion. No end of +sport. Come on!”</p> + +<p>Mortimer, with Clarence Boyle and Len Scott, came around the corner of +the corridor, arm in arm.</p> + +<p>“Oh, you and Blair off scouting?” asked Gaffington, pausing before the +two.</p> + +<p>“We were going out—yes,” admitted Dunk.</p> + +<p>“We’ll make a party of it then. Fall in, Blair!”<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_145' id='Page_145'>145</a></span></p> + +<p>Andy rather objected to the patronizing tone of Mortimer, but he did not +feel like resenting it then. Should he go?</p> + +<p>Dunk glanced at his chum somewhat in doubt.</p> + +<p>“Will you come, Andy?” he asked, hesitatingly.</p> + +<p>“Yes—I guess so.”</p> + +<p>“We’ll make a night of it!” cried Len.</p> + +<p>“Not for mine,” laughed Andy. “I’m in training, you know.”</p> + +<p>“Well, we’ll keep Dunk then. Come on.”</p> + +<p>They set out together, Andy with many misgivings in his heart.</p> + +<p>Noisy and stirring was the welcome they received at Burke’s. It was the +usual story. The night wore on, and Dunk’s good resolutions slipped away +gradually.</p> + +<p>“Come on, Andy, be a sport!” he said, raising his glass.</p> + +<p>Andy smiled and shook his head. Then a bitter feeling came into his +heart—a feeling mingled with despair.</p> + +<p>“Hang it all!” he murmured to himself. “I’m going to quit. I’ll let him +go the pace as he wants to. I’m done with him!”</p> + + + +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'> +<a name='CHAPTER_XVIII' id='CHAPTER_XVIII'></a> +<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_146' id='Page_146'>146</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XVIII</h2><h3>ANDY’S RESOLVE</h3> +</div> + + +<p>“Come on back!”</p> + +<p>“Don’t be a quitter!”</p> + +<p>“It’s early yet!”</p> + +<p>“The fun hasn’t started!”</p> + +<p>These cries greeted Andy as he rose to leave Burke’s place. His eyes +smarted from the smoke of many pipes, and his ears rang with the echoes +of college songs. His heart ached too, as he saw Dunk in the midst of +the gay and festive throng surrounding Gaffington and his wealthy chums.</p> + +<p>“I’ve got to turn in—training, you know,” explained Andy with a smile. +It was the one and almost only excuse that would be accepted. Two or +three more of the athletic set dropped out with him.</p> + +<p>“Goin’, Andy?” asked Dunk, standing rather unsteadily at a table.</p> + +<p>“Yes. Coming?” asked Andy pausing, and hoping, with all his heart, that +Dunk would come.</p> + +<p>“Not on your life! There’s too much fun here. Have a good time when +you’re living, say<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_147' id='Page_147'>147</a></span> I. You’re an awful long time dead! Here you are, +waiter!” and Dunk beckoned to the man.</p> + +<p>Andy paused a moment—and only for a moment. Then he hardened his heart +and turned to go.</p> + +<p>“Leave the door open,” Dunk called after him. “I’ll be home in th’ +mornin’.”</p> + +<p>And then the crowd burst out into the refrain:</p> + +<p class='blockquot'> +“He won’t be home until morning,<br /> +He won’t be home until morning.” +</p> + +<p>Over and over again rang the miserable chant that has bolstered up so +many a man who, otherwise, would stop before it was too late.</p> + +<p>Andy breathed deep of the cool night air as he got outside. The streets +were quiet and deserted, save for those who had come out with him, and +who went their various ways. As Andy turned down a side street he could +still hear, coming faintly to him through the quiet night the strains +of:</p> + +<p class='blockquot'>“We won’t go home until morning.”<br /> +</p> + +<p>“Poor old Dunk!” mused Andy. “I hate to quit him, but I’ve got to. I’m +not going to be looking after him all the while. It’s too much<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_148' id='Page_148'>148</a></span> work. +Besides, he won’t stay decent permanently.”</p> + +<p>He was angry and hurt that all his roommate’s good resolutions should +thus easily be cast to the winds.</p> + +<p>“I’m just going to quit!” exclaimed Andy fiercely. “I’ve done all I +could. Besides, it isn’t my affair anyhow. I’ll get another room—one by +myself. Oh, hang it all, anyhow!”</p> + +<p>Moody, angry, rather dissatisfied with himself, wholly dissatisfied with +Dunk, Andy stumbled on. As he turned out of Chapel into High Street he +saw before him two men who were talking earnestly. Andy could not help +hearing what they said.</p> + +<p>“Is the case hopeless?” one asked.</p> + +<p>“Oh, no, I wouldn’t say that.”</p> + +<p>“Yet he’s promised time and again to reform, and every time he slips +back again.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, I know. He isn’t the only one at the mission who does that.”</p> + +<p>Andy guessed they were church workers.</p> + +<p>“Don’t you get tired?” asked the questioner.</p> + +<p>“Oh, yes, often. But then I get rested.”</p> + +<p>“But this chap seems such a bad case.”</p> + +<p>“They’re all bad, more or less. I don’t mind that.”</p> + +<p>“And you’re going to try again?”</p> + +<p>“I sure am. He’s worth saving.”<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_149' id='Page_149'>149</a></span></p> + +<p>Andy felt as though some one had dealt him a blow. “Worth saving!” Yes, +that was it. He saw a light.</p> + +<p>The two men passed on. Andy hesitated.</p> + +<p>“Worth saving!”</p> + +<p>It seemed as though some one had shouted the words at him.</p> + +<p>“Worth saving!”</p> + +<p>Andy’s heart was beating tumultuously. His head and pulses throbbed. His +ears rang.</p> + +<p>He stood still on the sidewalk, near the gateway beside Chittenden Hall. +His room was a little way beyond. It would be easy to go there and go to +bed, and Andy was very tired. He had played a hard game of football that +day. It was so easy to go to his room, and leave Dunk to look after +himself.</p> + +<p>What was the use? And yet——</p> + +<p>“He is worth saving!”</p> + +<p>Andy struggled with himself. Again he seemed to hear that voice +whispering:</p> + +<p>“Am I my brother’s keeper?”</p> + +<p>Andy turned resolutely away from the college buildings. He set his face +again down High Street, and swung out into Chapel.</p> + +<p>“I’ll go get him,” he said, simply. “He’s worth saving. Maybe I can’t do +it—but—I’ll try!”</p> + + + +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'> +<a name='CHAPTER_XIX' id='CHAPTER_XIX'></a> +<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_150' id='Page_150'>150</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XIX</h2><h3>LINK COMES TO COLLEGE</h3> +</div> + + +<p>With hesitating steps Andy pushed open the door of Burke’s place and +entered. At first he could make out little through the haze of tobacco +smoke, and his return was not noticed. Most of the college boys were in +the rear room, and the noise of their jollity floated out to Andy.</p> + +<p>“I wonder if Dunk is still there?” he murmured.</p> + +<p>He learned a moment later, for he heard some one call:</p> + +<p>“Stand up, Dunk! Your eye on us!”</p> + +<p>“He’s in there—and I’ve got to save him!” Andy groaned. Then, with +clenched teeth and a firm step he went into the rear room, among that +crowd of roistering students.</p> + +<p>Andy’s reappearance was the signal for a burst of good-natured jibing, +mingled with cries of approval.</p> + +<p>“Here he comes back!”</p> + +<p>“I knew he couldn’t stay away!”<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_151' id='Page_151'>151</a></span></p> + +<p>“Who said he was a quitter?”</p> + +<p>From among the many glasses offered Andy selected a goblet of ginger +ale. He looked about the tables, and saw Dunk at one, regarding him with +a rather uncertain eye.</p> + +<p>“There he is!” cried Andy’s roommate, waving his hand. “That’s him. My +old college chum! I’m his protector! I always look after him. I say,” +and he turned to the youth beside him, “I say, what is it I protect my +old college from anyhow? Hanged if I haven’t forgotten. What is it I +save him from?”</p> + +<p>“From himself, I guess,” was the answer. “You’re all right, Dunk!”</p> + +<p>“Come on, Dunk,” said Andy good naturedly. “I’m going to the room. +Coming?”</p> + +<p>Instantly there was a storm of protest.</p> + +<p>“Of course he’s not coming!”</p> + +<p>“It’s early yet!”</p> + +<p>“Don’t you go, Dunk!”</p> + +<p>Mortimer Gaffington, fixing an insolent and supercilious stare on Andy, +said:</p> + +<p>“Don’t mind him, Dunk. You’re not tied to him, remember. The +little-brother-come-in-out-of-the-wet game doesn’t go at Yale. Every man +stands on his own feet. Eh, Dunk?”</p> + +<p>“That’s right.”</p> + +<p>“You’re not going to leave your loving friends and go home so early; are +you, Dunk?”<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_152' id='Page_152'>152</a></span></p> + +<p>“Course not. Can’t leave my friends. But Andy’s my friend, too; ain’t +you, Andy?”</p> + +<p>“I hope so, Dunk,” Andy replied, gravely.</p> + +<p>Somebody interrupted with a song, and there was much laughter. Mortimer +alone seemed to be the sinister influence at work, and he hovered near +Dunk as if to counteract the good intentions of Andy.</p> + +<p>“Here you are, waiter!” cried Dunk. “Everybody have something—ginger +ale, soda water, pop, anything they like. Cigars, too.” He pulled out a +bill—a yellow-back—and Andy saw Mortimer take it from his shaking +fingers.</p> + +<p>“Don’t be so foolish!” exclaimed the sophomore. “You don’t want to spend +all that. Here, I’ll hand out a fiver and keep this for you until +morning. You can settle with me later,” and Gaffington slipped the big +bill into his own pocket, and produced one of his own—of smaller +denomination.</p> + +<p>“That’s good,” murmured Dunk. “You’re my friend and protector—same as +I’m Andy’s protector. We’re all protectors. Come on, fellows, another +song!”</p> + +<p>Andy was beginning to wonder how he would get his chum home. It was +getting very late and to enter Wright Hall at an unseemly hour meant +trouble.</p> + +<p>“Come on, Dunk—let’s light out,” said Andy<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_153' id='Page_153'>153</a></span> again, making his way to +his roommate’s side.</p> + +<p>“No, you don’t!”</p> + +<p>“That game won’t go!”</p> + +<p>“Let Dunk alone, he can look out for himself.”</p> + +<p>Laughing and expostulating, the others got between Andy and his friend. +It was all in good-natured fun, for most of the boys, beyond perhaps +smoking a little more than was good for them, were not at all reckless. +But the spirit of the night seemed to have laid hold of all.</p> + +<p>“Come on, Dunk,” appealed Andy.</p> + +<p>“He’s going to stay!” declared Mortimer, thrusting himself between Andy +and Dunk, and sticking out his chin in aggressive fashion. “I tell you +he’s going to stay! We don’t want any of your goody-goody methods here, +Blair!”</p> + +<p>Andy ignored the affront.</p> + +<p>“Are you coming, Dunk?” he repeated softly.</p> + +<p>Dunk raised his head and flashed a look at his roommate. Something in +Dunk’s better nature must have awakened. And yet he was all good nature, +so it is difficult to speak of the “better” side. The trouble was that +he was too good-natured. Yet at that instant he must have had an +understanding of what Andy’s plan was—to save him from himself.</p> + +<p>“You want me to come with you?” he asked slowly.<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_154' id='Page_154'>154</a></span></p> + +<p>“Yes, Dunk.”</p> + +<p>“Then I’m coming.”</p> + +<p>Mortimer put his arm around Dunk and whispered in his ear.</p> + +<p>“You don’t want to go,” he insisted.</p> + +<p>“Yes, he does,” said Andy, firmly.</p> + +<p>For a moment he and the other youth faced each other. It was a struggle +of wills for the mastery of a character, and Andy won—at least the +first “round.”</p> + +<p>“I’m going with my friend,” said Dunk firmly, and despite further +protests he went out with his arm over Andy’s shoulder. There were cries +and appeals to remain, but Dunk heeded them not.</p> + +<p>“I’m going to quit,” he announced. “Had enough fun for to-night.”</p> + +<p>Out in the clear, cool air Andy breathed free again.</p> + +<p>“Shall I get a cab?” he asked. “There must be one somewhere around.”</p> + +<p>“Certainly not,” answered Dunk. “I—I can walk, I guess.”</p> + +<p>They reached Wright Hall, neither speaking much on the way. Andy was +glad—and sorry. Sorry that Dunk had allowed his resolution to be +broken, but glad that he had been able to stop his friend in time.</p> + +<p>“Thanks, old man,” said Dunk, briefly, as they<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_155' id='Page_155'>155</a></span> reached their room. +“You’ve done more than you know.”</p> + +<p>“That’s all right,” replied Andy, in a low voice.</p> + +<p>Dunk went to chapel with Andy the next morning, but he was rather silent +during the day, and he flunked miserably in several recitations on the +days following. Truth to tell he was in no condition to put his mind +seriously on lessons, but he tried hard.</p> + +<p>Andy, coming in from football practice one afternoon, found Dunk +standing in the middle of the apartment staring curiously at a +yellow-backed ten-dollar bill he was holding in both of his hands.</p> + +<p>“What’s the matter?” asked Andy. “A windfall?”</p> + +<p>“No, Gaffington just sent it in to me. Said it was one he took the other +night when I flashed it at Burke’s.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, yes, I remember,” spoke Andy. “You were getting too generous.”</p> + +<p>“I know that part of it—Gaffington meant all right. But I don’t +understand this.”</p> + +<p>“What?” asked Andy.</p> + +<p>“Why, this is a ten-spot, and I’m sure I had a twenty that night. +However, I may be mistaken—I guess I couldn’t see straight. But I was +sure it was a twenty. Don’t say anything about it,<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_156' id='Page_156'>156</a></span> though—probably I +was wrong. It was decent of Gaffington not to let me lose it all.”</p> + +<p>And Dunk thrust the ten dollar bill into his pocket.</p> + +<p>It was several days after this when Andy, crossing the quadrangle, saw a +familiar figure raking up the leaves on the campus.</p> + +<p>“What in the world is he doing here—if that’s him?” he asked himself. +“And yet it does look like him.”</p> + +<p>He came closer. The young fellow raking up the leaves turned, and Andy +exclaimed:</p> + +<p>“Link Bardon! What in the world are you doing here?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, I’ve come to college!” replied the young farm hand, smiling. “How +do you do, Mr. Blair?”</p> + +<p>“Come to college, eh?” laughed Andy. “What course are you taking?”</p> + +<p>“I expect to get the degree B. W.—bachelor of work,” was the rejoinder. +“I’m sort of assistant janitor here now.”</p> + +<p>“Is that so! How did it happen?”</p> + +<p>“Well, you know the last time I saw you I was on my way to see if I +could locate an uncle of mine, just outside of New Haven. I didn’t, for +he’d moved away. Then I got some odd bits of work to do, and finally, +coming to town with a young fellow, who, like myself was out of work,<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_157' id='Page_157'>157</a></span> I +heard of this place, applied for it and got it. I like it.”</p> + +<p>“Well, I’m glad you are here,” said Andy. “If I can help you in any way +let me know.”</p> + +<p>“I will, Mr. Blair. You did help a lot before,” and he went on raking +leaves, while Andy, musing on the strange turns of luck and chance, +hurried on to his lecture.</p> + + + +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'> +<a name='CHAPTER_XX' id='CHAPTER_XX'></a> +<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_158' id='Page_158'>158</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XX</h2><h3>QUEER DISAPPEARANCES</h3> +</div> + + +<p>“Come in!” cried Andy as a knock sounded.</p> + +<p>“I’m not going out, I don’t care who it is!” exclaimed Dunk, fidgeting +in his chair. “I’ve just <i>got</i> to get this confounded Greek.”</p> + +<p>“Same here,” said Andy.</p> + +<p>The door was pushed open and a shock of dark, curly hair was thrust in.</p> + +<p>“Like to look at some swell neckties!” a voice asked.</p> + +<p>“Oh, come in, you blooming old haberdasher!” cried Andy with a laugh, +and Ikey Stein, with a bundle under his arm, slid in.</p> + +<p>“Fine business!” he exclaimed. “Give me a chance to make a little money, +gentlemen; I need it!”</p> + +<p>“No more of that Japanese ‘vawse’ business!” warned Dunk. “I won’t stand +for it.”</p> + +<p>“No, these are genuine bargains,” declared the student who was working +his way through college. “I’ll show you. I got ’em from a friend of +mine, who’s selling out. I can make<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_159' id='Page_159'>159</a></span> a little something on them, and +you’ll get swell scarfs at less than you’d pay for them in a store.”</p> + +<p>“Let’s see,” suggested Andy, rather glad of the diversion and of the +chance to stop studying, for he had been “boning” hard. “But I don’t +want any satsuma pattern, nor yet a cloisonne,” he added.</p> + +<p>“Say, forget that,” begged Ikey. “That Jap took me in, as well as he did +you fellows.”</p> + +<p>“Well, if anybody can take <i>you</i> in, Ikey, he’s a good one!” laughed +Dunk.</p> + +<p>“Oh, don’t mind me!” exclaimed the merchant-student. “You can’t hurt my +feelings. I’m used to it. And I’m not ashamed of my nature, either. My +ancestors were all merchants, and they had to drive hard bargains to +live. I don’t exactly do that, you understand, but I guess it’s in my +blood. I’m not ashamed that I’m a Jew!”</p> + +<p>“And we’re not ashamed of you, either!” cried Andy, heartily.</p> + +<p>“Same here,” added Dunk. “Trot out your ties, Ikey.”</p> + +<p>In spite of the fact that he sometimes insisted on the students buying +things they did not really need, Ikey was a general favorite in the +college.</p> + +<p>“There’s a fine one!” he exclaimed, holding up a hideous red and green +scarf. “Only a dollar—worth two.”<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_160' id='Page_160'>160</a></span></p> + +<p>“Wouldn’t have it if you paid me for it!” cried Andy. “Show me something +that a fellow could wear without hearing it yell a block away.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, you want something chaste and quiet,” suggested Ikey. “I have the +very thing. There!” holding it up. “That is a mere whisper!”</p> + +<p>“It’s a pretty loud whisper,” commented Dunk, “but at that it isn’t so +bad. I’ll take it, if you don’t want it, Andy.”</p> + +<p>“You’re welcome to it. I want something in a golden brown.”</p> + +<p>“Here you are!” exclaimed Ikey, sorting over his stock.</p> + +<p>He succeeded in selling Andy and Dunk two scarfs each, and tried to get +them to take more, but they were firm. Then the merchant-student +departed to other rooms.</p> + +<p>“It’s a queer way to get along,” commented Andy, when he had finished +admiring his purchases.</p> + +<p>“Yes, but I give him credit for it,” went on Dunk. “He meets with a lot +of discouragement, and some of the fellows are positively rude to him, +but he’s always the same—good-natured and willing to put up with it. +He’s working hard for his education.”</p> + +<p>“Harder than you and I,” commented Andy. “I wonder if we’d do it?”<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_161' id='Page_161'>161</a></span></p> + +<p>“I’d hate to have it thrust on me. But I do give Stein credit.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, only for that Japanese vase business.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, well, I believe that oily Jap did put one over on him.”</p> + +<p>“Possibly. Oh, rats! Here come some of the fellows!”</p> + +<p>The sound of footsteps was heard in the corridor. Andy glanced at Dunk. +If it should prove to be Mortimer Gaffington, who, of late had tried in +vain to get Dunk to go out with him, what was to be done? Andy caught +his breath sharply.</p> + +<p>But it proved to be a needless alarm, for Bob Hunter, Ted Wilson and +Thad Warburton came in with noisy greetings.</p> + +<p>“Look at the digs!”</p> + +<p>“Boning away on a night like this!”</p> + +<p>“qlCome into the garden, Maud!’ Chuck that, you fellows, and let’s go +downtown. What’s the matter with a picture show?”</p> + +<p>It was Thad who asked this, but Bob, with a wry face, put his hand in +his pocket and drew out seven cents.</p> + +<p>“It doesn’t look much like a picture show for me to-night,” he said.</p> + +<p>“Oh, I’ll stake you!” exclaimed Ted. “Come on.”</p> + +<p>“Shall we?” asked Dunk doubtfully of Andy.<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_162' id='Page_162'>162</a></span></p> + +<p>“Might as well, I guess,” was the answer. Andy was glad it had not been +Gaffington, and he realized that it might be better to take this chance +now of getting Dunk out, before the rich youth and his fast companions +came along, as they might later in the evening. He knew that with Bob, +Ted and Thad, there would be no long session at Burke’s.</p> + +<p>“I haven’t done my Greek,” objected Dunk, hesitatingly.</p> + +<p>“Oh, well, I’ll set the alarm clock, and we’ll get up an hour earlier in +the morning and floor it,” suggested Andy.</p> + +<p>“Burning the candle at both ends!” protested Dunk, with a sigh. “Ain’t I +terrible? But lead me to it!”</p> + +<p>As they went out of Wright Hall, Andy looked across the campus and saw +Gaffington, and some of his boon companions, approaching.</p> + +<p>“Just in time,” he murmured. When Gaffington saw Dunk in charge of his +friends he and the others turned aside.</p> + +<p>“That’s when I got ahead of him!” exulted our hero.</p> + +<p>They spent a pleasant evening, and Andy and Dunk were back in their room +at a reasonable hour.</p> + +<p>“I declare!” exclaimed Dunk, “I feel pretty fresh yet. I think I’ll have +another go at that<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_163' id='Page_163'>163</a></span> Greek. We won’t have to get up with the chickens +then.”</p> + +<p>“I’m with you,” agreed Andy, and they did more studying than they had +done in some time.</p> + +<p>“Well, I’m through,” yawned Dunk, flinging his book on the table. “Now +I’m going to hit the hay.”</p> + +<p>The next day Dunk was complimented on his recitation.</p> + +<p>“Oh, I tell you it pays to bone a bit!” Andy cried, clapping Dunk on the +back as they came out.</p> + +<p>“That’s right,” agreed the other.</p> + +<p>In the days that followed Andy watched Dunk closely. And, to our hero’s +delight, Gaffington seemed to be losing his influence. Several times +Dunk refused to go out with him—refused good-naturedly enough, but +steadfastly.</p> + +<p>Andy tried to get Dunk interested in football, and did to a certain +extent. Dunk went out to the practice, and Andy tried to get him to go +into training.</p> + +<p>“No, it’s too late,” was the answer. “Next year, maybe. But I like to +see you fellows rub your noses in the dirt. Go to it, Andy!”</p> + +<p>Link Bardon seemed to find his employment at Yale congenial. Andy met +him several times and had some little talk with him. The young farmer +said he hoped to get permanent employment<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_164' id='Page_164'>164</a></span> at the college, his present +position being only for a limited time.</p> + +<p>Andy had received letters from some of his former chums at Milton. Among +them were missives from Ben Snow and Chet Anderson. Chet wrote from +Harvard, where he had gone, that he would see Andy at the Yale-Harvard +game, while from Ben, who had gone to Princeton, came a similar message, +making an appointment for a good old-fashioned talk at the annual clash +of the Bulldog and Tiger.</p> + +<p>“I’ll be glad to see them again,” said Andy.</p> + +<p>It was about two weeks after the arrival of Link Bardon at Yale that +some little disturbance was occasioned throughout the college, when an +announcement was made at chapel one morning. It was from the Dean, and +stated that a number of articles had been reported as missing from the +rooms of various students.</p> + +<p>“You are requested to keep your doors locked when you are out of your +rooms,” the announcement concluded.</p> + +<p>There was a buzz of excitement as the students filed out.</p> + +<p>“What does it mean?”</p> + +<p>“Who lost anything?”</p> + +<p>“I have,” said one. “My new sapphire cuff buttons were swiped.”</p> + +<p>“I lost a ring,” added another.<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_165' id='Page_165'>165</a></span></p> + +<p>“And a diamond scarf pin I left on my dresser walked off—or someone +walked off with it,” spoke a third.</p> + +<p>There were several other mysterious losses mentioned.</p> + +<p>“How did it happen?” asked Andy of a fellow student who had said a few +dollars had been taken from his dresser.</p> + +<p>“Hanged if I know,” was the answer. “I left the money in my room, and +when I came back it was gone.”</p> + +<p>“Was the room locked?”</p> + +<p>“It sure was.”</p> + +<p>“Did any of the monitors or janitors see anyone go in?”</p> + +<p>“Not that I know of; but of course it could happen. There are a lot of +new men working around here, anyhow.”</p> + +<p>Andy thought of Link, and hoped that the farmer lad would not be +suspected on account of being a stranger.</p> + +<p>But as the days went on the number of mysterious thefts grew. Every +dormitory in the quadrangle had been visited, but the buildings outside +the hollow square seemed immune.</p> + + + +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'> +<a name='CHAPTER_XXI' id='CHAPTER_XXI'></a> +<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_166' id='Page_166'>166</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XXI</h2><h3>A GRIDIRON BATTLE</h3> +</div> + + +<p>Harvard was about to meet Yale in the annual football game between the +freshman teams. The streets were filled with pretty girls, and more +pretty girls, with “sporty” chaps in mackinaws, in raglans—with all +sorts of hats atop of their heads, and some without hats at all.</p> + +<p>There had been the last secret final practice on Yale Field the day +before. That night the Harvard team and its followers had arrived, +putting up at Hotel Taft.</p> + +<p>Andy, in common with other candidates for the team, was sitting quietly +in his room, for Holwell, the coach, had forbidden any liveliness the +night before the game. And Andy had a chance to play.</p> + +<p>True, it was but a bare chance, but it was worth saving. He had played +brilliantly on the scrub team for some time, and had been named as a +possible substitute. If several backs ahead of him were knocked out, or +slumped at the last moment, Andy would go in. And, without in<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_167' id='Page_167'>167</a></span> the least +wishing misfortune to a fellow student, how Andy did wish he could play!</p> + +<p>There came a knock at the door—a timid, hesitating sort of knock.</p> + +<p>“Oh, hang it! If that’s Ikey, trying to sell me a blue sweater, I’ll +throw him down stairs!” growled Andy. He was nervous.</p> + +<p>“Come in!” called Dunk, laughing.</p> + +<p>“Is Andy Blair——Oh, hello, there you are, old man!” cried a voice and +Chet Anderson thrust his head into the room.</p> + +<p>“Well, you old rosebud!” yelled Andy, leaping out of the easy chair with +such energy that the bit of furniture slid almost into the big +fireplace. “Where’d you blow in from?”</p> + +<p>“I came with the Harvard bunch. I told you I’d see you here.”</p> + +<p>“I know, but I didn’t expect to see you until the game. You’re not going +to play?”</p> + +<p>“No—worse luck! Wish I was. Hear you may be picked.”</p> + +<p>“There’s a chance, that’s all.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, well, we’ll lick you anyhow!”</p> + +<p>“Yes, you will, you old tomcat!” and the two clasped hands warmly, and +looked deep into each other’s eyes.</p> + +<p>“Oh!” exclaimed Andy. “I forgot. Chet, this is my chum, Duncan +Chamber—Dunk for<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_168' id='Page_168'>168</a></span> short. Dunk—Chet Anderson. I went to Milton with +him.”</p> + +<p>The two shook hands, and Chet sat down, he and Andy at once exchanging a +fund of talk, with Dunk now and then getting in a word.</p> + +<p>“Did you come on with the team?” asked Andy.</p> + +<p>“Yes, and it’s some little team, too, let me tell you!”</p> + +<p>“Glad to hear it!” laughed Andy. “Yale doesn’t like to punch a bag of +mush!”</p> + +<p>“Oh, you won’t find any mush in Harvard. Say, have you heard from Ben?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, saw him at the Princeton game.”</p> + +<p>“How was he?”</p> + +<p>“Fine and dandy.”</p> + +<p>“That’s good. Then he likes it down there?”</p> + +<p>“Yes. He’s going in for baseball. Hopes to pitch on the freshman team, +but I don’t know.”</p> + +<p>“You didn’t play against the Tiger?”</p> + +<p>“No, there wasn’t any need of me. Yale had it all her own way.”</p> + +<p>“She won’t to-morrow.”</p> + +<p>“Wait and see.”</p> + +<p>Thus they talked until Chet, knowing that Andy must want to get rest, in +preparation for the gridiron battle, took his leave, promising to see +his friend again.<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_169' id='Page_169'>169</a></span></p> + +<p>The stands were a mass of color—blue like the sky on one side of Yale +Field, and red like a sunset on the other. The cheering cohorts, under +the leadership of the various cheer leaders, boomed out their voices of +defiance.</p> + +<p>Out trotted the Yale team and substitutes, of whom Andy was one. +Instantly the blue of the sky seemed to multiply itself as a roar shook +the sloping seats—the seats that ran down to the edge of green field, +marked off in lines of white.</p> + +<p>“Come on now, lively!” yelled the coaches, hardly making their voices +heard above the frantic cheers.</p> + +<p>The players lined up and went through some rapid passes and kicking. +Andy and the other substitutes took their places on the bench, enveloped +in blankets and their blue sweaters.</p> + +<p>Then a roar and a smudge of crimson, that flashed out from the other +side of the field, told of the approach of the Harvard team.</p> + +<p>“Harvard! Harvard! Harvard!”</p> + +<p>It was an acclaim of welcome.</p> + +<p>Andy watched Yale’s opponents go through their snappy practice.</p> + +<p>“They’re big and beefy,” he murmured, “but we can do ’em. We’ve got to! +Yale has got to win!”</p> + +<p>The captains consulted, the coin was flipped, and Harvard was to kick +off. The teams gathered<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_170' id='Page_170'>170</a></span> in a knot at either end of the field for a last +consultation. Then the new ball was put in the center of the field.</p> + +<p>Andy found difficulty in getting his breath, and he noticed that the +other players beside him had the same trouble.</p> + +<p>The whistle shrilled out, and the Harvard back, running, sent the yellow +pigskin sailing well down the field. A wild yell greeted his +performance. One of the Yale players caught it and his interference +formed before him. But he had not run it back ten yards before he was +tackled. Now would come the first line-up, and it would be seen how Yale +could buck the crimson.</p> + +<p>“Signal!” Andy could hear their quarterback yell, and then the rest was +swallowed up in a hum of excitement in the songs and cheers with which +the students sought to urge on the defenders of the blue.</p> + +<p>There was a vicious plunge into the line, but the gain was small.</p> + +<p>“They’s holding us!” murmured Blake, at Andy’s side.</p> + +<p>“Oh, it’s early yet,” answered Andy. He wondered why his hands pained +him, and, looking at them found that he had been clenching them until +the nails had made deep impressions in his palms.</p> + +<p>Again came a plunging, smashing attack at<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_171' id='Page_171'>171</a></span> Harvard’s line, and a groan +from the Yale substitutes followed. The Yale back had been thrown for a +loss.</p> + +<p>“We’ve got to kick now,” murmured Andy, and the signal came.</p> + +<p>Then it was the Yale ends showed their fleetness and they nailed the +Harvard man before he had gained much. An exchange of punts followed, +both teams having good kickers that year.</p> + +<p>Then came more line smashing, in which Yale gained a little. It was a +fiercely fought game, so fierce that before five minutes of play Harvard +had to take one man out, and Yale lost two, from injuries that could not +be patched up on the field.</p> + +<p>“I’ve got a chance! I’ve got a chance!” exulted Andy.</p> + +<p>But it was not rejoicing at the other fellows’ misfortunes. Unless you +have played football you can not understand Andy’s real feelings.</p> + +<p>The first quarter ended with neither side making a score, and there was +a consultation on both teams during the little breathing spell.</p> + +<p>“We’ve got to do more line plunging,” thought Andy, and he was right, +for Yale began that sort of a game when the whistle blew again. The +wisdom of it was apparent, for at once the ball began to go down toward +Harvard’s goal, once<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_172' id='Page_172'>172</a></span> Yale got possession of the pigskin after an +exchange of kicks.</p> + +<p>“That’s the way! That’s the way!” yelled Andy. “Touchdown! Touchdown!”</p> + +<p>This was being yelled all over the Yale stands. But it was not to be. +After some magnificent playing, and bucking that tore the Harvard line +apart again and again, time for the half was called, Yale having the +ball on Harvard’s eight-yard line. Another play might have taken it +over.</p> + +<p>But both teams had been forced to call on more substitutes, and Harvard +lost her best punter. Yale suffered, too, in the withdrawal of Michaels, +a star end.</p> + +<p>The third quarter had not been long under way when, following a +scrimmage, a knot of Yale players gathered about a prostrate figure.</p> + +<p>“Who is it? Who is it?” was asked on all sides.</p> + +<p>“Brooks—right half!” was the despondent answer. “This cooks our goose!”</p> + +<p>“Blair—Blair!” cried the coach. “Get in there! Rip ’em up!”</p> + +<p>A mist swam before Andy’s eyes. Some one fairly pulled him from the +bench, and his sweater was ripped off him, one sleeve tearing out. But +what did it matter—he had a chance to play!</p> + +<p>“We’ve got to buck their line!” the freshman<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_173' id='Page_173'>173</a></span> captain whispered in his +ear. “They’re weak there, and we dare not kick too much. Our ends can’t +get down fast enough. I’m going to send you through for all you’re +worth.”</p> + +<p>“All right!” gasped Andy. His mouth was dry—his throat parched.</p> + +<p>“Steady there! Steady!” warned the coach.</p> + +<p>“Ready, Yale?” asked the referee.</p> + +<p>“Yes!”</p> + +<p>Again the whistle blew. Yale had the ball, and on the first play Andy +was sent bucking the line with it. He hit it hard, and felt himself +being pushed and pulled through. Some one seemed in his way, and then a +body gave suddenly and limply, and he lurched forward.</p> + +<p>“First down!” he heard some one yell. He had gained the required +distance. Yale would not have to kick.</p> + +<p>Panting, trembling, with a wild, eager rage to again get into the fight, +Andy waited for the signal. A forward pass was to be tried. He was glad +he was not to buck the line again.</p> + +<p>The pass was not completed, and the ball was brought back. Again came a +play—a double pass that netted a little. Yale was slowly gaining.</p> + +<p>But now Harvard took a brace and held for downs so that Yale had to +kick. Then the Crimson took her turn at rushing the ball down the<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_174' id='Page_174'>174</a></span> field +by a series of desperate plunges. Yale’s goal was in danger when the +saving whistle for the third quarter shrilled out.</p> + +<p>“Fellows, we’ve got to get ’em now or never!” cried the Yale captain, +fiercely. “Break your necks—but get a touchdown!”</p> + +<p>Once more the line-up. Andy’s ears were ringing. He could scarcely hear +the signals for the cheering from the stands. He was called upon to +smash through the line, and did manage to make a small gain. But it was +not enough. It was the second down. The other back was called on, and +went through after good interference, making the necessary gain.</p> + +<p>“We’ve got ’em on the run!” exulted Yale.</p> + +<p>The blue team was within striking distance of the Harvard goal. The +signal came for a kick in an attempt to send the ball over the crossbar.</p> + +<p>How it happened no one could say. It was one of the fumbles that so +often occur in a football game—fumbles that spell victory for one team +and defeat for another. The Yale full-back reached out his hands for the +pigskin, caught it and—dropped it. There was a rush of men toward him, +and some one’s foot kicked the ball. It rolled toward Andy. In a flash +he had it tucked under his arm, and started in a wild dash for the +Harvard goal line.</p> + +<p>“Get him! Get that man!”<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_175' id='Page_175'>175</a></span></p> + +<p>“Smear him!”</p> + +<p>“Interference! Interference! Get after him!”</p> + +<p>“It’s Blair! Andy Blair!”</p> + +<p>“Yale’s ball!”</p> + +<p>“Go on, you beggar! Run! Run!”</p> + +<p>“Touchdown! Touchdown!”</p> + +<p>There was a wild riot of yells. With his ears ringing as with the jangle +of a thousand bells, with his lungs nearly bursting, and his eyes +scarcely seeing, Andy ran on.</p> + +<p>He had ten yards to go—thirty feet—and between him and the goal was +the Harvard full-back—a big youth. Andy heard stamping feet behind him. +They were those of friends and foes, but no friends could help him now.</p> + +<p>Straight at the Harvard back he ran—panting, desperate. The Crimson +player crouched, waiting for him. Andy dodged. He was midway between the +side lines. He circled. The Harvard back turned and raced after him, +intent on driving him out of bounds. That was what Andy did not want, +but he did want to wind his opponent. Again Andy circled and dodged. The +other followed his every move.</p> + +<p>Then Andy came straight at him again, with outstretched hand to ward him +off. There was a clash of bodies, and Andy felt himself encircled in a +fatal embrace. He hurled himself forward, for he could see the goal line +beneath his feet.<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_176' id='Page_176'>176</a></span> Over he went, bearing the Harvard player backward, +and, when they fell with a crash, Andy reached out, his arms over his +head, and planted the ball beyond the goal line. He had made the winning +touchdown!</p> + + + +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'> +<a name='CHAPTER_XXII' id='CHAPTER_XXII'></a> +<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_177' id='Page_177'>177</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XXII</h2><h3>ANDY SAYS “NO!”</h3> +</div> + + +<p>Men were thumping each other on the back. Some had smashed their hats +over other persons’ heads. Others had broken their canes from much +exuberant pounding on the floors of the stands.</p> + +<p>Everyone was yelling. On one side there was a forest of blue flags +waving up and down, sideways, around in circles. Pretty girls were +clinging to their escorts and laughing hysterically. The escorts +themselves scarcely noticed the said pretty girls, for they were gazing +down on the field—the field about which were scattered eleven players +in blue, and eleven in dull red, all motionless now, amazed or joyful, +according to their color, over the feat of Andy Blair.</p> + +<p>On the Harvard stands there was glumness. The red banners slumped in +nerveless hands. It had come as a shock. They had been so sure that Yale +could not score—what matter if the Crimson could not herself—if she +could keep the mighty Bulldog from biting a hole in her goal line?<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_178' id='Page_178'>178</a></span></p> + +<p>But it was not to be. Yale had won. There was no time to play more. Yale +had won—somewhat by a fluke, it is true, but she had won nevertheless. +Flukes count in football—fumbles sometimes make the game—for the other +fellow.</p> + +<p>“Oh, you Andy Blair!”</p> + +<p>“It’s a touchdown!”</p> + +<p>“Yale wins!”</p> + +<p>“Yale! Yale! Yale!”</p> + +<p>Some one started the “Boola” song, and it was roared out mightily. Then +came the locomotive cheer.</p> + +<p>Slowly Andy got up from behind the Harvard goal line. The other player +who had tackled him, but too late, himself arose. His face was white and +drawn, not from any physical pain, though the fall of himself and Andy +had not been gentle. It was from the sting of defeat.</p> + +<p>“Well—well,” he faltered, gulping hard. “You got by me, old man!”</p> + +<p>“I—I had to,” gasped Andy, for neither had his breath yet.</p> + +<p>The other players came crowding up.</p> + +<p>“It’ll be the dickens of a job to kick a goal from there with that +wind,” spoke the Yale captain. “But we’ll try it.”</p> + +<p>The whistle ending the game had blown, but time was allowed for a try at +kicking the ball<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_179' id='Page_179'>179</a></span> over the crossbar. A hush fell over the assemblage +while the ball was taken out and the player stretched out to hold it for +the kicker. The referee stood with upraised hand, to indicate when the +ball started to rise—the signal that the Harvard players might rush +from behind their goal in an attempt, seldom successful, to block the +kick.</p> + +<p>The hand fell. There was a dull boom. The ball rose and sailed toward +the posts as the Harvard team rushed out. And then fate again favored +Yale, for a little puff of wind carried the spheroid just inside the +posts and over the bar. The goal had been kicked, adding to Yale’s +points. She had won.</p> + +<p>Once more the cheers broke forth, and Andy’s team-mates surrounded him. +They slapped him on the back; they called him all sorts of +harsh-sounding but endearing names; they jostled him to and fro.</p> + +<p>“Come on, now!” cried the Yale captain. “A cheer for Harvard! No better +players in the world! Altogether, boys!”</p> + +<p>It was a ringing tribute.</p> + +<p>And then the vanquished, tasting the bitterness of defeat, sent forth +their acclaim of the lads who had bested them.</p> + +<p>Andy found himself in the midst of a mad throng, of which his own mates +formed but a<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_180' id='Page_180'>180</a></span> small part, for the field was now overflowing with the +spectators who had rushed down from the stands.</p> + +<p>Some one pushed a way through and grabbed Andy by the hand.</p> + +<p>“You did it, old man! You did it!” a frantic voice exclaimed. “I give +you credit for it, Andy!”</p> + +<p>Andy found himself confronting Chet.</p> + +<p>“I told you we’d win,” answered Andy, with a laugh.</p> + +<p>“Yes, but you never said you were going to do it yourself,” spoke Chet, +ruefully.</p> + +<p>“Come on, fellows, up with him!” called the quarterback, and before Andy +could stop them they had lifted him to their shoulders, while behind the +students had formed themselves into a queue to do the serpentine dance.</p> + +<p>Cheer after cheer was given, and then the team passed into the dressing +rooms, and into comparative quiet. Comparative quiet only, for the +players were babbling among themselves, living the game over again.</p> + +<p>“And to think that a substitute did it, after we’ve thought ourselves +the whole show all season,” groaned one of the regulars.</p> + +<p>“Oh, well, it was just an accident,” said Andy, modestly.</p> + +<p>“A mighty lucky accident for Yale, my<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_181' id='Page_181'>181</a></span> friend!” exclaimed Holwell. “May +there be more of such accidents!”</p> + +<p>Back in the gymnasium, later, after a refreshing shower, Andy managed to +get away from the admiring crowd, and finding Chet took him to his room. +Dunk was there before them.</p> + +<p>“This is a great and noble occasion!” he cried, as Andy came in. “I’m +proud of you, my boy! Proud! Put her there!”</p> + +<p>Andy sent his hand into that of his roommate with a resounding whack.</p> + +<p>“We’ve got to celebrate!” cried Dunk. “The freshman football season is +over. You break training. You’ve got to celebrate!”</p> + +<p>“I don’t mind—in a mild sort of way,” laughed Andy.</p> + +<p>“Oh, strictly proper—strictly proper!” agreed Dunk.</p> + +<p>“I think I’d better be getting back,” remarked Chet.</p> + +<p>“No, stay and see the fun,” insisted Dunk, and Chet agreed to do so.</p> + +<p>There came a rush of feet along the corridor, and some one whistled “See +the conquering hero comes!”</p> + +<p>“There are some of the fellows now!” cried Dunk. “Oh! this is great. We +must make this a noteworthy occasion. We must celebrate properly!” he +was getting quite excited, and Andy<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_182' id='Page_182'>182</a></span> began to worry somewhat, for he did +not want his roommate to celebrate in the wrong way, and there was some +danger lest he might.</p> + +<p>“Where is he?”</p> + +<p>“Lead me to him!”</p> + +<p>“Oh, you Andy Blair!”</p> + +<p>Bob, Ted and Thad came bursting into the room, which would not hold many +more.</p> + +<p>“Shake!” was the general command, and Andy’s arm ached from the +pump-handle process.</p> + +<p>“What are you going to do?” asked Ted.</p> + +<p>“We’re going to eat!” cried Dunk. “This is on me—a little supper by +ourselves at Burke’s.”</p> + +<p>“Count us in on that!” cried some one out in the corridor, and Mortimer +Gaffington and some of his cronies shoved their way into the room. “We +want to have a share in the blow-out! Congratulations, old man!” and he +pumped Andy’s arm.</p> + +<p>“Oh, what a night we’ll have!” cried Clarence Boyle.</p> + +<p>“The wildest and stormiest ever!” added Len Scott. “Yale’s night!”</p> + +<p>“Got to go easy, though!” cautioned Dunk.</p> + +<p>“Oh, fudge on you and being easy!” laughed Mortimer. “This thing has to +be done good and proper. Come on, let’s go out. We’ll smear this old +town with a mixture of red and blue.”<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_183' id='Page_183'>183</a></span></p> + +<p>“That makes purple,” laughed Dunk.</p> + +<p>“No matter!” cried Mortimer. “Come on.”</p> + +<p>Andy could not very well refuse and a little later he found himself with +some of the other football players, at a table in Burke’s place.</p> + +<p>The air was blue with smoke—veritable Yale air. There was laughter, +talk, and the clatter of glasses on every side. The evening wore on, +with the singing of songs, the telling of stories and the playing of the +game all over again. It was such a night as occurs but seldom.</p> + +<p>Andy noticed that Dunk was slipping back into his old habits. And, as +the celebration went on this became more and more noticeable.</p> + +<p>Finally, after a rollicking song, Dunk arose from his place near Andy +and cried:</p> + +<p>“Fellows—your eyes on me. I’m going to propose a toast to the best one +among us.”</p> + +<p>“Name your man!”</p> + +<p>Dunk was thus challenged.</p> + +<p>“I’ll name him in a minute,” he went on, raising his glass on high. +“He’s the best friend I’ve got. I give you—Andy Blair!”</p> + +<p>“Andy Blair!” was roared out.</p> + +<p>“Stand up, Andy!”</p> + +<p>He arose, a glass of ginger ale in his hand.</p> + +<p>“We’re goin’ drink your health!” said Dunk.</p> + +<p>“Thank you!” said Andy.<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_184' id='Page_184'>184</a></span></p> + +<p>“Then fill up your glass!”</p> + +<p>“It is filled, Dunk. Can’t you see?”</p> + +<p>“That’s no stuff to drink a health in. Here, waiter, some real ale for +Mr. Blair.”</p> + +<p>“No—no,” said Andy quickly. “I don’t drink anything stronger than soft +stuff—you know it, Dunk.”</p> + +<p>For a moment there was a silence in the room. Andy felt himself growing +pale.</p> + +<p>“You—you won’t drink with me?” asked Dunk slowly.</p> + +<p>“I’d like to—but I can’t—I don’t touch it.”</p> + +<p>“He’s a quitter!” cried Mortimer, angrily, from the other side of the +table. “A rank quitter! He won’t drink his own toast!”</p> + +<p>“Won’t you drink with me, Andy?” asked Dunk, in sorrowful tones.</p> + +<p>“In soft stuff—yes.”</p> + +<p>“No, in the real stuff!”</p> + +<p>“I can’t!”</p> + +<p>“Then, by Cæsar, you are a quitter, and here’s where you and I part +company!”</p> + +<p>Dunk crashed his glass down on the table in front of Andy, and staggered +away from his side.</p> + + + +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'> +<a name='CHAPTER_XXIII' id='CHAPTER_XXIII'></a> +<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_185' id='Page_185'>185</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XXIII</h2><h3>RECONCILIATION</h3> +</div> + + +<p>Seldom had anything like that occurred before, and, for the moment every +student in the room remained motionless, breathing hard and wondering +what would come next. Andy, who had been pale, now was flushed. It was +an insult; but how could he resent it?</p> + +<p>There seemed no way. If Dunk wanted to break off their friendship that +was his affair, but he might have done it more quietly. Probably all in +the room, save perhaps Mortimer Gaffington, realized this. As for that +youth, he smiled insultingly at Andy and murmured to Dunk, who was now +passing to another table:</p> + +<p>“That’s the way to act. Be a sport!”</p> + +<p>It was clear that if Andy dropped Dunk, Mortimer stood ready to take him +up.</p> + +<p>“Don’t mind him, old chap. Dunk isn’t just himself to-night,” murmured +Thad in Andy’s ear. “He’ll see differently in the morning.”</p> + +<p>“He’ll have to see a good bit differently to see me,” spoke Andy +stiffly. “I can’t pass that up.”<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_186' id='Page_186'>186</a></span></p> + +<p>“Try,” urged Thad. “You don’t know what it may mean to Dunk.”</p> + +<p>Andy did not reply. Some one started a song and under cover of it Andy +slipped out, Chet following.</p> + +<p>“Too bad, old man,” consoled Andy’s Harvard friend. “Is he often as bad +as that?”</p> + +<p>“Not of late. It’s getting in with that Gaffington crowd that starts him +off. I guess he and I are done now.”</p> + +<p>“I suppose so. But it’s too bad.”</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>Andy walked on in silence for a time, and then said:</p> + +<p>“Come on up to the room and have a chat. I won’t see you for some time +now. Not till Christmas vacation.”</p> + +<p>“That’s right. But I’ve got to get back to Cambridge. I’ll go down and +get a train, I guess. Come on to the station with me. The walk will do +you good.”</p> + +<p>The two chums strolled through the lighted streets, which were much more +lively than usual on account of the celebration of the football victory. +But Andy and Chet paid little heed to the bustle and confusion about +them.</p> + +<p>When Andy got back to his room, after bidding Chet good-bye, Dunk had +not come in. Andy lay awake some time waiting for him, wondering<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_187' id='Page_187'>187</a></span> what +he would say when he did come in. But finally he dozed off, and awaking +in the morning, from fitful slumbers, he saw the other bed empty. Dunk +had not come home.</p> + +<p>“Well, if he’s going to quit me I guess it can’t be helped,” remarked +Andy. “And I guess I’d better give up this room, and let him get some +one else in. It wouldn’t be pleasant for me to stay here if he pulled +out. I’d remember too much. Yes, I’ll look for another room.”</p> + +<p>He went to chapel, feeling very little in the mood for it, but somehow +the peaceful calm of the Sunday service eased his troubled mind. He +looked about for Dunk, but did not see him. Perhaps it was just as well.</p> + +<p>After chapel Andy went back to his room, and debated with himself what +was best to be done. He was in the midst of this self-communion when +there was a knock on the door, and to Andy’s call of “Shove in!” there +followed the shock of curly hair that belonged to nobody but Ikey Stein.</p> + +<p>“Oh, dear!” groaned Andy in spirit. “That bargainer, at this, of all +times.”</p> + +<p>“Hello, Andy,” greeted Ikey. “Are you busy?”</p> + +<p>“Too busy to buy neckties.”</p> + +<p>“Forget it! Do you think I’d come to you now on such a business!”</p> + +<p>There was a new side to the character of Ikey—a<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_188' id='Page_188'>188</a></span> side Andy had never +before seen. There was a quiet air of authority about him, a gentle air +that contrasted strangely with his usual carefree and easy manners that +he assumed when he wanted to sell his goods.</p> + +<p>“Sit down,” invited Andy, shoving a pile of books and papers off a +chair.</p> + +<p>“Thanks. Nice day, isn’t it?”</p> + +<p>“Yes,” answered Andy slowly, wondering what was the object of the call.</p> + +<p>“Nice day for a walk.”</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“Ever go for a walk?”</p> + +<p>“Sure. Lots of times.”</p> + +<p>“Going to-day?”</p> + +<p>“I don’t know. Are you?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, I didn’t mean with me. I’ve got a date, anyhow. Say, look here, +Blair, if you don’t mind me getting personal. If you were to take a walk +out toward East Rock Park you might meet a friend of yours.”</p> + +<p>“A friend?”</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“You mean——”</p> + +<p>“Now look here!” exclaimed Ikey, and his manner was serious. “You may +order me out of your room, and all that, but I’m going to speak what’s +in my mind. I want you to make up with Dunk!”<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_189' id='Page_189'>189</a></span></p> + +<p>“Make up with him—after what he did to me!”</p> + +<p>“That’s all right—I know. But I’m sure he’ll meet you more than +half-way.”</p> + +<p>“Well, he’ll have to.”</p> + +<p>“Now, don’t take that view of it,” urged the kindly Jew. “Say, let me +tell you something, will you?”</p> + +<p>“Fire away,” and Andy walked over and stood looking out of the window +across the campus.</p> + +<p>“It’s only a little story,” went on Ikey, “and not much of a one at +that. When I was in prep school I had a friend—a very dear friend.</p> + +<p>“He was what you call a sport, too, in a way, and how he ever took up +with me I never could understand. I hadn’t any money—I had to work like +the dickens to get along. All my people are dead, and I was then, as I +am now, practically alone in the world. But this fellow, who came of a +good family, took me up, and we formed a real friendship.</p> + +<p>“I think I did him good in a way, and I know he did me, for I used to +have bitter feelings against the rich and he did a lot to show me that I +was wrong. This friend went in a fast set and one day I spoke to him +about it. I said he was throwing away his talents.</p> + +<p>“Well, he was touchy—he’d been out late the night before—and he +resented what I said. We<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_190' id='Page_190'>190</a></span> had a quarrel—our first one—and he went out +saying he never wanted to see me again. I had a chance to make up with +him later, but I was too proud. So was he, I guess. Anyhow, when I put +my pride in my pocket and went after him, a little later, it was too +late.”</p> + +<p>“Too late—how?” asked Andy, for Ikey had come to a stop and there was a +break in his voice.</p> + +<p>“He went out in an auto with his fast crowd; there was an upset, and my +friend was killed.”</p> + +<p>Andy turned sharply. There were tears in the other’s eyes, and his face +was twitching.</p> + +<p>“I—I always felt,” said Ikey, softly, “that perhaps if I hadn’t been so +proud and hard that—maybe—maybe he’d be alive to-day.”</p> + +<p>There was silence in the room, broken only by the monotonous ticking of +the clock.</p> + +<p>“Thanks,” said Andy, softly, after a pause. “I—I guess I understand +what you mean, Stein.” He held out his hand, which was warmly clasped.</p> + +<p>“Then you will go for a walk—maybe?” asked Ikey, eagerly.</p> + +<p>“I—I think I will,” spoke Andy, softly. “I don’t understand it; but +I’ll go.”</p> + +<p>“You—you’ll find him there,” went on Ikey. “I sent him out to—meet +you!”</p> + +<p>And before Andy could say anything more the peacemaker had left the +apartment.</p> + +<p>For several minutes Andy stood still. He<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_191' id='Page_191'>191</a></span> looked about the room—a room +suggestive in many ways of the presence and character of Dunk. There was +even on the mantel a fragment of the Japanese vase he had broken that +time.</p> + +<p>“I’ll go to him,” spoke Andy, softly.</p> + +<p>He went out on the campus, not heeding many calls from friends to join +them. When they noted his manner they, wisely, did not press the matter. +Perhaps they guessed. Andy walked out Whitney Avenue to East Rock Road +and turned into the park.</p> + +<p>“I wonder where I’ll find him?” he mused, as he gazed around.</p> + +<p>“Queer that Ikey should put up a game like this.”</p> + +<p>Walking on a little way, Andy saw a solitary figure under a tree. He +knew who it was. The other saw him coming, but did not stir.</p> + +<p>Presently they were within speaking distance. Andy paused a moment and +then, holding out his hand, said softly:</p> + +<p>“Dunk!”</p> + +<p>The figure looked up, and a little smile crept over the moody face.</p> + +<p>“Andy!” cried Dunk, stepping forward.</p> + +<p>The next moment their hands had met in a clasp such as they never had +felt before. They looked into each other’s eyes, and there was much +meaning in the glance.<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_192' id='Page_192'>192</a></span></p> + +<p>“Andy—Andy—can you—forgive me?”</p> + +<p>“Of course, Dunk; I understand.”</p> + +<p>“All right, old man. That is the last time. Never again! Never again!”</p> + +<p>And Dunk meant it.</p> + + + +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'> +<a name='CHAPTER_XXIV' id='CHAPTER_XXIV'></a> +<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_193' id='Page_193'>193</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XXIV</h2><h3>LINK’S VISIT</h3> +</div> + + +<p>Busy days followed. After the football game, the quarrel of Dunk and +Andy, and their reconciliation, brought about so effectively by Ikey +Stein, little of moment happened except the varsity football games, +which Andy followed with devoted interest, hoping that by the next term +he would be chosen for a place on the team.</p> + +<p>The students settled down to hard work, with the closing of the outdoor +sporting season, and there were days of hard study. Yale is no place for +weak students, and Andy soon found that he must “toe the mark” in more +senses than one. He had to give his days and some of his nights to +“grinding.”</p> + +<p>For some time Andy did not understand how Ikey had brought about the +meeting of Dunk and himself—at least, he did not know how the +peacemaker had induced Dunk to go to the park. But one day the latter +explained.</p> + +<p>Following the dramatic scene in Burke’s, Dunk had gone out. Not wishing +to face Andy he had<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_194' id='Page_194'>194</a></span> stayed at a hotel all night. In the morning, while +he was remorseful and nearly ill, Ikey, the faithful, had sought him +out, having in some way heard of the quarrel. Ikey was not given to +frequenting Burke’s, but he had his own way of ferreting out news.</p> + +<p>To Dunk he had gone, then, and had told much the same story he had +related to Andy, giving it a different twist. And he had so worked on +Dunk’s feelings, picturing how terribly Andy must feel, that finally +Dunk had consented to go to the park.</p> + +<p>“Well, I’m glad I did, old man!” said Dunk, clapping Andy on the back.</p> + +<p>“And so am I. I’m only wondering whether Ikey faked that qlsob story’ or +not.”</p> + +<p>“What of it? It certainly did the business, all right.”</p> + +<p>“It sure did.”</p> + +<p>Dunk and Andy were better friends than ever, and, to the relief of Andy, +Mortimer and his crowd ceased coming to the room in Wright Hall, and +taking Dunk off with them.</p> + +<p>Occasionally Andy’s chum would go off with a rather “sporty” crowd, and +sometimes Andy went also. But Dunk held himself well in hand, for which +Andy was very glad.</p> + +<p>“It’s all your doing, old man!” said Dunk, gratefully.<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_195' id='Page_195'>195</a></span></p> + +<p>“Nonsense!” exclaimed Andy, but his heart glowed nevertheless.</p> + +<p>The quiet and rather calm atmosphere of college life was rudely broken +when one night, following a mild celebration over the victory of the +basketball team, several robberies were discovered.</p> + +<p>A number of rooms in the college buildings had been entered, and various +articles of jewelry and some money had been taken. Freshmen were mainly +the ones who sustained the losses, though no class was exempt.</p> + +<p>“This is getting serious!” exclaimed Dunk, as he and Andy talked the +matter over. “We’d better get a new lock put on our door.”</p> + +<p>“I’m willing, though I haven’t got much that would tempt anyone.”</p> + +<p>“I haven’t either, only this,” and he pulled out a handsome gold watch. +“I’m so blamed careless about it that most of the time I forget to carry +it.”</p> + +<p>“Well, let’s put on a lock, then. The one we have doesn’t catch half the +time.”</p> + +<p>“No, it’s been busted too many times by the raiding sophs. I’ll buy +another first time I’m down town.”</p> + +<p>But the matter slipped Dunk’s mind, and Andy did not again think of it.</p> + +<p>The thefts created no little excitement, and it<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_196' id='Page_196'>196</a></span> was said that a private +detective agency had been engaged by the faculty. Of the truth of this +no one could vouch.</p> + +<p>Another warning was given by the Dean, and students were urged to see to +the fastening of their doors, not only for their own protection, but in +order not to put temptation in the way of servants.</p> + +<p>Andy came in from a late lecture one afternoon, to find open the door of +his room he had left locked, as he thought. At first he supposed Dunk +was within, but entering the apartment he saw Link Bardon there. The +helper arose as Andy came in and said, rather embarrassedly:</p> + +<p>“Mr. Blair, I’m in trouble.”</p> + +<p>“Trouble!” exclaimed Andy. “What kind?”</p> + +<p>“Well, I need money. You see I’ve got a sick sister and the other day +she wrote to me, saying she’d have to have some money to buy an +expensive medicine. I sent it to her. She said her husband would get his +pay this week, and she’d send it back to me. Now she writes that he is +sick, and can’t earn anything, so she can’t pay me back.</p> + +<p>“I was counting on that money, for my wages aren’t due for several days, +and I have to pay my board. I don’t like to ask my landlady to wait, and +I thought maybe——”</p> + +<p>“Of course I’ll let you have some!” exclaimed<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_197' id='Page_197'>197</a></span> Andy quickly. “How much +do you need?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, about seven dollars.”</p> + +<p>“Better have ten. You can pay me back when you like,” said Andy as he +extended the bill.</p> + +<p>“I don’t know how to thank you!” exclaimed Link, gratefully.</p> + +<p>“Then don’t try,” advised Andy, with a smile.</p> + + + +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'> +<a name='CHAPTER_XXV' id='CHAPTER_XXV'></a> +<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_198' id='Page_198'>198</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XXV</h2><h3>THE MISSING WATCH</h3> +</div> + + +<p>Andy was “boning” on his German, with which he had had considerable +difficulty. The dusk was settling down that early December day, and he +was thinking of lighting a lamp to continue work on his books, when he +heard a familiar step, and a whistle down the corridor. Then a voice +broke into a college refrain.</p> + +<p>“Dunk!” murmured Andy. “It sounds good to hear him, and to know that +there’s not much more danger of our getting on the outs. He sure was +worth saving—that is, what little I did toward it. He did the most +himself, I fancy.”</p> + +<p>“Hello, old top, hard at it?” greeted Dunk, as he entered.</p> + +<p>“Have to be,” replied Andy. “You’ve no idea how tough this German is.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, haven’t I? Didn’t I flunk in it the other day? And on something I +ought to have known as well as I do my first reader lesson? It’s no +cinch—this being at Yale. Wonder if I’ve got time to slip down town +before we feed our<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_199' id='Page_199'>199</a></span> faces?” and he began fumbling for his watch.</p> + +<p>“What’s on?” asked Andy, rather idly.</p> + +<p>Then, as he saw Dunk giving his shoes a hasty rub, and delving among a +confused mass of ties in a drawer, Andy added:</p> + +<p>“The witness need not answer. It’s a skirt.”</p> + +<p>“A which?” asked Dunk in pretended ignorance.</p> + +<p>“A lady. I didn’t know you knew any here, Dunk!”</p> + +<p>“Huh! Think you’ve got the preserves all to yourself, eh? Well, I’ll +show you that you haven’t.”</p> + +<p>“Who is she?” asked Andy.</p> + +<p>“Friend of a friend of mine. I think I’ll take a chance and go down just +for a little while. Save some grub for me. I won’t be long. May make a +date for to-night. Want to fill in?”</p> + +<p>“If there’s room.”</p> + +<p>“Sure, we’ll make room, and I’ll get you a girl. Some of us are going to +the Hyperion. Nice little play there,” and Dunk went on “dolling up,” +until he was at least partly satisfied with himself.</p> + +<p>Dunk was about to leave when a messenger came to announce that he was +wanted on the ’phone in the public booth in Dwight Hall, where the Y. M. +C. A. of Yale has headquarters.</p> + +<p>“I guess that’s her now,” said Dunk, as he<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_200' id='Page_200'>200</a></span> hurried out. “I told her to +call up,” and he rushed down the corridor.</p> + +<p>Andy heard him call back:</p> + +<p>“I say, old man, look out for my watch, will you? I must have left it +somewhere around there.”</p> + +<p>“The old fusser,” murmured Andy, as he rose from the easy chair. “When +Dunk goes in for anything he forgets everything else. He’d leave his +head if it wasn’t fastened on, or if I didn’t remind him of it,” and +Andy felt quite a righteous glow as he began to look about for the +valuable timepiece belonging to his roommate.</p> + +<p>“He must have it on him,” went on Andy, as a hasty search about the room +did not reveal it. “Probably he’s stuck it in his trousers’ pocket with +his keys and loose change. He oughtn’t to have a good watch the way he +uses it. Well, it isn’t here—that’s sure.”</p> + +<p>Andy, a little later, turned on the electric light, but no glow followed +the snapping of the button.</p> + +<p>“Current off again—or else it’s burned out,” he murmured. A look in the +hall outside showed him other lamps gleaming and he knew that his own +light must be at fault.</p> + +<p>“Guess I’ll go get another bulb,” he remarked.</p> + +<p>When he returned with the new one he was aware that some one was in the +darkened room.</p> + +<p>“That you, Dunk?” he asked.<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_201' id='Page_201'>201</a></span></p> + +<p>“No,” answered a voice he recognized as that of Ikey Stein. “I saw you +going down the hall and guessed what you were after, so I took the +liberty of coming in and waiting. I’ve got some real bargains.”</p> + +<p>“Nothing doing, Ikey,” laughed Andy, as he screwed the lamp in the +socket and lighted up the room. “Got all the ties I need for my whole +course in Yale.”</p> + +<p>“It isn’t ties,” said Ikey, and his voice was so serious that Andy +wondered at it. “It’s handkerchiefs,” went on the student-salesman. +“Andy, I’m in bad. I bought a big stock of these things, and I’ve got to +sell ’em to get my money out of ’em. I thought I would have plenty of +time, but I owe a bill that’s due now, and the man wants his money. So +I’ve got to sell these handkerchiefs quicker than I expected. I need the +cash, so I’ll let ’em go for just what I paid for ’em. I don’t care if I +don’t make a cent.”</p> + +<p>“Let’s see ’em,” suggested Andy. The talk sounded familiar. It was +“bargain” patter, but an inspection of the handkerchiefs showed Andy +that they were worth what was asked for them. And, as it happened, he +was in need of some. He bought two dozen, and suggested to Ikey several +other students in Wright Hall on whom he might call.</p> + +<p>“Thanks,” said the salesman, as he departed<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_202' id='Page_202'>202</a></span> after a lengthy visit in +Andy’s room. “I won’t forget what you’ve done for me, Blair. I’m having +a hard time, and some people try to make it all the harder. They think, +because I’m a Jew, that I have no feelings—that I like to be laughed +at, and made to think that all I care about is money. Wait! Some day +I’ll show ’em!” and his black eyes flashed.</p> + +<p>Andy felt really sorry for him. Certainly Ikey did not work his way +through college on any easy path.</p> + +<p>“I’m only too glad to do this for you,” said the purchaser. He could not +forget what a service Ikey had rendered to him and Dunk, bringing them +together when they were on the verge of taking paths that might never +converge.</p> + +<p>“Well, I’ll see if I can’t find some other easy mark like you,” laughed +Ikey as he went down the hall.</p> + +<p>Andy was about to go to the “eating joint” alone when Dunk came in +whistling gaily.</p> + +<p>“Ah, ha! Methinks thou hast had a pleasant meeting!” Andy “spouted.”</p> + +<p>“Right—Oh!” exclaimed his roommate. “It’s all right for to-night, too. +I’ve got a peach for you.”</p> + +<p>“Light or dark?” asked Andy, critically.</p> + +<p>“Dark! Say, but you’re getting mighty particular, though, for a young +fellow.”<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_203' id='Page_203'>203</a></span></p> + +<p>“The same to you. Where do we meet ’em, and where do we go?”</p> + +<p>“I’ve got it all fixed. Hyperion. Come on, let’s get through grub, I +want to dress.”</p> + +<p>He began searching hurriedly through his pockets, a puzzled look coming +over his face.</p> + +<p>“Where in the world——” he began. “Oh, I know, I left it here.”</p> + +<p>“What?”</p> + +<p>“My watch. I called to you about it when I went out to the telephone, +and——”</p> + +<p>“It isn’t here. I looked.”</p> + +<p>“What!”</p> + +<p>“Fact! Unless you stuck it in something.”</p> + +<p>“No, I left it right on my dresser, on a pile of clean +handkerchiefs—hello, where’d these come from?” and he looked at the +ones Andy had bought of Ikey.</p> + +<p>“Oh, another bargain from our mutual friend,” and Andy mentioned the +price.</p> + +<p>“That is a bargain, all right. I must get some. But look here, where’s +my watch?”</p> + +<p>“I’m sure I don’t know. Did you leave it here?”</p> + +<p>“I certainly did. I remember now, I put it on the pile of handkerchiefs +just before I went to last lecture. Then I came in here, to go out to +keep my date, and I didn’t have it. I was going to slip it in my pocket +when I was called to the<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_204' id='Page_204'>204</a></span> ’phone. Look here, here’s the impression of it +in the handkerchiefs,” and Dunk pointed to a round depression in the +pile of soft linen squares. It was just the shape of a watch.</p> + +<p>“It was there,” said Dunk slowly, looking at Andy.</p> + +<p>“And now it’s gone,” finished his roommate. Then he remembered several +things, and his start of surprise made Dunk look at his chum in a +strange way.</p> + +<p>“What’s the matter?” asked Dunk.</p> + +<p>“I’ll tell you in a minute,” said Andy. “I want to think a bit.”</p> + + + +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'> +<a name='CHAPTER_XXVI' id='CHAPTER_XXVI'></a> +<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_205' id='Page_205'>205</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XXVI</h2><h3>THE GIRLS</h3> +</div> + + +<p>“Well?” asked Dunk, after a pause, during which Andy had sat staring at +the fireplace. A blaze had been kindled there, but it had died down, and +now there was only a mere flicker.</p> + +<p>“Are you sure you left your watch on that pile of handkerchiefs?” asked +Andy, slowly.</p> + +<p>“Dead sure. I remember it because I thought at the time that I was a +chump to treat that ticker the way I did, and I made up my mind I’d get +a good chain for it and have my watch pocket lined with chamois leather. +That’s what made me think of it—the softness of the handkerchiefs. Why, +Andy, you can see the imprint of it plainly enough.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, I guess you’re right.”</p> + +<p>“And it’s gone.”</p> + +<p>“Right again.”</p> + +<p>“Were you in the room all the time I was out?”</p> + +<p>“Most all the while. I went to get a new electric lamp for the one that +had burned out.”<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_206' id='Page_206'>206</a></span></p> + +<p>“Was anyone here besides you?”</p> + +<p>Andy hesitated. Then he answered:</p> + +<p>“Yes, two persons.”</p> + +<p>“Who?”</p> + +<p>“Ikey Stein——”</p> + +<p>“That——”</p> + +<p>Andy held up a warning hand.</p> + +<p>“Don’t call any names,” he advised. “Ikey did you and me a good service. +We mustn’t forget that.”</p> + +<p>“All right, I won’t. Who else was in here?”</p> + +<p>“Link Bardon.”</p> + +<p>“Who’s he?”</p> + +<p>“That farmer lad I was telling you about—the one we fellows saved from +a beating.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, yes. I remember.”</p> + +<p>“He’s working here now. He came in to borrow some money. I found him +here when I came back—our door was open.”</p> + +<p>“By Jove! That lock! I meant to get it fixed. Well, I can see what +happened. The quadrangle mystery deepens, and I’m elected. The beggar +got my watch!” Dunk started out.</p> + +<p>“Where are you going?” asked Andy.</p> + +<p>“To telephone for a locksmith. I’m going to have our door fixed. Don’t +laugh—the old saying—qllock the stable after the horse is stolen.’ I +know it.”</p> + +<p>“Wait a minute,” suggested Andy. “While<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_207' id='Page_207'>207</a></span> you’re at it hadn’t you better +give notice of the robbery?”</p> + +<p>“I suppose so. But what good will it do? None of the fellows have gotten +back anything that’s been taken. But I sure am sorry to lose that +watch.”</p> + +<p>“So am I,” spoke Andy. “Look here, Dunk, there are two persons who might +have taken it—no, three.”</p> + +<p>“How three?”</p> + +<p>“Counting me.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, piffle. But I suppose if I made a row it would look bad for Ikey +and your friend Link.”</p> + +<p>“It sure would. I think maybe you’d better not make a row.”</p> + +<p>“You mean sit down and let ’em walk off with my watch without saying a +word?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, no. Report the loss, of course. But don’t mention any names.”</p> + +<p>“Well, I wouldn’t like to mention Ikey—for the honor of Yale, and all +that, you know.”</p> + +<p>“I agree with you. And, for certain reasons, I wouldn’t like you to +mention Link. I don’t know about him, but I believe he’s as honest as +can be. Of course he was in need of money, and if your watch lay in +plain sight there’d be a big temptation. But I’d hate to think it.”</p> + +<p>“So would I, after what you’ve told me about him. I won’t think it, +until, at least, we get<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_208' id='Page_208'>208</a></span> more information. It was my fault for leaving +it around that way. It’s too bad! Dad will sure be sorry to hear it’s +gone. I’m going to keep mum about it—maybe it will turn up.”</p> + +<p>“I hope so,” returned Andy. “I hardly believe Link would take it, yet +you never can tell.”</p> + +<p>“Anyhow, we’ll get a new lock put on, and I’ll report my watch,” said +Dunk. “Then we’ll forget all about it and have some fun. Come on, I’m +hungry. It isn’t so much the money value of the thing, as the +associations. Hang it all—what a queer world this is. Oh, but you +should see the girls, Andy!”</p> + +<p>“I’m counting on it!”</p> + +<p>When they came back, after a hasty session at the “eating joint,” there +was a note for each of them tucked under the door, which they had +managed to lock pending the attaching of the new mechanism.</p> + +<p>“From Gaffington,” announced Dunk, ripping his open. “He’s giving a +blow-out to-night. Wants me to come.”</p> + +<p>“Same here,” announced Andy, reading his, and then glancing anxiously at +his roommate.</p> + +<p>“I’m not going,” said Dunk, wadding up the missive and tossing it into +the waste-paper basket.</p> + +<p>“Neither am I,” said Andy, doing the same.</p> + +<p>They began to “doll up,” which, being interpreted, means to attire +oneself in one’s best raiment,<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_209' id='Page_209'>209</a></span> including the newest tie, the stiffest +collar and the most uncomfortable shirt, to say nothing of patent +leather shoes a size too small.</p> + +<p>“Whew!” panted Andy, as he adjusted his scarf for the fourth or fifth +time, “these bargains of Ikey’s aren’t what they’re cracked up to be.”</p> + +<p>“I should say not. I don’t believe they’re real silk.”</p> + +<p>“Maybe not. They say the Japs can make something that looks like it, but +which isn’t any more silk than a shoestring.”</p> + +<p>“I believe you. Maybe Ikey has been dabbling in some more of Hashmi’s +stuff.”</p> + +<p>“I wouldn’t wonder. Say, it’s a queer way for a fellow to get through +college, isn’t it?”</p> + +<p>“It sure is. Yet he’s a decent sort of chap. Only for that affair of the +vases.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, he made restitution in that case.”</p> + +<p>They went on dressing, with hurried glances at the clock now and then to +make sure they would not be late. From out in the raised court came a +hail:</p> + +<p>“Oh, you, Dunk!”</p> + +<p>“Stick out your noddle, Blair!”</p> + +<p>“Come on down!”</p> + +<p>“That’s Thad and his crowd,” announced Andy.</p> + +<p>“Let ’em holler,” advised Dunk. “I’m not going with them.”<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_210' id='Page_210'>210</a></span></p> + +<p>“Oh, you Dunk!”</p> + +<p>“Go on away!” called Dunk, shouting out of the window.</p> + +<p>“Oh, for the love of mush!”</p> + +<p>“Look at him!”</p> + +<p>“Girls, all right!”</p> + +<p>“Come on up and rough-house ’em!”</p> + +<p>These cries greeted the appearance out of the window of the upper part +of Dunk’s body, attired in a gaudy waistcoat.</p> + +<p>“Is that door locked, Andy?” gasped Dunk, hurriedly pulling in his head.</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“Slip the bolt then. They’ll make no end of a row if they get in!”</p> + +<p>Andy slipped it, and only in time, for there came a rush of bodies +against the portal, and insistent demands from Thad and his crowd to be +admitted. Failing in that they besought Andy and Dunk to come out.</p> + +<p>“Nothing doing! We’ve got dates!” announced Andy, and this was accepted +as final.</p> + +<p>They were just about to leave, quiet having been restored, when there +came a knock.</p> + +<p>“Who is it?” asked Dunk, suspiciously.</p> + +<p>“Gaffington,” was the unexpected answer. “Are you fellows coming to my +blow-out.”</p> + +<p>Dunk looked at Andy and paused. Following the affair in Burke’s, where +Gaffington had incited<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_211' id='Page_211'>211</a></span> Dunk against Andy, the rich youth from Andy’s +town had had little to say to him. He seemed to take it for granted that +his condition that night was enough of an apology without any other, and +treated Andy exactly as though nothing had occurred.</p> + +<p>“Well?” asked Gaffington, impatiently.</p> + +<p>“Sorry, old man,” said Dunk, “but we both have previous engagements.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, indeed!” sneered Mortimer, and they could hear him muttering to +himself as he walked away.</p> + +<p>Then the two chums sallied forth. On the way Dunk reported the loss of +his watch, to the discomfiture of the Dean, who seemed much disturbed by +the successive robberies.</p> + +<p>“Something must be done!” he exclaimed, pacing up and down the room.</p> + +<p>Dunk also left word at the college maintenance office about the door +that would not lock, and got the promise that it would be seen to.</p> + +<p>“And now for the girls!” exclaimed Andy. “Do I know them?”</p> + +<p>“No, but you soon will.”</p> + +<p>Andy was much pleased with the two young ladies to whom Dunk introduced +him later. It appeared that one was a distant relative of Dunk’s mother, +and the two were visiting friends in New Haven. Dunk’s “cousin,” as he +called<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_212' id='Page_212'>212</a></span> her, had sent him a card, asking him to call, and he had made +arrangements to bring Andy and spend the evening at the theatre.</p> + +<p>Thither they went, happy and laughing, and to the no small envy of a +number of college lads, the said lads making unmistakable signals to +Dunk and Andy, between the acts, that they wanted to be introduced +later.</p> + +<p>But Andy and Dunk ignored their chums.</p> + + + +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'> +<a name='CHAPTER_XXVII' id='CHAPTER_XXVII'></a> +<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_213' id='Page_213'>213</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XXVII</h2><h3>JEALOUSIES</h3> +</div> + + +<p>“Well, how did you like ’em?” demanded Dunk.</p> + +<p>“Do you mean both—or one?” asked Andy.</p> + +<p>“Huh, you ought to know what I mean?”</p> + +<p>“Or—<i>who</i>, I suppose,” and Andy smiled.</p> + +<p>He and his chum had come back to their room after taking home the girls +with whom they had spent the evening at the theatre. There had followed +a little supper, and the affair ended most enjoyably. That is, it seemed +to, but there was an undernote of irritation in Dunk’s voice and he +regarded Andy with rather a strange look as they sat in the room +preparatory to going to bed.</p> + +<p>“What did you and she find to talk about so much?” asked Dunk, +suspiciously. “I brought Kittie Martin around for you.”</p> + +<p>“So I imagined.”</p> + +<p>“Yet nearly all the time you kept talking to Alice Jordan. Didn’t you +like Miss Martin?”</p> + +<p>“Sure. She’s a fine girl. But Miss Jordan<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_214' id='Page_214'>214</a></span> and I found we knew the same +people back home, where I come from, and naturally she wanted to hear +about them.”</p> + +<p>“Huh! Well, the next time I get you a girl I’ll make sure the one I +bring along doesn’t come from the same part of the country you do.”</p> + +<p>“Why?” asked Andy, innocently enough.</p> + +<p>“Why? Good land, man! Do you think I want the girl I pick out +monopolized by you?”</p> + +<p>“I didn’t monopolize her.”</p> + +<p>“It was the next thing to it.”</p> + +<p>“Look here, Dunk, you’re not mad, are you?”</p> + +<p>“No, you old pickle; but I’m the next thing to it.”</p> + +<p>“Why, I couldn’t help it, Dunk. She talked to me.”</p> + +<p>“Bah! The same old story that Adam rung the changes on when Eve handed +him the apple. Oh, forget it! I suppose I oughtn’t to have mentioned it, +but when I was all primed for a nice cozy talk to have you butting in +every now and then with something about the girls and boys back in +Oshkosh——”</p> + +<p>“It was Dunmore,” interrupted Andy.</p> + +<p>“Well, Dunmore then. It’s the same thing. I’ll do—more to you if you do +it again.”</p> + +<p>“I tell you she kept asking me questions, and what could I do but +answer,” replied Andy.<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_215' id='Page_215'>215</a></span></p> + +<p>“You might have changed the subject. Kittie didn’t like it for a cent.”</p> + +<p>“She didn’t?”</p> + +<p>“No. I saw her looking at you and Alice in a queer way several times.”</p> + +<p>“She did?”</p> + +<p>“She did. So did Katy!” mocked Dunk, and his voice was rather snappish.</p> + +<p>“Well, I didn’t intend anything,” said Andy. “Gee, but when I try to do +the polite thing I get in Dutch, as the saying is. I guess I wasn’t cut +out for a lady’s man.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, you’re all right,” Dunk assured his chum, “only you want to hunt on +your own grounds. Keep off my preserves.”</p> + +<p>“All right, I will after this. Just give me the high sign when you see +me transgressing again.”</p> + +<p>“There isn’t likely to be any ‘again,’ Andy. They’re going home +to-morrow.”</p> + +<p>“I’ve got her address, anyhow,” laughed Andy.</p> + +<p>“Whose?” asked Dunk, suspiciously.</p> + +<p>“Kittie Martin’s. She’s the one you picked out for me; isn’t she?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, and I wish you’d stick to her!” and with this Dunk tumbled into +bed and did not talk further. Andy put out the light with a thoughtful +air, and did not try to carry on the<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_216' id='Page_216'>216</a></span> conversation. It was as near to a +quarrel as the roommates had come since the affair of Burke’s.</p> + +<p>But matters were smoothed over, at least for a time, when, next day, +came notes from the girls saying they had decided to prolong their visit +in New Haven.</p> + +<p>“Good!” cried Dunk. “We can take them out some more.”</p> + +<p>And this time Andy was careful not to pay too much attention to Miss +Alice Jordan, though, truth to tell, he liked her better than he did +Kittie Martin. And it is betraying no secret to confess that Alice +seemed to like Andy very much.</p> + +<p>The boys hired a carriage and took the girls for a drive one day, going +to the beautiful hill country west of the new Yale Field.</p> + +<p>As they were going slowly along they met a taxicab coming in the +opposite direction. When it drew near Andy was somewhat surprised to +find it contained Miss Mazie Fuller, the actress. She laughed and bowed, +waving her hand to Andy.</p> + +<p>“Who was that?” asked Dunk, who had been too busy talking to Alice to +notice the occupant of the taxi.</p> + +<p>“Miss Fuller,” answered Andy.</p> + +<p>“Oh, your little actress. Yes.”</p> + +<p>Andy blushed and Miss Martin, who sat beside<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_217' id='Page_217'>217</a></span> the youth, rather drew +away, while Alice gave him a queer, quick look.</p> + +<p>“An actress?” murmured Miss Martin. “She looks young—a mere girl.”</p> + +<p>“That’s all she is,” said Andy, eagerly. Too eagerly, in fact. He rather +overdid it.</p> + +<p>“Tell ’em how you saved her life,” suggested Dunk, laughing.</p> + +<p>“Forget it,” returned Andy, with another blush. “I’m tired of being a +hero.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, I heard about that,” said Miss Jordan. “There was something in the +papers about it. She’s real pretty, isn’t she?” and again she looked +queerly at Andy.</p> + +<p>“Oh, yes,” he admitted, taking warning now. “Say, tell me, shall we go +over that cross road?”</p> + +<p>“To change the subject,” observed Miss Martin, with a little laugh, and +a sidewise glance at Andy.</p> + +<p>He was beginning to find that jealousy was not alone confined to Dunk.</p> + +<p>The ride came to an end at last and Andy wondered just how he stood with +Dunk and the girls.</p> + +<p>“Hang it all!” he mused, “I seem to get in Dutch all along the line.”</p> + +<p>The girls left New Haven, having been given a little farewell supper by +Dunk and Andy. The<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_218' id='Page_218'>218</a></span> two boys had hard work to resist the many +self-invited guests among their chums.</p> + +<p>Several days later there came some letters to Dunk and Andy. One, to the +latter, was from Miss Fuller, the actress, telling Andy that she +expected to be in New Haven again, and asking Andy to call on her.</p> + +<p>“You are going it!” said Dunk, when Andy told of this missive, and also +mentioned receiving one from Miss Martin, thanking him for the +entertainment he and Dunk had given to her and her chum. “You sure are +going it, Andy! Two strings to your bow, all right.”</p> + +<p>“Never you mind me,” retorted Andy. “I’m not on your side of the fence +<i>this</i> time.”</p> + +<p>There was the sound of running feet in the corridor, and someone rushed +past the room, the door of which was open.</p> + +<p>“Did you see anyone pass?” cried Frank Carr, who roomed a few apartments +away from Andy and Dunk. “Did someone run past here just now?”</p> + +<p>“We didn’t see nor hear anyone,” answered Dunk. “Why?”</p> + +<p>“Because just as I was coming upstairs I saw someone run out of my room. +I thought of the quadrangle robberies at once, and took a look in. One +of my books, and the silver vase I won in the tennis match, were gone. +The thief came down this way!”</p> + + + +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'> +<a name='CHAPTER_XXVIII' id='CHAPTER_XXVIII'></a> +<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_219' id='Page_219'>219</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XXVIII</h2><h3>THE BOOK</h3> +</div> + + +<p>Andy and Dunk, who had jumped up and come to the door of their room on +hearing Frank’s explanation, stood looking at him for a second, rather +startled by his news. Then Andy, realizing that this might be a chance +to discover who had been carrying on the mysterious quadrangle +robberies, exclaimed:</p> + +<p>“Come on down this way! The hall ends just around the corner and there’s +no way out. It’s a blind alley, and if the fellow went down here we sure +have him!”</p> + +<p>“Good for you!” cried Dunk. “Wait until we get something to tackle him +with in case he fights.”</p> + +<p>“That’s so,” said Andy. “Here, I’ll take our poker, and you can have the +fire tongs, Dunk.”</p> + +<p>From a brass stand near the fireplace Andy caught up the articles he +mentioned.</p> + +<p>“Where’s something for me?” asked Frank.</p> + +<p>“Here, take the shovel,” spoke Dunk passing it over. “Say, what sort of +a fellow was it you saw run out of your room?”<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_220' id='Page_220'>220</a></span></p> + +<p>“I didn’t have much chance to notice, he went so like a flash.”</p> + +<p>“Was it—er—one of our fellows—I mean a college man—did he look like +that?” asked Andy. He was conscious of the fact that he had rather +stammered over this. Truth to tell, he feared lest Link might have +yielded to temptation. Since the episode of Dunk’s watch Andy had been +doing some hard thinking.</p> + +<p>“Well, the fellow did look like a college chap,” admitted Frank, “but of +course it couldn’t be. No Yale man would be guilty of a thing like +that.”</p> + +<p>“Of course not!” agreed Dunk. “But say, if we’re going to make a capture +we’d better get busy. Are you sure there’s no way out from this +corridor, Andy?”</p> + +<p>“Sure not. It ends blank. The fellow is surely trapped.”</p> + +<p>They hurried out into the corridor, and started down it, armed with the +fire irons. Though they had talked rather loudly, and were under +considerable excitement, no attention had been attracted to them. Most +of the rooms on that floor were not occupied just then, and if there +were students in the others they did not come out to see what was taking +place.</p> + +<p>“Say, it would be great if we could capture the thief!” said Dunk.<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_221' id='Page_221'>221</a></span></p> + +<p>“Yes, and end the quadrangle mystery,” added Andy.</p> + +<p>“I don’t care so much about ending the mystery as I do about getting +back my tennis cup and the book,” spoke Frank.</p> + +<p>“What sort of a book was it?” Andy inquired.</p> + +<p>“A reference work on inorganic chemistry,” answered Frank. “Cost me ten +plunks, too. I can’t afford to lose it for I need it in my work.”</p> + +<p>“Some book!” murmured Andy, as the three hastened on.</p> + +<p>They tried door after door as they passed, but most of them were locked. +One or two opened to disclose students dressing or shaving, and to the +rather indignant inquiries as to what was wanted, Dunk would exclaim +hastily:</p> + +<p>“Oh, we are looking for a fellow—that’s all.”</p> + +<p>“Hazing?” sometimes would be inquired.</p> + +<p>“Sort of,” Dunk would answer. “No use telling ’em what it is until we’ve +got something to show,” he added to his companions. They agreed with +him.</p> + +<p>They had now reached the turn of corridor where a short passage, making +an L, branched off. So far they had seen no trace of the thief.</p> + +<p>“There’s a big closet, or storeroom, at the<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_222' id='Page_222'>222</a></span> end,” explained Andy. “The +fellow may be hiding in there.”</p> + +<p>An examination of the few rooms remaining on this short turn of the +passage did not disclose the youth they sought. All of the doors were +locked.</p> + +<p>“He may be hiding in one of them,” suggested Dunk.</p> + +<p>“If he is all we’ll have to do will be to wait down at the other end, if +we don’t find him in the store room,” spoke Andy. “He’ll have to come +out some time, and it’s too high up for him to jump.”</p> + +<p>“It’s queer we didn’t hear him run past our room,” remarked Dunk.</p> + +<p>“He had on rubber shoes—that’s why,” explained Frank. “He went out of +my room like a shadow. At first I didn’t realize what it was, but when I +found my stuff had vanished I woke up.”</p> + +<p>“Rubber shoes, eh?” said Andy. “He’s an up-to-date burglar all right.”</p> + +<p>“Well, let’s try the storeroom,” suggested Dunk, as they neared it. They +were rather nervous, in spite of the fact that their forces outnumbered +the enemy three to one. With shovel, tongs and poker held in readiness, +they advanced. The door of the big closet was closed, and, just as Andy +was about to put his hand on the knob,<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_223' id='Page_223'>223</a></span> the portal swung open, and out +stepped—Mortimer Gaffington.</p> + +<p>“Why—er—why—you—you——!” stammered Andy.</p> + +<p>“Did you—have you——?” This was what Dunk tried to say.</p> + +<p>“Is he in there?” Frank wanted to know.</p> + +<p>Mortimer looked coolly at the three.</p> + +<p>“I say,” he drawled, “what’s up? Are you looking for a rat?”</p> + +<p>“No, the quadrangle thief!” exclaimed Andy. “He went in Frank’s room and +took his book and silver cup, and lit out. Came down here and we’re +after him! Have you seen him?”</p> + +<p>“No,” replied Mortimer, slowly. “I came up here to get Charley Taylor’s +mushroom bat. He said he stuck it in here when the season was over, and +he told me I could have it if I could fish it out. I had the dickens of +a time in there, pawing over a lot of old stuff.”</p> + +<p>“Did you get the bat?” asked Dunk.</p> + +<p>“No. I don’t believe it’s there. If it is I’d have to haul everything +out to get at it. I’m going to give it up.”</p> + +<p>As he spoke he threw open the closet door. An electric light was burning +inside, and there was revealed to the eyes of Andy and his chums a +confused mass of material. Most of it was of<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_224' id='Page_224'>224</a></span> a sporting character, and +belonged to the students on that floor, they using the store room for +the accumulation that could not be crowded into their own apartments.</p> + +<p>“A regular junk heap,” commented Frank. “But where the mischief did that +fellow go who was in my room?”</p> + +<p>“It <i>is</i> sort of queer,” admitted Andy, as he looked down. Without +intending to do so he noticed that Mortimer did not wear rubber-soled +shoes, but had on a heavy pair that would have made noise enough down +the corridor had he hurried along the passage.</p> + +<p>“Maybe you dreamed it,” suggested Mortimer. “I didn’t see anything of +anyone coming down here, and I was in that closet some time, rummaging +away.”</p> + +<p>“Must have been pretty warm in there—with the door closed,” suggested +Dunk.</p> + +<p>“It was hot. The door swung shut when I was away back in a corner trying +to fish out that bat, and I didn’t want to climb back and open it. Well, +I guess I’ll go clean up. I’m all dust.”</p> + +<p>Truth to tell, he was rather disheveled, his clothes being spotted in +several places with dust and cobwebs, while his face and hands were also +soiled.</p> + +<p>“Well, I guess he fooled us,” commented Andy. “I can’t understand it, +though. We<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_225' id='Page_225'>225</a></span> came down this hall right after him, and there’s no stairway +going up or down from this end. How could he give us the slip?”</p> + +<p>“Easily enough,” said Mortimer. “He could have slid into some empty +room, locked the door on the inside and waited until you fellows rushed +past. Then he could come out and go down the stairs behind you without +you seeing him.”</p> + +<p>“That’s what he did then, all right,” decided Dunk. “We might as well +give it up. Report your loss, Frank.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, I will. Whew! Another quadrangle robbery to add to the list. I +wonder when this thing will stop?”</p> + +<p>No one could answer him. Mortimer switched off the light in the store +room, remarking that he’d have another look for the bat later. Then he +accompanied Andy and the others on their way back down the corridor. +Gaffington departed to his own dormitory, while Frank went to report to +the Dean, and Andy and Dunk turned into their room.</p> + +<p>“Well, what do you think of it?” asked Andy.</p> + +<p>“I don’t know,” responded his roommate. “Mortimer’s explanation seems to +cover it.”</p> + +<p>“All the same we’ll leave our door open, on the chance that the thief +may still be hiding in some empty room, and will try to sneak out,” +suggested Andy.<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_226' id='Page_226'>226</a></span></p> + +<p>“Sure, that’s good enough.”</p> + +<p>But, though they watched for some time, no one came down the corridor +past their room but the regular students.</p> + +<p>And so the theft of the book and silver cup passed into history with the +other mysteries. Further search was made, and the private detective +agency, that had been engaged by the Dean, sent some active men scouting +around, but nothing came of it.</p> + +<p>The Christmas vacation was at hand and Andy went home to spend it in +Dunmore. Chet, Ben and his other school chums were on hand, and as Andy +remarked concerning the occasion, “a jolly time was had by all.”</p> + +<p>Chet and Ben were with Andy most of the time, and when Andy told of the +doings at Yale, Chet responded with an account of the fun at Harvard, +while Ben related the doings of the Jersey Tiger.</p> + +<p>Andy’s second term at Yale began early in the new year, and he arrived +in New Haven during a driving snow storm. He went at once to his room, +where he found a note from Dunk, who had come in shortly before.</p> + +<p>“Come over to the eating joint,” the missive read, and Andy, stowing +away his bag, headed for the place.</p> + +<p>“Over in here!”<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_227' id='Page_227'>227</a></span></p> + +<p>“Shove in, plenty of room!”</p> + +<p>“Oh, you, Andy Blair!”</p> + +<p>“Happy New Year!”</p> + +<p>Thus was he greeted and thus he greeted in turn. Then, amid laughter and +talk, and the rattle of knives and forks, acquaintanceship and +friendship were renewed. Andy was beginning to feel like a seasoned Yale +man now.</p> + +<p>The studies of the second term were of increasing difficulty, and Andy +and Dunk found they had to buckle down to steady work. But they had +counted on this.</p> + +<p>Still they found time for fun and jollity and spent many a pleasant +evening in company with their other friends. Once or twice Mortimer and +his cronies tried to get Dunk to spend the night with them, but he +refused; or, if he did go, he took Andy with him, and the two always +came home early, and with clear heads.</p> + +<p>“They’re a pair of quitters!” said Len Scott, in disgust, after one +occasion of this kind. “What do you want to bother with ’em for, Mort?”</p> + +<p>“That’s what I say,” added Clarence Boyle.</p> + +<p>“Oh, well, I may have my reasons,” returned Mortimer, loftily. “Dunk +would be a good sort if he wasn’t tied fast to Andy. I can’t get along +with him, though.”</p> + +<p>“Me either,” added Len. “He’s too goody-goody.”<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_228' id='Page_228'>228</a></span> Which was somewhat +unjust to Andy.</p> + +<p>The winter slowly wore on. Now and then there would be another of the +mysterious robberies, and on nearly every occasion the article taken was +of considerable value—jewelry, sporting trophies or expensive books. +There was suspicion of many persons, but not enough to warrant an +arrest.</p> + +<p>One day Hal Pulter, who roomed in Wright Hall, near Dunk and Andy, +reported that an expensive reference book had been taken from his room. +The usual experience followed, with no result.</p> + +<p>Then, about a week later, as Andy was walking past the small building at +High and Elm streets, where the University Press had its quarters, he +came up behind Mortimer Gaffington, who seemed to be studying a book.</p> + +<p>Andy wondered somewhat at Mortimer’s application, particularly as it was +snowing at the time. This enabled Andy to come close up behind +Gaffington without the latter being aware of it, and, looking over the +shoulder of the youth, Andy saw on the fly-leaf of the volume a peculiar +ink blot.</p> + +<p>At once a flash of recollection came to Andy. Well did he know that ink +blot, for he had made it himself.</p> + +<p>“Why, that’s Pulter’s book!” he exclaimed,<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_229' id='Page_229'>229</a></span> speaking aloud +involuntarily. “Where did you get it?”</p> + +<p>Mortimer turned quickly and faced Andy.</p> + +<p>“What’s that?” he asked, sharply.</p> + +<p>“I say that’s Pulter’s book,” Andy went on.</p> + +<p>“How do you know?” asked Mortimer.</p> + +<p>“Why, by that big ink blot. I made it. Pulter was in our room with the +book just before it was stolen, and my fountain pen leaked on it. That +sure is Pulter’s book. Where did you get it? That’s the one he made such +a fuss about!”</p> + + + +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'> +<a name='CHAPTER_XXIX' id='CHAPTER_XXIX'></a> +<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_230' id='Page_230'>230</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XXIX</h2><h3>THE ACCUSATION</h3> +</div> + + +<p>“Pulter’s book, eh?” murmured Mortimer, slowly, as he turned it about, +looking on the front and back blank pages.</p> + +<p>“It sure is,” went on Andy, eagerly. “I’d know that ink blot anywhere. +Pulter let out a howl like an Indian when my pen leaked on his book. The +blot looks like a Chinese laundryman turned upside down.”</p> + +<p>“That’s right,” agreed Mortimer. “Queer, isn’t it?”</p> + +<p>“Yes,” went on Andy, his curiosity growing. “Where did you get it?”</p> + +<p>“Found it,” spoke the rich lad, quickly. “I went out to the new Yale +Field to see how the stadium was coming on, and I saw this under a clump +of bushes. I knew it was a valuable book, so I brought it back with me. +It hasn’t got Pulter’s name in it, though.”</p> + +<p>“No,” went on Andy. “His name was on the other front leaf. That was +worse blotted with the ink than this one, and he tore it out. But I’m +sure that’s Pulter’s book.”<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_231' id='Page_231'>231</a></span></p> + +<p>“Very likely,” admitted Mortimer, coolly. “I’ll take it to him. I’m glad +I found it. Going my way?”</p> + +<p>“Yes,” and Andy walked beside the lad from his home town, thinking of +many things. Mortimer went into Wright Hall, but Pulter was not in.</p> + +<p>“I’ll leave the book for him,” Mortimer said to Andy, “and you can call +his attention to it. If it isn’t his let me know, and I’ll post a notice +saying that I’ve found it.”</p> + +<p>“All right,” agreed our hero. “But I know it’s Pulter’s.”</p> + +<p>He was telling Dunk about the incident, when his roommate came in a +little later, and they were discussing the queer coincidence, when +Pulter came bursting in.</p> + +<p>“Oh, I say!” he cried. “I’ve got my book back! What do you know about +that? It was on my table, and——”</p> + +<p>He stopped and looked queerly at Andy and Dunk, who were smiling.</p> + +<p>“What’s the joke?” demanded Pulter. “Did you fellows——”</p> + +<p>“Gaffington found it,” said Andy. “Sit down and I’ll explain,” which he +did.</p> + +<p>“Well, that is a queer go!” exclaimed Pulter. “How in the world did my +book get out to Yale Field? It isn’t so queer that Gaffington would<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_232' id='Page_232'>232</a></span> +find it, for I understand he goes out there a lot, on walks. But how did +my book get there?”</p> + +<p>“Probably whoever took it found they couldn’t get much by pawning or +selling it, and threw it away,” suggested Dunk.</p> + +<p>“Looks that way,” agreed Andy. “But it sure is a queer game all around.”</p> + +<p>They discussed it from many standpoints. Pulter was very glad to get his +book back, for he was not a wealthy lad, and the cost of a new volume +meant more to him than it would to others.</p> + +<p>“Well, Andy, how do you size it up?” asked Dunk, when Pulter had gone +back to his apartment and Andy and his chum sat in their cozy room +before a crackling fire.</p> + +<p>“How do you mean?” asked Andy, to gain time.</p> + +<p>“Why, about Gaffington having that book. Didn’t it look sort of fishy to +you?”</p> + +<p>“It did in a way, yes. But his explanation was very natural. It all +<i>might</i> have happened that way.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, yes, of course. But do <i>you</i> believe it?”</p> + +<p>“I don’t know why I shouldn’t. Gaffington’s folks have no end of money, +you know. He wouldn’t be guilty of taking a book. If he did want to crib +something he’d go in for something big.”<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_233' id='Page_233'>233</a></span></p> + +<p>“Well, some of these quadrangle robberies have been big enough. There’s +my watch, for instance.”</p> + +<p>“What! You don’t mean you believe Gaffington is the quadrangle thief!” +exclaimed Andy, in surprise.</p> + +<p>“I don’t believe it, exactly, no. If he’s rich, as you say, certainly he +wouldn’t run the risk for the comparatively few dollars he could get out +of the thefts. But I will admit that this book business did make me +suspicious.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, forget it,” advised Andy, with a laugh. “I don’t like Gaffington, +and I never did, but I don’t believe that of him.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, well, I dare say I’m wrong. It was only a theory.”</p> + +<p>“I would like to know who’s doing all this business, though,” went on +Andy.</p> + +<p>“It’s probably some of the hired help they have around here,” suggested +Dunk. “They can’t investigate the character of all the men and women +employed in the kitchens, the dormitories and around the grounds.”</p> + +<p>“No, that’s right. I only hope my friend Link doesn’t fall under +suspicion.”</p> + +<p>For a week or so after this, matters went on quietly at Yale. There were +no further thefts and the authorities had begun to hope there would be +no more. They had about given up<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_234' id='Page_234'>234</a></span> the hope of solving the mystery of +those already committed.</p> + +<p>Then came a sensation. Some very valuable books were taken one night +from Chittenden Hall—rare volumes worth considerable money. The next +morning there was much excitement when the fact became known.</p> + +<p>“Now something will be done!” predicted Andy.</p> + +<p>“Well, what can they do that hasn’t already been done?” asked Dunk. +“They may make a search of every fellow’s room. I wish they’d come here. +Maybe they’d find that my watch, after all, has hidden itself away +somewhere instead of being taken.”</p> + +<p>“They’re welcome if they want to look here,” said Andy. “But I don’t +believe they’ll do that. They’ll probably get a real detective now.”</p> + +<p>And that was what the Dean did. He disliked very much to call in the +public police, but the loss of the rare books was too serious a theft to +pass over with the hiring of a private detective.</p> + +<p>Just what was done was not disclosed, but it leaked out that a close +watch was being kept on all the employees at Yale, and suspicion, it was +said, had narrowed down to one or two.</p> + +<p>One day Link called on Andy to pay back the money he had borrowed.</p> + +<p>“There’s no hurry,” said Andy. “I don’t need it.”<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_235' id='Page_235'>235</a></span></p> + +<p>“Oh, I want to pay it back,” said the young farmer. “I have plenty of +cash now,” and he exhibited quite a roll of bills.</p> + +<p>“Been drawing your salary?” asked Andy, with a laugh.</p> + +<p>“No, this is a little windfall that came to me,” was the answer.</p> + +<p>“A windfall? Did someone die and leave you a fortune?”</p> + +<p>“No, not exactly. It came to me in a curious way. I got it through the +mail, and there wasn’t a word of explanation with it. Just the bill +folded in a letter. A hundred-dollar bill, it was, but I had it +changed.”</p> + +<p>“Do you mean someone sent you a hundred dollars, and you don’t know who +it’s from?” asked Andy, in surprise.</p> + +<p>“That’s right!” exclaimed Link, with a laugh. “I wish I did know, for +I’d write and thank whoever it was. It surely came in handy.”</p> + +<p>“Why, it’s very strange,” spoke Andy, slowly. “Could you tell by the +postmark where the letter came from?”</p> + +<p>“It was from New York, but I haven’t a friend there that I know of.”</p> + +<p>“Well, I’m glad you’ve got it. Take care of it, Link.”</p> + +<p>“I intend to. I can lend you some now, if you need it, Mr. Blair.”</p> + +<p>“Thank you, I have enough at present.”<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_236' id='Page_236'>236</a></span></p> + +<p>Andy watched his protege walk across the campus, and near the middle +observed him stopped by a stranger. Link appeared surprised, and started +back. There was a quick movement, and the young farmer was seized by the +other.</p> + +<p>“That’s queer!” exclaimed Andy. “I wonder what’s up? Link may be in +trouble. Maybe that fellow’s trying to rob him.”</p> + +<p>The quadrangle was almost deserted at the time. Andy hurried down and +ran over to where Link was standing. The student caught the gleam of +something on the wrist of his friend. It was a steel handcuff!</p> + +<p>“What—what’s up, Link?” Andy gasped.</p> + +<p>“Why, Mr. Blair—I don’t know. This man—he says he’s a detective, +and——”</p> + +<p>“So I am a detective, and I don’t want any of your funny work!” was the +snappish retort. “There’s my badge,” and it was flashed from under the +armhole of the man’s vest, being fastened to his suspenders, where most +plain-clothes men carry their official emblem.</p> + +<p>“A detective!” gasped Andy. “What’s the matter? Why do you want Link +Bardon?”</p> + +<p>“We want him because he’s accused of being the quadrangle thief!” was +the unexpected answer. “Stand aside now, I’m going to take him to the +station house!”</p> + + + +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'> +<a name='CHAPTER_XXX' id='CHAPTER_XXX'></a> +<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_237' id='Page_237'>237</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XXX</h2><h3>THE LETTER</h3> +</div> + + +<p>Andy could scarcely understand it. Surely, he thought, there must be +some mistake. He was glad there was not a crowd of students about to +witness the humiliation of Link—a humiliation none the less acute if +the charge was groundless.</p> + +<p>“Wait a minute—hold on!” exclaimed Andy, sharply, and there was +something in his voice that caused the detective to pause.</p> + +<p>“Well, what is it?” the officer growled. “I haven’t any time to waste.”</p> + +<p>“Do you really want him on a robbery charge?” asked Andy.</p> + +<p>“I do—if his name is Link Bardon,” was the cool answer. “I guess he +won’t attempt to deny it. I’ve been on his trail for some time.”</p> + +<p>“That’s my name, sure enough—I have no reason to deny it,” said Link, +who had turned pale. His eyes had traces of tears in them. After all, he +was not much older than Andy and he was a gentle sort of youth, unused +to the rough ways of the world.<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_238' id='Page_238'>238</a></span></p> + +<p>“I thought I was right,” the detective went on. “I’ve been watching for +you. Now the question is—are you coming along quietly, or shall I have +any trouble?”</p> + +<p>“I won’t give you any trouble—certainly not,” protested Link. “But this +is all a mistake! I haven’t taken a thing! You know I wouldn’t steal, +don’t you, Mr. Blair?”</p> + +<p>“I certainly believe it, Link, and I’ll do all I can to help you. What +are you going to do with him?” he asked the detective.</p> + +<p>“Lock him up—what do you suppose?”</p> + +<p>“But can’t he get out on bail?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, it could be arranged. I have nothing to do with that. I’m just +supposed to get him—and I’ve got him!”</p> + +<p>“But I—I haven’t done anything!” insisted Link.</p> + +<p>“That’s what they all say,” sneered the detective. “Come along!”</p> + +<p>“Do—do I have to go with him?” asked Link, turning to Andy in appeal.</p> + +<p>“I’m afraid so,” was the answer. “But I’ll go with you and try to get +bail. Don’t worry, Link. It’s all a mistake. You’ll soon be free.”</p> + +<p>“Don’t be too sure of that,” warned the officer. “I’ve been searching +your room, young man, and I guess you know what I found there.”</p> + +<p>“You certainly found in my room only the<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_239' id='Page_239'>239</a></span> things that belonged to me!” +exclaimed Link, indignantly.</p> + +<p>“Did I? What do you call this?” and the detective took from his pocket a +small book. Andy recognized it at once as one of the valuable ones taken +from Chittenden Hall.</p> + +<p>“You—you found that in my room?” cried Link, aghast.</p> + +<p>“I sure did. In your room on Crown street. Now maybe you won’t be so +high and mighty.”</p> + +<p>“If you found that in my room, someone else put it there!” declared +Link. “I certainly never did.”</p> + +<p>“Well, I won’t say that couldn’t happen,” spoke the officer coolly, “but +if you think I planted it there to frame up some evidence against you, +you’ve got another guess coming. I took your landlady into the room with +me, to have a witness, and she saw me pull this book out from the bottom +of a closet.”</p> + +<p>“I never put it there!” protested Link.</p> + +<p>“You can tell that to the judge,” went on the officer. “How about all +the money you’ve been sporting around to-day, too?”</p> + +<p>Link started. Andy, too, saw how dangerous this evidence might be.</p> + +<p>“I’ve had some money—certainly,” admitted Link.</p> + +<p>“Where’d you get it?”<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_240' id='Page_240'>240</a></span></p> + +<p>Link hesitated. He realized that the story would sound peculiar.</p> + +<p>“It was sent to me,” he answered.</p> + +<p>“Who sent it?”</p> + +<p>“I don’t know. It came in the mail without a word of explanation.”</p> + +<p>The detective laughed.</p> + +<p>“I thought you’d have some such yarn as that,” he said. “They all do. I +guess you’ll have to come with me. I’m sorry,” he went on in a more +gentle tone. “I’m only doing my duty. I’ve been working on the +quadrangle case for some time, and I think I’ve landed my man. But it +isn’t as much fun as you might think. I’ll only say that I believe I +have the goods on you, and I’ll warn you that anything you say now may +be used against you. So you’d better keep still. Come along.”</p> + +<p>“Must I go?” asked Link again of Andy.</p> + +<p>“I’m afraid so. But I’ll have you out on bail as soon as I can. Don’t +worry, Link.”</p> + +<p>Andy learned from the detective before what judge Link would be +arraigned and then, as the young farmer lad was led away in disgrace, +Andy started back to his room.</p> + +<p>“I’ve got to get Dunk to help me in this,” he reasoned. “To go on bail +you have to own property, or else put up the cash, and I can’t do that. +Maybe Dunk can suggest a way.”<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_241' id='Page_241'>241</a></span></p> + +<p>Andy was glad it was so dark that no one could see Link being taken away +by the officer.</p> + +<p>“How did that book get in Link’s room?” mused Andy. “That sure will tell +against him. But I know he didn’t steal it. Some other janitor or helper +who could get into Chittenden may have taken it, and then got afraid and +dumped it in Link’s closet. A lot of college employees live on Crown +street. I must get Link a lawyer and tell him that.”</p> + +<p>Andy found Dunk in the room, and excitedly broke the news to him.</p> + +<p>“Whew! You don’t say so!” cried Dunk. “Your friend Link arrested! What +do you know about that? And the book in his room!”</p> + +<p>“Somebody else put it there,” suggested Andy.</p> + +<p>“Possibly. But that money-in-a-letter story sounds sort of fishy.”</p> + +<p>“That <i>is</i> a weak point,” Andy admitted. “But we’ll have to consider +all that later. The question is: How can we get Link out on bail? Got any +money?”</p> + +<p>Dunk pulled out his pocketbook and made a hurried survey.</p> + +<p>“About thirty plunks,” he said.</p> + +<p>“I’ve got twenty-five,” said Andy. “Link has nearly a hundred himself.”</p> + +<p>“That won’t be enough,” said Dunk. “This is a grand larceny charge and +the bail will be<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_242' id='Page_242'>242</a></span> five hundred dollars anyhow. Now I’ll tell you the +best thing to do.”</p> + +<p>“What?”</p> + +<p>“Hire a good lawyer. We’ve got money enough, with what Link has, to pay +a good retaining fee. Let the lawyer worry about the bail. Those fellows +always have ways of getting it.”</p> + +<p>“I believe you’re right,” agreed Andy. “We can put up fifty dollars for +a retainer to the lawyer.”</p> + +<p>“I’ll telegraph for more from home to-night,” said Dunk. “Andy, we’ll +see this thing through.”</p> + +<p>“It’s mighty good of you, Dunk.”</p> + +<p>“Nonsense! Why shouldn’t I help out your friend?”</p> + +<p>“Do you think he’s guilty?”</p> + +<p>“I wouldn’t want to say. Certainly I hope he isn’t; but I’d like to get +my watch back.”</p> + +<p>“Well, let’s go get a lawyer,” suggested Andy.</p> + +<p>A sporty senior, whom Dunk knew, and who had more than once been in +little troubles that required the services of a legal man, gave them the +address of a good one. They were fortunate in finding him in his office, +though it was rather late, and he agreed to take the case, and said he +thought bail could be had.</p> + +<p>Andy and Dunk made a hasty supper and then, letting their studies go, +hurried to the police<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_243' id='Page_243'>243</a></span> court, where, occasionally, night sessions were +held.</p> + +<p>Link was brought out before the judge, having first had a conference +with the lawyer Dunk and Andy had engaged. The charge was formally made.</p> + +<p>“We plead not guilty,” answered the lawyer, “and I ask that my client be +admitted to bail.”</p> + +<p>“Hum!” mused the judge. “The specific charge only mentions one book, of +the value of two hundred dollars, but I understand there are other +charges to follow. I will fix bail at one thousand dollars, the prisoner +to stand committed until a bond is signed.”</p> + +<p>Andy and Dunk gasped at the mention of a thousand dollars, but the +lawyer only smiled quietly.</p> + +<p>“I have a bondsman here, your Honor,” he said.</p> + +<p>A man, looking like an Italian, came forward, but he proved to have the +necessary property, and signed the bond. Then Link was allowed to go, +being held, however, to answer to a higher court for the charge against +him.</p> + +<p>“Now if you’ll come to my office,” suggested the lawyer, “we’ll plan out +this case.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, I can’t thank you two enough!” gasped Link, when he was free of the +police station. “It was awful back there in the cell.”<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_244' id='Page_244'>244</a></span></p> + +<p>“Forget it,” advised Dunk, with a laugh. “You’ll never go back there +again.”</p> + +<p>The consultation with the lawyer took some time, and when it was over +Link started for his room. He was cheered by the prospect that the case +against him was very slight.</p> + +<p>“Unless they get other evidence,” specified the lawyer.</p> + +<p>“They can’t!” cried Link, proudly.</p> + +<p>Andy and Dunk went back to their room, to do some necessary studying. On +their way they stopped in the Yale branch postoffice. There was a letter +from home for Andy, and when he had read it he uttered such an +exclamation that Dunk asked:</p> + +<p>“Any bad news?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, but not for me,” replied Andy. “This is from my mother. She writes +that Mr. Gaffington—that’s Mortimer’s father—has failed in business +and lost all his money. This occurred some time ago, but the family has +been keeping it quiet. The Gaffingtons aren’t rich at all, and Mortimer +will probably have to leave Yale.”</p> + +<p>“Too bad,” said Dunk, and then he started off, leaving Andy to read the +letter again.</p> + + + +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'> +<a name='CHAPTER_XXXI' id='CHAPTER_XXXI'></a> +<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_245' id='Page_245'>245</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XXXI</h2><h3>ON THE DIAMOND</h3> +</div> + + +<p>Andy Blair stood in the middle of his room, carefully examining a bat he +had taken from a closet containing, among other possessions, his +sporting things. The bat was a favorite he had used while at Milton, and +he was considering having it sand-papered and oiled. Or, rather, he was +considering doing the work himself, for he would not trust his choicest +stick to the hands of another.</p> + +<p>“Yes, she’ll look a little better for a bit of attention, I think,” said +Andy, half aloud. “Though I don’t know as I can bat any better with it.”</p> + +<p>He gave two or three preliminary swings in the air, when the door +suddenly opened, a head was thrust in and Andy gave it a glancing blow.</p> + +<p>“Wow! What’s that for?” the newcomer gasped. “A nice way to receive +company, Andy! Where’d you learn that?”</p> + +<p>“I beg your pardon, Bob, old man!” exclaimed Andy, as he recognized +Hunter, Dunk’s<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_246' id='Page_246'>246</a></span> friend. “I was just getting out my bat to see how it +felt and——”</p> + +<p>“I can tell you how it felt,” interrupted Bob, with emphasis. “It felt +hard! Better put up a sign outside your door—qlBeware of the bat.’”</p> + +<p>“And have the fellows think this is a zoological museum,” laughed Andy. +“I will not. But, Bob, I’m very sorry you got in the way of my stick. +Does it hurt? Want any witch hazel or anything like that?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, no, it isn’t so worse. Good thing I wear my hair long or I might +have a headache. But say—where’s Dunk?”</p> + +<p>“He was with me a little while ago. We stopped in the postoffice, and I +thought he came on here. But he didn’t. Have you seen him?”</p> + +<p>“No, but I want to. Gaffington and his crowd are going to have another +blow-out to-night, and I wanted to make sure Dunk wouldn’t fall by the +wayside.”</p> + +<p>“That’s so. Glad you told me. I’ll do all I can. But say, he and I have +had a strenuous time to-day.”</p> + +<p>“What’s up?” asked Bob. “I’ve been so blamed busy getting primed for a +quiz that I haven’t had time to eat.”</p> + +<p>“It’s about the robberies—the quadrangle thefts,” explained Andy. “They +arrested Link Bardon.”<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_247' id='Page_247'>247</a></span></p> + +<p>“What! Your farmer friend?”</p> + +<p>“Yes. Dunk and I bailed him out.”</p> + +<p>“Good for you! Now I suppose the thefts will stop.”</p> + +<p>“Not necessarily,” returned Andy, quickly. “Link wasn’t the thief.”</p> + +<p>“He wasn’t? Then why did they pinch him? Of course I don’t know anything +about it, and if he’s your friend, why, of course, you have a right to +stick up for him.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, it isn’t that so much,” explained Andy. “I don’t know him very +well; but I’m sure he isn’t guilty of the thefts. There are some queer +circumstances about them, but I’m sure they can all be explained.”</p> + +<p>“Well, it’s your funeral—not mine,” said Bob, with a shrug of his +shoulders. “I wonder where Dunk is. I think I’ll go hunt him up.”</p> + +<p>“All right, bring him back here when you come,” urged Andy.</p> + +<p>“Yes, and I suppose you’ll stand ready to greet us with a club—you +cheerful reception committee!” laughed Bob. “Well, I’ll see you later.”</p> + +<p>Andy sat down, placing his bat across his knees.</p> + +<p>“So Gaffington is going to give another spread, eh?” he mused. “That’s +queer—on top of the news mother sends in her letter. What did I do with +it?”<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_248' id='Page_248'>248</a></span></p> + +<p>He found it after looking through a mass of papers in his pockets, and +read it again. Following its receipt at the college branch postoffice +Andy had imparted the news to Dunk. Then the latter, meeting a friend, +had walked off with him, while Andy came on to his room.</p> + +<p>On reaching his apartment, Dunk not having come in, Andy found a notice +from the Freshman Athletic Committee, stating that baseball practice +would soon start in the indoor cage.</p> + +<p>Andy was an enthusiastic player, and had made a good record at Milton. +As a freshman he was not eligible for the Yale varsity nine, but he +could play on his class team, and he was glad the chance had come to +him.</p> + +<p>Andy was thinking of many things as he sat there in the room, now and +then swinging his bat. But he was careful not to let it go too close to +the door, in case other visitors might chance in.</p> + +<p>“A whole lot of things have happened since morning,” said Andy to +himself. “That sure was a strenuous time over poor Link. I wonder what +he’ll do? Probably the college will fire him from his job. I guess I’ll +have to see what I can do to get him another. But that won’t be easy +when it becomes known that he’s out on bail on a theft charge.</p> + +<p>“Then there’s that news about Mortimer. And to think that he’s known all +along that he<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_249' id='Page_249'>249</a></span> might have to leave Yale, yet he’s been going on and +living as if his father’s millions were in a safe deposit box. I +wonder——By Jove!” exclaimed Andy, leaping up. “I never thought of +that. Why not? If he needs money——”</p> + +<p>His train of thought was interrupted by a knock on his door, which had +swung shut as Bob Hunter went out.</p> + +<p>“Come in!” invited Andy, and he started as Mortimer Gaffington slid in. +Andy gave him a quick glance, but either Mortimer was a good actor, or +he did not feel his father’s loss of money, providing the news Mrs. +Blair had sent her son was correct.</p> + +<p>“Hello, Andy,” greeted Gaffington, as he slumped into an easy chair. +“Where’s Dunk?”</p> + +<p>“I don’t know. Bob Hunter was just in looking for him. Make yourself at +home—he may be in soon.” In spite of his dislike of Gaffington, and his +fear lest he influence Dunk for evil, Andy could do no less than play +the part of host.</p> + +<p>“Thanks, I will stay for a while,” answered Mortimer. “Been looking for +thieves again?” he asked, noting the bat in Andy’s hand. He referred to +the time when Andy and his two friends had sought an intruder down the +corridor, and had only found Mortimer delving in a storeroom.</p> + +<p>“No, not this time,” laughed Andy. “But the freshman team is going to +get together, so I<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_250' id='Page_250'>250</a></span> thought I’d get out my fishing tackle, so to speak.”</p> + +<p>“I see. I guess the varsity indoor practice will start soon. Say, what’s +this I hear about someone being arrested for the quadrangle thefts?”</p> + +<p>“It’s true enough,” replied Andy, looking sharply at his visitor. “Link +Bardon was arrested, and Dunk and I got him bailed out.”</p> + +<p>“You did!” cried Mortimer, almost jumping from the chair.</p> + +<p>“Why, was there anything strange in that?” asked Andy, in surprise.</p> + +<p>“I should think so!” exclaimed Mortimer, sharply. “Here the whole +college has been upset by a lot of robberies, and your own roommate +loses a valuable watch. Then, as soon as the thief is arrested, you +fellows go on his bail! Strange? Well, I should say so!”</p> + +<p>“I didn’t say we went on his bond,” spoke Andy, quietly. “Dunk and I +only got him a lawyer who arranged for it. But I don’t believe Link is +guilty.”</p> + +<p>“Well, that’s a matter of opinion,” said Mortimer, and there was anger +in his voice. “Of course, though, if he’s your friend you do right to +stick up for him.”</p> + +<p>“Yes,” agreed Andy, “he is my friend. And it’s at a time like this that +he needs friends.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, well,” said Mortimer, with a shrug of<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_251' id='Page_251'>251</a></span> his shoulders, “let’s forget +it. I wonder what’s keeping Dunk?”</p> + +<p>“Anything I can do?” asked Andy, wishing Mortimer would leave before +Dunk came in. He did not want his chum taken to Burke’s for a “won’t be +home until morning” affair if he could help it.</p> + +<p>“No, I want to see Dunk on a personal matter,” said the caller. “Guess I +won’t wait any longer, though,” and he arose to go out. Just as he +reached the door Dunk came in whistling.</p> + +<p>“Anything on?” Andy heard Mortimer ask quickly.</p> + +<p>“No. Why?”</p> + +<p>“Can I see you a moment outside?”</p> + +<p>“Sure. I’ll be back in a minute, Andy,” said Dunk. “I met Bill Hagan +just as I left the postoffice and he wanted me to look at a bull pup he +wants to sell.”</p> + +<p>Dunk and Mortimer walked down the hall. Andy was a little anxious as to +what might develop, but he need have had no fears. Dunk returned +presently, looking rather grave.</p> + +<p>“Did he want you to go to his blow-out?” asked Andy, with the privilege +of a roommate.</p> + +<p>“Yes, but I’m not going. He wanted some money. Said he was dead broke.”</p> + +<p>“And yet he’s going to blow in a lot. Did you give it to him?”<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_252' id='Page_252'>252</a></span></p> + +<p>“What else could I do? When a fellow’s down and out that’s just the time +he needs help.”</p> + +<p>“That’s right,” agreed Andy, thinking of Link. “But did Mortimer say +anything about his father’s losses?”</p> + +<p>“Not a thing. Just said he was temporarily broke, and asked for a loan. +I couldn’t refuse.”</p> + +<p>“No, I suppose not. But you must be strapped after putting up for Link. +I know I am. I’m going to telegraph home.”</p> + +<p>“You needn’t. I got a check in the mail to-night and I cashed it. I can +lend you some if you want it.”</p> + +<p>“Well, I may call on you. But say, it’s queer about Mortimer, isn’t it?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, but we don’t know all the ins and outs of it yet. Maybe that rumor +about his folks losing all they had isn’t true.”</p> + +<p>“Maybe. I’ll write home and find out. Say, but I’m tired!”</p> + +<p>“So am I! I’m going to stay in to-night.”</p> + +<p>So it came about that neither Dunk nor Andy went to the little affair +Mortimer gave on borrowed money. It was “quite some affair,” too, as Bob +Hunter reported later, having heard stories about it, and one or two +participants were suspended as a result of their performances after the +spread.<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_253' id='Page_253'>253</a></span></p> + +<p>After the rather exciting time concerning Link’s arrest matters at Yale, +as regards the happenings with which this chronicle concerns itself, +quieted down. Link’s case would not come up for trial for some time. +Meanwhile he was allowed his liberty on bail. He was, of course, +discharged from his position.</p> + +<p>“But I’ve got another job,” he said to Andy, a day or so later. “That +lawyer is a good sort. He helped me. I’m just going to stick here until +I prove that I didn’t have a hand in those robberies.”</p> + +<p>“That’s the way to talk!” cried Andy. “You didn’t hear where the hundred +dollars came from, did you?”</p> + +<p>“No, and I can see that my explanation of how I got it isn’t going to be +believed in court. But it’s true, just the same.”</p> + +<p>“Then the truth will come out—some time,” said Andy, firmly. “In the +meanwhile, if I can do anything, let me know.”</p> + +<p>“Thank you.”</p> + +<p>The months passed. Spring was faintly heralded in milder weather, by the +return of the birds, and the presence of little buds on the leafless +trees.</p> + +<p>Somewhat to the disappointment of Andy there were no more quadrangle +robberies. That<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_254' id='Page_254'>254</a></span> is, Andy was disappointed to a certain extent. For if +the thefts had still kept up after the discharge of Link, it would at +least show that someone besides the young farmer was guilty. As it was, +it made his case appear all the worse.</p> + +<p>“But I’m not going to believe it!” exclaimed Andy. “Link is not guilty!”</p> + +<p>“Go to it, old man!” cried Dunk. “I’m with you to the end.”</p> + +<p>Indoor baseball practice was held in the cage on Elm street, back of the +gymnasium, and Andy was picked to catch for the freshman nine. Dunk, to +his delight, was first choice for pitcher. Then came intense longings to +get out on the real diamond.</p> + +<p>The chance came sooner than was expected, for there was an early Spring. +The ground was still a little soft and damp, but it could be played on, +and soon crowds of students began pouring out to Yale Field to watch the +practice and the games between the class nines, or the varsity and the +scrubs.</p> + +<p>“Come on now, Dunk, sting ’em in!”</p> + +<p>“Fool him, boy, fool him!”</p> + +<p>“Make him give you a nice one!”</p> + +<p>“Watch his glass arm break!”</p> + +<p>These cries greeted Dunk, who was pitching for the freshmen against a +scrub nine one afternoon. It was a few days before the game with<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_255' id='Page_255'>255</a></span> the +Princeton freshmen—the first game of the season, and the Yale freshman +coaches were anxious to get their nine into good shape.</p> + +<p>“Ah! There he goes!” came a yell, as the scrub batter hit the ball Dunk +pitched in to Andy. But the ball went straight back into the hands of +Dunk, who stopped it, hot liner though it was, and the batter was +out—retiring the side.</p> + + + +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'> +<a name='CHAPTER_XXXII' id='CHAPTER_XXXII'></a> +<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_256' id='Page_256'>256</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XXXII</h2><h3>VICTORY</h3> +</div> + + +<p>Mortimer Gaffington stayed on at Yale. How he did it Andy and Dunk, who +alone seemed to know of his father’s failure, could not tell. Andy’s +mother confirmed her first news about Mr. Gaffington’s losses. Yet +Mortimer stayed at college.</p> + +<p>Afterward it developed that he was in dire straits, and only by much +ingenuity did he manage to raise enough to keep up appearances. He +borrowed right and left, taking from one to satisfy the demands of +another—an endless chain sort of arrangement that was bound to break +sooner or later.</p> + +<p>But Mortimer had managed to make a number of new friends in the “fast” +set and these were not careful to remind him of the loans he solicited. +Then, also, these youths had plenty of money. On them Mortimer preyed.</p> + +<p>He gave a number of suppers which were the talk of the college, but he +was wise enough to keep them within certain bounds so that he was<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_257' id='Page_257'>257</a></span> not +called to account. But he was walking over thin ice, and none knew it +better than himself. But there was a fatal fascination in it.</p> + +<p>Several times he came to Dunk to invite him to attend some of the +midnight affairs, but Dunk declined, and Andy was very glad. Dunk said +Mortimer had several times asked for loans, but had met with refusals.</p> + +<p>“I’m not going to give him any more,” said Dunk. “He’s had enough of my +cash now.”</p> + +<p>“Hasn’t he paid any back?” asked Andy.</p> + +<p>“Some, yes, and the next time he wants more than at first. I’m done.”</p> + +<p>“I should think so,” remarked Andy. “He’s played you long enough.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, Mortimer isn’t such a bad sort when you get to know him,” went on +Dunk, easily. “I rather like him, but I can see that it isn’t doing +anyone any good to be in his crowd. That’s why I cut it out. I came here +to make something of myself—I owe it to dad, who’s putting up the cash, +and I’m not going to disappoint him. Then, too, you old scout, I suppose +you wouldn’t let me go sporting around the way I used to.”</p> + +<p>“Not much!” laughed Andy, but there was an undernote of seriousness in +his words.</p> + +<p>There was nothing new in Link’s case. It was still hanging fire in the +courts. And there were no more robberies. It was somewhat of a puzzle<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_258' id='Page_258'>258</a></span> +to Andy that they should cease with the arrest of Link, whom he could not +believe guilty.</p> + +<p>Dunk’s watch had not been recovered, nor had any more of the valuable +books, one of which was found by the detective in Link’s room, been +discovered. How it got in the closet of the young farmer, unless he put +it there, the lawyer whom Andy and Dunk had hired said he could not +understand.</p> + +<p>“I’ve had my man interview the boarding mistress at the house in Crown +street,” the lawyer told the boys, “and she says no one went to Link’s +room, but himself, the day the book was found. But I haven’t given up +yet.”</p> + +<p>It was the night before the Yale-Princeton freshman baseball game, which +was to take place at Yale Field. Andy and Dunk were in their room, +talking over the possibilities, and perfecting their code of signals.</p> + +<p>“It looks as though it would be good weather,” observed Andy, getting up +and going to the window. “Nice and clear outside.”</p> + +<p>“If it only keeps so,” returned Dunk. “Hope we have a good crowd.”</p> + +<p>Someone knocked on the door.</p> + +<p>“Come!” called Andy and Dunk together. The two chums looked at each +other curiously.</p> + +<p>Ikey Stein entered, his face all smiles.</p> + +<p>“Such bargains!” he began.<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_259' id='Page_259'>259</a></span></p> + +<p>“Socks or neckties?” asked Andy, looking for a book to throw at the +intruder.</p> + +<p>“Socks—silk ones, and such colors! Look!” and from various pockets he +pulled pairs of half hose. They fell about the room, giving it a +decidedly rainbow effect.</p> + +<p>“Oh, for the love of tomatoes!” cried Dunk. “Have you been raiding a +paint store?”</p> + +<p>“These are all the latest shades—the fashion just over from Paris!” +exclaimed Ikey, indignantly. “I bought a fellow’s stock out and I can +let you have these for a quarter a pair. They’re worth fifty in any +store.”</p> + +<p>“Take ’em away!” begged Andy. “They hurt my eyes. I won’t be able to +play ball to-morrow.”</p> + +<p>“You ought to buy some—look, I have some dark blue ones,” urged Ikey, +holding them up. “These are very—chaste!”</p> + +<p>“Those aren’t so bad,” conceded Dunk, tolerantly.</p> + +<p>“Take ’em for twenty cents,” said the student salesman, suddenly. “I +need the money!”</p> + +<p>“Tell you what I’ll do,” spoke Andy. “If we win the game to-morrow I’ll +buy a dollar’s worth, provided you let us alone now.”</p> + +<p>“It’s a bargain!” cried Ikey, gathering up the scattered socks.</p> + +<p>“And I’ll do the same,” promised Dunk,<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_260' id='Page_260'>260</a></span> whereupon the salesman departed +for other rooms.</p> + +<p>“Queer chap, isn’t he?” remarked Dunk, after a pause that followed +Ikey’s departure.</p> + +<p>“Yes, but do you know, I rather like him,” said Andy, with a quick look +at his chum. “There’s one thing that a fellow gets into the habit of +when he comes to Yale—or, for that matter, to any good college, I +suppose.”</p> + +<p>“What’s that?” asked Dunk, his mind quickly snapping to some of the not +very good habits he had fallen into.</p> + +<p>“It’s learning how to take the measure of a fellow,” went on Andy, “I +mean his measure in the right way—not according to the standards we are +used to.”</p> + +<p>“Quite philosophical; aren’t you?” laughed Dunk, as he picked up a book, +and leafed it.</p> + +<p>“Well, that’s another habit you get into here,” said Andy, with a smile. +“But you know what I mean, don’t you Dunk?”</p> + +<p>“Well, I suppose you mean that you get tolerant of persons—fellows and +so on—that you have a natural dislike for otherwise; is that it?”</p> + +<p>“Partly. You learn to appreciate a fellow for what he is really +worth—not because his dad can write a check in any number of figures, +and not turn a hair. It’s <i>worth</i> that counts at Yale, and not cash.”<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_261' id='Page_261'>261</a></span></p> + +<p>“You’re right there, Andy. I think I’ve learned that, too. Take some of +the fellows here—we needn’t mention any names—their popularity, such +as it is, depends on how much they can spend, or how many spreads they +can give in the course of the year. And the worst of it is, that their +popularity would go out like a candle in a tornado, once they lost their +money.”</p> + +<p>“Exactly,” agreed Dunk. “They get so to depending on the power of their +cash they think its all that counts.”</p> + +<p>“And another bad thing about that,” continued Andy, “is that those +fellows, if they wanted to, could make a reputation on something else +besides their cash. Now there’s one chap here—no names, of course—but +he’s a fine musician, and he could make the glee club, and the dramatic +association too, if he liked. But he’s just to confounded lazy. He’d +rather draw a check, give an order for a spread, and let it go at that.</p> + +<p>“Of course the fellows like to go to the blow-outs, and—come home with +a headache. This fellow thinks he gets a lot of fun out of it, but it’s +dollars to some of these socks Ikey sells, that he’d have a heap more +fun, and make a lot more permanent friends, if he’d get out and take +part in something that was worth while.</p> + +<p>“Now you take our friend Ikey. I don’t imagine it’s any great fun for +him to be going<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_262' id='Page_262'>262</a></span> around selling things the way he does—he has to, I +understand it. And yet at that, he has a better time of it than maybe +you or I do—and we don’t exactly have to worry where our next allowance +check is coming from.”</p> + +<p>“Right, Andy old man. Jove! You’d better have taken up the divinity +school. I’m thinking. You’re a regular preacher.”</p> + +<p>“I don’t feel a bit like preaching though, Dunk old boy. In fact I’d a +heap sight rather turn in and snooze. But, do you know I’m so nervous +over this game that I’m afraid I’ll lie awake and toss until morning, +and then I won’t be much more use than a wet dishrag, as far as my nerve +is concerned.”</p> + +<p>“I feel pretty nearly the same as you do, Andy. Let’s sit up a while and +talk. I s’pose, though, if we ever make the varsity we’ll laugh at the +way we’re acting now.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, I don’t know,” spoke Andy musingly. “Some of these varsity fellows +have as bad a case of nerves before a big game as we have now, before +our little Freshman one.”</p> + +<p>“It isn’t such a little one!” and Dunk bridled up. “The winning of this +game from Princeton means as much to our class, and to Yale, in a way, +as though the varsity took a contest. It all counts—for the honor of +the old college. How are you feeling, anyhow?”<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_263' id='Page_263'>263</a></span></p> + +<p>“Pretty fit. I’m only afraid, though, that I’ll make some horrible break +in front of the crowd—muff a foul, or let one of your fast ones get by +me with the bases full,” concluded Andy.</p> + +<p>“If you do,” exclaimed Dunk, with a falsetto tone calculated to impress +the hearer that a petulant girl was speaking—“if you do I’ll never +speak to you again—so there!” and he pretended to toss back a +refractory lock of hair.</p> + +<p>Andy laughed, and pitched a book at his chum, which volume Dunk +successfully dodged.</p> + +<p>“Well, I wouldn’t want that to happen,” said the catcher. “And that +reminds me. There’s a rip in my glove, and I’ve got to sew it.”</p> + +<p>“Can you sew?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, a bit,” answered Andy. “I’m strictly an amateur though, mind you. I +don’t do it for pay, so if you’ve got any buttons that need welding to +your trousers don’t ask me to do it.”</p> + +<p>“Never!” exclaimed Dunk. “I’ve found a better way than that.”</p> + +<p>“What is it—the bachelor’s friend—or every man his own tailor? Fasten +a button on with a pair of gas-pliers so that you have to take the +trousers apart when you want to get it off?”</p> + +<p>“Something like that, yes,” laughed Dunk, “only simpler. Look here!”</p> + +<p>He pulled up the back of his vest and showed Andy where a suspender +button was missing. In<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_264' id='Page_264'>264</a></span> its place Dunk had taken a horseshoe nail, +pushed it through a fold of the trousers, and had caught the loop of the +braces over the nail.</p> + +<p>“Isn’t that some classy little contrivance?” he asked, proudly. “Not +that I take any credit to myself, though. Far be it! I got the idea out +of the comic supplement. But it works all right, and the beauty of it is +that you can use the nail over and over again. It is practically +indestructible.</p> + +<p>“So you see if you are wearing the nail all day, to lectures and so on, +and if you have to put on your glad rags at night to go see a girl, or +anything like that, and find a button missing, you simply remove the +nail from your day-pants and attach it to your night ones. Same +suspenders—same nail. It beats the bachelor’s friend all to pieces.”</p> + +<p>“I should imagine so,” laughed Andy. “I’ll have to lay in a stock of +those nails myself. The way tailors sew buttons on trousers nowadays is +a scandal. They don’t last a week.”</p> + +<p>“There’s one trouble, though,” went on Dunk, and he carefully examined +his simple suspender attachment as if in fear of losing it. “With the +increasing number of autos, and the decrease in horses, there is bound +to be a corresponding decrease in horseshoe nails. That’s a principle of +economics which I am going to bring to the attention<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_265' id='Page_265'>265</a></span> of Professor +Shandy. He likes to lecture on such cute little topics as that. He might +call it qlBachelor’s future depends on the ratio of increase of +automobiles.’”</p> + +<p>“I see!” exclaimed Andy with a chuckle. “Just as Darwin, or one of those +evolutionists proved that the clover crop depended on old maids.”</p> + +<p>“How do you make that out?” asked Dunk.</p> + +<p>“I guess you’ve forgotten your evolution. Don’t you remember? Darwin +found that certain kinds of clover depended for growth and fertilization +on humble bees, which alone can spread the pollen. Humble bees can’t +exist in a region where there are many field mice, for the mice eat the +honey, nests and even the humble bees themselves.</p> + +<p>“Now, of course you know that the more cats there are in a neighborhood +the less field mice there are, so if you find a place where cats are +plentiful you’ll find plenty of humble bees which aren’t killed off by +the mice, since the mice are killed off by the cats. So Darwin proved +that the clover crop, in a certain section, was in direct proportion to +the number of cats.”</p> + +<p>“But what about old maids?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, I believe it was Huxley who went Darwin one better, come to think +of it. Huxley said it was well known that the more old maids there<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_266' id='Page_266'>266</a></span> were +the more cats there were. So in a district well supplied with old maids +there’d be plenty of cats, and in consequence plenty of clover.”</p> + +<p>“Say, are you crazy, or am I?” asked Dunk, with a wondering look at his +friend. “This thing is getting me woozy! What did we start to talk +about, anyhow?”</p> + +<p>“Horseshoe nails.”</p> + +<p>“And now we’re at old maids. Good-night! Come on out and walk about a +bit. The fresh air will do us good, and maybe we’ll sleep.”</p> + +<p>“I’ll go you!” exclaimed Andy. “Let’s go get some chocolate. I’m hungry +and there isn’t a bit of grub left,” and he looked in the box where he +usually kept some biscuits.</p> + +<p>They went out together, passing across the quadrangle, in which scores +of students were flitting to and fro, under the elms, and in and out of +the shadows of the electric lights.</p> + +<p>Dunk was saying something over to himself in a low voice.</p> + +<p>“What is that—a baseball litany?” asked Andy, with a laugh.</p> + +<p>“No, I was trying to get that straight what you said about the supply of +old maids in a community depending on the number of clover blossoms.”</p> + +<p>“It’s the other way around—but cut it out. You’ll be droning away at +that all night—like a<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_267' id='Page_267'>267</a></span> tune that gets in your head and can’t get out. +Where’ll we go?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, cut down Chapel street. Let’s take in the gay white way for a +change. We may meet some of the fellows.”</p> + +<p>“But no staying out late!” Andy warned his chum.</p> + +<p>“I guess not! I want to be as fit as a fiddle in the morning.”</p> + +<p>“For we’re going to chew up Princeton in the morning!” chanted Andy to +the tune of a well-known ballad.</p> + +<p>“I hope so,” murmured Dunk. “Look, there goes Ikey,” and as he spoke he +pointed to a scurrying figure that shot across the street and into a +shop devoted to the auctioning of furnishing goods.</p> + +<p>“What’s he up to, I wonder?” spoke Andy.</p> + +<p>“Oh, this is how he lays in his stock of goods that he sticks us with. +He watches his chance, and buys up a lot, and then works them off on +us.”</p> + +<p>“Well, I give him credit for it,” spoke Andy, musingly. “He works hard, +and he’s making good. I understand he’s in line for one of the best +scholarships.”</p> + +<p>“Then he’ll get it!” affirmed Dunk. “I never knew a fellow yet, like +Ikey, who didn’t get what he set out after. I declare! it makes<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_268' id='Page_268'>268</a></span> me +ashamed, sometimes, to think of all the advantages we have, and that we +don’t do any better. And you take a fellow like him, who has to work for +every dollar he gets—doesn’t belong to any of the clubs—doesn’t have +any of the sports—has to study at all hours to get time to sell his +stuff—and he’ll pull down a prize, and we chaps——”</p> + +<p>“Oh, can that stuff!” interrupted Andy. “We’re worse than a couple of +old women to-night. Let’s be foolish for once, and we’ll feel better for +it. This game is sure getting our goats.”</p> + +<p>“I believe you. Well, if you want a chance to be foolish, here comes the +crowd to stand in with.”</p> + +<p>Down the street marched a body of Yale students, arm in arm, singing and +chanting some of the latest songs, and now and then breaking into +whistling.</p> + +<p>“Gaffington’s bunch,” murmured Andy.</p> + +<p>“Yes, but he isn’t with ’em,” added Dunk. “Slip in here until they get +past,” and Dunk pulled his chum by the arm as they came opposite a dark +hallway.</p> + +<p>But it was too late. Some of the sporty students had seen the two, and +made a rush for them.</p> + +<p>“Come on, Andy!”<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_269' id='Page_269'>269</a></span></p> + +<p>“Oh, you, Dunk! Grab him, fellows!”</p> + +<p>Immediately the two were surrounded by a gay and laughing throng.</p> + +<p>“Bring ’em along!”</p> + +<p>“Down to the rathskeller!”</p> + +<p>“We’ll make a night of it!”</p> + +<p>“And we won’t go home until morning!”</p> + +<p>Thus the gay and festive lads chanted, meanwhile circling about Andy and +Dunk, who sought in vain to break through. Passersby went on their way, +smiling indulgently at the antics of the students.</p> + +<p>“Fetch ’em along!” commanded the leader of the “sports.”</p> + +<p>“Come on!” came the orders, and Andy and Dunk were dragged off toward a +certain resort.</p> + +<p>“No, we can’t go—really!” protested Dunk, holding back.</p> + +<p>“We just came out for a glass of soda,” insisted Andy, “and we’ve got to +get right back!”</p> + +<p>“Oh, yes! That’s all right.”</p> + +<p>“Soda!”</p> + +<p>“Listen to him!”</p> + +<p>“Regular little goody-goody boys!”</p> + +<p>“They were trying to sneak off by themselves and have a good time by +their lonesomes!”</p> + +<p>And thus the various laughing and disbelieving comments came, one after +another.</p> + +<p>“Bring ’em along with us, and we’ll show ’em<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_270' id='Page_270'>270</a></span> how to enjoy life!” +someone called. “Gaffington will meet us at Paddy’s!”</p> + +<p>Dunk flashed Andy a signal. It would not do, he knew, to spend this +night—of all nights—the one before an important game—with this crowd +of fun-loving lads. They must get away.</p> + +<p>“Look here, fellows!” expostulated Andy, “we really can’t come, you +know!”</p> + +<p>“That’s right,” chimed in Dunk. “Let us off this time and maybe +to-morrow night——”</p> + +<p>“There may never be a to-morrow night!” chanted one of the tormentors. +“Live while you can, and enjoy yourself. You’re a long time dead. +To-morrow is no man’s time. The present alone is ours. Who said that, +fellows? Did I make that up or not? It’s blamed good, anyhow. Let’s see, +what was it? The present——”</p> + +<p>“Oh, dry up! You talk too much!” protested one of his companions, with a +laugh.</p> + +<p>“What’s the matter with you fellows, anyhow?” demanded another of Andy +and Dunk, who were making more strenuous efforts to get away. “Don’t you +love us any more?”</p> + +<p>“Sure, better than ever,” laughed Andy. “But you know Dunk and I have to +pitch and catch in the Princeton freshman game to-morrow, and we——”</p> + +<p>“Say no more! I forgot about that,” exclaimed the leader. “They can’t be +burning the<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_271' id='Page_271'>271</a></span> midnight incandescents. Let ’em go, fellows. And may we +have the honor and pleasure of your company to-morrow night?” he asked, +with an elaborate bow.</p> + +<p>“If we win—yes,” said Dunk.</p> + +<p>“It’s a bargain, then. Come on, boys, we’re late now,” and they started +off.</p> + +<p>Andy and Dunk, glad of their escape, flitted around a corner, to be out +of sight. A moment later, however, they heard renewed cries and laughter +from the throng they had just left.</p> + +<p>“Now what’s up?” asked Dunk. “Are they after us again?”</p> + +<p>“Listen!” murmured Andy, looking for a place in which to hide.</p> + +<p>Then they heard shouts like these:</p> + +<p>“That’s the idea!”</p> + +<p>“Come on down to the Taft!”</p> + +<p>“We’ll give the Princeton bunch a cheer that will put the kibosh on them +for to-morrow.”</p> + +<p>“No, don’t go down there,” cautioned cooler heads. “We’ll only get into +a row. Come on to the rathskeller!”</p> + +<p>“No, the Taft!”</p> + +<p>“The rathskeller!”</p> + +<p>Thus the dispute went on, until those who were opposed to disturbing the +Princeton players had their way, and the crowd moved out of hearing.</p> + +<p>“Thank our lucky stars!” murmured Dunk.<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_272' id='Page_272'>272</a></span> “Let’s get our chocolate and +get back to our room.”</p> + +<p>“I’m with you,” said Andy.</p> + +<p>“Oh, by the way, isn’t there one of your friends on the Princeton team?” +asked Dunk, as he and Andy were sipping their chocolate in a drugstore, +on a quiet street.</p> + +<p>“Yes, Ben Snow. He’s with the crowd at the Taft.”</p> + +<p>“Did you see him?”</p> + +<p>“For a little while this evening.”</p> + +<p>“I reckon he thinks his nine is going to win.”</p> + +<p>“Naturally,” laughed Andy. “The same as we do. But don’t let’s talk +about it until to-morrow. I’ve gotten over some of my fit of nerves, and +I want to lose it for good.”</p> + +<p>“Same here. That little run-in did us good.”</p> + +<p>The two chums were back again in their room, and Andy brought out his +catching glove, which he proceeded to mend.</p> + +<p>Quiet was settling down over the quadrangle and in the dormitories about +the big, elm-shaded square. Light after light in the rooms of the +students went out. In the distant city streets the hum of traffic grew +less and less.</p> + +<p>It was quiet in the room where Dunk and Andy sat. Now and then, from +some room would come the tinkle of a piano, or the hum of some +soft-voiced chorus.<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_273' id='Page_273'>273</a></span></p> + +<p>“What was that you said about horseshoe nails and bees?” asked Dunk, +drowsily, from his corner of the much be-cushioned sofa.</p> + +<p>“Forget it,” advised Andy, sleepily. “I’m going to turn in. I’m in just +the mood to drowse off now, and I don’t want to get roused up.”</p> + +<p>“Same here, Andy. Say, but I wish it were to-morrow!”</p> + +<p>“So do I, old man!”</p> + +<p>The room grew more quiet. Only the night wind sighed through the opened +window, fluttering the blue curtains.</p> + +<p>Andy and Dunk were asleep.</p> + +<p>The day of the ball game came, as all days do—if you wait long enough. +There was a good crowd on the benches and in the grandstand when Andy +and his mates came out for practice. Of course it was not like a varsity +championship contest, but the Princeton nine had brought along some +“rooters” and there were songs and cheers from the rival colleges.</p> + +<p>“Play ball!” called the umpire, and Andy took his place behind the +rubber, while Dunk went to the mound. The two chums felt not a little +nervous, for this was their first real college contest, and the result +meant much for them.</p> + +<p>“Here’s where the Tiger eats the Bulldog!” cried a voice Andy recognized +as that of Ben Snow. Ben had come on with the Princeton delegation<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_274' id='Page_274'>274</a></span> the +night before, and had renewed acquaintance with Andy. They had spent +some time together, Ben and the players stopping at the Hotel Taft.</p> + +<p>There was a laugh at Ben’s remark, and the Princeton cheer broke forth +as Dunk delivered his first ball. Then the game was on.</p> + +<p>“Wow! That was a hot one!”</p> + +<p>“And he fanned the air!”</p> + +<p>“Feed ’em another one like that, Dunk, and you’ll have ’em eating out of +your hand and begging for more!”</p> + +<p>Joyous shouts and cheers greeted Dunk’s first ball, for the Princeton +batter had missed it cleanly, though he swung at it with all his force.</p> + +<p>“Good work!” Andy signaled to his chum, as he sent the ball back. Then, +stooping and pawing in the dirt, Andy gave the sign for a high out. He +thought he had detected indications that the batter would be more easily +deceived by such a delivery.</p> + +<p>Dunk, glancing about to see that all his supporting players were in +position, shook his head in opposition to Andy’s signal. Then he signed +that he would shoot an in-curve.</p> + +<p>Andy had his doubts as to the wisdom of this, but it was too late to +change for Dunk was winding up for his delivery. A moment later he sent +in the ball with vicious force. Andy had put out<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_275' id='Page_275'>275</a></span> his hands to gather it +into his big mitt, but it was not to be.</p> + +<p>With a resounding thud the bat met the ball squarely and sent it over +center field in a graceful ascending curve that bid fair to carry it far.</p> + +<p>“Oh, what a pretty one!”</p> + +<p>“Right on the nose!”</p> + +<p>“Didn’t he swat it! Go on, you beggar! Run! Run!”</p> + +<p>“Make it a home run!”</p> + +<p>The crowd of Princeton adherents had leaped to their feet, and were +cheering like mad.</p> + +<p>“Go on, old man!”</p> + +<p>“Take another base. He can’t get it!”</p> + +<p>“Go to third!”</p> + +<p>“Come on home!”</p> + +<p>The centerfielder had been obliged to run back after the far-knocked +ball. It was seen that he could not possibly get under it, but he might +field it home in time to save a score.</p> + +<p>The runner, going wildly, looked to get a signal from the coach. He +received it, in a hasty gesture, telling him to stay at third. He +stayed, panting from his speed, while the Princeton lads kept up their +cheering.</p> + +<p>“Now will you feed us some more of those hot cross buns?” cried a wag to +Dunk.</p> + +<p>“Make him eat out of the bean trough!”</p> + +<p>“He’s got a glass arm!”<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_276' id='Page_276'>276</a></span></p> + +<p>“Swat it, Kelly! A home run and we’ll score two!”</p> + +<p>This was cried to the next man up. Dunk looked at Andy and shrugged his +shoulders. His guessing had not been productive of much good to Yale, +for the first man had gotten just the kind of a ball he wanted. Dunk +made up his mind to be more wary.</p> + +<p>“Play for the runner,” Andy signaled to his chum, meaning to make an +effort to kill off the run, and not try to get the batsman out in case +of a hit.</p> + +<p>“All right,” Dunk signaled back.</p> + +<p>“Ball one!” howled the umpire, after the first delivery.</p> + +<p>“That’s the way! Make him give you a nice one.”</p> + +<p>“Take your time! Wait for what you want!” This was the advice given the +batter.</p> + +<p>And evidently the man at the plate got the sort of ball he wanted, for +he struck at and hit the next one—hit it cleanly and fairly, and it +sailed out toward left field.</p> + +<p>“Get it!” cried the Yale captain.</p> + +<p>The fielder was right under it—certainly it looked as though he could +not miss. The batsman was speeding for first, while the man on third was +coming home, and the crowd was yelling wildly.<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_277' id='Page_277'>277</a></span></p> + +<p>Andy had thrown off his mask, and was waiting at home for the ball, to +kill off the player speeding in from third.</p> + +<p>“Here’s where we make a double play!” he exulted, for the man going to +first had stumbled slightly, and was out of his stride. It looked as +though it could be done. But alas for the hopes of Yale! The fielder got +the ball fairly in his hands, but whether he was nervous, or whether the +ball had such speed that it tore through, was not apparent. At any rate, +he muffed the fly.</p> + +<p>“Good-night!”</p> + +<p>“That settles it!”</p> + +<p>“Go on, Ranter! Go on, Cooney!”</p> + +<p>Coaches, the captain, Princeton players and the crowd of Tiger +sympathizers were wildly calling to the two runners. And indeed they +were coming on.</p> + +<p>Andy groaned. He could not help it. Dunk threw up his hands in a gesture +of despair. The fielder, with a gulp and a gone feeling at the pit of +his stomach, picked up the muffed ball, and threw it to second. It was +the only play left. And the batsman, who had started to make his +two-bagger, went back to first. But the run had come in.</p> + +<p>“That’s the way we do it!”</p> + +<p>“Come on, fellows, the qlOrange and Black’ song!”<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_278' id='Page_278'>278</a></span></p> + +<p>“No, the new one! qlWatch the Tiger Claw the Bulldog!q”</p> + +<p>The cheer leaders were trying to decide on something with which to +celebrate the drawing of “first blood.”</p> + +<p>The grandstands were a riot of waving yellow and black, while, on the +other side, the blue banners dropped most disconsolately. But it was not +for long.</p> + +<p>“Come on, boys!” cried the plucky Yale captain. “That’s only one run. We +only need three out and we’ll show ’em what we can do! Every man on the +job! Lively! Play ball!”</p> + +<p>Dunk received the horsehide from the second baseman, and began to wind +up for his next delivery. He narrowly watched the man on first, and once +nearly caught him napping. Several times Dunk threw to the initial sack, +in order to get the nerve of the runner. Then he suddenly stung in one +to the man at the plate.</p> + +<p>“Strike—one!” yelled the umpire. The batter gave a sign of protest, but +he thought better of any verbal comment.</p> + +<p>“That’s the way!” cried the Yale captain. “Two more like that, and he’s +down!”</p> + +<p>Dunk did it, though the man struck one foul which Andy muffed, much to +his chagrin.</p> + +<p>“Give ’em the Boola song!” called a Yale cheer leader, and it was +rousingly sung. This<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_279' id='Page_279'>279</a></span> seemed to make the Yale players have more +confidence, and they were on their mettle. But, though they did their +best, Princeton scored two more runs, and, with this lead against her, +Yale came to the bat.</p> + +<p>“Steady all!” counseled the captain. “We’re going to win, boys.”</p> + +<p>But it did not seem so, when the first inning ended with no score for +Yale. Princeton’s pitcher was proving his power, and he was well +supported. Man after man—some of them Yale’s best hitters—went down +before his arm.</p> + +<p>The situation looked desperate. In spite of the frantic cheering of the +Yale freshmen, it seemed as if her players could not take the necessary +brace.</p> + +<p>“Fellows, come here!” yelled the captain, when it came time for Andy and +his chums to take the field after a vain attempt to score. “We’ve got to +do something. Dunk, I want you to strike out a couple of men for a +change!”</p> + +<p>“I—I’ll do it!” cried the pitcher.</p> + +<p>Then Dunk pulled himself together, and the Tiger’s lead was cut down. +Once the game was a tie Yale’s chances seemed to brighten, and when she +got a lead of one run in the eighth her cohorts went wild, the stand +blossoming forth into a waving mass of blue.</p> + +<p>This good feeling was further added to when<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_280' id='Page_280'>280</a></span> Princeton was shut out +without a run in the beginning of the ninth, and as Andy, Dunk and the +other Yale players came in, having won the game, they received an +ovation for their victory.</p> + +<p>Ikey Stein, sitting in the grandstand near an elderly gentleman, yelled, +shouted and stamped his feet at the Yale victory.</p> + +<p>“You seem wonderfully exercised about it, my young friend,” remarked the +elderly gentleman. “Did you have a large wager up on this game?”</p> + +<p>“No, sir, but now I can sell two dollars worth of socks,” replied Ikey, +hurrying off to get Dunk and Andy to redeem their promises.</p> + +<p>“Hum, very strange college customs these days—very strange,” murmured +the elderly gentleman, shaking his head.</p> + + + +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'> +<a name='CHAPTER_XXXIII' id='CHAPTER_XXXIII'></a> +<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_281' id='Page_281'>281</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XXXIII</h2><h3>THE TRAP</h3> +</div> + + +<p>Joyous was the crowd of Yale players as they trooped off the field. The +freshmen had opened their season well by defeating Princeton, and the +wearers of the orange and black gave their victors a hearty cheer, which +was repaid in kind.</p> + +<p>“It’s good to be on the winning side,” exulted Andy, as he walked along +with Dunk.</p> + +<p>“It sure is, old man.”</p> + +<p>Someone touched Andy on the shoulder. He looked around to see Ikey +holding out a package. One in the other hand was offered to Dunk.</p> + +<p>“The socks,” spoke the student salesman, simply.</p> + +<p>“Say, give us time to get into our clothes!” demanded Andy. “Do you +think we carry cash in our uniforms?”</p> + +<p>“I didn’t want you to forget,” said Ikey, with a grin. “There is another +fellow taking up my business now, and I’ve got to hustle if I want the +trade. Going to your room?”</p> + +<p>“Sure.”<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_282' id='Page_282'>282</a></span></p> + +<p>“I’ll go on ahead and wait for you,” said Ikey. “I need the money.”</p> + +<p>“Say, you’re the limit! You’re as bad as a sheriff with an attachment,” +complained Dunk. But he could not help laughing at the other’s +persistence.</p> + +<p>Andy and Dunk were a little late getting back to Wright Hill, and when +they entered their room they found a note on the table. It was from +Ikey, and read:</p> + +<p>“I found your door open, and waited a while, but I just heard of a +bargain lot of suspenders I can buy, so I went off to see about them. I +will be back with the socks in a little while.”</p> + +<p>“He found our door open!” exclaimed Dunk. “Didn’t we lock it?”</p> + +<p>“We sure did!” declared Andy. “I wonder——” He paused, and looked at +his chum wonderingly. Then they both began a hasty search among their +possessions. The same thought had come to each.</p> + +<p>“Did you have my amethyst cuff buttons?” asked Andy of Dunk, who was +rummaging among his effects.</p> + +<p>“I did not. Why?”</p> + +<p>“They’re gone!”</p> + +<p>“Another robbery! Say, we’ve got to report this right away, and let +Link’s lawyer know!” Dunk cried. “This may clear him!”<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_283' id='Page_283'>283</a></span></p> + +<p>They paused, trying to map out a line of procedure, when a messenger +came in to say that either Dunk or Andy was wanted on the telephone in a +hurry.</p> + +<p>“You go,” suggested Andy. “As long as either of us will answer I’ll stay +here and take another look for my buttons. But I’m sure I left them in +my collar box, and they aren’t there now.”</p> + +<p>Dunk hurried off, while Andy conducted a careful but ineffectual search.</p> + +<p>“It was Link’s lawyer,” Dunk reported when he came back. “His case comes +up to-morrow, and he wants to know if we have any evidence that will +help to prove Link innocent.”</p> + +<p>“Not an awful lot,” said Andy, ruefully, “unless this latest robbery is. +We’d better go see that lawyer. Did he say anything about the mysterious +hundred dollars Link got by mail?”</p> + +<p>“He mentioned it. There’s no explanation of it yet, and he says it will +look queer if it comes out, and if that’s the only explanation Link can +give.”</p> + +<p>“Why need it come out?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, it seems that Link showed the bills to several helpers around +college, and some of them have been subpoenaed to testify. The detective +will be sure to bring it out. Then there’s that story about the book +found in Link’s room.”<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_284' id='Page_284'>284</a></span></p> + +<p>“Hello!—” exclaimed Andy, looking around the apartment in order to +collect his thoughts. “There’s another note someone left for us. It must +have been knocked off the table.” He picked it up off the floor. It was +addressed to him, and proved to be from Charley Taylor. It read:</p> + +<div class='blockquot'><p>“<span class='smcap'>Dear Andy</span>. I watched you play to-day. You did well. I’ve got a +peach of a mushroom bat that I don’t want, for I’m going in for +rowing instead of baseball this season. I left the bat in the +storeroom on your corridor when I moved out of Wright Hall. You can +have it if you like. I gave it to Mortimer Gaffington once, but he +said he never could find it. I don’t believe he cared much about +it, anyhow. Take it and good luck.”</p></div> + +<p>“By jinks!” cried Andy, as he read the missive and passed it to Dunk. +“Do you remember that time Mortimer was hunting for Charley’s bat in the +closet?”</p> + +<p>“I should say I did! That was the time we were looking for the thief who +took Frank Carr’s silver cup and his book.”</p> + +<p>“Sure. Well, I’m just going to have a look for that bat now. Maybe I’ll +have better luck than Mortimer did.”</p> + +<p>“Go ahead. I’ll stay here in case Ikey comes<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_285' id='Page_285'>285</a></span> in with the socks. No use +having him bother us. Might as well pay him so he’ll quit running in.”</p> + +<p>“Sure. Well, I’m going to rummage for the bat,” and Andy, thinking of +many things, went down the corridor to the large closet that was used as +a store room by the students.</p> + +<p>It was more filled than before with many things, and Andy had some +difficulty in locating the bat. Finally he found it away down in a +corner, under an old football suit, and drew it out. As he did so +something fell to the closet floor with a clang of metal.</p> + +<p>“I wonder what that was?” mused Andy. “It sounded like——” He did not +finish the thought, but made his way to the far end of the closet. It +was dark there, but, groping around, his fingers touched something hard, +round, smooth and cold. With trembling hand Andy drew it out, and when +the single electric light in the center of the storeroom fell upon it +Andy uttered a cry of surprise.</p> + +<p>“Frank’s silver cup!” he cried. “The thief hid it in there! I wonder if +the book’s here, too?”</p> + +<p>He made a hasty but unsuccessful search and then, with the bat and cup, +he hurried to the room where Dunk awaited him.</p> + +<p>“What’s up?” demanded Dunk, as Andy fairly burst into the room.</p> + +<p>“Lots! Look here!”<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_286' id='Page_286'>286</a></span></p> + +<p>“Frank Carr’s silver cup! Where’d you get it?”</p> + +<p>“In the closet where Mortimer Gaffington hid it!”</p> + +<p>“Mortimer Gaffington?” gasped Dunk. “You mean——”</p> + +<p>“I mean that I’m sure now of what I’ve suspected for some time—that +Mortimer is the quadrangle thief!”</p> + +<p>“You don’t say so! How do you figure it out?”</p> + +<p>“Just think and you’ll see it for yourself,” went on Andy. “When we had +the chase after the thief down this corridor that time, the trail seemed +to lead right to this closet, didn’t it?”</p> + +<p>“Sure,” agreed Dunk.</p> + +<p>“And who did we find in there?”</p> + +<p>“Why, Mort, of course. But he said he was looking for Charley Taylor’s +bat.”</p> + +<p>“Well, he may have been, but that was only an excuse. Mortimer didn’t +want that bat, but he was almost caught and he did want a place to hide +the stuff. The book he could slip in his pocket, but he couldn’t do that +with the cup. So he threw it back in a corner, and it’s been there ever +since. Probably he was afraid to come for it.”</p> + +<p>“Andy, I believe you’re right!” cried Dunk. “But one thing more—did you +find a pair of rubber<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_287' id='Page_287'>287</a></span> shoes? You know Frank said the fellow that went +out of his room in such a hurry wore rubber shoes.”</p> + +<p>“I forgot about that. I’ll have another look.”</p> + +<p>“I’ll go with you. Ikey was here and I paid him for your socks and mine. +So we can lock up.”</p> + +<p>“And be sure you do lock,” warned Andy. “I don’t want to lose any more +stuff. Say, Mortimer must have my sleeve links, all right.”</p> + +<p>“All wrong, you mean. And my watch, too! I wonder if we’re on the verge +of a discovery?”</p> + +<p>“It looks so,” said Andy, grimly.</p> + +<p>Quickly and silently they went to the storeroom. They were not +disturbed, for there were several class dinners on that night, and most +of the occupants of Wright Hall were out. Andy and Dunk intended going +later.</p> + +<p>They rummaged in the closet and, when about to give up, not having found +what they sought, Andy unearthed a pair of rubbers.</p> + +<p>“These might be what the fellow wore,” said Dunk, as he looked at them. +“He could easily have slipped them off. See if there are any marks +inside.”</p> + +<p>Andy looked and uttered a startled cry. For there, on the inner canvas +of the rubber, printed in ink, were the initials “M. G.”<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_288' id='Page_288'>288</a></span></p> + +<p>“They’re his, all right!” spoke Andy, in a low tone.</p> + +<p>“Then he’s the quadrangle thief,” went on Dunk. “Come on back to our +room, and we’ll talk this over. Something’s has got to be done.”</p> + +<p>“That’s right,” agreed Andy. “But what?”</p> + +<p>“We must set a trap,” suggested Dunk.</p> + +<p>“A trap?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, do something to catch this mean thief—Mortimer or whoever he +is—in the act.”</p> + +<p>“Hadn’t we better tell the Dean—or someone.”</p> + +<p>“No,” said Dunk, after thinking over the matter. “Let’s see if we can’t +do this on our own hook. Then if we make a mistake we won’t be laughed +at.”</p> + +<p>“But when can we do it?” Andy asked.</p> + +<p>“This very night. It couldn’t happen better. Nearly all the fellows will +be out of Wright Hall in a little while. We’re booked to go, and +Mortimer knows it, for I was making arrangements with Bert Foley about +our seats, and Mortimer was standing near me. He came to borrow ten +dollars, but I didn’t let him have it. So he will be sure to figure that +we’ll be out to-night.”</p> + +<p>“But how do you know he’ll come to our room?”</p> + +<p>“I don’t know it. I’ve got to take a chance there. But we can hide down +in the lower corridor,<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_289' id='Page_289'>289</a></span> and watch to see if he comes in this dormitory. +If he does, knowing that ’most all the fellows are out, it will look +suspicious. We can watch for him to go out and then tackle him. If he +has the goods on him the jig is up.”</p> + +<p>“Well, I guess that is a good plan,” agreed Andy. “I hate to have to do +it, but we owe it to ourselves, to the college and to poor Link to +discover this thief. I only hope it doesn’t prove to be Mortimer, but it +looks very bad for him.”</p> + +<p>“We can go farther than that,” went on Dunk. “We can leave some marked +money on our table, leave our door open and see what happens.”</p> + +<p>“It sounds sort of mean,” spoke Andy, doubtfully; “but I suppose if we +have to have a trap that would be the best way to do it.”</p> + +<p>“Then let’s get busy,” suggested Dunk. “He may not come to-night after +all. We may have to watch for several nights. Meanwhile we’d better +telephone the lawyer that we’re on a new lead.”</p> + +<p>This was done, and the man in charge of Link’s case agreed to see Andy +and Dunk early the next day to learn what success they had.</p> + +<p>Then the trap was laid. The two who were doing this, not so much to +prove Mortimer guilty as to free Link and others upon whom suspicion had +fallen, went about their work.</p> + +<p>As Dunk had surmised, Wright Hall was almost<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_290' id='Page_290'>290</a></span> deserted. They found a +hiding place in the lower corridor where they could see whoever came in. +Their own door they left ajar, with a light burning. On the table where +they had been put, as if dropped by accident, were a couple of marked +bills.</p> + +<p>“If he takes those, we’ll have him with the goods,” said Dunk, grimly.</p> + +<p>Then he and Andy began their vigil.</p> + + + +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'> +<a name='CHAPTER_XXXIV' id='CHAPTER_XXXIV'></a> +<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_291' id='Page_291'>291</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XXXIV</h2><h3>CAUGHT</h3> +</div> + + +<p>The silence got on the nerves of Andy and Dunk. It was very quiet in +Wright Hall, but outside they could hear the calls of students, one to +the other. Occasionally someone would come up on the raised courtyard of +the dormitory and shout loudly for some chum. But there were no answers. +Nearly all the freshmen were at an annual affair. The hall was all but +deserted.</p> + +<p>“Who do you think it will be?” asked Dunk in a whisper, after a long +quiet period.</p> + +<p>“Why, Mortimer, of course,” answered Andy. “Do you have suspicions of +anybody else?”</p> + +<p>“Well, I don’t know,” was the hesitating answer.</p> + +<p>“Everything points to him,” went on Andy. “He’s in need of money, and +has been for some time, though we didn’t know it. As soon as I heard +that news about his father losing all his fortune, and the possibility +that Mortimer might have to leave Yale, I said to myself that he was the +most likely one to have been doing this quadrangle thieving.<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_292' id='Page_292'>292</a></span></p> + +<p>“But I really hated to think it, for it seems an awful thing to have a +Yale man guilty of anything like that.”</p> + +<p>“It sure is,” agreed Dunk. “What are we going to do if we catch him?”</p> + +<p>“Time enough to think of that after we get him,” said Andy, grimly.</p> + +<p>“No, there isn’t,” insisted Dunk. “Look here, old man, this is a serious +matter. It means a whole lot, not only to Mortimer, but to us. We don’t +want to make a mistake.”</p> + +<p>“We won’t,” said Andy. “We’ll get him right, whether it’s Mortimer, or +someone else. But I can’t see how it could be anybody else. Everything +points to him. It’s very plain to me.”</p> + +<p>“You don’t quite get me,” went on Dunk, trying to get into a more +comfortable position in their small hiding place. “I’ll admit that we +may get the thief, and I’m willing to admit, for the sake of argument, +that it may be Mortimer—in fact, I’m pretty sure, now, that it is he. +But look what it’s going to mean to Yale. This thing will have to come +out—it will probably get into the papers, and how will it look to have +a Yale man held up as a thief. It doesn’t make any difference to say +that he isn’t a representative Yale man—it’s the name of the university +that’s going to suffer as much as is Mortimer.”</p> + +<p>“That’s so—I didn’t think of that,” admitted<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_293' id='Page_293'>293</a></span> Andy, rather ruefully. +“Shall we call it off?”</p> + +<p>“No, it’s too late to do that now. But we must consider what we ought to +do once we capture the thief.”</p> + +<p>“What do you suggest?” asked Andy, after a pause.</p> + +<p>“I hardly know. Let’s puzzle over it a bit.” Again there fell a silence +between them—a silence fraught with much meaning. They could hear +revelry in other college rooms, and the call of lads on the campus. From +farther off came the roar and hum of the city. It reminded Andy of the +night he had first come to New Haven. How many things had happened in +that time. He would soon be a sophomore now—no more a callow freshman.</p> + +<p>“Do you know,” spoke Dunk, in a low voice, as he again changed his +position, seeking ease. “I had an idea that Ikey might turn out to be +the guilty one.”</p> + +<p>“So did I,” admitted Andy. “That was after your watch was missing, and I +found he had been in the room while I was out. But, for that matter, +Link was in there, too. It was a sort of toss-up between the two. Poor +Link, it’s been mighty unpleasant for him, to be accused wrongly. I +wonder how that valuable book got in his room?”</p> + +<p>“The quadrangle thief put it there, of course.”</p> + +<p>“And there’s that case of Pulter’s book—found<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_294' id='Page_294'>294</a></span> out near Yale Field,” +went on Andy. “I suppose Mortimer had that, too.”</p> + +<p>“Very likely, though it seems queer that he’d stoop so low as to take +books.”</p> + +<p>“He could pawn ’em, I suppose, same as he did the other things he took,” +Andy continued.</p> + +<p>“The way he used to borrow money from me and some of the other fellows +was a caution!” exclaimed Dunk. “Seems as though he’d have enough to +worry along on without stealing.”</p> + +<p>“He spent a lot, though,” said Andy. “He was used to high living and I +suppose when he found the money wasn’t coming from his father any more +he had to get it the best way he could.”</p> + +<p>“Or the worst,” commented Dunk, grimly. “I know he never paid me back +all he got, and the same way with a lot of the fellows. But if he’s +coming I wish he’d show up. I don’t wish him any bad luck, and I’d give +a whole lot, even now, if it would prove to be someone else besides +Mortimer. But I’m getting tired of waiting here.”</p> + +<p>“So am I,” said Andy, with a yawn.</p> + +<p>Again there was a silence, while they kept their strange vigil. Then, +far down the lower corridor, there sounded footsteps.</p> + +<p>“He—he’s coming!” whispered Andy in a tense voice.</p> + +<p>“Yes,” assented Dunk.</p> + +<p>But it was a false alarm. As the footsteps<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_295' id='Page_295'>295</a></span> came nearer the waiting lads +saw one of the janitors on his rounds. He did not see them, and passed +on.</p> + +<p>Andy was doing some hard thinking. The suggestion made by Dunk that the +capture of the thief would be more of a black spot for Yale than the +fact of the robberies taking place was bearing fruit.</p> + +<p>“But what can we do?” Andy asked himself. “We’ve got to stop these +thefts if we can, and the only way is to catch the fellow who’s doing +it.”</p> + +<p>They had been in their hiding place nearly an hour, and were getting +exceedingly weary. Dunk shifted about, as did Andy, and it was on the +tip of the latter’s tongue to suggest that they give up their plan for +the night when they heard a distant door opened cautiously.</p> + +<p>“Listen!” whispered Andy.</p> + +<p>“All right,” assented his chum. “I hope it amounts to something.”</p> + +<p>With strained ears they listened. Now they heard steps coming along the +corridor. Curious, shuffling steps they were, not hard, honest +heel-and-toe steps—rather those of someone treading softly, as on soles +of rubber.</p> + +<p>“It’s him all right this time!” whispered Andy in Dunk’s ear.</p> + +<p>“I guess so—yes. Shall we follow him?”<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_296' id='Page_296'>296</a></span></p> + +<p>“Yes. Take off your shoes.”</p> + +<p>Silently they removed them, and waited. The steps were nearer now, and a +long shadow was thrown athwart the place where Andy and Dunk were +hiding. They could not recognize it, however.</p> + +<p>The shadow came nearer, flickering curiously as the swaying of an +electric lamp threw it in black relief on the corridor floor.</p> + +<p>Then a figure came past the recess where the two lads were concealed. +They hardly breathed, and, peering out they beheld Mortimer Gaffington +stealing into Wright Hall.</p> + +<p>It was only what they had expected to see, but, nevertheless, it gave +them both a shock.</p> + +<p>Mortimer moved on. They could see now why he could walk so silently. He +had on rubbers over his shoes. The same trick used by the thief who had +entered Frank’s room.</p> + +<p>Mortimer looked all around. He stood in a listening attitude for a +moment, and then, as if satisfied that the coast was clear, started up +the stairs toward the corridor from which opened the room of Andy and +Dunk.</p> + +<p>The two waited until he was out of sight, and then followed, making no +more noise than the thief himself. They timed their movements by his. +When he advanced they went forward, and when he stopped to listen, they +stopped also. It<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_297' id='Page_297'>297</a></span> was like some game—a very grim sort of game, though.</p> + +<p>There was only a dim light in the upper corridor, and, coming to a halt +where the shadows were deepest, Andy and Dunk watched. They saw Mortimer +stop before a student’s door, try it and then came the faint tinkle of a +bunch of keys.</p> + +<p>“Skeletons,” whispered Dunk.</p> + +<p>Andy nodded in assent.</p> + +<p>The manipulation of the lock by means of a false key seemed to come easy +to Mortimer. In a moment he was inside the room. What he did there Andy +and Dunk could not see, but he remained but a few minutes, and came out, +softly closing the door after him.</p> + +<p>“I wonder what he got?” whispered Dunk.</p> + +<p>“We’ll soon know,” was Andy’s answer.</p> + +<p>Mortimer went softly down the corridor. He did not try every door, but +only went in certain rooms, and these, the two watchers noticed, were +those where well-to-do students lived.</p> + +<p>Mortimer made four or five visits, and then moved towards the apartment +of Andy and Dunk.</p> + +<p>“It’s our turn now,” whispered the latter.</p> + +<p>Silently they turned a corner, just in time to see Mortimer enter their +room.</p> + +<p>“Now we’ve got him!” exulted Andy.</p> + +<p>“Not yet; we’ve got to nab him,” whispered<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_298' id='Page_298'>298</a></span> Dunk. “Oh, Andy, this is +fierce! To think that we’re spying on a Yale man! To think that a Yale +man should turn out to be a common thief! It makes me sick!”</p> + +<p>“Same here,” sighed Andy. “But the only way to stop suspicion from +falling on others is to get Mortimer with the goods. We’ve got to save +Link, too.”</p> + +<p>“That’s right,” assented Dunk. “He isn’t a Yale man, but he’s a heap +better than the kind in there.” He nodded his head in the direction of +their room, where Mortimer now was.</p> + +<p>They had left a light burning, and could see, as its beams were cut off +now and then, that the intruder was moving about in their apartment.</p> + +<p>“Come on, let’s get him—and have it over with,” suggested Dunk.</p> + +<p>“No, we’ve got to get the goods on him,” said Andy.</p> + +<p>“Well, hasn’t he got plenty of stolen goods—those from the other +fellows’ rooms?”</p> + +<p>“I know. But if we went in on him now he’d bluff it off—say he came in +to borrow a book—or money maybe.”</p> + +<p>“But we could search him.”</p> + +<p>“You can’t search a fellow for coming to borrow something,” declared +Andy. “Come on, let’s go where we can look in.”</p> + +<p>Silently they stole forward until they were opposite<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_299' id='Page_299'>299</a></span> their door. From +it they had a good view of Mortimer.</p> + +<p>Just at that moment they saw him reach for the bills on the table and, +with a quick motion, pocket them. Then the thief started toward a +bureau.</p> + +<p>“Come on!” whispered Andy, hoarsely. “We’ve got to get him now, Dunk!”</p> + +<p>With beating hearts the two sped silently but swiftly into the room. +They fairly leaped for Mortimer, who turned like a flash, glaring at +them. Fear was in his startled eyes—fear and shame. Then in an instant +he determined to face it out.</p> + +<p>“We—we’ve got you!” cried Dunk, exultantly.</p> + +<p>“Got me? I don’t know what you mean?” said Mortimer, trying to speak +easily. But his voice broke—his tones were hoarse, and Andy noticed +that his hands were trembling. Mortimer edged over toward the door.</p> + +<p>“I came in to get a book,” he faltered, “but I——”</p> + +<p>“Grab him, Dunk!” commanded Andy, and the two threw themselves upon the +intruder.</p> + + + +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'> +<a name='CHAPTER_XXXV' id='CHAPTER_XXXV'></a> +<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_300' id='Page_300'>300</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XXXV</h2><h3>FOR THE HONOR OF YALE</h3> +</div> + + +<p>“What does this mean? You fellows sure have your nerve with you! Let me +go, or I’ll——”</p> + +<p>Mortimer stormed and raved, struggling to get loose from the grip of +Andy and Dunk.</p> + +<p>“I’ll make you fellows sweat for this!” he cried “I’ll fix you! +I—I’ll——”</p> + +<p>“You’d better keep quiet, if you know what’s best for you,” panted Andy. +“We hate this business as much as you ever can, Gaffington! Don’t let +the whole college know about it. Keep quiet, for the honor of Yale whose +name you’ve disgraced. Keep quiet, for we’ve got the goods on you and +the jig is up!”</p> + +<p>It was a tense moment, and Andy might well be pardoned for speaking a +bit theatrically. Truth to tell he hardly knew what he was saying.</p> + +<p>“Yes, take it easy, Gaffington,” advised Dunk. “We don’t want to make a +holiday of this affair; but you’re at the end of your rope and the +sooner you know it the better. We’ve caught you. Take it easy and we’ll +be as easy as we can.”<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_301' id='Page_301'>301</a></span></p> + +<p>“Caught me! What do you mean?” asked the unfortunate lad excitedly. +“Can’t I come to your room to borrow a book without being jumped on as +if I——”</p> + +<p>“Exactly! As though you were the thief that you are!” said Andy, +bitterly. “What does this mean?”</p> + +<p>With a quick motion, letting go of one of Mortimer’s wrists, Andy +reached into the other’s pocket and pulled out the bills. “They’re +marked with our initials,” he said, and his voice was sad, rather than +triumphant. “We left them there to see if you’d take them.”</p> + +<p>The production of the bills took all the fight out of Mortimer +Gaffington. He ceased his struggling and sank limply into a chair which +Dunk pushed forward for him.</p> + +<p>There followed a moment of silence—a silence that neither Andy or Dunk +ever forgot. The quadrangle thief moistened his dry lips once or twice +and then said hoarsely:</p> + +<p>“Well, what are you going to do about it?”</p> + +<p>“That’s the question,” spoke Andy, wearily. “What <i>are</i> we going to +do about it?”</p> + +<p>“Are you going to deny it?” asked Dunk. “Before you answer, think what +it means. An innocent man is under charges for these thefts.”</p> + +<p>Mortimer did not answer for a moment. When he did speak it was to say:<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_302' id='Page_302'>302</a></span></p> + +<p>“No, I’m going to deny nothing. You have caught me. I own up. What are +you going to do about it?”</p> + +<p>“That’s just it,” said Dunk. “We don’t know what to do about it.”</p> + +<p>Silently Mortimer began taking from his pockets several pieces of +jewelry, evidently the things he had stolen from the rooms of other +students.</p> + +<p>“That’s all I have,” he said, bitterly.</p> + +<p>Andy and Dunk looked at him a moment without speaking and then Andy +asked:</p> + +<p>“Why did you do it, Mortimer?”</p> + +<p>“Why? I guess you know as well as I do. Everything is gone—dad’s whole +fortune wiped out. We haven’t a dollar, and I had to leave Yale. We kept +it quiet as long as we could. I didn’t want to leave. I couldn’t bear +to!</p> + +<p>“Oh, call it what you like—foolish pride perhaps, but I wanted to stay +here and finish as I’d begun—with the best of the spenders. That’s what +I’ve been—a spender. I couldn’t be otherwise—I was brought up that +way. So, when I found I couldn’t get any money any other way I began +stealing. I’m not looking for sympathy—I’m telling the plain truth. I +took your watch, Dunk. I took those books. I smuggled one into Link +Bardon’s room, hoping he’d be suspected. There’s no use in saying I’m +sorry. You wouldn’t<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_303' id='Page_303'>303</a></span> believe me. It’s all up. You’ve got me right!”</p> + +<p>He leaned forward and buried his face in his hands.</p> + +<p>Andy and Dunk felt the lumps rising in their throats. They had to fight +back the tears from their eyes. Never before had they taken part in such +a grim tragedy—never again did they want to.</p> + +<p>“You—you admit all the quadrangle thefts?” faltered Andy.</p> + +<p>“Every one,” was the low answer. “I took Carr’s book and silver cup—I +hid them in the closet that day you fellows caught me. I took Pulter’s +book, too. I was desperate—I’d take anything. I just had to have the +money. I took the money Len thought he lost that night in the campus. +Well, this is the end.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, it’s the end,” said Dunk, softly, “but not for us. We’ve got to +think of Yale.”</p> + +<p>There was a footstep outside the door. The three started up in some +alarm. They were not ready yet for disclosures.</p> + +<p>“Beg pardon,” said a calm voice, “but I could not help hearing what was +said. Perhaps I can help you.”</p> + +<p>Andy swung open the door wider, and saw, standing in the hall, a man he +recognized as one taking a post-graduate course in the Medical School. +He was Nathan Conklin, and had taken<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_304' id='Page_304'>304</a></span> a room in the freshman dormitory +because no other was available just at that time.</p> + +<p>“Do you want some advice?” asked Conklin. He was a pleasant chap, +considerably older than Andy or Dunk. And he seemed to know life.</p> + +<p>“I guess that’s just what we do want,” said Andy. “We are up against +it. We have caught—er——”</p> + +<p>“You needn’t explain,” said Conklin. “The less said on such occasions +the better. I happened to be passing and I could not help hearing. What +I didn’t hear I guessed. Now I’m going to say a few words.</p> + +<p>“Boys, Yale is bigger than any of us—better than any of us. We’ve got +to consider the honor of Yale above everything else.”</p> + +<p>Andy and Dunk nodded. Mortimer sat with his face buried in his hands.</p> + +<p>“Now then,” went on Conklin, “for the honor of Yale, and not to save the +reputation of anybody, we must hush up this scandal. It must go no +farther than this room. Gaffington, are you willing to leave Yale?”</p> + +<p>“I suppose I’ll have to,” Mortimer answered, without looking up.</p> + +<p>“Yes, you would have to go if this came out, and it’s better that you +should go without it becoming known. Now then, are you willing to make +restitution?”<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_305' id='Page_305'>305</a></span></p> + +<p>“I can’t. I haven’t a dollar in the world.”</p> + +<p>“Let that go,” said Dunk, quickly. “We fellows will see to that. I guess +those that have missed things won’t insist on getting them back; they’ll +do that much for the honor of Yale.”</p> + +<p>“About this other man who is under charges, are you willing to give +testimony—in private to the judge—that will result in freeing him?” +asked Conklin.</p> + +<p>“Yes,” whispered Mortimer.</p> + +<p>“Then that’s all that’s necessary,” went on the medical student. “I’ll +go see the Dean. You’d better come with me, Gaffington. I’ll take charge +of this case.”</p> + +<p>“Thank heaven!” said Andy, with a sigh of relief. “It was getting too +much for me.”</p> + +<p>With bowed head Mortimer Gaffington followed the medical student from +the room. What transpired at the interview with the Dean neither Dunk +nor Andy ever learned. Nor did they ask. It was better not to know too +much.</p> + +<p>But Mortimer left Yale, and the honor of the college was untarnished, at +least by anything that became known of his actions. He slipped away +quietly, it being given out that his family was going abroad. And the +Gaffingtons did leave Dunmore, going no one knew whither.</p> + +<p>A certain secret meeting was held, when without a name being mentioned, +it was explained by<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_306' id='Page_306'>306</a></span> Andy, Dunk and Conklin that the quadrangle thief +had been discovered. It was stated that those who had suffered losses +would be reimbursed by private subscription, but the idea was rejected +unanimously.</p> + +<p>How Mortimer worked, and how he accomplished the various robberies, +without being detected, remained a mystery. No one cared to go into it, +for it was too delicate a subject.</p> + +<p>The charge against Link was dismissed after a certain interview the Dean +had with the county prosecutor, and Link was given his old place back.</p> + +<p>“But if it had come to a trial,” he said to Andy, when he was told that +the thief (no name being mentioned) had confessed, “if I had been tried +I could have told where that mysterious hundred dollars came from.”</p> + +<p>“Where?” asked Andy interestedly.</p> + +<p>“From that farmer you saved me from. He got religion lately, and felt +remorse for my injured arm. So he sent me the hundred dollars for my +doctor’s bill and other expenses.”</p> + +<p>“And never said a word about it?” asked Dunk.</p> + +<p>“Not a word. But he died the other day, and the truth came out. A fellow +I know in the town wrote me about it. So I could have proved that I +didn’t get the money by stealing.”<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_307' id='Page_307'>307</a></span></p> + +<p>“It wasn’t necessary,” said Andy. “So everything is explained now.”</p> + +<p>Andy’s first year at Yale was nearing its close. The season was to wind +up with a series of affairs and with several ball games, including one +for the freshman team. Of course Dunk and Andy played. I wish I could +say that Yale won, but truth compels me to state that Princeton +“trimmed” her.</p> + +<p>“And we’ll do it again!” exulted Ben Snow, as he greeted Andy after the +contest.</p> + +<p>“I don’t know about that!” was the answer. Then Andy hurried off to +where a certain pretty girl waited for him. No, I’m not going to mention +her name. You wouldn’t know her, anyhow.</p> + +<p>“Well,” remarked Andy, as he and Dunk were packing up to go home for the +summer holidays, “college is a great place.”</p> + +<p>“Especially Yale.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, I don’t know. Of course I think there’s no place like Yale, but +there are others.”</p> + +<p>And so Andy and Dunk packed up and prepared to start for home, agreeing +to room together again during their sophomore year, and until they had +completed their college course.</p> + +<p>They had locked their trunks, and their valises where ready. When came a +knock on their door, and a voice said:<span class='pagenum'><a name='Page_308' id='Page_308'>308</a></span></p> + +<p>“Such bargains! Never before have I had such neckties and silk socks! +Fellows, let me show you——”</p> + +<p>“Get out, you Shylock!” laughed Andy, locking the portal. “We’ve only +got money enough for our railroad fare!”</p> + +<p>And Ikey Stein departed, looking for other bargain victims.</p> + +<p>“Come on,” suggested Dunk, “let’s take a walk over the campus and say +good-bye to the fellows.”</p> + +<p>“I’m with you,” agreed Andy.</p> + +<p>And arm in arm they departed.</p> + +<p style='text-align:center; margin-top: 2em; margin-bottom: 2em;'>THE END</p> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Andy at Yale, by Roy Eliot Stokes + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ANDY AT YALE *** + +***** This file should be named 18939-h.htm or 18939-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/1/8/9/3/18939/ + +Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + +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. 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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: Andy at Yale + The Great Quadrangle Mystery + +Author: Roy Eliot Stokes + +Release Date: July 30, 2006 [EBook #18939] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ANDY AT YALE *** + + + + +Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + +ANDY AT YALE +OR +THE GREAT QUADRANGLE MYSTERY + +BY +ROY ELIOT STOKES + +THE WORLD SYNDICATE PUBLISHING CO. +CLEVELAND, O. NEW YORK, N. Y. + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +Copyright, MCMXIV, by +SULLY AND KLEINTEICH + +Printed in the United States of America +by +THE COMMERCIAL BOOKBINDING CO. +CLEVELAND, OHIO + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +CONTENTS + +I. A Horse-Whipping 1 +II. Good Samaritans 12 +III. An Unpleasant Prospect 19 +IV. The Picture Show 28 +V. Final Days 36 +VI. The Bonfire 45 +VII. Link Again 51 +VIII. Off For Yale 63 +IX. On The Campus 72 +X. Missing Money 78 +XI. "Rough House" 85 +XII. A Fierce Tackle 94 +XIII. Bargains 102 +XIV. Dunk Refuses 113 +XV. Dunk Goes Out 123 +XVI. In Bad 131 +XVII. Andy's Despair 138 +XVIII. Andy's Resolve 146 +XIX. Link Comes To College 150 +XX. Queer Disappearances 158 +XXI. A Gridiron Battle 166 +XXII. Andy Says 'No!' 177 +XXIII. Reconciliation 185 +XXIV. Link's Visit 193 +XXV. The Missing Watch 198 +XXVI. The Girls 205 +XXVII. Jealousies 213 +XXVIII. The Book 219 +XXIX. The Accusation 230 +XXX. The Letter 237 +XXXI. On The Diamond 245 +XXXII. Victory 256 +XXXIII. The Trap 281 +XXXIV. Caught 291 +XXXV. For The Honor Of Yale 300 + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + + + + +ANDY AT YALE + +CHAPTER I + +A HORSE-WHIPPING + + +"Come on, Andy, what are you hanging back for?" + +"Oh, just to look at the view. It's great! Why, you can see for twenty +miles from here, right off to the mountains!" + +One lad stood by himself on the summit of a green hill, while, a little +below, and in advance of him, were four others. + +"Oh, come on!" cried one of the latter. "View! Who wants to look at a +view?" + +"But it's great, I tell you! I never appreciated it before!" exclaimed +Andy Blair. "You can see----!" + +"Oh, for the love of goodness! Come on!" came in protest from the +objecting speaker. "What do we care how far we can see? We're going to +get something to eat!" + +"That's right! Some of Kelly's good old kidney stew!" + +"A little chicken for mine!" + +"I'm for a chop!" + +"Beefsteak on the grill!" + +Thus the lads, waiting for the one who had stopped to admire the fine +view, chanted their desires in the way of food. + +"Come on!" finally called one in disgust, and, with a half sigh of +regret, Andy walked on to join his mates. + +"What's getting into you lately?" demanded Chet Anderson, a bit +petulantly. "You stand mooning around, you don't hear when you're spoken +to, and you don't go in for half the fun you used to." + +"Are you sick? Or is it a--girl?" queried Ben Snow, laughing. + +"Both the same!" observed Frank Newton, cynically. + +"Listen to the old dinkbat!" exclaimed Tom Hatfield. "You'd think he +knew all about the game! You never got a letter from a girl in your +life, Frank!" + +"I didn't, eh? That's all you know about it," and Frank made an +unsuccessful effort to punch his tormentor. + +"Well, if we're going on to Churchtown and have a bit of grub in +Kelly's, let's hoof it!" suggested Chet. "You can eat; can't you, Andy? +Haven't lost your appetite; have you, looking at that blooming view?" + +"No, indeed. But you fellows don't seem to realize that in another month +we'll never see it again, unless we come back to Milton for a visit." + +"That's right!" agreed Ben Snow. "This _is_ our last term at the old +school! I'll be sorry to leave it, in a way, even though I do expect to +go to college." + +"Same here," came from Tom. "What college are you going to, Ben?" + +"Hanged if I know! Dad keeps dodging from one to another. He's had all +the catalogs for the last month, studying over 'em like a fellow going +up for his first exams. Sometimes it's Cornell, and then he switches to +Princeton. I'm for the last myself, but dad is going to foot the bills, +so I s'pose I'll have to give in to him." + +"Of course. Where are you heading for, Andy?" + +"Oh, I'm not so sure, either. It's a sort of toss-up between Yale and +Harvard, with a little leaning toward Eli on my part. But I don't have +to decide this week. Come on, let's hoof it a little faster. I believe +I'm getting hungry." + +"And yet you would stop to moon at a view!" burst out Frank. "Really, +Andy, I'm surprised at you!" + +"Oh, cut it out, you old faker! You know that view from Brad's Hill +can't be beat for miles around." + +"That's right!" chorused the others, and there seemed to have come over +them all a more serious manner with the mention of the pending break-up +of their pleasant relations. They had hardly realized it before. + +For a few minutes they walked on over the hills in silence. The green +fields, with here and there patches of woodland, stretched out all +around them. Over in the distance nestled a little town, its white +church, with the tall, slender spire, showing plainly. + +Behind them, hidden by these same green hills over which they were +tramping this beautiful day in early June, lay another town, now out of +sight in a hollow. It was Warrenville, on the outskirts of which was +located the Milton Preparatory School the five lads attended. They were +in their last year, would soon graduate, and then separate, to go to +various colleges, or other institutions. + +School work had ended early this day on account of coming examinations, +and the lads, who had been chums since their entrance at Milton, had +voted to go for a walk, and end up with an early supper at Kelly's, a +more or less celebrated place where the students congregated. This was +at Churchtown, about five miles from Warrenville. The boys were to walk +there and come back in the trolley. + +They had spent two years at the Milton school, and had been friends for +years before that, all of them living in the town of Dunmore, in one of +our Middle States. There was much rejoicing among them when they found +that all five who had played baseball and football together in Dunmore, +were to go to the same preparatory school. It meant that the pleasant +relations were not to be severed. But now the shadow of parting had cast +itself upon them, and had tempered their buoyant spirits. + +"Yes, boys, it will soon be good-bye to old Milton!" exclaimed Chet, +with a sigh. + +"I wonder if we'll get anybody like Dr. Morrison at any of the colleges +we go to?" spoke Ben. + +"You can't beat him--no matter where you go!" declared Andy. "He's the +best ever!" + +"That's right! He knows just how to take a fellow," commented Tom. +"Remember the time I smuggled the puppy into the physiology class?" + +"I should say we did!" laughed Andy. + +"And how he yelped when I pinched his tail that stuck out from under +your coat," added Ben. "Say, it was great!" + +"I'll never forget how old Pop Swann looked up over the tops of his +glasses," put in Frank. + +"Dr. Morrison was mighty decent about it when he had me up on the +carpet, too," added Tom. "I thought sure I was in for a wigging--maybe a +suspension, and I couldn't stand that, for dad had written me one +warning letter. + +"But all Prexy did was to look at me in that calm, withering, pitying +way he has, and then say in that solemn voice of his: 'Ah, Hatfield, I +presume you are going in for vivisection?' Say, you could have floored +me with a feather. That's the kind of a man Dr. Morrison is." + +"Nobody else like him," commented Andy, with a sigh. + +"Oh, well, if any of us go to Yale, or Princeton, or Harvard, I guess +we'll find some decent profs. there," spoke Ben. "They can't all be +riggers." + +"Sure not," said Andy. "But those colleges will be a heap sight +different from Milton." + +"Of course! What do you expect? This is a kindergarten compared to +them!" exclaimed Frank. + +"But it's a mighty nice kindergarten," commented Tom. "It's like a +school in our home town, almost." + +"I sure will be sorry to leave it," added Andy. "But come on; we'll +never get to Kelly's at this rate." + +The sun was sinking behind the western hills in a bank of golden and +purple clouds. Two miles yet lay between the lads and their objective +point--the odd little oyster and chop house so much frequented by the +students of Milton. It was an historic place, was Kelly's; a beloved +place where the lads foregathered to talk over their doings, their +hopes, their fears, their joys and sorrows. It was an old-fashioned +place, with little, dingy rooms, come upon unexpectedly; rooms just +right for small parties of congenial souls--with tall, black settles, +and tables roughened with many jack-knifed initials. + +"We can cut over to the road, and get there quicker," remarked Andy, +after a pause. "Suppose we do it. I don't want to get back too late." + +"All right," agreed Tom. "I want to write a couple of letters myself." + +"Oh, ho! Now who's got a girl?" demanded Chet, suspiciously. + +"Nobody, you amalgamated turnip. I'm going to write to dad, and settle +this college business. Might as well make a decision now as later, I +reckon." + +"We'll have to sign soon, or it will be too late," spoke Chet. "Those +big colleges aren't like the small prep. schools. They have waiting +lists--at least for the good rooms in the campus halls. That's where I'd +like to go if I went to Yale--in Lawrance Hall, or some place like +that, where I could look out over the campus, or the Green." + +"There are some dandy rooms in front of Lawrance Hall where you can look +out over the New Haven Green," put in Ben. "I was there once, and how I +did envy those fellows, lolling in their windows on their blue cushions, +puffing on pipes and making believe study. It was great!" + +"Making believe study!" exclaimed Andy. "I guess they do study! You +ought to see the stiff list of stuff on the catalog!" + +"You got one?" asked Chet. + +"Sure. I've been doping it out." + +"I thought you said you hadn't decided where to go yet," remarked Frank. + +"Well, I have," returned Andy, quietly. + +"You have! When, for the love of tripe? You said a while ago--" + +"I know I did. But I've decided since then. I'm going to Yale!" + +"You are? Good for you!" cried Tom, clapping his chum on the back with +such energy that Andy nearly toppled over. "That's the stuff! Rah! Rah! +Rah! Yale! Bulldog!" + +"Here! Cut it out!" ordered Andy. "I'm not at Yale yet, and they don't +go around doing that sort of stuff unless maybe after a game. I was +down there about a month ago, and say, there wasn't any of that +'Rah-rah!' stuff on the campus at all. But of course I wasn't there +long." + +"So that's where you went that time you slipped off," commented Chet. +"Down at Yale. And you've decided to sign for there?" + +"I have. It seemed to come to me as we walked down the hill. I've made +my choice. I'm going to write to dad." + +They walked on silently for a few moments following Andy's remarks. + + "'It was the King of France, + He had ten thousand men. + He marched them up the hill, + And marched them down again!'" + +Thus suddenly quoted Chet in a sing-song voice, adding: + +"If we're going to get any grub at Kelly's, it's up to us to march down +this hill faster than we've been going, or we'll get left. That other +crowd from Milton will have all the good places." + +"Come on then, fellows, hit her up!" exclaimed Frank. "Hep! Hep! Left! +Left!" and they started off at a good pace. + +They reached the country road that led more directly to Churchtown, and +swung off along this. The setting sun made a golden aurora that June +day, the beams filtering through a haze of dust. The boys talked of many +things, but chiefly of the coming parting--of the colleges they might +attend. + +As they passed a farmhouse near the side of the road, and came into view +of the barnyard, they saw two men standing beside a team of horses +hitched to a heavy wagon. One was tall and heavily built, evidently the +farmer-owner. The other was a young man, of about twenty-two years, his +left arm in a sling. + +The boys would have passed on with only a momentary glance at the pair +but for something that occurred as they came opposite. They saw the big +man raise a horse-whip and lash savagely at the young man. + +The lash cracked like the shot of a revolver. + +"I'll teach you!" fairly roared the big man. "I'll teach you to soldier +on me! Playin' off, that's what you are, Link Bardon! Playing off!" + +"I'm not playing off! My arm is injured. And don't you strike me again, +Mr. Snad, or I'll----" + +"You will, eh?" burst out the other. "You'll threaten me, will you? +Well, I'll teach you! Tryin' to pretend your arm is sprained so you +won't have to work. I'll teach you! Take that!" + +Again the cruel whip came down with stinging force. The face of the +young man, that had flamed with righteous anger, went pale. + +"Take that, you lazy, good-for-nothing!" + +Again the whip descended, and the young man put up his uninjured arm to +defend himself. The farmer rained blow after blow on his hired man, +driving him toward a fence. + +"Fellows! I can't stand this!" exclaimed Andy Blair, with sudden energy. +"That big brute is a coward! Are you with me?" + +"We sure are!" came in an energetic chorus from the others. + +"Then come on!" cried Andy, and with a short run he cleared the fence +and dashed up toward the farmer, who was still lashing away with the +horse-whip. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +GOOD SAMARITANS + + +"Here! Quit that!" exclaimed Andy, panting a bit from his exertion. +"Drop that whip!" + +The farmer wheeled around, for Andy had come up behind him. Surprise and +anger showed plainly on the man's flushed face, and blazed from his +blood-shot eyes. + +"Wha--what!" he stammered in amazement. + +"I said quit it!" came in resolute tones from Andy. "Don't you hit him +any more! You ought to be ashamed of yourself. Using a whip! Why don't +you take some one your size, and use your hands if you have to. You're a +coward!" + +"That's right!" chimed in Chet Anderson. + +"It's a blooming shame--that's what it is!" protested Tom Hatfield. +"Let's make a rough-house of him, fellows!" + +"What's that?" cried the farmer. "You threaten me, do you? Get out of my +barnyard before I treat you as I did him! Get out, do you hear!" + +"No!" exclaimed Andy. "We don't go until you promise to leave him +alone," and he nodded at the shrinking youth. + +"Say, I'll show you!" blustered the big farmer. "I'll thrash you young +upstarts----" + +"Oh no, you won't!" exclaimed Tom, easily. And when big Tom Hatfield, +left guard on the Milton eleven, spoke in this tone trouble might always +be looked for. "Oh, no you won't, my friend! And, just to show you that +you won't--there goes your whip!" + +With a quick motion Tom pulled the lash from the man's hand, and sent it +whirling over the fence into the road. + +"You--you!" blustered the farmer. He was too angry to be able to speak +coherently. His hands were clenched and his little pig-like eyes roved +from one to the other of the lads as though he were trying to decide +upon which one to rush first. + +"Take it easy, now," advised Tom, his voice still low. "We're five to +one, and we'll certainly tackle you, and tackle you hard, if you don't +be nice. We're not afraid of you!" + +Perhaps the angry man realized this. Certainly he must have known that +he would stand little chance in attacking five healthy, hearty +youngsters, each of whom had the glow of clean-living on his cheeks, +while their poise showed that they were used to active work, and ready +for any emergency. + +"Get out of this yard!" roared the farmer. "What right have you got +interfering between me and my hired man, anyhow? What right, I'd like to +know?" + +"The right of every lover of fair-play!" exclaimed Andy. "Do you think +we'd stand quietly by and let you use a horse-whip on a young fellow +that you ought to be able to handle with one hand? And he with his arm +in a sling! To my way of thinking, you ought to be ashamed of yourself." + +The farmer growled out something unintelligible. + +"We ought to do you up good and brown!" exclaimed Tom, his fists +clenched. + +"He's only playing off on me--he ain't hurt a mite!" growled the farmer. +"He's only fakin' on me." + +"I certainly am not," spoke the young fellow in firm but respectful +terms. "I sprained my arm unloading your wagon, Mr. Snad, and I can't +drive the team any more to-day. I put my handkerchief around it because +the sprain hurt me so. I certainly can't work!" His voice faltered and +he choked. His spirit seemed as much hurt as his body--perhaps more. + +"Huh! Can't work, eh? Then get out!" snarled Mr. Snad. "I want no +loafer around here! Get out!" + +"I'm perfectly willing to go when you pay me what you owe me," said the +helper, quietly. + +"Owe you! I don't owe you nothin', you lazy lout!" snapped the farmer. + +"You certainly do. You owe me twelve dollars, and as soon as you pay me +I'll get out, and be glad to go!" + +"Twelve dollars! I'd like to see myself giving you that much money!" +grumbled the farmer. "You ain't wuth but ten dollars at the most, an' I +won't pay you that for you busted my mowin' machine, an' it'll take that +t' pay for fixin' it." + +"That mowing machine was in bad order when you had me take it out," +replied the young fellow, "and you know it. It was simply an accident +that it broke, and not my fault in the least." + +"Well, you'll pay for it, just the same," was the sneering reply. "Now +be off!" + +"Not until I get my wages. You agreed to pay me twelve dollars a month, +and board me. My month is up to-day, and I want my money. It's about all +I have in the world; I need it." + +"You'll not get it out of me," and the farmer turned aside. Evidently he +had given up the idea of further chastising his hired man. The presence +of Andy and his chums was enough to deter him. + +"Mr. Snad, I demand my money!" exclaimed the young farm hand. + +"You'll not get it! Leave my premises! Clear off, all of you," and he +glared at the schoolboys. + +"Mr. Snad, I'll go as soon as you give me my twelve dollars," persisted +the youth, his voice trembling. + +"You'll get no twelve dollars out of me," snapped the man. + +"Oh, yes, I think he will," spoke Andy. "You'd better pay over that +money, Mr. Snad." + +"Eh? What's that your business?" + +"It's the business of everyone to see fair play," said Andy. + +"And we're going to do it in this case," added Tom, still in even tones. + +"Are you? Well, I'd like to know how?" sneered the farmer. + +"Would you? Then listen and you will hear, my friend," went on Tom. +"Unless you pay this young man the money you owe him we will swear out a +warrant against you, have you arrested, and use him as a witness against +you." + +For a moment there was a deep silence; then the farmer burst out with: + +"Have me arrested! Me? What for?" + +"For assault and battery," answered Tom. "We saw you assault this young +man with a horse-whip, and, while it might take some time to have him +sue you for his wages, it won't take us any time at all to get an +officer here and have you taken to jail on a criminal charge. The matter +of the wages may be a civil matter--the horse-whipping is criminal. + +"So, take your choice, Mr. Snad, if that's your name. Pay this young man +his twelve dollars, or we'll cause your arrest on this assault charge. +Now, my friend, it's up to you," and taking out his pocket knife Tom +began whittling a stick picked from the ground. Andy and his chums +looked admiringly at Tom, who had thus found such an effective lever of +persuasion. + +The angry farmer glanced from one to the other of the five lads. They +gave him back look for look--unflinchingly. + +"And don't be too long about it, either," added Tom, making the +splinters fly. "We're due at Kelly's for a little feed, and then we want +to get back to Milton. Don't be too long, my friend, unless you want to +spend the night in jail." + +The farmer gulped once or twice. The Adam's apple in his throat went up +and down. Clearly he was struggling with himself. + +"I--I--you----" he began. + +"Tut! Tut!" chided Tom. "You'd better go get the money. We can't wait +all day." + +"I--er--I----" The farmer seemed at a loss for words. Then, turning on +his heel, he started toward the house. He was beaten. + +"I--I'll get it," he flung back over his shoulder. "And then I'll swear +out warrants for your arrest. You're trespassers, that's what you are. +I'll fix you!" + +"Trespassers? Oh, no," returned Andy, sweetly. "We're only good +Samaritans. Perhaps you may have read of them in a certain book. Also we +are acting as the attorneys for this gentleman, in collecting a debt due +him. We are his counsel, and the law allows a man to have his counsel +present at a hearing. I hardly think an action in trespass would lie +against us, Mr. Snad; so don't put yourself out about it." + +"That's the stuff!" + +"Good for you, Andy!" + +"Say, you got his number all right!" + +Thus Andy's chums called to him laughingly as the farmer went into the +house. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +AN UNPLEASANT PROSPECT + + +"Say, I can't tell how much obliged to you I am," impulsively exclaimed +the young fellow with his arm in a sling. "That--that----" + +"He's a brute, that's what he is!" broke out Andy. "Don't be afraid to +call him one." + +"He sure is," came from Tom. "I just wish he'd rough it up a bit. I +wouldn't have asked anything better than to take and roll him around his +own barnyard. Talk about tackling a fellow on the gridiron--Oh me! Oh +my!" + +"It was mighty nice of you boys to take my part," went on the young +fellow. "I'm not feeling very well. He's worked me like a horse since +I've been here, and that, on top of spraining my arm, sort of took the +tucker out of me. Then, when he came at me with the whip, just because I +said I couldn't work any more----" + +"There, never mind. Don't think about it," advised Chet, seeing that the +youth was greatly affected. + +"Do you live around here?" asked Andy. + +"Well, I don't live much of anywhere," was the reply. "I'm a sort of +Jack-of-all-trades. My name is Lincoln Bardon--Link, I'm generally +called. I work mostly at farming, but I'll never work for Amos Snad +again. He's too hard." + +"Where are you going after you leave here?" asked Frank Newton. + +"Oh, I've got a friend who works on a farm over in Cherry Hollow. I can +go there and get a place. The farming season is on now, and there's lots +of help wanted. But I sure am much obliged to you for helping me get my +money. I've earned it and I need it. That mowing machine was broken when +he had me take it out of the shed." + +"How'd he come to use the whip?" asked Andy. + +"It was when I came back with the team, and said I couldn't work any +more on account of my arm. He has a lot of work to do," explained Link, +"and he ought to keep two men. Instead, he tries to get along with one, +and works him like a slave. I'm glad I'm going to quit." + +"When I said my arm was hurt he didn't believe me. I insisted. One word +led to another and he came at me with the lash. Then you boys jumped in. +I can't thank you enough." + +"That's all right," said Tom. "We were glad to do it. I like a good +scrap!" + +And to do him justice, he did--a good, clean, manly "scrap." + +"I wonder if he will bring that money?" remarked Ben Snow. "He's gone a +long time." + +"Oh, he keeps it hidden away in an old boot," replied Link. "He'll have +to dig it out. But don't let me detain you." + +"We like the fun," spoke Andy. "We'll stick around for a while yet." + +And, while the boys are thus "sticking around," may I be permitted to +introduce them more formally to you, and speak just a word about them? + +With their names I think you are already familiar. Andy Blair was a +tall, good-looking lad, with light hair and snapping blue eyes that +seemed to look right through you. Yet, withal, they were merry eyes, and +dancing with life. + +Chet Anderson was rather short and stocky, not to say fat; but if any of +his friends mentioned such a thing Chet was up in arms at once. Chet, I +might explain, was a contraction for Chetfield; the lad being named for +his grandfather. + +Ben Snow was always jolly. In spite of his name he was of a warm and +impulsive nature, always ready to forgive an injury and continually +seeking a chance to help someone. Clever, full of life and usually +looking on the bright side, Ben was a humorous relief to his sometimes +more sober comrades. + +Quiet and studious was Frank Newton, a good scholar, always standing +well in his class, and yet with his full share of fun and sport. He was +a mainstay on the baseball team, where he had pitched many a game to +victory. + +With the exception of Tom Hatfield you have now met the lads with whom +the first part of this story is chiefly concerned. Tom was one of the +nicest fellows you could know. His parents were wealthy, but wealth had +not spoiled Tom. He was happy-go-lucky, of a generous, whole-souled +nature, always jolly and happy, and yet with a temper that at times +blazed out and amazed his friends. Seldom was it directed against any of +them; but when Tom spoke quietly, with a sort of ring like the clang of +steel in his voice, then was the time to look out. + +The five lads came from the same town, as has been said, and had been +friends, more or less, all their lives. With their advent at Milton +their friendship was cemented with that seal which is never +broken--school-comradeship. You boys know this. You men who may chance +to read this book know it. How many of you, speaking of someone, has not +at one time said: + +"Why, he and I used to go to school together!" + +And is there anything in life better than this--an old school chum? It +means so much. + +But there. I started to tell a story, and I find myself getting off on +the side lines. To get back into the game: + +Link Bardon had hardly finished telling his good Samaritan boy friends +of his trouble with Mr. Snad, when the burly farmer reappeared. Striding +up to his hired man--his former employee--he thrust some crumpled bills +into his hand, and growled: + +"Now you get out of here as fast as you can. I've seen enough of you!" + +"And I may say the same thing!" retorted Link. He was getting back his +nerve. Perhaps Andy and his chums had contributed to this end. + +"Huh! Don't you go to gettin' fresh!" snapped Mr. Snad. + +"Don't let him get your goat!" exclaimed Tom, with a cheerful grin. + +"I've had enough of you young upstarts!" cried the farmer, turning +fiercely on Andy and his chums. "Be off!" + +"Wait until we see if Link has his money all right," suggested Andy. "He +might ring in a counterfeit bill on you if you don't watch out." + +"Bah!" sneered the farmer. + +Link counted over his wages. They were all right. + +"Now I'll get my things and go," he said, calmly. + +"And don't you ever come around askin' me for a job," warned his former +employer. + +"I guess there isn't much danger," spoke Tom, quietly. "Come on, +fellows. I'm hungry enough to eat two of Kelly's steaks." + +They followed Andy, who again lightly leaped the fence into the road. +Link went on toward the house to pack up his few belongings. He waved +his hand toward the boys, and they waved back. They hardly expected to +see him again, and certainly Andy Blair never dreamed of the strange +part the young farmer would play in his coming life at Yale. Such odd +tricks does fate play upon us. + +The Milton lads swung on down the road in the direction of Churchtown. +It was early evening by now. + +"Some doings!" commented Chet as he slipped his arm into that of Andy. + +"I should say!" exclaimed Ben. "Andy, you took the right action that +time." + +"Well, I just couldn't bear to see that chap, with his arm in a sling, +being beaten up by that brute of a farmer," was the reply. "It got my +dander up." + +"Same here," spoke Tom. + +"You'd never know it, from the way you acted," put in Frank. + +"Tom is always worst when he's quietest," remarked Andy. "Well, now for +a good feed. Let's cut through here, hop a car, and get to Kelly's +quicker." + +"Go ahead, we're with you," announced Chet, and soon the lads were in +the "eating joint," as they called it. + +"Broiled steak with French fried potatoes, Adolph!" + +"Yah!" + +"I want an omelet with green peppers!" + +"Liver and bacon for mine!" + +"Ham and eggs! Plenty of gravy!" + +"Yah!" + +"Coffee with my order, Adolph!" + +"Yah!" + +"And say, I want some of those rolls with moon-seeds on top, Adolph! +Don't forget!" + +"Nein!" + +"And my coffee comes with my steak, not afterward. Hoch der Kaiser!" + +"Shure!" + +"How's the soup, Adolph?" + +"Fine und hot!" + +"That's good! One on you, Tom!" + +"Bring me a plate!" + +"Oh, say, Adolph, make my order a chop instead of those ham and eggs." + +"Yah!" + +"And, Adolph." + +"Yes, sir." + +"I want a glass of milk, with a squirt of vichy in it. Don't forget." + +"Nein, I vunt!" + +"And speed up, Adolph, we're all in a hurry." + +"Shure. You vos allvays in a hurry!" + +The German waiter scurried away. How he ever remembered it all is one of +the mysteries that one day may be solved. But he never forgot, and never +made a mistake. + +The boys were seated at a table in one of the small rooms of Kelly's. +They stretched out their legs and took their ease, for they felt they +had earned a little relaxation. + +About them in other rooms, in small recesses made by the high-backed +seats, were other students. There was a calling back and forth. + +"Hello, Spike!" + +"Stick out your head, Bender!" + +"Over here, Buster--here's room!" + +"There's Bunk now!" + +You could not tell who was saying what or which, nor to whom, any more +than I can. Hence the rather disjointed style of the preceding. But you +know what I mean, for you must have been there yourself. If not, I beg +of you to get into some such place where "good fellows," in the truest +sense of the word, meet together. For where they congregate it is always +"good weather," no matter if it snows or hails, or even if the stormy +winds do blow--do blow--do blow! + +But at last a measure of quietness settled down in Kelly's, and the +chatter of voices was succeeded by the clatter of knives and forks. + +Then came a reaction--a time when one settled back on one's bench, the +first tearing edge of the appetite dulled. It was at this time that Tom +Hatfield, leaning over to Andy, said: + +"And so you are going to Yale?" + +"Yes, I've made up my mind." + +"Well, I congratulate you. It's a grand old place. Wish I was with you." + +"Say, Andy!" piped up Chet Anderson, "if you go to Yale you'll meet an +old friend of yours there." + +"Who, for the love of bacon?" + +"Mortimer Gaffington!" + +Andy's knife fell to his plate with a clash that caused the other diners +to look up hurriedly. + +"Mortimer Gaffington!" gasped our hero. "For cats' sake! That's so. I +forgot he went to Yale! Oh, wow! Well, it can't be helped. I've made my +choice!" + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +THE PICTURE SHOW + + +Andy's chums looked curiously at him. Chet's chance remark had brought +back to them the memory of the old enmity between Andy Blair and +Mortimer Gaffington, the rich young "sport" of Dunmore. It was an enmity +that had happily been forgotten in the joy of life at Milton. Now it +loomed up again. + +"That's right, that cad Mort does hang out at New Haven," remarked Tom. +"That is, he did. But maybe they've fired him," he added, hopefully. + +"No such luck," spoke Andy, ruefully. "I had a letter from my sister +only the other day, and she mentioned some row that Mort had gotten into +at Yale. Came within an ace of being taken out, but it was smoothed +over. No, I'll have to rub up against him if I go there." + +"Well, you don't need to have much to do with him," suggested Frank. + +"And you can just make up your mind that I won't," spoke Andy. "I'll +steer clear of him from the minute I strike New Haven. But don't let's +talk about it. Where's that waiter, anyhow? Has he gone out to kill a +fatted calf?" + +"Here he comes," announced Ben. "Get a move on there, Adolph!" + +"Yah!" + +"And don't wait for my French fried potatoes to sprout, either," added +Chet. + +"Yah, shure not!" + +"Oh, look who's here!" exclaimed Tom, nodding toward a newcomer. "Shoot +in over here, Swipes!" he called to a tall lad, whose progress through +the room was marked by friendly calls on many sides. He was a general +favorite, Harry Morton by name, but seldom called anything but "Swipes," +from a habit he had of taking or "swiping" signs, and other mementoes of +tradesmen about town; the said signs and insignia of business later +adorning his room. + +"Got space?" asked Harry, as he paused at the little compartment which +held our friends. + +"Surest thing you know, Swipes. Shove over there, Frank. Are you trying +to hog the whole bench?" + +"Not when Swipes is around," was the retort. "I'll leave that to him." + +"Half-ton benches are a little out of my line," laughed the newcomer, as +he found room at the table. "Bring me a rarebit, Adolph, and don't leave +out the cheese." + +"No, sir, Mr. Morton! Ho! ho! Dot's a goot vun! A rarebit mitout der +cheese! Ach! Dot is goot!" and the fat German waiter went off chuckling +at the old joke. + +"What's the matter, Andy, you look as if you'd had bad news from your +best girl?" asked Harry, clapping Andy on the shoulder. "Cheer up, the +worst is yet to come." + +"You're right there!" exclaimed Andy, heartily. "The worst _is_ yet to +come. I'm going to Yale----" + +"Hurray! Rah! rah! That's the stuff! But talk about the worst, I can't +see it. I wish I were in your rubbers." + +"And that dub Mortimer Gaffington is there, too," went on Andy. "That's +the worst." + +"I don't quite get you," said Harry, in puzzled tones. "Is this +Gaffington one of the bulldog profs. who eats freshmen alive?" + +"No, he's a fellow from our town," explained Andy, "and he and I are on +the outs. We've been so for a long time. It was at a ball game some time +ago. Our town team was playing and I was catching. Mort was pitching. He +accused me of deliberately throwing away the game, and naturally I went +back at him. We had a fight, and since then we haven't spoken. He's +rich, and all that, but I don't like him; not because I beat him in a +fair fight, either. Well, he went to Yale last year, and I was glad +when he left town. Now I'm sorry he's at Yale, since I'm going there. I +know he'll try to make it unpleasant for me." + +"Oh, well, make the best of it," advised Harry, philosophically. "He +can't last for ever. Here comes my eats! Let's get busy." + +"So Mort will be a sophomore when you get to New Haven, will he?" asked +Frank of Andy. + +"He will if he doesn't flunk, and I don't suppose he will. He's smart +enough in a certain way. Oh, well, what's the use of worrying? As Harry +says, here come the eats." + +Adolph staggered in with a well-heaped tray containing Harry's order, +and he and his chums finished their meal talking the while. The evening +wore on, more students dropping in to make merry in Kelly's. A large +group formed about the nucleus made by Andy and his chums. These lads +were seniors in the preparatory school, and, as such, were looked up to +by those who had just started the course, or who were finishing their +first year. In a way, Milton was like a small college in some matters, +notably in class distinction, though it was not carried to the extent it +is in the big universities. + +"What are you fellows going to do?" asked Harry, as he pushed back his +chair. "I'm feeling pretty fit now. I haven't an enemy in the world at +this moment," and he sighed in satisfaction. "That rarebit was sure a +bird! Are you fellows out for any fun?" + +"Not to-night," replied Andy. "I'm going to cut back and write some +letters." + +"Forget it," advised Harry. "It's early, and too nice a night to go to +bed. Let's take in a show." + +"I've got some boning to do," returned Frank, with a sigh. + +"And I ought to plug away at my Latin," added Chet, with another sigh. + +"Say, but you fellows are the greasy grinds!" objected Harry. "Why don't +you take a day off once in a while?" + +"It's easy enough for you, Swipes; Latin comes natural to you!" +exclaimed Tom. "But I have to plug away at it, and when I get through I +know less than when I started." + +"And as for me," broke in Chet, "I can read a page all right in the +original, but when I come to translate I can make two pages of it in +English, and have enough Latin words left over to do half another one. +No, Swipes, it won't do; I've got to do some boning." + +"Aw, forget it. Come on to a show. There's a good movie in town this +week. I'll blow you fellows. Some vaudeville, too, take it from me. +There's a pair who roll hoops until the stage looks like a barrel +factory having a tango dance. Come on. It's great!" + +"Well, a movie wouldn't be so bad," admitted Tom. "It doesn't last until +midnight. What do you say, fellows?" + +"Oh, I don't know," came from Andy, uncertainly. + +"I'll go if you fellows will," remarked Frank. + +"Oh, well, then let's do it!" cried Tom. "I guess we won't flunk +to-morrow. We can burn a little midnight electricity. Let 'er go!" + +And so they went to the moving picture show. It was like others of its +kind, neither better nor worse, with vaudeville acts and songs +interspersed between the reels. There was a good attendance, scores of +the Milton lads being there, as well as many persons from the town and +surrounding hamlets. + +Our friends found seats about the middle of the house. It was a sort of +continuous performance, and as they entered a girl was singing a song on +a well-lighted stage. Andy glanced about as he took his seat, and met +the gaze of Link Bardon. He nodded at him, and the young farmer nodded +back. + +"Who's that--a new fellow?" asked Harry, who was next to Andy. + +"Not at school--no. He's a hired man we found being beaten up by an old +codger of a farmer when we walked out this afternoon. We took his part +and made the farmer trot Spanish. I guess Link is taking a day off with +the wages we got for him," and he detailed the incident. + +The show went on. Some of the students became boisterous, and there were +hisses from the audience, and demands that the boys remain quiet. One +lad, who did not train in the set of Andy and his friends, insisted on +joining in the chorus with one of the singers, and matters got to such a +pass that the manager rang down the curtain and threatened to stop the +performance unless the students behaved. Finally some of the companions +of the noisy one induced him to quiet down. + +Following a long picture reel a girl came out to sing. She was pretty +and vivacious, though her songs were commonplace enough. In one of the +stage boxes were a number of young fellows, not from Milton, and they +began to ogle the singer, who did not seem averse to their attentions. +She edged over to their box, and threw a rose to one of the occupants. + +Gallantly enough he tossed back one he was wearing, but at that moment a +companion in front of him had raised a lighted match to his cigarette. + +The hand of the young man throwing the rose to the singer struck the +flaring match and sent it over the rail of the box straight at the +flimsy skirts of the performer. + +In an instant the tulle had caught fire, and a fringe of flame shot +upward. + +The singer ceased her song with a scream that brought the orchestra to a +stop with a crashing chord, and the girl's cries of horror were echoed +by the women in the audience. The girl started to run into the wings, +but Andy, springing from his seat on the aisle, made a leap for the +brass rail behind the musicians. + +"Stand still! Stand still! Don't go back there in the draft!" cried +Andy, as he jumped upon the stage over the head of the orchestra leader +and began stripping off his coat. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +FINAL DAYS + + +"Fire! Fire!" yelled some foolish ones in the audience. + +"Keep still!" shouted Tom Hatfield, who well knew the danger of a panic +in a hall with few exits. "Keep still! Play something!" he called to the +orchestra leader, who was staring at Andy, dazed at the flying leap of +the lad over his head. "Play any old tune!" + +It was this that saved the day. The leader tapped with his violin bow on +the tin shade over his electric light and the dazed musicians came to +attention. They began on the number the girl had been singing. It was +like the irony of fate to hear the strains of a sentimental song when +the poor girl was in danger of death. But the music quieted the +audience. Men and women sank back in their seats, watching with +fear-widened eyes the actions of Andy Blair. + +And while Tom had thus effectively stopped the incipient panic, Andy had +not been idle. Working with feverish haste, he had wrapped his heavy +coat about the girl, smothering the flames. She was sobbing and +screaming by turns. + +"There! There!" cried Andy. "Keep quiet. I have the fire out. You're in +no danger!" + +"Oh--oh! But--but the fire----" + +"It's out, I tell you!" insisted Andy. "It was only a little blaze!" + +He could see tiny tongues of flame where his coat did not quite reach, +and with swift, quick pats of his bare hands he beat them out, burning +himself slightly. He took good care not to let the flames shoot up, so +that the frantic girl would inhale them. That meant death, and her +escape had been narrow enough as it was. + +As Andy held the coat closely about her he glanced over toward the box +whence the match had come. He saw the horror-stricken young men looking +at him and the girl in fascination, but they had not been quick to act. +After all, it was an accident and the fault of no one in particular. + +The stage was now occupied by several other performers, and the frantic +manager. But it was all over. Andy patted out the last of the +smouldering sparks. The girl was swaying and he looked up in time to see +that she was going to faint. + +"Look out!" he cried, and caught her in his arms. + +"Back this way! Carry her back here!" ordered the manager, motioning to +the wings. "Keep that music going!" he added to the orchestra leader. + +They carried the unfortunate little singer to a dressing room, and a +doctor was summoned. One of the stage hands brought Andy's coat to him. +The garment was seared and scorched, and rank with the odor of smoke. + +"If you don't want to wear it I'll see Mr. Wallack, and get another for +you," offered the man. + +"Oh, this isn't so bad," said Andy, slipping it on. "It's an old one, +anyhow." + +He looked curiously about him. It was the first time he had been behind +the scenes, though there was not as much to observe in this little +theatre as in a larger one. Beyond the dropped curtain he could hear the +strains of the music and the murmur in the audience. The show had come +to a sudden ending, and many were departing. + +As Andy was leaving, to go back to his chums, the doctor came in +hastily, and hurried to the room of the performer. + +"Say, some little hero act, eh, Andy?" exclaimed Chet, as Andy rejoined +his friends. + +"Forget it!" was the retort. "Tom, here, had his wits about him." + +"All right, old man. But you never got down the field after a football +punt any quicker than you hurdled that orchestra leader, and made a +flying tackle of that singer!" exclaimed Tom, admiringly. "My hat off to +you, Andy, old boy!" + +"Same here!" cried Chet. + +The young men in the box were talking to the manager, and the one who +had knocked the lighted match on the stage came over to speak to Andy, +who was standing with his chums in the aisle near their seats. + +"Thanks, very much, old man!" exclaimed the chap whose impulsive act had +so nearly caused a tragedy. "It was mighty fine of you to do that. I had +heart failure when I saw her on fire." + +"You couldn't help it," replied Andy. "They ought not to allow smoking +in places like this." + +"That's right. Next time I throw a rose at a girl I'll look to see +what's going to happen." + +The theatre was almost deserted by now. All that remained to tell of the +accident was the smell of smoke, and a few bits of charred cloth on the +stage. + +A man came out in front of the curtain. + +"Miss Fuller wants to see the young fellow who put out the fire," he +announced. + +"That's you, Andy!" cried his chums. + +"Aw, I'm not going back there." + +"Yes, she would like to see you. She wants to thank you," put in the +stage manager. "Come along." + +Rather bashfully Andy went back. He found the singer--a mere +girl--propped up on a couch. Her arms and hands were in bandages, but +she did not seem to have been much burned. + +"I'm sorry I can't shake hands with you," she said, with a smile. She +was pale, for the "make-up" had been washed from her face. + +"Oh, that's all right," responded Andy, a bit embarrassed. + +"It was awfully good and brave of you," she went on, with a catch in her +voice. "I don't--I don't know how to thank you. I--I just couldn't seem +to do anything for myself. It was--awful," and her voice broke. + +"Oh, it might have been worse," spoke Andy, and he knew that it wasn't +just the thing to say. But, for the life of him, he could not fit proper +words together. "I'm glad you're all right, Miss Fuller," he said. He +had seen her name on the bills--Mazie Fuller. He wondered whether it was +her right one, or a stage cognomen. At any rate, he decided from a +casual glance, she was very pretty. + +"You must give me your address," the girl went on. "I want to pay for +the coat you spoiled on my account." + +"Oh, that's all right," and Andy was conscious that he was blushing. "It +isn't hurt a bit. I'll have to be going now." + +"Oh, you must let me have your name and address," the girl went on. + +"Oh, all right," and Andy pulled out a card. "I'm at Milton Prep.," he +added, thinking in a flash that he would not be there much longer. But +then he did not want her to send him a new coat. + +"I'm afraid I'll have to ask you to leave now," said the doctor kindly. +"She has had quite a shock, and I want her to be quiet." + +"Sure," assented Andy, rather glad, on the whole, that he could make his +escape. One of his hands was blistered and he wanted to get back to his +room and put on some cooling lotion. He would not admit this before Miss +Fuller, for he did not want to cause her any more pain. + +The girl sank back on a couch as Andy went out of the dressing room. But +she smiled brightly at him, and murmured: + +"I'll see you again, some time." + +"Sure," assented the lad. He wondered whether she would. + +Then he rejoined his chums and they left the theatre. There was a +little crowd in front, attracted by the rumor that an actress had been +burned. As Andy and his friends made their way through the throng to a +car he heard someone call: + +"Dat's de guy what saved her!" + +"You're becoming famous, Andy, my boy!" whispered Tom. + +"Forget it," advised his chum. + +The boys reached their dormitory with a scant minute or so to spare +before locking-up time, for the rules were rather strict at Milton. +There were hasty good-nights, promises to meet on the morrow, and then +quiet settled down over the school. + +Andy went to his room, and for a minute, before turning on the light, he +stood at the window looking over the campus. Many thoughts were surging +through his brain. + +"It sure has been one full little day," he mused. "The scrap with the +farmer, dousing the sparks on that girl, and--deciding on going to Yale! + +"Jove, though, but I'm glad I've made up my mind! Yale! I wonder if I'll +be worthy of it?" + +Andy leaned against the window and looked out to where the moonlight +made fantastic shadows through the big maples on the green. Before his +eyes came a picture of the elm-shaded quadrangle at Yale, which once he +had crossed, hardly dreaming then that he would ever go there. + +"Yale! Yale!" he whispered to himself. "What a lot it means! What a lot +it might mean! What a lot it often doesn't signify. Oh, if I can only +make good there!" + +For some time Andy had been vacillating between two colleges, but +finally he had settled on Yale. His parents had left him his choice, and +now he had made it. + +"I must write to dad," he said. "He'll want to know." + +It was too late to do it now. They had not come back as early as they +had intended. The bell for "lights out," clanged, and Andy hastily +prepared for bed. + +"Only a few more days at old Milton," he whispered to himself. "And then +for Yale!" + +The closing days of the term drew nearer. Examinations were the order of +the day, and many were the anxious hearts. There was less fun and more +hard work. + +Andy wrote home, detailing briefly his decision and telling of the +affair of the theatre. For it got into the papers, and Andy was made +quite a hero. He wanted his parents to understand the true situation. + +A letter of thanks came from the theatre manager, and with it a pass, +good for any time, for Andy and his friends. In the letter it was said +that Miss Fuller was in no danger, and had gone to the home of relatives +to recover from the shock. + +Andy was rather surprised when he received, one day, a fine mackinaw +coat, of the latest style. With it was a note which said: + +"To replace the one you burned." + +There was no name signed, but he knew from whom it came. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +THE BONFIRE + + +"This way, freshmen! This way!" + +"Over here now! No let-outs!" + +"Keep 'em together, Blink! Don't let any of 'em sneak away!" + +"Wood! Everybody bring wood!" + +"Look out for that fellow! He's a grind! He'll try to skip!" + +"Wood! Everybody get wood!" + +The cries echoed and re-echoed over the campus at Milton. It was the +final night of the term. The examinations were over and done. Some had +fallen by the wayside, but Andy and his chums were among those elected. + +They had passed, and they were to move on out of the preparatory school +into the larger life of the colleges. + +And, as always was the case on an occasion of this kind, a celebration +was to mark the closing of the school for the long summer vacation. The +annual bonfire was to be kindled on the campus, and about it would +circle those lads who were to leave the school, while their mates did +them honor. + +Thus it was that the cries rang out. + +"Wood!" + +"More wood!" + +"Most wood!" + +The town had been gleaned for inflammable material. The ash boxes of not +even the oldest citizen were sacred on an occasion like this. For weeks +the heap of wood had accumulated, until now there was a towering pile +ready for the match. + +And still the cries echoed from the various quarters. + +"Freshmen, get wood!" + +"On the job, freshmen!" + +More wood was brought, and yet more. The pile grew. + +"Gee, this is fierce!" groaned a fat freshman, staggering along under +the burden of two big boxes. "Those fellows want too much. I'm going to +quit!" + +"Look out! Don't let 'em hear you!" warned a companion. "They'll keep +you carting it all night if you kick." + +"Kick! (puff) Kick! (puff) I ain't got wind enough to do any kickin'. +I'm (puff) all (puff) in!" + +"Oh, well, it's all in the game. We'll be out of this class next term, +and we can watch the other fellows sweat! Cut along!" + +"Wood! Wood over here!" + +"Where's Andy Blair?" + +"I don't know. Oh you Swipes! What you got!" + +"All right! This'll make a flare, all right!" + +"Oh, for the love of Peter! Look what Swipes has!" + +Harry, otherwise "Swipes" Morton, was convoying four laboring and +perspiring freshmen who were carting over the campus a big box that had +ones contained a piano. + +"Oh, you Swipes!" + +"Where'd you crab that?" + +"Say, ain't he the little peach, though!" + +"Oh wow! What a lark!" + +"I guess this won't make some nifty little blaze, eh?" demanded Harry. +"Eh, Andy?" + +"Sure thing! Where'd you get it?" + +"Over back of Hanson's store. He used it for a coal box, but I made +these boobs dump out the anthracite and cart it along. Maybe I ain't +some nifty little wood gatherer, eh?" + +"You sure are, Swipes!" came the admiring retort from many voices. + +"Wood!" + +"More wood!" + +Still the pile grew apace. And with it grew the fun, the jollity, the +excitement, the cries and the spirit of the school. + +Dr. Morrison, the head master, and his teachers, had wisely retired to +their rooms. On such an occasion as this it is not wise on the part of +discerning professors to see too much. There are matters to which one +must shut one's eyes. And Dr. Morrison, from contact with many boys, was +wise in his day and generation. + +For he knew it would be only honest, clean fun; and what matter if there +was much noise and shouting? What matter if the fire blazed high? The +boys never so far forgot themselves as to endanger the school buildings +by their beacon, which was kindled well out on the big campus. + +What if numerous rules were cracked or broken? It only happened once a +year. And what if ginger pop and sandwiches were surreptitiously +introduced into the dormitories? That, too, need not be seen by the +authorities. + +"Wood! More wood!" + +"Where's Tom Hatfield?" + +"Yes, and Chet Anderson?" + +"Over here boys!" + +"Heads up!" + +"Slap on Swipes's piano box!" + +"Oh, what a find!" + +You could not have told who was saying which or what. It was all one +happy, unintelligible jumble. + +"Light her up!" + +It was the signal for the kindling of the fire. + +A score of matches flared in the darkness of the June night. The straw +and paper piled under the chaos of wood blazed with puffs of flame. The +wood caught and the tongues of fire leaped high, bringing into bold +relief the faces of the lads who joined hands and circled about the +ruddy beacon. + +"Hurray!" + +"That's the stuff!" + +"Let her burn!" + +"Say, that's a dandy, all right!" + +"Biggest in years!" + +"Well, we want to give the boys a good send-off!" + +"Look at old Swipes's piano box sizzle!" + +The shouting and excitement grew. The fire blazed higher and higher. The +campus was bright with yellow gleams. + +"Here's good-bye to old Milton!" chanted Andy. + +"That's right! Good-bye to the old school!" echoed Chet, and there was +not much joy in his tones. + +"Now, fellows, the old song. 'Milton Forever!'" called Ben, and the +melody burst forth. + +Hardly was it finished than the silence that succeeded was broken by the +strident tooting of an auto horn. + +"What's that?" cried Andy. "Who's coming here in a car?" + +"On the campus, too! It's against the rules!" cried Chet. + +"It's some fresh fellow from town trying to butt in," someone called. + +"Come on!" yelled Andy. "We'll upset him, fellows! The nerve of him!" + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +LINK AGAIN + + +There was a rush of the celebrating seniors toward the place where the +disturbance arose. Then others left the big bonfire to see the fun. + +An automobile horn tooted discordantly--defiantly, Andy thought. + +"Who has had the nerve to come in here, of all nights--on the one when +we have our fire?" he thought. "It can't be any of the freshmen; they +wouldn't dare." + +"What are you going to do?" asked Ben in Andy's ear, as he trotted +beside his chum. + +"We'll upset his apple cart--that's the least we'll do, for one thing." + +"I should say yes!" chimed in Chet. "Surely!" + +They had now reached the spot where, from all appearances, was located +the center of disturbance. A crowd of the freshmen, whose labors in +gathering wood for the fire had now ceased, were gathered around a large +touring car that, in defiance of all rules and customs, had been run to +the very center of the school campus. + +"Come down out of that!" + +"Get away from here!" + +"You fellows have nerve!" + +"Puncture their tires!" + +These are only a few of the cries and threats hurled at those in the +auto--four young fellows who seemed anxious to make trouble not only for +themselves, but for the school boys, whose celebration they had +interrupted. + +The campus was a sort of sacred place. It stood in the midst of the +school buildings and dormitories, and, though visitors were always +welcome, there was a rule against vehicles crossing it, for the turf was +the pride not only of the students, but the faculty as well. So it is no +wonder that the sight of a heavy auto rolling over the lawn aroused the +ire of all. + +"Get out of the way there, you fellows, if you don't want to be run +over!" snapped the youth at the steering wheel of the auto. "I'll smash +through you in another minute!" + +"Oh, you will, eh?" + +"Isn't he the sassy little boy!" + +"Yank him out of there!" + +The freshmen surrounding the auto thus reviled those in the car. + +The auto had come to a stop, but the engine was still running, free +from the gears. Now and then, as he saw an opening, the lad at the wheel +would slip in his clutch and the car would advance a few feet. Then more +of the school boys would swarm about it, and progress would be impeded. + +"Smash through 'em, old man!" advised one on the rear seat. "We don't +want to stay here all night!" + +"That's right; run 'em down," advised his companion. "We're--we're--what +are we, anyhow?" he asked, and it did not need a look at him to tell the +cause of his condition. In fact, all in the auto were in a rather +hilarious state, and the running of the car over the campus had been the +result of a suggestion made after a too-long lingering in a certain +road-house, where stronger stuff than ginger ale was dispensed. + +"We're all right--noshin matter us," declaimed one. "Run 'em down, ole +man!" + +"Look out! I'm going through you!" cried the lad at the wheel. The +freshmen in front of the car parted instinctively, but before the young +chauffeur could put his threat into execution, Andy and his chums had +reached the machine. + +"Get out of here!" cried Andy, and, reaching up, he fairly pulled the +steersman from his seat. The chap came down in a rush, nearly upsetting +Andy, who, however, managed to yank the lad to his feet. + +"Pull 'em all out!" came the cry from Tom, and a moment later he, with +the aid of Ben, Chet and Frank, had pulled from the car the other young +men, who seemed too dazed to resist. + +"Hop in that car, Peterson," ordered Andy, to a freshman who could +operate an auto. "Run it out to the street and leave it. Then we'll rush +these chaps out to it and chuck 'em in. We'll show 'em what it means to +run over our campus." + +All this time Andy had kept hold of the collar of the youth whom he had +pulled from the car. Then the latter turned about, and raised his fist. +He had been taken so by surprise that he at first had seemed incapable +of action. + +At this moment the big bonfire flared up brightly, and by its glare Andy +had a look at the face of the lad with whom he had clashed. The sight +caused him suddenly to drop his hold and exclaim: + +"Mortimer Gaffington!" + +"Huh! So it's you, is it, Andy Blair? What do you mean by acting this +way?" demanded Mortimer, the shock of whose rough handling had seemed to +sober temporarily. "What do you mean? I demand an apology! That's what I +do. Ain't I 'titled to 'pology, fellers?" and he appealed to his chums. + +"Sure you are. Make the little beggar 'pologize!" leered one. "If he +was at Yale, now, we'd haze him good and proper." + +"Yale!" cried Tom Hatfield. "Yale fires out such fellows as you!" + +"Mortimer Gaffington!" gasped Andy. "I rather wish this hadn't happened. +Or, rather I wish it had been anyone but he. I can see where this may +lead." + +"You goin' 'pologize?" asked Mortimer, trying to fix a stern gaze on +Andy. + +"Apologize! Certainly not!" cried Andy, indignantly. "It is you fellows +who ought to apologize. What would you do if some one ran an auto over +Yale Campus?" + +"Ho! Ho! That's good. That's rich, that is!" laughed one who had been +yanked out of his seat by Tom Hatfield. "That's a good joke, that is! An +auto on Yale campus! Why we bulldogs would eat it up, that's what we'd +do!" + +"Well, that's what we'll do here!" cried Chet, angered by the +supercilious tone of the lad. "Come on, boys; run 'em off Spanish +fashion!" + +It needed but this suggestion to further rouse the feelings of the +Milton lads, and in an instant several of them had grabbed each of the +trespassers. Andy stepped back from Mortimer. Because of the already +strained relations between himself and this society "swell," he did not +wish to take a part in the proceedings. + +"Come on! Run 'em off!" was the rallying cry. + +The auto had already been steered out on a road that circled the campus, +and was soon in the street. Then, heading their victims toward the old +gateway that formed the chief entrance to the school the Milton lads +began running out the intruders. + +"You wait! I--I'll fix you for this,--Andy Blair!" threatened Mortimer +as he was rapidly propelled over the campus. + +"Forget it!" advised Chet. "Rush 'em, fellows!" + +And rushed off Mortimer and his companions were. They were fairly tossed +into their auto, and then, with jeers and shouted advice not to repeat +the trick, the school boys turned back to their fire. + +Andy had lingered near the spot where he had hauled Mortimer out of the +auto. He was thinking of many things. He did not forget what had +happened to the intruders. Indeed it was nothing short of what they +deserved, for they had deliberately tried to harass the school boys, and +make a mockery of one of the oldest traditions of Milton--one that held +inviolate the beautiful campus. + +"Only I wish it had been someone else than I who got hold of Mort," +mused Andy. "He'll be sure to remember it when I get to Yale, and he'll +have it in for me. He can make a lot of trouble, too, I reckon. Well, it +can't be helped. They only got what was coming to 'em." + +With this thought Andy consoled himself, but he had an uneasy feeling +for all that. The students came trooping back, after having disposed of +Mortimer and his crowd. + +"You missed the best part of the fun," said Chet to Andy. "Those fellows +thought a cyclone struck them when we tossed 'em into the car. They +don't know yet whether they're going or coming back," and he laughed, +his mates joining in. + +"Yes?" asked Andy, non-committally. + +"What's up?" asked Tom, curiously. "You don't act as though it had any +flavor for you. What's the matter?" + +"Oh, well--nothing," said Andy. "Come on, let's get back to the fire, +and have a last song. Then I'm going to pack. I want to leave on that +early train in the morning." + +"Same here. Come on, boys. Whoop her up once more for Old Milton, and +then we'll say good-bye." + +"I know what ails Andy," spoke Tom in a low tone to Frank, walking along +arm in arm with him. + +"What?" + +"It's about that fellow Gaffington. Andy's sorry he had a run-in with +him, and I don't blame Andy. He had trouble before, and this will only +add to it. And that Gaffington is just mean enough, and small-spirited +enough, to make trouble for Andy down there at Yale. He's a sport--but +one of the tin-horn brand. I don't blame Andy for wishing it had been +someone else." + +"Oh, well, here's hoping," said Frank. "We all have our troubles." + +"But those fellows won't trouble us again to-night," declared Chet, +laughing. "They'll be glad to go home and get in bed." + +"Did you know any of 'em, Andy, except Gaffington?" asked Tom. + +"No, the others were strangers to me." + +"How do you reckon they got here, all the way from New Haven?" + +"Oh, they didn't come from Yale," declared Andy. "The university closed +last week, you know. Probably Mort had some of his chums out to visit +him in Dunmore. That was his car. And he wanted to show 'em the sights, +and let 'em see he could run all over little Milton, so he brought 'em +out here. It isn't such a run from Dunmore, you know." + +"I reckon that's it," agreed Tom. "Well, they got more than they were +looking for, that's one consolation. Now boys, whoop her up for the +last time." + +Again they gathered about the blazing fire, and sang their farewell +song. + +The annual celebration was drawing to a close. Another group of lads +would leave Milton to go out into the world, mounting upward yet another +step. From then on the ways of many who had been jolly good comrades +together would diverge. Some might cross again; others be as wide apart +as the poles. + +The fire died down. The big piano box commandeered by "Swipes" was but a +heap of ashes. The fun was over. + +There were cheers for the departing senior lads, who, in turn, cheered +the others who would take their places. Then came tributes to the +industrious freshmen. + +"Good night! Good night! Good night!" was shouted on all sides. + +Less and less brilliant grew the fire. Now it was but a heap of glowing +coals that would soon be gray, dead and cold ashes, typical in a way, of +the passing of the senior boys. And yet, phoenix-like, from these same +ashes would spring up a new fire--a fire in the hearts that would never +die out. Such are school friendships. + +Of course there were forbidden little feasts in the various rooms to +mark the close of the term--spreads to which monitors, janitors and +professors discreetly closed their eyes. + +Andy and his friends gathered in his apartment for a last chat. They +were to journey to their home town on the morrow and then would soon +separate for the long summer vacation. + +"Well, it was a rare old celebration!" sighed Tom, as he flopped on the +bed. + +"It sure was!" agreed Chet, with conviction. "I hope I have as much fun +as this if I go to Harvard." + +"Same here, only I think I'll make mine Princeton," added Ben. "Oh, but +it's sort of hard to leave Milton!" + +"Right you are," came from Andy, who was opening ginger ale and soda +water. + +And, after a time, quiet settled down over the school, and Dr. Morrison +and his colleagues breathed freely again. Milton had stood steadfast +through another assault of "bonfire night." + +The next morning there were confused goodbyes, multiplied promises to +write, or to call, vows never to forget, and protestations of eternal +friendship. There were arrangements made for camping, boating, tramping +and other forms of vacation fun. There were dates made for assembling +next year. There was a confused rushing to and fro, a looking up of the +time of trains, hurried searches for missing baggage. + +And, after much excitement, Andy and his chums found themselves in the +same car bound for Dunmore. They settled back in their seats with sighs +of relief. + +"Hear anything more of Mort and his crowd?" asked Tom of Andy. + +"Not a thing." + +"I did," spoke Chet. "They were nearly arrested for making a row in town +after we got through with 'em." + +"Hum!" mused Andy. "I s'pose Mort will blame me for that, too. Well, no +use worrying until I have to." + +At Churchtown, where the train stopped to give the boys at least a last +remembrance of Kelly's place, several passengers got on. Among them was +a young man who seemed familiar to Andy and his chums. A second look +confirmed it. + +"Why, that's the Bardon chap we took away from that farmer!" exclaimed +Frank. + +"That's right!" cried Andy. "Hello, Link!" he called genially. "What you +doing here?" + +"Oh, how are you?" asked the farm lad. "Glad to see you all again," and +he nodded to each one in turn. He did not at all presume on his +acquaintance with them, and was about to pass on, when Andy said: + +"Sit down. How's your arm?" + +"Oh much better, thank you. I've been working steadily since you helped +me." + +"That's good. Where are you bound for now?" went on Andy. + +"Why, I'm going to look up an uncle of mine I haven't seen in years. I +hear he has a big farm, and I thought I'd like to work for him." + +"Where is it?" asked Andy. + +"In a place called Wickford, Connecticut." + +"Wickford!" exclaimed Andy. "Why that's near New Haven, and Yale--where +I'm going this fall. Maybe I'll see you there, Link." + +"Maybe," assented the young farmer, and then, declining Andy's +invitation to sit with the school lads, he passed on down the car +aisle. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +OFF FOR YALE + + +Andy Blair had signed for Yale University. He had, as before noted, +communicated to his father his desire to attend the New Haven +institution, and Mr. Blair, who had given his son a free hand in the +matter, had acquiesced. + +Milton was well known among the various preparatory schools, and her +final examinations admitted to Yale with few other formalities. So Andy +had no trouble on that score, save in a few minor matters, which were +easily cleared up. + +He had matriculated, and all that remained was to select a room or +dormitory. He had been studying over a Yale catalog, and looking at the +accompanying map which gave the location of the various buildings. + +"Now the question is," said Andy, talking it over with the folks at +home, "the question is do I want to go to a private house and room, or +had I better take a place in one of the Halls. I rather like the idea of +a Hall room myself--Wright for choice--but of course that might cost +more than going to a private house." + +"If it's a question of cost, don't let that stand in the way," replied +Mr. Blair, generously. "I'm not given to throwing money away, Andy, my +boy, and a college education isn't a cheap thing, no matter how you look +at it. But it's worth all it costs, I believe, and I want you to have +the best. + +"If you can get more into the real life of Yale by having a room in +Wright Hall, or in any of the college dormitories, why do so. There's +something in being right on the ground, so to speak. You can absorb so +much more." + +"Good for you, Dad!" cried Andy. "You're a real sport. Then I vote for a +Hall. I'll take a run down and see what I can arrange." + +"But wouldn't a private house be quieter?" suggested Mrs. Blair. "You +know you'll have to do lots of studying, Andy, and if you get in a big +building with a lot of other students they may annoy you." + +"Oh, I guess, Mother," said Bertha, Andy's sister, "that he'll do his +share of annoying, too." + +"Come again, Sis. Get out your little hammer, and join the anvil +chorus!" sarcastically commented Andy. + +"No, but really," went on Mrs. Blair, "wouldn't a private house be +quieter, Andy?" + +"Not much more so, I believe," spoke the prospective Yale freshman. +"When there's any excitement going on those in the private houses get +as much of it as those in the college buildings. But, as a matter of +fact, when there's nothing on--like a big game or some of the +rushes--Yale is as quiet as the average Sunday school. + +"Why, the day I was there I walked all around and nothing happened. The +fellows came and went, and seemed very quiet, not to say meek. I walked +over the campus, and I expected every minute some big brute of a +sophomore would smash my hat down over my eyes, and give a 'Rah! Rah!' +yell. But nothing like that happened. It was sort of disappointing." + +"Well, you need quiet if you're going to study," went on Mrs. Blair. She +had an idea that Yale was a sort of higher-grade boarding school, it +seemed. + +"Then I'll decide on Wright Hall," remarked Andy. "That is, if I can get +in." + +Then followed some correspondence which resulted in Andy being informed +that a room on the campus side of Wright Hall, and on the second floor, +was available. The only trouble was that it was a double room, and Andy +would have to share it with another student. + +"Hum!" he exclaimed when he had this information. "Now I'm up against it +once more. Who can I get to go in with me? I don't want to take a total +stranger, and yet I guess I'll have to." + +"You might advertise for a roommate?" suggested his mother. + +"I guess they don't do things that way at Yale," spoke Andy, with a +smile. + +"Why don't you wait until you get there, and maybe you'll find somebody +in the same fix you are?" asked Bertha. + +"I guess that is good advice," remarked Andy. "I'll take a run down +there some time before term opening, and maybe I can get some nice chap +wished on me. If Tom, or Chet, or some of the Milton lads, were coming +to Yale it would be all right." + +"Didn't any of them pick out Yale?" asked Mr. Blair. + +"Not as far as I know." + +"Oh, well, I guess you'll make out all right, son. A good roommate is a +fine companion to have, so I hope you won't be disappointed. But there's +no hurry." + +The long summer vacation was at hand. Andy's people were to go to a lake +resort, and soon after coming home from Milton, Andy, with his mother +and sister, was installed in a comfortable cottage. Mr. Blair would come +up over week-ends. + +Chet Anderson and Tom Hatfield were at a nearby resort, so Andy knew he +was in for a good summer of fun. And he was not disappointed. He and his +chums spent much time on the water, living in their bathing suits for +whole days at a time. But I will not weary you with a description of the +various things they did. Sufficient to say that the vacation was like a +good many others Andy had enjoyed, and expected to enjoy again. Nothing +in particular happened. + +The Summer wore on. The dog-days came and there loomed in the distance +the Fall months. Tom had called on Andy one day, and they went out in +the canoe together. + +"Well, it will soon be study-grind again," remarked Tom, as he sent the +light boat under a fringe of bushes out of the sun. + +"Yes, and I won't be sorry," spoke Andy. "I'm anxious to see what life +at Yale is like. I've got to take a run down in a week or so, to fix up +about my room. You haven't heard of anyone I know who is going to be a +freshman there; do you?" + +"No, but I saw an old friend of yours the other day." + +"You did! Who?" + +"Remember that little actress you did the fireman-save-my-child act for +this Spring?" + +"Miss Fuller? Sure I do. Did you see her?" + +"I did." + +"Where?" + +"Oh, at a vaudeville theater. She remembered me, too." + +"Did she ask for me?" + +"Naturally. I told her you were going to Yale, and she said she might +see you there." + +"How?" + +"Why, she's playing a couple of weeks early in October at Poli's. You +want to look her up." + +"I sure will. You saw the mackinaw she sent me?" + +"Yes, it'll come in handy for Yale. I wish I was with you, but I'm +wished on to Cornell--I yell!" + +"Oh, well, we can't all go to the same place, but it sure would be fine +if we could." + +Then they began to talk of the old days at Milton, until the shadows +lengthened over the lake and it was time to paddle back to the cottage. + +Andy took a run down to New Haven the next week, and made his final +arrangements. He was walking about the now deserted quadrangle, looking +up at the window of the room he had selected in Wright Hall, when he was +aware that a youth of his own age was doing the same thing. + +Something seemed to attract Andy to this stranger. There was a frank, +open, ingenuous look in his face that Andy liked. And there was that in +the air and manner of the lad which told he came of no common stock. His +clothing betokened the work of a fashionable tailor, though the garments +were quiet, and just a shade off the most up-to-date mode. + +"Are you a student here?" asked the stranger of Andy. + +"No, but I expect to be. I'm going to start in." + +"So am I. Chamber is my name--Duncan Chamber, though I'm always called +Dunk for short." + +"Glad to know you. My name's Blair--Andy Blair." + +They shook hands, and then followed the usual embarrassed pause. Neither +knew what to say next. Finally Duncan broke the silence by asking: + +"Got your room yet?" + +"Up there," and Andy pointed to it. + +"Gee! That's all right--a peach! I'm up a stump myself." + +"How so?" + +"Well, I've about taken one in Pierson Hall, but it's a double one, and +I've got to share it with a fellow I don't take much of a leaning to. +He's a stranger to me. I like it better here, though. Better view of the +campus." + +Andy took a sudden resolve. + +"I'm about in the same boat," he said. "That's a double room of mine up +there in Wright, and I haven't a chum yet. I don't know what to do. Of +course I'm a stranger to you, but if you'd like to share my joint----" + +"Friend Andy, say no more!" interrupted Duncan. "Lead me to thy +apartment!" + +Andy laughed. He was liking this youth more and more every minute. + +The room was inspected. Andy was still the only one who had engaged it. + +"It suits me to a T if I suit you," exclaimed Duncan. "What do you say, +Blair? Shall we hitch it up?" + +"I'm willing." + +"Shake!" + +They shook. Thus was the pact made, a union of friends that was to have +a strange effect on both. + +"Now that's settled I'll call the Pierson game off," said Dunk, as we +shall call him from now on. "I'm wished onto you, Blair." + +"I'm glad of it!" + +The final arrangements were made, and thus Andy had his new roommate. +They went to dinner together, and planned to do all sorts of possible +and impossible things when the term should open. + +Andy returned to the Summer cottage with the good news, and then began +busy days for him. He replenished his stock of clothes and other +possessions and selected his favorite bats and other sporting +accessories with which to decorate his room. He had a big pennant +enscribed with the name MILTON, and this was to drape one side wall. +Dunk Chamber was from Andover, and his school colors would flaunt +themselves on the opposite side of the room. + +And then the day came. + +Andy, spruce and trim in a new suit, had sent on his trunk, and, with +his valise in hand, bade his parents and sister good-bye. + +The family was still at the summer cottage, which would not be closed +for another month. Then they would go back to Dunmore. + +Yale was calling to Andy, and one hazy September morning he took the +train that, by dint of making several changes, would land him in New +Haven. + +"And at Yale!" murmured Andy as the engine puffed away from the dingy +station. "I'm off for Yale at last!" + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +ON THE CAMPUS + + +Andy's train rolled into the New Haven station shortly before dusk. On +the way the new student had been surreptitiously "sizing up" certain +other young men in the car with him, trying to decide whether or not +they were Yale students. One was, he had set that down as certain--a +quiet, studious-looking lad, who seemed poring over a book and papers. + +Then Andy, making an excuse to get a drink of water, passed his seat and +looked at the documents. They were a mass of bills which the young man +evidently had for collection. + +"Stung!" murmured Andy. "But he sure did look like a Yale senior." He +was yet to learn that college men are not so different from ordinary +mortals as certain sensational writers would have had him believe. + +There was the usual bustle and rush of alighting passengers. Now indeed +Andy was sure that a crowd of students had come up on the train with him +for, once out of the cars their exuberance manifested itself. + +There were greetings galore from one to another. Renewals of past +acquaintance came from every side. There were hearty clappings on the +backs of scores and scores, and re-clappings in turn. + +Youths were tumbling out here, there, everywhere, colliding with one +another, bumping up against baggage trucks, running through the station, +one or two stopping to snatch a hasty cup of coffee and some doughnuts +from the depot restaurant. + +Andy stood almost lost for the moment amid the excitement. It had come +on suddenly. He had never dreamed there were so many Yale men on the +train. They gave no evidence of it until they had reached their own +precincts. + +Then, like a dog that hesitates to bark until he is within the confines +of his own yard, they "cut loose." + +Taxicab chauffeurs were bawling for customers. Hackmen with ancient +horses sent out their call of: + +"Keb! Keb! Hack, sir! Have a keb!" + +The motor bus of the Hotel Taft was being jammed with prosperous looking +individuals. Around the curve swept the clanging trolley cars. + +"I guess I'll walk," mused Andy. "I want to get my mind straightened +out." + +He managed to locate an expressman to whom he gave the check for his +trunk, with directions where to send it. Then, gripping his valise, +which contained enough in the way of clothing and other accessories to +see him through the night, in case his baggage was delayed, our hero +started up State Street. + +In the distance he could see, looming up, the lighted top stories of the +Hotel Taft, and he knew that from those same stories one could look down +on the buildings and campus at Yale. It thrilled him as he had not been +thrilled before on any of his visits to this great American university. + +He paid no attention to those about him. The sidewalks, damp with the +hazy dew of the coming September night, were thronged with pedestrians. +Many of them were college students, as Andy could tell by their talk. + +On he swung, breathing in deep of the air of dusk. He squared back his +shoulders and raised his head, widening his nostrils to take in the air, +as his eyes and ears absorbed the other impressions of the place. + +Past the stores, the hotels, the moving picture places Andy went, until +he came to where Chapel Street cuts across State. At the corner a +confectionery store thrust out its rounded doorway, and in the windows +were signs of various fountain drinks. + +"A hot chocolate wouldn't be so bad," thought Andy. "It's a bit chilly." + +He went in rather diffidently, wondering if some of the pretty girls +lined up along the marble counter knew that he was a Yale man. + +He heard a titter of laughter and grew red behind the ears, fearing it +might be directed against him. + +But no one seemed to notice him, the girl who passed him out his check +making change as nonchalantly as though he was but the veriest traveling +man instead of a Yale student. + +"Very blase, probably," thought Andy, with a sense of resentment. + +He stood on the steps a moment as he came out, and then walked toward +the Green, with its great elm trees, now looming mistily in the +September haze. + +Three churches on Temple street seemed to stand as a sort of guard in +front of the college buildings that loomed behind them. Three silent and +closed churches they were. + +Up Chapel street walked Andy, and he came to a stop on College street, +opposite Phelps Gateway. Through the gathering dusk he could make out +the inscription over it: + +LUX ET VERITAS + +"That's it! That's what I came here for," he said. "Light and truth! +Oh, but it's great! Great!" + +He drew in a long breath, and stood for a moment contemplating the +beautiful outlines of the college buildings. + +"Oh, but I'm glad I'm here!" he whispered. + +Other students were pouring through the classic gateway. Andy crossed +the street and joined them. Already lights were beginning to glow in +Lawrance and Farnam Halls, where the sophomores had their rooms. Andy +could see some of them lolling on cushions in their window seats. Yale +blue cushions, they were. + +He passed in through the gateway, his footsteps clanging back to his +ears, reflected by the arch overhead. He emerged onto the campus, and +started across it toward Wright Hall, with its raised courtyard, and its +curtained windows of blue. + +"I wonder if Dunk is there yet?" thought Andy. "Hope he is. Oh, it's +Yale at last! Yale! Yale!" + +He breathed in deep of the night air. He looked at the shadows of the +electric lights of the campus filtering through the trees. He paused a +moment. + +A confusion of sounds came to him. Outside the quadrangle in which he +stood he could hear the hum of the busy city--the clang of trolleys, +the clatter of horses, the hoarse croak of auto horns. Within the +precincts of the college buildings he could hear the hum of voices. Now +and then came the tinkle of a piano or the vibration of a violin. Then +there were shouts. + +"Oh, you, Pop! Stick out your head!" + +The call of one student to another. + +"I wonder if they'll ever call me?" mused Andy. + +He started across the campus. Coming toward him were several dark +figures. Andy met them under a light, and started back. Before he had a +chance to speak someone shouted at him: + +"There he is now! The freshest of the fresh! Take off that hat!" + +It was Mortimer Gaffington. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +MISSING MONEY + + +For a moment Andy stood there, not knowing what to do or say. It was so +unexpected, and yet he knew he must meet Mortimer at Yale--meet and +perhaps clash with the lad who was now a sophomore--the lad who had such +good cause now to dislike Andy. + +On his part the young "swell" leered into Andy's face, then glanced +sidelong at the youths who accompanied him. Andy recognized them as the +same who had been in the auto that night of the bonfire at Milton. + +"That's he!" exclaimed Mortimer; then to Andy: "I didn't think I'd meet +you quite so soon, Blair! So you're here, eh?" + +"Yes," answered Andy. + +"Put a 'sir' on that!" commanded one of the other lads. + +"Yes--sir!" + +Andy took his own time with the last word. He knew the rites and customs +of Yale, at least by hearsay, and was willing to abide by the unwritten +laws that make a first-year man demean himself to the upperclassmen. It +would not last long. + +"That's better," commented the third lad. "Never forget your +manners--er--what's your name?" + +"Blair." + +"Sir!" snapped the one who had first reminded Andy of the lapse. + +"Sir!" + +"You know him," put in Mortimer. "The fellow who put us out of the auto, +eh?" + +"Oh, sure, I remember now. Nervy little rat! It's a wonder I remember +anything that happened that night. We were pretty well pickled. Oh, +land, yes!" + +He seemed proud of it. + +"Take off that hat!" commanded Mortimer. "Don't forget you're a freshman +here." + +"And a fresh freshman, too," added one of his chums. "Take it off!" + +Andy was perfectly willing to abide by this unwritten law also, and +doffed his derby. He made a mental note that as soon as he could he +would get a cap, or soft hat, such as he saw other students wearing. + +"The brute has some manners," commented one of the trio. + +"I'll teach him some more before I get through with him!" muttered +Mortimer. He, as well as his two companions, seemed to have been dining, +"not wisely but too well." + +"Anything more?" asked Andy, good-naturedly. He knew that he must put up +with insults, if need be, from Mortimer; for he realized that, in a way, +class distinction at Yale is strong in its unwritten laws, and he wanted +to do as the others did. It takes much nerve to vary from the customs +and traditions of any country or place, more especially a big college. +And Andy knew his turn would come. + +He also knew that it was all done in good-natured fun, and really with +the best intentions. For a first-year man is very likely to become what +his name indicates--fresh--and there is need of toning down. + +Besides, it is discipline that is good for the soul, and somewhat +necessary. It makes for good in after life, in most cases, though of +course there are some exceptions. Hazing, after all, is designed, +primarily, to bring out a candidate's character. A lad who will give way +to his temper if made to take off his hat to one perhaps below him in +social station, or if he sulks when tossed in a blanket--such a lad, in +after life, is very apt to do the same thing when he has to knuckle +under to a business rival, or to go into a passion when he receives the +hard knocks of life. So, then, hazing, if not carried to extremes, has +its uses in adversity, and Andy had sense enough to realize this. So he +was ready for what might come. + +He knew, also, that Mortimer might, and probably would, be actuated by a +mean spirit, and a desire for what he might think was revenge. But he +was only one of a large number of college youths. Andy was willing to +take his chances. + +Andy looked over toward Wright Hall, with its raised courtyard. Lights +were gleaming in the windows, and he fancied he could see his own room +aglow. + +"I hope Dunk is there," he thought. + +"Shall we put him through the paces?" asked one of Mortimer's companions +suggestively, nodding at Andy. + +"Not to-night. We've got something else on," answered the society swell. +"Trot along, Blair, and don't forget what we've told you. I'll see you +again," he added, significantly. + +The trio had come to a stop some little distance from Andy, and had +stood with arms linked. Now they were ready to proceed. On the various +walks, that traversed the big campus in the quadrangle of Yale, other +students were hurrying to and fro, some going to their rooms, others +coming from them. Some were going towards their eating clubs or to the +University dining hall. And Andy was feeling hungry. + +"Well, come on," urged Mortimer to his companions. "I guess we've +started this freshman on the right road. Just see that you follow it, +Blair. I'll be watching you." + +"And I'll be watching you!" thought Andy. And at that moment he was +gazing intently at Gaffington. As he looked, Andy saw something fall +from below the flap of the coat of one of the trio, and land softly on +the pavement. It fell limp, making no noise. + +One of Mortimer's companions, who, Andy afterward learned, was Leonard, +or "Len," Scott, reached his hand into his pocket, and brought it out +with a strange look on his face. + +"Hello!" he exclaimed, blankly, "my wallet's gone!" + +"Gone!" exclaimed the other, Clarence Boyle by name. "Are you sure you +had it?" + +"I sure did!" said Len, feeling in various pockets. "Just cashed a +check, too!" + +"Come on back to your room and have a look for it," suggested Mortimer +pulling his chum half-way around. "If it's gone I can lend you some. I'm +flush to-night." + +"But I'm sure I had it," went on Len. "I remember feeling it just as we +came out of Lawrance. I had about fifty dollars in it!" + +"Whew!" whistled Mortimer. "Some little millionaire, you are, Len. Never +mind, I can let you have twenty-five if you need it." Andy knew that +Mortimer's father was reputed to be several times a millionaire. + +"But I don't like to lose that," went on Len. "I guess I will go back +and have a look in my shack. If I can't find it I'll stick up a notice." + +"You might have dropped it when we met that other bunch of freshmen and +had the little argument with them about their hats," suggested Clarence. + +"That's right," went on Mortimer, still pulling on Len's arm, as though +to get him away from the spot. "Maybe one of the freshmen frisked it off +you," he added, looking at Andy. + +By this time the trio had turned half-way around, evidently to go back +to Scott's room and look for the missing pocketbook. Andy had a clear +view of the object that had fallen from under the coat of one of them. + +"There is something," the freshman said, pointing to the object on the +pavement. "I saw one of you drop it. Perhaps it is the pocketbook." + +Len wheeled and made a grab for it. + +"That's mine!" he cried. "It must have worked up out of my pocket and +fallen. Thanks!" he added, warmly, to Andy. + +With a quick motion Len opened his wallet. A strange look came over his +face as he cried: + +"It's empty!" + +"Empty!" gasped Mortimer. "Let's see!" + +He leaned forward, as did Clarence, all three staring into the opened +pocketbook. Andy looked on curiously. + +"It was one of those freshmen!" declared Mortimer, with conviction. +"They must have slipped their hand up in your coat when we were frisking +them, and taken out the money." + +"But how could they when I still had the pocketbook?" asked Len, much +puzzled. + +"They must have taken out the bills, and put the wallet back," went on +Mortimer, quickly. "They didn't get it all the way in your pocket and it +tumbled out when you were standing here. Lucky we noticed it or we +wouldn't have known what happened. Come on back. We'll find those +freshmen." + +And, without another look at Andy, they wheeled and hurried across the +campus toward Vanderbilt Hall. + +"Huh! That's queer!" mused Andy, as he continued on his way toward +Wright. "I'm glad I saw that wallet when I did." + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +"ROUGH HOUSE" + + +"Oh, you, Dunk!" + +"Stick out your noodle, Chamber!" + +"Where are you?" + +These were the cries that greeted Andy as he entered the passage leading +to his room in Wright Hall--the room he was to share with Duncan +Chamber. Down the hall he saw a group of lads who had evidently come to +rouse Andy's prospective chum. Somehow, our hero felt a little hurt that +he had to share his friend with others. But it was only momentarily. + +"Open up there, Dunk! Open up!" + +Thus came the appeal, and fists banged on the door. It was opened a +crack, and the rattle of a chain was heard. + +"Get on to the beggar!" + +"He must think we're a bunch of sophs!" + +"Don't be afraid, Dunky, we're only your sweethearts!" + +Thus the three callers gibed him. + +"Oh, it's you fellows, is it?" asked Chamber, flinging wide the door, +and letting out a flood of light. "I thought I was in for a hazing, so I +was keeping things on the safe side. Come on in. I'm just straightening +up." + +The three tumbled into the room. Andy followed, and at the sound of his +footsteps coming to a pause outside the portal Dunk peered out. + +"Oh, hello, Blair!" he greeted, cordially! "I thought you were never +coming! Put her there, old man! How are you?" + +He caught Andy's hand in a firm pressure with a mighty slap, and hauled +him inside. + +"Fellows, here's my roommate!" went on Dunk. "Andy Blair. I hope you'll +like him as well as I do. Blair, these are some luckless freshmen like +ourselves. Take 'em in the order of their beauty--Bob Hunter--never hit +the bull's eye in his life; Ted Wilson--just Ted, mostly; Thad +Warburton--no end of a swell, and money to burn! Shake!" + +They shook in turn, looking into each other's eyes with that quick +appraising glance that means so much. Andy liked all three. He hoped +they would like him. + +"So this is your hangout, eh, Dunk?" asked Ted, when the little +formality of introduction was over. + +"Yes, Andy had this picked out and kindly agreed to share it with me." + +"I sure was glad to!" said Andy, heartily. + +"Some swell little joint," commented Thad Warburton, looking around. + +"Wait until we get her fixed up," advised Dunk. "Then we'll have +something to show you! I haven't decided on a bed yet," he added to +Dick. "Pick out the one you want." + +"I'm not particular. They all look alike to me." + +"Yes, they're just the same. Fed your face yet?" + +"No, but I'm hungry. Thought I'd wait for you." + +"Say, where is your eating joint?" asked Thad. + +"I haven't picked out one yet," answered Andy. "I was thinking of going +to the Hall----" + +"Oh, that's no fun!" cried Bob. "Come with us. We have a swell place. +Run by one of our Andover crowd. Good grub and a nice bunch of fellows." + +"I'm willing," agreed Andy. + +"We could try it for a while," assented Dunk, "and if we didn't like it +we could switch to the University Hall. What do you say, Andy?" + +"I'm with you. The sooner the quicker. I'm starved." + +"All right, then, we'll let the room go until after grub. I was going +to stick up a few of my things, but they can wait. Get your trunk, +Andy?" + +"Did it come? I gave a man the check." + +"Not yet. Sounds like it now." + +There was a bumping and thumping out in the corridor, and an expressman +came in with Andy's baggage. It was stowed away in a corner and then the +five lads prepared to set out for the "eating joint." + +"It's around on York street, not far from Morey's," volunteered Thad. + +"Oh, yes, Morey's!" exclaimed Andy. "I've heard lots about that joint. I +wish we could get in there." + +"No freshman need apply," quoted Dunk, with a laugh. "That's for our +betters. We'll get there some day." + +"Oh, I say----" began Ted, as they were about to go out. He looked at +Andy rather queerly. + +"What is it?" asked our hero, with a frank laugh. "Am I togged up +wrong?" + +"Your--er--derby," said Bob, obviously not liking to mention it. + +"Oh, yes, that's right!" chimed in Dunk. "Hope you don't mind, Andy, but +a cap or a crusher would be in better form." + +Andy noticed that the others had on soft hats. + +"Sure," he said. "I was going to get one. I had a soft hat at Milton, +but it's all initialed, and covered with dates from down there. I don't +suppose that would go here." + +"Hardly," agreed Dunk. "I've got an odd one, though. Stick it on until +you get yours," and he hauled a soft hat from under a pile of things on +his dresser. + +Andy hung up his offending derby and clapped the other on the back of +his head. Then the five sallied forth, locking the door behind them. + +Their feet echoed on the stone flagging of the open courtyard as they +headed out on the campus. Past Dwight Hall, the home of the Young Men's +Christian Association, they went, out into High street and through +Library to York. The thoroughfares were thronged with many students now, +for it was the hour for supper. + +Calls, cries, hails, gibes, comments and appeals were bandied back and +forth. For it was the beginning of the term, and many of the new lads +had not yet found themselves or their places. It was all pleasurable +excitement and anticipation. + +Huddled close together, talking rapidly of many things they had seen, or +hoped to see--of the things they had done or expected to do, Andy, Dunk, +and their chums walked on to the eating place. Dunk informed Andy, in a +whisper, that his three friends had been at Phillips Academy, in +Andover, with him. + +"Over here!" + +"This way!" + +"Lots of room!" + +"Shove in, Hunter!" + +"There's Wilson!" + +"Dunk Chamber, too! Oh, you, Dunk!" + +"Oh! Thad Warburton, give us your eye!" + +It was a call to health, and several lads arose holding aloft foaming +mugs of beer. For a moment Andy's heart failed him. He did not drink, +and he did not intend to, yet he realized that to refuse might be very +embarrassing. Yet he resolved on this course. + +There were more good-natured cries, and healths proposed, and then Andy +and his companions found room at the table. Dunk introduced Andy to +several lads. + +"Oh, you, Dunk, your eyes on us!" + +Several lads called to him, holding aloft their steins. Dunk hesitated a +moment and then, with a quick glance at Andy, let his glass be filled. +Rising, he gave the pledge and drank. + +Andy felt a tug at his heart strings. He was not a crank, nor a stickler +for forms or reforms, yet he had made up his mind never to touch +intoxicants. And it gave him a shock to find his roommate taking the +stuff. + +"Well, he's his own master," thought Andy. "It's up to him!" + +And then, amid that gay scene--not at all riotous--there came to Andy +the memory of a half-forgotten lesson. + +"Am I my brother's keeper?" + +Andy wanted to close his mind to it, but that one question seemed to +repeat itself over and over again to him. + +"Have some beer?" + +The voice of a waiter was whispering to him. + +"No--not to-night," said Andy, softly. And what a relief he felt. No one +seemed to notice him, nor was his refusal looked upon as strange. Then +he noticed with a light heart that only a few of the lads, and the older +ones at that, were taking the beverage. Andy noticed, too, with more +relief, that Dunk only took one glass. + +The meal went on merrily, and then Andy and Dunk, refusing many +invitations to come to the rooms of friends, or downtown to a show, went +to their own room. + +"Let's get it in shape," proposed Dunk. + +"Sure," agreed Andy, and they set to work. + +Each one had brought from home certain trophies--mementoes of school +life--and these soon adorned the walls. Then there were banners and +pennants, sofa cushions--the gift of certain girls--and photographs +galore. + +"Well, I call this some nifty little joint!" exclaimed Dunk, stepping +back to admire the effect of the photograph of a pretty girl he had +fastened on the wall. + +"It sure is," agreed Andy, who was himself putting up a picture. + +"I say, who's that?" asked Dunk, indicating it. "She's some little +looker, if you don't mind me saying so." + +"My sister." + +"Congrats! I'd like to meet her." + +"Maybe--some day." + +"Who's this--surely not your sister?" asked Dunk, indicating another +picture. "I seem to know her." + +"She's a vaudeville actress, Miss Fuller." + +"Oh, ho! So that's the way the wind blows, is it? Say, you are going +some, Andy." + +"Nothing doing! I happened to save her from a fire----" + +"Save her from a fire! Worse and more of it. I must tell this to the +boys!" + +"Oh, it wasn't anything," and Andy explained. "She sent me a mackinaw in +place of my burned coat, and her picture was in the pocket. I kept it." + +"I should think you would. She's a peach, and clever, too, I understand. +She's billed at Poli's." + +"Yes, I'm going to see her." + +"Take me around, will you?" + +"Sure, if you like." + +"I like all right. Hark, someone's coming!" and Dunk slipped to the door +and put on the chain. + +"What's the matter?" asked Andy. + +"Oh, the sophs are around and may come in and make a rough house any +minute." + +But the approaching footsteps did not prove to be those of vengeful +sophomores. They were the three friends, Bob, Thad, and Ted, who were +soon admitted. + +As they were sitting about and talking there was a commotion out in the +hall. The door, which Dunk had neglected to chain after the admission of +his friends, was suddenly burst open, and in came, with a rush, Mortimer +Gaffington and several other sophomores. + +"Rough house!" was their rallying cry. + +"Rough house for the freshies!" + +"Rough house!" + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +A FIERCE TACKLE + + +Andy and his chums were taken completely by surprise. The approach of +Mortimer and the other sophomores had been so silent that no warning had +been given. + +Immediately on gaining admittance to the room the intruders began +tossing things about. They pulled open the drawers of the dresser, +scattering the garments all over. They tore down pictures from the walls +and ripped off the banners and pennants. + +"Rough house!" they kept repeating. "Rough house on the freshmen!" + +One of the sophomores pushed Bob and Ted over on Andy's bed, together. + +Then Gaffington pulled from his pocket a handful of finely chopped paper +of various colors--"confetti"--and scattered it in a shower over +everyone and everything. + +"Snow, snow! beautiful snow!" he declaimed. "Shiver, freshmen!" + +A momentary pause ensued. Andy and his chums were getting back their +breaths. + +"Well, why don't you shiver?" demanded Mortimer. "That's snow--beautiful +snow--all sorts of colored snow! Shiver, I tell you! It's snowing! +Little Eva in Uncle Tom's Cabin--Eliza crossing the ice! Shiver now, you +freshmen, shiver!" + +He was laughing in a silly sort of way. + +"That's right--shiver!" commanded some of Mortimer's companions. + +"Well, what are you waiting for?" jeered the society swell at Andy. "Why +don't you shiver?" + +"I've forgotten how," said Andy, calmly. + +"Hang you, _shiver_!" and Mortimer fairly howled out the word. He +started toward Andy, with raised arm and clenched fist. + +Among the possessions disturbed by the intruders was Andy's favorite +baseball bat, which he had brought with him. Instinctively, as he +retreated a step, his fingers clutched it. He swung it around and held +it in readiness. Mortimer recoiled, and Andy, seeing his advantage, +cried: + +"Get out of here! All of you. Come on, fellows, put 'em out!" + +He raised the bat above his head, without the least intention in the +world of using it, but the momentum swung it from his hand and it struck +Mortimer on the forehead. + +The lad who had led the "rough house" attack staggered for a moment, +and then, blubbering, sank down in a heap on the floor. + +A sudden silence fell. In an instant Andy had sunk down on his knees +beside his enemy and was feeling his pulse and heart. There was only a +slight bruise on the forehead. + +"You--you've killed him!" whimpered one of the sophomores. + +"Nonsense!" exclaimed Dunk. "He's only over-excited." This was putting +it mildly. Mortimer had been "celebrating," and had really fainted. +"That was only a love tap," went on Dunk. "Chuck a little water in his +face and he'll be all right." + +This was done and proved to be just what was needed. Mortimer opened his +eyes. + +"What--what happened?" he asked, weakly. "Where--where am I?" + +"Where you don't belong," replied Dunk, sharply. "It's your move--get +out!" + +"You--you struck me!" went on Mortimer, accusingly to Andy. + +"No, indeed, I did not! I thought you were coming for me, and so I +raised the bat. It slipped." + +"I guess that's right, old man," said one of the sophomores, frankly. "I +saw it. Mort has been going it too heavily. We'll get him out of here. +No offense, I hope," and he looked around the dismantled room. "This is +the usual thing." + +"Oh, all right," said Dunk. "We're not kicking. I guess we held up our +end." + +"You sure did," returned one of the sophomores, as he glanced at the +wilted Mortimer. "Come on, fellows." + +Andy, feeling easier now that he was sure Mortimer was not badly hurt, +looked at the other lads. Two of them he recognized as the ones who had +been with Gaffington when the loss of the money was discovered. Andy +wondered whether it had been found, but he did not like to ask. + +"I--I'll get you for this! I'll fix you!" growled Mortimer, as his chums +led him out of the room. "You--you----" and he swayed unsteadily, +gazing at Andy. + +"Oh, dry up and come on!" advised Len Scott. "We'll go downtown and have +some fun." + +They withdrew and the dazed freshmen began helping Andy and Dunk +straighten up the room. It took some time and it was late when they +finished. Then, thinking the day had been strenuous enough, Andy and +Dunk declined invitations to go out, and got ready for bed. + +So ended Andy's first day at Yale. + +There was a hurried run to chapel next morning, and Andy, who had to +finish arranging his scarf on the way, found that he was not the only +tag-ender. Chapel was not over-popular. + +That Len Scott did not recover his lost money was made evident the next +day, for there were several notices posted in various places offering a +reward for the return of the bills. Andy heard, indirectly, that Len and +Mortimer made half-accusations against the freshmen they had "frisked" +earlier in the evening, and had been soundly trounced for their +impudence. + +Andy told Dunk of his connection in the affair and was advised to keep +quiet, which Andy thought wise to do. But the loss of the money did not +seem to be of much permanent annoyance to Len, for a few days later he +was again spending royally. + +Andy began now to settle down to his life at Yale. He was duly +established in his room with Dunk, and it was the congregating place of +many of their freshmen friends. Andy and Dunk continued to eat at the +"joint" in York street, though our hero made up his mind that he would +shift to University Hall at the first opportunity. He hoped Dunk would +come with him, but that was rather doubtful. + +"I can try, anyhow," thought Andy. + +Our hero did not find the lessons and lectures easy. There was a spirit +of hard work at Yale as he very soon found out, and he had not as much +leisure time as he had anticipated, which, perhaps, was a good thing for +him. But Andy wanted to do well, and he applied himself at first with +such regularity that he was in danger of becoming known as a "dig." But +he was just saved from that by the influence of Dunk, who took matters a +little easier. + +Following the episode of the "rough house," Andy did not see Mortimer +for several days, and when he did meet him the latter took no notice of +our hero. + +"I'm just as pleased," Andy thought. "Only it looks as though he'd make +more trouble." + +Candidates for the football team had been called for, and, as Andy had +made good at Milton, he decided to try for at least a place on the +freshman team. + +So then, one crisp afternoon, in company with other candidates, all +rather in fear and trembling, he hopped aboard a trolley to go out to +Yale Field. + +Dunk was with him, as were also Bob, Ted, and Thad, who likewise had +hopes. There was talk and laughter, and admiring and envying glances +were cast at the big men--those who had played on the varsity team last +year. They were like the lords of creation. + +The car stopped near the towering grandstands that hemmed in the +gridiron, and Andy swarmed with the others into the dressing rooms. + +"Lively now!" snapped Holwell, one of the coaches. "Get out on the +field, you fellows, and try tackling the dummy." + +A grotesque figure hung from a cross beam, and against this the +candidates hurled themselves, endeavoring to clasp the elusive knees in +a hard tackle. There were many failures, some of the lads missing the +figure entirely and sliding along on their faces. Andy did fairly well, +but if he looked for words of praise he was disappointed. + +This practice went on for several days, and then came other gridiron +work, falling on the ball, punting and drop kicking. Andy was no star, +but he managed to stand out among the others, and there was no lack of +material that year. + +Then came scrimmage practice, the tentative varsity eleven lining up +against the scrub. With all his heart Andy longed to get into this, but +for days he sat on the bench and watched others being called before him. +But he did not neglect practice on this account. + +Then, one joyful afternoon he heard his name called by the coach. + +"Get in there at right half and see what you can go," was snapped at +him. "Don't fuddle the signals--smash through--follow the interference, +and keep your eyes on the ball. Blake, give him the signals." + +The scrub quarter took him to one side and imparted a simple code used +at practice. + +"Now, scrub, take the ball," snapped the coach, "and see what you can +do." + +There was a quick line-up. Andy was trembling, but he managed to hold +himself down. He looked over at the varsity. To his surprise Mortimer +was being tried at tackle. + +"Ready!" shrilly called the scrub quarter. +"Signal--eighteen--forty-seven--shift--twenty-one--nineteen--" + +It was the signal for Andy to take the ball through right tackle and +guard. He received the pigskin and with lowered head and hunched +shoulders shot forward. He saw a hole torn in the varsity line for him, +and leaped through it. The opening was a good one, and the coach raved +at the fatal softness of the first-team players. Andy saw his chance and +sprinted forward. + +But the next instant, after covering a few yards, he was fiercely +tackled by Mortimer, who threw him heavily. He fell on Andy, and the +breath seemed to leave our hero. His eyes saw black, and there was a +ringing in his ears as of many bells. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +BARGAINS + + +"That's enough! Get up off him! Don't you know enough, Gaffington, to +tell when a man's down?" + +Andy heard the sharp voice of the coach, Holwell, but the tones seemed +to come from a great distance. + +"Water here!" + +"Somebody's keeled over!" + +"It's that freshman, Blair. Plucky little imp, too!" + +"Who tackled him?" + +"Gaffington. Took him a bit high and fell on him!" + +"Oh, well, this is football; it isn't kindergarten beanbag." + +Dimly Andy heard these comments. He opened his eyes, only to close them +again as he felt a dash of cold water in his face. + +"Feel all right now?" + +It was the voice of the coach in his ears. Andy felt himself being +lifted to his feet. His ears rang, and he could not see clearly. There +was a confused mass of forms about him, and the ground seemed to reel +beneath his feet. + +Then like another dash of cold water came the thought to him, sharply +and clearly: + +"This isn't playing the game! If I'm going to go over like this every +time I'm tackled I'll never play for Yale. Brace up!" + +By sheer effort of will Andy brought his staggering senses back. + +"I--I'm all right," he panted. "Sort of a solar plexus knock, I guess." + +"That's the way to talk!" exclaimed the coach, grimly. "Now then, +fellows, hit it up. Where's that ball? Oh, you had it, did you, Blair? +That's right, whatever happens, keep the ball! Get into the play now. +Varsity, tear up that scrub line! What's the matter with you, anyhow? +You're letting 'em go right through you. Smash 'em! Smash 'em good and +hard. All right now, Blair?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"Get in the game then. Scrub's ball. Hurry up! Signal!" + +Sharp and incisive came his tones, like some bitter tonic. Not a word of +praise--always finding fault; and as for sympathy--you might as well +have looked for it from an Indian ready to use his scalping knife. And +yet--that is what made the Yale team what it was--a fighting machine. + +Once more came the line-up, the scrub quarter snapping out his signals. + +Andy took his old place. He was rapidly feeling better, yet his whole +body ached and he felt as though he had fallen from a great height. He +was terribly jarred, for Mortimer had put into the tackle all his fierce +energy, adding to it a spice of malice. + +Andy heard the signal given for the forward pass, and felt relieved. He +could take another few seconds to get his breathing into a more regular +cadence. He looked over at Mortimer, who grinned maliciously. Andy knew, +as well as if he had been told, that the tackle had been needlessly +fierce. But there was no earthly use in speaking of it. Rather would it +do him more harm than good. This, then, was part of the "getting even" +game that his enemy had marked out. + +"He won't get me again, though!" thought Andy, fiercely. "If he does, it +will be my own fault. Wait until I get a chance at him!" + +It came sooner than he expected. The forward pass on the part of the +scrub was a fluke and after a few more rushing plays the ball was given +to the varsity to enable them to try some of their new plays. + +Several times Mortimer had the pigskin, and was able to make good gains. +Then the wrath of the coach was turned against the luckless scrubs. + +"What do you fellows mean?" cried Holwell. "Letting 'em go through you +this way! Get at 'em! Break up their plays if you can! Block their +kicks. They'll think they're playing a kid team! I want 'em to work! +Smash 'em! Kill 'em!" + +He was rushing about, waving his hands, stamping his feet--a veritable +little cyclone of a coach. + +"Signal!" he cried sharply. + +It came from the varsity quarter, and Andy noticed, with a thrill in his +heart, that Gaffington was to take the ball. + +"Here's where I get him!" muttered Andy, fiercely. + +There was a rush--a thud of bodies against bodies--gaspings of breaths, +the cracking of muscles and sinews. Andy felt himself in a maelstrom of +pushing, striving, hauling and toppling flesh. Then, in an instant, there +came an opening, and he saw before him but one player--Mortimer--with +the ball. + +Like a flash Andy sprang forward and caught his man in a desperate +embrace--a hard, clean tackle. Andy put into it all his strength, +intent only upon hurling his opponent to the turf with force enough to +jar him insensible if possible. + +Perhaps he should not have done so, you may say, but Andy was only +human. He was playing a fierce game, and he wanted his revenge. + +Into Mortimer's eyes came a look of fear, as he went down under the +impact of Andy. But there was this difference. Mortimer's previous +experience had taught him how to take a fall, and he came to no more +hurt through Andy's fierce tackle than from that of any other player, +however much Andy might have meant he should. Our hero did not stop to +think that he might have injured one of the varsity players so as to put +him out of the game, and at a time when Yale needed all the good men she +could muster. And Gaffington, in spite of his faults, was a good player. + +There was a thud as Andy and Mortimer struck the earth--a thud that told +of breaths being driven from their bodies. Then Andy saw the ball jarred +from his opponent's arms, and, in a flash he had let go and had rolled +over on it. An instant later there was an animated pile of players on +both lads, smothering their winded "Downs!" + +"That'll do! Get up!" snapped the coach. "What's the matter with you, +Gaffington, to let a freshman get you that way and put you out of the +game? Porter!" he shouted and a lad came running from the bench, pulling +off his sweater as he ran, and tossing it to a companion. He had been +called on to take Gaffington's place, and the latter, angry and +shamed-faced, walked to the side lines. + +As he went he gave Andy a look, as much as to say: + +"You win this time; but the battle isn't over. I'll get you yet." + +As for Andy, his revenge had been greater than he had hoped. He had put +his enemy out of the game more effectively than if he had knocked the +breath from him by a tremendous tackle. + +"Good tackle, Blair!" called the scrub captain to him, as the line-up +formed again. "That's the way to go for 'em!" + +The coach said nothing, but to the varsity captain he whispered: + +"Keep your eye on Blair. If he keeps on, he may make a player yet. He's +a little too wild, though. Don't say anything that will give him a +swelled head." + +The practice went on unrelentingly, and then the candidates were ordered +back to the gymnasium on the run, to be followed by a shower and a brisk +rub. + +Glowing with health and vigor, and yet lame and sore from the hard +tackle, Andy went to his room, to find Dunk Chamber impatiently waiting +for him. + +"Oh, there you are, you old mud lark!" was the greeting. "I've been +waiting for you. Come on around to Burke's and have some ale and a +rarebit." + +"No thanks. I'm in training, you know." + +"That's so. Been out on the field?" + +"Yes. I wonder you don't go in for that." + +"Too much like work. I might try for the crew or the nine. I'm afraid of +spoiling my manly beauty by getting somebody's boot heel in the eye. By +the way, you don't look particularly handsome. What has somebody been +doing to you?" + +"Nothing more than usual. It's all in the game." + +"Then excuse me! Are you coming to Burke's? You can take sarsaparilla, +you know. Thad and his bunch are coming." + +"Sure, I don't mind trailing along. Got to get at a little of that +infernal Greek, though." + +"All right, I'll wait. The fellows will be along soon." + +And as Andy did a little of necessary studying he could not help +wondering where Dunk would end. A fine young fellow, with plenty of +money, and few responsibilities. Yale--indeed any college--offered +numberless temptations for such as he. + +"Well, I can't help it," thought Andy. "He's got to look out for +himself." + +And again there seemed to come to him that whisper: + +"Am I my brother's keeper?" + +Surely Dunk was a college brother. + +Andy had scarcely finished wrestling with his Homer when there came a +series of loud and jolly hails: + +"Oh, you Dunk!" + +"Stick out your top, Blair!" + +"Here come the boys!" exclaimed Dunk. "Now for some fun!" + +The three friends trooped in. + +"Some little practice to-day, eh, Blair?" remarked Bob Hunter. + +"And some little tackle Gaffington gave you, too!" added Thad. + +"Yes, but Andy got back at him good and proper, and put him out of the +game," remarked Ted. "It was a beaut!" + +"Did you and Mortimer have a run-in?" asked Dunk quickly. + +"Oh, no more than is usual in practice," replied Andy, lightly. "He +shook me up and I came back at him." + +"If that's football, give me a good old-fashioned fight!" laughed Dunk. +"Well, if we're going to have some fun, come on." + +As they were leaving the room they were confronted by two other +students. Andy recognized one as Isaac Stein, more popularly known as +Ikey, a sophomore, and Hashmi Yatta, a Japanese student of more than +usual brilliancy. + +"Oh boys, such a business!" exclaimed Ikey. He was a Jew, and not +ashamed of it, often making himself the butt of the many expressions +used against his race. On this account he was more than tolerated--he +had many friends out of his own faith. "Such a business!" he went on, +using his hands, without which he used to say he could not talk. + +"Well, what is it now?" asked Dunk with good-humored patience. "Neckties +or silk shirts?" for Ikey was working his way through college partly by +acting as agent for various tradesmen, getting a commission on his +sales. Dunk was one of his best customers. + +"Such a business!" went on Ikey, mocking himself. "It is ornaments, +gentlemans! Beautiful ornaments from the Flowery Kingdom. Such +vawses--such vawses! Is it not, my friend Hashmi Yatta?" and he appealed +to the Japanese. + +"Of a surely they are beautiful," murmured the little yellow lad. "There +is some very good cloisonne, some kisku, and one or two pieces in +awaji-yaki. Also there is some satsuma, if you would like it." + +"And the prices!" interrupted Ikey. "Such bargains! Come, you shall see. +It is a crime to take them!" + +"What's it all about?" asked Dunk. "Have you fellows been looting a +crockery store?" + +"No, it is Hashmi here," said the Jew. "I don't know whether his +imperial ancestors willed them to him, or sent them over as a gift, but +they are wonderful. A whole packing case full, and he'll sell them dirt +cheap." + +"What do we want of 'em?" asked Andy. + +"Want of 'em, you beggar? Why they'll be swell ornaments for your room!" + +That was an appeal no freshman could resist. + +"What do you say?" asked Dunk, weakly. "Shall we take a look, Andy?" + +"I don't mind." + +"You will never regret it!" vowed Ikey. "It is wonderful. Such bargains! +It is a shame. I wonder Hashmi can do it." + +"They are too many for me to keep," murmured the Jap. + +"And so he will sell some," interrupted Ikey, eagerly. + +"And pay you a commission for working them off, I suppose," spoke Thad. + +Ikey looked hurt. + +"Believe me," he said, earnestly, "believe me, what little I get out of +it is a shame, already. It is nothing. But I could not see the bargains +missed. Come, we will have a look at them. You will never regret it!" + +"You ought to be in business--not college," laughed Dunk, as he slipped +into a mackinaw. "Come on, Andy, let's go and get stuck good and +proper." + +"Stuck! Oh, such a business!" gasped Ikey, with upraised hands. "They +are bargains, I tell you!" + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +DUNK REFUSES + + +"This way, fellows! Don't let anybody see us come in!" + +Thus cautioned Ikey as he led his "prospective victims," as Dunk +referred to himself and the others, through various back streets and +alley ways. + +"Why the caution?" Andy wanted to know, stumbling over an unseen +obstruction, and nearly falling. + +"Hush!" whispered the Jew. "I want you, my friends, to have the pick of +the bargains first. After that the others may come in. If some of the +seniors knew of these vawses there wouldn't be one left." + +"Oh, well we mustn't let that happen!" laughed Dunk. "I know I'm going to +get stuck, but lead on, Horatio. I'm game." + +"Stuck, is it?" cried Ikey, and he seemed hurt at the suggestion. "Wait +until you have seen, eh, Hashmi?" + +"Of a surely, yes. They are beautiful!" + +"And so cheap; are they not, Hashmi?" + +"Of a surely, yes." + +"Where are you taking us, anyhow?" demanded Thad. "I thought we were +going to Burke's." + +"So we are, later," said Dunk. "I want to see some of this junk, though. +Our room does need a bit of decoration, eh, Andy?" + +"Yes, it can stand a few more things." + +"But where are we going, anyhow?" Bob demanded. "This looks like a +chop-suey joint." + +"Hush!" cautioned Ikey again. "Some of the fellows may be around. There +is a Chinese restaurant upstairs." + +"And what's downstairs?" asked Andy. + +"Why, Hashmi had to hire a vacant room to put the packing box in when it +came from Japan," explained Ikey. "It was too big to take up to his +joint. Besides, it's filled with straw, you know, so the vawses couldn't +smash. He's just got it in this vacant store temporarily. You fellows +have the first whack at it." + +"Well, let's get the whacking over with," suggested Andy. "I had all I +wanted at Yale Field this afternoon." + +They came to a low, dingy building, at the side of which ran a black +alley. + +"In here--mind your steps!" warned Ikey. + +They stumbled on, and then came to a halt behind the college salesman. +He shot out a gleam of radiance from a pocket electric flashlight and +opened a door. + +"Hurry up!" he whispered, and as the others slipped in he closed and +locked the portal. "Are the shades down, Hashmi?" he asked. + +"Of a surely, yes." + +"Then show the fellows what your ancestors sent you." + +There was the removal of boards from a big packing case that stood in +the middle of a bare room. There was the rustle of straw, and then, in +the gleam of the little electric flash the boys saw a confused jumble of +Japanese vases and other articles in porcelain, packed in the box. + +"There, how's that?" demanded Ikey, triumphantly, as he picked one up. +"Wouldn't that look swell on your mantel, Dunk?" + +"It might do to hold my tobacco." + +"Tobacco! You heathen! Why, that jar is to hold the ashes of your +ancestors!" + +"Haven't any ancestors that had ashes as far as I know," said Dunk, +imperturbably. "I can smoke enough cigar ashes to fill it, though." + +"Hopeless--hopeless," murmured Ikey. "But look--such a bargain, only +seven dollars!" + +"Holy mackerel!" cried Andy. "Seven dollars for a tobacco jar!" + +"It isn't a tobacco jar, I tell you!" cried Ikey. "It's like the old +Egyptian tear vawses, only different. Seven dollars--why it's worth +fifteen if it's worth a cent. Ain't it, Hashmi?" + +"Of a surely, yes," said the Jap, with an inscrutable smile. + +"But he'll let you have it for just a little more than the wholesale +price in Japan, mind you--in Japan!" cried Ikey. "Seven dollars. Think +of it!" + +"What about your commission?" asked Thad, with a grin. + +"A mere nothing--I must live, you know," and Ikey shrugged his +shoulders. "Do you want it, Dunk? Why don't you fellows pick out +something? You'll wait until they're gone and be kicking yourselves. +They're dirt cheap--bargains every one. Look at that vawse!" and he held +up another to view in the pencil of light from the flash torch. + +"It would do for crackers, I suppose," said Andy, doubtfully. + +"Crackers!" gasped Ikey. "Tell him what it is for, Hashmi. I haven't the +heart," and he pretended to weep. + +"This jar--he is for the holding of the petals of roses that were sent +by your loved ones--the perfumes of Eros," murmured the poetical +Japanese. + +"Oh, for the love of tripe! Hold me, I'm going to faint, Gertie!" cried +Bob. "Rose petals from your loved ones! Oh, slush!" + +"It is true," and Hashmi did not seem to resent being laughed at. "But +it would do for crackers as well." + +"How much?" asked Andy. + +"Only five dollars--worth ten," whispered Ikey. + +"Well, it would look nice on my stand," said Andy weakly. "I--I'll take +it." + +"And I guess you may as well wish me onto that dead ancestor jar," added +Dunk. "I'm always getting stuck anyhow. Seven plunks is getting off +easy." + +"You will never regret it," murmured Ikey. "Where is that paper, Hashmi? +Now don't you fellows let anyone else in on this game until I give the +word. I'm taking care of my friends first, then the rest of the bunch. +Friends first, say I." + +"Yes, if you're going to stick anybody, stick your friends first," +laughed Dunk. "They're the easiest. Go ahead, now you fellows bite," and +he looked at Bob, Thad and Ted. + +"What's this--a handkerchief box?" asked Ted, picking up one covered +with black and gold lacquer. + +"Handkerchief box! Shades of Koami!" cried Ikey. "That, you dunce, is a +box made to----Oh, you tell him, Hashmi, I haven't the heart." + +"No, he wants to figure out how much he's made on us," added Andy. + +"That box--he is for the retaining of the messages from the departed," +explained the Japanese. + +"You mean it's a spiritualist cabinet?" demanded Thad. "I say now, will +it do the rapping trick?" + +"You misapprehend me," murmured Hashmi. "I mean that you conserve in +that the letters your ancestors may have written you. But of a +courseness you might put in it your nose beautifiers if you wish, and +perfume them." + +"Nose beautifiers--he means handkerchiefs," explained Ikey. "It's a +bargain--only three dollars." + +"I'll take it," spoke Thad. "I know a girl I can give it to. No +objection to putting a powder puff in it; is there, Hashmi?" + +"Of a surely, no." + +More of the wares from the big box were displayed and the two other lads +took something. Then Dunk insisted on having another look, and bought +several "vawses," as Ikey insisted on calling them. + +"They'll look swell in the room, eh, Andy? he asked. + +"They sure will. I only hope there's no more rough house or you'll be +out several dollars." + +"If those rusty sophs smash any of this stuff I'll go to the dean about +it!" threatened Dunk, well knowing, however, that he would not. + +"Such bargains! Such bargains!" whispered Ikey, as he let them out of +the side door, first glancing up and down the dark alley to make sure +that no other college lads were lying in wait to demand their share of +the precious stuff. The coast was clear and Andy and his chums slipped +out, carrying their purchases. + +"Are you coming?" Dunk asked of Ikey. + +"No, I'll stay and help Hashmi pack up the things. If you want any more +let me know." + +"Huh! You mean you'll stay and count up how much you've stuck us!" said +Dunk. "Oh, well, it looks like nice stuff. But I've got enough for the +present. I've overdrawn my allowance as it is." + +"Well, we'll leave this junk in your room, Andy, and then go out and +have some fun," suggested Thad. + +They piled their purchases on the beds in Andy's and Dunk's room in +Wright Hall and then proceeded on to Burke's place, an eating and +drinking resort for many students. + +There was a crowd there when Andy and his chums entered and they were +noisily greeted. + +"Oh, you Dunk!" + +"Over here! Lots of room!" + +"Waiter, five more cold steins!" + +"None for me!" said Andy with a smile. + +"That's all right--he's trying for the team," someone said, in a low +tone. + +"Oh!" + +Through the haze of the smoke of many pipes Andy saw some of the +football crowd. They were all taking "soft stuff," which he himself +ordered. + +Then began an evening of jollity and clean fun. It was rather rough, and +of the nature of horseplay, of course, and perhaps some of the lads did +forget themselves a little, but it was far from being an orgy. + +"I'm going to pull out soon," spoke Andy to Dunk, when an hour or so had +passed. + +"Oh, don't be in a rush. I'll be with you in a little while." + +"All right, I'll wait." + +Again to Andy had come the idea that he might, after all, prove a sort +of "brother's keeper" to his chum. + +The fun grew faster and more furious, but there was a certain line that +was never overstepped, and for this Andy was glad. + +The door opened to admit another throng, and Andy saw Mortimer and +several of his companions of the fast set. How Gaffington kept up the +pace and still managed to retain his place on the football team was a +mystery to many. He had wonderful recuperative powers, though, and was +well liked by a certain element. + +"Hello, Dunk!" he greeted Andy's roommate. "You're looking pretty fit." + +"Same to you--though you look as though you'd been having one." + +"So I have--rather strenuous practice to-day. Oh, there's the fellow who +did me up!" and he looked at Andy and, to our hero's surprise, laughed. + +"It's all right, old man--no hard feelings," went on Mortimer. "Will you +shake?" + +"Sure!" exclaimed Andy, eagerly. He was only too anxious not to have any +enmity. + +"Put her there! Shake!" exclaimed the other. "You shook me and I shook +you. No hard feelings, eh?" + +"Of course not!" + +"That's all right then. Fellows, I'll give you one--Andy Blair--a good +tackier!" and Mortimer raised his glass on high. + +"Andy Blair! Oh, you Andy! Your eye on us!" + +And thus was Andy pledged by his enemy. What did it mean? + +Faster grew the fun. The room was choking blue with tobacco smoke, and +Andy wanted to get away. + +"Come on, Dunk," he said. "Let's pull out. We've got some stiff +recitations to-morrow." + +"All right, I'm willing." + +Mortimer saw them start to leave, and coming over put his arm +affectionately around Dunk. + +"Oh, you're not going!" he expostulated. "Why, it's early yet and the +fun's just starting. Don't be a quitter!" + +Dunk flushed. He was not used to being called that. + +"Yes, stay and finish out," urged others. + +Andy felt that it was a crisis. Yet he could say nothing. Dunk seemed +undecided for a moment, and Mortimer renewed his pleadings. + +"Be a sport!" he cried. "Have a good time while you're living--you're a +long time dead!" + +There was a moment's hush. Then Dunk gently removed Mortimer's arm and +said: + +"No, I'm going back with Blair. Come on, Andy." + +And they went out together. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +DUNK GOES OUT + + +"Look at that!" + +"Why, it's the same stuff!" + +"There's a rose jar like the one I bought for seven dollars marked two +seventy-five!" + +"Oh, the robber! Why, there's a handkerchief box, bigger than the one he +stuck me with, and it's only a dollar!" + +"Say, let's rough-house Ikey and that Jap!" + +Andy, Dunk, and their three friends were standing in front of a Japanese +store, looking in the window, that held many articles associated with +the Flowery Kingdom. Price tags were on them, and the lads discovered +that they had paid dearly for the ornaments they had so surreptitiously +viewed in the semi-darkness, under the guidance of Ikey Stein. + +This was several days after they had purchased their bric-a-brac and +meanwhile they had seen Ikey and Hashmi going about getting other +students into their toils. + +"Say, that was a plant, all right!" declared Dunk. "I'm going to make +Ikey shell out." + +"And the Jap, too!" added Andy. "We sure were stuck!" + +For the articles in the window were identical, in many cases, with those +they had bought, but the prices were much less. + +"I thought there was something fishy about it," commented Thad. "Never +again do I buy a pig in a poke!" + +"I'll poke Ikey when I catch him," said Bob. + +"Here he comes now," spoke Ted, in a low voice. "Don't seem to see him +until he gets close, and then we'll grab him and make him shell out!" + +So the five remained looking steadfastly in the window until the +unsuspecting Ikey came close. Then Andy and Dunk made a quick leap and +caught him. + +"What--what is it?" asked the surprised student. + +"We merely want your advice on the purchase of some more art objects," +said Andy, grimly. "You're such an expert, you know." + +"Some other time--some other time! I'm due at a lecture now!" pleaded +Ikey, squirming to get away. + +"The lecture can wait," said Dunk. "Look at that vawse for the holding +of the rose petals from your loved one. See it there--now would you +advise me to buy it? It's much cheaper than the one you and your +beloved Hashmi stuck me with." + +Ikey looked at the faces of his captors. He saw only stern, unrelenting +glares, and realized that his game had been discovered. + +"I--er--I----" he stammered. + +"Come, what's your advice?" demanded Dunk. "Did I pay too much?" + +"I--er--perhaps you did," admitted Ikey, slowly. + +"Then fork over the balance." + +"And what about my cracker jar--for the ashes of dead ancestors?" asked +Andy. "Was I stuck, too?" + +"Oh, no, not at all. Why, that is a very rare piece." + +"What about that one in the window?" demanded Andy. "That's only rare to +the tune of several dollars less than I paid." + +"Oh, but you are mistaken!" Ikey assured him. "It takes an expert to +tell the difference. You can ask Hashmi----" + +"Hashmi be hanged!" cried Dunk, giving the captured one a shake. A +little crowd had gathered in the street to see the fun. + +"I--I'll give you whatever you think is right," promised Ikey. "Only let +me go. I shall be late." + +"The late Mr. Stein," laughed Andy. + +"What about the rare satsuma piece you wished onto me?" demanded Ted. + +"And that cloisonne flower vawse that has a crack in it?" Thad wanted to +know. + +"That's because it's so old," whined Ikey. "It is more valuable." + +"There's one in the window without a crack for three dollars less," was +the retort. + +"Oh, well, if you fellows are dissatisfied with your bargains----" + +"Oh, we're not going to back down," said Andy, "but we're not going to +pay more than they're worth, either. It was a plant, and you know it. +Now you shell out all we paid above what the things are marked at in +this window, and we'll call it square--that is, if you don't go around +blabbing how you took us in." + +"All right! All right!" cried Ikey. "I'll do it, only let me go!" + +"No; pay first! Run him over to our rooms," suggested Dunk. They were +not far from the quadrangle, and catching hold of Ikey they ran him +around into High Street and through the gateway beside Chittenden Hall +to Wright. There, up in Andy's and Dunk's room, Ikey was made to +disgorge his cash. But they were merciful to him and only took the +difference in price. + +"Now you tell us how it happened, and we'll let you go," promised Andy. + +"It was all Hashmi's fault," declared Ikey. "I believed him when he said +his brother in Japan had sent him a box of fine vawses. Hashmi said he +didn't need 'em all, and I said maybe we could sell 'em. So I did." + +"That was all right; but why did you stick up the price?" asked Andy. + +"A fellow has to make money," returned Ikey, innocently enough, and Dunk +laughed. + +"All right," said Andy's roommate. "Don't do it again, that's all. Who +is Hashmi's brother?" + +"One of 'em keeps that Jap store where you were looking in the window," +said Ikey, edging out of the room, "and the other is in Japan. He sent +the stuff over to be sold in the regular way, but that sly Hashmi fooled +me. Never again!" + +"And you passed it on to us," said Andy with a laugh. + +"Well, it's all in the game." + +"Still, we've got the stuff," said Ted. + +They had, but had they known it all they would have learned that, even +at the lowered price they were paying dearly enough for the ornaments, +and at that Hashmi and Ikey divided a goodly sum between them. + +The college days passed on. Andy and Dunk were settling down to the +grind of study, making it as easy as they could for themselves, as did +the other students. + +Andy kept on with his football practice, and made progress. He was named +as second substitute on the freshman team and did actually play through +the fourth quarter in an important game, after it had been taken safely +into the Yale camp. But he was proud even to do that, and made a field +goal that merited him considerable applause. + +Mortimer had dropped out of the varsity team. There was good reason, for +he would not train, and, though he could play brilliantly at times, he +could not be depended on. + +"I don't care!" he boasted to his sporting crowd. "I can have some fun, +now." + +Several times he and his crowd had come around to ask Dunk to go out +with them, but Dunk had refused, much to Mortimer's chagrin. + +"Oh, come on, be a good fellow!" he had urged. + +"No, I've got to do some boning." + +"Oh, forget it!" + +But Dunk would not, for which Andy was glad. + +Then came a period when Dunk went to pieces in his recitations. He was +warned by his professors and tried to make up for it by hard study. He +was not naturally brilliant and certain lessons came hard to him. + +He grew discouraged and talked of withdrawing. Andy did all he could for +him, even to the neglect of his own standing, but it seemed to do no +good. + +"What's the use of it all, anyhow?" demanded Dunk. "I'll spend four +mortal years here, and come out with a noddle full of musty old Latin +and Greek, go to work in dad's New York office and forget it all in six +months. I might as well start forgetting it now." + +"You've got the wrong idea," said Andy. + +"Well, maybe I have. Hanged if I see how you do it!" + +"I don't do so well." + +"But you don't get floored as I do! I'm going to chuck it!" and he threw +his Horace across the room, shattering the Japanese vase he had bought. + +"Look out!" cried Andy. + +"Too late! I don't give a hang!" + +Someone came along the hall. + +"What are you fellows up to?" asked a gay voice. "Trying to break up +housekeeping?" + +"It's Gaffington!" murmured Andy. + +"Come on in!" invited Dunk. + +"You fellows come on out!" retorted the newcomer. "There's a peach of a +show at Poli's. Let's take it in and have supper at Burke's afterward." + +Dunk got up. + +"Hanged if I don't!" he said, with a defiant look at Andy. + +"That's the stuff! Be a sport!" challenged Mortimer. "Coming along, +Blair?" + +"No." + +Mortimer laughed. + +"Go down among the dead ones!" he cried. "Come on, Dunk, we'll make a +night of it!" + +And they went out together, leaving Andy alone in the silent room. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +IN BAD + + +The clock was ticking. To Andy it sounded as loud as a timepiece in a +tower. The rhythmic cadence seemed to fill the room. Somewhere off in +the distance a bell boomed out--a church bell. + +Andy sat in a brown study, looking into the fireplace. A little blaze +was going on the hearth, and the young student, gazing at the embers saw +many pictures there. + +For some time Andy sat without stirring. He had listened to the +retreating footsteps of Dunk and Mortimer as the boys passed down the +corridor, laughing. + +Through Wright Hall there echoed other footsteps--coming and +going--there was the sound of voices in talk and in gay repartee. +Students called one to the other, or in groups hurried here and there, +intent on pleasure. Andy sat there alone--thinking--thinking. + +A log in the fireplace broke with a suddenness that startled him. A +shower of sparks flew up the chimney, and a little puff of smoke shot +out into the room. Andy roused himself. + +"Oh, hang it all!" he exclaimed aloud. "Why should I care? Let him go +with that crowd--with Mort and his bunch if he likes. What difference +does it make to me?" + +He stood up, his arm on the mantel where had rested the Japanese vase +purchased so mysteriously. Now only the fragments of it were there. + +A comparison between that shattered vase and what might be the shattered +friendship between himself and his roommate came to Andy, but he +resolutely thrust it aside. + +"What difference does it make to me?" he asked himself. "Let him go his +own way, and I'll go mine." + +He crossed to the book rack on the window sill, intending to do some +studying. On the broad stone ledge outside the casement he kept his +bottle of spring water. It was a cooler place than the room. Andy poured +himself out a drink, and as he sipped it he said again: + +"Why should I care what he does?" + +Then, from off in the distance he heard the chimes of a church, playing +"Adestes Fideles." + +He stood listening--entranced as the tones came to him, softened by the +night air. + +And there seemed to whisper to him a still, small voice that asked: + +"Am I my brother's keeper?" + +Andy shut the window softly, and, going back to his chair sat staring +into the fire. It was dying down, the embers settling into the dead +ashes. It was very still and quiet in the little room. All Wright Hall +was very still and quiet now. + +"I--I guess I'll have to care--after all," whispered Andy. + +Footsteps were heard coming along the corridor, and, for a moment Andy +had a wild hope that it might be Dunk returning. But as he listened he +knew it was not his chum. + +Someone knocked on the door. + +"Come!" called Andy sharply. It could be none of his friends, he knew. + +A messenger entered with a note, and, observing an unfamiliar +handwriting, Andy wondered from whom it could be. He ripped it open and +uttered an exclamation. He read: + + "Dear Mr. Blair: + + "I am doing a little engagement at Poli's. Won't you drop around + and see me? I promise not to compel you to play the fireman. + + "Sincerely yours, + "MAZIE FULLER." + +"Jove!" murmured Andy. "I forgot all about her." + +"Any answer?" asked the messenger. + +"No." + +The boy started out. + +"Oh, yes. Wait a minute." Andy scribbled an acceptance. + +"Here," he said, and handed the boy a quarter. + +"T'anks!" exclaimed the urchin. Then with a roguish glance he added: +"Gee, but you college guys is great!" + +"Hop along!" commanded Andy briefly. + +Should he go, after all? He had said he would and yet---- + +"Oh, hang it! I guess I'd better go!" he said aloud, just as though he +had not intended to all along. He turned up the light and began throwing +about a pile of neckties. He tried first one and then another. None +seemed to satisfy him, and when he did get the hue that suited him it +would not allow itself to be properly tied. + +"Oh, rats!" Andy exclaimed. "Why should I care?" + +Why indeed? It is one of the mysteries. "Vanity of vanities" and the +rest of it. + +As he entered Poli's Andy was aware that something unusual was going on. +The ushers were grinning with good-natured tolerance, but there was +rather an anxious look on the faces of some of the women in the +audience. Some of their male escorts appeared resentful. + +Andy had been obliged to purchase a box seat, as there were no vacant +ones in the body of the house. As he sank into his chair, rather back, +for the box was well filled, he saw a college classmate. + +"What's up?" he asked, the curtain then being down to allow of a change +of scene. + +"Oh, Gaffington and his crowd are joshing some of the acts." + +"Any row?" + +"No, everybody takes it good-naturedly. Bunch of our fellows here +to-night." + +"Show any good?" + +"Pretty fair. Some of the things are punk. There's a good number +coming--Mazie Fuller--she's got a new act. And Bodkins--you know the +tramp juggler--the one who does things with cigar boxes--he's coming on +next. He's a scream." + +"Yes, I know him. He's all right." + +The curtain went up and from the wings came Miss Fuller. She had +prospered in vaudeville, it seemed, for she had on a richer costume than +the one she wore when she had been so nearly burned to death. + +She was well received, and while singing her first number she looked +about the house. Presently she caught the eyes of Andy--he had leaned +forward in the box, perhaps purposely. Miss Fuller smiled at him, and +at once a chorus of cries arose from the students in the different parts +of the theater. Up to then, since Andy's entrance, there had been no +commotion. Now it broke out again. + +"Oh, get on to that!" + +"The lad with the dreamy eyes!" + +"Oh, you Andy Blair!" + +Andy sank back blushing, but Miss Fuller took it in good part. + +Her act went on, and was well received. She did not again look at Andy, +possibly fearing to embarrass him. And then, as she retired after her +last number--a veritable whirlwind song--there came a thunder of +applause, mingled with shrill whistles, to compel an encore. + +Andy was aware of a disturbance in the front of the house. It was where +a number of the students were seated, and Andy had a glimpse of Dunk +Chamber. Beside him was Gaffington. Dunk had arisen and was swaying +unsteadily on his feet. + +"Sit down!" + +"Keep him quiet!" + +"Put him out!" + +"Call the manager!" + +"Make him sit down!" + +Andy began to feel uneasy. He could see the unhappy condition of his +roommate and those with him. The worst he feared had come to pass. + +Swaying, but still managing not to step on anyone, Dunk made his way to +the aisle, and then, getting close to the box where Andy sat, climbed +over the rail. The manager motioned to an usher not to interfere. +Probably he thought it was the best means of producing quiet. + +"Here I am, Andy," announced Dunk gravely. + +"So I see," spoke Andy, his face blazing at the notice he was receiving. +"Sit down and keep quiet. There's a good act coming." + +"Hush!" exclaimed a number of voices as the curtain slid up, to give +place to "Bustling Bodkins," the tramp juggler. The actor came out in +his usual ragged make-up, and proceeded to do things with a pile of +empty cigar boxes--really a clever trick. Dunk watched him with curious +gravity for a while and then started to climb over the footlights on to +the stage. + +"No, you don't, Dunk!" cried Andy, firmly, and despite his chum's +protests he hauled him back. Then he took Dunk firmly by the arm and +marched him out of a side entrance of the show-house. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +ANDY'S DESPAIR + + +"Pretty bad; was I, Andy?" + +"Yes." + +"Whew! What a headache! Any ice water left?" + +"I'll get some." + +"Never mind. What's there'll do." + +It was morning--there always is a "morning after." Perhaps it is a good +thing, for it is nature's protest against violations of her code of +health. + +Dunk drank deep of the water Andy handed him. + +"That's better," he said, with a sigh. "Guess I won't get up just yet." + +"Going to cut out chapel?" + +"I should say yes! My head is splitting now and to go there and hear +that old organ booming out hymns would snap it off my neck. No chapel +for me!" + +"You know what it means." + +"Well, I can't be in much worse than I am. I'll straighten up after a +bit. No lectures to-day." + +"You're going the pace," observed Andy. It was not said with that false +admiration which so often keeps a man on the wrong road from sheer +bravado. Andy was rather white, and his lips trembled. + +"It does seem so," admitted Dunk, gloomily enough. + +"Any more water there?" he asked, presently. + +"I'll get some," offered Andy, and he soon returned with a pitcher in +which ice tinkled. + +"That sounds good," murmured his roommate. "Was I very bad last night?" + +"Oh, so-so." + +"Made a confounded idiot of myself, I suppose?" and he glanced sharply +at Andy over the top of the glass. + +"Oh, well, we all do at times." + +"I haven't seen you do it yet." + +"You will if you room with me long enough, Dunk." + +"Yes, but not in the way I mean." + +"Oh, well, I'm no moralist; but I hope you never will see me that way. +Understand, I'm not preaching, but----" + +"I know. You don't care for it." + +"That's it." + +"I wish I didn't. But you don't understand." + +"Maybe not," said Andy slowly. "I'm not judging you in the least." + +"I know, old man. How'd you get me home?" + +"Oh, you were tractable enough. I got a taxi." + +"I'll settle with you later. I don't seem to have any cash left." + +"Forget it. I can lend you some." + +"I may need it, Andy. Hang Gaffington and his crowd anyhow! I'm not +going out with them again." + +Andy made no reply. He had been much pained and hurt by the episode in +the theater. Public attention had been attracted to him by Dunk's +conduct; but, more than this, Andy remembered a startled and surprised +look in the eyes of Miss Fuller, who came out on the stage when Dunk +interrupted the tramp act. + +"If only I could have had a chance to explain," thought Andy. But there +had been no time. He had helped to take Dunk away. When this Samaritan +act was over the theater had closed, and Andy did not think it wise to +look up Miss Fuller at her hotel. + +"I'll see her again," he consoled himself. + +The chapel bell boomed out, and Andy started for the door. + +"What a head!" grumbled Dunk again. "I say, Andy, what's good when a +fellow makes an infernal idiot of himself?" + +"In your case a little bromo might help." + +"Got any?" + +"No, but I can get you some." + +"Oh, don't bother. When you come back, maybe----" + +"I'll get it," said Andy, shortly. + +He was late for chapel when he had succeeded in administering a dose of +the quieting medicine to Dunk, and this did not add to the pleasures of +the occasion. However, there was no help for it. + +Somehow the miserable day following the miserable night ended, and Andy +was again back in the room with Dunk. The latter was feeling quite +"chipper" again. + +"Oh, well, it's a pretty good old world after all," Dunk said. "I think +I can eat a little now. Never again for me, Andy! Do you hear that?" + +"I sure do, old man." + +"And that goes. Put her there!" + +They shook hands. It meant more to Andy than he would admit. He had +gone, that afternoon, to the theater, where Miss Fuller was on for a +matinee, and, sending back his card, with some flowers, had been +graciously received. He managed to make her understand, without saying +too much. + +"I'm so glad it wasn't--you!" she said, with a warm pressure of her +hand. + +"I'm glad too," laughed Andy. + +"No sir--never again!" said Dunk that evening, as he got out his books. +"You hear me, Andy--never again!" + +"That's the way to talk!" + +It was hard work at Yale. No college is intended for children, and the +New Haven University in particular has a high aim for its students. + +Andy "buckled down," and was doing well. His standing in class, while +not among the highest, was satisfactory, and he was in line for a place +on the freshman eleven. + +How he did practice! No slave worked harder or took more abuse from the +coaches. Andy was glad of one thing--that Gaffington was out of it. +There were others, though, who tackled Andy hard in the scrimmages, but +he rather liked it, for there was no vindictiveness back of it. + +As for Mortimer, he and his crowd went on their sporting way, doing just +enough college work not to fall under the displeasure of the Dean or +other officials. But it was a "close shave" at times. + +Dunk seemed to stick to his resolution. He, too, was studying hard, and +for several nights after the theater escapade did not go out evenings. +Andy was rejoicing, and then, just when his hopes were highest, they +were suddenly dashed. + +There had been a period of hard work, and it was followed by a football +disaster. Yale met Washington and Jefferson, and while part of the +Bulldog's poor form might be ascribed to a muddy field, it was not all +that. There was fumbling and ragged playing, and Yale had not been able +to score. Nor was it any consolation that the other team had not either. +Several times their players had menaced Yale's goal line, and only by +supreme efforts was a touchdown avoided. As it stood it was practically +a defeat for Yale, and everybody, from the varsity members to the digs, +were as blue as the cushions in the dormitory window seats. + +Andy and Dunk sat in their room, thankful that it was Saturday night, +with late chapel and no lessons on the morrow. + +"Rotten, isn't it, Andy?" said Dunk. + +"Oh, it might be worse. The season is only just opening. We'll beat +Harvard and Princeton all right." + +"Jove! If we don't!" Dunk looked alarmed. + +"Oh, we will!" asserted Andy. + +Dunk seemed nervous. He was pacing up and down the room. Finally, +stopping in front of Andy he said: + +"Come on out. Let's go to a show--or something. Let's go down to Burke's +place and see the fellows. I want to get rid of this blue feeling." + +"All right, I'll go," said Andy, hesitating only a moment. + +They were just going out together when there came the sound of footsteps +and laughter down the corridor. Andy started as he recognized the voice +of Gaffington. + +"Oh Dunk! Are you there?" was called, gleefully. + +"Yes, I'm here," was the answer, and it sounded to Andy as though his +chum was glad to hear that voice. + +"Come out and have some fun. Bully show at the Hyperion. No end of +sport. Come on!" + +Mortimer, with Clarence Boyle and Len Scott, came around the corner of +the corridor, arm in arm. + +"Oh, you and Blair off scouting?" asked Gaffington, pausing before the +two. + +"We were going out--yes," admitted Dunk. + +"We'll make a party of it then. Fall in, Blair!" + +Andy rather objected to the patronizing tone of Mortimer, but he did not +feel like resenting it then. Should he go? + +Dunk glanced at his chum somewhat in doubt. + +"Will you come, Andy?" he asked, hesitatingly. + +"Yes--I guess so." + +"We'll make a night of it!" cried Len. + +"Not for mine," laughed Andy. "I'm in training, you know." + +"Well, we'll keep Dunk then. Come on." + +They set out together, Andy with many misgivings in his heart. + +Noisy and stirring was the welcome they received at Burke's. It was the +usual story. The night wore on, and Dunk's good resolutions slipped away +gradually. + +"Come on, Andy, be a sport!" he said, raising his glass. + +Andy smiled and shook his head. Then a bitter feeling came into his +heart--a feeling mingled with despair. + +"Hang it all!" he murmured to himself. "I'm going to quit. I'll let him +go the pace as he wants to. I'm done with him!" + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +ANDY'S RESOLVE + + +"Come on back!" + +"Don't be a quitter!" + +"It's early yet!" + +"The fun hasn't started!" + +These cries greeted Andy as he rose to leave Burke's place. His eyes +smarted from the smoke of many pipes, and his ears rang with the echoes +of college songs. His heart ached too, as he saw Dunk in the midst of +the gay and festive throng surrounding Gaffington and his wealthy chums. + +"I've got to turn in--training, you know," explained Andy with a smile. +It was the one and almost only excuse that would be accepted. Two or +three more of the athletic set dropped out with him. + +"Goin', Andy?" asked Dunk, standing rather unsteadily at a table. + +"Yes. Coming?" asked Andy pausing, and hoping, with all his heart, that +Dunk would come. + +"Not on your life! There's too much fun here. Have a good time when +you're living, say I. You're an awful long time dead! Here you are, +waiter!" and Dunk beckoned to the man. + +Andy paused a moment--and only for a moment. Then he hardened his heart +and turned to go. + +"Leave the door open," Dunk called after him. "I'll be home in th' +mornin'." + +And then the crowd burst out into the refrain: + + "He won't be home until morning, + He won't be home until morning." + +Over and over again rang the miserable chant that has bolstered up so +many a man who, otherwise, would stop before it was too late. + +Andy breathed deep of the cool night air as he got outside. The streets +were quiet and deserted, save for those who had come out with him, and +who went their various ways. As Andy turned down a side street he could +still hear, coming faintly to him through the quiet night the strains +of: + + "We won't go home until morning." + +"Poor old Dunk!" mused Andy. "I hate to quit him, but I've got to. I'm +not going to be looking after him all the while. It's too much work. +Besides, he won't stay decent permanently." + +He was angry and hurt that all his roommate's good resolutions should +thus easily be cast to the winds. + +"I'm just going to quit!" exclaimed Andy fiercely. "I've done all I +could. Besides, it isn't my affair anyhow. I'll get another room--one by +myself. Oh, hang it all, anyhow!" + +Moody, angry, rather dissatisfied with himself, wholly dissatisfied with +Dunk, Andy stumbled on. As he turned out of Chapel into High Street he +saw before him two men who were talking earnestly. Andy could not help +hearing what they said. + +"Is the case hopeless?" one asked. + +"Oh, no, I wouldn't say that." + +"Yet he's promised time and again to reform, and every time he slips +back again." + +"Yes, I know. He isn't the only one at the mission who does that." + +Andy guessed they were church workers. + +"Don't you get tired?" asked the questioner. + +"Oh, yes, often. But then I get rested." + +"But this chap seems such a bad case." + +"They're all bad, more or less. I don't mind that." + +"And you're going to try again?" + +"I sure am. He's worth saving." + +Andy felt as though some one had dealt him a blow. "Worth saving!" Yes, +that was it. He saw a light. + +The two men passed on. Andy hesitated. + +"Worth saving!" + +It seemed as though some one had shouted the words at him. + +"Worth saving!" + +Andy's heart was beating tumultuously. His head and pulses throbbed. His +ears rang. + +He stood still on the sidewalk, near the gateway beside Chittenden Hall. +His room was a little way beyond. It would be easy to go there and go to +bed, and Andy was very tired. He had played a hard game of football that +day. It was so easy to go to his room, and leave Dunk to look after +himself. + +What was the use? And yet---- + +"He is worth saving!" + +Andy struggled with himself. Again he seemed to hear that voice +whispering: + +"Am I my brother's keeper?" + +Andy turned resolutely away from the college buildings. He set his face +again down High Street, and swung out into Chapel. + +"I'll go get him," he said, simply. "He's worth saving. Maybe I can't do +it--but--I'll try!" + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +LINK COMES TO COLLEGE + + +With hesitating steps Andy pushed open the door of Burke's place and +entered. At first he could make out little through the haze of tobacco +smoke, and his return was not noticed. Most of the college boys were in +the rear room, and the noise of their jollity floated out to Andy. + +"I wonder if Dunk is still there?" he murmured. + +He learned a moment later, for he heard some one call: + +"Stand up, Dunk! Your eye on us!" + +"He's in there--and I've got to save him!" Andy groaned. Then, with +clenched teeth and a firm step he went into the rear room, among that +crowd of roistering students. + +Andy's reappearance was the signal for a burst of good-natured jibing, +mingled with cries of approval. + +"Here he comes back!" + +"I knew he couldn't stay away!" + +"Who said he was a quitter?" + +From among the many glasses offered Andy selected a goblet of ginger +ale. He looked about the tables, and saw Dunk at one, regarding him with +a rather uncertain eye. + +"There he is!" cried Andy's roommate, waving his hand. "That's him. My +old college chum! I'm his protector! I always look after him. I say," +and he turned to the youth beside him, "I say, what is it I protect my +old college from anyhow? Hanged if I haven't forgotten. What is it I +save him from?" + +"From himself, I guess," was the answer. "You're all right, Dunk!" + +"Come on, Dunk," said Andy good naturedly. "I'm going to the room. +Coming?" + +Instantly there was a storm of protest. + +"Of course he's not coming!" + +"It's early yet!" + +"Don't you go, Dunk!" + +Mortimer Gaffington, fixing an insolent and supercilious stare on Andy, +said: + +"Don't mind him, Dunk. You're not tied to him, remember. The +little-brother-come-in-out-of-the-wet game doesn't go at Yale. Every man +stands on his own feet. Eh, Dunk?" + +"That's right." + +"You're not going to leave your loving friends and go home so early; are +you, Dunk?" + +"Course not. Can't leave my friends. But Andy's my friend, too; ain't +you, Andy?" + +"I hope so, Dunk," Andy replied, gravely. + +Somebody interrupted with a song, and there was much laughter. Mortimer +alone seemed to be the sinister influence at work, and he hovered near +Dunk as if to counteract the good intentions of Andy. + +"Here you are, waiter!" cried Dunk. "Everybody have something--ginger +ale, soda water, pop, anything they like. Cigars, too." He pulled out a +bill--a yellow-back--and Andy saw Mortimer take it from his shaking +fingers. + +"Don't be so foolish!" exclaimed the sophomore. "You don't want to spend +all that. Here, I'll hand out a fiver and keep this for you until +morning. You can settle with me later," and Gaffington slipped the big +bill into his own pocket, and produced one of his own--of smaller +denomination. + +"That's good," murmured Dunk. "You're my friend and protector--same as +I'm Andy's protector. We're all protectors. Come on, fellows, another +song!" + +Andy was beginning to wonder how he would get his chum home. It was +getting very late and to enter Wright Hall at an unseemly hour meant +trouble. + +"Come on, Dunk--let's light out," said Andy again, making his way to +his roommate's side. + +"No, you don't!" + +"That game won't go!" + +"Let Dunk alone, he can look out for himself." + +Laughing and expostulating, the others got between Andy and his friend. +It was all in good-natured fun, for most of the boys, beyond perhaps +smoking a little more than was good for them, were not at all reckless. +But the spirit of the night seemed to have laid hold of all. + +"Come on, Dunk," appealed Andy. + +"He's going to stay!" declared Mortimer, thrusting himself between Andy +and Dunk, and sticking out his chin in aggressive fashion. "I tell you +he's going to stay! We don't want any of your goody-goody methods here, +Blair!" + +Andy ignored the affront. + +"Are you coming, Dunk?" he repeated softly. + +Dunk raised his head and flashed a look at his roommate. Something in +Dunk's better nature must have awakened. And yet he was all good nature, +so it is difficult to speak of the "better" side. The trouble was that +he was too good-natured. Yet at that instant he must have had an +understanding of what Andy's plan was--to save him from himself. + +"You want me to come with you?" he asked slowly. + +"Yes, Dunk." + +"Then I'm coming." + +Mortimer put his arm around Dunk and whispered in his ear. + +"You don't want to go," he insisted. + +"Yes, he does," said Andy, firmly. + +For a moment he and the other youth faced each other. It was a struggle +of wills for the mastery of a character, and Andy won--at least the +first "round." + +"I'm going with my friend," said Dunk firmly, and despite further +protests he went out with his arm over Andy's shoulder. There were cries +and appeals to remain, but Dunk heeded them not. + +"I'm going to quit," he announced. "Had enough fun for to-night." + +Out in the clear, cool air Andy breathed free again. + +"Shall I get a cab?" he asked. "There must be one somewhere around." + +"Certainly not," answered Dunk. "I--I can walk, I guess." + +They reached Wright Hall, neither speaking much on the way. Andy was +glad--and sorry. Sorry that Dunk had allowed his resolution to be +broken, but glad that he had been able to stop his friend in time. + +"Thanks, old man," said Dunk, briefly, as they reached their room. +"You've done more than you know." + +"That's all right," replied Andy, in a low voice. + +Dunk went to chapel with Andy the next morning, but he was rather silent +during the day, and he flunked miserably in several recitations on the +days following. Truth to tell he was in no condition to put his mind +seriously on lessons, but he tried hard. + +Andy, coming in from football practice one afternoon, found Dunk +standing in the middle of the apartment staring curiously at a +yellow-backed ten-dollar bill he was holding in both of his hands. + +"What's the matter?" asked Andy. "A windfall?" + +"No, Gaffington just sent it in to me. Said it was one he took the other +night when I flashed it at Burke's." + +"Oh, yes, I remember," spoke Andy. "You were getting too generous." + +"I know that part of it--Gaffington meant all right. But I don't +understand this." + +"What?" asked Andy. + +"Why, this is a ten-spot, and I'm sure I had a twenty that night. +However, I may be mistaken--I guess I couldn't see straight. But I was +sure it was a twenty. Don't say anything about it, though--probably I +was wrong. It was decent of Gaffington not to let me lose it all." + +And Dunk thrust the ten dollar bill into his pocket. + +It was several days after this when Andy, crossing the quadrangle, saw a +familiar figure raking up the leaves on the campus. + +"What in the world is he doing here--if that's him?" he asked himself. +"And yet it does look like him." + +He came closer. The young fellow raking up the leaves turned, and Andy +exclaimed: + +"Link Bardon! What in the world are you doing here?" + +"Oh, I've come to college!" replied the young farm hand, smiling. "How +do you do, Mr. Blair?" + +"Come to college, eh?" laughed Andy. "What course are you taking?" + +"I expect to get the degree B. W.--bachelor of work," was the rejoinder. +"I'm sort of assistant janitor here now." + +"Is that so! How did it happen?" + +"Well, you know the last time I saw you I was on my way to see if I +could locate an uncle of mine, just outside of New Haven. I didn't, for +he'd moved away. Then I got some odd bits of work to do, and finally, +coming to town with a young fellow, who, like myself was out of work, I +heard of this place, applied for it and got it. I like it." + +"Well, I'm glad you are here," said Andy. "If I can help you in any way +let me know." + +"I will, Mr. Blair. You did help a lot before," and he went on raking +leaves, while Andy, musing on the strange turns of luck and chance, +hurried on to his lecture. + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +QUEER DISAPPEARANCES + + +"Come in!" cried Andy as a knock sounded. + +"I'm not going out, I don't care who it is!" exclaimed Dunk, fidgeting +in his chair. "I've just _got_ to get this confounded Greek." + +"Same here," said Andy. + +The door was pushed open and a shock of dark, curly hair was thrust in. + +"Like to look at some swell neckties!" a voice asked. + +"Oh, come in, you blooming old haberdasher!" cried Andy with a laugh, +and Ikey Stein, with a bundle under his arm, slid in. + +"Fine business!" he exclaimed. "Give me a chance to make a little money, +gentlemen; I need it!" + +"No more of that Japanese 'vawse' business!" warned Dunk. "I won't stand +for it." + +"No, these are genuine bargains," declared the student who was working +his way through college. "I'll show you. I got 'em from a friend of +mine, who's selling out. I can make a little something on them, and +you'll get swell scarfs at less than you'd pay for them in a store." + +"Let's see," suggested Andy, rather glad of the diversion and of the +chance to stop studying, for he had been "boning" hard. "But I don't +want any satsuma pattern, nor yet a cloisonne," he added. + +"Say, forget that," begged Ikey. "That Jap took me in, as well as he did +you fellows." + +"Well, if anybody can take _you_ in, Ikey, he's a good one!" laughed +Dunk. + +"Oh, don't mind me!" exclaimed the merchant-student. "You can't hurt my +feelings. I'm used to it. And I'm not ashamed of my nature, either. My +ancestors were all merchants, and they had to drive hard bargains to +live. I don't exactly do that, you understand, but I guess it's in my +blood. I'm not ashamed that I'm a Jew!" + +"And we're not ashamed of you, either!" cried Andy, heartily. + +"Same here," added Dunk. "Trot out your ties, Ikey." + +In spite of the fact that he sometimes insisted on the students buying +things they did not really need, Ikey was a general favorite in the +college. + +"There's a fine one!" he exclaimed, holding up a hideous red and green +scarf. "Only a dollar--worth two." + +"Wouldn't have it if you paid me for it!" cried Andy. "Show me something +that a fellow could wear without hearing it yell a block away." + +"Oh, you want something chaste and quiet," suggested Ikey. "I have the +very thing. There!" holding it up. "That is a mere whisper!" + +"It's a pretty loud whisper," commented Dunk, "but at that it isn't so +bad. I'll take it, if you don't want it, Andy." + +"You're welcome to it. I want something in a golden brown." + +"Here you are!" exclaimed Ikey, sorting over his stock. + +He succeeded in selling Andy and Dunk two scarfs each, and tried to get +them to take more, but they were firm. Then the merchant-student +departed to other rooms. + +"It's a queer way to get along," commented Andy, when he had finished +admiring his purchases. + +"Yes, but I give him credit for it," went on Dunk. "He meets with a lot +of discouragement, and some of the fellows are positively rude to him, +but he's always the same--good-natured and willing to put up with it. +He's working hard for his education." + +"Harder than you and I," commented Andy. "I wonder if we'd do it?" + +"I'd hate to have it thrust on me. But I do give Stein credit." + +"Yes, only for that Japanese vase business." + +"Oh, well, I believe that oily Jap did put one over on him." + +"Possibly. Oh, rats! Here come some of the fellows!" + +The sound of footsteps was heard in the corridor. Andy glanced at Dunk. +If it should prove to be Mortimer Gaffington, who, of late had tried in +vain to get Dunk to go out with him, what was to be done? Andy caught +his breath sharply. + +But it proved to be a needless alarm, for Bob Hunter, Ted Wilson and +Thad Warburton came in with noisy greetings. + +"Look at the digs!" + +"Boning away on a night like this!" + +"'Come into the garden, Maud!' Chuck that, you fellows, and let's go +downtown. What's the matter with a picture show?" + +It was Thad who asked this, but Bob, with a wry face, put his hand in +his pocket and drew out seven cents. + +"It doesn't look much like a picture show for me to-night," he said. + +"Oh, I'll stake you!" exclaimed Ted. "Come on." + +"Shall we?" asked Dunk doubtfully of Andy. + +"Might as well, I guess," was the answer. Andy was glad it had not been +Gaffington, and he realized that it might be better to take this chance +now of getting Dunk out, before the rich youth and his fast companions +came along, as they might later in the evening. He knew that with Bob, +Ted and Thad, there would be no long session at Burke's. + +"I haven't done my Greek," objected Dunk, hesitatingly. + +"Oh, well, I'll set the alarm clock, and we'll get up an hour earlier in +the morning and floor it," suggested Andy. + +"Burning the candle at both ends!" protested Dunk, with a sigh. "Ain't I +terrible? But lead me to it!" + +As they went out of Wright Hall, Andy looked across the campus and saw +Gaffington, and some of his boon companions, approaching. + +"Just in time," he murmured. When Gaffington saw Dunk in charge of his +friends he and the others turned aside. + +"That's when I got ahead of him!" exulted our hero. + +They spent a pleasant evening, and Andy and Dunk were back in their room +at a reasonable hour. + +"I declare!" exclaimed Dunk, "I feel pretty fresh yet. I think I'll have +another go at that Greek. We won't have to get up with the chickens +then." + +"I'm with you," agreed Andy, and they did more studying than they had +done in some time. + +"Well, I'm through," yawned Dunk, flinging his book on the table. "Now +I'm going to hit the hay." + +The next day Dunk was complimented on his recitation. + +"Oh, I tell you it pays to bone a bit!" Andy cried, clapping Dunk on the +back as they came out. + +"That's right," agreed the other. + +In the days that followed Andy watched Dunk closely. And, to our hero's +delight, Gaffington seemed to be losing his influence. Several times +Dunk refused to go out with him--refused good-naturedly enough, but +steadfastly. + +Andy tried to get Dunk interested in football, and did to a certain +extent. Dunk went out to the practice, and Andy tried to get him to go +into training. + +"No, it's too late," was the answer. "Next year, maybe. But I like to +see you fellows rub your noses in the dirt. Go to it, Andy!" + +Link Bardon seemed to find his employment at Yale congenial. Andy met +him several times and had some little talk with him. The young farmer +said he hoped to get permanent employment at the college, his present +position being only for a limited time. + +Andy had received letters from some of his former chums at Milton. Among +them were missives from Ben Snow and Chet Anderson. Chet wrote from +Harvard, where he had gone, that he would see Andy at the Yale-Harvard +game, while from Ben, who had gone to Princeton, came a similar message, +making an appointment for a good old-fashioned talk at the annual clash +of the Bulldog and Tiger. + +"I'll be glad to see them again," said Andy. + +It was about two weeks after the arrival of Link Bardon at Yale that +some little disturbance was occasioned throughout the college, when an +announcement was made at chapel one morning. It was from the Dean, and +stated that a number of articles had been reported as missing from the +rooms of various students. + +"You are requested to keep your doors locked when you are out of your +rooms," the announcement concluded. + +There was a buzz of excitement as the students filed out. + +"What does it mean?" + +"Who lost anything?" + +"I have," said one. "My new sapphire cuff buttons were swiped." + +"I lost a ring," added another. + +"And a diamond scarf pin I left on my dresser walked off--or someone +walked off with it," spoke a third. + +There were several other mysterious losses mentioned. + +"How did it happen?" asked Andy of a fellow student who had said a few +dollars had been taken from his dresser. + +"Hanged if I know," was the answer. "I left the money in my room, and +when I came back it was gone." + +"Was the room locked?" + +"It sure was." + +"Did any of the monitors or janitors see anyone go in?" + +"Not that I know of; but of course it could happen. There are a lot of +new men working around here, anyhow." + +Andy thought of Link, and hoped that the farmer lad would not be +suspected on account of being a stranger. + +But as the days went on the number of mysterious thefts grew. Every +dormitory in the quadrangle had been visited, but the buildings outside +the hollow square seemed immune. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +A GRIDIRON BATTLE + + +Harvard was about to meet Yale in the annual football game between the +freshman teams. The streets were filled with pretty girls, and more +pretty girls, with "sporty" chaps in mackinaws, in raglans--with all +sorts of hats atop of their heads, and some without hats at all. + +There had been the last secret final practice on Yale Field the day +before. That night the Harvard team and its followers had arrived, +putting up at Hotel Taft. + +Andy, in common with other candidates for the team, was sitting quietly +in his room, for Holwell, the coach, had forbidden any liveliness the +night before the game. And Andy had a chance to play. + +True, it was but a bare chance, but it was worth saving. He had played +brilliantly on the scrub team for some time, and had been named as a +possible substitute. If several backs ahead of him were knocked out, or +slumped at the last moment, Andy would go in. And, without in the least +wishing misfortune to a fellow student, how Andy did wish he could play! + +There came a knock at the door--a timid, hesitating sort of knock. + +"Oh, hang it! If that's Ikey, trying to sell me a blue sweater, I'll +throw him down stairs!" growled Andy. He was nervous. + +"Come in!" called Dunk, laughing. + +"Is Andy Blair----Oh, hello, there you are, old man!" cried a voice and +Chet Anderson thrust his head into the room. + +"Well, you old rosebud!" yelled Andy, leaping out of the easy chair with +such energy that the bit of furniture slid almost into the big +fireplace. "Where'd you blow in from?" + +"I came with the Harvard bunch. I told you I'd see you here." + +"I know, but I didn't expect to see you until the game. You're not going +to play?" + +"No--worse luck! Wish I was. Hear you may be picked." + +"There's a chance, that's all." + +"Oh, well, we'll lick you anyhow!" + +"Yes, you will, you old tomcat!" and the two clasped hands warmly, and +looked deep into each other's eyes. + +"Oh!" exclaimed Andy. "I forgot. Chet, this is my chum, Duncan +Chamber--Dunk for short. Dunk--Chet Anderson. I went to Milton with +him." + +The two shook hands, and Chet sat down, he and Andy at once exchanging a +fund of talk, with Dunk now and then getting in a word. + +"Did you come on with the team?" asked Andy. + +"Yes, and it's some little team, too, let me tell you!" + +"Glad to hear it!" laughed Andy. "Yale doesn't like to punch a bag of +mush!" + +"Oh, you won't find any mush in Harvard. Say, have you heard from Ben?" + +"Yes, saw him at the Princeton game." + +"How was he?" + +"Fine and dandy." + +"That's good. Then he likes it down there?" + +"Yes. He's going in for baseball. Hopes to pitch on the freshman team, +but I don't know." + +"You didn't play against the Tiger?" + +"No, there wasn't any need of me. Yale had it all her own way." + +"She won't to-morrow." + +"Wait and see." + +Thus they talked until Chet, knowing that Andy must want to get rest, in +preparation for the gridiron battle, took his leave, promising to see +his friend again. + +The stands were a mass of color--blue like the sky on one side of Yale +Field, and red like a sunset on the other. The cheering cohorts, under +the leadership of the various cheer leaders, boomed out their voices of +defiance. + +Out trotted the Yale team and substitutes, of whom Andy was one. +Instantly the blue of the sky seemed to multiply itself as a roar shook +the sloping seats--the seats that ran down to the edge of green field, +marked off in lines of white. + +"Come on now, lively!" yelled the coaches, hardly making their voices +heard above the frantic cheers. + +The players lined up and went through some rapid passes and kicking. +Andy and the other substitutes took their places on the bench, enveloped +in blankets and their blue sweaters. + +Then a roar and a smudge of crimson, that flashed out from the other +side of the field, told of the approach of the Harvard team. + +"Harvard! Harvard! Harvard!" + +It was an acclaim of welcome. + +Andy watched Yale's opponents go through their snappy practice. + +"They're big and beefy," he murmured, "but we can do 'em. We've got to! +Yale has got to win!" + +The captains consulted, the coin was flipped, and Harvard was to kick +off. The teams gathered in a knot at either end of the field for a last +consultation. Then the new ball was put in the center of the field. + +Andy found difficulty in getting his breath, and he noticed that the +other players beside him had the same trouble. + +The whistle shrilled out, and the Harvard back, running, sent the yellow +pigskin sailing well down the field. A wild yell greeted his +performance. One of the Yale players caught it and his interference +formed before him. But he had not run it back ten yards before he was +tackled. Now would come the first line-up, and it would be seen how Yale +could buck the crimson. + +"Signal!" Andy could hear their quarterback yell, and then the rest was +swallowed up in a hum of excitement in the songs and cheers with which +the students sought to urge on the defenders of the blue. + +There was a vicious plunge into the line, but the gain was small. + +"They's holding us!" murmured Blake, at Andy's side. + +"Oh, it's early yet," answered Andy. He wondered why his hands pained +him, and, looking at them found that he had been clenching them until +the nails had made deep impressions in his palms. + +Again came a plunging, smashing attack at Harvard's line, and a groan +from the Yale substitutes followed. The Yale back had been thrown for a +loss. + +"We've got to kick now," murmured Andy, and the signal came. + +Then it was the Yale ends showed their fleetness and they nailed the +Harvard man before he had gained much. An exchange of punts followed, +both teams having good kickers that year. + +Then came more line smashing, in which Yale gained a little. It was a +fiercely fought game, so fierce that before five minutes of play Harvard +had to take one man out, and Yale lost two, from injuries that could not +be patched up on the field. + +"I've got a chance! I've got a chance!" exulted Andy. + +But it was not rejoicing at the other fellows' misfortunes. Unless you +have played football you can not understand Andy's real feelings. + +The first quarter ended with neither side making a score, and there was +a consultation on both teams during the little breathing spell. + +"We've got to do more line plunging," thought Andy, and he was right, +for Yale began that sort of a game when the whistle blew again. The +wisdom of it was apparent, for at once the ball began to go down toward +Harvard's goal, once Yale got possession of the pigskin after an +exchange of kicks. + +"That's the way! That's the way!" yelled Andy. "Touchdown! Touchdown!" + +This was being yelled all over the Yale stands. But it was not to be. +After some magnificent playing, and bucking that tore the Harvard line +apart again and again, time for the half was called, Yale having the +ball on Harvard's eight-yard line. Another play might have taken it +over. + +But both teams had been forced to call on more substitutes, and Harvard +lost her best punter. Yale suffered, too, in the withdrawal of Michaels, +a star end. + +The third quarter had not been long under way when, following a +scrimmage, a knot of Yale players gathered about a prostrate figure. + +"Who is it? Who is it?" was asked on all sides. + +"Brooks--right half!" was the despondent answer. "This cooks our goose!" + +"Blair--Blair!" cried the coach. "Get in there! Rip 'em up!" + +A mist swam before Andy's eyes. Some one fairly pulled him from the +bench, and his sweater was ripped off him, one sleeve tearing out. But +what did it matter--he had a chance to play! + +"We've got to buck their line!" the freshman captain whispered in his +ear. "They're weak there, and we dare not kick too much. Our ends can't +get down fast enough. I'm going to send you through for all you're +worth." + +"All right!" gasped Andy. His mouth was dry--his throat parched. + +"Steady there! Steady!" warned the coach. + +"Ready, Yale?" asked the referee. + +"Yes!" + +Again the whistle blew. Yale had the ball, and on the first play Andy +was sent bucking the line with it. He hit it hard, and felt himself +being pushed and pulled through. Some one seemed in his way, and then a +body gave suddenly and limply, and he lurched forward. + +"First down!" he heard some one yell. He had gained the required +distance. Yale would not have to kick. + +Panting, trembling, with a wild, eager rage to again get into the fight, +Andy waited for the signal. A forward pass was to be tried. He was glad +he was not to buck the line again. + +The pass was not completed, and the ball was brought back. Again came a +play--a double pass that netted a little. Yale was slowly gaining. + +But now Harvard took a brace and held for downs so that Yale had to +kick. Then the Crimson took her turn at rushing the ball down the field +by a series of desperate plunges. Yale's goal was in danger when the +saving whistle for the third quarter shrilled out. + +"Fellows, we've got to get 'em now or never!" cried the Yale captain, +fiercely. "Break your necks--but get a touchdown!" + +Once more the line-up. Andy's ears were ringing. He could scarcely hear +the signals for the cheering from the stands. He was called upon to +smash through the line, and did manage to make a small gain. But it was +not enough. It was the second down. The other back was called on, and +went through after good interference, making the necessary gain. + +"We've got 'em on the run!" exulted Yale. + +The blue team was within striking distance of the Harvard goal. The +signal came for a kick in an attempt to send the ball over the crossbar. + +How it happened no one could say. It was one of the fumbles that so +often occur in a football game--fumbles that spell victory for one team +and defeat for another. The Yale full-back reached out his hands for the +pigskin, caught it and--dropped it. There was a rush of men toward him, +and some one's foot kicked the ball. It rolled toward Andy. In a flash +he had it tucked under his arm, and started in a wild dash for the +Harvard goal line. + +"Get him! Get that man!" + +"Smear him!" + +"Interference! Interference! Get after him!" + +"It's Blair! Andy Blair!" + +"Yale's ball!" + +"Go on, you beggar! Run! Run!" + +"Touchdown! Touchdown!" + +There was a wild riot of yells. With his ears ringing as with the jangle +of a thousand bells, with his lungs nearly bursting, and his eyes +scarcely seeing, Andy ran on. + +He had ten yards to go--thirty feet--and between him and the goal was +the Harvard full-back--a big youth. Andy heard stamping feet behind him. +They were those of friends and foes, but no friends could help him now. + +Straight at the Harvard back he ran--panting, desperate. The Crimson +player crouched, waiting for him. Andy dodged. He was midway between the +side lines. He circled. The Harvard back turned and raced after him, +intent on driving him out of bounds. That was what Andy did not want, +but he did want to wind his opponent. Again Andy circled and dodged. The +other followed his every move. + +Then Andy came straight at him again, with outstretched hand to ward him +off. There was a clash of bodies, and Andy felt himself encircled in a +fatal embrace. He hurled himself forward, for he could see the goal line +beneath his feet. Over he went, bearing the Harvard player backward, +and, when they fell with a crash, Andy reached out, his arms over his +head, and planted the ball beyond the goal line. He had made the winning +touchdown! + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +ANDY SAYS "NO!" + + +Men were thumping each other on the back. Some had smashed their hats +over other persons' heads. Others had broken their canes from much +exuberant pounding on the floors of the stands. + +Everyone was yelling. On one side there was a forest of blue flags +waving up and down, sideways, around in circles. Pretty girls were +clinging to their escorts and laughing hysterically. The escorts +themselves scarcely noticed the said pretty girls, for they were gazing +down on the field--the field about which were scattered eleven players +in blue, and eleven in dull red, all motionless now, amazed or joyful, +according to their color, over the feat of Andy Blair. + +On the Harvard stands there was glumness. The red banners slumped in +nerveless hands. It had come as a shock. They had been so sure that Yale +could not score--what matter if the Crimson could not herself--if she +could keep the mighty Bulldog from biting a hole in her goal line? + +But it was not to be. Yale had won. There was no time to play more. Yale +had won--somewhat by a fluke, it is true, but she had won nevertheless. +Flukes count in football--fumbles sometimes make the game--for the other +fellow. + +"Oh, you Andy Blair!" + +"It's a touchdown!" + +"Yale wins!" + +"Yale! Yale! Yale!" + +Some one started the "Boola" song, and it was roared out mightily. Then +came the locomotive cheer. + +Slowly Andy got up from behind the Harvard goal line. The other player +who had tackled him, but too late, himself arose. His face was white and +drawn, not from any physical pain, though the fall of himself and Andy +had not been gentle. It was from the sting of defeat. + +"Well--well," he faltered, gulping hard. "You got by me, old man!" + +"I--I had to," gasped Andy, for neither had his breath yet. + +The other players came crowding up. + +"It'll be the dickens of a job to kick a goal from there with that +wind," spoke the Yale captain. "But we'll try it." + +The whistle ending the game had blown, but time was allowed for a try at +kicking the ball over the crossbar. A hush fell over the assemblage +while the ball was taken out and the player stretched out to hold it for +the kicker. The referee stood with upraised hand, to indicate when the +ball started to rise--the signal that the Harvard players might rush +from behind their goal in an attempt, seldom successful, to block the +kick. + +The hand fell. There was a dull boom. The ball rose and sailed toward +the posts as the Harvard team rushed out. And then fate again favored +Yale, for a little puff of wind carried the spheroid just inside the +posts and over the bar. The goal had been kicked, adding to Yale's +points. She had won. + +Once more the cheers broke forth, and Andy's team-mates surrounded him. +They slapped him on the back; they called him all sorts of +harsh-sounding but endearing names; they jostled him to and fro. + +"Come on, now!" cried the Yale captain. "A cheer for Harvard! No better +players in the world! Altogether, boys!" + +It was a ringing tribute. + +And then the vanquished, tasting the bitterness of defeat, sent forth +their acclaim of the lads who had bested them. + +Andy found himself in the midst of a mad throng, of which his own mates +formed but a small part, for the field was now overflowing with the +spectators who had rushed down from the stands. + +Some one pushed a way through and grabbed Andy by the hand. + +"You did it, old man! You did it!" a frantic voice exclaimed. "I give +you credit for it, Andy!" + +Andy found himself confronting Chet. + +"I told you we'd win," answered Andy, with a laugh. + +"Yes, but you never said you were going to do it yourself," spoke Chet, +ruefully. + +"Come on, fellows, up with him!" called the quarterback, and before Andy +could stop them they had lifted him to their shoulders, while behind the +students had formed themselves into a queue to do the serpentine dance. + +Cheer after cheer was given, and then the team passed into the dressing +rooms, and into comparative quiet. Comparative quiet only, for the +players were babbling among themselves, living the game over again. + +"And to think that a substitute did it, after we've thought ourselves +the whole show all season," groaned one of the regulars. + +"Oh, well, it was just an accident," said Andy, modestly. + +"A mighty lucky accident for Yale, my friend!" exclaimed Holwell. "May +there be more of such accidents!" + +Back in the gymnasium, later, after a refreshing shower, Andy managed to +get away from the admiring crowd, and finding Chet took him to his room. +Dunk was there before them. + +"This is a great and noble occasion!" he cried, as Andy came in. "I'm +proud of you, my boy! Proud! Put her there!" + +Andy sent his hand into that of his roommate with a resounding whack. + +"We've got to celebrate!" cried Dunk. "The freshman football season is +over. You break training. You've got to celebrate!" + +"I don't mind--in a mild sort of way," laughed Andy. + +"Oh, strictly proper--strictly proper!" agreed Dunk. + +"I think I'd better be getting back," remarked Chet. + +"No, stay and see the fun," insisted Dunk, and Chet agreed to do so. + +There came a rush of feet along the corridor, and some one whistled "See +the conquering hero comes!" + +"There are some of the fellows now!" cried Dunk. "Oh! this is great. We +must make this a noteworthy occasion. We must celebrate properly!" he +was getting quite excited, and Andy began to worry somewhat, for he did +not want his roommate to celebrate in the wrong way, and there was some +danger lest he might. + +"Where is he?" + +"Lead me to him!" + +"Oh, you Andy Blair!" + +Bob, Ted and Thad came bursting into the room, which would not hold many +more. + +"Shake!" was the general command, and Andy's arm ached from the +pump-handle process. + +"What are you going to do?" asked Ted. + +"We're going to eat!" cried Dunk. "This is on me--a little supper by +ourselves at Burke's." + +"Count us in on that!" cried some one out in the corridor, and Mortimer +Gaffington and some of his cronies shoved their way into the room. "We +want to have a share in the blow-out! Congratulations, old man!" and he +pumped Andy's arm. + +"Oh, what a night we'll have!" cried Clarence Boyle. + +"The wildest and stormiest ever!" added Len Scott. "Yale's night!" + +"Got to go easy, though!" cautioned Dunk. + +"Oh, fudge on you and being easy!" laughed Mortimer. "This thing has to +be done good and proper. Come on, let's go out. We'll smear this old +town with a mixture of red and blue." + +"That makes purple," laughed Dunk. + +"No matter!" cried Mortimer. "Come on." + +Andy could not very well refuse and a little later he found himself with +some of the other football players, at a table in Burke's place. + +The air was blue with smoke--veritable Yale air. There was laughter, +talk, and the clatter of glasses on every side. The evening wore on, +with the singing of songs, the telling of stories and the playing of the +game all over again. It was such a night as occurs but seldom. + +Andy noticed that Dunk was slipping back into his old habits. And, as +the celebration went on this became more and more noticeable. + +Finally, after a rollicking song, Dunk arose from his place near Andy +and cried: + +"Fellows--your eyes on me. I'm going to propose a toast to the best one +among us." + +"Name your man!" + +Dunk was thus challenged. + +"I'll name him in a minute," he went on, raising his glass on high. +"He's the best friend I've got. I give you--Andy Blair!" + +"Andy Blair!" was roared out. + +"Stand up, Andy!" + +He arose, a glass of ginger ale in his hand. + +"We're goin' drink your health!" said Dunk. + +"Thank you!" said Andy. + +"Then fill up your glass!" + +"It is filled, Dunk. Can't you see?" + +"That's no stuff to drink a health in. Here, waiter, some real ale for +Mr. Blair." + +"No--no," said Andy quickly. "I don't drink anything stronger than soft +stuff--you know it, Dunk." + +For a moment there was a silence in the room. Andy felt himself growing +pale. + +"You--you won't drink with me?" asked Dunk slowly. + +"I'd like to--but I can't--I don't touch it." + +"He's a quitter!" cried Mortimer, angrily, from the other side of the +table. "A rank quitter! He won't drink his own toast!" + +"Won't you drink with me, Andy?" asked Dunk, in sorrowful tones. + +"In soft stuff--yes." + +"No, in the real stuff!" + +"I can't!" + +"Then, by Caesar, you are a quitter, and here's where you and I part +company!" + +Dunk crashed his glass down on the table in front of Andy, and staggered +away from his side. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + +RECONCILIATION + + +Seldom had anything like that occurred before, and, for the moment every +student in the room remained motionless, breathing hard and wondering +what would come next. Andy, who had been pale, now was flushed. It was +an insult; but how could he resent it? + +There seemed no way. If Dunk wanted to break off their friendship that +was his affair, but he might have done it more quietly. Probably all in +the room, save perhaps Mortimer Gaffington, realized this. As for that +youth, he smiled insultingly at Andy and murmured to Dunk, who was now +passing to another table: + +"That's the way to act. Be a sport!" + +It was clear that if Andy dropped Dunk, Mortimer stood ready to take him +up. + +"Don't mind him, old chap. Dunk isn't just himself to-night," murmured +Thad in Andy's ear. "He'll see differently in the morning." + +"He'll have to see a good bit differently to see me," spoke Andy +stiffly. "I can't pass that up." + +"Try," urged Thad. "You don't know what it may mean to Dunk." + +Andy did not reply. Some one started a song and under cover of it Andy +slipped out, Chet following. + +"Too bad, old man," consoled Andy's Harvard friend. "Is he often as bad +as that?" + +"Not of late. It's getting in with that Gaffington crowd that starts him +off. I guess he and I are done now." + +"I suppose so. But it's too bad." + +"Yes." + +Andy walked on in silence for a time, and then said: + +"Come on up to the room and have a chat. I won't see you for some time +now. Not till Christmas vacation." + +"That's right. But I've got to get back to Cambridge. I'll go down and +get a train, I guess. Come on to the station with me. The walk will do +you good." + +The two chums strolled through the lighted streets, which were much more +lively than usual on account of the celebration of the football victory. +But Andy and Chet paid little heed to the bustle and confusion about +them. + +When Andy got back to his room, after bidding Chet good-bye, Dunk had +not come in. Andy lay awake some time waiting for him, wondering what +he would say when he did come in. But finally he dozed off, and awaking +in the morning, from fitful slumbers, he saw the other bed empty. Dunk +had not come home. + +"Well, if he's going to quit me I guess it can't be helped," remarked +Andy. "And I guess I'd better give up this room, and let him get some +one else in. It wouldn't be pleasant for me to stay here if he pulled +out. I'd remember too much. Yes, I'll look for another room." + +He went to chapel, feeling very little in the mood for it, but somehow +the peaceful calm of the Sunday service eased his troubled mind. He +looked about for Dunk, but did not see him. Perhaps it was just as well. + +After chapel Andy went back to his room, and debated with himself what +was best to be done. He was in the midst of this self-communion when +there was a knock on the door, and to Andy's call of "Shove in!" there +followed the shock of curly hair that belonged to nobody but Ikey Stein. + +"Oh, dear!" groaned Andy in spirit. "That bargainer, at this, of all +times." + +"Hello, Andy," greeted Ikey. "Are you busy?" + +"Too busy to buy neckties." + +"Forget it! Do you think I'd come to you now on such a business!" + +There was a new side to the character of Ikey--a side Andy had never +before seen. There was a quiet air of authority about him, a gentle air +that contrasted strangely with his usual carefree and easy manners that +he assumed when he wanted to sell his goods. + +"Sit down," invited Andy, shoving a pile of books and papers off a +chair. + +"Thanks. Nice day, isn't it?" + +"Yes," answered Andy slowly, wondering what was the object of the call. + +"Nice day for a walk." + +"Yes." + +"Ever go for a walk?" + +"Sure. Lots of times." + +"Going to-day?" + +"I don't know. Are you?" + +"Oh, I didn't mean with me. I've got a date, anyhow. Say, look here, +Blair, if you don't mind me getting personal. If you were to take a walk +out toward East Rock Park you might meet a friend of yours." + +"A friend?" + +"Yes." + +"You mean----" + +"Now look here!" exclaimed Ikey, and his manner was serious. "You may +order me out of your room, and all that, but I'm going to speak what's +in my mind. I want you to make up with Dunk!" + +"Make up with him--after what he did to me!" + +"That's all right--I know. But I'm sure he'll meet you more than +half-way." + +"Well, he'll have to." + +"Now, don't take that view of it," urged the kindly Jew. "Say, let me +tell you something, will you?" + +"Fire away," and Andy walked over and stood looking out of the window +across the campus. + +"It's only a little story," went on Ikey, "and not much of a one at +that. When I was in prep school I had a friend--a very dear friend. + +"He was what you call a sport, too, in a way, and how he ever took up +with me I never could understand. I hadn't any money--I had to work like +the dickens to get along. All my people are dead, and I was then, as I +am now, practically alone in the world. But this fellow, who came of a +good family, took me up, and we formed a real friendship. + +"I think I did him good in a way, and I know he did me, for I used to +have bitter feelings against the rich and he did a lot to show me that I +was wrong. This friend went in a fast set and one day I spoke to him +about it. I said he was throwing away his talents. + +"Well, he was touchy--he'd been out late the night before--and he +resented what I said. We had a quarrel--our first one--and he went out +saying he never wanted to see me again. I had a chance to make up with +him later, but I was too proud. So was he, I guess. Anyhow, when I put +my pride in my pocket and went after him, a little later, it was too +late." + +"Too late--how?" asked Andy, for Ikey had come to a stop and there was a +break in his voice. + +"He went out in an auto with his fast crowd; there was an upset, and my +friend was killed." + +Andy turned sharply. There were tears in the other's eyes, and his face +was twitching. + +"I--I always felt," said Ikey, softly, "that perhaps if I hadn't been so +proud and hard that--maybe--maybe he'd be alive to-day." + +There was silence in the room, broken only by the monotonous ticking of +the clock. + +"Thanks," said Andy, softly, after a pause. "I--I guess I understand +what you mean, Stein." He held out his hand, which was warmly clasped. + +"Then you will go for a walk--maybe?" asked Ikey, eagerly. + +"I--I think I will," spoke Andy, softly. "I don't understand it; but +I'll go." + +"You--you'll find him there," went on Ikey. "I sent him out to--meet +you!" + +And before Andy could say anything more the peacemaker had left the +apartment. + +For several minutes Andy stood still. He looked about the room--a room +suggestive in many ways of the presence and character of Dunk. There was +even on the mantel a fragment of the Japanese vase he had broken that +time. + +"I'll go to him," spoke Andy, softly. + +He went out on the campus, not heeding many calls from friends to join +them. When they noted his manner they, wisely, did not press the matter. +Perhaps they guessed. Andy walked out Whitney Avenue to East Rock Road +and turned into the park. + +"I wonder where I'll find him?" he mused, as he gazed around. + +"Queer that Ikey should put up a game like this." + +Walking on a little way, Andy saw a solitary figure under a tree. He +knew who it was. The other saw him coming, but did not stir. + +Presently they were within speaking distance. Andy paused a moment and +then, holding out his hand, said softly: + +"Dunk!" + +The figure looked up, and a little smile crept over the moody face. + +"Andy!" cried Dunk, stepping forward. + +The next moment their hands had met in a clasp such as they never had +felt before. They looked into each other's eyes, and there was much +meaning in the glance. + +"Andy--Andy--can you--forgive me?" + +"Of course, Dunk; I understand." + +"All right, old man. That is the last time. Never again! Never again!" + +And Dunk meant it. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + +LINK'S VISIT + + +Busy days followed. After the football game, the quarrel of Dunk and +Andy, and their reconciliation, brought about so effectively by Ikey +Stein, little of moment happened except the varsity football games, +which Andy followed with devoted interest, hoping that by the next term +he would be chosen for a place on the team. + +The students settled down to hard work, with the closing of the outdoor +sporting season, and there were days of hard study. Yale is no place for +weak students, and Andy soon found that he must "toe the mark" in more +senses than one. He had to give his days and some of his nights to +"grinding." + +For some time Andy did not understand how Ikey had brought about the +meeting of Dunk and himself--at least, he did not know how the +peacemaker had induced Dunk to go to the park. But one day the latter +explained. + +Following the dramatic scene in Burke's, Dunk had gone out. Not wishing +to face Andy he had stayed at a hotel all night. In the morning, while +he was remorseful and nearly ill, Ikey, the faithful, had sought him +out, having in some way heard of the quarrel. Ikey was not given to +frequenting Burke's, but he had his own way of ferreting out news. + +To Dunk he had gone, then, and had told much the same story he had +related to Andy, giving it a different twist. And he had so worked on +Dunk's feelings, picturing how terribly Andy must feel, that finally +Dunk had consented to go to the park. + +"Well, I'm glad I did, old man!" said Dunk, clapping Andy on the back. + +"And so am I. I'm only wondering whether Ikey faked that 'sob story' or +not." + +"What of it? It certainly did the business, all right." + +"It sure did." + +Dunk and Andy were better friends than ever, and, to the relief of Andy, +Mortimer and his crowd ceased coming to the room in Wright Hall, and +taking Dunk off with them. + +Occasionally Andy's chum would go off with a rather "sporty" crowd, and +sometimes Andy went also. But Dunk held himself well in hand, for which +Andy was very glad. + +"It's all your doing, old man!" said Dunk, gratefully. + +"Nonsense!" exclaimed Andy, but his heart glowed nevertheless. + +The quiet and rather calm atmosphere of college life was rudely broken +when one night, following a mild celebration over the victory of the +basketball team, several robberies were discovered. + +A number of rooms in the college buildings had been entered, and various +articles of jewelry and some money had been taken. Freshmen were mainly +the ones who sustained the losses, though no class was exempt. + +"This is getting serious!" exclaimed Dunk, as he and Andy talked the +matter over. "We'd better get a new lock put on our door." + +"I'm willing, though I haven't got much that would tempt anyone." + +"I haven't either, only this," and he pulled out a handsome gold watch. +"I'm so blamed careless about it that most of the time I forget to carry +it." + +"Well, let's put on a lock, then. The one we have doesn't catch half the +time." + +"No, it's been busted too many times by the raiding sophs. I'll buy +another first time I'm down town." + +But the matter slipped Dunk's mind, and Andy did not again think of it. + +The thefts created no little excitement, and it was said that a private +detective agency had been engaged by the faculty. Of the truth of this +no one could vouch. + +Another warning was given by the Dean, and students were urged to see to +the fastening of their doors, not only for their own protection, but in +order not to put temptation in the way of servants. + +Andy came in from a late lecture one afternoon, to find open the door of +his room he had left locked, as he thought. At first he supposed Dunk +was within, but entering the apartment he saw Link Bardon there. The +helper arose as Andy came in and said, rather embarrassedly: + +"Mr. Blair, I'm in trouble." + +"Trouble!" exclaimed Andy. "What kind?" + +"Well, I need money. You see I've got a sick sister and the other day +she wrote to me, saying she'd have to have some money to buy an +expensive medicine. I sent it to her. She said her husband would get his +pay this week, and she'd send it back to me. Now she writes that he is +sick, and can't earn anything, so she can't pay me back. + +"I was counting on that money, for my wages aren't due for several days, +and I have to pay my board. I don't like to ask my landlady to wait, and +I thought maybe----" + +"Of course I'll let you have some!" exclaimed Andy quickly. "How much +do you need?" + +"Oh, about seven dollars." + +"Better have ten. You can pay me back when you like," said Andy as he +extended the bill. + +"I don't know how to thank you!" exclaimed Link, gratefully. + +"Then don't try," advised Andy, with a smile. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV + +THE MISSING WATCH + + +Andy was "boning" on his German, with which he had had considerable +difficulty. The dusk was settling down that early December day, and he +was thinking of lighting a lamp to continue work on his books, when he +heard a familiar step, and a whistle down the corridor. Then a voice +broke into a college refrain. + +"Dunk!" murmured Andy. "It sounds good to hear him, and to know that +there's not much more danger of our getting on the outs. He sure was +worth saving--that is, what little I did toward it. He did the most +himself, I fancy." + +"Hello, old top, hard at it?" greeted Dunk, as he entered. + +"Have to be," replied Andy. "You've no idea how tough this German is." + +"Oh, haven't I? Didn't I flunk in it the other day? And on something I +ought to have known as well as I do my first reader lesson? It's no +cinch--this being at Yale. Wonder if I've got time to slip down town +before we feed our faces?" and he began fumbling for his watch. + +"What's on?" asked Andy, rather idly. + +Then, as he saw Dunk giving his shoes a hasty rub, and delving among a +confused mass of ties in a drawer, Andy added: + +"The witness need not answer. It's a skirt." + +"A which?" asked Dunk in pretended ignorance. + +"A lady. I didn't know you knew any here, Dunk!" + +"Huh! Think you've got the preserves all to yourself, eh? Well, I'll +show you that you haven't." + +"Who is she?" asked Andy. + +"Friend of a friend of mine. I think I'll take a chance and go down just +for a little while. Save some grub for me. I won't be long. May make a +date for to-night. Want to fill in?" + +"If there's room." + +"Sure, we'll make room, and I'll get you a girl. Some of us are going to +the Hyperion. Nice little play there," and Dunk went on "dolling up," +until he was at least partly satisfied with himself. + +Dunk was about to leave when a messenger came to announce that he was +wanted on the 'phone in the public booth in Dwight Hall, where the Y. M. +C. A. of Yale has headquarters. + +"I guess that's her now," said Dunk, as he hurried out. "I told her to +call up," and he rushed down the corridor. + +Andy heard him call back: + +"I say, old man, look out for my watch, will you? I must have left it +somewhere around there." + +"The old fusser," murmured Andy, as he rose from the easy chair. "When +Dunk goes in for anything he forgets everything else. He'd leave his +head if it wasn't fastened on, or if I didn't remind him of it," and +Andy felt quite a righteous glow as he began to look about for the +valuable timepiece belonging to his roommate. + +"He must have it on him," went on Andy, as a hasty search about the room +did not reveal it. "Probably he's stuck it in his trousers' pocket with +his keys and loose change. He oughtn't to have a good watch the way he +uses it. Well, it isn't here--that's sure." + +Andy, a little later, turned on the electric light, but no glow followed +the snapping of the button. + +"Current off again--or else it's burned out," he murmured. A look in the +hall outside showed him other lamps gleaming and he knew that his own +light must be at fault. + +"Guess I'll go get another bulb," he remarked. + +When he returned with the new one he was aware that some one was in the +darkened room. + +"That you, Dunk?" he asked. + +"No," answered a voice he recognized as that of Ikey Stein. "I saw you +going down the hall and guessed what you were after, so I took the +liberty of coming in and waiting. I've got some real bargains." + +"Nothing doing, Ikey," laughed Andy, as he screwed the lamp in the +socket and lighted up the room. "Got all the ties I need for my whole +course in Yale." + +"It isn't ties," said Ikey, and his voice was so serious that Andy +wondered at it. "It's handkerchiefs," went on the student-salesman. +"Andy, I'm in bad. I bought a big stock of these things, and I've got to +sell 'em to get my money out of 'em. I thought I would have plenty of +time, but I owe a bill that's due now, and the man wants his money. So +I've got to sell these handkerchiefs quicker than I expected. I need the +cash, so I'll let 'em go for just what I paid for 'em. I don't care if I +don't make a cent." + +"Let's see 'em," suggested Andy. The talk sounded familiar. It was +"bargain" patter, but an inspection of the handkerchiefs showed Andy +that they were worth what was asked for them. And, as it happened, he +was in need of some. He bought two dozen, and suggested to Ikey several +other students in Wright Hall on whom he might call. + +"Thanks," said the salesman, as he departed after a lengthy visit in +Andy's room. "I won't forget what you've done for me, Blair. I'm having +a hard time, and some people try to make it all the harder. They think, +because I'm a Jew, that I have no feelings--that I like to be laughed +at, and made to think that all I care about is money. Wait! Some day +I'll show 'em!" and his black eyes flashed. + +Andy felt really sorry for him. Certainly Ikey did not work his way +through college on any easy path. + +"I'm only too glad to do this for you," said the purchaser. He could not +forget what a service Ikey had rendered to him and Dunk, bringing them +together when they were on the verge of taking paths that might never +converge. + +"Well, I'll see if I can't find some other easy mark like you," laughed +Ikey as he went down the hall. + +Andy was about to go to the "eating joint" alone when Dunk came in +whistling gaily. + +"Ah, ha! Methinks thou hast had a pleasant meeting!" Andy "spouted." + +"Right--Oh!" exclaimed his roommate. "It's all right for to-night, too. +I've got a peach for you." + +"Light or dark?" asked Andy, critically. + +"Dark! Say, but you're getting mighty particular, though, for a young +fellow." + +"The same to you. Where do we meet 'em, and where do we go?" + +"I've got it all fixed. Hyperion. Come on, let's get through grub, I +want to dress." + +He began searching hurriedly through his pockets, a puzzled look coming +over his face. + +"Where in the world----" he began. "Oh, I know, I left it here." + +"What?" + +"My watch. I called to you about it when I went out to the telephone, +and----" + +"It isn't here. I looked." + +"What!" + +"Fact! Unless you stuck it in something." + +"No, I left it right on my dresser, on a pile of clean +handkerchiefs--hello, where'd these come from?" and he looked at the +ones Andy had bought of Ikey. + +"Oh, another bargain from our mutual friend," and Andy mentioned the +price. + +"That is a bargain, all right. I must get some. But look here, where's +my watch?" + +"I'm sure I don't know. Did you leave it here?" + +"I certainly did. I remember now, I put it on the pile of handkerchiefs +just before I went to last lecture. Then I came in here, to go out to +keep my date, and I didn't have it. I was going to slip it in my pocket +when I was called to the 'phone. Look here, here's the impression of it +in the handkerchiefs," and Dunk pointed to a round depression in the +pile of soft linen squares. It was just the shape of a watch. + +"It was there," said Dunk slowly, looking at Andy. + +"And now it's gone," finished his roommate. Then he remembered several +things, and his start of surprise made Dunk look at his chum in a +strange way. + +"What's the matter?" asked Dunk. + +"I'll tell you in a minute," said Andy. "I want to think a bit." + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI + +THE GIRLS + + +"Well?" asked Dunk, after a pause, during which Andy had sat staring at +the fireplace. A blaze had been kindled there, but it had died down, and +now there was only a mere flicker. + +"Are you sure you left your watch on that pile of handkerchiefs?" asked +Andy, slowly. + +"Dead sure. I remember it because I thought at the time that I was a +chump to treat that ticker the way I did, and I made up my mind I'd get +a good chain for it and have my watch pocket lined with chamois leather. +That's what made me think of it--the softness of the handkerchiefs. Why, +Andy, you can see the imprint of it plainly enough." + +"Yes, I guess you're right." + +"And it's gone." + +"Right again." + +"Were you in the room all the time I was out?" + +"Most all the while. I went to get a new electric lamp for the one that +had burned out." + +"Was anyone here besides you?" + +Andy hesitated. Then he answered: + +"Yes, two persons." + +"Who?" + +"Ikey Stein----" + +"That----" + +Andy held up a warning hand. + +"Don't call any names," he advised. "Ikey did you and me a good service. +We mustn't forget that." + +"All right, I won't. Who else was in here?" + +"Link Bardon." + +"Who's he?" + +"That farmer lad I was telling you about--the one we fellows saved from +a beating." + +"Oh, yes. I remember." + +"He's working here now. He came in to borrow some money. I found him +here when I came back--our door was open." + +"By Jove! That lock! I meant to get it fixed. Well, I can see what +happened. The quadrangle mystery deepens, and I'm elected. The beggar +got my watch!" Dunk started out. + +"Where are you going?" asked Andy. + +"To telephone for a locksmith. I'm going to have our door fixed. Don't +laugh--the old saying--'lock the stable after the horse is stolen.' I +know it." + +"Wait a minute," suggested Andy. "While you're at it hadn't you better +give notice of the robbery?" + +"I suppose so. But what good will it do? None of the fellows have gotten +back anything that's been taken. But I sure am sorry to lose that +watch." + +"So am I," spoke Andy. "Look here, Dunk, there are two persons who might +have taken it--no, three." + +"How three?" + +"Counting me." + +"Oh, piffle. But I suppose if I made a row it would look bad for Ikey +and your friend Link." + +"It sure would. I think maybe you'd better not make a row." + +"You mean sit down and let 'em walk off with my watch without saying a +word?" + +"Oh, no. Report the loss, of course. But don't mention any names." + +"Well, I wouldn't like to mention Ikey--for the honor of Yale, and all +that, you know." + +"I agree with you. And, for certain reasons, I wouldn't like you to +mention Link. I don't know about him, but I believe he's as honest as +can be. Of course he was in need of money, and if your watch lay in +plain sight there'd be a big temptation. But I'd hate to think it." + +"So would I, after what you've told me about him. I won't think it, +until, at least, we get more information. It was my fault for leaving +it around that way. It's too bad! Dad will sure be sorry to hear it's +gone. I'm going to keep mum about it--maybe it will turn up." + +"I hope so," returned Andy. "I hardly believe Link would take it, yet +you never can tell." + +"Anyhow, we'll get a new lock put on, and I'll report my watch," said +Dunk. "Then we'll forget all about it and have some fun. Come on, I'm +hungry. It isn't so much the money value of the thing, as the +associations. Hang it all--what a queer world this is. Oh, but you +should see the girls, Andy!" + +"I'm counting on it!" + +When they came back, after a hasty session at the "eating joint," there +was a note for each of them tucked under the door, which they had +managed to lock pending the attaching of the new mechanism. + +"From Gaffington," announced Dunk, ripping his open. "He's giving a +blow-out to-night. Wants me to come." + +"Same here," announced Andy, reading his, and then glancing anxiously at +his roommate. + +"I'm not going," said Dunk, wadding up the missive and tossing it into +the waste-paper basket. + +"Neither am I," said Andy, doing the same. + +They began to "doll up," which, being interpreted, means to attire +oneself in one's best raiment, including the newest tie, the stiffest +collar and the most uncomfortable shirt, to say nothing of patent +leather shoes a size too small. + +"Whew!" panted Andy, as he adjusted his scarf for the fourth or fifth +time, "these bargains of Ikey's aren't what they're cracked up to be." + +"I should say not. I don't believe they're real silk." + +"Maybe not. They say the Japs can make something that looks like it, but +which isn't any more silk than a shoestring." + +"I believe you. Maybe Ikey has been dabbling in some more of Hashmi's +stuff." + +"I wouldn't wonder. Say, it's a queer way for a fellow to get through +college, isn't it?" + +"It sure is. Yet he's a decent sort of chap. Only for that affair of the +vases." + +"Oh, he made restitution in that case." + +They went on dressing, with hurried glances at the clock now and then to +make sure they would not be late. From out in the raised court came a +hail: + +"Oh, you, Dunk!" + +"Stick out your noddle, Blair!" + +"Come on down!" + +"That's Thad and his crowd," announced Andy. + +"Let 'em holler," advised Dunk. "I'm not going with them." + +"Oh, you Dunk!" + +"Go on away!" called Dunk, shouting out of the window. + +"Oh, for the love of mush!" + +"Look at him!" + +"Girls, all right!" + +"Come on up and rough-house 'em!" + +These cries greeted the appearance out of the window of the upper part +of Dunk's body, attired in a gaudy waistcoat. + +"Is that door locked, Andy?" gasped Dunk, hurriedly pulling in his head. + +"Yes." + +"Slip the bolt then. They'll make no end of a row if they get in!" + +Andy slipped it, and only in time, for there came a rush of bodies +against the portal, and insistent demands from Thad and his crowd to be +admitted. Failing in that they besought Andy and Dunk to come out. + +"Nothing doing! We've got dates!" announced Andy, and this was accepted +as final. + +They were just about to leave, quiet having been restored, when there +came a knock. + +"Who is it?" asked Dunk, suspiciously. + +"Gaffington," was the unexpected answer. "Are you fellows coming to my +blow-out." + +Dunk looked at Andy and paused. Following the affair in Burke's, where +Gaffington had incited Dunk against Andy, the rich youth from Andy's +town had had little to say to him. He seemed to take it for granted that +his condition that night was enough of an apology without any other, and +treated Andy exactly as though nothing had occurred. + +"Well?" asked Gaffington, impatiently. + +"Sorry, old man," said Dunk, "but we both have previous engagements." + +"Oh, indeed!" sneered Mortimer, and they could hear him muttering to +himself as he walked away. + +Then the two chums sallied forth. On the way Dunk reported the loss of +his watch, to the discomfiture of the Dean, who seemed much disturbed by +the successive robberies. + +"Something must be done!" he exclaimed, pacing up and down the room. + +Dunk also left word at the college maintenance office about the door +that would not lock, and got the promise that it would be seen to. + +"And now for the girls!" exclaimed Andy. "Do I know them?" + +"No, but you soon will." + +Andy was much pleased with the two young ladies to whom Dunk introduced +him later. It appeared that one was a distant relative of Dunk's mother, +and the two were visiting friends in New Haven. Dunk's "cousin," as he +called her, had sent him a card, asking him to call, and he had made +arrangements to bring Andy and spend the evening at the theatre. + +Thither they went, happy and laughing, and to the no small envy of a +number of college lads, the said lads making unmistakable signals to +Dunk and Andy, between the acts, that they wanted to be introduced +later. + +But Andy and Dunk ignored their chums. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII + +JEALOUSIES + + +"Well, how did you like 'em?" demanded Dunk. + +"Do you mean both--or one?" asked Andy. + +"Huh, you ought to know what I mean?" + +"Or--_who_, I suppose," and Andy smiled. + +He and his chum had come back to their room after taking home the girls +with whom they had spent the evening at the theatre. There had followed +a little supper, and the affair ended most enjoyably. That is, it seemed +to, but there was an undernote of irritation in Dunk's voice and he +regarded Andy with rather a strange look as they sat in the room +preparatory to going to bed. + +"What did you and she find to talk about so much?" asked Dunk, +suspiciously. "I brought Kittie Martin around for you." + +"So I imagined." + +"Yet nearly all the time you kept talking to Alice Jordan. Didn't you +like Miss Martin?" + +"Sure. She's a fine girl. But Miss Jordan and I found we knew the same +people back home, where I come from, and naturally she wanted to hear +about them." + +"Huh! Well, the next time I get you a girl I'll make sure the one I +bring along doesn't come from the same part of the country you do." + +"Why?" asked Andy, innocently enough. + +"Why? Good land, man! Do you think I want the girl I pick out +monopolized by you?" + +"I didn't monopolize her." + +"It was the next thing to it." + +"Look here, Dunk, you're not mad, are you?" + +"No, you old pickle; but I'm the next thing to it." + +"Why, I couldn't help it, Dunk. She talked to me." + +"Bah! The same old story that Adam rung the changes on when Eve handed +him the apple. Oh, forget it! I suppose I oughtn't to have mentioned it, +but when I was all primed for a nice cozy talk to have you butting in +every now and then with something about the girls and boys back in +Oshkosh----" + +"It was Dunmore," interrupted Andy. + +"Well, Dunmore then. It's the same thing. I'll do--more to you if you do +it again." + +"I tell you she kept asking me questions, and what could I do but +answer," replied Andy. + +"You might have changed the subject. Kittie didn't like it for a cent." + +"She didn't?" + +"No. I saw her looking at you and Alice in a queer way several times." + +"She did?" + +"She did. So did Katy!" mocked Dunk, and his voice was rather snappish. + +"Well, I didn't intend anything," said Andy. "Gee, but when I try to do +the polite thing I get in Dutch, as the saying is. I guess I wasn't cut +out for a lady's man." + +"Oh, you're all right," Dunk assured his chum, "only you want to hunt on +your own grounds. Keep off my preserves." + +"All right, I will after this. Just give me the high sign when you see +me transgressing again." + +"There isn't likely to be any 'again,' Andy. They're going home +to-morrow." + +"I've got her address, anyhow," laughed Andy. + +"Whose?" asked Dunk, suspiciously. + +"Kittie Martin's. She's the one you picked out for me; isn't she?" + +"Yes, and I wish you'd stick to her!" and with this Dunk tumbled into +bed and did not talk further. Andy put out the light with a thoughtful +air, and did not try to carry on the conversation. It was as near to a +quarrel as the roommates had come since the affair of Burke's. + +But matters were smoothed over, at least for a time, when, next day, +came notes from the girls saying they had decided to prolong their visit +in New Haven. + +"Good!" cried Dunk. "We can take them out some more." + +And this time Andy was careful not to pay too much attention to Miss +Alice Jordan, though, truth to tell, he liked her better than he did +Kittie Martin. And it is betraying no secret to confess that Alice +seemed to like Andy very much. + +The boys hired a carriage and took the girls for a drive one day, going +to the beautiful hill country west of the new Yale Field. + +As they were going slowly along they met a taxicab coming in the +opposite direction. When it drew near Andy was somewhat surprised to +find it contained Miss Mazie Fuller, the actress. She laughed and bowed, +waving her hand to Andy. + +"Who was that?" asked Dunk, who had been too busy talking to Alice to +notice the occupant of the taxi. + +"Miss Fuller," answered Andy. + +"Oh, your little actress. Yes." + +Andy blushed and Miss Martin, who sat beside the youth, rather drew +away, while Alice gave him a queer, quick look. + +"An actress?" murmured Miss Martin. "She looks young--a mere girl." + +"That's all she is," said Andy, eagerly. Too eagerly, in fact. He rather +overdid it. + +"Tell 'em how you saved her life," suggested Dunk, laughing. + +"Forget it," returned Andy, with another blush. "I'm tired of being a +hero." + +"Oh, I heard about that," said Miss Jordan. "There was something in the +papers about it. She's real pretty, isn't she?" and again she looked +queerly at Andy. + +"Oh, yes," he admitted, taking warning now. "Say, tell me, shall we go +over that cross road?" + +"To change the subject," observed Miss Martin, with a little laugh, and +a sidewise glance at Andy. + +He was beginning to find that jealousy was not alone confined to Dunk. + +The ride came to an end at last and Andy wondered just how he stood with +Dunk and the girls. + +"Hang it all!" he mused, "I seem to get in Dutch all along the line." + +The girls left New Haven, having been given a little farewell supper by +Dunk and Andy. The two boys had hard work to resist the many +self-invited guests among their chums. + +Several days later there came some letters to Dunk and Andy. One, to the +latter, was from Miss Fuller, the actress, telling Andy that she +expected to be in New Haven again, and asking Andy to call on her. + +"You are going it!" said Dunk, when Andy told of this missive, and also +mentioned receiving one from Miss Martin, thanking him for the +entertainment he and Dunk had given to her and her chum. "You sure are +going it, Andy! Two strings to your bow, all right." + +"Never you mind me," retorted Andy. "I'm not on your side of the fence +_this_ time." + +There was the sound of running feet in the corridor, and someone rushed +past the room, the door of which was open. + +"Did you see anyone pass?" cried Frank Carr, who roomed a few apartments +away from Andy and Dunk. "Did someone run past here just now?" + +"We didn't see nor hear anyone," answered Dunk. "Why?" + +"Because just as I was coming upstairs I saw someone run out of my room. +I thought of the quadrangle robberies at once, and took a look in. One +of my books, and the silver vase I won in the tennis match, were gone. +The thief came down this way!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII + +THE BOOK + + +Andy and Dunk, who had jumped up and come to the door of their room on +hearing Frank's explanation, stood looking at him for a second, rather +startled by his news. Then Andy, realizing that this might be a chance +to discover who had been carrying on the mysterious quadrangle +robberies, exclaimed: + +"Come on down this way! The hall ends just around the corner and there's +no way out. It's a blind alley, and if the fellow went down here we sure +have him!" + +"Good for you!" cried Dunk. "Wait until we get something to tackle him +with in case he fights." + +"That's so," said Andy. "Here, I'll take our poker, and you can have the +fire tongs, Dunk." + +From a brass stand near the fireplace Andy caught up the articles he +mentioned. + +"Where's something for me?" asked Frank. + +"Here, take the shovel," spoke Dunk passing it over. "Say, what sort of +a fellow was it you saw run out of your room?" + +"I didn't have much chance to notice, he went so like a flash." + +"Was it--er--one of our fellows--I mean a college man--did he look like +that?" asked Andy. He was conscious of the fact that he had rather +stammered over this. Truth to tell, he feared lest Link might have +yielded to temptation. Since the episode of Dunk's watch Andy had been +doing some hard thinking. + +"Well, the fellow did look like a college chap," admitted Frank, "but of +course it couldn't be. No Yale man would be guilty of a thing like +that." + +"Of course not!" agreed Dunk. "But say, if we're going to make a capture +we'd better get busy. Are you sure there's no way out from this +corridor, Andy?" + +"Sure not. It ends blank. The fellow is surely trapped." + +They hurried out into the corridor, and started down it, armed with the +fire irons. Though they had talked rather loudly, and were under +considerable excitement, no attention had been attracted to them. Most +of the rooms on that floor were not occupied just then, and if there +were students in the others they did not come out to see what was taking +place. + +"Say, it would be great if we could capture the thief!" said Dunk. + +"Yes, and end the quadrangle mystery," added Andy. + +"I don't care so much about ending the mystery as I do about getting +back my tennis cup and the book," spoke Frank. + +"What sort of a book was it?" Andy inquired. + +"A reference work on inorganic chemistry," answered Frank. "Cost me ten +plunks, too. I can't afford to lose it for I need it in my work." + +"Some book!" murmured Andy, as the three hastened on. + +They tried door after door as they passed, but most of them were locked. +One or two opened to disclose students dressing or shaving, and to the +rather indignant inquiries as to what was wanted, Dunk would exclaim +hastily: + +"Oh, we are looking for a fellow--that's all." + +"Hazing?" sometimes would be inquired. + +"Sort of," Dunk would answer. "No use telling 'em what it is until we've +got something to show," he added to his companions. They agreed with +him. + +They had now reached the turn of corridor where a short passage, making +an L, branched off. So far they had seen no trace of the thief. + +"There's a big closet, or storeroom, at the end," explained Andy. "The +fellow may be hiding in there." + +An examination of the few rooms remaining on this short turn of the +passage did not disclose the youth they sought. All of the doors were +locked. + +"He may be hiding in one of them," suggested Dunk. + +"If he is all we'll have to do will be to wait down at the other end, if +we don't find him in the store room," spoke Andy. "He'll have to come +out some time, and it's too high up for him to jump." + +"It's queer we didn't hear him run past our room," remarked Dunk. + +"He had on rubber shoes--that's why," explained Frank. "He went out of +my room like a shadow. At first I didn't realize what it was, but when I +found my stuff had vanished I woke up." + +"Rubber shoes, eh?" said Andy. "He's an up-to-date burglar all right." + +"Well, let's try the storeroom," suggested Dunk, as they neared it. They +were rather nervous, in spite of the fact that their forces outnumbered +the enemy three to one. With shovel, tongs and poker held in readiness, +they advanced. The door of the big closet was closed, and, just as Andy +was about to put his hand on the knob, the portal swung open, and out +stepped--Mortimer Gaffington. + +"Why--er--why--you--you----!" stammered Andy. + +"Did you--have you----?" This was what Dunk tried to say. + +"Is he in there?" Frank wanted to know. + +Mortimer looked coolly at the three. + +"I say," he drawled, "what's up? Are you looking for a rat?" + +"No, the quadrangle thief!" exclaimed Andy. "He went in Frank's room and +took his book and silver cup, and lit out. Came down here and we're +after him! Have you seen him?" + +"No," replied Mortimer, slowly. "I came up here to get Charley Taylor's +mushroom bat. He said he stuck it in here when the season was over, and +he told me I could have it if I could fish it out. I had the dickens of +a time in there, pawing over a lot of old stuff." + +"Did you get the bat?" asked Dunk. + +"No. I don't believe it's there. If it is I'd have to haul everything +out to get at it. I'm going to give it up." + +As he spoke he threw open the closet door. An electric light was burning +inside, and there was revealed to the eyes of Andy and his chums a +confused mass of material. Most of it was of a sporting character, and +belonged to the students on that floor, they using the store room for +the accumulation that could not be crowded into their own apartments. + +"A regular junk heap," commented Frank. "But where the mischief did that +fellow go who was in my room?" + +"It _is_ sort of queer," admitted Andy, as he looked down. Without +intending to do so he noticed that Mortimer did not wear rubber-soled +shoes, but had on a heavy pair that would have made noise enough down +the corridor had he hurried along the passage. + +"Maybe you dreamed it," suggested Mortimer. "I didn't see anything of +anyone coming down here, and I was in that closet some time, rummaging +away." + +"Must have been pretty warm in there--with the door closed," suggested +Dunk. + +"It was hot. The door swung shut when I was away back in a corner trying +to fish out that bat, and I didn't want to climb back and open it. Well, +I guess I'll go clean up. I'm all dust." + +Truth to tell, he was rather disheveled, his clothes being spotted in +several places with dust and cobwebs, while his face and hands were also +soiled. + +"Well, I guess he fooled us," commented Andy. "I can't understand it, +though. We came down this hall right after him, and there's no stairway +going up or down from this end. How could he give us the slip?" + +"Easily enough," said Mortimer. "He could have slid into some empty +room, locked the door on the inside and waited until you fellows rushed +past. Then he could come out and go down the stairs behind you without +you seeing him." + +"That's what he did then, all right," decided Dunk. "We might as well +give it up. Report your loss, Frank." + +"Yes, I will. Whew! Another quadrangle robbery to add to the list. I +wonder when this thing will stop?" + +No one could answer him. Mortimer switched off the light in the store +room, remarking that he'd have another look for the bat later. Then he +accompanied Andy and the others on their way back down the corridor. +Gaffington departed to his own dormitory, while Frank went to report to +the Dean, and Andy and Dunk turned into their room. + +"Well, what do you think of it?" asked Andy. + +"I don't know," responded his roommate. "Mortimer's explanation seems to +cover it." + +"All the same we'll leave our door open, on the chance that the thief +may still be hiding in some empty room, and will try to sneak out," +suggested Andy. + +"Sure, that's good enough." + +But, though they watched for some time, no one came down the corridor +past their room but the regular students. + +And so the theft of the book and silver cup passed into history with the +other mysteries. Further search was made, and the private detective +agency, that had been engaged by the Dean, sent some active men scouting +around, but nothing came of it. + +The Christmas vacation was at hand and Andy went home to spend it in +Dunmore. Chet, Ben and his other school chums were on hand, and as Andy +remarked concerning the occasion, "a jolly time was had by all." + +Chet and Ben were with Andy most of the time, and when Andy told of the +doings at Yale, Chet responded with an account of the fun at Harvard, +while Ben related the doings of the Jersey Tiger. + +Andy's second term at Yale began early in the new year, and he arrived +in New Haven during a driving snow storm. He went at once to his room, +where he found a note from Dunk, who had come in shortly before. + +"Come over to the eating joint," the missive read, and Andy, stowing +away his bag, headed for the place. + +"Over in here!" + +"Shove in, plenty of room!" + +"Oh, you, Andy Blair!" + +"Happy New Year!" + +Thus was he greeted and thus he greeted in turn. Then, amid laughter and +talk, and the rattle of knives and forks, acquaintanceship and +friendship were renewed. Andy was beginning to feel like a seasoned Yale +man now. + +The studies of the second term were of increasing difficulty, and Andy +and Dunk found they had to buckle down to steady work. But they had +counted on this. + +Still they found time for fun and jollity and spent many a pleasant +evening in company with their other friends. Once or twice Mortimer and +his cronies tried to get Dunk to spend the night with them, but he +refused; or, if he did go, he took Andy with him, and the two always +came home early, and with clear heads. + +"They're a pair of quitters!" said Len Scott, in disgust, after one +occasion of this kind. "What do you want to bother with 'em for, Mort?" + +"That's what I say," added Clarence Boyle. + +"Oh, well, I may have my reasons," returned Mortimer, loftily. "Dunk +would be a good sort if he wasn't tied fast to Andy. I can't get along +with him, though." + +"Me either," added Len. "He's too goody-goody." Which was somewhat +unjust to Andy. + +The winter slowly wore on. Now and then there would be another of the +mysterious robberies, and on nearly every occasion the article taken was +of considerable value--jewelry, sporting trophies or expensive books. +There was suspicion of many persons, but not enough to warrant an +arrest. + +One day Hal Pulter, who roomed in Wright Hall, near Dunk and Andy, +reported that an expensive reference book had been taken from his room. +The usual experience followed, with no result. + +Then, about a week later, as Andy was walking past the small building at +High and Elm streets, where the University Press had its quarters, he +came up behind Mortimer Gaffington, who seemed to be studying a book. + +Andy wondered somewhat at Mortimer's application, particularly as it was +snowing at the time. This enabled Andy to come close up behind +Gaffington without the latter being aware of it, and, looking over the +shoulder of the youth, Andy saw on the fly-leaf of the volume a peculiar +ink blot. + +At once a flash of recollection came to Andy. Well did he know that ink +blot, for he had made it himself. + +"Why, that's Pulter's book!" he exclaimed, speaking aloud +involuntarily. "Where did you get it?" + +Mortimer turned quickly and faced Andy. + +"What's that?" he asked, sharply. + +"I say that's Pulter's book," Andy went on. + +"How do you know?" asked Mortimer. + +"Why, by that big ink blot. I made it. Pulter was in our room with the +book just before it was stolen, and my fountain pen leaked on it. That +sure is Pulter's book. Where did you get it? That's the one he made such +a fuss about!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX + +THE ACCUSATION + + +"Pulter's book, eh?" murmured Mortimer, slowly, as he turned it about, +looking on the front and back blank pages. + +"It sure is," went on Andy, eagerly. "I'd know that ink blot anywhere. +Pulter let out a howl like an Indian when my pen leaked on his book. The +blot looks like a Chinese laundryman turned upside down." + +"That's right," agreed Mortimer. "Queer, isn't it?" + +"Yes," went on Andy, his curiosity growing. "Where did you get it?" + +"Found it," spoke the rich lad, quickly. "I went out to the new Yale +Field to see how the stadium was coming on, and I saw this under a clump +of bushes. I knew it was a valuable book, so I brought it back with me. +It hasn't got Pulter's name in it, though." + +"No," went on Andy. "His name was on the other front leaf. That was +worse blotted with the ink than this one, and he tore it out. But I'm +sure that's Pulter's book." + +"Very likely," admitted Mortimer, coolly. "I'll take it to him. I'm glad +I found it. Going my way?" + +"Yes," and Andy walked beside the lad from his home town, thinking of +many things. Mortimer went into Wright Hall, but Pulter was not in. + +"I'll leave the book for him," Mortimer said to Andy, "and you can call +his attention to it. If it isn't his let me know, and I'll post a notice +saying that I've found it." + +"All right," agreed our hero. "But I know it's Pulter's." + +He was telling Dunk about the incident, when his roommate came in a +little later, and they were discussing the queer coincidence, when +Pulter came bursting in. + +"Oh, I say!" he cried. "I've got my book back! What do you know about +that? It was on my table, and----" + +He stopped and looked queerly at Andy and Dunk, who were smiling. + +"What's the joke?" demanded Pulter. "Did you fellows----" + +"Gaffington found it," said Andy. "Sit down and I'll explain," which he +did. + +"Well, that is a queer go!" exclaimed Pulter. "How in the world did my +book get out to Yale Field? It isn't so queer that Gaffington would +find it, for I understand he goes out there a lot, on walks. But how did +my book get there?" + +"Probably whoever took it found they couldn't get much by pawning or +selling it, and threw it away," suggested Dunk. + +"Looks that way," agreed Andy. "But it sure is a queer game all around." + +They discussed it from many standpoints. Pulter was very glad to get his +book back, for he was not a wealthy lad, and the cost of a new volume +meant more to him than it would to others. + +"Well, Andy, how do you size it up?" asked Dunk, when Pulter had gone +back to his apartment and Andy and his chum sat in their cozy room +before a crackling fire. + +"How do you mean?" asked Andy, to gain time. + +"Why, about Gaffington having that book. Didn't it look sort of fishy to +you?" + +"It did in a way, yes. But his explanation was very natural. It all +_might_ have happened that way." + +"Oh, yes, of course. But do _you_ believe it?" + +"I don't know why I shouldn't. Gaffington's folks have no end of money, +you know. He wouldn't be guilty of taking a book. If he did want to crib +something he'd go in for something big." + +"Well, some of these quadrangle robberies have been big enough. There's +my watch, for instance." + +"What! You don't mean you believe Gaffington is the quadrangle thief!" +exclaimed Andy, in surprise. + +"I don't believe it, exactly, no. If he's rich, as you say, certainly he +wouldn't run the risk for the comparatively few dollars he could get out +of the thefts. But I will admit that this book business did make me +suspicious." + +"Oh, forget it," advised Andy, with a laugh. "I don't like Gaffington, +and I never did, but I don't believe that of him." + +"Oh, well, I dare say I'm wrong. It was only a theory." + +"I would like to know who's doing all this business, though," went on +Andy. + +"It's probably some of the hired help they have around here," suggested +Dunk. "They can't investigate the character of all the men and women +employed in the kitchens, the dormitories and around the grounds." + +"No, that's right. I only hope my friend Link doesn't fall under +suspicion." + +For a week or so after this, matters went on quietly at Yale. There were +no further thefts and the authorities had begun to hope there would be +no more. They had about given up the hope of solving the mystery of +those already committed. + +Then came a sensation. Some very valuable books were taken one night +from Chittenden Hall--rare volumes worth considerable money. The next +morning there was much excitement when the fact became known. + +"Now something will be done!" predicted Andy. + +"Well, what can they do that hasn't already been done?" asked Dunk. +"They may make a search of every fellow's room. I wish they'd come here. +Maybe they'd find that my watch, after all, has hidden itself away +somewhere instead of being taken." + +"They're welcome if they want to look here," said Andy. "But I don't +believe they'll do that. They'll probably get a real detective now." + +And that was what the Dean did. He disliked very much to call in the +public police, but the loss of the rare books was too serious a theft to +pass over with the hiring of a private detective. + +Just what was done was not disclosed, but it leaked out that a close +watch was being kept on all the employees at Yale, and suspicion, it was +said, had narrowed down to one or two. + +One day Link called on Andy to pay back the money he had borrowed. + +"There's no hurry," said Andy. "I don't need it." + +"Oh, I want to pay it back," said the young farmer. "I have plenty of +cash now," and he exhibited quite a roll of bills. + +"Been drawing your salary?" asked Andy, with a laugh. + +"No, this is a little windfall that came to me," was the answer. + +"A windfall? Did someone die and leave you a fortune?" + +"No, not exactly. It came to me in a curious way. I got it through the +mail, and there wasn't a word of explanation with it. Just the bill +folded in a letter. A hundred-dollar bill, it was, but I had it +changed." + +"Do you mean someone sent you a hundred dollars, and you don't know who +it's from?" asked Andy, in surprise. + +"That's right!" exclaimed Link, with a laugh. "I wish I did know, for +I'd write and thank whoever it was. It surely came in handy." + +"Why, it's very strange," spoke Andy, slowly. "Could you tell by the +postmark where the letter came from?" + +"It was from New York, but I haven't a friend there that I know of." + +"Well, I'm glad you've got it. Take care of it, Link." + +"I intend to. I can lend you some now, if you need it, Mr. Blair." + +"Thank you, I have enough at present." + +Andy watched his protege walk across the campus, and near the middle +observed him stopped by a stranger. Link appeared surprised, and started +back. There was a quick movement, and the young farmer was seized by the +other. + +"That's queer!" exclaimed Andy. "I wonder what's up? Link may be in +trouble. Maybe that fellow's trying to rob him." + +The quadrangle was almost deserted at the time. Andy hurried down and +ran over to where Link was standing. The student caught the gleam of +something on the wrist of his friend. It was a steel handcuff! + +"What--what's up, Link?" Andy gasped. + +"Why, Mr. Blair--I don't know. This man--he says he's a detective, +and----" + +"So I am a detective, and I don't want any of your funny work!" was the +snappish retort. "There's my badge," and it was flashed from under the +armhole of the man's vest, being fastened to his suspenders, where most +plain-clothes men carry their official emblem. + +"A detective!" gasped Andy. "What's the matter? Why do you want Link +Bardon?" + +"We want him because he's accused of being the quadrangle thief!" was +the unexpected answer. "Stand aside now, I'm going to take him to the +station house!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXX + +THE LETTER + + +Andy could scarcely understand it. Surely, he thought, there must be +some mistake. He was glad there was not a crowd of students about to +witness the humiliation of Link--a humiliation none the less acute if +the charge was groundless. + +"Wait a minute--hold on!" exclaimed Andy, sharply, and there was +something in his voice that caused the detective to pause. + +"Well, what is it?" the officer growled. "I haven't any time to waste." + +"Do you really want him on a robbery charge?" asked Andy. + +"I do--if his name is Link Bardon," was the cool answer. "I guess he +won't attempt to deny it. I've been on his trail for some time." + +"That's my name, sure enough--I have no reason to deny it," said Link, +who had turned pale. His eyes had traces of tears in them. After all, he +was not much older than Andy and he was a gentle sort of youth, unused +to the rough ways of the world. + +"I thought I was right," the detective went on. "I've been watching for +you. Now the question is--are you coming along quietly, or shall I have +any trouble?" + +"I won't give you any trouble--certainly not," protested Link. "But this +is all a mistake! I haven't taken a thing! You know I wouldn't steal, +don't you, Mr. Blair?" + +"I certainly believe it, Link, and I'll do all I can to help you. What +are you going to do with him?" he asked the detective. + +"Lock him up--what do you suppose?" + +"But can't he get out on bail?" + +"Oh, it could be arranged. I have nothing to do with that. I'm just +supposed to get him--and I've got him!" + +"But I--I haven't done anything!" insisted Link. + +"That's what they all say," sneered the detective. "Come along!" + +"Do--do I have to go with him?" asked Link, turning to Andy in appeal. + +"I'm afraid so," was the answer. "But I'll go with you and try to get +bail. Don't worry, Link. It's all a mistake. You'll soon be free." + +"Don't be too sure of that," warned the officer. "I've been searching +your room, young man, and I guess you know what I found there." + +"You certainly found in my room only the things that belonged to me!" +exclaimed Link, indignantly. + +"Did I? What do you call this?" and the detective took from his pocket a +small book. Andy recognized it at once as one of the valuable ones taken +from Chittenden Hall. + +"You--you found that in my room?" cried Link, aghast. + +"I sure did. In your room on Crown street. Now maybe you won't be so +high and mighty." + +"If you found that in my room, someone else put it there!" declared +Link. "I certainly never did." + +"Well, I won't say that couldn't happen," spoke the officer coolly, "but +if you think I planted it there to frame up some evidence against you, +you've got another guess coming. I took your landlady into the room with +me, to have a witness, and she saw me pull this book out from the bottom +of a closet." + +"I never put it there!" protested Link. + +"You can tell that to the judge," went on the officer. "How about all +the money you've been sporting around to-day, too?" + +Link started. Andy, too, saw how dangerous this evidence might be. + +"I've had some money--certainly," admitted Link. + +"Where'd you get it?" + +Link hesitated. He realized that the story would sound peculiar. + +"It was sent to me," he answered. + +"Who sent it?" + +"I don't know. It came in the mail without a word of explanation." + +The detective laughed. + +"I thought you'd have some such yarn as that," he said. "They all do. I +guess you'll have to come with me. I'm sorry," he went on in a more +gentle tone. "I'm only doing my duty. I've been working on the +quadrangle case for some time, and I think I've landed my man. But it +isn't as much fun as you might think. I'll only say that I believe I +have the goods on you, and I'll warn you that anything you say now may +be used against you. So you'd better keep still. Come along." + +"Must I go?" asked Link again of Andy. + +"I'm afraid so. But I'll have you out on bail as soon as I can. Don't +worry, Link." + +Andy learned from the detective before what judge Link would be +arraigned and then, as the young farmer lad was led away in disgrace, +Andy started back to his room. + +"I've got to get Dunk to help me in this," he reasoned. "To go on bail +you have to own property, or else put up the cash, and I can't do that. +Maybe Dunk can suggest a way." + +Andy was glad it was so dark that no one could see Link being taken away +by the officer. + +"How did that book get in Link's room?" mused Andy. "That sure will tell +against him. But I know he didn't steal it. Some other janitor or helper +who could get into Chittenden may have taken it, and then got afraid and +dumped it in Link's closet. A lot of college employees live on Crown +street. I must get Link a lawyer and tell him that." + +Andy found Dunk in the room, and excitedly broke the news to him. + +"Whew! You don't say so!" cried Dunk. "Your friend Link arrested! What +do you know about that? And the book in his room!" + +"Somebody else put it there," suggested Andy. + +"Possibly. But that money-in-a-letter story sounds sort of fishy." + +"That _is_ a weak point," Andy admitted. "But we'll have to consider +all that later. The question is: How can we get Link out on bail? Got any +money?" + +Dunk pulled out his pocketbook and made a hurried survey. + +"About thirty plunks," he said. + +"I've got twenty-five," said Andy. "Link has nearly a hundred himself." + +"That won't be enough," said Dunk. "This is a grand larceny charge and +the bail will be five hundred dollars anyhow. Now I'll tell you the +best thing to do." + +"What?" + +"Hire a good lawyer. We've got money enough, with what Link has, to pay +a good retaining fee. Let the lawyer worry about the bail. Those fellows +always have ways of getting it." + +"I believe you're right," agreed Andy. "We can put up fifty dollars for +a retainer to the lawyer." + +"I'll telegraph for more from home to-night," said Dunk. "Andy, we'll +see this thing through." + +"It's mighty good of you, Dunk." + +"Nonsense! Why shouldn't I help out your friend?" + +"Do you think he's guilty?" + +"I wouldn't want to say. Certainly I hope he isn't; but I'd like to get +my watch back." + +"Well, let's go get a lawyer," suggested Andy. + +A sporty senior, whom Dunk knew, and who had more than once been in +little troubles that required the services of a legal man, gave them the +address of a good one. They were fortunate in finding him in his office, +though it was rather late, and he agreed to take the case, and said he +thought bail could be had. + +Andy and Dunk made a hasty supper and then, letting their studies go, +hurried to the police court, where, occasionally, night sessions were +held. + +Link was brought out before the judge, having first had a conference +with the lawyer Dunk and Andy had engaged. The charge was formally made. + +"We plead not guilty," answered the lawyer, "and I ask that my client be +admitted to bail." + +"Hum!" mused the judge. "The specific charge only mentions one book, of +the value of two hundred dollars, but I understand there are other +charges to follow. I will fix bail at one thousand dollars, the prisoner +to stand committed until a bond is signed." + +Andy and Dunk gasped at the mention of a thousand dollars, but the +lawyer only smiled quietly. + +"I have a bondsman here, your Honor," he said. + +A man, looking like an Italian, came forward, but he proved to have the +necessary property, and signed the bond. Then Link was allowed to go, +being held, however, to answer to a higher court for the charge against +him. + +"Now if you'll come to my office," suggested the lawyer, "we'll plan out +this case." + +"Oh, I can't thank you two enough!" gasped Link, when he was free of the +police station. "It was awful back there in the cell." + +"Forget it," advised Dunk, with a laugh. "You'll never go back there +again." + +The consultation with the lawyer took some time, and when it was over +Link started for his room. He was cheered by the prospect that the case +against him was very slight. + +"Unless they get other evidence," specified the lawyer. + +"They can't!" cried Link, proudly. + +Andy and Dunk went back to their room, to do some necessary studying. On +their way they stopped in the Yale branch postoffice. There was a letter +from home for Andy, and when he had read it he uttered such an +exclamation that Dunk asked: + +"Any bad news?" + +"Yes, but not for me," replied Andy. "This is from my mother. She writes +that Mr. Gaffington--that's Mortimer's father--has failed in business +and lost all his money. This occurred some time ago, but the family has +been keeping it quiet. The Gaffingtons aren't rich at all, and Mortimer +will probably have to leave Yale." + +"Too bad," said Dunk, and then he started off, leaving Andy to read the +letter again. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXI + +ON THE DIAMOND + + +Andy Blair stood in the middle of his room, carefully examining a bat he +had taken from a closet containing, among other possessions, his +sporting things. The bat was a favorite he had used while at Milton, and +he was considering having it sand-papered and oiled. Or, rather, he was +considering doing the work himself, for he would not trust his choicest +stick to the hands of another. + +"Yes, she'll look a little better for a bit of attention, I think," said +Andy, half aloud. "Though I don't know as I can bat any better with it." + +He gave two or three preliminary swings in the air, when the door +suddenly opened, a head was thrust in and Andy gave it a glancing blow. + +"Wow! What's that for?" the newcomer gasped. "A nice way to receive +company, Andy! Where'd you learn that?" + +"I beg your pardon, Bob, old man!" exclaimed Andy, as he recognized +Hunter, Dunk's friend. "I was just getting out my bat to see how it +felt and----" + +"I can tell you how it felt," interrupted Bob, with emphasis. "It felt +hard! Better put up a sign outside your door--'Beware of the bat.'" + +"And have the fellows think this is a zoological museum," laughed Andy. +"I will not. But, Bob, I'm very sorry you got in the way of my stick. +Does it hurt? Want any witch hazel or anything like that?" + +"Oh, no, it isn't so worse. Good thing I wear my hair long or I might +have a headache. But say--where's Dunk?" + +"He was with me a little while ago. We stopped in the postoffice, and I +thought he came on here. But he didn't. Have you seen him?" + +"No, but I want to. Gaffington and his crowd are going to have another +blow-out to-night, and I wanted to make sure Dunk wouldn't fall by the +wayside." + +"That's so. Glad you told me. I'll do all I can. But say, he and I have +had a strenuous time to-day." + +"What's up?" asked Bob. "I've been so blamed busy getting primed for a +quiz that I haven't had time to eat." + +"It's about the robberies--the quadrangle thefts," explained Andy. "They +arrested Link Bardon." + +"What! Your farmer friend?" + +"Yes. Dunk and I bailed him out." + +"Good for you! Now I suppose the thefts will stop." + +"Not necessarily," returned Andy, quickly. "Link wasn't the thief." + +"He wasn't? Then why did they pinch him? Of course I don't know anything +about it, and if he's your friend, why, of course, you have a right to +stick up for him." + +"Oh, it isn't that so much," explained Andy. "I don't know him very +well; but I'm sure he isn't guilty of the thefts. There are some queer +circumstances about them, but I'm sure they can all be explained." + +"Well, it's your funeral--not mine," said Bob, with a shrug of his +shoulders. "I wonder where Dunk is. I think I'll go hunt him up." + +"All right, bring him back here when you come," urged Andy. + +"Yes, and I suppose you'll stand ready to greet us with a club--you +cheerful reception committee!" laughed Bob. "Well, I'll see you later." + +Andy sat down, placing his bat across his knees. + +"So Gaffington is going to give another spread, eh?" he mused. "That's +queer--on top of the news mother sends in her letter. What did I do with +it?" + +He found it after looking through a mass of papers in his pockets, and +read it again. Following its receipt at the college branch postoffice +Andy had imparted the news to Dunk. Then the latter, meeting a friend, +had walked off with him, while Andy came on to his room. + +On reaching his apartment, Dunk not having come in, Andy found a notice +from the Freshman Athletic Committee, stating that baseball practice +would soon start in the indoor cage. + +Andy was an enthusiastic player, and had made a good record at Milton. +As a freshman he was not eligible for the Yale varsity nine, but he +could play on his class team, and he was glad the chance had come to +him. + +Andy was thinking of many things as he sat there in the room, now and +then swinging his bat. But he was careful not to let it go too close to +the door, in case other visitors might chance in. + +"A whole lot of things have happened since morning," said Andy to +himself. "That sure was a strenuous time over poor Link. I wonder what +he'll do? Probably the college will fire him from his job. I guess I'll +have to see what I can do to get him another. But that won't be easy +when it becomes known that he's out on bail on a theft charge. + +"Then there's that news about Mortimer. And to think that he's known all +along that he might have to leave Yale, yet he's been going on and +living as if his father's millions were in a safe deposit box. I +wonder----By Jove!" exclaimed Andy, leaping up. "I never thought of +that. Why not? If he needs money----" + +His train of thought was interrupted by a knock on his door, which had +swung shut as Bob Hunter went out. + +"Come in!" invited Andy, and he started as Mortimer Gaffington slid in. +Andy gave him a quick glance, but either Mortimer was a good actor, or +he did not feel his father's loss of money, providing the news Mrs. +Blair had sent her son was correct. + +"Hello, Andy," greeted Gaffington, as he slumped into an easy chair. +"Where's Dunk?" + +"I don't know. Bob Hunter was just in looking for him. Make yourself at +home--he may be in soon." In spite of his dislike of Gaffington, and his +fear lest he influence Dunk for evil, Andy could do no less than play +the part of host. + +"Thanks, I will stay for a while," answered Mortimer. "Been looking for +thieves again?" he asked, noting the bat in Andy's hand. He referred to +the time when Andy and his two friends had sought an intruder down the +corridor, and had only found Mortimer delving in a storeroom. + +"No, not this time," laughed Andy. "But the freshman team is going to +get together, so I thought I'd get out my fishing tackle, so to speak." + +"I see. I guess the varsity indoor practice will start soon. Say, what's +this I hear about someone being arrested for the quadrangle thefts?" + +"It's true enough," replied Andy, looking sharply at his visitor. "Link +Bardon was arrested, and Dunk and I got him bailed out." + +"You did!" cried Mortimer, almost jumping from the chair. + +"Why, was there anything strange in that?" asked Andy, in surprise. + +"I should think so!" exclaimed Mortimer, sharply. "Here the whole +college has been upset by a lot of robberies, and your own roommate +loses a valuable watch. Then, as soon as the thief is arrested, you +fellows go on his bail! Strange? Well, I should say so!" + +"I didn't say we went on his bond," spoke Andy, quietly. "Dunk and I +only got him a lawyer who arranged for it. But I don't believe Link is +guilty." + +"Well, that's a matter of opinion," said Mortimer, and there was anger +in his voice. "Of course, though, if he's your friend you do right to +stick up for him." + +"Yes," agreed Andy, "he is my friend. And it's at a time like this that +he needs friends." + +"Oh, well," said Mortimer, with a shrug of his shoulders, "let's forget +it. I wonder what's keeping Dunk?" + +"Anything I can do?" asked Andy, wishing Mortimer would leave before +Dunk came in. He did not want his chum taken to Burke's for a "won't be +home until morning" affair if he could help it. + +"No, I want to see Dunk on a personal matter," said the caller. "Guess I +won't wait any longer, though," and he arose to go out. Just as he +reached the door Dunk came in whistling. + +"Anything on?" Andy heard Mortimer ask quickly. + +"No. Why?" + +"Can I see you a moment outside?" + +"Sure. I'll be back in a minute, Andy," said Dunk. "I met Bill Hagan +just as I left the postoffice and he wanted me to look at a bull pup he +wants to sell." + +Dunk and Mortimer walked down the hall. Andy was a little anxious as to +what might develop, but he need have had no fears. Dunk returned +presently, looking rather grave. + +"Did he want you to go to his blow-out?" asked Andy, with the privilege +of a roommate. + +"Yes, but I'm not going. He wanted some money. Said he was dead broke." + +"And yet he's going to blow in a lot. Did you give it to him?" + +"What else could I do? When a fellow's down and out that's just the time +he needs help." + +"That's right," agreed Andy, thinking of Link. "But did Mortimer say +anything about his father's losses?" + +"Not a thing. Just said he was temporarily broke, and asked for a loan. +I couldn't refuse." + +"No, I suppose not. But you must be strapped after putting up for Link. +I know I am. I'm going to telegraph home." + +"You needn't. I got a check in the mail to-night and I cashed it. I can +lend you some if you want it." + +"Well, I may call on you. But say, it's queer about Mortimer, isn't it?" + +"Yes, but we don't know all the ins and outs of it yet. Maybe that rumor +about his folks losing all they had isn't true." + +"Maybe. I'll write home and find out. Say, but I'm tired!" + +"So am I! I'm going to stay in to-night." + +So it came about that neither Dunk nor Andy went to the little affair +Mortimer gave on borrowed money. It was "quite some affair," too, as Bob +Hunter reported later, having heard stories about it, and one or two +participants were suspended as a result of their performances after the +spread. + +After the rather exciting time concerning Link's arrest matters at Yale, +as regards the happenings with which this chronicle concerns itself, +quieted down. Link's case would not come up for trial for some time. +Meanwhile he was allowed his liberty on bail. He was, of course, +discharged from his position. + +"But I've got another job," he said to Andy, a day or so later. "That +lawyer is a good sort. He helped me. I'm just going to stick here until +I prove that I didn't have a hand in those robberies." + +"That's the way to talk!" cried Andy. "You didn't hear where the hundred +dollars came from, did you?" + +"No, and I can see that my explanation of how I got it isn't going to be +believed in court. But it's true, just the same." + +"Then the truth will come out--some time," said Andy, firmly. "In the +meanwhile, if I can do anything, let me know." + +"Thank you." + +The months passed. Spring was faintly heralded in milder weather, by the +return of the birds, and the presence of little buds on the leafless +trees. + +Somewhat to the disappointment of Andy there were no more quadrangle +robberies. That is, Andy was disappointed to a certain extent. For if +the thefts had still kept up after the discharge of Link, it would at +least show that someone besides the young farmer was guilty. As it was, +it made his case appear all the worse. + +"But I'm not going to believe it!" exclaimed Andy. "Link is not guilty!" + +"Go to it, old man!" cried Dunk. "I'm with you to the end." + +Indoor baseball practice was held in the cage on Elm street, back of the +gymnasium, and Andy was picked to catch for the freshman nine. Dunk, to +his delight, was first choice for pitcher. Then came intense longings to +get out on the real diamond. + +The chance came sooner than was expected, for there was an early Spring. +The ground was still a little soft and damp, but it could be played on, +and soon crowds of students began pouring out to Yale Field to watch the +practice and the games between the class nines, or the varsity and the +scrubs. + +"Come on now, Dunk, sting 'em in!" + +"Fool him, boy, fool him!" + +"Make him give you a nice one!" + +"Watch his glass arm break!" + +These cries greeted Dunk, who was pitching for the freshmen against a +scrub nine one afternoon. It was a few days before the game with the +Princeton freshmen--the first game of the season, and the Yale freshman +coaches were anxious to get their nine into good shape. + +"Ah! There he goes!" came a yell, as the scrub batter hit the ball Dunk +pitched in to Andy. But the ball went straight back into the hands of +Dunk, who stopped it, hot liner though it was, and the batter was +out--retiring the side. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXII + +VICTORY + + +Mortimer Gaffington stayed on at Yale. How he did it Andy and Dunk, who +alone seemed to know of his father's failure, could not tell. Andy's +mother confirmed her first news about Mr. Gaffington's losses. Yet +Mortimer stayed at college. + +Afterward it developed that he was in dire straits, and only by much +ingenuity did he manage to raise enough to keep up appearances. He +borrowed right and left, taking from one to satisfy the demands of +another--an endless chain sort of arrangement that was bound to break +sooner or later. + +But Mortimer had managed to make a number of new friends in the "fast" +set and these were not careful to remind him of the loans he solicited. +Then, also, these youths had plenty of money. On them Mortimer preyed. + +He gave a number of suppers which were the talk of the college, but he +was wise enough to keep them within certain bounds so that he was not +called to account. But he was walking over thin ice, and none knew it +better than himself. But there was a fatal fascination in it. + +Several times he came to Dunk to invite him to attend some of the +midnight affairs, but Dunk declined, and Andy was very glad. Dunk said +Mortimer had several times asked for loans, but had met with refusals. + +"I'm not going to give him any more," said Dunk. "He's had enough of my +cash now." + +"Hasn't he paid any back?" asked Andy. + +"Some, yes, and the next time he wants more than at first. I'm done." + +"I should think so," remarked Andy. "He's played you long enough." + +"Oh, Mortimer isn't such a bad sort when you get to know him," went on +Dunk, easily. "I rather like him, but I can see that it isn't doing +anyone any good to be in his crowd. That's why I cut it out. I came here +to make something of myself--I owe it to dad, who's putting up the cash, +and I'm not going to disappoint him. Then, too, you old scout, I suppose +you wouldn't let me go sporting around the way I used to." + +"Not much!" laughed Andy, but there was an undernote of seriousness in +his words. + +There was nothing new in Link's case. It was still hanging fire in the +courts. And there were no more robberies. It was somewhat of a puzzle +to Andy that they should cease with the arrest of Link, whom he could not +believe guilty. + +Dunk's watch had not been recovered, nor had any more of the valuable +books, one of which was found by the detective in Link's room, been +discovered. How it got in the closet of the young farmer, unless he put +it there, the lawyer whom Andy and Dunk had hired said he could not +understand. + +"I've had my man interview the boarding mistress at the house in Crown +street," the lawyer told the boys, "and she says no one went to Link's +room, but himself, the day the book was found. But I haven't given up +yet." + +It was the night before the Yale-Princeton freshman baseball game, which +was to take place at Yale Field. Andy and Dunk were in their room, +talking over the possibilities, and perfecting their code of signals. + +"It looks as though it would be good weather," observed Andy, getting up +and going to the window. "Nice and clear outside." + +"If it only keeps so," returned Dunk. "Hope we have a good crowd." + +Someone knocked on the door. + +"Come!" called Andy and Dunk together. The two chums looked at each +other curiously. + +Ikey Stein entered, his face all smiles. + +"Such bargains!" he began. + +"Socks or neckties?" asked Andy, looking for a book to throw at the +intruder. + +"Socks--silk ones, and such colors! Look!" and from various pockets he +pulled pairs of half hose. They fell about the room, giving it a +decidedly rainbow effect. + +"Oh, for the love of tomatoes!" cried Dunk. "Have you been raiding a +paint store?" + +"These are all the latest shades--the fashion just over from Paris!" +exclaimed Ikey, indignantly. "I bought a fellow's stock out and I can +let you have these for a quarter a pair. They're worth fifty in any +store." + +"Take 'em away!" begged Andy. "They hurt my eyes. I won't be able to +play ball to-morrow." + +"You ought to buy some--look, I have some dark blue ones," urged Ikey, +holding them up. "These are very--chaste!" + +"Those aren't so bad," conceded Dunk, tolerantly. + +"Take 'em for twenty cents," said the student salesman, suddenly. "I +need the money!" + +"Tell you what I'll do," spoke Andy. "If we win the game to-morrow I'll +buy a dollar's worth, provided you let us alone now." + +"It's a bargain!" cried Ikey, gathering up the scattered socks. + +"And I'll do the same," promised Dunk, whereupon the salesman departed +for other rooms. + +"Queer chap, isn't he?" remarked Dunk, after a pause that followed +Ikey's departure. + +"Yes, but do you know, I rather like him," said Andy, with a quick look +at his chum. "There's one thing that a fellow gets into the habit of +when he comes to Yale--or, for that matter, to any good college, I +suppose." + +"What's that?" asked Dunk, his mind quickly snapping to some of the not +very good habits he had fallen into. + +"It's learning how to take the measure of a fellow," went on Andy, "I +mean his measure in the right way--not according to the standards we are +used to." + +"Quite philosophical; aren't you?" laughed Dunk, as he picked up a book, +and leafed it. + +"Well, that's another habit you get into here," said Andy, with a smile. +"But you know what I mean, don't you Dunk?" + +"Well, I suppose you mean that you get tolerant of persons--fellows and +so on--that you have a natural dislike for otherwise; is that it?" + +"Partly. You learn to appreciate a fellow for what he is really +worth--not because his dad can write a check in any number of figures, +and not turn a hair. It's _worth_ that counts at Yale, and not cash." + +"You're right there, Andy. I think I've learned that, too. Take some of +the fellows here--we needn't mention any names--their popularity, such +as it is, depends on how much they can spend, or how many spreads they +can give in the course of the year. And the worst of it is, that their +popularity would go out like a candle in a tornado, once they lost their +money." + +"Exactly," agreed Dunk. "They get so to depending on the power of their +cash they think its all that counts." + +"And another bad thing about that," continued Andy, "is that those +fellows, if they wanted to, could make a reputation on something else +besides their cash. Now there's one chap here--no names, of course--but +he's a fine musician, and he could make the glee club, and the dramatic +association too, if he liked. But he's just to confounded lazy. He'd +rather draw a check, give an order for a spread, and let it go at that. + +"Of course the fellows like to go to the blow-outs, and--come home with +a headache. This fellow thinks he gets a lot of fun out of it, but it's +dollars to some of these socks Ikey sells, that he'd have a heap more +fun, and make a lot more permanent friends, if he'd get out and take +part in something that was worth while. + +"Now you take our friend Ikey. I don't imagine it's any great fun for +him to be going around selling things the way he does--he has to, I +understand it. And yet at that, he has a better time of it than maybe +you or I do--and we don't exactly have to worry where our next allowance +check is coming from." + +"Right, Andy old man. Jove! You'd better have taken up the divinity +school. I'm thinking. You're a regular preacher." + +"I don't feel a bit like preaching though, Dunk old boy. In fact I'd a +heap sight rather turn in and snooze. But, do you know I'm so nervous +over this game that I'm afraid I'll lie awake and toss until morning, +and then I won't be much more use than a wet dishrag, as far as my nerve +is concerned." + +"I feel pretty nearly the same as you do, Andy. Let's sit up a while and +talk. I s'pose, though, if we ever make the varsity we'll laugh at the +way we're acting now." + +"Oh, I don't know," spoke Andy musingly. "Some of these varsity fellows +have as bad a case of nerves before a big game as we have now, before +our little Freshman one." + +"It isn't such a little one!" and Dunk bridled up. "The winning of this +game from Princeton means as much to our class, and to Yale, in a way, +as though the varsity took a contest. It all counts--for the honor of +the old college. How are you feeling, anyhow?" + +"Pretty fit. I'm only afraid, though, that I'll make some horrible break +in front of the crowd--muff a foul, or let one of your fast ones get by +me with the bases full," concluded Andy. + +"If you do," exclaimed Dunk, with a falsetto tone calculated to impress +the hearer that a petulant girl was speaking--"if you do I'll never +speak to you again--so there!" and he pretended to toss back a +refractory lock of hair. + +Andy laughed, and pitched a book at his chum, which volume Dunk +successfully dodged. + +"Well, I wouldn't want that to happen," said the catcher. "And that +reminds me. There's a rip in my glove, and I've got to sew it." + +"Can you sew?" + +"Oh, a bit," answered Andy. "I'm strictly an amateur though, mind you. I +don't do it for pay, so if you've got any buttons that need welding to +your trousers don't ask me to do it." + +"Never!" exclaimed Dunk. "I've found a better way than that." + +"What is it--the bachelor's friend--or every man his own tailor? Fasten +a button on with a pair of gas-pliers so that you have to take the +trousers apart when you want to get it off?" + +"Something like that, yes," laughed Dunk, "only simpler. Look here!" + +He pulled up the back of his vest and showed Andy where a suspender +button was missing. In its place Dunk had taken a horseshoe nail, +pushed it through a fold of the trousers, and had caught the loop of the +braces over the nail. + +"Isn't that some classy little contrivance?" he asked, proudly. "Not +that I take any credit to myself, though. Far be it! I got the idea out +of the comic supplement. But it works all right, and the beauty of it is +that you can use the nail over and over again. It is practically +indestructible. + +"So you see if you are wearing the nail all day, to lectures and so on, +and if you have to put on your glad rags at night to go see a girl, or +anything like that, and find a button missing, you simply remove the +nail from your day-pants and attach it to your night ones. Same +suspenders--same nail. It beats the bachelor's friend all to pieces." + +"I should imagine so," laughed Andy. "I'll have to lay in a stock of +those nails myself. The way tailors sew buttons on trousers nowadays is +a scandal. They don't last a week." + +"There's one trouble, though," went on Dunk, and he carefully examined +his simple suspender attachment as if in fear of losing it. "With the +increasing number of autos, and the decrease in horses, there is bound +to be a corresponding decrease in horseshoe nails. That's a principle of +economics which I am going to bring to the attention of Professor +Shandy. He likes to lecture on such cute little topics as that. He might +call it 'Bachelor's future depends on the ratio of increase of +automobiles.'" + +"I see!" exclaimed Andy with a chuckle. "Just as Darwin, or one of those +evolutionists proved that the clover crop depended on old maids." + +"How do you make that out?" asked Dunk. + +"I guess you've forgotten your evolution. Don't you remember? Darwin +found that certain kinds of clover depended for growth and fertilization +on humble bees, which alone can spread the pollen. Humble bees can't +exist in a region where there are many field mice, for the mice eat the +honey, nests and even the humble bees themselves. + +"Now, of course you know that the more cats there are in a neighborhood +the less field mice there are, so if you find a place where cats are +plentiful you'll find plenty of humble bees which aren't killed off by +the mice, since the mice are killed off by the cats. So Darwin proved +that the clover crop, in a certain section, was in direct proportion to +the number of cats." + +"But what about old maids?" + +"Oh, I believe it was Huxley who went Darwin one better, come to think +of it. Huxley said it was well known that the more old maids there were +the more cats there were. So in a district well supplied with old maids +there'd be plenty of cats, and in consequence plenty of clover." + +"Say, are you crazy, or am I?" asked Dunk, with a wondering look at his +friend. "This thing is getting me woozy! What did we start to talk +about, anyhow?" + +"Horseshoe nails." + +"And now we're at old maids. Good-night! Come on out and walk about a +bit. The fresh air will do us good, and maybe we'll sleep." + +"I'll go you!" exclaimed Andy. "Let's go get some chocolate. I'm hungry +and there isn't a bit of grub left," and he looked in the box where he +usually kept some biscuits. + +They went out together, passing across the quadrangle, in which scores +of students were flitting to and fro, under the elms, and in and out of +the shadows of the electric lights. + +Dunk was saying something over to himself in a low voice. + +"What is that--a baseball litany?" asked Andy, with a laugh. + +"No, I was trying to get that straight what you said about the supply of +old maids in a community depending on the number of clover blossoms." + +"It's the other way around--but cut it out. You'll be droning away at +that all night--like a tune that gets in your head and can't get out. +Where'll we go?" + +"Oh, cut down Chapel street. Let's take in the gay white way for a +change. We may meet some of the fellows." + +"But no staying out late!" Andy warned his chum. + +"I guess not! I want to be as fit as a fiddle in the morning." + +"For we're going to chew up Princeton in the morning!" chanted Andy to +the tune of a well-known ballad. + +"I hope so," murmured Dunk. "Look, there goes Ikey," and as he spoke he +pointed to a scurrying figure that shot across the street and into a +shop devoted to the auctioning of furnishing goods. + +"What's he up to, I wonder?" spoke Andy. + +"Oh, this is how he lays in his stock of goods that he sticks us with. +He watches his chance, and buys up a lot, and then works them off on +us." + +"Well, I give him credit for it," spoke Andy, musingly. "He works hard, +and he's making good. I understand he's in line for one of the best +scholarships." + +"Then he'll get it!" affirmed Dunk. "I never knew a fellow yet, like +Ikey, who didn't get what he set out after. I declare! it makes me +ashamed, sometimes, to think of all the advantages we have, and that we +don't do any better. And you take a fellow like him, who has to work for +every dollar he gets--doesn't belong to any of the clubs--doesn't have +any of the sports--has to study at all hours to get time to sell his +stuff--and he'll pull down a prize, and we chaps----" + +"Oh, can that stuff!" interrupted Andy. "We're worse than a couple of +old women to-night. Let's be foolish for once, and we'll feel better for +it. This game is sure getting our goats." + +"I believe you. Well, if you want a chance to be foolish, here comes the +crowd to stand in with." + +Down the street marched a body of Yale students, arm in arm, singing and +chanting some of the latest songs, and now and then breaking into +whistling. + +"Gaffington's bunch," murmured Andy. + +"Yes, but he isn't with 'em," added Dunk. "Slip in here until they get +past," and Dunk pulled his chum by the arm as they came opposite a dark +hallway. + +But it was too late. Some of the sporty students had seen the two, and +made a rush for them. + +"Come on, Andy!" + +"Oh, you, Dunk! Grab him, fellows!" + +Immediately the two were surrounded by a gay and laughing throng. + +"Bring 'em along!" + +"Down to the rathskeller!" + +"We'll make a night of it!" + +"And we won't go home until morning!" + +Thus the gay and festive lads chanted, meanwhile circling about Andy and +Dunk, who sought in vain to break through. Passersby went on their way, +smiling indulgently at the antics of the students. + +"Fetch 'em along!" commanded the leader of the "sports." + +"Come on!" came the orders, and Andy and Dunk were dragged off toward a +certain resort. + +"No, we can't go--really!" protested Dunk, holding back. + +"We just came out for a glass of soda," insisted Andy, "and we've got to +get right back!" + +"Oh, yes! That's all right." + +"Soda!" + +"Listen to him!" + +"Regular little goody-goody boys!" + +"They were trying to sneak off by themselves and have a good time by +their lonesomes!" + +And thus the various laughing and disbelieving comments came, one after +another. + +"Bring 'em along with us, and we'll show 'em how to enjoy life!" +someone called. "Gaffington will meet us at Paddy's!" + +Dunk flashed Andy a signal. It would not do, he knew, to spend this +night--of all nights--the one before an important game--with this crowd +of fun-loving lads. They must get away. + +"Look here, fellows!" expostulated Andy, "we really can't come, you +know!" + +"That's right," chimed in Dunk. "Let us off this time and maybe +to-morrow night----" + +"There may never be a to-morrow night!" chanted one of the tormentors. +"Live while you can, and enjoy yourself. You're a long time dead. +To-morrow is no man's time. The present alone is ours. Who said that, +fellows? Did I make that up or not? It's blamed good, anyhow. Let's see, +what was it? The present----" + +"Oh, dry up! You talk too much!" protested one of his companions, with a +laugh. + +"What's the matter with you fellows, anyhow?" demanded another of Andy +and Dunk, who were making more strenuous efforts to get away. "Don't you +love us any more?" + +"Sure, better than ever," laughed Andy. "But you know Dunk and I have to +pitch and catch in the Princeton freshman game to-morrow, and we----" + +"Say no more! I forgot about that," exclaimed the leader. "They can't be +burning the midnight incandescents. Let 'em go, fellows. And may we +have the honor and pleasure of your company to-morrow night?" he asked, +with an elaborate bow. + +"If we win--yes," said Dunk. + +"It's a bargain, then. Come on, boys, we're late now," and they started +off. + +Andy and Dunk, glad of their escape, flitted around a corner, to be out +of sight. A moment later, however, they heard renewed cries and laughter +from the throng they had just left. + +"Now what's up?" asked Dunk. "Are they after us again?" + +"Listen!" murmured Andy, looking for a place in which to hide. + +Then they heard shouts like these: + +"That's the idea!" + +"Come on down to the Taft!" + +"We'll give the Princeton bunch a cheer that will put the kibosh on them +for to-morrow." + +"No, don't go down there," cautioned cooler heads. "We'll only get into +a row. Come on to the rathskeller!" + +"No, the Taft!" + +"The rathskeller!" + +Thus the dispute went on, until those who were opposed to disturbing the +Princeton players had their way, and the crowd moved out of hearing. + +"Thank our lucky stars!" murmured Dunk. "Let's get our chocolate and +get back to our room." + +"I'm with you," said Andy. + +"Oh, by the way, isn't there one of your friends on the Princeton team?" +asked Dunk, as he and Andy were sipping their chocolate in a drugstore, +on a quiet street. + +"Yes, Ben Snow. He's with the crowd at the Taft." + +"Did you see him?" + +"For a little while this evening." + +"I reckon he thinks his nine is going to win." + +"Naturally," laughed Andy. "The same as we do. But don't let's talk +about it until to-morrow. I've gotten over some of my fit of nerves, and +I want to lose it for good." + +"Same here. That little run-in did us good." + +The two chums were back again in their room, and Andy brought out his +catching glove, which he proceeded to mend. + +Quiet was settling down over the quadrangle and in the dormitories about +the big, elm-shaded square. Light after light in the rooms of the +students went out. In the distant city streets the hum of traffic grew +less and less. + +It was quiet in the room where Dunk and Andy sat. Now and then, from +some room would come the tinkle of a piano, or the hum of some +soft-voiced chorus. + +"What was that you said about horseshoe nails and bees?" asked Dunk, +drowsily, from his corner of the much be-cushioned sofa. + +"Forget it," advised Andy, sleepily. "I'm going to turn in. I'm in just +the mood to drowse off now, and I don't want to get roused up." + +"Same here, Andy. Say, but I wish it were to-morrow!" + +"So do I, old man!" + +The room grew more quiet. Only the night wind sighed through the opened +window, fluttering the blue curtains. + +Andy and Dunk were asleep. + +The day of the ball game came, as all days do--if you wait long enough. +There was a good crowd on the benches and in the grandstand when Andy +and his mates came out for practice. Of course it was not like a varsity +championship contest, but the Princeton nine had brought along some +"rooters" and there were songs and cheers from the rival colleges. + +"Play ball!" called the umpire, and Andy took his place behind the +rubber, while Dunk went to the mound. The two chums felt not a little +nervous, for this was their first real college contest, and the result +meant much for them. + +"Here's where the Tiger eats the Bulldog!" cried a voice Andy recognized +as that of Ben Snow. Ben had come on with the Princeton delegation the +night before, and had renewed acquaintance with Andy. They had spent +some time together, Ben and the players stopping at the Hotel Taft. + +There was a laugh at Ben's remark, and the Princeton cheer broke forth +as Dunk delivered his first ball. Then the game was on. + +"Wow! That was a hot one!" + +"And he fanned the air!" + +"Feed 'em another one like that, Dunk, and you'll have 'em eating out of +your hand and begging for more!" + +Joyous shouts and cheers greeted Dunk's first ball, for the Princeton +batter had missed it cleanly, though he swung at it with all his force. + +"Good work!" Andy signaled to his chum, as he sent the ball back. Then, +stooping and pawing in the dirt, Andy gave the sign for a high out. He +thought he had detected indications that the batter would be more easily +deceived by such a delivery. + +Dunk, glancing about to see that all his supporting players were in +position, shook his head in opposition to Andy's signal. Then he signed +that he would shoot an in-curve. + +Andy had his doubts as to the wisdom of this, but it was too late to +change for Dunk was winding up for his delivery. A moment later he sent +in the ball with vicious force. Andy had put out his hands to gather it +into his big mitt, but it was not to be. + +With a resounding thud the bat met the ball squarely and sent it over +center field in a graceful ascending curve that bid fair to carry it far. + +"Oh, what a pretty one!" + +"Right on the nose!" + +"Didn't he swat it! Go on, you beggar! Run! Run!" + +"Make it a home run!" + +The crowd of Princeton adherents had leaped to their feet, and were +cheering like mad. + +"Go on, old man!" + +"Take another base. He can't get it!" + +"Go to third!" + +"Come on home!" + +The centerfielder had been obliged to run back after the far-knocked +ball. It was seen that he could not possibly get under it, but he might +field it home in time to save a score. + +The runner, going wildly, looked to get a signal from the coach. He +received it, in a hasty gesture, telling him to stay at third. He +stayed, panting from his speed, while the Princeton lads kept up their +cheering. + +"Now will you feed us some more of those hot cross buns?" cried a wag to +Dunk. + +"Make him eat out of the bean trough!" + +"He's got a glass arm!" + +"Swat it, Kelly! A home run and we'll score two!" + +This was cried to the next man up. Dunk looked at Andy and shrugged his +shoulders. His guessing had not been productive of much good to Yale, +for the first man had gotten just the kind of a ball he wanted. Dunk +made up his mind to be more wary. + +"Play for the runner," Andy signaled to his chum, meaning to make an +effort to kill off the run, and not try to get the batsman out in case +of a hit. + +"All right," Dunk signaled back. + +"Ball one!" howled the umpire, after the first delivery. + +"That's the way! Make him give you a nice one." + +"Take your time! Wait for what you want!" This was the advice given the +batter. + +And evidently the man at the plate got the sort of ball he wanted, for +he struck at and hit the next one--hit it cleanly and fairly, and it +sailed out toward left field. + +"Get it!" cried the Yale captain. + +The fielder was right under it--certainly it looked as though he could +not miss. The batsman was speeding for first, while the man on third was +coming home, and the crowd was yelling wildly. + +Andy had thrown off his mask, and was waiting at home for the ball, to +kill off the player speeding in from third. + +"Here's where we make a double play!" he exulted, for the man going to +first had stumbled slightly, and was out of his stride. It looked as +though it could be done. But alas for the hopes of Yale! The fielder got +the ball fairly in his hands, but whether he was nervous, or whether the +ball had such speed that it tore through, was not apparent. At any rate, +he muffed the fly. + +"Good-night!" + +"That settles it!" + +"Go on, Ranter! Go on, Cooney!" + +Coaches, the captain, Princeton players and the crowd of Tiger +sympathizers were wildly calling to the two runners. And indeed they +were coming on. + +Andy groaned. He could not help it. Dunk threw up his hands in a gesture +of despair. The fielder, with a gulp and a gone feeling at the pit of +his stomach, picked up the muffed ball, and threw it to second. It was +the only play left. And the batsman, who had started to make his +two-bagger, went back to first. But the run had come in. + +"That's the way we do it!" + +"Come on, fellows, the 'Orange and Black' song!" + +"No, the new one! 'Watch the Tiger Claw the Bulldog!'" + +The cheer leaders were trying to decide on something with which to +celebrate the drawing of "first blood." + +The grandstands were a riot of waving yellow and black, while, on the +other side, the blue banners dropped most disconsolately. But it was not +for long. + +"Come on, boys!" cried the plucky Yale captain. "That's only one run. We +only need three out and we'll show 'em what we can do! Every man on the +job! Lively! Play ball!" + +Dunk received the horsehide from the second baseman, and began to wind +up for his next delivery. He narrowly watched the man on first, and once +nearly caught him napping. Several times Dunk threw to the initial sack, +in order to get the nerve of the runner. Then he suddenly stung in one +to the man at the plate. + +"Strike--one!" yelled the umpire. The batter gave a sign of protest, but +he thought better of any verbal comment. + +"That's the way!" cried the Yale captain. "Two more like that, and he's +down!" + +Dunk did it, though the man struck one foul which Andy muffed, much to +his chagrin. + +"Give 'em the Boola song!" called a Yale cheer leader, and it was +rousingly sung. This seemed to make the Yale players have more +confidence, and they were on their mettle. But, though they did their +best, Princeton scored two more runs, and, with this lead against her, +Yale came to the bat. + +"Steady all!" counseled the captain. "We're going to win, boys." + +But it did not seem so, when the first inning ended with no score for +Yale. Princeton's pitcher was proving his power, and he was well +supported. Man after man--some of them Yale's best hitters--went down +before his arm. + +The situation looked desperate. In spite of the frantic cheering of the +Yale freshmen, it seemed as if her players could not take the necessary +brace. + +"Fellows, come here!" yelled the captain, when it came time for Andy and +his chums to take the field after a vain attempt to score. "We've got to +do something. Dunk, I want you to strike out a couple of men for a +change!" + +"I--I'll do it!" cried the pitcher. + +Then Dunk pulled himself together, and the Tiger's lead was cut down. +Once the game was a tie Yale's chances seemed to brighten, and when she +got a lead of one run in the eighth her cohorts went wild, the stand +blossoming forth into a waving mass of blue. + +This good feeling was further added to when Princeton was shut out +without a run in the beginning of the ninth, and as Andy, Dunk and the +other Yale players came in, having won the game, they received an +ovation for their victory. + +Ikey Stein, sitting in the grandstand near an elderly gentleman, yelled, +shouted and stamped his feet at the Yale victory. + +"You seem wonderfully exercised about it, my young friend," remarked the +elderly gentleman. "Did you have a large wager up on this game?" + +"No, sir, but now I can sell two dollars worth of socks," replied Ikey, +hurrying off to get Dunk and Andy to redeem their promises. + +"Hum, very strange college customs these days--very strange," murmured +the elderly gentleman, shaking his head. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIII + +THE TRAP + + +Joyous was the crowd of Yale players as they trooped off the field. The +freshmen had opened their season well by defeating Princeton, and the +wearers of the orange and black gave their victors a hearty cheer, which +was repaid in kind. + +"It's good to be on the winning side," exulted Andy, as he walked along +with Dunk. + +"It sure is, old man." + +Someone touched Andy on the shoulder. He looked around to see Ikey +holding out a package. One in the other hand was offered to Dunk. + +"The socks," spoke the student salesman, simply. + +"Say, give us time to get into our clothes!" demanded Andy. "Do you +think we carry cash in our uniforms?" + +"I didn't want you to forget," said Ikey, with a grin. "There is another +fellow taking up my business now, and I've got to hustle if I want the +trade. Going to your room?" + +"Sure." + +"I'll go on ahead and wait for you," said Ikey. "I need the money." + +"Say, you're the limit! You're as bad as a sheriff with an attachment," +complained Dunk. But he could not help laughing at the other's +persistence. + +Andy and Dunk were a little late getting back to Wright Hill, and when +they entered their room they found a note on the table. It was from +Ikey, and read: + +"I found your door open, and waited a while, but I just heard of a +bargain lot of suspenders I can buy, so I went off to see about them. I +will be back with the socks in a little while." + +"He found our door open!" exclaimed Dunk. "Didn't we lock it?" + +"We sure did!" declared Andy. "I wonder----" He paused, and looked at +his chum wonderingly. Then they both began a hasty search among their +possessions. The same thought had come to each. + +"Did you have my amethyst cuff buttons?" asked Andy of Dunk, who was +rummaging among his effects. + +"I did not. Why?" + +"They're gone!" + +"Another robbery! Say, we've got to report this right away, and let +Link's lawyer know!" Dunk cried. "This may clear him!" + +They paused, trying to map out a line of procedure, when a messenger +came in to say that either Dunk or Andy was wanted on the telephone in a +hurry. + +"You go," suggested Andy. "As long as either of us will answer I'll stay +here and take another look for my buttons. But I'm sure I left them in +my collar box, and they aren't there now." + +Dunk hurried off, while Andy conducted a careful but ineffectual search. + +"It was Link's lawyer," Dunk reported when he came back. "His case comes +up to-morrow, and he wants to know if we have any evidence that will +help to prove Link innocent." + +"Not an awful lot," said Andy, ruefully, "unless this latest robbery is. +We'd better go see that lawyer. Did he say anything about the mysterious +hundred dollars Link got by mail?" + +"He mentioned it. There's no explanation of it yet, and he says it will +look queer if it comes out, and if that's the only explanation Link can +give." + +"Why need it come out?" + +"Oh, it seems that Link showed the bills to several helpers around +college, and some of them have been subpoenaed to testify. The detective +will be sure to bring it out. Then there's that story about the book +found in Link's room." + +"Hello!--" exclaimed Andy, looking around the apartment in order to +collect his thoughts. "There's another note someone left for us. It must +have been knocked off the table." He picked it up off the floor. It was +addressed to him, and proved to be from Charley Taylor. It read: + + "DEAR ANDY. I watched you play to-day. You did well. I've got a + peach of a mushroom bat that I don't want, for I'm going in for + rowing instead of baseball this season. I left the bat in the + storeroom on your corridor when I moved out of Wright Hall. You can + have it if you like. I gave it to Mortimer Gaffington once, but he + said he never could find it. I don't believe he cared much about + it, anyhow. Take it and good luck." + +"By jinks!" cried Andy, as he read the missive and passed it to Dunk. +"Do you remember that time Mortimer was hunting for Charley's bat in the +closet?" + +"I should say I did! That was the time we were looking for the thief who +took Frank Carr's silver cup and his book." + +"Sure. Well, I'm just going to have a look for that bat now. Maybe I'll +have better luck than Mortimer did." + +"Go ahead. I'll stay here in case Ikey comes in with the socks. No use +having him bother us. Might as well pay him so he'll quit running in." + +"Sure. Well, I'm going to rummage for the bat," and Andy, thinking of +many things, went down the corridor to the large closet that was used as +a store room by the students. + +It was more filled than before with many things, and Andy had some +difficulty in locating the bat. Finally he found it away down in a +corner, under an old football suit, and drew it out. As he did so +something fell to the closet floor with a clang of metal. + +"I wonder what that was?" mused Andy. "It sounded like----" He did not +finish the thought, but made his way to the far end of the closet. It +was dark there, but, groping around, his fingers touched something hard, +round, smooth and cold. With trembling hand Andy drew it out, and when +the single electric light in the center of the storeroom fell upon it +Andy uttered a cry of surprise. + +"Frank's silver cup!" he cried. "The thief hid it in there! I wonder if +the book's here, too?" + +He made a hasty but unsuccessful search and then, with the bat and cup, +he hurried to the room where Dunk awaited him. + +"What's up?" demanded Dunk, as Andy fairly burst into the room. + +"Lots! Look here!" + +"Frank Carr's silver cup! Where'd you get it?" + +"In the closet where Mortimer Gaffington hid it!" + +"Mortimer Gaffington?" gasped Dunk. "You mean----" + +"I mean that I'm sure now of what I've suspected for some time--that +Mortimer is the quadrangle thief!" + +"You don't say so! How do you figure it out?" + +"Just think and you'll see it for yourself," went on Andy. "When we had +the chase after the thief down this corridor that time, the trail seemed +to lead right to this closet, didn't it?" + +"Sure," agreed Dunk. + +"And who did we find in there?" + +"Why, Mort, of course. But he said he was looking for Charley Taylor's +bat." + +"Well, he may have been, but that was only an excuse. Mortimer didn't +want that bat, but he was almost caught and he did want a place to hide +the stuff. The book he could slip in his pocket, but he couldn't do that +with the cup. So he threw it back in a corner, and it's been there ever +since. Probably he was afraid to come for it." + +"Andy, I believe you're right!" cried Dunk. "But one thing more--did you +find a pair of rubber shoes? You know Frank said the fellow that went +out of his room in such a hurry wore rubber shoes." + +"I forgot about that. I'll have another look." + +"I'll go with you. Ikey was here and I paid him for your socks and mine. +So we can lock up." + +"And be sure you do lock," warned Andy. "I don't want to lose any more +stuff. Say, Mortimer must have my sleeve links, all right." + +"All wrong, you mean. And my watch, too! I wonder if we're on the verge +of a discovery?" + +"It looks so," said Andy, grimly. + +Quickly and silently they went to the storeroom. They were not +disturbed, for there were several class dinners on that night, and most +of the occupants of Wright Hall were out. Andy and Dunk intended going +later. + +They rummaged in the closet and, when about to give up, not having found +what they sought, Andy unearthed a pair of rubbers. + +"These might be what the fellow wore," said Dunk, as he looked at them. +"He could easily have slipped them off. See if there are any marks +inside." + +Andy looked and uttered a startled cry. For there, on the inner canvas +of the rubber, printed in ink, were the initials "M. G." + +"They're his, all right!" spoke Andy, in a low tone. + +"Then he's the quadrangle thief," went on Dunk. "Come on back to our +room, and we'll talk this over. Something's has got to be done." + +"That's right," agreed Andy. "But what?" + +"We must set a trap," suggested Dunk. + +"A trap?" + +"Yes, do something to catch this mean thief--Mortimer or whoever he +is--in the act." + +"Hadn't we better tell the Dean--or someone." + +"No," said Dunk, after thinking over the matter. "Let's see if we can't +do this on our own hook. Then if we make a mistake we won't be laughed +at." + +"But when can we do it?" Andy asked. + +"This very night. It couldn't happen better. Nearly all the fellows will +be out of Wright Hall in a little while. We're booked to go, and +Mortimer knows it, for I was making arrangements with Bert Foley about +our seats, and Mortimer was standing near me. He came to borrow ten +dollars, but I didn't let him have it. So he will be sure to figure that +we'll be out to-night." + +"But how do you know he'll come to our room?" + +"I don't know it. I've got to take a chance there. But we can hide down +in the lower corridor, and watch to see if he comes in this dormitory. +If he does, knowing that 'most all the fellows are out, it will look +suspicious. We can watch for him to go out and then tackle him. If he +has the goods on him the jig is up." + +"Well, I guess that is a good plan," agreed Andy. "I hate to have to do +it, but we owe it to ourselves, to the college and to poor Link to +discover this thief. I only hope it doesn't prove to be Mortimer, but it +looks very bad for him." + +"We can go farther than that," went on Dunk. "We can leave some marked +money on our table, leave our door open and see what happens." + +"It sounds sort of mean," spoke Andy, doubtfully; "but I suppose if we +have to have a trap that would be the best way to do it." + +"Then let's get busy," suggested Dunk. "He may not come to-night after +all. We may have to watch for several nights. Meanwhile we'd better +telephone the lawyer that we're on a new lead." + +This was done, and the man in charge of Link's case agreed to see Andy +and Dunk early the next day to learn what success they had. + +Then the trap was laid. The two who were doing this, not so much to +prove Mortimer guilty as to free Link and others upon whom suspicion had +fallen, went about their work. + +As Dunk had surmised, Wright Hall was almost deserted. They found a +hiding place in the lower corridor where they could see whoever came in. +Their own door they left ajar, with a light burning. On the table where +they had been put, as if dropped by accident, were a couple of marked +bills. + +"If he takes those, we'll have him with the goods," said Dunk, grimly. + +Then he and Andy began their vigil. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIV + +CAUGHT + + +The silence got on the nerves of Andy and Dunk. It was very quiet in +Wright Hall, but outside they could hear the calls of students, one to +the other. Occasionally someone would come up on the raised courtyard of +the dormitory and shout loudly for some chum. But there were no answers. +Nearly all the freshmen were at an annual affair. The hall was all but +deserted. + +"Who do you think it will be?" asked Dunk in a whisper, after a long +quiet period. + +"Why, Mortimer, of course," answered Andy. "Do you have suspicions of +anybody else?" + +"Well, I don't know," was the hesitating answer. + +"Everything points to him," went on Andy. "He's in need of money, and +has been for some time, though we didn't know it. As soon as I heard +that news about his father losing all his fortune, and the possibility +that Mortimer might have to leave Yale, I said to myself that he was the +most likely one to have been doing this quadrangle thieving. + +"But I really hated to think it, for it seems an awful thing to have a +Yale man guilty of anything like that." + +"It sure is," agreed Dunk. "What are we going to do if we catch him?" + +"Time enough to think of that after we get him," said Andy, grimly. + +"No, there isn't," insisted Dunk. "Look here, old man, this is a serious +matter. It means a whole lot, not only to Mortimer, but to us. We don't +want to make a mistake." + +"We won't," said Andy. "We'll get him right, whether it's Mortimer, or +someone else. But I can't see how it could be anybody else. Everything +points to him. It's very plain to me." + +"You don't quite get me," went on Dunk, trying to get into a more +comfortable position in their small hiding place. "I'll admit that we +may get the thief, and I'm willing to admit, for the sake of argument, +that it may be Mortimer--in fact, I'm pretty sure, now, that it is he. +But look what it's going to mean to Yale. This thing will have to come +out--it will probably get into the papers, and how will it look to have +a Yale man held up as a thief. It doesn't make any difference to say +that he isn't a representative Yale man--it's the name of the university +that's going to suffer as much as is Mortimer." + +"That's so--I didn't think of that," admitted Andy, rather ruefully. +"Shall we call it off?" + +"No, it's too late to do that now. But we must consider what we ought to +do once we capture the thief." + +"What do you suggest?" asked Andy, after a pause. + +"I hardly know. Let's puzzle over it a bit." Again there fell a silence +between them--a silence fraught with much meaning. They could hear +revelry in other college rooms, and the call of lads on the campus. From +farther off came the roar and hum of the city. It reminded Andy of the +night he had first come to New Haven. How many things had happened in +that time. He would soon be a sophomore now--no more a callow freshman. + +"Do you know," spoke Dunk, in a low voice, as he again changed his +position, seeking ease. "I had an idea that Ikey might turn out to be +the guilty one." + +"So did I," admitted Andy. "That was after your watch was missing, and I +found he had been in the room while I was out. But, for that matter, +Link was in there, too. It was a sort of toss-up between the two. Poor +Link, it's been mighty unpleasant for him, to be accused wrongly. I +wonder how that valuable book got in his room?" + +"The quadrangle thief put it there, of course." + +"And there's that case of Pulter's book--found out near Yale Field," +went on Andy. "I suppose Mortimer had that, too." + +"Very likely, though it seems queer that he'd stoop so low as to take +books." + +"He could pawn 'em, I suppose, same as he did the other things he took," +Andy continued. + +"The way he used to borrow money from me and some of the other fellows +was a caution!" exclaimed Dunk. "Seems as though he'd have enough to +worry along on without stealing." + +"He spent a lot, though," said Andy. "He was used to high living and I +suppose when he found the money wasn't coming from his father any more +he had to get it the best way he could." + +"Or the worst," commented Dunk, grimly. "I know he never paid me back +all he got, and the same way with a lot of the fellows. But if he's +coming I wish he'd show up. I don't wish him any bad luck, and I'd give +a whole lot, even now, if it would prove to be someone else besides +Mortimer. But I'm getting tired of waiting here." + +"So am I," said Andy, with a yawn. + +Again there was a silence, while they kept their strange vigil. Then, +far down the lower corridor, there sounded footsteps. + +"He--he's coming!" whispered Andy in a tense voice. + +"Yes," assented Dunk. + +But it was a false alarm. As the footsteps came nearer the waiting lads +saw one of the janitors on his rounds. He did not see them, and passed +on. + +Andy was doing some hard thinking. The suggestion made by Dunk that the +capture of the thief would be more of a black spot for Yale than the +fact of the robberies taking place was bearing fruit. + +"But what can we do?" Andy asked himself. "We've got to stop these +thefts if we can, and the only way is to catch the fellow who's doing +it." + +They had been in their hiding place nearly an hour, and were getting +exceedingly weary. Dunk shifted about, as did Andy, and it was on the +tip of the latter's tongue to suggest that they give up their plan for +the night when they heard a distant door opened cautiously. + +"Listen!" whispered Andy. + +"All right," assented his chum. "I hope it amounts to something." + +With strained ears they listened. Now they heard steps coming along the +corridor. Curious, shuffling steps they were, not hard, honest +heel-and-toe steps--rather those of someone treading softly, as on soles +of rubber. + +"It's him all right this time!" whispered Andy in Dunk's ear. + +"I guess so--yes. Shall we follow him?" + +"Yes. Take off your shoes." + +Silently they removed them, and waited. The steps were nearer now, and a +long shadow was thrown athwart the place where Andy and Dunk were +hiding. They could not recognize it, however. + +The shadow came nearer, flickering curiously as the swaying of an +electric lamp threw it in black relief on the corridor floor. + +Then a figure came past the recess where the two lads were concealed. +They hardly breathed, and, peering out they beheld Mortimer Gaffington +stealing into Wright Hall. + +It was only what they had expected to see, but, nevertheless, it gave +them both a shock. + +Mortimer moved on. They could see now why he could walk so silently. He +had on rubbers over his shoes. The same trick used by the thief who had +entered Frank's room. + +Mortimer looked all around. He stood in a listening attitude for a +moment, and then, as if satisfied that the coast was clear, started up +the stairs toward the corridor from which opened the room of Andy and +Dunk. + +The two waited until he was out of sight, and then followed, making no +more noise than the thief himself. They timed their movements by his. +When he advanced they went forward, and when he stopped to listen, they +stopped also. It was like some game--a very grim sort of game, though. + +There was only a dim light in the upper corridor, and, coming to a halt +where the shadows were deepest, Andy and Dunk watched. They saw Mortimer +stop before a student's door, try it and then came the faint tinkle of a +bunch of keys. + +"Skeletons," whispered Dunk. + +Andy nodded in assent. + +The manipulation of the lock by means of a false key seemed to come easy +to Mortimer. In a moment he was inside the room. What he did there Andy +and Dunk could not see, but he remained but a few minutes, and came out, +softly closing the door after him. + +"I wonder what he got?" whispered Dunk. + +"We'll soon know," was Andy's answer. + +Mortimer went softly down the corridor. He did not try every door, but +only went in certain rooms, and these, the two watchers noticed, were +those where well-to-do students lived. + +Mortimer made four or five visits, and then moved towards the apartment +of Andy and Dunk. + +"It's our turn now," whispered the latter. + +Silently they turned a corner, just in time to see Mortimer enter their +room. + +"Now we've got him!" exulted Andy. + +"Not yet; we've got to nab him," whispered Dunk. "Oh, Andy, this is +fierce! To think that we're spying on a Yale man! To think that a Yale +man should turn out to be a common thief! It makes me sick!" + +"Same here," sighed Andy. "But the only way to stop suspicion from +falling on others is to get Mortimer with the goods. We've got to save +Link, too." + +"That's right," assented Dunk. "He isn't a Yale man, but he's a heap +better than the kind in there." He nodded his head in the direction of +their room, where Mortimer now was. + +They had left a light burning, and could see, as its beams were cut off +now and then, that the intruder was moving about in their apartment. + +"Come on, let's get him--and have it over with," suggested Dunk. + +"No, we've got to get the goods on him," said Andy. + +"Well, hasn't he got plenty of stolen goods--those from the other +fellows' rooms?" + +"I know. But if we went in on him now he'd bluff it off--say he came in +to borrow a book--or money maybe." + +"But we could search him." + +"You can't search a fellow for coming to borrow something," declared +Andy. "Come on, let's go where we can look in." + +Silently they stole forward until they were opposite their door. From +it they had a good view of Mortimer. + +Just at that moment they saw him reach for the bills on the table and, +with a quick motion, pocket them. Then the thief started toward a +bureau. + +"Come on!" whispered Andy, hoarsely. "We've got to get him now, Dunk!" + +With beating hearts the two sped silently but swiftly into the room. +They fairly leaped for Mortimer, who turned like a flash, glaring at +them. Fear was in his startled eyes--fear and shame. Then in an instant +he determined to face it out. + +"We--we've got you!" cried Dunk, exultantly. + +"Got me? I don't know what you mean?" said Mortimer, trying to speak +easily. But his voice broke--his tones were hoarse, and Andy noticed +that his hands were trembling. Mortimer edged over toward the door. + +"I came in to get a book," he faltered, "but I----" + +"Grab him, Dunk!" commanded Andy, and the two threw themselves upon the +intruder. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXV + +FOR THE HONOR OF YALE + + +"What does this mean? You fellows sure have your nerve with you! Let me +go, or I'll----" + +Mortimer stormed and raved, struggling to get loose from the grip of +Andy and Dunk. + +"I'll make you fellows sweat for this!" he cried "I'll fix you! +I--I'll----" + +"You'd better keep quiet, if you know what's best for you," panted Andy. +"We hate this business as much as you ever can, Gaffington! Don't let +the whole college know about it. Keep quiet, for the honor of Yale whose +name you've disgraced. Keep quiet, for we've got the goods on you and +the jig is up!" + +It was a tense moment, and Andy might well be pardoned for speaking a +bit theatrically. Truth to tell he hardly knew what he was saying. + +"Yes, take it easy, Gaffington," advised Dunk. "We don't want to make a +holiday of this affair; but you're at the end of your rope and the +sooner you know it the better. We've caught you. Take it easy and we'll +be as easy as we can." + +"Caught me! What do you mean?" asked the unfortunate lad excitedly. +"Can't I come to your room to borrow a book without being jumped on as +if I----" + +"Exactly! As though you were the thief that you are!" said Andy, +bitterly. "What does this mean?" + +With a quick motion, letting go of one of Mortimer's wrists, Andy +reached into the other's pocket and pulled out the bills. "They're +marked with our initials," he said, and his voice was sad, rather than +triumphant. "We left them there to see if you'd take them." + +The production of the bills took all the fight out of Mortimer +Gaffington. He ceased his struggling and sank limply into a chair which +Dunk pushed forward for him. + +There followed a moment of silence--a silence that neither Andy or Dunk +ever forgot. The quadrangle thief moistened his dry lips once or twice +and then said hoarsely: + +"Well, what are you going to do about it?" + +"That's the question," spoke Andy, wearily. "What _are_ we going to +do about it?" + +"Are you going to deny it?" asked Dunk. "Before you answer, think what +it means. An innocent man is under charges for these thefts." + +Mortimer did not answer for a moment. When he did speak it was to say: + +"No, I'm going to deny nothing. You have caught me. I own up. What are +you going to do about it?" + +"That's just it," said Dunk. "We don't know what to do about it." + +Silently Mortimer began taking from his pockets several pieces of +jewelry, evidently the things he had stolen from the rooms of other +students. + +"That's all I have," he said, bitterly. + +Andy and Dunk looked at him a moment without speaking and then Andy +asked: + +"Why did you do it, Mortimer?" + +"Why? I guess you know as well as I do. Everything is gone--dad's whole +fortune wiped out. We haven't a dollar, and I had to leave Yale. We kept +it quiet as long as we could. I didn't want to leave. I couldn't bear +to! + +"Oh, call it what you like--foolish pride perhaps, but I wanted to stay +here and finish as I'd begun--with the best of the spenders. That's what +I've been--a spender. I couldn't be otherwise--I was brought up that +way. So, when I found I couldn't get any money any other way I began +stealing. I'm not looking for sympathy--I'm telling the plain truth. I +took your watch, Dunk. I took those books. I smuggled one into Link +Bardon's room, hoping he'd be suspected. There's no use in saying I'm +sorry. You wouldn't believe me. It's all up. You've got me right!" + +He leaned forward and buried his face in his hands. + +Andy and Dunk felt the lumps rising in their throats. They had to fight +back the tears from their eyes. Never before had they taken part in such +a grim tragedy--never again did they want to. + +"You--you admit all the quadrangle thefts?" faltered Andy. + +"Every one," was the low answer. "I took Carr's book and silver cup--I +hid them in the closet that day you fellows caught me. I took Pulter's +book, too. I was desperate--I'd take anything. I just had to have the +money. I took the money Len thought he lost that night in the campus. +Well, this is the end." + +"Yes, it's the end," said Dunk, softly, "but not for us. We've got to +think of Yale." + +There was a footstep outside the door. The three started up in some +alarm. They were not ready yet for disclosures. + +"Beg pardon," said a calm voice, "but I could not help hearing what was +said. Perhaps I can help you." + +Andy swung open the door wider, and saw, standing in the hall, a man he +recognized as one taking a post-graduate course in the Medical School. +He was Nathan Conklin, and had taken a room in the freshman dormitory +because no other was available just at that time. + +"Do you want some advice?" asked Conklin. He was a pleasant chap, +considerably older than Andy or Dunk. And he seemed to know life. + +"I guess that's just what we do want," said Andy. "We are up against +it. We have caught--er----" + +"You needn't explain," said Conklin. "The less said on such occasions +the better. I happened to be passing and I could not help hearing. What +I didn't hear I guessed. Now I'm going to say a few words. + +"Boys, Yale is bigger than any of us--better than any of us. We've got +to consider the honor of Yale above everything else." + +Andy and Dunk nodded. Mortimer sat with his face buried in his hands. + +"Now then," went on Conklin, "for the honor of Yale, and not to save the +reputation of anybody, we must hush up this scandal. It must go no +farther than this room. Gaffington, are you willing to leave Yale?" + +"I suppose I'll have to," Mortimer answered, without looking up. + +"Yes, you would have to go if this came out, and it's better that you +should go without it becoming known. Now then, are you willing to make +restitution?" + +"I can't. I haven't a dollar in the world." + +"Let that go," said Dunk, quickly. "We fellows will see to that. I guess +those that have missed things won't insist on getting them back; they'll +do that much for the honor of Yale." + +"About this other man who is under charges, are you willing to give +testimony--in private to the judge--that will result in freeing him?" +asked Conklin. + +"Yes," whispered Mortimer. + +"Then that's all that's necessary," went on the medical student. "I'll +go see the Dean. You'd better come with me, Gaffington. I'll take charge +of this case." + +"Thank heaven!" said Andy, with a sigh of relief. "It was getting too +much for me." + +With bowed head Mortimer Gaffington followed the medical student from +the room. What transpired at the interview with the Dean neither Dunk +nor Andy ever learned. Nor did they ask. It was better not to know too +much. + +But Mortimer left Yale, and the honor of the college was untarnished, at +least by anything that became known of his actions. He slipped away +quietly, it being given out that his family was going abroad. And the +Gaffingtons did leave Dunmore, going no one knew whither. + +A certain secret meeting was held, when without a name being mentioned, +it was explained by Andy, Dunk and Conklin that the quadrangle thief +had been discovered. It was stated that those who had suffered losses +would be reimbursed by private subscription, but the idea was rejected +unanimously. + +How Mortimer worked, and how he accomplished the various robberies, +without being detected, remained a mystery. No one cared to go into it, +for it was too delicate a subject. + +The charge against Link was dismissed after a certain interview the Dean +had with the county prosecutor, and Link was given his old place back. + +"But if it had come to a trial," he said to Andy, when he was told that +the thief (no name being mentioned) had confessed, "if I had been tried +I could have told where that mysterious hundred dollars came from." + +"Where?" asked Andy interestedly. + +"From that farmer you saved me from. He got religion lately, and felt +remorse for my injured arm. So he sent me the hundred dollars for my +doctor's bill and other expenses." + +"And never said a word about it?" asked Dunk. + +"Not a word. But he died the other day, and the truth came out. A fellow +I know in the town wrote me about it. So I could have proved that I +didn't get the money by stealing." + +"It wasn't necessary," said Andy. "So everything is explained now." + +Andy's first year at Yale was nearing its close. The season was to wind +up with a series of affairs and with several ball games, including one +for the freshman team. Of course Dunk and Andy played. I wish I could +say that Yale won, but truth compels me to state that Princeton +"trimmed" her. + +"And we'll do it again!" exulted Ben Snow, as he greeted Andy after the +contest. + +"I don't know about that!" was the answer. Then Andy hurried off to +where a certain pretty girl waited for him. No, I'm not going to mention +her name. You wouldn't know her, anyhow. + +"Well," remarked Andy, as he and Dunk were packing up to go home for the +summer holidays, "college is a great place." + +"Especially Yale." + +"Oh, I don't know. Of course I think there's no place like Yale, but +there are others." + +And so Andy and Dunk packed up and prepared to start for home, agreeing +to room together again during their sophomore year, and until they had +completed their college course. + +They had locked their trunks, and their valises where ready. When came a +knock on their door, and a voice said: + +"Such bargains! Never before have I had such neckties and silk socks! +Fellows, let me show you----" + +"Get out, you Shylock!" laughed Andy, locking the portal. "We've only +got money enough for our railroad fare!" + +And Ikey Stein departed, looking for other bargain victims. + +"Come on," suggested Dunk, "let's take a walk over the campus and say +good-bye to the fellows." + +"I'm with you," agreed Andy. + +And arm in arm they departed. + +THE END + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Andy at Yale, by Roy Eliot Stokes + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ANDY AT YALE *** + +***** This file should be named 18939.txt or 18939.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/1/8/9/3/18939/ + +Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + +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. 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