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diff --git a/41513-0.txt b/41513-0.txt index 34ba351..511a5d1 100644 --- a/41513-0.txt +++ b/41513-0.txt @@ -1,36 +1,4 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of The New Boys at Oakdale, by Morgan Scott - -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: The New Boys at Oakdale - -Author: Morgan Scott - -Release Date: November 30, 2012 [EBook #41513] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE NEW BOYS AT OAKDALE *** - - - - -Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - - - - - - - - +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 41513 *** [Illustration: HE THRUST OUT HIS HAND FOR OSGOOD TO TAKE.] @@ -6581,360 +6549,4 @@ A. L. 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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: The New Boys at Oakdale - -Author: Morgan Scott - -Release Date: November 30, 2012 [EBook #41513] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE NEW BOYS AT OAKDALE *** - - - - -Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - - - - - - - - - -[Illustration: HE THRUST OUT HIS HAND FOR OSGOOD TO TAKE.] - - - - -THE NEW BOYS AT OAKDALE - -By MORGAN SCOTT - -Author of - -"Ben Stone at Oakdale," "Boys of Oakdale Academy," "Rival Pitchers of -Oakdale," "Oakdale Boys in Camp," "The Great Oakdale Mystery," etc. - -A. L. BURT COMPANY - -Publishers--New York - -Printed in U. S. A. - - - - -Copyright, 1913 - -BY - -HURST & COMPANY - -Printed in U. S. A. - - - - -CONTENTS - CHAPTER I--AN ORDER DISOBEYED. - CHAPTER II--THE SCORE TIED. - CHAPTER III--BENCHED. - CHAPTER IV--WYNDHAM'S LAST DESPERATE STAND. - CHAPTER V--THE DIPLOMACY OF OSGOOD. - CHAPTER VI--THE SUSPICIONS OF SLEUTH. - CHAPTER VII--YOUNG SPORTS. - CHAPTER VIII--A HOT GAME. - CHAPTER IX--THE BLOW AND AFTERWARDS. - CHAPTER X--THE LIE. - CHAPTER XI--PIPER SURPRISES HIS FRIENDS. - CHAPTER XII--DREAD. - CHAPTER XIII--THE PROFESSOR'S APPEAL. - CHAPTER XIV--PIPER PUTS IT UP TO SHULTZ. - CHAPTER XV--STILL SILENT. - CHAPTER XVI--THE FACE AT THE WINDOW. - CHAPTER XVII--THE GREAT FEAR. - CHAPTER XVIII--FLIGHT. - CHAPTER XIX--THE APPARITION IN THE WOODS. - CHAPTER XX--THE SEARCH. - CHAPTER XXI--THE CAMP ON THE ISLAND. - CHAPTER XXII--A SURPRISING CONFESSION. - CHAPTER XXIII--ANOTHER SURPRISE. - CHAPTER XXIV--SHULTZ SEES A LIGHT. - CHAPTER XXV--INTO THE OLD QUARRY. - CHAPTER XXVI--THE CONFESSION. - CHAPTER XXVII--LIKE A MIRACLE. - CHAPTER XXVIII--COMRADES ALL. - - - - -THE NEW BOYS AT OAKDALE - - - - -CHAPTER I - -AN ORDER DISOBEYED. - - -Oakdale started the game by hammering Ollie Leach, the Wyndham pitcher, -for three runs in the first inning. Indeed, it seemed that they would -drive the schoolboy twirler from the slab in short order, and they might -have done so only for a snappy, clean-cut double play which put an -abrupt end to the fusillade of hits. When the Wyndham captain declined -to make a change and sent Leach back to the mound in the second inning, -the wondering Oakdalers told one another that they would finish the -foolhardy southpaw then and there. - -Leach, however, had steadied down a great deal, and the best the -visitors could do was to squeeze in one more run, which they practically -secured through a rank error by Pelty, the shortstop. At this point the -successful batting of the visitors seemed to come to an abrupt end, for -during the succeeding four innings Ben Stone was the only man who could -hit the left-hander safely. - -Meanwhile, Rodney Grant was doing some steady, clever pitching for -Oakdale, which, with perfect support, would have prevented the locals -from gathering a single tally. Ned Osgood committed the first costly -blunder. Covering third for Oakdale, he attempted to make a fancy play -on a grounder, and let it get through him, enabling a Wyndham runner to -score from second after two were out. - -In the fifth, with two Wyndhamites gone, Charley Shultz, in the middle -garden, tried to pull down a fly with one hand when he could have easily -reached it with both hands, and his muff gave the locals another -valuable mark in the scorer's book. - -Jack Nelson, the Oakdale captain, reprimanded Shultz when, following a -strike-out, the team trotted to the bench. - -"You should have had that fly, Charley," said Nelson sharply; "and you -would have got it if you'd went after it with both hands instead of one. -That's the first time I've seen you drop a ball you could reach as -easily as that one. Quit your grandstanding and play baseball." - -Shultz shot Nelson a sullen look. "Oh, what's the use to holler?" he -retorted. "I knew best whether I could reach it with both hands or one. -I think I know how to play that field." - -Nelson's teeth came together with a click, and for a moment, his cheeks -burning hotly, it seemed that his annoyance and anger would master him, -but he succeeded in holding himself in check. - -"You can play the field all right, Shultz," he said, "and it's just -because you can that I disapprove of that attempted fancy flourish. -We've got to hold these chaps down somehow." - -"Oh, don't worry," laughed Osgood optimistically. "We've got them beaten -now. We won the game in the first inning." - -"Mebbe we did, but we didn't paound Lefty Leach off the slab," reminded -Sile Crane. "Gall hang that feller! I hit him once, but I'll be switched -if I can seem to do it ag'in. He's sorter got me locoed!" - -"He seems to have rattled everybody belonging to this whole bunch," said -Chipper Cooper. "We ain't any of us doing ourselves proud--'cepting old -Stoney." - -Nor did they improve in the first of the sixth. Leach was working a -sharp drop that had them all breaking their backs to the distasteful -music of the Wyndham cheers. Grant was effective in the latter half, and -the seventh opened with him at bat. - -"Start us off, Rod," implored Nelson, as the Texan secured his bat and -left the bench. "Let's sew this thing up with some more runs." - -The fellow from the Lone Star State made no reply, but he squared -himself grimly in the batters' box and took the measure of one of -Lefty's drops. The hit was, appropriately, a Texas leaguer, and the -visiting spectators howled joyously as Rod capered to first. - -Chipper Cooper, coaching on the line back of first, flapped his arms -wildly and crowed like a rooster. As the cheering of the little knot of -Oakdale Academy students died down somewhat, Chipper was heard whooping -joyously: - -"Here we go! The lucky seventh! Don't try to steal second, Rod; that -would be a base thing to do. We're after old Lefty again, and now we'll -finish the job we started in the first round." - -On the opposite side of the diamond Phil Springer, likewise enthused and -excited, was wildly stuttering at the same time: - -"Gug-gug-great work, Gug-Gug-Grant. Some cuc-cuc-class to that little -bub-bingle. Take a gug-gug-good lead. Shultzie saw how you dud-dud-did -it. He'll drive you round." - -There was in this contest between rival high school nines little of that -calculation and method employed by professionals and generally termed -"inside baseball." Nevertheless, Jack Nelson knew the importance of team -work and had done his best to drill his players in some of the -rudiments. The deadly accuracy of the Wyndham catcher's throwing to -bases was well known to the Oakdale lads, and, with no one down, an -attempt to steal seemed inadvisable to Nelson. Shultz, the next batter, -had been hitting the ball hard, even though he had found it impossible -to place his hits safely, and instantly Nelson spoke a word to him and -signalled to the watchful Texan at first that it was to be a -hit-and-run. - -On previous occasions, with the situation similar, the visitors had -seemed to prefer sacrificing; and so, as Shultz confidently took his -position at the plate, the infield drew closer, every fellow on his toes -to go after a bunt or a short grounder. - -Leach made sure his support was prepared for action, and then, wetting -his fingers, he handed up a high whistler that had a bit of a jump on -it. - -Even though the ball was on a level with his cap visor, Shultz managed -to hit it, boosting a high fly toward the smiling sky. - -Grant was half way down to second when he heard a shrill, warning cry -from both coachers. - -"Look out! Get back! Skyscraper!" shrieked Cooper. - -"Hey! Bub-bub-bub-bub----" Springer continued to "bub" even after the -galloping Texan had plowed his spikes into the ground, brought himself -to a halt and turned to race desperately back to the initial sack. - -Little Pelty got under that high one and reached for it eagerly in his -great desire to make the catch and turn it into a double play by a throw -that should reach first ahead of the returning runner. For the moment, -with the exception of the still shrieking coachers, every spectator -seemed breathless and silent. Pelty got the ball, froze to it and made a -beautiful throw, but Grant's amazing promptness in stopping and getting -back at high speed saved him by a yard or more, and he was declared safe -at first. - -"Pretty close, pretty close," cried Baxter, the Wyndham captain. - -"Missed by a mile," contradicted Cooper, intensely relieved. "You can't -rope this wild Texas steer; he's never been branded." - -"Cuc-cuc-come on, Osgood," implored Springer, as the next hitter was -seen to rise from the bench; "you're the boy to do the trick." - -Already Nelson had given Ned Osgood his instructions. - -"Bunt, Osgood," were his swift words. "They may look for us to follow up -with a hit-and-run. Sacrifice Grant along on the second ball pitched. -Stone is the next batter." - -That he was right in his judgment concerning the locals was proven by -the fact that the infielders resumed their regular positions, while the -outfielders fell back a little. Persistent plugging at the hit-and-run -game is frequently resorted to by teams having poor success through -other methods, and the action of Baxter in signaling his players to fall -back showed that he believed an attempt would be made to repeat the play -that had been foiled through Shultz's high infield fly. - -Leaning forward in a natural position, with his elbows on his knees and -the fingers of his hands interlocked, Nelson thus telegraphed to Grant -that the hitter would let the first ball pass and try to sacrifice on -the next. - -Jack's foresight seemed excellent, for, fancying the visitors would be -eager to continue the hit-and-run attempt, Leach "wasted one" on Osgood, -who did not even remove his bat from his shoulder. - -"Let him do it again," piped Cooper. "Let him put himself in a hole, -Osgood, then pick out a good one when he has to put it across." - -Osgood, although he liked the game, was both obstinate and conceited, -having a great deal of confidence in himself as a batter and believing -that he knew as much about baseball as any fellow on the team. - -Therefore, perceiving that the next ball was coming over slightly more -than waist high and apparently just where he wanted it, he declined to -bunt and swung with all his force, hoping to make a long, sensational -drive which would go safe and cover him with glory. Instead of doing -this, he smashed a hot grounder straight into the hands of Foxhall, the -second baseman. - -Grant, fully expecting a sacrifice, was again racing down the line from -first, and now he had no time to turn back. Without delay, yet with a -deliberation that made for sureness, Foxhall turned and threw to first, -completing an easy double play that was brought about directly through -the batter's perverseness in declining to follow the instructions of his -captain. - - - - -CHAPTER II - -THE SCORE TIED. - - -Jack Nelson sprang up from the bench, his face pale, his eyes flashing -with anger. Osgood had stopped abruptly on his way to first, realizing -that the double play sent Oakdale back to the field, and turned to cross -the diamond to his position at third base. Nelson met him near the -pitcher's position. - -"What do you mean, Osgood," he demanded hoarsely--"what do you mean by -disobeying my order? I told you to sacrifice." - -"But it was a fine chance to hit the ball out and make some runs," -returned the disobedient player defendingly. "Sacrificing with one man -down didn't look like good baseball to me." - -"It makes no difference how it looked to you; your place was to follow -my instructions. Stone has been hitting Leach hard and safely, and, with -Grant on second, even a long single might have given us another score." - -"I beg your pardon," said Osgood haughtily, "but I played baseball -before I ever saw Oakdale, and I know something." - -"That will do," interrupted the wrathy captain. "I don't care how much -baseball you know, you'll have to obey me if you play on this team, and -you may as well understand that at once. You can see that you threw away -a chance for a run by hitting into that double play." - -Ned Osgood was not the sort of fellow to relish this style of talk even -from the captain of his nine, and for a moment he was tempted to make a -sarcastic rejoinder. Something prevented him from doing this, however, -and he walked onward toward third, shrugging his shoulders. His manner -was so irritating to Nelson that for the moment, even though Osgood had -shown himself to be the best available man for the position he filled, -Jack was tempted to bench him instantly. This temptation was put aside, -but it was followed by an immediate decision to stand no more -foolishness from Osgood. - -The alarm that had been awakened in the bosoms of the Wyndhamites by -Grant's safe drive was dissipated in joy over the defensive work of the -home team, which had prevented the Texan from advancing further. Boys -and girls of Wyndham High cheered in concert and waved their banners, -while the crowd of older sympathizers made a great uproar. - -Like Nelson, Grant had been extremely annoyed by Osgood's pigheaded -action, and the Oakdale pitcher was somewhat disturbed as he resumed his -position on the firing line. - -"Hard luck, Rod," said Stone, the somewhat taciturn catcher, as he -buckled on the body protector. - -"It wasn't luck," denied Grant; "it was mulish foolishness, nothing -less." - -Laughing and well satisfied, the Wyndham lads capered to their bench, -where Leach, seeking for his bat, listened and nodded as Captain Baxter -gave him a word of instruction. - -"Don't try to kill that wild and woolly Texan's speed, Lefty," said -Baxter. "He's burning 'em over like bullets, and we're swinging our -heads off. Just try to meet 'em, that's all." - -Grant's annoyance was made still further apparent when he opened with a -weirdly wild heave over Stone's head that would have counted against him -as a wild pitch had there been a runner on the sacks. - -"Going up," shouted some one from the Wyndham bleachers; and, in an -effort to rattle the pitcher, the crowd redoubled the racket it was -making. - -Seeing that the pitcher was unsteady, Stone began to fuss over his mask -strap, which had suddenly become unsatisfactory and needed adjustment. -The entire Oakdale team felt the tension of the moment, and Stone's -subterfuge met their approval. On the other hand, it led their opponents -to protest against the delay and urge the umpire to make them play. - -Apparently getting the mask strap fixed at last, Ben resumed his -position behind the pan and squatted to signal between his knees. Rod -shook his head, and the catcher changed the signal. Then Grant nodded -and pitched. - -Faithful to instructions, Leach took a short grip on his bat and brought -it round quickly to meet the ball. There was a ring of wood against -leather, and an instant later Nelson, flinging himself to one side, -reached for the grounder. It struck his gloved hand and carromed off to -the left. He went after it instantly, scooped it up and shot it to Crane -at first, but it arrived a bare second too late. - -The Wyndham crowd cheered as madly as if Leach had reached the initial -sack on a clean hit instead of an error. Out in center field, Shultz -laughed with the satisfaction of a player who, lacking whole-souled -interest in his team, feels that his own bad work has been minimized by -that of a teammate. In this case his satisfaction was made the greater -by the fact that the minimizing error had been contributed by the chap -who had criticized him a short time before. - -Nelson stood still for an instant, then held up his hand for the ball, -which Crane threw to him. Turning, the captain made a signal, which -caused Cooper to take his position on second. Tossing the sphere to -Chipper, Jack walked into the diamond and spoke in a low tone to Grant. - -"Don't let that rattle you, old man," he said. "I reckon we're both hot -under the collar, and we'd better cool off a bit. Take your time with -these chaps; they can't hit you." - -"I'd like to punch Osgood's head!" growled the Texan. - -"So would I, but that wouldn't help us win the game. Look out for a -sacrifice now. They've found they can't steal on Stone." - -"Play ball! play ball!" howled the crowd. - -"Play ball," said the umpire sharply. - -On first, Leach was seeking to add to the opposing twirler's -unsteadiness by uproarious laughter and the repeated declaration: "We've -got him going! We've got him going!" - -Nelson was most deliberate about returning to his post, and not until he -was there did he nod for Cooper to give Grant the ball. Like a flash -Rodney shot it to first, and the laughter of Leach was cut short by a -gasp as he barely ducked under Crane's reaching hand. - -"Almost gug-got him then!" shouted Springer from right field. - -"Here's the head of the list," called a coacher, as Crispin squared -himself in the batters' box. "Keep up the good work." - -In order to make it difficult for Crispin to bunt, Grant put one over -high and close--too high and too close. Crispin caught himself in his -swing and then pretended that he had been hit on the shoulder; but the -pretense was so palpably a fake that the umpire behind the pitcher, who -chanced to be an Oakdale man, refused to let him take first. Naturally, -the other umpire, who was in charge of the bases, said nothing, but -somehow his manner seemed to denote that he disagreed on the decision. -This led to a kick by the Wyndham captain, who dropped it quickly, -however, when reminded by a fellow player that the delay was giving -Oakdale a chance to steady down. - -Again Grant attempted to put the ball over high and close, but he simply -got it across the inside corner slightly below the batter's shoulders, -and Crispin made a successful bunt that rolled along just inside the -first base line. Jumping over the ball, the hitter sprinted hard for -first. - -Grant scooped up the rolling sphere and heard Nelson's sharp cry to put -it to first. It whistled past Crispin's ear and spanked into Crane's -mitt. - -"Out at first," said the Wyndham umpire, with something like a touch of -regret. - -"Good work, Crispin," gleefully called Baxter, giving the player a slap -on the shoulder. "That was a beauty bunt, old boy. Now we've got 'em -where we want 'em." - -Even as he spoke he signaled from his position on the coaching line for -Foxhall to hit the ball out; and Foxhall was liable to do it if anybody -could. - -Grant worked carefully with this batter, meanwhile holding Crispin as -close to first as possible. Nevertheless, Foxhall swung uselessly only -once. The second time he whipped his bat round he connected with the -horsehide and sent the sphere skimming along the ground straight at -Cooper. - -Eager and anxious, Chipper booted it beautifully. Like a cat he chased -it up and made a futile effort to get the hitter. The throw was a case -of bad judgment as well as a wild heave, which even long-geared Sile -Crane could not reach. - -So while Crane was chasing after the ball, Foxhall, who should have been -out, romped on to second, and Leach scored amid a tremendous tumult. - -Grinning broadly, Sam Cohen, Wyndham's heavy-hitting left-fielder, -danced out to the plate, determined to keep things moving. Surely, it -looked like Wyndham's opportunity, and, besides the desire to prevent -the visitors from settling down, there was a legitimate excuse for the -continued uproar of the home crowd. Although they well knew that Grant -was little to blame for the turn of affairs, the Wyndham coachers were -trying hard to "get him going" by pretending that it was his fault, and -behind Rodney's back Foxhall capered on second, clapping his hands and -making gestures intended to encourage the shrieking spectators. - -Never in his life had Chipper Cooper been more chagrined and ashamed. -His face beet-red, he begged Nelson to kick him. - -"Get back to your position and play ball, Cooper," said the captain, as -calmly as he could. "We've got to stop this foolishness right here. They -mustn't make another run." - -Grant's teeth were set and his under jaw looked grim and hard. He knew -well enough that Cohen was especially dangerous at this stage of the -game, for the nervy Hebrew was one of those rare batters who hit better -in a pinch than at any other time, the necessity seeming always to prime -him properly. - -Trying Cohen out with a bender that went wide in hopes that in his -eagerness he would be led to reach for it, Rodney delivered a ball. The -next one was high and likewise wide, for Stone had seen Foxhall taking a -dangerous lead off second and called for a pitch that would put him in -easy position to throw. Nelson, awake to precisely what was transpiring -between the battery men, made a leap for the sack before the ball -reached Stone's hands, and Ben lined it down with a wonderful short-arm -throw, which saved time and yet was full of powder. - -Only for the warning shouts of the wide-awake coachers, who had seemed -to divine the move in advance, Foxhall might have been caught napping. -As it was, he barely succeeded in sliding back to the sack, feet first, -and the Wyndham umpire instantly spread his hands out, palm downward. -Foxhall drew a breath of relief. - -A moment later Baxter shouted: - -"Got him in a hole, Cohen! Make him put 'em over now! Make him find the -pan!" - -Steady as a rock, Grant did put the next one over, and Cohen, "playing -the game," let it pass for a called strike. - -"He can't do it again!" cried Baxter. "Make 'em be good!" - -Grant used a drop, starting the ball high so that it shot down past the -batsman's shoulders and across his chest. Even as the umpire called, -"Strike two," the Oakdale players shouted a warning to Stone. It was -needless, for Ben had seen Foxhall speeding along the line in a -desperate and seemingly ill-advised attempt to purloin third. Craftily -Cohen fell back a step to one side, as if to give the catcher room to -throw, but with the real purpose of bothering him as much as possible -without bringing, by interference, a penalty upon the runner. Possibly -this was the reason why Stone threw high, forcing Osgood to reach to the -full length of his arms in order to get the sphere. Almost invariably -the Oakdale catcher put the ball straight and low into the hands of the -baseman, so that the latter could tag a sliding runner quickly and -easily; and had he been able to do this now, Foxhall doubtless could not -have slid safely under Osgood, which, however, was precisely what he did -succeed in doing. - -"Who said we couldn't steal on old Stoney?" shouted Pelty from the -coaching line back of third. "Great work, Foxy, old man. You put that -one across on him." - -With only one local player gone and but a single run needed to tie the -score, the tension of the moment was intense. No one realized the danger -better than Grant, and when he pitched again he made another clever -effort to "pull" Cohen; an effort that almost succeeded, for Sam caught -himself just in time to prevent his bat from swinging across the plate. - -"Ball three," came from the umpire. - -"He's going to walk you, Cohen; he's afraid of you," came from Baxter. - -It must be admitted that Grant had considered the advisability of -handing Cohen a pass, but knowing Wolcott, the fellow who came next, was -almost as dangerous a hitter, he had decided that such a piece of -strategy would be ill advised. Taking into consideration the batter's -ability to meet speed, Rod shook his head when Stone called for a -straight one on the inside corner. Ben knew at once that the Texan -wished to try to strike Cohen out, and so he swiftly changed the signal. - -Now Cohen had brains in his head and was also a good guesser. Moreover, -he knew that Grant relied largely upon his remarkable drop when a -strike-out was needed. And so it happened that, seeing Rod decline to -follow the first signal, he was convinced that the pitcher would hand up -one of those sharp dips. - -Having guessed right, the batter judged the drop beautifully and hit it -a tremendous smash. Away sailed the ball toward center field, some -distance to the right of Shultz, who stretched his stout legs to get -under it. - -"He can't touch it!" was the cry. - -Nevertheless, when Foxhall started off third, Pelty, defiant of coaching -rules, sprang forward, grabbed him and yanked him back. - -"Get on to that sack!" the little shortstop panted. "Get ready to run! -You can score anyhow; you don't need a start." - -Thus advised, Foxhall leaped back to the cushion, upon which he planted -his left foot with the right advanced, crouching, his hands clenched, -his arms hooked the least bit, ready to get away like a sprinter -starting from his mark. - -Shultz made a splendid run, leaping into the air at the proper moment -and thrusting out his bare right hand. The ball struck in that outshot -hand and stuck there. - -An instant before the catch was made Pelty shrieked, "Go," and Foxhall -raced for the plate. - -It was impossible to stop that run. Cohen's long sacrifice fly had tied -the score, in spite of the strenuous and sensational one-handed catch in -center field; and the crowd leaped and yelled, with arms up-flung and -caps hurled into the air. - - - - -CHAPTER III - -BENCHED. - - -In moments like this the baseball fan of any age goes wild with frenzy; -especially is this true of the enthusiastic schoolboy fan who has -watched his team fight an uphill game and come neck-and-neck with a -worthy and much-feared rival in one of the late innings of the contest. -The youthful Wyndhamites shrieked until their faces were purple and -their eyes bulging, flourishing their banners and frantically pounding -one another over heads and shoulders. At the bench the players -laughingly danced around Foxhall and then cheered Cohen as the latter -came walking back from first, muttering to himself that the catch had -been "a case of horseshoes, nothing less." - -In the midst of this excitement Nelson ran up to Grant, whose face was -pale, but grim and set as ever. - -"You couldn't help it, Rod," said the Oakdale captain soothingly. "They -won't get any more. The bases are clean now." - -"But they've tied the score," growled the Texan. "That's the first time -Cohen has touched one of my drops to-day." - -"Hold them where they are, and we'll win it yet," declared Jack -optimistically. "We didn't expect a walk-over with this bunch." - -Wolcott's courage was high as he faced Rodney. Heedless of the uproar, -the Texan burned the air with his speed, and Wolcott fouled. - -"Strike one," called the umpire. - -Another smoker followed with a slightly different twist, and this time -the batter missed cleanly. - -"That's two of them, old Maverick," called Stone, breathing on his -smarting right hand. "Some speed, old man--some speed there." - -Seemingly with precisely the same movement and snap, Rodney made the -third pitch; but this time the ball lingered astonishingly on its way, -as if held back by some subtle force, and, as a result, the befooled -batter struck too soon, not even fouling it. This gave the little bunch -of loyal Oakdalers a chance to cheer. - -"I don't suppose you're going to call me down for that one-handed catch, -are you?" said Shultz insolently, as he came jogging to the bench. - -Nelson shot him a look and turned away without answering. Not satisfied, -the fielder turned to Cooper. "A man can usually tell whether he can -reach the ball best with one hand or two," he declared loudly enough for -the captain to hear. "I didn't make that muff intentionally." - -Ben Stone walked out to the plate and watched Lefty Leach waste two -benders, which led Springer stammeringly to prophesy that Leach, being -afraid, would give the stocky catcher a pass. The next one, however, was -over the outside corner and precisely where Ben wanted it, whereupon he -smashed a terrific drive over second and took two sacks on it amid -further enthusiasm by Oakdale. - -Nelson could not refrain from calling Osgood's attention to the fact -that this hit would have given the visitors a score had his instructions -regarding sacrificing been obeyed. - -"Perhaps you're right," admitted Ned in his blandly polite and -tantalizing manner; "but it's no dead sure thing that Stone would have -made just that kind of a hit in the other inning. Anyway, we ought to -get some runs now." - -Sile Crane ambled awkwardly forth to the plate and hit into the diamond -the first ball pitched, giving Stone, who had a good start, plenty of -time to reach third, for Foxhall juggled the grounder a moment. -Realizing he could not stop Ben, Foxhall snapped the sphere to first in -time to get the lanky batter. - -"The squeeze, Cooper," hissed Nelson in Chipper's ear, as the little -shortstop rose from the bench. At the same time Jack assumed a pose that -told Stone what was to be tried. - -Ready to play his part, Ben crept off third, intending to dash for the -plate and rely upon Cooper to hit the ball into the diamond somewhere. - -Leach placed himself in position, nodded in response to his catcher's -signal, hunched his left shoulder a bit, and, whirling like a flash, -threw to third. Stone had started forward with that shoulder movement by -the pitcher, and was caught off the sack. Instantly, even as he sought -to get back without being touched, he called for judgment on a balk. - -The umpires had changed positions, and now the Wyndham man was behind -the pitcher. In response to that demand for a decision on Leach's -movement he grimly shook his head. - -"It was a balk--a plain, cold balk," cried Nelson, on his feet. - -"No balk," denied the umpire, still shaking his head. - -"In that case," said the other umpire slowly, "Stone is out at third." - -Nelson ran into the diamond and confronted the Wyndham man. "It was as -rank a balk as I ever saw," he asserted hotly. "What kind of a deal are -you trying to give us?" - -"I saw no balk, and I was looking at the pitcher," returned the umpire. -"Get back to your bench." - -Nelson argued in vain, while the crowd made the air ring with hoots and -cat-calls. Presently the umpire threatened to pull his watch and forfeit -the game, whereupon the disgusted and angry Oakdale captain walked -slowly back to the bench. - -"You shouldn't let him get away with it," said Osgood. "It was a balk -all right." - -"Why didn't our man call Stone safe?" rasped Grant. - -"Ben was caught off the sack by five feet," said Nelson. "Two wrongs -don't make a right. But it's hard medicine to swallow." - -Thus far Chipper Cooper had not made a hit; but now, as if he, too, was -fired with resentment by the injustice of the decision, he landed on the -second ball pitched to him and drove it out for a clean single. - -"G-g-good bub-bub-boy, Chipper!" shouted Springer. "It's a wonder he -didn't call it a fuf-foul, though." - -Sleuth Piper, solemn and savage, took his place at the plate, grabbing -his bat and shaking it as if he meant to make a dent in the ball as -surely as Leach got it within reach. Not once did he swing, however, and -the left-handed twirler looked disgusted when he had presently handed up -the fourth ball in succession and thus given one of the weak batters of -the visiting nine a pass. - -"Get the next man, Lefty," urged Baxter. "He's fruit for you." - -With the head of the list following Springer, the Oakdale boys hoped for -the best; but Phil put up a dead easy infield fly that was smothered, -and the visitors had lost another splendid opportunity. - -Never in his life had Grant pitched better than he did in the last of -the eighth. Only three batters faced him, and two of these fanned, the -third putting up a foul which Stone took care of with ease. - -"Steady, fellows," cautioned Baxter, as his men started for the field. -"We've only got to hold them. Old Grant can't keep that steam up. We'll -get to him." - -Leach started the ninth as if he meant to duplicate the last turn of the -Texan, fanning Captain Nelson with apparent ease. - -Once more Rod Grant came to bat, and once more, with his pet club in his -hands, he out-guessed the southpaw twirler, banging a clean single into -center. - -At Osgood's elbow Nelson quickly said: - -"Sacrifice him to second. That will give him a possible chance to score -if Shultz hits safe." - -Osgood made no retort. He saw Grant looking toward the bench and placing -himself in position to get away swiftly on the bunt. At the plate, he -beheld the first ball pitched to him apparently coming over just where -he wanted it, and instantly he felt that he could hit it out safely. -Furthermore, he had not changed in his conviction that it was bad policy -to sacrifice with one man down, even though the next two hitters were -supposed to be the best stickers on the team, and one of them, Shultz, -was his especial chum. Therefore he swung on the ball and met it. -Instead of a drive, it proved to be a grounder that went clipping over -the skin diamond straight into the hands of Pelty. Like a flash Pelty -snapped it to Foxhall, who had leaped on to second, and, turning, -Foxhall lined the sphere to first, again completing a fast double play. - -Nelson was on his pins, and he intercepted Osgood as the latter, without -looking toward him, attempted to pass on the way to his position at -third. - -"Go to the bench," said Jack, his voice hoarse and husky. "You're out of -the game, Osgood." - -"I beg your pardon," said Osgood. "What did you say, sir?" - -"I said you're out of the game. I won't stand for such rank -disobedience." - -"Oh, very well," said Osgood, coolly turning toward the bench. "You're -the autocrat--at present." - -"What's the matter?" demanded Shultz, running up. "What's the trouble, -Ned?" - -"Nothing," was the reply, "only I'm benched because I didn't make a safe -hit." - -"If he benches you I'll quit myself," threatened Shultz. - -"You won't quit," said Nelson instantly. "You're fired. The bench for -you, too. Get off the field." - -"Well, wouldn't that choke you!" gulped Shultz, astonished to have his -bluff called so promptly. "How will he fill both our places?" - -Nelson showed them in a moment by placing Roy Hooker, one of the spare -pitchers, at third, and sending Chub Tuttle to fill center field. - -Osgood and Shultz retired to the bench, where they sat talking, the -latter showing by his manner that he was thoroughly enraged against his -captain, while his friend, more politic and suave, accepted the -situation with pretended indifference and disdain. - -Although the team had been weakened by the removal of these two players, -for the substitutes surely could not fill their positions with an equal -amount of skill, Grant betrayed no sign of weakening himself. Pelty and -Leach were retired by the strike-out route, and even Crispin's best -performance was a weak grounder on which he perished in a hopeless dash -to first. - -The tenth inning opened with Tuttle at bat. Chub had never been a -hitter, but he did succeed in rolling a weak one to Leach, who threw him -out. - -"Now, Stoney," implored Cooper, as the catcher again came up, "you've -got to do it. He's been a mark for you. One run is all that we need to -take this game. Lace it out." - -Leach was very glad that the bases were empty. Even under those -circumstances he began as if he meant to pass this dangerous slugger. -After pitching two balls, however, he got one across, and Ben fouled it. -Then came another ball, which was followed by a high, speedy shoot. - -Stone smashed the horsehide again, bringing every spectator up standing. -It was a splendid drive, but Cohen took it on the run and held fast to -it. - -"Ah-ha! Oh-ho!" whooped Baxter joyously. "Old Eat-'em-alive is finished. -Now you have things your own way, Lefty." - -Although Shultz was grinning as Stone came walking back, Osgood politely -declined to smile. - -Sile Crane sighed as he picked up his bat. - -"By Jinks!" he muttered. "I'd sartainly like to make one more hit off -that feller. I don't seem able to touch him no more." After which he -walked to the plate and swung at the first ball pitched with all the -strength of his long, sinewy arms. - -There was a tremendous ringing crack, and the ball went sailing away, -away, far over the center-fielder's head. The little Oakdale crowd -screamed like lunatics, but the Wyndhamites were distressingly silent as -the long-geared lad raced over first, second, third, and on to the -plate, which he reached ere the ball could be returned to the diamond. - - - - -CHAPTER IV - -WYNDHAM'S LAST DESPERATE STAND. - - -Charley Shultz sneered openly, with his full red upper lip curved high -and exposing his broad teeth, as the delighted Oakdale players -congratulated their comrade who had made that opportune home-run drive. - -"Look a' that gangling country jay," he muttered in Osgood's ear. "See -him grin like a baboon. See him distend his flat chest. Probably he -thinks himself a Lajoie or a Wagner." - -"Hush, Charley!" cautioned Osgood gently. "Don't be too open in your -feelings; it's bad policy. Besides, I've got Crane on the string. He's -astride the fence now, and doesn't know which way he's going to fall." - -"Oh, all right," returned Shultz; "but I don't see what use you can have -for him. He hasn't any money, and his influence doesn't amount to much." - -"Even the support of the weakest chap may prove of some value when the -break comes." - -"After to-day you ought to force things in a hurry. I hope you're not -going to stand for the rotten deal that swell-head Nelson has handed out -to us." - -"Have patience, old man--have patience," soothed Osgood. "I'll strike -when the iron is hot. When possible, a good general always avoids going -into an engagement before his plans are properly prepared and his forces -strengthened to the full limit." - -The fact that these two disgruntled fellows took no part in the -rejoicing of their team seemed to be overlooked at the time; for this -was a game in which a run in the tenth inning was of tremendous -importance, and, taking into consideration the recent course of the -contest, almost an assurance of victory. A triumph over the always -formidable Wyndhamites in the season's first meeting between the two -teams would give Oakdale a much desired advantage in the High School -League. - -"Oh, why can't I do something like that?" cried Cooper. "It makes my -solitary little tap look like ten below zero, and I always get cold feet -in that sort of weather." - -Nevertheless, he faced Lefty Leach like a chap exuding confidence from -every pore. Leach was frowning and savage in his bearing, but Chipper -returned the Wyndham pitcher's dark look with a cheerful smile, -threatening to start the stitches in the horsehide if Lefty dared to put -one over. - -The thunderstruck and dismayed Wyndham crowd awoke from its benumbed -condition and resumed cheering, although there was plainly a -disheartened note in the volume of sound, something which the players -themselves must have recognized. On the other hand, the Oakdale -spectators were once more jubilant with restored confidence in their -team and the conviction that Crane's wonderful wallop had practically -decided the result. - -Despite Cooper's aggressive attitude of assurance, Leach unhesitatingly -slanted the ball across and continued to do so while the Oakdale -shortstop rapped out foul after foul. - -"You'll get him in a minute," encouraged Baxter. "He never was any good -with the war-club." - -Much to Cooper's sorrow, this prophecy came true, for Chipper finally -hoisted a short one back of first for Turner, the baseman, to gather in. - -"Only three more men, Grant," said Nelson. "Get them, and we hang up a -scalp." - -"I'll sure do it if it's in me," whispered the Texan to himself, as he -made his way to the diamond. - -Baxter rushed to the bench to have a few words with his players. - -"Don't be too eager, fellows," he cautioned; "and still, don't let him -sneak any good ones across. He's pitching for his life now, but he'll -try to pull you all. If you can start us going, Foxy, we'll crawl out of -this hole right here." - -Making no retort, Foxhall stepped into the batters' box and watched the -Oakdale pitcher make the situation more difficult for himself by failing -to find the pan with the first two pitches. An in-shoot followed, and, -remembering Baxter's words, Foxhall picked it off the inside corner with -a sharp swing that sent it grass-cutting ten feet inside of third. - -Roy Hooker, who was filling Osgood's position, was not an infielder, -and, although he leaped in front of the ball, he failed to keep his feet -together, which allowed the humming sphere to go through him cleanly. - -"Ha! Look a' that!" cried Shultz, giving Osgood a nudge. "That would -never have happened if you'd been there." - -"Don't make comparisons--don't," said Osgood quickly. "They are odious. -He's going to stretch it into a double." - -Sent onward by the coacher, Foxhall raced over the initial sack and -stretched himself for second. It chanced, however, that Sleuth Piper was -in position to back Hooker up, and, rushing forward, he took the ball on -a favorable bound and threw it to second while still in his stride. It -was one of the cleanest pieces of fielding, and perhaps the best throw, -Piper had ever made in his baseball career, for it came straight into -the hands of Nelson, who disregarded the dangerous spikes of the sliding -runner and tagged Foxhall so cleanly and effectively that the locals had -not the slightest excuse for a kick on the decision of "out." - -"Well, wouldn't that cramp you!" muttered Shultz disgustedly. "Why in -thunder did the man try to make a double of it?" - -"Once more," said Osgood, "I must caution you not to show your feelings -so plainly. Even if we're benched, we're still members of the team -and----" - -"I don't know whether _I_ am or not," rasped the resentful Shultz. "I -don't propose to play on any team where I'm handed a raw deal by a thing -like Jack Nelson." - -"Now look here," said his companion, "you'll stick on the team unless -you're fired off it, for as members of the nine we'll have more pull -with the bunch than otherwise. You're too brash, Charley. You haven't -any policy or subtleness. Don't think for a minute that I'm not just as -sore as you, but as injured yet still loyal Oakdalers we can win more -sympathy than by open rebellion." - -"I s'pose you're right," admitted Shultz; "but I never could control -myself the way you can." - -That the Wyndham boys realized how desperate the situation was became -manifest through an undisguised quarrel which now arose between Foxhall -and two of his teammates who attempted to criticize him. - -"What's the matter with you?" snapped the bitterly disappointed chap. -"Pelty sent me down. Chew the rag with him if you're going to jump on -any one. How'd I know that fielder was in position to back up and get -the ball to second so soon?" - -"Cut that out, all of you," interposed Baxter. "Stop fussing and play -ball. This game isn't over yet." - -"But it's pretty well over," cried Cooper gleefully. "It's all over but -the shouting." - -Cohen, who seemed never troubled by a weak heart, predicted that he -would get a hit and begged Wolcott to advance him with a duplicate. Then -the nervy young Hebrew stood forth and demonstrated that he had a good -eye by refusing to bite at the coaxers and compelling Grant to put the -pill across. When this was done, he hit it hard and fair, the resounding -crack bringing a shout from the Wyndham crowd. - -That shout was abruptly cut short when Cooper shot into the air and -pulled Cohen's drive down with one hand. From the opposite side of the -field burst the sudden relieved shrieks of the Oakdalers, whose hearts -had been choking them an instant before. - -"Keep quiet, Charley," said Osgood, placing a hand on his friend's knee. -"It looks like it's really all over. Take your cue from me and pretend -you're happy." - -"You're asking just a bit too much, Ned," said Shultz huskily. "You know -I'm a poor bluffer in any kind of a game." - -"But you're usually lucky, just the same; I've seen you hold some great -cards." - -"Some catch, Chipper--some catch," Grant was saying happily. "You raked -the clouds for that one." - -"I had to do something to make up for my last raw play," returned the -beaming little chap. - -Nelson was laughing. "We're backing you up now, Rodney, old boy. That -kind of support ought to give you courage to take a fall out of -Wolcott." - -To tell the truth, although he made a pretense of being undismayed and -confident, there was really little hope left in Wolcott's heart. -Nevertheless, it was always Wyndham's way to play a game out without -let-up, and the batter showed that he was trying for a hit by fouling -the ball several times. Presently, however, the Texan deceived him with -one of his most effective drops, and Wolcott's fruitless slice at the -air brought the game to an end with the score 4 to 3 in Oakdale's favor. - - - - -CHAPTER V - -THE DIPLOMACY OF OSGOOD. - - -Shultz sullenly watched his teammates giving the losers a complimentary -cheer; he could not take his cue from Osgood and join with the slightest -pretense of rejoicing in this cheering. And when the happy players -gathered up their trappings and started for the adjacent academy, where -in the basement gymnasium the Wyndhamites had given them a room in which -to change their clothes, Shultz trailed along behind, listening with -persistent bitterness to the chattering fellows who were still rejoicing -over the result. - -"Oh, Craney!" cried Cooper, as he playfully banged Sile with an open -hand. "That measly little tap of yours in the last round was certainly a -soporific wallop." - -"Here, yeou better let Sleuth slaughter the language that fashion," -grinned Crane. "Soporific! What's it mean, anyhaow?" - -"Why, soothing, sleep-producing; it's what a prize-fighter hands his -antagonist when he gives him a two-ton jolt on the point of the jaw. It -put Wyndham down and out, all right." - -"Oh, that didn't end the game by a long shot. If old Texas hadn't -pitched some in the last half----" - -"Great centipedes!" interrupted Grant. "If you fellows hadn't given me -Big League support they'd corralled the game after all. The way you -raked down Cohen's drive was sure some playing. And that little turn by -Piper plugged their promising start right handsomely." - -"I was frightened when Hooker let Foxhall's grounder get through him," -declared Ned Osgood; "but Sleuth was right on the job. It was a splendid -victory." - -Jack Nelson shot the speaker a quizzical glance, but said nothing. - -In the gymnasium they continued to discuss the game while peeling off -their soiled uniforms and getting into the heavy clothes which would be -so necessary to their comfort on the long homeward drive; and, unable to -keep still, Shultz cut in with an occasional sarcastic remark. For a -time no one seemed to notice him, but suddenly Grant, unable to hold -himself longer in restraint, turned on the disgruntled fellow. - -"Quit your beefing," he exclaimed. "Why don't you try to follow Osgood's -trail and make a pretense of being decent, whether you feel that way or -not?" - -The blood which suffused Shultz's face turned it almost purple, and he -glared at the Texan as if he longed to seize the fellow by the throat -and smash his head against the wall. - -"I've got a right to open my mouth," he snarled, "and I propose to say -what I please, regardless of any common, cow-punching----" - -They would have been at it in a twinkling had not Nelson promptly leaped -between them. - -"Stop, Grant! Hold up!" he cried, seizing the pitcher, whose face was -beginning to take on that awesome and terrible look which indicated that -his fiery temper was mastering him. "Don't start a scrap. It will be -bad--bad business." - -"I certainly won't allow anybody to shoot off his mouth at me that -fashion," said Rodney, his voice vibrant with the passion he could -scarcely restrain. "He's been sneering and hollering like the sorehead -he is, and it's sure getting too much for me." - -"It's my affair, if it's anybody's," asserted the captain. "I'm the -one's he's sore on." - -"And only for a lucky piece of work by Piper, you'd lost the game by -putting Hooker in Osgood's place," said Shultz. "Just because he -disagreed with you about sacrificing when he got the kind of a ball he -knew he ought to hit out, you show your authority by benching him. -Sacrificing in such a game, with one man down and a good hitter at bat, -would be laughed at by----" - -"That will do for you," Nelson cut him short. "No man on the team can -talk to me this way, much less a new player like you. If you and Osgood -came to Oakdale with the idea that you're going to run the nine or ruin -it, you may as well get that out of your noddles right away." - -By this time Osgood had his friend by the arm. - -"Cool down, Charley," he advised in his most pacifying manner. "You're -giving a wrong impression by letting yourself get excited. I'm sure we -were both just as eager to help win that game as any one. In fact, I -will assert that it was my eagerness which led me to try for a hit when -Leach put the ball over just where I like 'em best. It's true it seemed -to me we'd be weakening ourselves by a sacrifice with one man down, but -still, I meant to follow instructions when I went to the plate. It was -only when I saw that ball coming across the pan so nicely that I forgot -everything and tried to land on it for a safe drive. Even though in that -moment I was led to forget instructions, I must insist that my heart was -right. I've played the game ever since I was old enough to toss a -ten-cent ball, and I learned something of its fine points at Hadden -Hall. I'm not blaming Captain Nelson if his ideas and mine are not fully -in accord, for baseball down here in this country can scarcely be as -advanced as it is----" - -At this point Nelson suddenly threw back his head and laughed, although -perhaps it was not a laugh of simple amusement. - -"That has been your pose ever since you came to Oakdale," he said. "Your -pity for us poor, ignorant countrymen is wholly appreciated, Osgood. It -may be that we're very shortsighted in failing to perceive the splendid -opportunity we have for learning something about real baseball from you -and Shultz, but it seems that you might find a more delicate and less -egotistical method of opening our sleepy eyes." - -For a single breathless moment it seemed that Osgood was on the verge of -permitting this sarcasm to lead him into a touch of temper, at least; -but he was crafty and far too clever not to realize that such a thing -would be likely to put him at a disadvantage in the eyes of some members -of the team whom he had reasons to think were inclined to sympathize -with him. - -"I didn't come to Oakdale to teach baseball or anything else," he -asserted. "I think I've stated before this that Oakdale Academy was a -school of my mother's choice, not mine, and mothers who are fearful of -the temptations which their sons may encounter in large and really -efficient schools sometimes have peculiar ideas." - -"Fathers, too," put in Shultz, with a curl of his red lips. "My old man -was determined that I should get my preparatory education far from the -evil influences of the really wide-awake world, and so he buried me in a -forsaken graveyard." - -"Too bad abaout yeou poor fellers," Sile Crane could not refrain from -observing. - -"I enjoy baseball," Osgood hastily went on. "I love the game. I was glad -when it seemed assured that I'd have a chance to play on the academy -nine. However, I scarcely fancied it would be considered a fault or a -detriment that I happened to know something about the game as it's -played to-day not only in big schools and colleges, but in big leagues. -I've never missed an opportunity of seeing a Big League game and trying -to wise up on the methods of the players. I'd like to see Oakdale win -out this season, and my interest in our success is so great that if I -thought for a moment I would produce discord and disaffection on the -team I'd voluntarily withdraw." - -This assertion was made with an air of earnestness and sincerity, but -the fellow had spoken craftily, with the design of spiking Nelson's -guns, being certain that the captain suspected him of the very purpose -which he so ardently disclaimed. Shultz, who knew his friend's secret -motives better than any one else, really found it difficult to suppress -a grin, while inwardly he was telling himself that Osgood certainly was -a "slick duck." Why, Nelson was not only flanked, but his line of -defense was cut off completely! - -In a vague way the captain seemed to feel something of this, but still -his quick perception told him that to a large extent Osgood had created -a favorable impression, which would only be increased were his motives -doubted. - -"Well, that's all right," said Jack, a bit bluffly. "That's all we can -ask of any chap. You've both shown that you can play baseball, and if -you show a willingness to respect the wishes of your captain that should -be sufficient. We want players loyal to the team and to the school." - -Right here Shultz made another break. "The school!" he laughed. "We'll -be loyal to the team all right if we're given a show, but you must know -that the school is almost a joke. It's taught by a dead one, with a lot -of decayed back numbers as directors. Right here at Wyndham they have -got a professor who's alive and who takes interest in some things -besides books. Old Prof. Richardson has outlived his usefulness as a -teacher. He's let the times pass on and leave him about thirty years -behind. Who ever saw him at a baseball game, or any similar sport? The -Wyndham prof was out here to-day watching the go, and he seemed as -interested as any one. When Professor Richardson gets through with the -day's session he toddles home to dressing-gown, slippers and tea. How a -school with such a head can stand as well in athletics as Oakdale does -certainly gets me." - -"It's true," admitted Nelson, "that Professor Richardson has never taken -any real genuine interest in outdoor sports, but he's a good principal -and does his work well in the class room. His health isn't always the -best. Everyone who knows him well respects him, at least, and I'm sorry -to hear you say what you have, Shultz." - -"I've simply stated a fact. Some day Oakdale will wake up to it, too, -and the old man will lose his job. Some day before long you'll see a -younger, more up-to-date principal filling his shoes. It will be a -mighty good thing if that time comes soon." - -"Let's not discuss that," interposed Osgood. "Whether Professor -Richardson is efficient or not has nothing to do with the matter that -threatened to produce a disturbance and some hard feelings on the team. -That business is all settled now, and I think we understand that we're a -nine united and anxious to do our best to win the championship. Come, -fellows, let's forget it all. I'm going to." - -This magnanimity had its effect, and, as they completed dressing for the -jaunt home, the boys were again chattering and jesting, as if no -threatening cloud had risen. - - - - -CHAPTER VI - -THE SUSPICIONS OF SLEUTH. - - -Osgood's manner during the tedious homeward jaunt would not have led any -one unaware of what had taken place to fancy that there had been the -slightest unpleasantness. He was polite and affable to every one upon -the buckboard, and when the boys sang, as they did once or twice, his -fine baritone voice was sufficient to command admiration and applause. - -This fellow had entered Oakdale Academy in the midst of the term of the -previous autumn, and had maintained for a time a certain reserve which -prevented his schoolmates from seeking to pry into his personal affairs. -It was some time, indeed, before the naturally curious boys learned from -him that he was a native of New York, but that, on account of his -mother's health, his parents had removed to California some years -before, where his father had suddenly passed away from an attack of -heart disease. Of this bereavement he continued to be disinclined to say -much, and it was noticeable that while he seemed distinctly proud of his -mother, his father was never mentioned in that manner. - -Nevertheless, Edwin Osgood took pains to impress upon his associates -that there was genuine blue blood in his veins, and his claim was that -he was upon his mother's side a direct descendant of Lord Robert -Percival, Earl of Harcourt. Little by little at various times he let -drop a few words which, pieced together, told of the banishing of a -younger son of Lord Percival, who had brought upon his head the -displeasure of the old Earl through his wild and wayward ways. This -younger son had come to America, where he married, and Ned asserted that -he was of the third generation in this country. - -All this was apparently dragged reluctantly from his lips, and he even -made some pretense of disdain for ancestry, although his stationery bore -a crest, and those chaps who were favored by invitations to his rooms -stated that they had seen various portraits of Osgood's noble forebears. - -Unlike other students at Oakdale who came from out of town, Ned did not -simply room or board; he lived in the home of a widow by the name of -Mrs. Chester, who had been induced to take him in through what was said -to be a surprisingly liberal money consideration. In Mrs. Chester's -house he had a sitting-room and a bedroom with an adjacent bath, and it -was said that the widow, perhaps a bit impressed by having such a young -swell in her home, permitted him to do about as he pleased in his rooms. - -Now a fellow like this might through snobbery easily make himself -unpopular in a country school, but Osgood's seeming whole-souled, manly -boyishness, combined with an unusual knack at all-round sports and -baseball in particular, had overcome the prejudice of many chaps who -were inclined at the outset to regard him with disfavor. His staunchest -friend, however, was Charley Shultz, with whom he had taken up almost -immediately, and who seemed so remarkably different from him in every -way that wonderment over their chumminess was justified. Shultz was -rough and brusque and not infrequently positively boorish; furthermore, -he was something of a bully, although, finding this bent disapproved by -Osgood, he plainly sought to hold the inclination in check. - -Among the village girls Ned was greatly admired, but with the boys a -strong point in his favor was the fact that, although always pleasant -and polite, he rarely attempted to play the gallant. He seemed to prefer -fellows of his own age and with similar tastes in sports to the -prettiest girl of the village or the school, and, although some of the -misses were miffed over this, he rarely wasted time in their company. - -Another point in his favor was the fact that, although he was known to -have a pocket full of spending money and sometimes spent it generously -on his companions, he managed to avoid patronism, and did not make the -fellow less supplied with coin feel small or mean on that account. In -short, he was generally sized up as "a jolly good fellow," and, although -they had not ventured to say as much, several members of the nine had -thought that Nelson was rather too hasty and harsh in sending Osgood to -the bench for his disregard of orders. Besides Jack Nelson, Rodney Grant -and Ben Stone were almost the only ones who had not fallen powerfully -beneath the spell of Osgood's personality. - -During the most of the homeward trip Shultz sat silent on a seat which -also held Tuttle and Piper. Once or twice he had a few words to say, and -he endeavored in saying them to give the impression that he, like Ned, -had dismissed the incident of the game which had so nearly led to a -personal encounter in the Wyndham gymnasium. But Shultz was no diplomat; -subterfuge to him was a most difficult thing. - -The result of the game had been telephoned to Oakdale, and the boys were -welcomed with cheers as the buckboard rolled up the main street toward -Hyde's livery stable. At the stable they piled out with their bats and -bags, shivering a little from the raw cold of the spring evening, which -had crept into their bones in spite of overcoats. - -At the door of the stable Osgood paused a moment, and, Springer, Hooker -and Cooper joining him, he was heard to say: - -"See you later, fellows. Don't forget. So long. I'm hungry as a bear, -and I won't do a thing to Mrs. Chester's grub to-night." Carrying the -bag that contained his uniform and mitt, he swung off with a vigorous, -buoyant stride, whistling cheerfully. - -A few low words passed between the trio left behind, after which they -dispersed in starting for their various homes. - -Jack Nelson was not the only one to perceive something mysterious in the -action of these fellows; Sleuth Piper's eyes and ears were wide open. -When Shultz had likewise departed Nelson spoke to Grant. - -"I don't suppose it's any of my business, but I'd really like to know -what's in the wind. Those fellows are up to something." - -"I reckon so," nodded Rodney; "but I opine it's no concern of mine." - -Both were startled as Piper noiselessly appeared beside them. - -"There are things going on in this town," said Sleuth, his voice -discreetly lowered, "of which the general public is wholly unaware." - -"Hello!" laughed Rodney, lifting his eyebrows. "The great detective is -on the job. I judge you have inside information, Pipe?" - -"Very little," answered Sleuth; "but if I set out to get it I'll not be -balked. Once I take up a case worthy of my attention, I am relentless as -Fate." - -"Do you have an idea this matter is a case worthy of your attention?" -asked Nelson, winking slyly at Grant. - -"That I can't answer," confessed Sleuth; "but it's my theory that -persons whose movements are secretive and mysterious deserve to be -watched. Possibly I can tell you one little fact of which you are -unaware." - -"Let flicker," invited Jack. "We're listening, all agog." - -"For some little time," said Sleuth, in answer to this invitation, -"certain fellows have been meeting regularly every Saturday night in the -rooms of Ned Osgood." - -"Is that all?" exclaimed Grant, disappointed. "Why, I suppose, as Osgood -happens to be such a popular chap, they merely drop in on him for a -social call." - -"Is there any reason why a fellow who is merely making a social call -should shroud his movements in secrecy?" questioned Sleuth instantly. -"If you were going to drop round to see Osgood for a little pleasant -chat of a Saturday evening would you take pains to prevent the fact from -becoming known? Or would you, if meeting a friend on your way, openly -and frankly tell him where you were going?" - -"I don't opine I'd be covering up my tracks any whatever." - -"Not unless it was to be something more than a mere social call," nodded -Sleuth decisively. "By apparent chance it has happened that I have met -on different occasions two or three of these fellows who were on their -way to call upon Osgood, and when I asked them where they were going -they either lied or begged the question. Ha! Now you perceive that there -must be some hidden motive for this secrecy. A man who takes extreme -pains to conceal his motives should be watched." - -"There's certain some logic in that," admitted the Texan; "but I'll -allow I don't see what those fellows could be up to that would concern -anybody but themselves." - -Nelson, however, was thoughtful, frowning the least bit. - -"It may not concern any one else," he said presently, "and, then again, -it may. It may be my fault, but I can't quite trust Osgood. I'll admit -that he acted pretty decent in practically acknowledging that he was -wrong to-day; but all the time I couldn't help feeling that he was -playing policy, while thoroughly satisfied that he had been in the right -and that I was a chump to call for the sacrifice. As a matter between us -three, there's a feeling of dissension on the team as well as in the -school, and I'm sure that Osgood and Shultz are behind it. When I -benched Osgood it wouldn't have surprised me in the least if some of the -players besides Shultz had made an objection. He has got a grip on them, -and they think he knows more baseball than I or any of the old players. -I've seen them imitating his methods and his style of play. When a ball -team loses confidence in the judgment of its captain, that team soon -gets into a bad way." - -"I didn't like the talk Shultz made about Prof. Richardson," said Grant. -"The old boy may not take a natural modern interest in athletics, but -you sure hit the nail on the head, Nelson, when you said that he does -his work well in the class room and therefore makes a good principal. -But I suppose I'd likely object to almost anything coming from Shultz. -There's something about that fellow that certain rubs my fur the wrong -way." - -"He's irritating," agreed Jack; "but I can't help thinking that Osgood -is the more dangerous man. If there's trouble, you'll find that he will -really be the leader." - -"Oh, I don't judge there will really be any trouble," said Rodney -optimistically. "If there was any brewing, I think you nipped it in the -bud, captain. I've got to hike home, or Aunt Priscilla will begin to -worry; she always does if I'm late to meals. Good night." - -Sleuth pulled at Nelson's sleeve. "Wait a minute," he requested in a low -tone. "I've a powerful suspicion that you're right in thinking there's -trouble brewing--there's something going on beneath the surface. I'm -going to investigate. I'm going to take this matter up professionally. -I'll pierce the dark depths of the plot. I'll lay it bare in all its -heinous nakedness." - -"Go as far as you like, Sleuth," smiled Nelson. "As far as I'm concerned -you have free rein, but don't drag me into it in any way." - - - - -CHAPTER VII - -YOUNG SPORTS. - - -After shivering for more than half an hour beneath a tree across the -street from Mrs. Chester's home, Sleuth Piper finally decided to make a -move. Since seeking the hiding shelter of that tree he had seen four -boys ascend the widow's steps, ring the bell and obtain admission. It -was now some time since the last one had disappeared within the house, -and Piper believed no more were to follow. - -There was a light in Osgood's room on the second floor, but the shades -were closely drawn at the windows. Sleuth would have given much had he -been able to look through those windows, but being prevented from doing -so, he had decided on a bold move. - -Swiftly crossing the road, he softly mounted the steps and hastily gave -a single ring at the bell. After a few moments the summons was answered -by a maid, and the boy boldly entered the moment the door swung open. - -"I'm to see Osgood," he said in a low tone. "I'm a little late. I -presume the other fellows are ahead of me?" - -"Mr. Osgood has several friends with him in his room," said the girl. -"He's expecting you, isn't he?" - -"Why, sure," returned Piper, although even in his "professional -capacity" his conscience was troubled by the falsehood, which surely was -something quite surprising in a detective. - -By the muffled hall light the boy deliberately mounted the carpeted -stairs. He heard the maid retire, and the sound of the door closing -behind her was most gratifying to his ears. - -There was little trouble in finding the door of Osgood's room, for from -behind it came the subdued murmur of voices; and, listening, Piper heard -at intervals a queer, soft, irregular clicking sound. But when he would -have taken a peep through the keyhole, he was much disappointed to find -it either plugged or covered on the inside by something that baffled -him. - -"And that proves there's something queer going on," he whispered to -himself. "They're not talking loud, either; they're keeping their voices -down. A lot of fellows who get together and chat free and easy don't -bother to talk that way. Wish I could hear something more." - -After a time, growing desperate through the intensity of his increasing -curiosity, he placed his hand gently on the knob of the door with his -ear close to the panel, and, when the talk seemed to be a bit more -general inside, he softly and slowly turned the knob. - -The door was locked! - -"That settles it," he mentally exclaimed. "There's something off color -taking place here." - -Still with the utmost caution, he permitted the spring slowly to force -the catch back into place and removed his hand from the knob. - -"There's just one thing to do now," he decided; "I've got to put on a -bold front. It's the only play for me to make." - -Lifting his hand, he knocked softly upon the door. - -Immediately the hum of voices ceased, and after a little Sleuth fancied -he heard some one whisper within the room. - -He knocked again. - -There was the sound of a person stirring, and the key turned in the -lock. The door was opened the tiniest crack, and the voice of Osgood -asked: - -"Who is it? What's wanted?" - -"Hello, Ned," called Sleuth, as he again grasped the knob and gave the -door a push which flung it wide open. "Thought I'd come round for a -little call this---- Why, you've got company! Excuse me." - -The scene beheld by Piper's eyes caused them to grow unusually big and -round. Within the room four boys remained seated around a table covered -by a green cloth and lighted by a shaded suspension lamp. On that table -were red, white and blue poker chips and some cards. In each fellow's -hand were also the cards which he had held when play had been -interrupted by Sleuth's knock. The young gamesters looked somewhat -startled, an expression which gave way to annoyance as they recognized -the unwelcome caller. - -"How the dickens did you get into the house?" exclaimed Osgood, in a -manner that was, for him, unusually rude. - -"Why," returned Sleuth instantly, "I just said I came round to make you -a little call. But if I'm not welcome----" - -"Old Pipe always has his nose into everything," laughed Chipper Cooper, -one of the quartet at the table. "As long as he's here to call, bring -him in and let him do his calling in the game." - -The other three were Charley Shultz, Roy Hooker and Phil Springer. -Shultz was scowling darkly and Hooker did not seem exactly pleased; but, -like Cooper, Springer appeared to accept the situation good-naturedly. - -"Bub-bub-bet he hasn't any coin with him," said Phil. - -"Come in, Billy," invited Osgood. "Your unexpected appearance rather -upset us. I thought it might be Mrs. Chester or the maid, although we -haven't been making any noise." - -Piper was only too willing to accept the invitation. "You seem to be -having a rather nice little game," he said, as he entered the room and -Osgood relocked the door. "What's the limit?" - -"Oh, we're just playing for amusement," assured the host. "It's nothing -but penny-ante, with a ten-cent limit; just enough to make it -interesting, you know. Do you play?" - -Now one of Sleuth's weaknesses was cards, although his limited finances -had never allowed him to play much for money. On this particular -occasion, however, he happened to have in his pocket between two and -three dollars, and, although he protested that he did not wish to butt -in, he was more than willing to take a hand. - -"It will get me on the inside with this bunch," he thought, "and if -there's anything going on likely I'll catch a hint of it." So, to the -surprise of Springer, he displayed his money, announcing that a ten-cent -limit just suited him. A place was made for him between Osgood and -Springer, and he sat down at the table. - -"We'll play this hand off," said Ned; "you can come in on the next. -You're dealing, Cooper, and the pot is all level. I'll take three -cards." - -When that hand was played off Piper was given a dollar's worth of chips, -together with some advice about maintaining silence concerning what was -taking place in Osgood's room. - -"The people in this village are so straightlaced and narrow," said Ned -blandly, "that they would regard a little game of this sort, played -merely for amusement, as we play it, as something bordering on the -criminal. I'm sure you won't say a word about it, Piper." - -"Better impress it on him harder than that," broke in Shultz -offensively. "I'm not so sure." - -"What do you take me for?" exclaimed Piper, with a touch of indignation. -"I'm playing in this game, ain't I? Don't I know what folks around here -are? Think I'd take a hand and then go out and shoot my face off?" - -"He thinks," explained Osgood smoothly, "that you might let a careless -word drop among the fellows, not realizing that they would be likely to -spread it. That's the way such things leak out; a fellow tells a friend -under pledge of secrecy, and the friend tells another, and soon the -secret is public property. We've taken pains to keep our little social -gatherings very quiet." - -Sleuth was quite aware of this, and their efforts to keep the matter -quiet had awakened his natural suspicions and led him to that room. - -"If I'm fool enough to blow about it after playing," said he, "any one -or the whole of you will have the liberty to kick me good and hard. I -think I can keep a secret when it's necessary." - -"Sleuthy won't pup-pup-peach when he talks like that," said Springer. -"Go on with the gug-game." - -Even though it seemed that he had done some bad guessing regarding the -object of these quiet meetings in Osgood's rooms, Piper was, after the -first throb of disappointment, rather glad of it; for, in a way, he was -not very popular with the boys of Oakdale. At one time they had regarded -his aspirations to become a detective with considerable amusement and -had taken no little pleasure in joshing him. But of late his ability to -uncover secrets and lay bare unpleasant facts concerning people with -whom he came in contact had changed ridicule to a certain respect that -was not wholly free from apprehension, causing him to be avoided. - -In desiring companionship and friends, Piper was perfectly normal, and -he had felt the coldness and slights of his fellows. Even Nelson, -although regarding him valuable as an outfielder on the nine, had seemed -to hold him at a distance. And so, when the turn of affairs and the -singular behavior of the Osgood clique had seemed to point to scheming -of some sort, Sleuth had not hesitated to make a bid for Jack's -appreciation and gratitude by offering to discover and reveal what -crookedness those chaps were planning. - -It now appeared that he had been misled in his reasoning, for the -secrecy of the boys who did not wish it generally known that they were -playing poker seemed, in the light of his discovery, perfectly natural -and excusable. - -As Ned skilfully rippled the cards, passed them to Cooper to cut and -began dealing, Sleuth sat back on his chair, feeling that Fate had -served him a good turn by getting him in with this little gathering of -"sports." In these days nearly every fellow who really amounted to -anything played cards, and it was surely far more interesting and -shocking to play poker for pennies and dimes than to play it for matches -or beans. - -The room was rather warm, and both Shultz and Hooker were in their -shirt-sleeves. Osgood wore a handsome house coat, with a collar, lapels -and cuffs of purple plush. He was really a fine-looking chap, with his -clean-cut face and his curly dark hair, a lock of which had strayed over -his forehead. His hands were shapely and well formed, and a rich seal -ring adorned the one that held the pack of cards. He had lighted a fresh -cigarette. Shultz was smoking a cigar. A thin haze of blueish tobacco -smoke floated like incense in the room. - -Sleuth's swift appraising eyes had taken in the general appearance of -that room as it could dimly be seen beyond the circle of light thrown -over the table by the shaded hanging lamp. The furnishings were -unusually excellent. Beneath his feet there was a thick carpet, soft and -pleasant to the tread. There was a bookcase, a couch piled with -cushions, and heavy portieres hung parted at the entrance to the -adjoining bedroom. There were pictures on the walls and many photographs -and knick-knacks belonging to Osgood upon the old-fashioned marble -mantel, which had been hidden by a drapery. There were likewise banners, -boxing-gloves, dumb-bells and a tennis-racket, disposed in various ways -with a seeming carelessness that was really effective. Above the mantel -hung some dim old portraits, which Sleuth immediately fancied must be -the pictures of Osgood's titled ancestors. - -"It's great," Piper thought. "It was a streak of luck that threw me in -with this bunch. I'll be one of the gang after this." - -He was aroused by the unpleasant voice of Shultz. "Come, wake up there, -Vidocq; you haven't even anted. Shove out a white chip before you look -at your cards." - - - - -CHAPTER VIII - -A HOT GAME. - - -As the game progressed Piper found himself losing steadily, and, what -was most annoying, almost always he was beaten by Shultz, who himself -was having bad luck and growling over it. - -"Good thing for me you came into the game, Eagle Eye," said Shultz, -laying down three Jacks, which topped Piper's three tens, and pulling in -the chips. "These other sharks would have had me skinned to the bone by -this time, only for you." - -"Oh, my turn will come," declared Sleuth. "Give me another stack, Ned; -that one's gone." - -Osgood counted out another dollar's worth of chips and received Billy's -money, which he deposited in the handsome chip case. - -"You're the right sort after all, Sleuthy," he smiled. "You're a good -loser. I realize that I haven't known you very well up to date." - -"A man," said Piper loftily, "should take his losings without -squealing." - -"What do you mean by that?" snapped Shultz. "Are you knocking me?" - -"Oh, no--no, not at all," Piper hastened to disclaim, aware that the -fellow's bad fortune had aroused his belligerent nature. - -"Because if you are," warned the ruffled gamester, "you'd better cut it -out. I don't like it, and I won't stand for it." - -"Oh, come, Charley," protested Osgood; "don't be so raw. I've seen you -lose twice as much without growling." - -"But I can't afford to lose to-night," was the retort. "I'm not very -flush, and my old man thinks I'm blowing too much geldt, anyhow. That's -the worst of having a close-fisted father. If I were in your shoes, Ned, -I could stand a loss; but you're usually lucky, and you seldom quit -behind the game." - -"I've been having a streak, that's all," explained Osgood. "Luck runs -that way occasionally, but it usually turns in time. You fellows will -get into me if you keep at it; you're sure to." - -Hooker, likewise a loser, was keeping quiet and attending strictly to -business. Unlike Shultz, he had not shown an inclination to force his -luck, and doubtless he was waiting for his turn to come. Springer was -also slightly behind, while Cooper was a small winner and therefore -cheerful. The large pile of chips in front of Osgood denoted how the -game was running. - -With the suspicion that was characteristic of him, Piper had watched -Osgood's playing closely to discover, if possible, whether or not Ned -was winning legitimately, and he had arrived at the conclusion that -there was nothing underhanded about it. Moreover, he was falling beneath -the subtle spell of the young fellow's influence, which had been so -strangely felt by others. Surely Ned was a whole-souled, genial chap -that any one might be proud to claim as a friend; surely Nelson's -suspicions were unfounded; not a word concerning baseball or the -management of the team had been spoken by any of these lads since Sleuth -entered the room. - -It was Hooker's turn to deal, and Roy tossed the pasteboards around. -Piper, picking up his hand, was surprised and delighted to find it -contained two pairs, aces up, and while he was secretly congratulating -himself Osgood chipped. - -"Come on, Mr. Good Loser," invited Shultz. "What are you going to do? -Play faster. You make the game drag." - -"Oh, I'll come in," said Sleuth, "and I think--I think I'll raise it." - -"What do you know a-bub-bub-bout that!" exclaimed Springer. "Sleuth is -plunging! Well, he can't frighten me; I'll peg along." - -"Oh, let's make it interesting," said Shultz, tossing several chips into -the middle of the board. "I'll boost it some more." - -"Well, just to keep the pikers out," announced Hooker, "I'll give it -another lift." And he did. - -Cooper whistled. "That's about all I can do for my little measly ante," -he remarked. "I've got a small pair, but you chaps are making it too -stiff for me. I'll drop out." - -"Well, really," murmured Osgood, who had placed his cards face downward -before him, "this begins to look like some poker game. I'll raise ten." - -Piper swallowed and hesitated again. "What do you fellows think you're -doing before the draw?" he inquired, with a touch of whimsicality. "I've -just _got_ to come in." - -"You don't raise, eh?" questioned Shultz. - -"No, I'm satisfied." - -"I'm more than sus-satisfied," faltered Springer. "This is ruinous, but -I suppose I'm partly to blame. I'll stay." He put in the amount needed -to make himself level. - -"Wait a minute, Hooker," said Shultz, perceiving that Roy was nervously -fingering his chips. "It's my turn. You boosted me, and now I'm coming -back with another limit raise." - -Hooker found that he did not have enough chips, and so before betting he -procured another dollar's worth from Osgood. Then he raised Shultz. - -"Oh, my!" sang Cooper. "I'm glad--I'm glad I staid out. It cost me only -my little snow-white ante." - -"H'm!" said Osgood, picking up his cards and glancing at them. "It seems -that it's going to cost me more than that. There's a pair of Indians -sitting over at the other side of the table. Well, fellows, I'm coming. -I'm playing on your money, and you're welcome to take it away from me if -you can." - -At this point Piper, suddenly getting cold feet, dropped his two pairs. -"I'm out," he said. "This sort of raising before the draw makes it too -stiff for me." - -Springer seemed to be perspiring freely, and his hands were not quite -steady. "If it's a game of dud-dud-drive out," he said, "I'm going to -stick to the last gug-gasp. Here I go. That makes me level." - -Without saying a word, Shultz pushed out two blue chips. - -"Do you raise again, Charley?" asked Osgood. - -"Money talks," was the answer; "I put in two blue ones." - -Hooker immediately raised again, whereupon Cooper chuckled still more -gleefully over his cleverness in declining to be drawn in to defend his -ante. - -Osgood and Springer met the raise, and Shultz, after giving Hooker a -slantwise glance, pushed out a final blue one and announced that he was -"content." - -"Very well," said Roy, picking up the pack. "Call for your cards." - -"I'll take one," said Osgood. - -Springer called for two, and, glancing over Phil's shoulder, Piper saw -what he held. - -"Why, he had me beat," thought Sleuth. "What can those other fellows -hold?" - -"How many do you want, Shultz?" asked Hooker. - -"I'll play these," was the announcement. - -"And I'll play mine without drawing," said Roy, a touch of excitement -creeping into his voice in spite of himself. - -"Fine! fine!" laughed Osgood. "I had a fine chance, didn't I! You've got -all of my chips that you'll get. I'm going to drop." - -Springer swallowed once more. "Gee!" he breathed. "I cuc-can't drop; -I've got to bet. I make it a white chip." - -Shultz and Hooker did some betting that caused Springer's eyes to bulge. - -"Great fish-hooks!" spluttered Phil. "You're a pup-pup-pair of robbers! -Guess I've been fool enough. I'll lay down, too." - -Shultz gave the player at his left a long, hard look. "I wonder if -you're trying to bluff," he speculated. - -"You'll find out presently," answered Roy. - -"I ought to raise it again, but I'm going to call, and here's my hand. -Can you beat it?" - -"The pot is mine," said Hooker, spreading out his cards for all to see. -"My cards are better." He reached out with both hands and raked the pile -of chips toward him. - -"Well, of all infernal luck!" snarled Shultz, flinging his cards -fiercely down upon the table. "I thought my flush was good. It looks -queer to me. You dealt the cards, Hooker." - -Instantly Roy bridled. "What do you mean by that? I hope you don't -insinuate that there was anything crooked about that deal? You cut." - -"I know I did, but some fellows can----" - -"Hold on, Charley," interrupted Osgood. "There's no one here that's -going to play crooked. You haven't any right to think such a thing. I -was watching, and I'll guarantee the deal was on the level." - -"Oh, well, if you guarantee it----" - -"You might apologize, Shultz," said Hooker, his voice hard and his face -full of wrath. - -"Now don't _you_ fly off the handle, Roy, old fellow," entreated Osgood. -"You see, Charley has had rotten luck, and he didn't really realize what -he was saying. Come on, let's play the game like gentlemen. You didn't -mean it, did you, Charley?" - -"No, I guess I didn't," said Shultz, with apparent reluctance. "I was -half-joking. Forget it, Hooker." - -"All right," agreed Roy readily enough. "That little pot sort of put me -on my feet, and I'm not anxious to make a disturbance." - -The tension of the moment relaxed somewhat, and the game was resumed, -Cooper giving out the cards. - -Piper was heartily glad that Hooker had won, and he felt that Roy was -generous in his willingness to overlook Shultz's innuendo. He believed -that an encounter between the two boys had been narrowly averted. - -For some ten or fifteen minutes the game went on smoothly, nothing but -small hands coming out, which produced little betting. Eventually, -however, four "fighting hands" were dealt, and Piper and Springer sat -back to watch the others, dropping their cards. There were a number of -raises before the draw, in all of which Hooker and Shultz took part. - -As if they felt that it was to be a serious struggle, none of the -players ventured to jest or make many comments. - -Cooper remained in until the cards were drawn and then he dropped out. - -Osgood hung on a while longer, although Shultz and Hooker kept raising -alternately. - -"You each took one card," said Ned at last, "and, as you're running -wild, I'm going to quit. Fight it out between you." - -"Will you lend me some money, Ned?" asked Shultz. - -"Sure," was the answer. "How much do you want?" - -"Well, let me have two dollars' worth of chips. I may want more." - -"You're pretty sure, aren't you?" said Hooker. "You must think you've -got this pot cinched." - -"My chips talk," said Shultz. - -"Well, mine talk, too," snapped Roy. - -They made several bets. - -"You must have a big hand," muttered Hooker. "Well, so have I." - -"Oh, go as far as you like," sneered Shultz. "You can bet all night if -you wish, and I'll stick by as long as I can get any chips." - -"What have you got?" - -"Four bullets," announced Shultz triumphantly, as he lay his cards down, -exposing four aces. - -Hooker took a deep breath. "Well, that beats. I thought I had a pretty -good hand. It's your pot, Shultz." - -"Hold on! Hold on!" spluttered Piper, his eyes bulging. "Just wait a -minute. There's something queer here." - -Every one turned to him, Shultz savagely asking what was the matter. - -"There's something queer about this," reiterated Sleuth. "Why, I--I'm -sure I held an ace in my hand when I laid it down." - -"Go on! you're dotty!" snarled Shultz. "There are only four aces in the -pack." - -But Sleuth had grabbed the discards, and, turning part of them face -upwards, he exposed to view the fifth ace! - - - - -CHAPTER IX - -THE BLOW AND AFTERWARDS. - - -There was a moment of stunned and breathless silence as the young -gamesters stared at the fifth ace thus exposed to view--the ace of -spades. This silence was broken by Hooker, who, glaring at Shultz, -suddenly snarled: - -"You sneaking, cheating robber!" - -With that cry, he leaped up, overturning his chair, and made a grab for -Shultz's throat. The latter had likewise risen, and with a sweep of his -arm he brushed aside Hooker's clawlike hand, at the same time driving -his fist hard and straight at Roy's face. - -The blow landed with a sickening smack, and Hooker was hurled backward -by the force of it, tripping over his upset chair. Both his arms were -flung wide in an effort to save himself. His head struck with a thud -against the marble mantelpiece, the shock being sufficient to knock one -or two bits of bric-a-brac to the floor. Beneath one end of the mantel -he collapsed in a heap, with his shoulders against the wall, his head -dropping limply over on one of them. - -Springer, having failed to seize Shultz in time to check that blow, now -grabbed him with both hands and clung fast, panting in his ear: - -"For the lul-lul-love of goodness, what have you dud-done?" - -With a hissing sound, Shultz drew his breath through his clenched teeth, -exposed by his parted lips. His nostrils were dilated, and the rage of -an aroused animal blazed in his eyes. - -"A fight here!" fluttered Cooper. "Don't start a fight here!" - -"Start one!" said Shultz hoarsely. "I didn't. He started it. He called -me a cheat and a robber. I'll teach him to apply such words to me!" - -"Keep Charley away," commanded Osgood, quickly kneeling beside the -silent figure of the boy who had been struck down. "This is very bad -business. Come, Hooker, brace up." But when he sought to arouse the -stricken youth, Hooker's body simply slid over sidewise with a little -scraping sound against the wall, one arm rolling lifelessly across his -breast to allow his knuckles to drop with a faint, soft knock upon the -thick carpet. - -"For the love of goodness!" repeated Springer in a horrified voice. "He -lul-looks like a dud-dead one!" - -Fiercely Shultz jerked away from Phil's restraining hands. "You don't -have to hold me," he rasped. "What do you think I'd do, hit him again -when he's down?" - -Betraying the alarm he could not repress, Osgood made one more effort to -arouse the limp fellow on the floor. Then he spoke swiftly, excitedly to -the others. - -"Somebody bring some water from the bathroom," he directed. "Roy's -stunned. I'll loosen up his collar so he can breathe. Help me place him -on his back. Bring the water quick!" - -Trembling and sick at heart, Piper found his way to the bathroom, drew a -glass of water from the lavatory faucet, and hurried back with it. - -Osgood and Springer were kneeling on either side of the prostrate lad, -while Cooper, pale and agitated, stood looking on as if he could not -bring himself to offer assistance or did not know what to do. Shultz, -his jaws hard set, his breast heaving, stood at a little distance, -watching. - -"Give me the water, Piper," requested Osgood, plainly trying to maintain -as much calmness as possible. "Hand Phil a book or magazine or something -to fan him with. Some one open a window and let some of this smoke out. -Make as little noise as you can. Perhaps they didn't hear him fall, and -if we can bring him round all right, nobody must ever know what -happened." - -Hooker's tie had been removed and his collar and neckband unbuttoned. He -lay quite still--horribly still, Piper thought. There was a bruise on his -almost ghastly cheek where Shultz's fist had struck. His eyes were -closed, and the lids did not even seem to flutter. In his white -shirt-sleeves, he seemed fearfully deathlike to the staring eyes of -Billy Piper. - -"Get that window open, I tell you!" ordered Osgood almost fiercely, as -he began pouring water into the palm of his hand and bathing Hooker's -temples. "Fan him, Springer." - -"This is horrible!" Sleuth whispered to himself, as he opened a window. -"I wish I'd never come here to-night." - -After a few minutes Shultz began to betray concern. "Isn't he coming -round?" he asked. - -"If you've killed him," said Piper bitterly, "you won't be the only one -to suffer for it. Nobody in this bunch ever will be able to hold his -head up again in Oakdale." - -"Oh, he'll come round all right. I didn't even hit him on the jaw. I -don't see how he was knocked out so easy." - -"It was the bump he got against the mantel," said Osgood, his dripping -hand in Hooker's hair. "Here's the spot on his head. It's swollen almost -as big as a hen's egg." - -"Perhaps--perhaps his skull is fractured," muttered Piper. - -"He brought it on himself," asserted Shultz in self-defense. "I don't -know where that extra ace came from. I got all of mine honestly and -squarely. He had no right to call me a cheat." - -"I sus-saw his eyelids move," stammered Springer, still fanning. "He's -coming round! He's breathing!" - -"Yes, he's coming round, thank fortune!" said Osgood in great relief. -"He ought to be all right in a few minutes." - -Although these signs of reviving probably gave Shultz the most -satisfaction, he now attempted to hide his feelings behind an air of -sullen defiance and self-justification. Apparently, with the exception -of Osgood, he was the calmest person in the room. - -Presently Hooker's breast heaved and he gave a heavy sigh. Then his eyes -opened. - -"You're all right, old man," said Osgood. "You got a fierce old bump -when you fell, but you'll be on your pins in a minute or two now." - -Hooker looked at him strangely without speaking. After a little time -they lifted Roy and placed him on the big leather-covered Morris chair, -following which they stood around and tried to get him to say that he -was feeling better. He continued to stare at them, one after another, in -that same puzzled, bewildered way, and all their efforts to draw a word -from him were fruitless. Once his eyes rested on Shultz, but in their -depths there was no gleam of light in the slightest way different from -that aroused by sight of the others. - -"He's dazed," whispered Sleuth. "His mind is befogged." - -"If we let him alone a few minutes he ought to come out of it," said -Osgood. "Let's settle up. We can't play any more to-night." - -"I'd like to know where that fuf-fifth ace came from," said Springer, as -he turned all the aces over and looked at the backs of the cards. -"They're alike, every one of 'em." - -"I had two packs alike," explained Osgood. "The extra ace must have -gotten into this pack by accident." - -"If we've been playing with it all the time," ventured Cooper timidly, -"it's mighty funny we didn't discover it before." - -"I'd like to know what you mean by that," growled Shultz, glaring at -Chipper in a manner that made the little fellow draw back a bit. "I hope -you don't insinuate----" - -"I'm not insinuating anything," was the hasty disclaimer. "I just said -it was funny, that's all." - -"Fuf-funny is hardly the word," muttered Springer. - -"I'm sure," said Osgood quickly, "that no one in this crowd would play a -dishonest game. The cards got mixed, and I made up that pack myself. If -anybody is to blame, I am. Count up your chips, fellows, and let's -square things right away." - -They did as directed, and he settled up with each of them, turning last -to Hooker, who was behind the game. Counting the few chips left to the -unfortunate gamester, Osgood announced how many there were and offered -their value in change to Roy, who, however, made no attempt to accept -the coins. - -"This is what's coming to you, Roy," said Ned. "Take it." - -Hooker looked at him blankly. In Cooper's ear Piper whispered: - -"He don't understand. What if he never comes out of it?" - -"He will; he must," Chipper whispered back. - -Ned slid the coins into Roy's pocket. "Now," he said, "I think this -party had better break up. Somebody will have to see Hooker home, and I -think the outside air will revive him. This affair must be kept strictly -private. If any one breathes a word about it, he will brand himself as -a---- Oh, but I know there's no need of saying such a thing, and I won't -say it." - -"You don't have to so far as I'm concerned," asserted Piper promptly. -"Any one here would be a chump to tattle." - -As Billy was the only one Osgood had feared, Ned immediately showed his -relief and satisfaction. - -Hooker, still sitting supinely on the Morris chair, permitted them to -readjust his collar and tie. When they lifted him to his feet he stood -still while they actually pushed his arms into his heavy, reefer-like -coat. - -"There you are," said Osgood, slapping him on the back. "We're all -mighty sorry it happened, Roy, but it was a mistake. As I provided the -cards, I must shoulder the blame, if any one. You've been a game loser, -old chap. Do you need some money? I'll lend you what you want." - -"Queer," whispered Piper. "He doesn't seem to understand a word." - -"I'm going," said Shultz suddenly. He removed from the doorknob his cap, -which had been hanging there, and turned the key in the lock. As if he -realized that something more was expected of him, he stopped and forced -himself to turn until he could look back at them, though it was plainly -with a great struggle that he did so. "Perhaps some of you fellows blame -me," he flung at them. "If you do, just try to put yourselves in my -place. Just try to think of yourselves as holding four aces, getting -them squarely and fairly, and then being called a cheat and a robber. -Perhaps I wouldn't have hit him if he hadn't tried to choke me." - -"You're sorry it happened, aren't you, Charley?" said Osgood. - -"I'm sorry--for your sake, anyhow; but I had to defend myself. Any other -fellow would have done the same. Good night." - -"Go out quietly," cautioned Ned, as Shultz was disappearing. - -A few moments later they heard the departing fellow's footsteps coming -up from the sidewalk. - -"I'll let the rest of you out myself," said the host. "Don't talk as we -go downstairs, and step quietly. Come on, Hooker." - -He took Roy's arm, and, like guilty creatures, they stole out of the -room and tiptoed down the stairs. It was necessary for Osgood to caution -Hooker about descending in the dim light of the hall lamp. At the outer -door Ned made them wait while he took a look into the street. - -"Nobody in sight," he announced in a low voice. "It's a good time to get -away, fellows. Good night." - -With muttered good nights they left the house and descended the steps, -Springer having taken Hooker's arm. The air was damp and raw, and -Piper's teeth chattered a little. - -"Too bad our little pup-party busted up that way," muttered Phil; "but -we were lucky to gug-gug-get out without anybody getting wise. Osgood's -a fine chap, but if people knew about our playing in his rooms and this -scrap to-night, they'd think him a regular pirate. Every old gossip in -town would gug-gabble." - -"What worries me most," ventured Cooper, "is about Hooker. Don't you -feel all right now, Roy?" - -"Perhaps he doesn't want to speak," whispered Piper. "S'pose he can get -home all right?" - -"Somebody had bub-better go with him," said Springer. "It's out of my -way, but it's on your road, Cooper. He's all right, only he doesn't -talk. You see that he gets home, will you?" - -"Yes, you see that he gets home, Chipper," urged Sleuth quickly. "I'll -be late now. If the folks are still up, I'll have to make excuses. Good -night, fellows." Turning into a side street, he set off at a run. - - - - -CHAPTER X - -THE LIE. - - -All night long, when he slept at all, Billy Piper played poker in his -dreams, tossing and muttering and clawing at the bedding with his hands. -But there were several protracted periods in those dark hours when he -lay awake, thinking wretchedly of the almost tragic end of that game in -Osgood's rooms. Never had he spent a worse night, and when the gray -light of "the morning after" came stealing in at his bedroom window he -prayed sincerely that he might never experience another like it. - -Dawn brought him some relief from those distressing dreams and haunting -visions of Hooker's prone, coatless figure and ghastly face; and, -utterly worn out, he finally sank into a heavy doze. From this he was -awakened by the sound of his mother's voice calling that it was time for -him to get up if he wished any breakfast. - -Her call had startled him and caused him to jerk himself partly upright -in bed, where he remained propped upon his elbow as he answered that he -would be down directly. This start had caused a throbbing in his -temples, and after a bit he dropped back on the pillow, huskily -muttering: - -"What a night--what a horrible night!" - -Lying there, he somewhat reluctantly reviewed the events of the previous -evening, and as he thought it all over he regretted most heartily that -curiosity and a desire to delve into the private doings of others had -led him to become a member of that card party. For the first time he -fully realized that the person who attempts to pry into the affairs of -others without authority or a sufficiently good reason almost invariably -brings upon himself no end of trouble and is sure in time to be regarded -as a spy, a meddler and a nuisance. His eyes were opened at last to the -real reason for the aversion with which his former friends and chums had -seemed to regard him of late. - -"This being a detective isn't half as fine as it seems in stories," he -muttered; "and, anyhow, I don't believe I was ever cut out for one. I've -made a mistake. I'm too sensitive, too conscientious. My feelings are -too easily stirred for me ever to make a success in that line. I'm going -to quit it. Perhaps I can write stories, and I'm sure I'd like that -better. They say an experienced crook often makes the most efficient -detective, and I despise crooks. I'm done with the game." - -That final word, although he had been thinking of something else, again -brought vividly to his mental view a picture of the green-covered table -bearing chips and cards and the young players sitting around it engaged -in what they chose to call "a little friendly game." A few short hours -before this had seemed to him all very fine and sporty, and it had -attracted him as the magnet attracts the steel. Now, in the somber light -of a dull spring Sabbath morning, the glamour was swept away, leaving -only a bitter after-taste that was remorse. - -They had said that they were playing penny poker with a ten-cent limit -simply to make the game interesting; but as he recalled their intentness -upon the run of the play, the ill-concealed bitterness with which some -of them accepted defeat, and their greedy, eager joy in winning, the -truth smote him hard and convincingly. They had been gambling! The -reason why they chose to play so small a game lay in the limited -condition of their finances. Had they all possessed more money, -penny-ante with a dime limit would have seemed tame and unsatisfactory, -and therefore games of this sort were but the first steps to something -bigger and worse. - -"Ned Osgood started it here in this town," thought Piper. "He's -naturally a fine fellow, and he doesn't realize what he's doing. I was -not the only one who couldn't afford to play, putting aside the question -of its being real gambling. In that whole bunch Osgood was the only one -who really could afford it, and he was a winner." - -At that time Sleuth did not know that in ninety-nine genuine gambling -games out of a hundred the majority of the players cannot, from -financial reasons alone, afford to participate. If not openly, they take -part in such games with the secret hope that they will come forth -winners, and one of the bad features of it all is the fact that their -winnings, when made, seldom do them any real, substantial good; for -money easily acquired is rarely rated at its real value and is almost as -elusive as quicksilver. The winning gambler regards his gains as -"velvet," forgetting his losses of yesterday and disregarding the -assured certainty that he must lose again to-morrow or at some future -time. He spends freely and foolishly, making doubly certain the time of -deprivation and need which must come in future reverses. - -The faint clatter of dishes, coming up from the dining-room, roused -Sleuth from his unpleasant reveries, and, with a strange feeling of -lassitude and weariness in his limbs, he dragged himself out of bed. The -night had exacted its penalty in physical enervation as well as mental -torment. - -"No more," he kept repeating--"no more of it for me." - -Breakfast over, he was drawn by an intense desire, not unmingled with -dread, to learn something of Roy Hooker's condition. Not a word had Roy -spoken after that blow, and Piper was haunted by the memory of the -dazed, uncomprehending look in the boy's eyes. - -"He's probably all right now," Sleuth told himself; but he could not -dismiss the fear that Roy might not be all right. - -Thus worried, he found an early opportunity of getting away from the -house, his footsteps leading him toward Hooker's home. The streets of -the village bore the deserted appearance usual upon Sunday morning, but -to him they seemed ominously silent and lonely. The early church bells -began to ring, but the sound was hateful, for it seemed to add to that -oppressive loneliness. - -On the corner of Main and Middle streets, a block from where Hooker -lived, he met Phil Springer, and a single glance told him that here was -a companion in misery. For Springer also appeared downcast and troubled, -and there was in his eyes an expression that told of sleep denied. - -"Huh-hello, Sleuthy," faltered Phil. "What bub-brings you out so early?" - -"Same thing that brought you out, I guess. Heard anything from Roy?" - -"Not a word. You?" - -"No; just came from home." - -"You took your chance to skin out and leave him on our hands, dud-didn't -you?" said Phil resentfully. "Cooper just mum-made me stick by till we -got him home." - -"That was a mean trick of mine," admitted Piper instantly. "I'm sorry I -did it, but I was nervous and excited, and I didn't stop to think. How -was he? How did he appear? Did he talk any?" - -"Not a word. Couldn't seem to gug-get any sense into him. Why, Pipe, he -actually acted as if he didn't know wh-where he lived. What do you think -of that?" - -"I don't know what to think of it. I don't like to think of it. What did -you do? How did you get him into the house?" - -"We took him to the door; it was locked. I pounded until we saw a light -through the glass and heard some one coming. Then, like the two cheap -sus-sus-skates we were, we up and dusted--ran away." Springer was not -inclined to spare himself. - -Suddenly Sleuth made a grab at his companion's arm. "Look! Here comes -Dr. Grindle now! I'll bet he's been to see Roy! Let's ask him." - -"Yu-yu-you ask," gurgled Phil, getting pale around the mouth. "It would -tut-tut-take me tut-tut-too long." - -Medicine-case in hand, the doctor approached, and, assuming as far as -possible a natural air, Piper bade him good morning and inquired if -there was some one ill "over that way." - -"Singular case," said the physician, pausing a moment and regarding the -two boys keenly. "It's Roy Hooker. He came home rather late last night -and seemed to be dazed and stunned. There's a bruise on his cheek and -another bad one upon the back of his head. His folks got him to bed, -thinking he'd be all right, although his mother was frightened and -worried. This morning when they tried to question him he wouldn't talk. -Then they 'phoned for me." - -"Roy Hooker?" exclaimed Piper, making a pretense of astonishment, which, -however, gave him a throb of self-scorn. "Why, what do you suppose -happened to him, doctor?" - -"He may have been in a fight, or perhaps he was hurt some other way. I -don't know, but I feel sure one or more persons, probably his intimate -friends or companions, must know. Unless he recovers soon and settles it -himself, they will be called on to come forward and speak up." - -Springer found it impossible to keep still. "Cuc-couldn't he say -anything at all, doctor?" - -"Just two words were all I've been able to draw from him, and they seem -to cast no light whatever upon the matter. I decided it was not best to -try to press him further in his present condition." - -"Two words!" muttered Phil. - -"Yes, if I understood correctly, he said, 'two spades.' Now what -connection with his condition two spades can have I don't understand, -unless one of those bruises upon his head may have been inflicted by -such an implement. The bruise on his cheek, I'm sure, was not made in -such a manner; and, considering the fact that the one on the back of his -head is low down toward the base of the skull, I'm wholly disinclined to -believe it was inflicted by anything resembling a spade. Are you boys -particular friends of Roy?" - -"Oh, not--not particular friends; at least, I'm not," Sleuth hastened to -reply. "For some reason, he hasn't seemed to like me very well." - -"Then you can't throw any light on this odd affair? You weren't with him -last evening?" - -"I saw him at the pup-post-office a-bub-bout half past seven," faltered -Phil huskily. - -"And you didn't see him after that?" - -"I don't--remember. I don't th-think so." - -"How about you, Billy? Did you see him later in the evening?" - -"I wasn't at the post-office," said Piper, finding it impossible to meet -the doctor's steady eyes. "I didn't see Hooker there." - -"Nor anywhere else?" persisted the physician. - -"Nor--anywhere--else." - -"Well, he must have been with some one nearly three hours later, and -we'll find out who it was when he gets able to talk, if not sooner." The -doctor glanced at his watch. "If you hear anything, let me know." - -When Dr. Grindle was gone Piper and Springer stood there, looking -anywhere but at each other. Presently, however, their eyes met, and -then, with the bitterest self-contempt, Billy muttered: - -"Two miserable liars, that's what we are!" - - - - -CHAPTER XI - -PIPER SURPRISES HIS FRIENDS. - - -Utterly miserable and ashamed, even feeling themselves abased, the two -boys again remained silent for some moments following Piper's -self-denunciatory words. - -"We juj-just _had_ to do it," Springer finally faltered in an effort at -self-justification. - -"We didn't have to," returned Billy sharply; "but we didn't have the -courage to do anything different. We might have told the truth." - -"And bub-been branded as two black sheep by every sus-stiff-necked, -straightlaced----" - -"Of course; but that would have been no more than what's due us for our -part in that affair last night." - -"I fuf-fuf-fail to see it," snapped Springer in sudden anger. "We -weren't to blame for what happened. We were only juj-just playing a -little quiet, friendly game of poker, and----" - -"We were just gambling, nothing different. You know it, Phil. I've -thought the whole thing over, and this fiction about a little friendly -game was shown to me in its true light. Now wait; don't get excited. I -was tickled almost sick when I blundered into that game last night. I -thought it was simply great. I felt that I was doing something real -sporty, and it seemed a corking fine thing to sit down with a bunch like -that and play cards for money. It wasn't what I lost that opened my -eyes, I tell you that right now. If I'd simply lost my money, I suppose -I'd been grouchy over it to myself, but, nothing worse happening, I'd -been ready enough to get into the next game, with the hope of winning it -back. That's the way it goes; when a fellow loses he's bound to play -again to get even; if he wins, he can't quit should he want to, because -the other fellows would sneer at him and call him nasty names. So when -you're once started gambling for money, you've got to keep it up. -Friendly game! Is it friendliness, trying to get the loose cash of -another fellow who needs it as much as you do, and perhaps more?" - -"I won't argue a-bub-bout that. Perhaps you're right, but the point -doesn't interest me now, with Roy Hooker in his pup-present condition. I -didn't like the way the doctor looked at us. Do you thu-think he -suspects us, Pipe?" - -"Wouldn't wonder a bit," answered Sleuth. "But then, it would be natural -for him to be suspicious of any fellow who is friendly with Roy." - -"What are we going to do?" - -"I dunno. Let's not stand here any longer; let's walk up the street. -I've got to move; I can't keep still." - -They were on the point of moving when they saw Chipper Cooper hurrying -toward them almost at a run. - -"Wait!" called the approaching boy. "Where you fellows going?" And then, -as he joined them, he asked in a low tone, "Heard anything this -morning?" - -"I should say we had," answered Billy. After which he hastily told -Cooper what they had learned from Dr. Grindle. - -"Oh, my Jinks!" muttered Chipper, aghast. "I was hoping Roy'd be all -right this morning. I was hoping he'd explain to his folks--tell them he -had a fall or something to account for the bumps he got." - -"You were hoping he'd lie," said Billy, with a short, bitter laugh. "We -had to lie to the doctor when he cornered us. You can see what the -business forces us into--lies! It makes me sick to think of it." - -"I've worried all night," sighed Cooper dolefully. "Kept waking up every -ten minutes, it seemed, thinking about that scrap and Roy. What was it -the doctor said that he said?" - -"Just two words, 'two spades.' Of course he meant the two aces of spades -in that crooked pack." - -"That seems to indicate that he's coming round, don't it? He remembered -something." - -"And when he cuc-comes round," said Springer, "he'll be liable to tell -the whole business." - -They were walking up the street toward the Methodist Church, the bell of -which had ceased to sound the first call from the steeple. In less than -an hour the church-goers would be hurrying along that street. As they -approached the church the sexton, who lived across the way a short -distance beyond, came out and hobbled toward home, leaning on his cane. - -"Where will we go?" asked Springer. "Hadn't we bub-better take a walk -outside the village?" - -"I'm not going far," said Piper. "I mean to hang around so that I won't -miss any news about Roy. It will be half an hour now before people begin -to come to church. Let's go into the old sheds out behind it." - -In one of those sheds at the rear of the church they were hidden from -the view of any one who might pass upon the street. - -"Wish I hadn't ever got to playing in that game," confessed Chipper, who -on this morning showed no signs of his usual light-hearted ways and -flippancy in conversation. - -"I reckon we all feel the same about that," said Piper; "but it's no use -to cry. We shouldn't be thinking so much of ourselves. What if Roy is -permanently hurt? What if he never comes round right?" - -"Shu-Shultz will be to blame for that." - -"Principally; but it wouldn't have happened if Shultz and Osgood hadn't -found fellows enough to make up a game, so you see, in a way, we're to -blame, too." - -"But if Roy does come round all right and tells everything, we're all in -the soup," groaned Cooper. "Oh, I'll catch it at home! My father will be -furious if he finds out that I ever played cards for money. You know -we're not rich--far from it." - -"There are others," reminded Piper sharply. "But when it comes out, if -it does, Charley Shultz will have to shoulder the most of the blame." - -"He dud-don't live in Oakdale. He can get out any tut-time he wants to." - -"Shultz won't tell," said Cooper. "Nobody will tell, unless it's Roy. If -somebody could get to see him and talk with him privately----" - -"I've thought of that," cut in Piper. "If he comes round, he may talk -before he realizes what it will mean to the rest of us. Now if somebody -could see him and make him remember things, he might be warned to keep -mum. Who's going to try it?" - -"Why dud-don't you?" suggested Springer. - -"Why don't _you_?" flung back Billy. "I've never been real chummy with -Roy." - -"I'd mum-make a mess of it," said Phil, the idea causing him to shrink. - -"Somebody has got to do it," declared Piper, "and there shouldn't be -much time wasted. The fact that Roy spoke to the doctor shows he's -coming out of his daze. He's liable to remember everything all at once. -Perhaps the sight of one of us would make him remember. Besides Osgood -and Shultz, of course we're the only ones in the game who can go to him, -and those fellows couldn't do it without rousing suspicion. It's up to -us. Who's going?" - -No one volunteered, and after a time Springer feebly suggested that they -should draw lots. They were about to do so, when of a sudden Piper -commanded all his resolution. - -"I'll go," he announced. "We won't draw; that would be gambling, in a -way, and I'm done with anything of the sort. I'll go." - -They looked at him in wonderment, vaguely realizing that this prying -chap, who had succeeded in making himself rather unpopular at school, -was the possessor of a certain determination and resolution with which -he had never been credited. - -"That's the stuff, Sleuthy," applauded Chipper. "Good old Sleuthy!" - -"Now cut that name out," requested Piper in a manner that was more like -a command. "I'm done with that, too. I've been rather proud to have -fellows call me Sleuth, but it makes me sick now, and I'm liable to -fight any one who chucks it at me in future. If you want to do me a -favor, you'll tell the fellows so. Perhaps it will make them worse; -perhaps they'll think it fun to keep that nickname stuck on to me. But -there'll be fights--I tell you there'll be fights!" - -"Gee!" breathed Springer, staring at the speaker's flushed face. "You're -a regular bub-bantam, Pipe. Well, if you dud-don't like it, I'll never -call you that again." - -"Me, too; witness my solemn pledge," said Cooper, lifting his left hand -and jerking it down to put up his right. "Phil and I owe you that much -for what you've offered to do just now." - -"Perhaps I won't get in to see Roy," said Billy; "but I'm going to ask -the privilege. Even if I do get in, maybe I won't have a chance to talk -with him without anybody round." - -"Report as soon as you can," urged Chipper. - -"Do," begged Phil. "We'll go up to my house, Cooper and I; you'll find -us there." - -They left the sheds, and Piper set forth along High Street toward -Willow, on which Hooker lived. He had not reached Willow when he met -Jack Nelson. - -"What are you doing, Sleuth?" asked Jack "You were striding off like a -man with a mission. Is the great detective on the trail this----" - -"Now that will be enough, Nelson, old man--that will be enough," -interrupted Piper. "I've just given certain parties notice that this -detective gag is played out and I'm done with it. Also, my friends -aren't to call me Sleuth any more if they wish to remain friends. -Grin--grin if you want to. I mean it. I'll prob'ly be carrying around -black eyes and body contusions for a while, but as soon as it becomes -generally known in this town that I don't want to be called Sleuth and I -won't stand any more for the detective joke, I'm going to begin punching -anybody who disregards the warning." - -"Well, I'll be blowed!" breathed Nelson. "I thought you were proud of -it. Only last night you offered to do a little piece of detective work -for me. What did you find out?" - -"Nothing," was the instant answer--"nothing that concerns you in any -way." - -"And you're disgusted over your failure, eh? I didn't suppose you'd get -down-hearted so easy. No great detective ever----" But the look on Billy's -face caused Jack to stop short. "Oh, say!" he exclaimed; "have you heard -about Hooker? I was just told that he----" - -"I've heard about it," said Piper, preparing to pass on. "I'm going to -see him now, if they'll let me. Dr. Grindle told Springer and me all -about it." - -"It's queer," said Nelson. "Aren't you quitting your professional career -at a moment when there's a case that would really justify your -investigation? Perhaps that's why you're going to see him. Perhaps you -mean to----" - -"No, that's not the reason. Guess I'll skip along." - -"If you find out anything, let a fellow know," Nelson called after him. - -"If you only knew what I know now!" muttered Piper, as he turned down -Willow Street. - - - - -CHAPTER XII - -DREAD. - - -Much to his disappointment, Billy Piper was not permitted to see Roy -Hooker. At the door Roy's mother, who was plainly in a deeply distressed -and anxious state of mind, told him that the doctor had given orders -that Roy was not to be disturbed and had administered a mild opiate to -quiet the unfortunate lad, who had grown fearfully excited when -questioned concerning the cause of his injury. - -"It's a dreadful thing, Billy Piper,--a dreadful thing!" she exclaimed. -"I don't know why any one should hurt my poor boy like that. Some one -must have done it. It was a wicked thing--a wicked, wicked thing! What if -he never recovers? What if he is always wrong in his head? He doesn't -seem to remember anything, and maybe he never will." - -"It can't be as bad as that, Mrs. Hooker," said Billy, in an effort to -cheer her up. "We--I talked with the doctor a short time ago, and he -seems to think Roy will come round all right very soon. Don't you think -he fell, or something, and hurt himself that way?" - -"How could he fall and hurt his face and the back of his head at the -same time? I'm sure some one struck him, and it was a wicked blow. But -we'll find out who it was; such things always come out in time. You know -all the boys, Billy Piper. Do you know anything about it? Have you heard -anything?" - -"Of course not, Mrs. Hooker," answered Piper, feeling cheap and mean and -miserable. "Do you think I wouldn't tell you if I knew anything?" - -"Not unless---- Oh, but of course you weren't concerned in it. But perhaps -you can find out, Billy. Roy says you're a real wonder at finding out -anything you want to know, and we all remember how you and Roy caught -one of those bank robbers. Roy gave you all the credit. He said that you -tracked the man, and that you even knew all about Fred Sage's brother -being alive before any one else was aware of it. Now, if you can do -things like that, why can't you find out who hurt my boy? The scoundrel -who did it should be punished. Won't you try to find out the truth and -tell us about it?" Entreating him thus, she placed her hand on his -shoulder, and it was with the greatest difficulty that he refrained from -shrinking beneath her touch. - -"I'll do all I can," he promised in a low tone. "I'm awful sorry this -happened, Mrs. Hooker, but, believe me, I can't really think any one -hurt Roy maliciously and with deliberate design. It must have been an -accident." - -"If it was that, wouldn't the person who did it come forward and own -up?" - -"Perhaps not. Perhaps he's frightened. Roy has a temper, you know, and -maybe he got into a fight with some one who struck him in self-defense." - -"Any boy who would do such a thing, and then keep still about it with -his victim in a dangerous condition, is a bad, bad fellow. There are -some very bad boys in Oakdale, Billy, and you must know it. Roy has said -more than once that you're a regular detective. Here is something for -you to detect--something worth while." - -"I've been a chump," acknowledged Piper, with an unmistakable intonation -of self-scorn. "I've played that detective game for my own amusement, -and made lots of trouble by it. I'm done with it now, Mrs. Hooker, for -it's sneaky, cheap, underhand business. Any one who wants to become a -detective may do so for all of me--I never shall." - -"Then you won't try to find out? You won't help us any?" - -"I've promised already to do all I can, and I shall keep my promise, -Mrs. Hooker. But I'm sure you're unnecessarily worried. Roy will be all -right to-morrow. Of course he will tell you everything." - -He departed with his head hanging and his feet dragging, a spiritless, -downcast chap. - -"Another lie," he muttered. "What will she think of me when she knows? -And she'll find out. She was right, things like this always come out. -Well, I see where some fellows in this town will have something to live -down, and I'm one of them." - -Springer and Cooper received his report with disappointment. - -"You made a fuf-fizzle of it," said Phil. "You didn't do anything." - -"Nothing except tell a lie. I led Roy's mother to believe that I didn't -know a thing about it." - -"You couldn't do anything else," said Cooper. - -"I could have told the truth, couldn't I?" - -"That would have been peaching; that would have been blowing on us all. -You couldn't do that." - -"If you fellows have got the notion that we're going to hide and escape -through lying and deception, you'd better give it up. We'll have to -shoulder our part of the blame, sooner or later." - -"That's fine!" sighed Chipper dolefully. "My father hasn't used the -strap on me for some time, but I'm going to pad my trousers in -preparation for the coming walloping." - -"I'd like to pup-punch old Shultz!" rasped Springer. "He's the one -that's to bub-blame for it all." - -"No," contradicted Piper promptly, "we can't duck behind any such -excuse. If we hadn't been there it never would have happened, for it -takes more than two or three to make up a decent game of poker. We were -all doing something on the sly--something that we didn't wish respectable -people to know about, and something we mortally dread to have them find -out about." - -"Dread it!" groaned Chipper. "I should say I do!" - -"It wasn't a cuc-crime," spluttered Springer, in an attempt at -justification. - -"I don't know about that," snapped Billy. "Gambling is illegal, and so -it was a crime." - -"Oh, but we wasn't gug-gambling; we were just playing for fun." - -"And we're getting a lot of fun out of it, aren't we? Perhaps you enjoy -it!" - -At this point Phil's anger blazed and he raged at Billy, calling him -chicken-hearted. Piper refused to listen; shrugging his shoulders, he -walked hastily away, heedless of the calls of the two lads, who begged -him to come back. - -The church bells were sounding the second call and people in their -Sunday clothes were passing on their way to services when Piper rang at -Mrs. Chester's door. The maid appeared, and, answering his inquiry, -informed him that Ned Osgood had already departed for church. - -"He goes every Sunday reg'ler," she said, with a touch of pride. "The -misses calls him 'a most exempl'ry young man.' Maybe you'll see him at -the church if you go, too." - -"Thank you," said Billy, descending the steps. - -As soon as possible, he struck off across lots, to avoid the -church-goers. "A most exempl'ry young man!" he muttered, with a short -laugh. "He's got her fooled. She doesn't know what's been going on in -his rooms every Saturday night. I wonder if she's heard about Roy? Don't -s'pose she'd have an idea anything happened to him in her house if she -has heard." - -He next thought of finding Shultz, but, from lack of courage or an -aversion for facing the fellow, could not bring himself to look for the -prime cause of all the trouble. - -Returning home, he found the house deserted, his folks being away to -church, and his manner of wandering restlessly about through the empty -rooms made him think of the old simile about the caged tiger. It was -practically impossible for him to keep still. He wanted to do something, -and his tortured conscience bade him do the right thing; but what that -was, he could not for the life of him decide. Gradually his restlessness -wore away, but still dread, like a bird of evil omen, seemed to hover -near. - -His parents returned, and, as usually happened when he remained away -from church, which, it must be confessed, was often, he was sharply -scolded by his father. Mr. Piper was much given to scolding, but only -when especially aroused did he attempt to exert genuine parental -authority over his son. In fact, Billy, like far too many boys of the -present day, was permitted to do practically as he pleased as long as he -did not worry his folks by getting into "scrapes." - -The day wore slowly away without further information concerning Hooker -until near night, when it was learned that some one had made inquiries -about him over the phone, and that his mother had said his condition -seemed unchanged. - -At dusk Piper met Chipper Cooper at the end of the upper bridge. They -looked at each other inquiringly, and, after some moments of silence, -Chipper said: - -"Well?" - -"Well?" returned Billy with precisely the same inflection. - -"I'm pretty near sick," declared Cooper. "I hear Roy is no better. It's -bad, Pipe--bad." - -"Rotten," agreed Billy, leaning against the railing. - -Cooper leaned at his side, and their tongues seemed chained. Beneath the -bridge the water gurgled and whispered. In the gathering shadows a robin -called plaintively from a treetop some distance away. The village -appeared almost as deserted and lonely as the hamlet of Goldsmith's -immortal poem. A heavy weight, like lead, seemed to weigh upon the souls -of the two unhappy boys. - -After a time Cooper heaved a sigh. - -"It's bad," he repeated--"bad!" - -"Rotten," said Piper again. - - - - -CHAPTER XIII - -THE PROFESSOR'S APPEAL. - - -Looking careworn and old, Professor Richardson called the first session -to order on Monday morning. The scholars and the two assistant -instructors were assembled in the big main room. Every one seemed to -feel that there was something unusual impending, and all eyes were -turned upon the sober face of the aged principal as he pushed his -gold-rimmed spectacles up upon his forehead and tapped gently but -authoritatively upon his desk. - -"It becomes my duty to speak of an unpleasant matter," said the -professor, in a voice a trifle husky from the effect of a cold. "For -some time I have felt that I would have to face this necessity. I have -held my present position with this institution for eighteen years, which -is a trifle more than one-fourth of man's alloted span of life, three -score and ten--a very long time. When I took up my work here I scarcely -fancied it would continue so long, and at least twice in the earlier -years of my stay I had opportunities to go elsewhere in the same -capacity. One of these opportunities, the second which presented itself, -was very tempting, and I debated not a little with myself regarding the -advisability of accepting. At that time, however, I had just begun to -feel myself bound to Oakdale Academy by strong yet tender ties, and it -was my heart rather than my head which led me at last to decline the -alluring offer. I have now been here so long that Oakdale, more than any -other place I know, seems like home, and it is my hope to remain here -among my many kind friends as long as I live. - -"Necessarily, there have been some unpleasant features in connection -with my services as principal of this academy, but, for the most part, I -am happy to say that pleasant memories predominate. Having felt that my -life work was to be teaching, I have ever sought to perform that work as -faithfully and thoroughly and conscientiously as possible. Nor do I -think I have neglected striving to enter into sympathy with my pupils; I -have always sought to understand their varying natures, to make -allowances for their natural faults and failings, and to encourage all -their worthy desires and ambitions. This is by far a more difficult -thing for a teacher than may seem possible to the youthful mind. The -difference in years, which must necessarily exist between instructor and -pupils, is bound to produce a pronounced difference in habits, methods -of thought and the viewpoint from which life in general is regarded, and -that instructor who has the ability always to put himself in sympathy -with the young mind beneath his guidance is indeed fortunate. - -"In the last eighteen years athletics and allied sports, as relating to -schools and colleges, have made amazing progress. I will not enter into -a discussion as to whether such things have not obtained too powerful a -hold upon our modern institutions of learning, for that really has -little bearing upon what I wish to say. In my boyhood, baseball was, -indeed, a very crude sort of a game, and football was practically -unknown in this country. At the present time there is in America no -school or college of importance attended by males that does not have its -baseball and football teams; and other similar games, such as ice hockey -and basketball, have become amazingly popular, the latter even being -played by teams made up of girl students. - -"I am aware that many young school instructors have fostered and -encouraged such tendencies, some of them even taking part in the -coaching of teams made up from their pupils. Nevertheless, had I myself -at one time been an enthusiast in such sports, I sincerely doubt if I -ever should have felt it either my duty or my place to follow the -example of such instructors. For it seems to me that there is, or should -be, a distinct dividing line over which the conscientious principal of a -school may not wisely step. - -"I maintain that I am not prejudiced against any healthy, beneficial -sport or pastime in which students may indulge, unless it is carried to -that excess which threatens physical injury or infringes upon and -retards mental advancement. When, however, a student becomes so wrapped -up and absorbed in baseball that he neglects his studies and can seem to -think of nothing save the game that has fixed its subtle but damaging -grip upon him, I am of the firm belief that it is high time something -should be done. When I see naturally bright students falling back in -their classes, recklessly refusing to give a proper amount of time to -studies and openly declaring their resentment at the old fogy idea that -mental training is first and foremost the great object of all schools -for the young, I unhesitatingly assert that those boys are being injured -by the present craze for sport. - -"It has been my purpose, as far as possible, to restrain such mistaken -fanaticism. As far as possible I have always tried to appeal directly to -the misguided boy himself, and up to the present term I pride myself -that I have succeeded fairly well. This spring, however, my task has -become more difficult, and my efforts have, I regret to say, produced -results far from satisfactory to me. I am aware that behind my back I -have been more or less derided by certain scholars. It has been all too -apparent that a new feeling of rebellion against interference from me -has crept into the school. This feeling has steadily increased, until of -late it has developed into downright defiance of my authority and -desires. It has affected discipline. It has led me at last to make this -direct appeal to you, scholars, as a body. - -"Even if the day of corporal punishment had not practically passed, I am -sure, were I physically capable, I would not resort to such measures in -order to maintain discipline. Nevertheless, I will admit that there are -scholars to-day who cannot be reached by appeal or moral suasion, yet -who doubtless would be led to see the error of their ways by physical -suasion. They are generally the leaders in defiance of discipline; such -fellows as smoke upon the grounds and in the building, regardless of -rules or requests to desist; such as use bad language, absent themselves -from classes, or repeatedly appear in classes only to declare themselves -unprepared. With pernicious ingenuity they devise all sorts of methods -to break rules and regulations and to defy their instructors, whom they -foolishly seem to regard not as their friends but as their enemies. - -"There are such boys in this school. They are fostering dissension, -defiance of authority, and are priming themselves and their associates -for downright and open rebellion. I think I know them all. If I chose, I -could give their names, but I will not do so--now. Not only is their -influence harmful in the classroom, but it is seriously injurious to -those with whom they associate outside the confines and hours of school. -One such lad may do an incalculable amount of injury to others. The -example of every human being is bound to have some effect upon those -with whom he associates, and they will be polluted, just as a clear -river is polluted by a foul tributary. Some of his worst self such a lad -pours into those with whom he comes in contact. - -"There's an old saying that boys will be boys. Boys can be boys and -still be decent. There is nothing reprehensible in the natural -boisterous high spirits of a vigorous young animal; it is only when such -high spirits and vigor is misdirected, that it becomes injurious. Many a -time, as I have watched a band of youngsters frolicking naturally in the -sheer joy of bounding youth, I have felt a tugging at my heartstrings -and a regret for that which the years have taken from me. Always, -however, when they have been my scholars, there has been a sort of deep -pleasure and satisfaction mingled with that regret; for it has seemed -that, in a way, they were a part of my life, and that my association -with them repaid me in a measure for the loss of that splendid thing -which time had filched from me. - -"But when I have known that certain scholars were breaking rules and -defying authority with malicious perverseness, I have felt more than -resentment or anger--I have felt sorrow. When I have seen, as has -sometimes happened of late, my boys banding together at night upon -street corners, behaving offensively, moving surreptitiously, betraying -by unmistakeable signs that they were engaged in stealthy and secret -purposes, my alarm and distress has overcome both anger and sorrow. I -have not known just what was taking place, but I have felt that there -were things happening which ought not to happen. I have felt sure, -likewise, that something bad was bound to come of it. - -"This brings me to speak of Roy Hooker. I am sure you all know about -him. Roy is not a bad boy, his inclinations are not pernicious, yet I am -aware that he has been associating with those who could do him no good. -On Saturday night, at a late hour, he met with an injury--an injury from -which, perhaps, he may never recover. This injury was inflicted by one -or more blows upon the head, and it seems to have deprived him of the -power of speech and memory. Since that time he has scarcely spoken half -a dozen coherent words. It is not at all probable that Roy was injured -in this manner while alone, yet up to the present time no associate of -his has had the manhood to come forward and tell precisely how it -happened. - -"This seems to me evidence enough that Roy was hurt in a manner that was -regarded as shameful, if not actually criminal. Otherwise, why should -the person or persons with him at the time take so much pains to prevent -the truth of the matter from becoming known? Whoever they were, they -have shown a lack of courage that seems absolutely cowardly. I'm certain -there's not one of them who does not carry in his breast a tortured -conscience, and this is one of the most certain punishments for -wrong-doing. The evil-doer, if he possesses any of the finer human -sensibilities, must always endure the writhings of a wounded conscience. -If Roy Hooker should not recover, those responsible for his condition -must bear all through life a sickening burden. - -"Let us, however, hope for the best. I have talked with Dr. Grindle this -morning, and he encouraged me to believe that Roy would come through all -right. It is not impossible that he may recover sufficiently to-day to -tell precisely what happened. In that case, unless others come forward -without delay, it will be too late for them to escape the brand of -cowardice. It may require an amount of moral courage to confess the -truth, but such a confession will partly atone for the silence so far -maintained. Time is fleeting." - -But if Professor Richardson expected any of his scholars to come forward -at once with a confession he was disappointed; and, after several -minutes of waiting, during which he busied himself by pretending to -arrange some papers on his desk, he slowly returned his spectacles to -their usual place astride his thin nose and regretfully announced that -the regular course of the session would be taken up. - - - - -CHAPTER XIV - -PIPER PUTS IT UP TO SHULTZ. - - -Never had a morning session at school seemed so wretchedly long to Billy -Piper. The hands of the old clock on the wall behind Professor -Richardson's desk actually seemed to stand still. - -At intermission Billy sought an opportunity to speak a word in private -with Charley Shultz, but was prevented from doing so, Shultz being -surrounded by several boisterous fellows, who made a great deal of noise -and laughed often and loudly. In this general chatter Charley took part, -but Piper was certain that his loud talk and laughter were inspired by a -desire to appear carefree and untroubled. Once Shultz's eyes met -Billy's, which led him to frown and turn his glance quickly away, a -sullen, resentful expression flashing across his face for a moment. - -The other members of that Saturday night party seemed not at all -disposed to associate with one another. Ned Osgood put himself to much -trouble to chat with Rod Grant, which was something unusual, as he had -never before betrayed a particular liking for the Texan's company. Phil -Springer hung around Nelson and Stone, who talked baseball when they had -finished speculating over the mystery of Roy Hooker's injury. Cooper -slipped away by himself, and returned only when it was time to get back -to his seat and his books. - -At last the hands of the clock stood perpendicular, one over the other, -and, having announced that he would remain at his desk a few minutes to -speak with any one who wished to have a word with him, Professor -Richardson dismissed the scholars. A few of the boys lingered, curious -to observe if any one should approach the principal, but all of the -fellows who could have cleared up the mystery made haste to get out of -the room. - -Again Piper was baffled in his effort to speak privately with Shultz, -who walked away between two girls, talking and laughing like one who -bore no shadow of apprehension in his heart. - -"He's putting up a big bluff," muttered Billy. "He never troubled -himself before to be so jolly sociable with those girls. He can't carry -it off like Osgood; he hasn't got the natural swing." - -Piper bolted his dinner with such haste that his mother was led to warn -him of indigestion, with which he was sometimes troubled. - -"As soon as it comes spring," she said, "you get baseball crazy, Will, -and you don't like to stay home a minute longer than you have to." - -"It's not baseball to-day, mother," he answered. "I wonder if anybody -has heard anything new about Roy?" - -"I haven't, not a word. I thought perhaps you might at school. You're -always so quick to see through things, haven't you an idea what happened -to him?" - -"Do you think I wouldn't tell if I had?" - -"No, but it seems queer nobody knows anything at all about it. Can't you -even guess, Will?" - -"No, I can't," he answered brusquely, pushing back and jumping up from -the table. "It's never been my habit to guess; I've always had something -to base my theories on." - -"And you haven't a thing in this case?" - -"Of course not." He grabbed his cap and almost bolted from the house. - -"Still more lies!" he half snarled, as he hurried along the street. "My -own mother will lose confidence in me when she finds out the truth. It's -the most miserable piece of business I ever got mixed up in." - -Straight to Mrs. Chester's home he hastened, and his heart gave a throb -of satisfaction when the maid, admitting him, stated that Charley Shultz -was with Osgood in the latter's room. - -They were talking in low tones when Piper unceremoniously opened the -door and entered that room. Osgood had been pacing up and down, but -Shultz was standing by the window. Both looked startled. - -"You're just the two fellows I want to see," said Billy, closing the -door carefully behind him. - -"Who invited you in?" growled Shultz. "Why didn't you knock?" - -"Won't you sit down?" invited Ned, in his usual courteous manner, which -had at first seemed like affectation to the boys of Oakdale. - -"Thanks," said Piper. "Don't believe I care to. I've been trying to get -a private word with Shultz, and this is the first time----" - -"If you wish to talk with him privately I'll step out." - -"No need of it. What I want to say I can say just as well with you here, -Osgood, old man." - -"We were having a little private talk of our own when you butted in," -said Shultz sourly. - -"When I'm through there'll be plenty of time for you to finish up. I -won't be long, and I'll get out the minute I've had my say. It's about -this wretched scrape--about Hooker." - -"It _is_ a wretched scrape," agreed Osgood. "I'm greatly disturbed over -it, and of course you must be also, Piper. What are we to do?" - -"That's just what I want to talk to Shultz about. Something has got to -be done, and that pretty quick, too. It strikes me that Shultz is the -fellow to do it." - -The boy named swung round and squared himself, his red lips pressed -together, his eyes staring straight at Billy from beneath lowered brows. -"I suppose," he began harshly, "you think you're going to shoulder the -whole business onto me. If you do, you want to forget it, and forget it -quick. I'm no more to blame than the rest of the bunch. It's true I hit -Hooker a poke, but he brought it on himself, and you know it. He accused -me of cheating." - -"It was your blow that knocked him against that mantelpiece and dazed -him so that he hasn't been able to talk or remember. In stating that the -truth was sure to come out soon, Professor Richardson was doubtless -correct." - -"Ah, don't talk to me about that old dried-up shrimp!" cried Shultz -fiercely. "He practically owned up before the whole school that he was a -back number. He's no more fit to be the principal of Oakdale Academy -than I am--nor half as much. It's time he retired and let a younger and -better man fill his place." - -"I didn't come here to argue that point. I say he was right in asserting -that the truth about Hooker is bound to come out. Now are you going to -wait and let the facts be found out through some other channel, or are -you going to brace up and make a clean breast of it?" - -"Now wouldn't that be fine!" sneered Shultz. "You want me to blow the -whole thing, do you? You want me to come out and tell the general public -that a bunch of us were here in Ned's rooms gambling, and that in a -quarrel over the cards I hit Roy Hooker. Do you think for a minute that -by doing so I'll make you stand better in the public eye?" - -"Somebody has got to tell it before Hooker tells, himself," persisted -Piper. "As you're the fellow mainly involved, it seems to me it's up to -you." - -"And if I don't tell, I suppose you'll run and peach, you common -tattler!" frothed Shultz, taking a step forward, his fists clenched, his -face crimson with rage. - -Piper stood his ground. - -"Perhaps it will make you more popular with yourself if you hit me," he -said. "You can't frighten me, Shultz, with black looks and bluster. I -knew what you'd do, but I made up my mind to talk straight to you, and -I'm going to talk, even if you knock me down and jump on me with both -feet." - -"There'll be nothing of that kind happen in here," announced Osgood, -taking a position to interfere in case Shultz's wrath should gain -absolute control of him. "We were talking of this thing when you came -in, Piper." - -"That old dead one, Richardson, tried to make folks believe it would be -a courageous thing to come forward and confess," said Shultz; "but -anybody knows that the fellow who squeals is usually a coward. He's -frightened into it. That's the trouble with you, Piper; you're scared -stiff. You haven't any nerve at all." - -"Scared?" retorted Billy. "I didn't hit Hooker. The worst that can be -said about me is that I was playing poker here and that I joined with -the rest of the bunch in keeping still about what happened to Roy. You -know, Shultz, that there was no one else save yourself and Roy to blame -for that wind-up of the game. Now if we all keep still and wait till it -comes out, every one of us will be in the soup; but if you have the -nerve and manhood to go to Professor Richardson or Dr. Grindle and tell -just what the finish of that game was, without naming any one besides -yourself and Hooker, it will----" - -"Ho! ho!" scoffed Shultz. "So that's what you want! I knew it; I knew -you were trying to save your own hide somehow. You want me to expose -myself as a real thug and scoundrel, in order that you and the rest may -get off scot-free. Fine--I don't think. I'll rush right away and do -it--not." - -"Osgood is your particular friend, isn't he? Can't you see any reason -why you should shield him, dismissing consideration for the rest of us? -You were here playing poker in Ned's rooms. An unfortunate -misunderstanding--I hope that's what it was--brought about that encounter -with Hooker. You can tell the story and refuse to name the others who -were in the game. More than half the people will consider that an act of -decency on your part. They won't blame you for trying to shield the rest -of the crowd, although they may attempt to worm our names from you." - -"It wouldn't do any good, anyhow," asserted Shultz. "As soon as Hooker -gets straightened out and remembers things, he'll tell; he'll name all -of us." - -"There's the unpleasant possibility that Hooker may not get straightened -out, Shultz. Anyhow, perhaps it will be some time before he does. -Perhaps he'll come around gradually, and some of us may be able to see -him and caution him to keep mum. It's the only chance." - -"And if he doesn't come around at all, and none of the crowd squeals, -how are they ever going to find out just what happened? There you are." - -"They will find it out, Shultz; I've made up my mind to that." - -"What do you mean?" - -"I mean that somebody is going to tell the truth. If you don't do it, -somebody else will." - -Osgood was compelled to grapple with Shultz, who strove to reach Billy, -crying hoarsely: - -"Let me get at that little whelp! He's threatening to blow on us! I'll -fix him!" - -"No, you won't," said Ned, displaying an amount of strength that -surprised Piper, who still remained apparently calm and undisturbed. "He -hasn't said that he's going to blow." - -"But that was what he meant." - -Ned thrust the raging fellow back and held him until he had calmed down -somewhat. - -"What did you mean, Piper?" Osgood asked over his shoulder. "Did you -mean that you were going to chase right out of here and tell every one?" - -"That wasn't exactly what I meant," answered Billy. "I'm going to talk -with the rest of the crowd. I'm going to tell them just where I stand -and what I think. I'm going to do my best to induce them, one and all, -to put it up to Shultz just as I have put it up to him. Then, if he -isn't man enough to shoulder the blame, I'll suggest that we all walk up -in a body and tell the whole thing." - -"You see! you see!" panted Shultz. "That's his game! He's a squealer! -He's bound to make me the goat." - -"Give me a chance to talk to him," urged Osgood. "I'm sure Billy will -listen to reason." - -"I'm ready to listen to reason," said Piper; "but argument on false -premises won't have the slightest effect on me. I've thought this thing -all over and decided on the only proper course to be followed." - -"But you can see," said Ned, almost pleadingly, "that you're asking a -most difficult thing of Charley." - -"That doesn't make it any less the right thing," was the unbending -retort. - -"Confound him!" cried Shultz. "Did you ever see such an obstinate, -stiff-necked little brat! He's bound to besmirch me. He wants to drive -me out of the school, that's what's the matter. He's got it in for us -both, Ned. That's because we don't happen to belong in this miserable -one-horse burg. I've had troubles enough. If I get fired from this -school my old man is going to froth, I tell you that. And I'll be fired -just as sure as the facts are known." - -"I see further talk will be a waste of time," said Piper, "so I think -I'll be going." - -"Wait a minute," requested Osgood. "You must realize that you sprung -this thing on us rather suddenly. We haven't had time to think it over. -Give us time, won't you?" - -"At this stage of the game time counts, for there's no telling how soon -Hooker will be able to talk." - -"A little time," persisted Ned. "Let me talk it over with Charley. Try -to put yourself in his place and see if you can't realize----" - -"All right," cut in Billy, suddenly deciding it was best to yield a -little. "Talk it over. I won't make another move until I see you again. -But it's no use dilly-dallying, and Shultz may as well understand it." - -Without a word of adieu, he opened the door and left them. - - - - -CHAPTER XV - -STILL SILENT. - - -Osgood and Shultz arrived at the academy barely in time to escape tardy -marks. As they slid into their seats neither of them glanced toward -Piper, who had an eye turned upon them, and at intermission both seemed -anxious to keep away from him. Watching them, he saw Ned, seeking to -avoid general attention, pass a few low, hasty words with both Springer -and Cooper. - -"That won't do you a bit of good," thought the determined boy. "If you -get the whole of the rest of the bunch to stick by you, I'll give them -fair warning and speak up myself." - -Shultz evidently took pains not to be seen with any of the fellows who -had participated in the card game, but never for a moment during that -intermission did he give Piper an opportunity to address him when other -scholars were not close by. Fully aware that the fellow would refuse to -step aside with him, Piper made the request of Osgood. - -"Well, you've had time," said Billy, as they paused beneath one of the -trees near the academy. "What have you done? What are you going to do?" - -"It will be all right," assured Osgood suavely, "only just don't push -the thing too hard; for if you do, Shultz may balk, and that would put -us all in a hole. You've got to think of some one besides yourself, -Piper." - -"I am; I'm thinking of Hooker." - -"I tell you it will be all right," reiterated Ned. "Just give us a -little more time. Don't do anything foolish." - -The bell struck, recalling them to the building, and, far from -satisfied, Billy returned to fix his mind as best he could upon his -studies. - -Before dismissing school for the day, Professor Richardson stood beside -his desk and again pushed his spectacles upward on his forehead. His -thin cheeks were unnaturally flushed, and his voice had changed from -huskiness to a croaking sound, which seemed to indicate that the cold -had gripped him at his throat. Silence fell upon the room, for every one -seemed to know the topic upon which the principal was about to speak, -and more than one boy felt a shiver run through him. - -"I regret," began the professor, "that my talk of this morning had so -little effect. I've waited, vainly hoping that some one might come to me -with the truth concerning Roy Hooker. At noon I again saw Dr. Grindle, -and I'm glad to say that what he told me was almost an assurance that -Roy would fully recover, and that very soon. The unfortunate boy was -able to talk a little this forenoon, and although no one urged him, he -said enough to give an inkling of the cause of his trouble." - -For a moment he paused, his eyes seeming to rove from face to face -before him, and the shivering ones found it most difficult to meet his -look and appear interested without betraying guilt. How much had Hooker -told? That was the question that made every pulse throb, even while -their blood seemed to run chill. - -"I spoke this morning of evil influences and bad associates," continued -the principal. "There's no need to repeat what I said. From Hooker's -rambling words, it has become apparent that upon Saturday night he was -engaged in a game of cards--for money. In short, he was gambling. Where -and with whom, he did not state, and it was not thought best to worry -him in his present condition with too many questions. Of course he was -gaming with his usual companions, his so-called friends. That means -almost to a certainty that some who are now listening to my words were -with him. I will repeat my assertion that the names of his companions -must assuredly become known. - -"What happened to him in that game may readily be surmised. There was a -quarrel. There were blows, and he was dreadfully injured. It will be a -merciful thing if his reason is not permanently affected. The actual -cause of the quarrel is yet a matter of surmisal, but whoever enters -into a gambling game invites disaster. Greed and triumph fills the heart -of the winner; bitterness and resentment fixes its hold upon the loser. -Suspicion is aroused. At the slightest happening which seems to confirm -suspicion there is an arousal of bad blood and a quarrel. We have here -an example of how serious such a quarrel may be, and it should be a -lesson to all of you--a lesson to be remembered always. It should teach -you to shun gambling as you would shun a contagious disease. It is a -disease that undermines the moral fiber and manhood of any one it -touches. Having been contaminated, there is only one remedy, one -cure:--good resolutions, the determination to shun this evil thing in -future, and the will-power to hold fast to that determination. - -"A person who makes up his mind to do right in the future, and is -sincere about it, seldom hesitates to admit his errors or mistakes of -the past. There are always willing hands to help one who thus proves his -sincere change of heart. I hope before it is too late I may yet receive -the evidence that some of you are sincerely repentant and sincerely -determined henceforth to avoid such mistakes. You are dismissed." - -The old man puttered around, gathering up his books and papers and -locking his desk. When he was ready to leave he found himself alone in -the big room. - -"Ah, well!" he muttered; "it's hard for them. I'm afraid I haven't -sufficient influence. I'm afraid I failed to make my words convincing." - -Outside, the members of the ball team had turned toward the nearby field -for practice, but they were not talking of baseball. The knowledge that -Roy Hooker had been engaged in a card game for money caused their -tongues to wag vigorously. Speculation was rife as to where the game had -taken place and who had been concerned in it. Several of them, while -pretending ignorance, knew very well indeed, and at least one who was -not in the secret was inclined to believe he could make a good guess at -the truth. - -Jack Nelson had not forgotten that Roy Hooker was one of the trio in -Hyde's livery stable, after the return from Wyndham, to whom Ned Osgood -had said that he would see them later. But, having nothing further on -which to base his surmisal, and never dreaming how much Billy Piper -knew, Nelson refrained from hints or accusations. Perhaps in this he was -supported by the belief that, taking into consideration the benching of -Osgood in Saturday's game, it might seem that he had a pronounced animus -against the fellow were he to suggest that Ned knew more than he was -disposed to tell. - -"As Prof said," thought Nelson, "it's bound to come out, and I won't -make any blunder if I keep my mouth shut." - -One thing he did not understand was why Piper, knowing certain fellows -met regularly Saturday evenings in Osgood's rooms, seemed to show so -little interest in the matter. It was wholly unlike Billy, who -heretofore had displayed the most eager disposition to probe anything -which bore on its face the tag of mystery. Even Piper's protestation -that he was done with such things and would play the detective no more -did not seem to be an adequate excuse for his apathy. - -"It's all mighty queer," decided Jack, as, taking little part in the -talk of the boys around him, he got into his uniform in the gymnasium. -"Osgood doesn't seem at all worried, but his friend Shultz is altogether -too gay to be natural. It's not like him. Well, if they're concerned, -they're in deep, and it wouldn't surprise me if the nine lost a couple -of good players." - - - - -CHAPTER XVI - -THE FACE AT THE WINDOW. - - -Practice that night was a failure; no one seemed to enter into it with -heart or enthusiasm. The ball was batted and thrown around listlessly, -and Nelson's efforts to wake the fellows up bore no fruit. And so, after -a time, seeing that this sort of work would do the boys no good, the -captain put an end to it. - -"It's plain we haven't our minds on the business in hand, fellows," he -said, "so we'll quit it for to-night. I fancy we're all thinking too -much about what happened to Hooker." - -They straggled back to the gymnasium, which stood just outside the -grounds, and took their showers and rub-downs and dressed. There was not -much talk now, and very little joshing or laughter. Cooper perpetrated a -pun, but no one seemed to notice it. Even beneath the hissing, -spattering cold showers there was not much of the usual whooping and -shouting; they dove into the icy spray, gasped, jumped out, grabbed -their towels, scrubbed and dressed. Then, one by one, or in little -groups, they departed. - -Charley Shultz followed Ned Osgood from the gym and overtook him -outside. - -"There goes that cub, Piper, along with Phil Springer," he said -anxiously. "Cooper's ahead of them. They're all going the same way. -Let's hustle up and overtake them." - -Ned restrained him. "Let them go, Charley. It won't do any good to chase -them, and it may look suspicious to others." - -"Did you get a chance to say anything to Phil and Chipper?" - -"Sure. Couldn't talk to them much, but I told them what Piper was up to, -and urged them to hold him in check." - -"What did they say?" - -"They're worried. They said they'd do their best." - -"He'll bring them round," snarled Shultz. "I never saw such a vicious, -determined little imp. I figured him out to be a wishy-washy, spineless -creature, but, on my word, he's the most obstinate, pig-headed fellow I -ever ran up against. He's got it in for me; he's bound to queer me." - -"He'll queer us both if he sticks to his plan," said Ned, in a -discouraged way. "It's going to hit me about as hard as it will you, old -fellow. I had to get out of Hadden Hall because I was caught with a -bunch playing poker in my room in one of the dormitories. My mother -insisted that I should attend a smaller and quieter school where there -would be less temptation, and that's how I happened to come here." - -"There's a bond of sympathy between us," declared the other boy, with a -grin. "I was expelled from Berkley for fighting, and before that I got -into trouble in the public school of my own town. Like you, it's my -mother who wants me to have an education. The old man was for putting me -to work with my coat off after the Berkley affair." - -They had paused near the academy gate. - -"Going home?" asked Ned. - -"Home?" exclaimed Charley, misunderstanding him. "If I've got to get out -of this town I'll strike out for myself; I'll keep away from home." - -"I mean are you going, now, to your boarding place?" - -"Oh! I guess not yet. I'll walk up with you. I want to talk this thing -over a little more." - -To avoid passing through the center of the village, they crossed the -yard to a field behind it, which brought them to Middle Street. As they -went along, Shultz was saying: - -"My people aren't such swells as yours, Ned, though the old man is -making some money. They're German, but I was born in this country. It's -only lately that my father has been scraping together some dollars. All -his life he's had to pinch, and now he hangs on to the mazuma with a -deathlike grip. It about breaks his heart when he has to send me my -monthly allowance, and one reason why he put me here into this little -school was because he thought it would be less expensive. Your people -are different. You always have money. They might have sent you to any -big school if you'd insisted on it." - -"I explained my mother's reason for wishing me to come here. After that -exposure at Hadden Hall, it seemed best that I should put in a year at -some obscure school before entering an institution of importance. You -see, considering our standing and family, she felt fearfully cut up over -what happened at Hadden. If there's a repetition of it here, it will -make her hair turn gray. I may not betray my feelings to the extent that -you do, but I'll confess that this miserable mix-up has got me going. If -you hadn't struck that blow----" - -"Oh, now you can't blame me; you'd done the same under those -circumstances. What I'd like to know is where that extra ace came from. -You don't suppose that sneak, Piper, slipped it into the pack, do you?" - -Osgood shook his head. "I examined the cards after you fellows left. You -know I stated at the time that I had two packs with the backs alike. -Investigation showed me that the ace of spades was missing from the pack -that was not in use. It got into the other pack, somehow, and that's -what makes me blame myself. You understand, Charley, that it was really -through my own carelessness that this whole thing came about." - -"It was rotten hard luck." - -"Yes, it was hard luck." - -Neither of them seemed to fancy for a moment that the element of Fate -entered, even remotely, into the case, and perhaps they could be excused -in this, for "hard luck" is ever the cry of the erring who face exposure -through seemingly chance twists of circumstances. Even hardened -malefactors, which these boys were not, rarely understand how closely -the threads of human destiny are woven, making it almost impossible -completely and effectually to hide the slightest flaw in the web. - -Although Osgood invited him in when Mrs. Chester's house was reached, -Shultz declined; he was troubled by a vague aversion for the room of his -friend, in which an event bordering on tragedy had taken place. They -lingered outside near an old elm that was just beginning to show the -least touch of tender green amid its branches, and continued seeking to -ease their minds by talk. - -"Under any circumstances," said Shultz, "this business seems to put the -kibosh on our little plan. It's upset everything." - -Osgood nodded. "Just when we had things pretty well fixed," he sighed. -"We were standing in right with the majority of the baseball team, and -Nelson's act at Wyndham would have helped us along." - -"Sure. I'll guarantee you would have been captain of the Oakdale Academy -nine before long. If Wyndham had won that game after Nelson benched us, -it would have settled everything our way. You're mighty clever, old man. -You worked the fellows who could be worked, and did it just right. They -didn't realize for a moment what we were up to. Still, we had them -sounded so that we knew which way every one would jump if a split came." - -"It was your idea; I'd never thought of it myself. Even after seeing how -loosely athletics are run here, being only a short time in the school, I -wouldn't have fancied it possible to depose Nelson had you not suggested -it." - -For ten minutes or more they continued to talk without securing the -least relief from the oppression and anxiety that was on them. - -The face of Shultz, as he trudged toward the home of Caleb Carter, where -he boarded, was clouded and gloomy. After supper he waited until the -shadows had lengthened into twilight, and then set forth into the -village. In their talk, neither he nor Osgood had spoken much of the -probable result of Roy Hooker's injury, but Charley was inwardly -consumed by a desire for some report on the unfortunate boy's condition. - -In town he lingered around the post-office and the stores where the -villagers occasionally gathered to gossip, hoping to learn what he -desired without making inquiries. He joined some boys near the drinking -fountain in the square, but took little part in their characteristic -chatter. - -"You're glum to-night, Shultzie," said Hunk Rollins. "Got a grouch on?" - -"Oh, no," was the answer. "I've had bad news from home. Father's sick, -and I may have to give up school. It wouldn't surprise me to get a -telegram to-morrow." - -"Oh, gee!" cried Chub Tuttle. "Don't think you'll have to go for good, -do you? With Hooker hurt and you gone, the nine will be mighty weak." - -"Has any one heard anything from Hooker to-night?" Shultz desperately -forced himself to inquire. - -"Only that he seems to be about the same," answered Harry Hopper. "He -hasn't talked much yet. We're all waiting to find out what he will have -to say when he does talk. The old Prof seemed to think it was going to -bump somebody. We've been trying to figure out who it will be. Fred Sage -is Roy's closest friend, but he wasn't out of the house Saturday night, -so he don't know anything about it." - -"It wouldn't surprise me," said Shultz, "if the whole thing turned out -to be sort of a tempest in a teapot. It doesn't seem at all likely that -anybody knows the facts and is keeping still. I'll wager Hooker took a -tumble and hurt himself on his way home." - -"But the question is, where had he been?" said Tuttle, munching a -peanut. "He must have been out with somebody at that hour, but nobody -has come forward to say he was with him. That's what makes it look -suspicious." - -"Well, I'm going home," announced Shultz, who had no relish to discuss -the matter. "Perhaps we'll hear something new in the morning." - -In his small back room at Caleb Carter's he tried to divert his mind a -while by reading, but gave it up at last and decided to go to bed. He -was half undressed when, chancing to turn toward the window, which -looked out upon the roof of the ell, he staggered as if struck a blow, -his mouth open, his eyes bulging, both hands outflung. - -The light of his lamp, shining through the window, fell upon the pallid -face of Roy Hooker, who was gazing fixedly at him! - - - - -CHAPTER XVII - -THE GREAT FEAR. - - -Aghast, his heart in his throat, Charley Shultz stared at the face -outside the window. Only the upper part of the body of his unwelcome -visitor could be seen, and that, clothed all in white, seemed -particularly ghostlike. The head of the figure was encircled by a heavy -white bandage, like a turban. The eyes which stared back at Shultz from -an apparently set and pallid face were full of terrible accusation and -menace, and beneath that unwavering gaze the terrified boy felt his -blood turn to icy currents in his veins. - -For a moment he stood spellbound and as motionless as the unmoving -figure upon the roof of the ell. Presently, unable longer to endure the -ordeal of those burning orbs, Shultz fell back a step, clapping a -trembling hand over his own eyes. - -He struck against the little stand on which his lamp stood, and the lamp -was overturned. Fortunately, it was of metal, and did not break. The -chimney, detaching itself, dropped upon a rug and was also unbroken. The -burning wick continued to flare, sending up a writhing spiral of smoke, -but the room was temporarily plunged into semi-gloom; and, still further -terrified lest complete darkness should ensue, Charley stooped and -caught up the lamp. He scarcely realized that he burned his quivering, -nerveless fingers as he tried to replace the chimney. It was some -moments ere he succeeded in his object, and even then, with the lamp -gripped convulsively in his hand and held above his head, he could -scarcely bring himself once more to look toward the window. - -When he did look, he was astounded by the fact that the apparition had -vanished, and for at least sixty seconds he stood watching for it to -reappear; for it to materialize slowly and horribly, little by little, -vague and mist-like at first, but gradually taking form and growing -plainer, until, crouching at the window, it should once more sicken his -soul with those terrible eyes. - -It did not come. Hoping at last that it was truly gone, he forced -himself to advance, bearing the lamp. Reaching the window, he ran the -roller shade to the very top, and then, still holding the lamp above his -head with one hand while he shaded his eyes with the other, he gazed out -into the silent night. - -The lamplight showed that the roof of the ell was bare. At the far end -of the building it fell upon a big chestnut tree with spreading -branches. Beyond that nothing could be seen. - -Presently, with a deep breath that was almost painful in the relief it -gave, Shultz drew back from the window, seized the shade and quickly -pulled it all the way down. - -"Mercy! what a fright!" he whispered hoarsely. "I must have imagined it. -My nerves must be on edge, and I never knew I had any nerves. Great -Cæsar! but it did look natural and real!" - -He put the lamp back on the stand and dropped upon a chair, weak and -covered with clammy perspiration. For the first time in his life, -perhaps, Charley Shultz had been thoroughly frightened, and it was no -easy matter for him to recover and regain control of himself. - -"I can hardly believe I imagined it, now!" he muttered. "Why should I? I -haven't felt that I was really to blame for this Hooker business, and, -if I'm not to blame, why should I get all wrought up over it?" - -Up to this time his great concern had been almost wholly for himself as -he would be affected by the unfortunate affair. In a slight measure he -had regretted that Osgood would be entangled. Hooker had called him a -cheat and had been the first to lift his hand in wrath. Therefore, why -should he feel remorse over what the fellow had brought upon himself? - -"He deserved all he got," Shultz had told himself this over and over. -"Of course I didn't intend to give him a poke that would hurt him -seriously, but I had to defend myself." - -Now, however, something like a ray of light, piercing his distressed -heart, showed him that under the circumstances he could not hope wholly -to escape just blame and censure. Although seemingly a bit stolid about -ordinary affairs, he had always permitted his ungovernable temper and -somewhat bullying proclivities to have full sway, and no person with a -violent temper is totally phlegmatic or stolid. Rage and resentment had -put power into the smashing blow which threatened him with disgrace--or -worse. - -"If only I hadn't been quite so quick!" he sighed. "I didn't realize -what might come of it. I didn't stop to think." Which is the prime cause -of most misfortunes we bring upon ourselves; we do not stop to think. - -Rising, after a time, from the chair, he paced the floor of the little -room, feeling that in his present condition it would be useless to go to -bed; for sleep would be denied him. Back and forth he walked for a long -time, his mind a riot of wild thoughts. Presently he stood still, -breathing softly with his lips parted, his eyes wide and staring, yet -seeing nothing in that room. A dreadful thought had gripped him. What if -Hooker were dead? - -"Perhaps it was his ghost I really saw!" The words drifted so faintly -from his lips that another person in the room could not have understood -them. "It isn't impossible that he's dead! The doctor thought he'd get -better, but doctors make mistakes. If he's dead I'm done for." - -Scarcely realizing what he was doing, he flung on the garments he had -removed some time before. And as he dressed he became more and more -convinced that Roy Hooker was really dead. - -"I'll have to get out of this town--quick. I'll pack up and get ready." - -Forth from an adjoining closet he drew his trunk, into which he flung -his belongings without method or care. A few things, such as he might -need for immediate use, he packed into a leather grip. - -"I can't get away till morning," he muttered; "there's no train. Still, -I suppose I might hire a team from the stable. I might tell them I'd had -a message that my father was dying. It's thirty-four miles to Watertown -on the main line, and there's a train goes through that place at four in -the morning. I could catch that train, but, first, I'll make sure about -Hooker." - -Blowing out the lamp, he tiptoed down the dark stairs and presently -found himself outside the house in which Mr. and Mrs. Carter were -soundly sleeping. The air was raw and the night still dark. Later the -moon would come up, though it might be smothered by clouds. - -Shultz walked slowly, irresolutely, down the black road which led into -Lake Street. After a time the academy loomed on his left, and on the -right he saw the gymnasium and the fence of the athletic field. Like an -avalanche a host of memories came rushing over him; memories of the days -he had spent here since his expulsion from Berkley Academy. - -For the first time he realized how pleasant those days had really been, -and for the first time he perceived with wonderment that he had become -attached to the place and it would give him regret to go away. Through -his athletic prowess and his skill in baseball he had won a certain -amount of popularity, which might have been much greater if he had only -made some effort to curb his unpleasant characteristics. Osgood, his -friend, was immensely popular; so popular, indeed, that it had seemed -probable that, through a little maneuvering and scheming, he might -supersede Nelson as captain of the nine. Without a thought of the moral -or manly points involved, they had plotted to bring this about. - -"Well, it will never happen now," said Shultz, with a low, bitter laugh. -"The jig is up, anyhow. I hardly thought Ned would agree when I proposed -it, but he almost jumped at it. I believe he'd been thinking of the very -same thing. There's class to his people, and he's a gentleman, so, when -he did agree, it seemed all right to me." In this manner he sought to -excuse himself. - -He recalled how he had scoffed at Oakdale, the school and the old -professor. He had even dreamed of resorting to various harassing methods -in order to make Professor Richardson's task so difficult that, unable -to govern his pupils with a stern hand, he would withdraw from his -position to let it be filled by a younger and more efficient instructor. -Yes, having instilled some of his own spirit into his associates, Shultz -had started a campaign of nagging and annoyance and disregard for what -he called old-fashioned rules, which had certainly given the principal -no small amount of worry and trouble. - -"I suppose," he half laughed, as he walked slowly past the building, -"the old relic thinks I'm a bad egg. What do I care what he thinks! What -do I care what anybody thinks!" But for the first time in his life he -did care. - -At this hour the center of the village seemed dark and deserted. Only an -occasional light was to be seen shining dimly from a window. -Nevertheless, the boy hesitated about passing through the square, -fearing that some one might see him, know him, and wonder what he was -doing prowling about so late. This fear led him to turn from Lake Street -and cross lots toward the rapids below the upper dam. In this manner he -stole down the slope at the rear of the stores and houses which lined -the western side of lower Main Street. - -The water was gurgling and grumbling around the rocks which thrust -themselves upward in the channel. At intervals, as Shultz passed, it -hissed, like a living creature expressing scorn and hatred. - -At the bridge he climbed upward to the roadway, where he stood for a few -moments, peering and listening. - -"I seem to be the only one alive in this old burg." The thought brought -Hooker to his mind--Hooker, dead, perhaps. - -Cross Street, which ran back of the town hall and along the shore of the -lower pond, would bring him into Lake Street again, near Willow, upon -which was the home of the Hookers. He had almost reached Lake Street -when he stopped short, halted by the sound of echoing footsteps, which -were approaching from that part of the town he had avoided. In a moment -he was pressing his body against the bole of a big tree. - -The footsteps came nearer. The person began to hum a tune. Here was some -one abroad with a light heart and fearless of observation. - -"It must be Tuttle," thought the boy by the tree. "Yes, it is. Why don't -he let his eternal peanuts stop his mouth?" - -Chub Tuttle passed on the opposite side of the way, and, ceasing to hum -as he trudged serenely homeward, began to whistle not unmelodiously. The -notes of "The Last Rose of Summer" came drifting back to the ears of -Charley Shultz, growing fainter and fainter in the distance and sounding -inexpressibly sad. - -Shultz thought it must be getting darker, and was amazed, on rubbing -them, to find that his eyes were moist and blurred. He leaned against -the tree and listened, almost against his will, as the whistling grew -fainter and yet fainter, softened and sweetened by the distance. When he -could hear it no longer he gave himself a savage shake. - -"You fool!" he rasped. "What's the matter with you? You never felt like -this before. You're growing silly." - -Reaching Willow Street, he gazed toward Hooker's home, but, even had the -darkness not prevented him from seeing the house, it stood so far back -on the Middle Street corner that he could not have surveyed it from his -present position. Dread heavily upon him, yet hope not entirely dead, he -walked slowly up the street. He had almost reached the corner when he -stopped again. - -He could see the house now, and his heart hammered furiously as he -perceived that something was taking place there. There were lights -flashing from room to room; he heard excited voices calling; the house -was in a commotion. - -"What's that mean? What's that mean?" whispered Shultz over and over. - -Suddenly the door of the house was flung open. A man came running out, -some one calling after him. Down the steps he sprang; across Lake Street -he dashed; along Middle Street he raced. - -Panting, one hand clutching a nearby fence-railing, Shultz was certain -he knew the cause of this commotion. Mr. Hooker was running for the -doctor. They had just discovered that Roy was dead. - -Turning sharply about, Schultz ran also. - - - - -CHAPTER XVIII - -FLIGHT. - - -As he ran, the terrible fear that had clung to him grew to gigantic -proportions. Panting and gasping, he exerted every effort in that first -burst of speed. The sound of his flying feet echoed through the silent -streets, and those echoes, flung back to his ears, made it seem that a -part of the sound was produced by other feet than his own. It seemed -that there was a fearsome pursuer at his very heels, reaching for him -with eager, clawlike hands. He dared not pause an instant in his flight -to look back. On and on he ran, down through Cross Street, retracing his -course up the slope to Lake Street, and still on past the silent and -gloomy academy. - -From exhaustion and lack of breath his pace had slackened perforce. In -all his experience in athletics, never before had he exerted himself -until, the breath wholly pumped from his lungs, he could only gasp in -exquisite pain, while his very head threatened to burst. - -At length, just beyond the academy, he stumbled and fell. Half stunned -by the shock, he fully expected to feel himself pounced upon by that -unknown pursuer. - -Recovering, he looked around as he struggled to his feet. He was quite -alone; he could see no moving, living object. - -"Still," he thought, as he stood gulping in air to relieve his collapsed -lungs, "I could swear something chased me. It was right behind me all -the way. I couldn't see it, but I could feel it. If it's that sort of a -thing, it's no use to run; I can't run away from it." - -But when he started on again the fear returned, and it was only by the -most tremendous effort that he restrained the impulse to resume running. -Every moment or two he looked back, and sometimes he stopped and turned -squarely in his tracks. - -His relief was great when he saw, near at hand, the house where he -boarded. He would get inside, close the door quickly behind him, and -shut the unseen pursuer out. - -But the door did not open beneath his hand. He tried it again and again, -presently realizing with dismay that he had failed to fasten back the -catch of the spring lock when he came out. Yesterday, in changing his -clothes, he had discovered that his latch key was missing. Search for it -had been vain, and Mrs. Carter had not been able to furnish another key. - -"Well, this is a fix!" he whispered. "I'm locked out. I don't want to -rap and get them up, for I would have to explain. Then, too, if they got -a look at me they'd know there's something wrong. I must show it plain -enough." - -He walked silently around to the rear of the house. There was the ell, -upon the roof of which his window opened, and close to the end of the -ell stood the chestnut tree, with one stout branch projecting over the -roof. He thought of climbing the tree, reaching the roof by means of -that limb, and crawling along to obtain admittance through the window of -his chamber. - -Remembering the fearsome spectacle revealed to him outside that window -this very night, he faltered and drew back. He was terrified lest, -having climbed to the roof, he should find himself once more face to -face with the apparition. - -"It's no use," he almost sobbed; "I can't do it! Anyhow, why should I -wish to get in there? If it's a ghost, I couldn't shut it out. I may -need the things in my bag; I'd certainly like to have them; but I must -do without them." - -He knew that a hostler slept all night in Hyde's livery stable, and that -there was a bell by which the man might be aroused. Now, however, for -the first time it occurred to him that he lacked money. Having paid -Osgood a small debt, less than three dollars remained in his pocket. It -was thirty-four miles to Watertown, and it would require many times -three dollars to pay for a rig to carry him there. - -"Perhaps they'll trust me," he muttered. "I'll tell a good story. I'll -make it out a case of life or death--and perhaps it is." - -Then something seemed to whisper in his ear that he could not endure the -scrutiny of any one without betraying himself. Furthermore, if he should -hire a rig and a man to drive him to Watertown, that would betray the -direction of his flight. Should they desire to stop him and bring him -back, the telephone would serve them well. - -"I'm done for," he groaned--"done for! I don't know what to do." - -Desiring sympathy, longing for advice, he thought of Osgood, and at once -he decided that Ned ought to know without delay what had happened. - -Crossing lots and open fields, he avoided the streets of the town as far -as possible. He was still pursued by the conviction that some unseen -thing was following him, but with set teeth, he restrained the desire to -run, holding himself down to a sharp, jerky walk, which was interrupted -occasionally as he looked back. Finally he saw before him the big white -two-story house of Mrs. Chester. - -Now another problem arose, how to reach Osgood. If he rang at the door -he would eventually bring either the maid or Mrs. Chester to answer the -bell. What could he tell them? - -"I know what I'll do," he decided, stooping to run the palm of his hand -over the loose earth of the street bed. - -It did not take him long to gather up a handful of small pebbles, and -with these he approached the house. One after another he flung them -upward and heard them clink against the window glass, but he used them -all without perceiving a token that he had awakened Osgood. The house -remained dark and silent. A rising breeze caused the limbs of some trees -to knock together; it swept Shultz's clammy cheek and made him shiver. - -"I must get Ned up," he muttered. "Fool that I am, I've been trying the -wrong window. He's in his bedroom, of course, and the window to that is -on the side of the house." - -Back to the street he went for more pebbles. He was crouching froglike, -feeling for them with his hands, when he heard a sound that turned him -rigid for an instant. - -Footsteps were approaching on the sidewalk; some one was coming up the -street. Why should any one in that sleepy, well-behaved little town be -out at this hour? Was it possible they had already begun searching for -him? - -Then he heard voices. There were two persons approaching. - -Rising to a crouching position, he ran to the fence across the way from -Mrs. Chester's and flung himself over. And, again started in flight, the -terror that had driven him in the first place came back with additional -force; and this was augmented by the sound of voices shouting after -him--the voices of the two men on the street, who had seen his shadowy -figure as he vaulted the fence. - -"There he is!" "That's him!" "There he goes!" "Stop! stop!" - -Crying after him in this manner, they came on in pursuit. Venturing to -look back, he saw them tumbling over the fence he had leaped, and once -more he strained every nerve. - -There was now no doubt in his mind; they were after him. Perhaps before -the coming of the end Roy Hooker's mind had cleared sufficiently for him -to tell who struck the fatal blow. Perhaps Roy's father, running from -the house, had been hurrying to set the officers at work. - -In advance, he perceived a dark, straggling line of bushes and low -trees. Amid them he turned sharply to the left, hoping somehow to double -on his tracks and baffle the pursuers. Through a thicket of shrubbery he -plunged, with the tiny branches viciously whipping his face and tearing -at his clothes, as if even they sought to grasp and hold him. - -Suddenly he stopped short, his mouth wide open, that he might listen the -better. The two men had reached the growth, and he could hear them -floundering amid it. - -"This way!" one of them cried. "He went this way!" - -"Keep still!" urged the other. "We ought to be able to hear him. Keep -still a minute." - -The crashing sounds ceased, and the listening boy knew the men were -listening also. Through a great effort of self-command, he kept himself -from resuming the flight, waiting until the noise of their own movements -should prevent them from hearing what sounds he might make. - -They soon grew impatient and began beating about in the underbrush in an -aimless search. - -As soon as this happened Shultz moved away, proceeding with a certain -amount of caution. Keeping just within the border of the timber and -thickets, he went forward as fast as he dared, putting out his hands to -part the bushes and slipping through them as silently as possible. At -times twigs snapped beneath his feet, but, as he had hoped, the men were -themselves making sufficient noise to drown such minor sounds, and -gradually he left them far behind. - -In the blackness he ran full against a wire fence, and the barbs of the -lower strands slashed his trousers and cut his legs. He tore himself -free, felt for the smooth upper strand, bent it downward and straddled -over. - -Following the line of the fence, he turned full upon the course he had -been pursuing when he plunged into the timber. Leaving that shelter -behind him, bending low, he ran on until he returned to the highway some -distance above the home of Mrs. Chester. In the middle of the road he -paused uncertainly. - -The moon was rising. Its light, although somewhat muffled by the clouds, -was sufficient to enable him to perceive the outlines of objects at a -considerable distance; it would also reveal him far better to pursuers, -and make his escape more difficult were he again seen by them. - -"Good-by, Ned," he whispered. "You're asleep, and you don't know -anything about it. Probably you'll never realize just what I've had to -go through this night." - -Fearing to follow the highway, he again struck across the fields, before -him the deep stretch of timberland to the north of Turkey Hill. By -making his way through those woods and passing round the hill, he could -reach the Barville road some miles from Oakdale. - -At the edge of the timber the night wind bore to his ears a sound that -again halted him dead in his tracks. The bells of Oakdale were -ringing--ringing wildly, furiously, as they might ring to arouse the -villagers to battle with a conflagration. Peal upon peal vibrated -through the night air, and their clanging strokes stabbed the miserable -boy like dagger thrusts. - -"I know what it means!" he half panted, half sobbed. "They're turning -the whole town out to hunt me down! I'm alone, alone, with everybody -against me! What chance have I got? Well, they'll have to catch me -before I give up." - -The woods swallowed him; he was gone. The bells continued to fling forth -their wild alarm. As if wondering at it, and curious to know what it was -all about, the silvery moon peered through a break in the clouds, -flooding the open space with its light. - -But in the woods through which Charley Shultz staggered on it was dark. -In his heart it was darker still. - - - - -CHAPTER XIX - -THE APPARITION IN THE WOODS. - - -In the midst of the woods Shultz stopped to rest, seating himself upon a -log against which he had stumbled. The clouds having dispersed, the moon -was silvering the tree-tops above his head, but it had not yet risen -high enough to cast its light upon the ground of the little glade. On -every hand were the mysterious night shadows of the woods. - -The boy's legs quivered as he sat there, grateful for this respite, -although he felt that time was precious and he should waste no moments. -No longer could he hear the village bells; they had ceased to ring, and -he was glad of that. - -It was a melancholy and terrible thing to feel himself an outcast and a -fugitive from justice, practically with the hand of mankind in general -turned against him. He had read stories of daring fugitives in similar -positions, and always the fugitives had seemed enfolded by a glamor of -romance, which had almost made him long to pass through such an -experience; but, now that the experience was his, it held no glamor, no -single feature of allurement or romance. It was simply a horrible -situation, to be freed from which he felt that he would willingly give -up years of his life. - -That he could escape, he still had a faint hope; but it was faint -indeed, and, had he heeded sober judgment, he would have put it aside as -something false and deceptive and merely adding to his suspense and -torture. With the telephone and telegraph, the surrounding country could -be warned and every loophole stopped. With the bulk of the villagers -searching for him, it was simply a matter of time before he would be run -down. - -"I'll never give up," he kept telling himself; "I'll never give up till -they catch me." - -He had always thought of the night woods at this season of the year as -silent and lifeless. Now, however, resting upon that log, he became -aware of many strange sounds all around him. There seemed to be faint -rustlings and whisperings, as if the very trees were telling one another -that he was there, and pointing him out with their bare, extending arms. -Continually he kept turning his head to look first in one direction and -then in another. Several times he was startled by shadows that seemed to -move, but when he watched them more closely they were motionless enough. - -Nevertheless, the fancy that something was drawing nearer, creeping upon -him bit by bit, increased with the passing moments. He could feel it -approaching silently, stealthily, steadily. He had escaped the two men -who had tried to run him down, but there was something he could not -escape, and, recalling what he had beheld through the window of his -chamber, he leaped up and resumed his reckless flight. - -This way and that he turned and darted to avoid the trees and the denser -thickets. The woods seemed endless. Long ere this, he told himself, he -should have passed through them and reached the Barville road. - -Presently before him the moonlight showed a broad open space, and with a -gasp of thankfulness he tottered forth from the forest. His clothes were -in tatters. There was blood on his legs from the wounds inflicted by the -barbed wire fence. His hands and his face were scratched and bruised. -Seeing him now, a stranger must surely have wondered with curiosity to -know what had brought him to such a pitiful plight. - -But the woods, they were behind him. The Barville road must be near at -hand. Not far away the moonlight showed him an orchard and some -buildings. - -He stopped, stood still, gazed at those buildings. There was something -familiar about them. Farther away, to the right, he could see more -houses. - -"Where am I?" he muttered hoarsely. "So help me, that looks like Sage's -home! It is! it is! I got turned round in the woods. I've come straight -back to the place where I entered." - -This was true. The houses down the road were the scattering ones upon -the outskirts of the village. - -Sickened by this discovery, Shultz remained some moments in doubt and -uncertainty. Here and there he could see lights in the windows of the -houses. All Oakdale seemed awake. The bells had aroused the village, and -everywhere posses of men were searching. Should he attempt to follow -along the edge of the woods and pass round Turkey Hill to the south, it -would bring him dangerously near town. - -"My only safety lies in the woods until I can get farther away," he -decided. "I can get through them all right if I keep my head. With the -moon on my back, the shadows will guide me. I can get my bearings in -every little open space. I'll do it." - -Setting his teeth, he turned about and again plunged into the timber. -Precious time had been lost through his blunder, but now, he told -himself, he would master his fears and make no false steps. - -In time he came to an opening in the midst of the woods, where the -moonlight fell upon the cleared ground. Half-way across this opening -dread of the gloom at the far side made him falter. Again he was -oppressed by the conviction that something terrible and uncanny had -followed him in all his flight. Again he could feel it drawing nearer -and nearer. Something like the sound of soft footsteps caused his heart -to choke him, and, turning, he saw it coming. - -In the shadows an object advanced. It was like a human body, white from -the waist upward, and this white portion, which he could plainly see, -seemed to float in the air. - -But when the shadows were passed and it stepped forth into the -moonlight, he perceived that the body was supported by legs encased in -dark trousers. The moonlight revealed more than that. He was looking -into the face of Roy Hooker! Even as Roy's eyes had stared at him -through the window of his chamber, they were now fastened upon him. -Above those staring eyes, the turban-like bandage of white still -encircled Hooker's head. - -"Hooker!" groaned Shultz. "Oh, Hooker, I'm sorry! I didn't mean to do -it!" - -The figure halted ten feet away. A hand was uplifted and extended -accusingly. A voice--the voice of Hooker--demanded: - -"Shultz, where did that other ace come from?" - -The words sounded in a low, monotonous, dead-level tone. To Shultz, the -voice seemed hollow and lifeless, like the voice of the dead. - -He could not answer, but, flinging off the benumbing spell that had -chained him in his tracks, he whirled and fled again. Through the woods -he crashed and plunged like mad, almost blind with terror. Again and -again he half collided with trees. Vines and low branches tripped him. -Falling, he scrambled up and ran on, absolutely heedless of what course -he followed. - -In this manner he plunged at last into a deep gully. As he fell he tried -to leap, and down he went in an upright position. When he struck the -bottom, one foot twisted beneath him, and he dropped in a heap. A pain -shot through his leg. - -Getting his breath after the shock, he started to rise; but the moment -he tried to bear his weight on his right foot the pain jabbed him -frightfully, and he toppled over. - -"My leg is broken!" he sobbed. "Now I'm done for, sure!" - - - - -CHAPTER XX - -THE SEARCH. - - -In the midst of troublesome dreams, Ned Osgood, half-awake, fancied he -heard hail beating against the windows of his sitting room. Fully awake -at last, he lifted his head from the pillow and listened; but, hearing -it no more, he decided that it must have been a figment of his -distasteful dreams. - -He heard something else, however. Far away the voices of men were -calling, but as he listened and wondered, the sounds grew more distant, -became fainter, and died away. - -Returning to his pillow, he settled down, seeking to compose himself, -and praying that those rest-disturbing dreams might trouble him no more. -But thoughts of Hooker would not let him sleep, and presently something -else brought him bolt upright on the bed, startled and wondering. - -It was a clamor of bells, beginning with a peal from the steeple of the -Methodist church down the street. The night air vibrated with the -sounds, which seemed to pour in upon him through the partly opened -window of his bedroom. Why were those church bells ringing at such an -hour? He could distinguish the tones of the academy bell, as well. In a -moment he knew it must be an alarm meant to arouse the town, and out of -bed he sprang, catching his trousers up from the back of a chair and -getting into them as quickly as he could, trembling slightly all the -while with excitement. - -Below he heard Mrs. Chester calling to the maid, and, opening the door -of his room, her words came plainly to his ears: - -"Sarah! Sarah! Get up quick! I'm frightened. There must be a big fire. -The bells are ringing." - -"So that's it," muttered Osgood, hastening to a window. "There's a fire -in the village. They sound the bells to give the alarm." - -Looking from the window, he failed to observe any glow of light against -the sky to indicate where the fire might be. Through a momentary lull of -the bells, he fancied he heard some one shouting far away in town. -Surely some terrible thing had happened or was taking place. - -Lighting a lamp, he rapidly finished dressing, and pulling on his -turtle-neck sweater he grabbed up his cap. - -As he bounded down the stairs, Mrs. Chester called to him from a partly -opened door at the end of the hall: - -"Where is it, Ned? Where's the fire?" - -"I don't know," he answered. "I looked out, but I couldn't see any fire. -Don't be alarmed; it must be a long distance away, in another part of -the village." - -A man was running down the middle of the street as Osgood dashed from -the house, slamming the door behind him. He called to the man, but -received no answer. Then he took to the street and followed. - -The bell in the Methodist steeple hammered and banged as he raced past -the church. Lights were shining everywhere from the windows of houses. -Men and boys came running from side streets, questioning one another -excitedly without getting satisfactory answers. - -There was a crowd in the village square, and, contrasted with the -agitated people who came running to join it from every direction, it was -strangely calm. - -Ned grabbed some one by the arm, as he demanded: - -"What is it? What's the matter? Why are they ringing the bells?" - -He recognized Jack Nelson, as the person he had questioned turned to -answer. - -"It's Hooker!" - -"Hooker!" choked Osgood, aghast. - -A fearsome thought smote him. Hooker was dead! But why should they ring -the bells in the middle of the night and bring all the people out? - -"Yes," Nelson was saying, "Roy has disappeared. He was left, apparently -asleep, and later, when some one looked into his room, he was gone." - -"Great Scott!" breathed Ned. "I thought perhaps he was dead." - -"Oh, no. In that case, it wouldn't be necessary to turn the whole -village out. He's wandering around somewhere, half dressed and probably -crazy. They're getting the people out to search for him." - -"Is it necessary to turn out the whole town this way?" - -"Perhaps so. They've tried to find him, but can't. Now they're asking -everybody to join in the search. You see, there's no telling what the -result may be if he's not found soon. In his dotty condition he may do -himself harm; and, anyhow, with only a few clothes on, he's liable to -get pneumonia." - -Some of the men who had early learned the cause of the disturbance were -now seen bringing lanterns, and in the midst of the gathering in the -square, William Pickle, the deputy sheriff, was suggesting a plan of -search, by which four parties should spread out in different directions. - -"You want to look everywhere, feller citizens," the officer was saying; -"look into sheds and barns and under fences, and every old nook and -corner where the boy may be hidin'. He's plumb loony, ye know, and he's -li'ble to crawl into any old place. Mebbe he'll be scat of ye and want -to fight when ye do find him, so handle him gentle." - -At this juncture two men came panting down Main Street. "We know where -he is!" shouted one. "We've seen him!" - -"Yep, we've seen him," gulped the other. "We almost ketched him, but he -got away from us somehow." - -"Where is he? Where is he?" cried twenty voices. - -"We was goin' up the street, lookin' for him, and we'd almost got to the -Widder Chester's, when we see somebody scoot across the road, jump the -fence and put off inter the field above Cedar Street. When we hollered -for him to stop he run faster." - -"And he could run some," gasped the smaller man. "We chased him into a -strip of trees and bushes, and he must be hid there right now, for we -couldn't find him." - -"Come on," commanded William Pickle, taking the lead--"come on, -everybody. Show us the way, Turner and Crabtree." - -Forgetting the original plan of search, the crowd poured up the main -street, straggling out into a long, irregular body. Osgood, keeping -close to the leaders, felt some one press against him, and recognized -Billy Piper. - -"This is bad business," said Piper in a low tone. - -"You're right," agreed Ned instantly. "No one can feel any worse about -it than I do." - -"But feeling bad," retorted Billy grimly, "doesn't make amends; it's got -to be something more than that." - -As the searchers turned from the road near Mrs. Chester's house, climbed -the fence and streamed across the field, Ned began to understand that -the shouting, which had seemed to break in upon his troubled dreams, had -been real. And with this conviction came the thought that in his -delirium Hooker had sought to return to the place where he had been -injured. It was a disagreeable thought, which Osgood tried to put aside. - -The rising moon, breaking now and then through ragged clouds, promised -aid to the searchers. Directed by Pickle, they spread out and -practically surrounded the long, narrow strip of trees and bushes. This -done, a body of men entered the growth and worked their way through it, -leaving scarcely a yard of ground uninspected. But when they had passed -over it all in this thorough manner, it became known that not one of -them had found the slightest trace of the missing lad. - -"He must have hid till Turner and Crabtree left," said the deputy -sheriff. "As soon as they were gone, he prob'ly hit out for somewhere's -else." - -"Too bad one of 'em didn't have sense enough to stay and watch while -t'other one went for help," said Abel Hubbard, the constable. - -The posse gathered in a group, seeking further instructions from their -leaders. - -"Don't believe they'll ever find him this way," said Billy Piper. -"They're not going about it with any sort of method." - -"Yeou're so all-fired clever at sech things," said Sile Crane, "why -don't yeou suggest a plan?" - -"They wouldn't listen to me if I proposed anything." - -"If you have a plan, Piper," said Nelson, joining the little cluster of -boys that surrounded Billy, "just tell us what it is. If it sounds -reasonable, we'll carry it out." - -"Let me think a moment--let me think," said Piper, tapping his knuckles -against his forehead. "The report is that Roy was talking some along -about nightfall, though his words were jumbled, without much sense in -them. He kept repeating certain things, such as 'poker,' 'five aces,' -and 'cabin.'" - -"You know what Professor Richardson said," put in Rodney Grant. "It's -thought that Roy was playing cards for money when he was hurt." - -"If so," said Billy, "that would explain the words 'poker' and 'five -aces'; but why did he keep talking about a cabin? Ha! I have it. I -happen to know that once on a time a certain little bunch of fellows -went over to the old camp in Silver Brook Swamp to play poker, and Hook -was one of the crowd. Cabin--that's what he meant; he had something in -his muddled mind about that old camp in the swamp. Come on, fellows, -perhaps we'll find him there." - -"You've always been so lucky in your guesses," said Nelson, "that -there's a chance you may be right this time. If you should happen to be, -your reputation as a great detective will be established on a firm----" - -"I don't want any such reputation!" snapped Billy shortly. "I think I -told you so once before, Jack." - -"Geewhilikens!" exclaimed Crane, astonished. "What's happened to yeou -naow? Yeou've alwus been red-hot to play the detective, and some folks -have begun to say that yeou're purty clever at it." - -"I haven't time to explain my reasons for cutting that tommyrot out," -retorted Piper. "Let's get a move on." - -There were eight boys in the party that set out for Silver Brook Swamp, -led by Piper. Striking across the fields, they passed to the south of -Turkey Hill and reached the Barville road. The clouds were dispersing -and the moon was shining clear and bright when they drew near Silver -Brook and came to the old path that led into the swamp. - -Phil Springer and Chipper Cooper were disposed to lag behind somewhat, -although something seemed to draw them on after the others. - -"I've been expecting Piper to blow the whole thing any minute," said -Cooper, speaking to Phil in a low tone. - -"Wonder why he hasn't?" speculated Springer. "He sus-swore to us that he -would if Shultz or Osgood didn't own up pup-pretty quick." - -"Guess he's waiting for what he'd call the psychological moment. You -know Pipe's always great for dramatic effects." - -"There can be only one outcome to this thing now. We're all in the -sus-sus-soup." - -"Billy says it's our duty to think of Roy, not ourselves." - -"I've been th-thinking of him too much. It's made me sick. I'm thinking -of him now, and what we're liable to fuf-find in this old swamp if -Pipe's guess is right about the way he went. Being crazy enough to jump -out of bub-bed and run off half-dressed, anything may huh-happen to -him." - -"That's right," agreed Chipper dolefully. "I wonder where Charley Shultz -is? Didn't see anything of him with the crowd." - -"Yah!" growled Springer. "He hasn't got any fuf-feelings. I'll bet he's -in bed, sleeping like a log, this very minute. Probably not even the -ringing of the bells woke him up." - -"He must have a heart of stone," said Cooper. - -Had they known all that had happened to Shultz in the last two hours, -could they have seen him in his present painful and wretched condition, -their judgment of him might not have been so harsh. - - - - -CHAPTER XXI - -THE CAMP ON THE ISLAND. - - -Under the western shoulder of Turkey Hill the shadows were deep and -heavy, and, the path being dim and faint from rare use, it was necessary -for the party to proceed slowly. They did not talk much, and when they -did speak their words were uttered in low and guarded tones. - -Several times, Piper, in the lead, paused to make sure they had not -wandered from the right course. The others seemed to rely almost wholly -upon Billy, and no one thought of superseding him in the leadership. -During one of these pauses, Cooper, who had halted with Springer a short -distance behind the others, pulled at Phil's sleeve and whispered in his -ear: - -"Say, old man, don't you think it's about time we told all we know about -this business?" - -Springer gave his body a queer sort of a shake. - -"What gug-good will that do?" he whispered back. "It won't help fuf-find -Hooker." - -"No, but it may help us after he's found." - -"I don't think so; it's tut-too late." - -"Why too late?" persisted Chipper. - -"Because everybub-bub-body would know we were just scared into it, -that's all. It wouldn't help us a bit, Chip--not a bit, to tell it now. -If Piper thought it would do any good you bub-bet your life he'd have -told already." - -"Perhaps you're right," sighed Cooper; "but it's an awful load on my -conscience, and I'd like to get it off my system." - -"Come on," Piper called back in a low tone. "We're all right. This is -the way." - -They went forward again, turning presently to the left and descending to -the lower ground at the border of the broad marsh. The trees became more -scattering and the thickets grew thinner. Before long they saw the -marsh, spreading out before them, silent and strange and uninviting in -the moonlight which flooded its expanse of pools and reeds and -brushwood, amid which a few scraggy dead trees rose here and there. In -the midst of the expanse was a bit of higher ground, covered by a growth -of small, dark, evergreen trees. This was the "island" on which stood -the old camp where Piper hoped to find Roy Hooker. From knoll to knoll, -in a zigzag course, led the path, the pools and marshy places bridged by -felled trees and brushwood. - -"I'm afraid you won't find him there, Piper," said Nelson. - -Cooper, hearing the words, muttered for Springer's ear: - -"I'm afraid we will." - -Despite their caution in proceeding, at one point, Grant, breaking -through the brushwood bridge with a cracking sound, plunged one leg to -the thigh between the two lengthwise supports and drew it forth soaking -wet. - -"This yere trail," said the Texan, "is sure some unreliable and -treacherous." - -Those who reached the island first waited for the others to come up. -They stood there whispering and listening, but hearing no sounds to -assure them that the one they sought was near. - -"As he's deranged," said Piper, "we want to take care not to frighten -him more than possible, for it's likely he'll be scared and run when he -sees us." - -"He can't run fur," declared Crane, "without plungin' head over heels -right into the swamp." - -"And that's what we don't want him to do; it might be his finish. We -must prevent him from running away when we find him." - -"When we find him," muttered Nelson. "But something tells me we won't -find him here." - -Slowly they pushed forward toward the center of the island. In a few -moments they came to a small opening and paused again, before them the -old camp huddling in the shadows of a thick grove which rose close -beside it. The place was dolefully silent and forbidding at that hour. A -breath of wind, sweeping across the island, set up a sudden rustling, -which was accompanied by a sound that put their nerves on edge. - -That sound was like a low, harsh moan or groan, and it seemed to come -from the sagging, deserted camp before them. Some shrank back shivering, -while others appeared eager to rush forward. - -"He's there!" breathed Nelson. "That must be he!" - -Springer stooped and placed his lips close to Cooper's ear: - -"Sus-sus-sounded to me like sus-sus-some one dying," he chattered. - -"Let the others go ahead," gasped Cooper. "I don't want to find him -first. I don't want to see him. I'd like to get away this minute." - -With his arm outstretched and the palm of his hand turned backward to -restrain his companions, Billy Piper advanced swiftly on his toes. -Within a few feet of the shanty structure, he saw that the door was -standing open. At that moment another gust of wind rustled through the -trees, and immediately the harsh moaning sound was repeated. - -"It's the door," declared Billy, enlightened. "The wind moves it and -makes the old hinges creak." - -"My Jinks!" mumbled Crane, in great relief. "I thought it must be him -sure; I thought it was Roy. Mercy! I'm all ashake." - -Stepping boldly to the black doorway, Piper struck a match, but a gust -of wind extinguished it. Immediately he lighted a second match, -shielding the tiny blaze with his cupped hands. Close behind him crowded -the others, seeking to look over his shoulders into the camp when the -blaze should be sufficient to reveal the interior of the place. - -Having protected the match until it burned brightly, Billy held it out -before him and slightly above his head, shifting his curved hands until -they served as a reflector for the tiny flaring light. - -The shanty contained only one room, which seemed to be quite empty and -deserted, save for an old broken table and a few crude pieces of -furniture. There were shadows in the corners, but none of these seemed -sufficient to hide a human being. - -The flame scorched Billy's fingers, and he dropped the match, which, a -bent and glowing coal, floated zigzagging and spiraling downward, burst -into bits as it struck, and died out. - -Some one behind Piper drew a long breath. "I don't reckon he's here, -after all," said the voice of Grant. - -"There's something white lying on the floor," declared Billy, with -suppressed excitement. "I saw it just as I dropped the match." - -Lighting another, he stepped forward and picked the thing up. It was a -damp cloth, and with it in his hand he retreated into the moonlight -outside. - -"What is it? What is it?" questioned the boys, pressing around him. - -Billy held it up. "Looks to me like a wet towel that had been wound -round something and fastened into place with safety pins," he said. -"That's what it is, too. Fellows, Hooker may not be here now, but he has -been here--he certainly has. This proves it." - -"How do you make that out?" asked Osgood, doing his best to appear as -calm as would seem consistent. - -"This towel proves it," reiterated Piper. "It couldn't come here without -being brought, could it?" - -"No; but I don't see----" - -"It's wet. It's the very towel that was used to hold the ice compress on -Roy's head." - -"If that's right," said Nelson swiftly, "he must be near. Perhaps he's -hiding close by in the bushes. We must search every foot of this -island." - -"Every inch of it," agreed Piper, "and we want to be about it right -away. Let's fall back to the place where we came on, and begin there. We -must spread out and then advance together. There must be some system -about it." - -Following his directions, they began the search on the island. It was -dark, pokey work in the midst of the thicker growths, but, nevertheless, -they did it with an amount of thoroughness that made it seem impossible -for them to overlook a person seeking to hide on that small patch of dry -land. Yet, when they had covered it all and reached the western side -beyond which the swamp lay impassable for a person afoot, they had found -no additional token of Hooker. - -"Too bad," said Nelson, discouraged. "He isn't here. He can't be here." - -"It doesn't seem possible," admitted Piper, "yet this towel is sure -evidence that he has been here." - -"He must have gone away before we came," was Osgood's opinion. "I don't -believe he could have dodged us after we got on to the island." - -Almost with one accord, they turned to Piper. - -"What be we goin' to do next, Billy?" asked Crane. - -"Let's take one more look into that old camp," suggested the leader, -who, although he did not admit it, was almost at his wit's end. "I know -where there's an old pitch-pine log, and we ought to get a piece of that -to serve as a torch." - -The log, which had been partly hacked up for firewood, was found, and a -slender resinous strip was torn from it. Lighting one end of this strip -of wood, Piper fanned it into a bright flame, and, bearing it in his -hand, boldly entered the shanty. - -The torch revealed nothing they had not previously seen, but it did give -them complete assurance that the boy they sought could not be hiding -there. - -"Yes, he got away, that's sure," said Nelson; "and there's only one way -by which he could do it. He had to go back as he came." - -"And therefore," said Billy quickly, "he must be in the woods somewhere -yonder. That's where we should look for him now." - -"Perhaps," ventured Crane, "he's near enough to hear us. Oh, Hooker! -Hey, Roy!" - -Piper sprang at him savagely. "Stop that, you idiot!" he snarled. "Stop -shouting that way! What are you trying to do?" - -"Why, I thought he might hear me." - -"Yes, he might and be frightened into fits. No more of that fool -business, Sile. Keep still and come on. We'll get off right away and do -the best we can hunting for him over yonder." - -Over the treacherous crossing they returned to the solid ground beyond -the border of the swamp. Looking backward, Cooper tugged at Springer's -sleeve. - -"Now I'm afraid we _won't_ find him, Phil," he confessed. "I'm afraid -nobody will find him tonight. And when they do, it wouldn't surprise me -if they dug his body out of this old swamp." - - - - -CHAPTER XXII - -A SURPRISING CONFESSION. - - -After a time Osgood and Nelson became separated from the rest of the -searchers. They had come to a little opening where the moonlight shone -upon a small pile of cord-wood that had been cut and left there during -the past winter, and here they stopped and faced each other. - -"It's worse than useless, this searching without lights of any sort save -what the moon affords," said Jack. "There are thousands of places were -one could hide from searchers if he chose. It would be better to go -through the woods calling to Hooker and assuring him we are friends." - -"I doubt," returned Ned, "if we'd find him then." - -"What do you suppose has become of him?" - -"You can answer that question fully as well as I." - -"Well, then," said Jack suddenly, "what do you suppose was the cause of -all this trouble, anyhow? How was Hooker hurt?" - -Osgood's answer was a shrug. Motioning toward two short stumps which -stood nearby, he suggested that they should sit down. - -"I want to talk to you, Nelson," he said, when they were seated. "I've -got to talk to some one, and I'd rather it would be you than any one -else. We've never been what might be called real friendly, have we?" - -Surprised and wondering at his companion's words and singular manner, -Nelson replied: - -"I don't know that we've been exactly chummy, but----" - -"Tell the truth," interrupted Osgood, reaching out and putting his hand -on the other boy's knee. "We haven't been even friendly, although you -seemed willing enough to be, and I've put up a bluff that I was. All the -same, you didn't trust me. You knew I was bluffing." - -"I--I don't think--that I--actually knew it," stammered Nelson, still more -astonished. - -Osgood threw back his head and smiled. The moonlight, full on his rather -handsome, aristocratic face, showed that smile to be touched with -bitterness, even with self-scorn. - -"I'm a bluffer, Nelson--a thoroughbred bluffer," he declared. "Intuition -told you as much. All along I knew you were one fellow in Oakdale that I -had not fully blinded. Piper, with all his natural shrewdness--and we'll -admit that he's naturally shrewd--was deceived in me." - -"What are you talking about, Osgood?" exclaimed Jack. "Why are you -telling me this stuff, anyhow?" - -"I don't know just why, but I'm telling it to relieve my mind. Perhaps -it will relieve me in a measure, anyhow. I had no thought in the world -of talking to you this way when we paused here a few moments ago, but -suddenly an irresistible impulse came upon me. Something seemed to say, -'You may as well tell him, for he sees through you, anyhow.' Do you -know, Nelson, I've hated you. Yes, that's the word. I hated you because -I couldn't deceive you, and that's why I longed to do something to hurt -you." - -"You what? Of course I know I benched you in that Wyndham game, but I -had----" - -"You should have benched me before," exclaimed Osgood. "You should have -fired me from the nine." - -"Fired you? Why, you were one of our best players. You really knew more -baseball than any one else on the team. You were valuable." - -"Even if I could play better baseball than Hans Wagner himself, I was a -bad man to have on the team, for I was trying to create insubordination, -distrust and a disbelief in your ability as captain." - -"I--I knew Shultz was ready to kick against my authority at any -provocation," said Nelson, bewildered; "but you always seemed so decent -and----" - -"Shultz!" exploded Osgood. "Why, he was simply carrying out my scheme. I -let him think it was mainly his idea, but all the time it was mine. I -fooled him, just the same as I did the others. When I perceived that you -did not trust me, and when I became convinced that you thought me -something of a fraud, I was bitterly determined to down you. I set about -ingratiating myself into the good will and esteem of certain fellows on -the team--certain fellows I felt confident I could sway to my will. Never -mind who they are, Nelson, for they weren't wise to the depth of my -game. Still, I knew I was getting them, one by one, just where I wanted -them. I knew that in time, when I should be ready to make a split on the -nine, I could swing them to my side and carry the majority of the -players with me. That was my object, Nelson. I intended to make trouble -on the team, break it up under your leadership, and then suggest -reorganization, with the purpose of being chosen captain in your place." - -Nelson leaped to his feet. "Why, you miserable scoundrel!" he cried -furiously. "So that's what you were up to! I did smell a rat. I did -think you were up to something underhanded. So that was it, eh? You're a -scrapper; you can box, they say. Take off your coat!" - -Osgood made no move to rise. "We're not going to fight," he asserted -calmly. "Did you think I was telling you this in order to provoke a -fight?" - -"I can't understand why under heaven you told me, anyhow." - -"Simply because I was determined to relieve myself of some of the load -I've been carrying. Simply because in the last few hours I've come to -see the full meaning of my dirty scheming. Oh, I don't suppose you -believe me, but that's the reason--anyhow, it's a part of the reason. And -I'm done with it all, no matter what may happen to me to-morrow." - -His breast heaving, his hands clenched, Nelson continued to stand -glaring down at the calm, abject fellow before him. And there was -something so genuinely abject in Osgood's appearance that gradually Jack -felt his rage oozing away and leaving him. - -"Sit down," invited Ned once more. "I'm not half through. As long as -I've begun on this thing, and said so much, I'm going to tell you more, -although it's likely you'll hold me henceforth in the most complete -contempt. You spoke of Shultz a moment ago. Do you know he's not the -sort of fellow with whom I can have any real natural bond of sympathy?" - -"I've always wondered at your chumminess with him," said Nelson slowly, -reseating himself. "He's so different. You're a gentleman, while he's -plainly of the most plebeian and common stock." - -"He's no more plebeian and common than I am," declared Osgood instantly. - -"But his family--he comes of a most ordinary family." - -"So do I." - -"You? Why, you have some high-grade ancestors behind you on your -mother's side, at least." - -"I wondered if you believed that, Nelson. If you did, it's plain you did -not see through me completely, as I fancied." - -"What? Do you mean to say that----" - -"My father and mother were just poor, illiterate people, neither of whom -could trace their pedigree back three generations. To tell you the plain -truth, I don't know anything whatever about my ancestors on either -side." - -"But the family portraits you have, and the crest you use upon your -stationery?" - -"Pure bluff, nothing else. I picked those portraits up as I chanced to -find them and fancied they would serve my purpose. Any one who wishes -can get a stationer to put a crest on his writing-paper. My father -started out in life as a tin peddler; my mother came from an orphan -asylum. They settled on a little farm, and by hard work were able in -time to buy more land. On that land some years ago oil was struck. It -made them rich, and in a wonderfully short time my father drank himself -to death." - -Pity was now supplanting anger in Nelson's heart. - -"But why--why did you put up such a bluff, Osgood?" - -Again Ned shrugged. "Simply because I'm a sort of cad and bounder, I -suppose. I've always felt grieved and hurt because I had no family -behind me. It must be true that, although she came from an orphan -asylum, my mother has good blood in her. Naturally, she had a little -education, too, while my father could scarcely write his own name. -Mother wished me to have an education and become a gentleman; on the -other hand, my father had really no true conception of what the word -gentleman meant. After he died mother sent me to school. I've attended -four different schools. Two of them were in the middle West, and at both -the truth regarding my parents was somehow learned. Although I had -money, I met certain chaps who, as I could very well see, looked down on -me. They came from good families, and even when they pretended to be -hail-fellow-well-met with me, I could feel the hidden contempt in their -hearts. It made me sore, Nelson. I hated those fellows. - -"I wrote my mother about it; I told her about it when I saw her. It's -true that her health is not very good, and she has gone to Southern -California. Why didn't she take me with her and put me into a school out -there? If you could see her, you might understand. Her shoulders are -bowed from work, and her hands are gnarled and knuckled. She knew that -she would betray the truth to any one who might meet her. I knew it, -too, and right there, when she proposed that we should be separated by -the full width of the continent in order that I might attend some far -school where there would be little danger of the truth coming out--right -there I showed the real cad in my make-up. I accepted the proposition -and went to Hadden Hall." - -"But you didn't stay at Hadden." - -"No. Shultz thinks I was compelled to leave that school for quite a -different reason than the real one. One day a fellow showed up there to -visit a friend--a fellow who knew me. I had been putting up the same -bluff I've put up in Oakdale. I had far better rooms than I've been able -to obtain here, and I was supposed to be a remote descendant of British -aristocracy. The fellow who knew me punctured that fabrication. I was -exposed, and I got out. Then I chose a little school, where it seemed to -me there would be no chance of any one recognizing me. That's what -brought me to Oakdale." - - - - -CHAPTER XXIII - -ANOTHER SURPRISE. - - -At a loss for words, Nelson was silent. He was still unable to -comprehend Osgood's motive for this confession. Perhaps Osgood himself -did not know what had led him to make it, beyond the fact that he had -suddenly been overcome by an intense desire to unburden himself in a -measure. - -The silence became awkward, and Jack stirred restlessly. His elbows on -his knees, the other boy was staring broodingly at the ground. Roused by -Nelson's movement, he lifted his head slowly. - -"Well," he said, almost whimsically, "you see now what a cheap, common -skate I am." - -"A fellow who blunders and owns up to it, partly atones for his mistake, -anyhow," returned Nelson. "We're none of us perfect, old chap. We're all -human, and we have our little failings." - -"It's very decent of you to talk that way, Nelson. I didn't expect it. I -had no reason to expect it. You've every right to be thoroughly -disgusted with me, and I'm disgusted with myself." - -"I can't see that you've actually harmed anybody yet." - -"That's because you don't know everything. I haven't told you all." - -"Great smoke!" exclaimed Jack, "Is there more to tell?" - -"Some time, before long, when everything comes out, you'll be compelled -to think even less of me than you do now." - -"Look here," said Nelson suddenly, "do you know anything about the cause -of this Hooker trouble? You must be referring to that; it can't be -anything else." - -"Whatever I know you will learn in time," was the evasive answer. - -"You aren't responsible for his condition?" - -"I didn't strike the blow." - -"You _do_ know about it! Why haven't you told before?" - -"There may be various reasons. As one, you should see that it meant -exposure for me; it meant looking into my past record and bringing to -life the fact that I'm a faker." - -"Now that you've told that much about yourself, I can't see any good -reason why you should not tell it all. Seems to me it's your duty." - -Osgood seemed to meditate again. "There are others concerned," he said -presently, "and I have a duty to them as well as to myself. What I've -told of my own affairs doesn't concern them, and I will claim that I've -never yet played the squealer on any other chap." - -"But the truth will have to come out." - -"I haven't a doubt about that. Let it come. But when it does, let it -come from the right source." - -"I suspected that you must know something about it." - -"Oh, yes, you've suspected me all along, Nelson. In possession of the -facts I've given you, it will be a simple matter for you to show me up -in Oakdale." - -"If you imagine I'm going to run right away and tattle what you've -practically told me in confidence, you've got me sized up wrong." - -"I was not aware that I told it to you in confidence. I do not remember -that I exacted from you a promise of secrecy." - -"Perhaps that was because you thought I'd tell anyhow." - -"I didn't think much about it. I didn't stop to think. When the impulse -seized me, I simply went ahead and told." - -"Perhaps you'll be sorry you did." - -"Perhaps so, but it's done now." - -Jack rose once more and placed a hand on his companion's shoulder. - -"Osgood," he said, "I refuse to believe that a fellow with a conscience -like yours can be thoroughly bad. Your natural impulses are right. You -didn't bind me to secrecy, but I'll pledge you now that I'm not going to -give you away." - -"I don't suppose it will make any great difference whether you do or -not," returned Ned unemotionally; "but I thank you for your good will. -Hadn't we better look up the rest of the bunch? By this time they're -probably wondering what has become of us." - -As he was starting to rise, Jack gripped his shoulder, hissing: - -"Keep still! What's that? Some one is coming this way!" - -From a distance came the sounds of a body moving through the underbrush. -Slowly the sounds drew nearer, ceasing at intervals, as if the person, -if a person it was, paused now and then to rest or listen. - -"Who do you suppose it is?" whispered Nelson. "It doesn't seem to me it -can be one of the fellows coming back this way." - -Osgood shook his head as he rose noiselessly to his feet. Looking at -each other, the same thought filled their minds. - -Perhaps it was Roy Hooker! - -Not far from them, yet wholly concealed by the thickets and the shadows, -the moving object halted and remained silent for a long time. Gradually -this silence wore upon their patience, and presently Nelson made signs -indicating that he meant to investigate with all possible caution. -Osgood nodded, and, side by side, they crept forward, stepping softly -and peering anxiously into the gloom. - -Beneath Nelson's foot a dead branch snapped with a report like a toy -pistol. Almost instantly there was a movement in the thicket, a rushing -sound, a crashing as of a person in flight. - -"Confound it!" exclaimed Jack. "Come on, Osgood, let's run the thing -down." - -Through the bushes and the shadows, they dashed in pursuit. Osgood, -following the other boy too closely, was lashed in the face by whipping -branches, which stung and blinded him. At the first opportunity he -turned aside and chose a course he believed to be parallel with that -Nelson was pursuing. All at once he perceived they were no longer guided -by sounds made by the one they were after, and he stopped short to -listen. The other boy ran on much farther before he also stopped. - -Again the woods, bathed in the white light of the moon, seemed hushed -and silent. - -"Oh, Osgood! Where are you?" - -It was Jack calling. - -Ned had opened his lips to answer when something touched his -ankle--touched it and gripped it. Looking down, he was amazed to see that -it was a human hand thrust out from beneath a thick, low cluster of -bushes, and for the moment the discovery robbed him of the power to make -a sound. - -The low bushes stirred. A head was pushed forth into a patch of -moonlight, and to Ned's ears came a tremulous, choking whisper, full of -fear and pleading: - -"Don't answer, Osgood--for the love of goodness, don't answer!" - -Ned was looking down into the distraught, fear-stricken face of Charley -Shultz! - - - - -CHAPTER XXIV - -SHULTZ SEES A LIGHT. - - -Amazed beyond expression, Osgood continued to gaze downward at the -haggard, woe-begone face of Shultz. Presently, recovering a bit, he -asked: - -"What in the world are you doing here, Charley?" - -"Hush! Keep still!" pleaded the boy beneath the bushes. "He'll hear you! -There he is, calling again! Don't answer! Don't answer!" - -"Why, it's only Nelson," said Ned, squatting beside the bushes. "We were -chasing you. We thought you might be Hooker." - -"Hooker--oh!" - -There was inexpressible terror and anguish in those two words, which -seemed almost to choke the boy who uttered them. - -Nelson was approaching, continuing to call Osgood's name. - -"Hide! hide!" urged Shultz. "Don't leave me! Oh, don't leave me now! Let -him go! Get into these bushes and he won't see you!" Grasping Ned's -coat, the pleading fellow sought to draw him into the shelter of the low -bushes. - -"Why don't you want him to see you?" - -"I'll tell you--I'll tell you when he's gone. Quick! get in here!" - -Wondering at the agitation of the fellow who had always seemed utterly -incapable of such emotion, Osgood humored him by creeping into the thick -mass of shrubbery. Thus concealed, he saw the dark figure of Nelson -passing at a little distance, and all the while Shultz clung to him with -hands that quivered and shook and seemed silently to beg him not to -respond to the calls of the searching lad. - -After a time Nelson could be heard no more. Then Ned crept forth, -followed by Charley, who remained sitting on the ground with one leg -outstretched. - -"What's the meaning of this tomfoolery?" demanded Osgood, a bit sharply. -"How in the name of the seven wonders did you come to be here, anyhow? -You weren't with the bunch that started out to find Hooker." - -Again, at the sound of that name, Shultz shrank and cowered as if struck -a blow. - -"Don't speak of him--don't!" he sobbed. "It's an awful thing! Oh, if you -only knew what I've suffered to-night!" - -"Why, you're all to pieces, old man. You're completely broken up." - -"I'm a wreck. I'm done for. It's a wonder I'm not crazy. I have been -half-crazy. Why shouldn't I be, chased and hunted like a wild beast? -It's enough to drive any one insane." - -"Chased and hunted? What do you mean?" - -"Oh, I know the whole town is after me. I barely got away from two of -them who caught me flinging pebbles at your windows to wake you up." - -Osgood stiffened a bit. "You--did--what?" - -"When I found out what had happened, when I knew the worst, I cut across -lots to Mrs. Chester's to wake you and tell you that I was going to run -away. I was so excited I threw the pebbles against the wrong window, and -when I went back to the street for more the men saw me and chased me. I -doubled on them and threw them off the track." - -"Those men must have been Turner and Crabtree. They thought they were -chasing Roy Hooker." - -"Hooker!" palpitated Shultz. "Hooker? He's dead! His ghost came to my -window! It was perched on the ridgepole of the ell. I was just going to -bed when I saw it. I'll never forget the terrible look in those eyes!" - -Squatting on the ground beside the trembling fellow, Osgood grasped him -firmly by the arm. - -"What is this stuff you're telling me, Shultz?" he demanded. "You saw -Hooker looking in at your window?" - -"I tell you it was his ghost. I've never believed in such things, but I -do now, for I've seen one. I saw it again, too, here in these very -woods. It spoke to me. I heard it speak. Then I ran and ran, until I -fell into a gully and thought I'd broken my leg. It was my ankle. It's -sprained and swollen, but I've been hobbling on it just the same. Oh, -Osgood, isn't there any way for me to escape? If I hadn't hurt my ankle, -I'd be miles on the road to Barville before this. I didn't mean to kill -him. You know I didn't mean that, don't you? If they bring me to trial, -you'll tell them you know that much, won't you, Ned?" - -Osgood was moved almost to tears by this pathetic pleading. - -"Now listen to me, Shultz," he commanded. "You've deceived yourself. -Hooker isn't dead, unless he's died since he got out of bed to-night, -escaped observation and left his home. If you really saw something that -looked like Hooker on the roof of Caleb Carter's ell, it was Roy -himself. If you met something in these woods that looked like Hooker, it -was Hooker. He's wandering about somewhere in a deranged condition, and -he's the one the people are searching for, not you." - -Overwrought by the terror of his experience, it was no simple matter for -Charley Shultz to comprehend the meaning of his companion's words. - -"Hooker--not dead?" he muttered wildly. "Why, I--I was sure of it. How do -you know, Ned? You may be mistaken." - -Compelling Shultz to listen, Osgood finally succeeded in convincing him. -"Let us hope with all our hearts," he concluded, "that they find Roy and -get him safely home, and that he recovers. Let us hope, regardless of -what it may mean to us, that, restored to his right mind, he'll soon be -able to tell everything." - -"Oh, I don't care if he does now," asserted Shultz. "If we'd only told -in the first place, it would have been better. Piper was right; I should -have owned up like a man. That was the thing for me to do. I refused to -see it then, but what I've been through since has opened my eyes." - -"It seems to me," said Ned gently, "that we've both had our eyes opened. -Come, old fellow, let me help you to your feet. You've got to get back -to the village somehow, if I have to pack you on my back." - -"I can hobble. If you'll give me an arm, I'll manage to cripple along. -But I'm afraid to go back to Oakdale." - -"It's the only thing you can do. There's no other way, old man. We've -both of us got to face the worst, whatever it may be." - -Shultz, indeed very lame, hung heavily on Osgood's arm, gritting his -teeth and groaning at times with the pain his injured ankle gave him. In -this manner they moved along slowly enough, keeping to the westward of -Turkey Hill and making for the Barville road, as this was now the -shortest and most direct course back to the village. - -At intervals, as they went along, Shultz persisted in talking of the -terrible experiences he had passed through that night, repeating over -and over that he was intensely thankful because in all probability Roy -Hooker was still living. - -"If he had died without telling a word, I'd never had a minute's peace -in the world," he asserted. "I'd always felt like a murderer. I hope -they find him all right. I don't care if he does tell." - -"I didn't urge you to confess, did I, Shultz?" - -"No, no, but I should have done it. I was afraid, that was the trouble. -I was a coward. I didn't think it was fear at the time, but it was, just -the same. I tried to make myself believe I was keeping still on your -account. Well, really, I did think about what it would mean to you, Ned. -You're different from me. You're a gentleman, and I'm just a plain -rotter, I guess." - -"Oh, I don't know as there's so much difference between us, after all." - -"Yes, there is. You've got some family behind you, and you're naturally -proud of it. I've never had any particular reason to be proud of my -people. Why, my father is a saloonkeeper. I never told you that, did I? -I didn't tell you, for I thought you might be disgusted and turn against -me if you knew. I've always growled about my old man, because he didn't -give me a lot of spending money. The reason why he didn't was because I -raised merry blazes when I had money. He used to let me have enough--too -much. When I blew it right and left, like an idiot, and kept getting -into scrapes, he cut my allowance down. You see the kind of a fellow -you've been friendly with, Osgood, old man. You can see he's a -rotter--just a plain rotter. Oh, you'll help me back to town. You'll do -the right thing, because you're the right sort. But, now that you know -what I am, we never could be friends any more, even if this Hooker -business hadn't come up." - -Osgood had permitted him to talk on in this fashion, although again and -again Shultz's words made Ned cringe inwardly. At this point the -listener interrupted. - -"You're wrong, old man, if you believe anything you've said will make me -think any the less of you. On the contrary, it will have precisely the -opposite effect. You've told me all this about yourself, but there are a -lot of things about myself that I've never told you. This is hardly the -time for it, but you shall know, and then you'll understand that we're -practically on a common level. I'm no better than you are." - -"You say that because you _are_ better--because you're a natural -gentleman, with blood and breeding. I don't think I ever before -understood what makes a true gentleman. Oh, I've got my eyes open to -heaps of things to-night." - -"It's not impossible for a man to be a gentleman, even if he doesn't -know who his own father and mother were," returned Osgood. "Breeding is -all right, but there's a lot of rot in this talk about blood and -ancestry." - -"You never seemed specially proud of the fact that you had such fine -ancestors behind you. I guess you're true American in your ideas, -Osgood. For all of your family, you've always sort of pooh-poohed -ancestry; and you with a perfect right to use a crest!" - -Shultz was startled by the short, contemptuous laugh that burst from his -companion's lips. - -"The world is full of faking and fraud," said Ned. "It seems that half -the people in it, at least, are trying to make other people believe -they're something which they are not. Does the ankle hurt bad, old -chap?" - -"Like blazes," answered Charley through his teeth. - -"Let me see if I can't get you on to my back and carry you." - -"Not on your life! I'm going to walk back to town on that pin if I never -step on it again. I'll just take it as part of the punishment I -deserve." - -They came presently to the path which the boys had taken on their way to -the island in the swamp, and at last they issued from the woods and -reached the Barville road. Rounding the base at Turkey Hill, they saw -the village lying before them in the valley, and to the right, over the -tops of trees, they beheld the shimmering waters of Lake Woodrim. The -sweet and peaceful scene seemed to hold no hint of the exciting events -of that remarkable night. - -Some distance down the road Shultz perceived a few dark, moving objects, -and suddenly he halted in alarm. - -"Some one coming, Ned!" he palpitated. "Look! you can see them. It's a -party of searchers after Hooker! I can't face them! They'll ask -questions. Come on, let's cut across into the pines yonder." - -Not far away to the right was a growth of pine timber, which reached to -the very shore of Lake Woodrim. Releasing Osgood's arm, Shultz made -suddenly for the side of the road, scrambled over a low stone wall and -started at a hobbling run toward the pines. - -Osgood followed, quickly overtaking him. They were running side by side, -Shultz's breath whistling through his teeth with a sound like hissing -steam, when up before them from a little hollow, as if rising out of the -very ground itself, came a human being, head bare, and all in white to -its waist. One look he gave them, and then like a frightened deer he -went bounding straight for the woods. - -"Merciful wonders!" burst from Osgood. "It's Roy Hooker!" - - - - -CHAPTER XXV - -INTO THE OLD QUARRY. - - -For a double reason they did not call to Hooker; not only was it -unlikely that he would heed them, but the men on the Barville road would -doubtless hear their cries. So Osgood, who had been gauging his speed by -that of the crippled Shultz, immediately shot forward, leaving Charley -limping behind, but doing his utmost. - -Realizing how difficult it would be to run down the deranged lad in the -dark depths of the heavy pines, Ned strained every nerve to reach him -before he could plunge into the woods. To his dismay, he quickly -perceived that this would be impossible, Hooker being very fleet of -foot. At the last moment Osgood ventured to call, suppressing his voice -in a measure, and hoping against hope that the unreasoning fugitive -might give heed. - -"Roy--Roy Hooker!" he cried. "We're friends. We won't hurt you. Stop, -Roy--stop! Wait for us!" - -Had Hooker been stone deaf, the words would have had no more effect. Not -a particle did he relax in his flight, and Ned was some rods away when -Roy was swallowed by the black shadows of the timbers. - -Into the woods Osgood dashed, still hoping that through some chance he -might overtake the fleeing lad. There was not much undergrowth amid the -pines, yet for a time the persistent pursuer was guided by the sounds of -the other boy, who turned and twisted and zigzagged here and there in a -most baffling way. - -"We're friends, Roy--we're friends!" Osgood called again and again. -"Don't be afraid of us! Wait a minute!" - -It was useless. The guiding sounds grew fainter, and at last, unable to -hear them, Osgood stopped to listen. Then he realized that behind him -Shultz was calling, begging not to be abandoned. - -"We were so close, so close!" muttered Ned, in deep disappointment. "If -we'd only got a little nearer before he started, I could have run him -down." - -He answered Shultz, and presently Charley came hobbling and panting -through the darkness. - -"Did you catch him?" was his first question. - -"No, he got away; but he's somewhere in these woods, and, knowing that -much, we may be able to find him yet. If we could only take him safely -back to Oakdale, it might seem to square up a little for what we've -done." - -"I was afraid you'd leave me," Shultz almost whimpered. "I was afraid to -be left alone again. Don't do it, Ned--please don't. If you hear him or -see him, don't run away from me." - -Only yesterday Osgood could never have dreamed it possible for anything -so completely to break the nerve of his companion. There was little left -of the old stubborn, defiant, bulldozing Shultz; in his abject terror of -being left alone, he was more like a timid child. - -"We ought to get searchers, a whole lot of them, and bring them here," -said Ned. "That would be the right thing to do." - -"But if we could only find him ourselves without other aid," argued -Charley, "it would give us a better show with the people who'll be ready -enough to jump on us when they know the truth. We might find him, you -know. He can't be far away. Which way was he going the last you knew?" - -"Toward the lake, I think, but he kept dodging about, so that there is -no real certainty of it. Probably he hasn't any objective point in his -mind. He just ran in any direction that happened to be the easiest." - -"The ground slopes toward the lake," reasoned Shultz. "He'll keep on -going that way." - -"There may be some logic in that, and there's a bare chance that we may -come upon him again. Let's make as little noise as possible. We don't -want him to be warned or frightened by hearing us a long distance away." - -Down through the black woods they went, Shultz seeking to keep so close -to Osgood that he could put out his hand any time and touch him. -Presently through the trees they saw the moonlight silvering the placid -water. Reaching the shore, they discovered they were close to Pine -Point, which, projecting into the lake, cut it there to its narrowest -width. On the opposite shore lay the railroad, over which Shultz had -first thought of making his escape from Oakdale. - -"It's something like searching for a needle in a haystack," said Ned -hopelessly. "There's not one chance in a hundred that we, unaided, can -find Hooker in these woods." - -But Charley still clung to the tattered skirts of hope. "Let's go out -upon the point. From the end of it we can get a look at a long sweep of -shore in both directions." - -"That will simply make us walk farther, and your ankle must be----" - -"Confound my ankle! Don't you worry about that." - -"You shouldn't be crippling around on it. It's liable to lay you up for -a long time, and every step you take makes it worse." - -"What do I care? What do I care how long I'm laid up? That's nothing -now. I'm going out on the point." - -He would not have gone had Ned refused, but Osgood decided to humor him. - -At the outer extremity the point took a curve, so that on one side it -sheltered Bear Cove, into which Silver Brook emptied. As they reached -that curving outer shore, a small boat--a punt--issued from the cove, -passed that hook-like nose of land and appeared in the moonlight which -bathed the surface of the lake. The occupant of the punt, who was -propelling it with a paddle, was Hooker! - -"There he is!" shouted Charley. - -He turned his face toward them, and they were so near that they almost -fancied they could see the wild expression in his eyes. They called to -him again and again, begging him to come back and seeking to give him -every assurance of their friendly intentions. He did not answer; -changing the course of the boat somewhat, he drove it with powerful -strokes toward a small island which lay off the mouth of the cove. - -"It's no use," muttered Osgood; "he'll give up only when he's caught, -and then he'll probably make a fight of it." - -"But how are we going to catch him?" - -"I wish I knew. If we had another boat----" - -"I know where there's a raft," exclaimed Shultz. "We might follow him -with that." - -"We never could overtake him on a raft." - -"But he's going on to Bass Island. If he doesn't see us coming, we might -catch him there." - -Ned was extremely doubtful, but the insistence and eagerness of Charley -finally led him to agree to look for the raft. Fully half an hour passed -before they found it lying partly on the shore of the cove not far from -the mouth of Silver Brook. It was a rather long, narrow affair, built of -small logs fastened together by cross-pieces. When it was launched they -tested its buoying capacity and found it would barely support them both. -Nevertheless, with pieces of board for paddles, they pushed off upon it -and made their way slowly toward the mouth of the cove. Both knelt as -they wielded the board paddles, and their knees were soon wet with the -water which occasionally washed across the almost submerged logs. - -Although they could not see the punt on the shore of the island, they -felt certain Hooker had landed there, and, hoping he would not discover -their approach, they exerted their strength in the effort to reach the -place as soon as possible. - -The island was not more than thirty yards distant when they again saw -the punt, headed this time for the farther shore of the lake. It seemed -that Hooker must have been watching, and, with almost tantalizing -cunning, he had waited until they were near before he put out from the -opposite side of the island. - -"Let's not give up," pleaded Shultz. "Let's follow him." - -Although the pursuit seemed discouragingly hopeless, they were now -nearly half-way across the narrow part of the lake, and Osgood did not -insist on turning back. - -The punt was slow enough, but it moved faster than the raft, even though -the latter was propelled by two persons instead of one, and gradually it -drew farther and farther away. With their eyes on Hooker, they watched -him reach the shore, leap out, abandon the punt and run toward the -railroad. Still watching, they saw him, later, making his way down the -track toward Oakdale station. - -As soon as the raft touched the low, flat shore, they left it to float -whither it might and followed Roy. - -"I'm glad he went toward town," said Osgood, as they reached the -railroad. - -Shultz's ankle seemed to have grown much worse while he was on the raft, -and it was in great pain and with the utmost difficulty that he crippled -along over the ties. At times he caught his breath with a hissing sound -or groaned aloud as the swollen limb gave him an extra sharp twinge. - -"It's no use for me to follow Roy any farther," he finally admitted. -"I'll be lucky if this old prop doesn't give out completely before I get -to the village." - -"If it does," promised Ned, "I'll get you there. Leave it to me. I'm -ready to pack you on my back any time." - -Presently they approached the old lime quarries, which had been -practically abandoned until Lemuel Hayden came to Oakdale, bought them, -opened up new and unsuspected deposits, and revived the industry of lime -burning. They could see the deserted workings, a tremendous black hole -in the ground some thirty or forty rods away, when from beneath the -shadowy bank of the graded roadbed, Hooker, who may have been resting -there, sprang forth. Shultz saw his first movement, and shouted to -Osgood: - -"There he is, Ned! Catch him--you can catch him now!" - -Ned did not need to be urged; he was off like a shot. Shultz followed, -setting his teeth and trying to forget his injured ankle. Down the bank -he leaped, mainly upon one foot, and on he ran, limping across the rough -and stony field. He could see Osgood straining every nerve to overtake -Hooker, who was running straight toward the old quarry. - -"He's got him! Ned's got him!" panted Shultz. "The quarry will stop him! -He can't get away!" - -But, as they drew near that mammoth hole in the ground, a different -thought leaped into Osgood's mind. Hooker seemed to be fleeing blindly -and totally heedless of anything. What if, in his distraught state of -mind, he should not realize the danger that lay in his path? What if he -should not see the quarry until it was too late to stop? - -Horrified, Ned shouted a warning; and at that shout Hooker, still -running, turned his head to look back. - -Shultz, seeing all this, gulped to keep his heart from choking him. Sick -and weak with apprehension, he stopped, his arms outflung, his hands -wide open, his fingers spread apart. - -Over the brink and into the quarry plunged Hooker. As he fell, a wild -and terrible scream rose from his lips. Shultz clapped his hands to his -ears to shut out that dreadful cry. - -"Oh! oh!" he groaned. "It's all over now! That's the end! He's dead!" - - - - -CHAPTER XXVI - -THE CONFESSION. - - -Distracted, scarcely realizing what he did, with that terrible cry from -Hooker's lips still ringing in his ears, Charley Shultz turned from the -old quarry and limped away as fast as he could go. In his mind he -carried a dreadful picture of Roy Hooker, lying bleeding, battered and -dead at the bottom of that great excavation, and for the time being -Osgood was wholly forgotten. - -On his hands and knees, Charley crawled up the railroad embankment. One -of his hands happening to touch a stout, crooked stick, about a yard in -length, he grasped and retained it instinctively. When the track was -reached, the stick served him for a cane as he hobbled away. - -"It's awful--awful!" his dry, bloodless lips kept repeating. "And I'm to -blame for it all! I'm the only one who is really to blame. I thought -some of the rest should help shoulder the load, but I was wrong. It's up -to me; I can see that plainly enough at last. If I'd only seen it in the -first place, perhaps--perhaps this terrible thing might not have -happened." - -After a time he remembered Osgood, and halted, looking back toward the -quarry. - -"Why doesn't he come? Why is he staying there? He can't do anything now. -Well, perhaps it's best that I should go it alone. That's what I ought -to do. No one else should be seen with me. I must face this thing by -myself. What will they do with me? I don't know and I don't care. All I -know is that I can never, never forget, if I live to be a thousand years -old." - -His teeth set, he crippled onward, his ankle, if possible, causing him -greater distress than ever, though it seemed as a mere nothing compared -with the anguish of his remorseful and repentant soul. Not once were the -shooting pains sufficient to wring a whimper or a groan from him. His -mind was made up at last; he had decided what he would do, and he was -almost fierce in his eagerness to do it before he should weaken or -falter. - -The South Shore Road, approaching the railroad at one point, promised an -easier course to follow, and he abandoned the ties. Vaguely he wondered -what the hour could be, and looked for some sign of approaching dawn, as -it seemed that the night must be far spent. To him that night had -stretched itself to the length of a lifetime. Into it had been crowded -experiences which had wrought in this boy a complete change of heart. In -the moulding of his character such experiences must indeed have a -powerful effect. - -Beyond the river, as he drew near the dam at the lower end of the lake, -he could see a few lights still shining palely in the windows of the -village. Little had he imagined, when he first came to this small, -despised country town, that here he was to face the first great crisis -of his life. Here, it now seemed, he had met with disaster that meant -his complete undoing. - -The little railroad station on the southern side of the river was dark -and deserted. Near it he halted again, tempted by the thought that -somewhere around those black buildings he might hide until the first -train should pull out in the morning--might hide there, and, sneaking -aboard that train at the last moment, succeed, after all, in making his -escape. - -"But I won't do it!" he suddenly snarled. "I attempted to run away like -a coward, and this is what I've come to. I won't try it again. I'll face -the music and pretend that I've got a little manhood left." - -Beneath the span of the bridge the water flowed swift and silent, save -for a few faint whisperings and gurglings. Looking down at it, he drew -away from the railing, fearful that he might be tempted to leap and end -it all. Had he been met at the foot of Main Street by officers, waiting -to place him under arrest, he would not have been surprised, and would -have offered no resistance. - -Once before upon this same night he had sneaked up Cross Street, and -again he followed the same course. Something like a powerful magnet now -seemed drawing him on, although as yet he but faintly realized that he -was moving toward Hooker's home as fast as he could. - -The house was lighted in almost every room. In front of it he halted -again, struggling weakly against that attracting force. In there was -Roy's mother--the mother of the boy he had destroyed--waiting distractedly -for some tidings of her unfortunate son. How could he face her? How -could he utterly crush her with the terrible truth? - -As he faltered and wavered, he became aware that some one was coming up -Cross Street. In the silence, even at that distance, he heard the sound -of footsteps. - -"Some of the searchers--Roy's father, perhaps--returning to tell her that -they have not found him. When they do find him--oh, when they do!" - -Then he thought of another house, a modest little white cottage, farther -up the street. It was to that cottage that he should go, after all. -There he would find the one to whom his confession should be made. This -decided on, he forced his stiff and swollen ankle to bear him a little -farther, with the aid of the stick, which clumped upon the sidewalk as -he hobbled. There was a light in one of the windows of the cottage, the -window of Professor Richardson's study. The professor was awake. He was -there in his study, waiting for some news of Roy. Well, he should soon -know it all. - -Shultz rang the door-bell, and barely had he done so when he heard some -one hastening to answer. Through the sidelights of the door came the -gleam of a lamp. A key turned in the lock, the door was flung open, and -the old professor, in dressing-gown and slippers, lamp in hand, stood -before Charley Shultz. - -"What is it?" he eagerly asked, his voice hoarse and husky. "You've come -to tell me. They have found him?" - -"I've come to tell you everything, professor," was the answer. "May I -come in? I'm ready to drop. I can't stand a minute longer." - -"Come in, my boy--come in. Good gracious! you're in rags. You're lame! -You're hurt!" - -Having closed the door, the professor sought to aid his visitor to -hobble into the study, which opened off the hall. In that room Shultz -dropped heavily upon a chair, the stick, released by his nerveless -hands, falling with a thud upon the rug. - -"My goodness!" breathed the old man, staring aghast at the boy. "You -must have been through a terrible experience. You're ghastly pale, and -your face is scratched and cut. What has happened to you?" - -"Oh, I don't know how I can tell you! But I must, and I will. That's why -I came here. I should have told you long ago. You were right, -professor--you were right when you said it was a cowardly thing for the -one who was to blame to keep silent. I didn't understand then, but now I -do--now that it's too late!" - -"Too late!" breathed Professor Richardson, intensely moved. "Too late! -Do you mean that Roy is----" - -"He's dead," said Shultz. - -Groping for a chair, the old man grasped it and sank upon it. - -"Dead!" he echoed, running his thin hands through the white locks upon -his temples. "This is terrible news, indeed! I've been hoping they would -find him and bring him back all right. It will be a dreadful blow to his -poor parents. How do you know? Are you sure--are you sure he's dead?" - -"Yes, I'm sure. And I killed him!" - -A few moments of absolute silence followed this declaration. Grasping -the arm of the chair, the professor leaned slowly forward, his lips -parted a bit, his eyes fastened upon the face of the boy. One hand was -partly extended as he whispered: - -"You--you killed him? What are you saying, Charley Shultz? Are you -crazy?" - -"No, no; but it's a wonder I'm not. Listen, professor, and I'll tell you -the whole story. It started over a game of cards. He accused me of -cheating. I struck him. I knocked him down. As he fell his head hit -against a marble mantelpiece. That was what ailed him. No one else did a -thing, professor; no one else is to blame. They wanted me to tell, but I -refused. One fellow insisted that I should tell." - -"But why didn't they tell, themselves?" - -"Because they were afraid. Because they knew the disgrace and trouble it -would bring on them all. Besides, I was the one who did it, and I was -the one who should have owned up to it." - -"But you said--that Roy--was dead." - -"So he is. Listen, and I'll tell you how I know. You shall have the -whole story." - -Shultz told it all, holding nothing back save the names of the other -participants in that game of poker. He made no effort to shield himself, -no attempt to justify himself, and there was no need to question him; -for his story, although given in short, broken sentences, was vivid and -complete. When he told at last of Hooker's blind plunge into the old -quarry, the listener groaned aloud. - -"That's all, professor--that's all," Shultz concluded, in a manner that -bespoke his boundless contrition and utter resignation to consequences. -"You can see that it was I who killed him, and whatever my punishment -may be, I deserve it." - -"It's terrible!" said the old man solemnly. "It's the most terrible -thing that has ever come beneath my personal notice in all my life!" - -In the hall the bell of a telephone began to ring, causing them both to -start nervously. Immediately the man rose to his feet. - -"It must be a call from the Hooker's," he said. "I'm on the same party -line with them. Roy's mother must be ringing up to ask me if I've heard -anything. How can I answer? What can I tell that poor woman?" - -Shultz, sick with pain of body and mind, could make no reply to this. -Slowly, reluctantly, the professor left the study to answer the phone. -Listening, Shultz could hear his words: - -"Hello.... Yes, this is Professor Richardson.... What's that? I don't -understand you.... Is that you, Mr. Hooker?... Yes, yes. What are you -telling me? Roy--Roy is----" His voice, husky and broken, became confused, -and he seemed a bit incoherent. "Yes, yes," he went on more plainly. "I -think--I think I understand.... Yes, I'll come down. Right away." - -The receiver clicked upon the hook. Professor Richardson re-entered the -study with a firm tread, stopped in front of the chair on which Charley -Shultz still sat, and for a few silent moments gazed sternly at the -cowering lad. Presently he said: - -"The call was from Mr. Hooker. I'm going down there. You'll wait here -for me, while I get on my shoes and coat. Wait here. Do you understand?" - -"Yes," answered Charley faintly. - -During the few minutes while the professor was absent Shultz sat there -nervously clasping and unclasping the fingers of his cold hands. For a -single moment, dreading what he might yet have to face upon this -eventful night, he thought of stealing from the house and hurrying away. -Only for a fleeting moment, however, did he harbor that thought. - -"Never!" he whispered savagely. "Whatever I must face I'll face. I'm -done with being a coward!" - -The professor reappeared, wearing his overcoat. "Come," he said, and -Shultz lifted himself to his feet. In the hall the man secured his hat. -They left the house, and Shultz managed to descend the front steps with -the aid of his stick. On the street the professor gave the boy an arm. - -The door of the Hooker home was opened almost instantly at their -summons. - -"Come in," cried Roy's father; "come in, professor. Oh! you've some one -with you." - -"Yes," replied the principal of the academy, "I brought Charley with me -for a most excellent reason, as you'll soon learn. He has hurt his ankle -and is very lame." - -In the sitting room Shultz staggered and nearly fell, for he suddenly -found himself face to face with Ned Osgood. - -"You?" he exclaimed in amazement. "You here? Then you've told them -everything!" - -Osgood seized him, swept him off his feet and practically bore him into -another room. - -"Look, Charley!" he cried, pointing at a person who sat in the depths of -a big easy-chair, near which hovered Mrs. Hooker. "Here he is! He's all -right now, too. He's all right, for he can talk and he remembers." - -The person on the easy-chair was Roy Hooker! - - - - -CHAPTER XXVII - -LIKE A MIRACLE. - - -Only for Osgood's sustaining arm, Shultz would have collapsed -completely. Ned helped him to a chair, where he sat staring in dumb -amazement and doubt at Roy Hooker. It was a marvel of marvels, a miracle -beyond his understanding. - -"I'm dreaming," he thought. "It can't be true." - -But Roy was there. Roy was speaking. Shultz heard him say: - -"You look to be in worse condition than I am, old fellow. You're all -broken up." - -Shultz was broken up indeed. Not a sound did he make, but he covered his -face with his hands, and tears began trickling through his fingers. Then -he felt some one touching him gently, reassuringly, and heard the husky -voice of Professor Richardson, the man he had scorned and sneered at, -saying gently, almost tenderly: - -"There, there, my boy. It's all right. You made a mistake, as we all do -sometimes, but you've been punished more than enough. I am sure no one -could wish you to receive further punishment." - -Then Hooker spoke again: - -"Why, he wasn't to blame any more than I was--not as much. I started it. -I lost my head and called him nasty names and tried to hit him. I'm the -one who is really to blame for everything." - -Somehow this made Charley's tears flow the faster. He did not sob, he -did not speak, but he sat there with a great feeling of gratitude in his -heart and a yearning to say something to Roy Hooker which he knew he -never could say. - -"We were all to blame," asserted Ned. "No one fellow should try to take -it on himself; I'm dead certain other chaps in the bunch will agree to -that." - -"It will be a lesson to you all," said the old professor. "Mrs. Hooker, -I congratulate you that your son is again in his normal mind and -apparently not much the worse for his experience. It has been a trying -time for us all, and we should be thankful indeed that it has turned out -so well." - -Through his tear-wet eyelashes Shultz was looking at Roy. - -"I--I don't understand," he whispered. "I saw him fall into the old -quarry." - -"But you didn't wait to see how far he fell," said Ned. "I looked. -Perhaps twenty feet below the brink over which he ran, I saw him lying -on a wide projecting shelf of rock. He was stunned, and he lay perfectly -still, without answering when I called to him. I knew I must get him out -somehow, and in a minute or two I thought that I might find a rope in -one of the tool houses of the new quarry. I ran around there as fast as -I could, broke into one of those little shanties, found a rope and -hurried back. Making one end of the rope fast, I lowered myself to the -shelf on which Roy still lay. He was just coming to his senses, and when -he saw me he spoke. Of course, he had no idea where he was or how he -came to be there, for he could remember nothing that happened after his -head struck the mantelpiece in my room." - -"And I can't remember now," put in Hooker. "It's all a blank." - -"When he had recovered and seemed to be pretty strong," Osgood -continued, "I tied the rope about his body beneath his arms. Then I -climbed back out of the quarry and succeeded in pulling him up, almost -inch by inch. He could help me some by grasping the rough places in the -face of the rock and by getting a few footholds now and then. As soon as -he was safely out, we hoofed it for town." - -"It's likely," said Professor Richardson, "that Roy struck his head when -he fell, and that shock restored his lost memory." - -"And I've got my boy again," said Mrs. Hooker, embracing her son and -kissing him. "That's enough. I am satisfied and happy." - -"I don't think anybody should kick up a big muss over this affair," said -Roy's father. "Now when I was a boy, I got into some scrapes myself. I -guess most men are too apt to forget the fool things they did when they -were youngsters." - -"That is very true," agreed the professor. "Maturity cuts us off from -true sympathy with boyhood and youth, and we are almost certain to -become too exacting and too harsh toward lads who invariably find -experience the best teacher. I have tried not to forget this myself, but -I presume I am like others, in a measure, at least." - -"Say," broke in Mr. Hooker suddenly, "while we're chinning here, we've -forgotten something. We've forgotten there are parties of searchers out -looking for Roy this minute. It was agreed that the Methodist bell -should be rung when he was found. I think I'd better see about it that -that bell rings." - -"Yes," nodded Professor Richardson, "and we've forgotten something else -as well. Charley has a sprained ankle, and I fear it is badly hurt, even -though he managed to get around on it for a long time after it was -injured. He should have the attention of a doctor as soon as possible." - -"Sure thing," said Mr. Hooker. "I'll send Dr. Grindle here right away. -I'll have to pass his house on the way to tell them to ring the bell." - -Finding his hat, he hurried from the house, and it was not long before -the doctor appeared. - -While the ankle was being bathed and bandaged, the church bell flung -forth to the scattering band of searchers the message that the one they -sought was found. Once before on that night Charley had listened to the -notes of that bell and trembled with terror. He trembled again, but it -was with great joy, and in the midst of good resolutions, which, though -unspoken then, he silently vowed should be faithfully remembered and -faithfully kept. - - - - -CHAPTER XXVIII - -COMRADES ALL. - - -Charley was sitting on a big chair, his bandaged ankle resting on -cushions piled in another chair, when Ned Osgood came to see him at noon -the following day. Ned had visited him early that morning, but now he -returned with his face aglow and his tongue eager with a message. - -"How's the ankle, Shultzie?" he cried. - -"Oh, it's pretty well," was the answer. "Of course it gives me fits, -especially when I have to move it a little, but then, I guess I can -stand it." He looked at Ned almost entreatingly. - -Osgood drew a chair close and sat down. - -"The fellows all want to know how you're coming on," he said. "Of course -I've had to tell them all about it." - -"Confound it!" exclaimed Shultz. "I don't count in this business. How's -Hooker? That's what I want to know." - -"I've been to see him, too. He didn't come to school this morning, but -he's all right, just the same. Says he's stiff and lame, and all that, -but thinks he'll be frisky enough in a day or two." - -"Does he--does he seem to be all right--in his head?" faltered Charley -anxiously. - -"Oh, sure. There's nothing the matter with him." - -"Well, I'm mighty glad to hear it. You know I've been worrying--I just -couldn't help it. I kept thinking he might have a relapse or -something--might lose his memory again." - -"Pooh! Nonsense! The doctor says he's O. K. and he'll stay so." - -"That's great, Ned." - -"Funny," said Osgood, "but the first thing he did was to ask about you." - -"I don't see why he should care a rap about me. If it hadn't been for -me----" - -"Oh, cut that out! It's plain bosh. Nobody thinks for a minute of -putting it all on you, much less Hooker." - -"You know, old man, I wish I could have said something when Roy spoke up -the way he did last night and declared he was to blame. I felt -something--something inside of me here, but I couldn't say it to save my -life. After I'm gone, I hope you'll tell Hooker that I think him a -dandy, a brick, the finest fellow in the world." - -"After you're gone? What do you mean by that?" - -"Of course I can't go right away with this old ankle the way it is, but -when it gets better so that I can leave Oakdale----" - -"Leave Oakdale!" exploded Osgood. "Why are you going to leave Oakdale? -Tell me that." - -"Why, Ned, I don't see how I'm going to stay here. Professor Richardson -was mighty decent last night, but of course I knew that was because he -thought I'd had enough just then. He can't want me back in the school, -and there must be lots of fellows who'd shy at me, too. Once it wouldn't -have worried me if two-thirds of them had handed me the frosty, but now -I'm--I'm sort of changed. I seem to be weak and lacking in backbone, and -I know I couldn't stay in the school with a lot of the fellows that way, -even if Prof was willing I should stay." - -"Now you listen to me, Shultzie," said Osgood earnestly. "I've had a -talk with the professor, and he's coming to see you to-night." - -"Oh, I don't believe I want to see him again. I don't believe I can. You -know I said some mighty nasty things about him behind his back. I tried -to turn the fellows against him, and he knows it." - -"But you can bet he's willing to forget that, Charley, and he will never -mention it unless you do. Between you and me, Prof is a pretty fine old -boy. We had him sized up all wrong." - -"I reckon we did, Ned. Just because he was along in years and -old-fashioned in some of his ways, we didn't understand him at all. You -know he said last night that most men didn't understand boys. Well, it's -my opinion that few boys understand men, especially men like Prof -Richardson." - -"I won't put up an argument on that point. You'll be welcomed back to -school by him, Shultz, and you'll be welcomed just as heartily by the -fellows. Why, when Piper heard just how you owned up and tried to take -all the blame, he was enthusiastic about you. Said you'd proved yourself -a white man all the way through." - -"But he didn't know what I'd been through to bring me to that point." - -"That doesn't make any difference. Say, do you know the way the fellows -behaved toward me made me mortally ashamed of myself? Charley, they -actually thought I did something commendable last night. They seem to -have the idea that just because I pulled Hooker out of the old quarry -I'm a real hero. And you can't make them see it any other way, either. -Jack Nelson nearly broke my paw shaking hands with me." - -"Nelson!" muttered Shultz. "If he only knew!" - -"He does. He knows the whole business. I told him while we were alone in -the woods last night." - -"And he shook hands with you to-day?" - -"That's what he did." - -"Well, he must be pretty white himself." - -"White? He's as fine a chap as one could find in a year's hunt. Now look -here, old fellow, I'll tell you just what we're going to do, you and I. -You're coming to school again as soon as you can get there. We're going -to stay right here in Oakdale and prove that we're somewhere near as -decent as the fellows we've met in this town. We're going to prove to -Professor Richardson that we're not a couple of cheap trouble-makers. -We're going to try our level best to do just about what's right. Do you -get me?" - -There was a gleam in Shultz's eyes; a smile broke over his face; he -thrust out his hand for Osgood to take. - -"I get you, Ned," he returned, his voice vibrant with deep earnestness. -"You're right; that's just what we'll do, as long as we're to be given -the chance. And say, I'm mighty glad to have the chance." - - * * * * * - -When Shultz returned to the academy on crutches several days later, he -was immediately surrounded by a crowd of boys who welcomed him back in -no uncertain manner. First among those to hail him and shake his hand -was Roy Hooker, and he was followed closely by Jack Nelson. Billy Piper -was not among the last to grip Charley's fingers, and there was no -uncertain sincerity in his tone, as he said: - -"Shultzie, you're all right. You proved it. Say, it's just ripping to -have you back." - -"Old man," said Nelson, "you want to get that ankle cured as soon as you -can. The nine is crippling along without you, but I tell you we miss you -out there in center field." - -"That's right," said Chub Tuttle, gulping down a mouthful of half-chewed -peanuts. "It's a rotten shame, the mess I make of it trying to cover -that patch. I lost the game last Saturday by muffing a ball you could -have caught without half trying." - -Grant, Crane, Stone and others all had a cheerful word for Charley, and -while they were expressing themselves, Professor Richardson came pushing -gently through the throng and clapped both his hands on the abashed -boy's shoulders. - -"Well, well," said the principal, beaming, "here you are again. That's -fine, I declare. You ought to be able to throw away those crutches in a -few days. Do you know, I actually attended the last baseball game, and, -on my word, I found it very interesting. I believe I've been missing -something, and when it is possible I think I shall take the games in -hereafter." - -Was this the "old fogy back number" Shultz had so often sneered about -and derided? Why, instead of being sour and crabbed, this man was genial -and gentle and sympathetic. Charley wondered how he had ever happened to -misjudge the professor so greatly. The boy felt his heart swelling with -the gladness and camaraderie of it all, and to keep the mist out of his -eyes, he laughed, a genuine, sincere, happy laugh, amazingly unlike his -laughter of former days. He was a lucky fellow; oh, yes, he knew it very -well. He was different; he knew that, too, and he would never again be -as he had been once, thank goodness. - -When Osgood got a chance to speak to Shultz unheard by others, he -laughingly said: - -"I told you how it would be. Now you've seen for yourself, and you ought -to be satisfied." - -"Satisfied?" said Charley. "That word doesn't express my feelings, Ned, -and I don't believe there's a word in the language that can express -them." - -Professor Richardson's troubles were indeed over; during the remainder -of the term he was not disturbed by even the faintest show of -insubordination or unruliness among his pupils, who seemed to vie with -one another in their efforts to make the old principal's duties not only -easy but pleasant. - -When Shultz next visited Osgood's rooms, he noticed, not without -surprise and wonderment, that all the old "family portraits" had -disappeared. Not only that: Ned was using plain and simple writing -paper, unadorned by a crest. - -These two boys both became genuinely popular in Oakdale, and their -splendid playing upon the baseball field caused many members of opposing -teams to express admiration and envy, and to assert that it was mainly -through the fine work of Osgood and Shultz that Oakdale won the -championship that season. - -THE END. - - - - -THE RADIO BOYS SERIES - -By Gerald Breckenridge - -A new series of copyright titles for boys of all ages. - -Cloth Bound, with Attractive Cover Designs - -PRICE, 65 CENTS EACH - - THE RADIO BOYS ON THE MEXICAN BORDER - THE RADIO BOYS ON SECRET SERVICE DUTY - THE RADIO BOYS WITH THE REVENUE GUARDS - THE RADIO BOYS' SEARCH FOR THE INCA'S TREASURE - THE RADIO BOYS RESCUE THE LOST ALASKA EXPEDITION - THE RADIO BOYS IN DARKEST AFRICA - THE RADIO BOYS SEEK THE LOST ATLANTIS - -For sale by all booksellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of price by the -Publishers. - -A. L. 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Their experiences and -escapes are many, and furnish plenty of good, healthy action that every -boy loves. - - THE BOY ALLIES AT LIEGE; or, Through Lines of Steel. - - THE BOY ALLIES ON THE FIRING LINE; or, Twelve Days Battle Along - the Marne. - - THE BOY ALLIES WITH THE COSSACKS; or, A Wild Dash Over the - Carpathians. - - THE BOY ALLIES IN THE TRENCHES; or, Midst Shot and Shell Along - the Alsne. - - THE BOY ALLIES IN GREAT PERIL; or, With the Italian Army In the - Alps. - - THE BOY ALLIES IN THE BALKAN CAMPAIGN; or, The Struggle to Save a - Nation. - - THE BOY ALLIES ON THE SOMME; or, Courage and Bravery Rewarded. - - THE BOY ALLIES AT VERDUN; or, Saving France from the Enemy. - - THE BOY ALLIES UNDER THE STARS AND STRIPES; or, Leading the - American Troops to the Firing Line. - - THE BOY ALLIES WITH HAIG IN FLANDERS; or, The Fighting Canadians - of Vimy Ridge. - - THE BOY ALLIES WITH PERSHING IN FRANCE; or, Over the Top at - Chateau Thierry. - - THE BOY ALIES WITH THE GREAT ADVANCE; or, Driving the Enemy - Through France and Belgium. - - THE BOY ALLIES WITH MARSHAL FOCH; or, The Closing Days of the - Great World War. - -For sale by all booksellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of price by the -Publishers - -A. 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K'd. by Chadwick, the Nestor - of American Sporting journalism. - -JACK LORIMER'S HOLIDAYS; or, Millvale High In Camp. - - It would be well not to put this book into a boy's hands until the - chores are finished, otherwise they might be neglected. - -JACK LORIMER'S SUBSTITUTE; or, The Acting Captain of the Team. - - On the sporting side, this book takes up football, wrestling, and - tobogganing. There is a good deal of fun in this book and plenty of - action. - -JACK LORIMER, FRESHMAN; or, From Millvale High to Exmouth. - - Jack and some friends he makes crowd innumerable happenings into an - exciting freshman year at one of the leading Eastern colleges. The - book is typical of the American college boy's life, and there is a - lively story, interwoven with feats on the gridiron, hockey, - basketball and other clean honest sports for which Jack Lorimer - stands. - -For sale by all booksellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of price by the -Publishers - -A. L. BURT COMPANY - -114-120 EAST 23rd STREET, NEW YORK - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The New Boys at Oakdale, by Morgan Scott - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE NEW BOYS AT OAKDALE *** - -***** This file should be named 41513-8.txt or 41513-8.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/4/1/5/1/41513/ - -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: The New Boys at Oakdale - -Author: Morgan Scott - -Release Date: November 30, 2012 [EBook #41513] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE NEW BOYS AT OAKDALE *** - - - - -Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - - - - - - -</pre> - +<div>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 41513 ***</div> <div> <h1>The New Boys at Oakdale</h1> @@ -1693,380 +1657,6 @@ WITH THE ARMY</p> <p>A. L. 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Thus, we do not necessarily -keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. - -Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: - - www.gutenberg.org - -This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, -including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to -subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. - - - -</pre> - +<div>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 41513 ***</div> </body> </html> diff --git a/41513.txt b/41513.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 3ad79f4..0000000 --- a/41513.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,6940 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of The New Boys at Oakdale, by Morgan Scott - -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: The New Boys at Oakdale - -Author: Morgan Scott - -Release Date: November 30, 2012 [EBook #41513] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ASCII - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE NEW BOYS AT OAKDALE *** - - - - -Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - - - - - - - - - -[Illustration: HE THRUST OUT HIS HAND FOR OSGOOD TO TAKE.] - - - - -THE NEW BOYS AT OAKDALE - -By MORGAN SCOTT - -Author of - -"Ben Stone at Oakdale," "Boys of Oakdale Academy," "Rival Pitchers of -Oakdale," "Oakdale Boys in Camp," "The Great Oakdale Mystery," etc. - -A. L. BURT COMPANY - -Publishers--New York - -Printed in U. S. A. - - - - -Copyright, 1913 - -BY - -HURST & COMPANY - -Printed in U. S. A. - - - - -CONTENTS - CHAPTER I--AN ORDER DISOBEYED. - CHAPTER II--THE SCORE TIED. - CHAPTER III--BENCHED. - CHAPTER IV--WYNDHAM'S LAST DESPERATE STAND. - CHAPTER V--THE DIPLOMACY OF OSGOOD. - CHAPTER VI--THE SUSPICIONS OF SLEUTH. - CHAPTER VII--YOUNG SPORTS. - CHAPTER VIII--A HOT GAME. - CHAPTER IX--THE BLOW AND AFTERWARDS. - CHAPTER X--THE LIE. - CHAPTER XI--PIPER SURPRISES HIS FRIENDS. - CHAPTER XII--DREAD. - CHAPTER XIII--THE PROFESSOR'S APPEAL. - CHAPTER XIV--PIPER PUTS IT UP TO SHULTZ. - CHAPTER XV--STILL SILENT. - CHAPTER XVI--THE FACE AT THE WINDOW. - CHAPTER XVII--THE GREAT FEAR. - CHAPTER XVIII--FLIGHT. - CHAPTER XIX--THE APPARITION IN THE WOODS. - CHAPTER XX--THE SEARCH. - CHAPTER XXI--THE CAMP ON THE ISLAND. - CHAPTER XXII--A SURPRISING CONFESSION. - CHAPTER XXIII--ANOTHER SURPRISE. - CHAPTER XXIV--SHULTZ SEES A LIGHT. - CHAPTER XXV--INTO THE OLD QUARRY. - CHAPTER XXVI--THE CONFESSION. - CHAPTER XXVII--LIKE A MIRACLE. - CHAPTER XXVIII--COMRADES ALL. - - - - -THE NEW BOYS AT OAKDALE - - - - -CHAPTER I - -AN ORDER DISOBEYED. - - -Oakdale started the game by hammering Ollie Leach, the Wyndham pitcher, -for three runs in the first inning. Indeed, it seemed that they would -drive the schoolboy twirler from the slab in short order, and they might -have done so only for a snappy, clean-cut double play which put an -abrupt end to the fusillade of hits. When the Wyndham captain declined -to make a change and sent Leach back to the mound in the second inning, -the wondering Oakdalers told one another that they would finish the -foolhardy southpaw then and there. - -Leach, however, had steadied down a great deal, and the best the -visitors could do was to squeeze in one more run, which they practically -secured through a rank error by Pelty, the shortstop. At this point the -successful batting of the visitors seemed to come to an abrupt end, for -during the succeeding four innings Ben Stone was the only man who could -hit the left-hander safely. - -Meanwhile, Rodney Grant was doing some steady, clever pitching for -Oakdale, which, with perfect support, would have prevented the locals -from gathering a single tally. Ned Osgood committed the first costly -blunder. Covering third for Oakdale, he attempted to make a fancy play -on a grounder, and let it get through him, enabling a Wyndham runner to -score from second after two were out. - -In the fifth, with two Wyndhamites gone, Charley Shultz, in the middle -garden, tried to pull down a fly with one hand when he could have easily -reached it with both hands, and his muff gave the locals another -valuable mark in the scorer's book. - -Jack Nelson, the Oakdale captain, reprimanded Shultz when, following a -strike-out, the team trotted to the bench. - -"You should have had that fly, Charley," said Nelson sharply; "and you -would have got it if you'd went after it with both hands instead of one. -That's the first time I've seen you drop a ball you could reach as -easily as that one. Quit your grandstanding and play baseball." - -Shultz shot Nelson a sullen look. "Oh, what's the use to holler?" he -retorted. "I knew best whether I could reach it with both hands or one. -I think I know how to play that field." - -Nelson's teeth came together with a click, and for a moment, his cheeks -burning hotly, it seemed that his annoyance and anger would master him, -but he succeeded in holding himself in check. - -"You can play the field all right, Shultz," he said, "and it's just -because you can that I disapprove of that attempted fancy flourish. -We've got to hold these chaps down somehow." - -"Oh, don't worry," laughed Osgood optimistically. "We've got them beaten -now. We won the game in the first inning." - -"Mebbe we did, but we didn't paound Lefty Leach off the slab," reminded -Sile Crane. "Gall hang that feller! I hit him once, but I'll be switched -if I can seem to do it ag'in. He's sorter got me locoed!" - -"He seems to have rattled everybody belonging to this whole bunch," said -Chipper Cooper. "We ain't any of us doing ourselves proud--'cepting old -Stoney." - -Nor did they improve in the first of the sixth. Leach was working a -sharp drop that had them all breaking their backs to the distasteful -music of the Wyndham cheers. Grant was effective in the latter half, and -the seventh opened with him at bat. - -"Start us off, Rod," implored Nelson, as the Texan secured his bat and -left the bench. "Let's sew this thing up with some more runs." - -The fellow from the Lone Star State made no reply, but he squared -himself grimly in the batters' box and took the measure of one of -Lefty's drops. The hit was, appropriately, a Texas leaguer, and the -visiting spectators howled joyously as Rod capered to first. - -Chipper Cooper, coaching on the line back of first, flapped his arms -wildly and crowed like a rooster. As the cheering of the little knot of -Oakdale Academy students died down somewhat, Chipper was heard whooping -joyously: - -"Here we go! The lucky seventh! Don't try to steal second, Rod; that -would be a base thing to do. We're after old Lefty again, and now we'll -finish the job we started in the first round." - -On the opposite side of the diamond Phil Springer, likewise enthused and -excited, was wildly stuttering at the same time: - -"Gug-gug-great work, Gug-Gug-Grant. Some cuc-cuc-class to that little -bub-bingle. Take a gug-gug-good lead. Shultzie saw how you dud-dud-did -it. He'll drive you round." - -There was in this contest between rival high school nines little of that -calculation and method employed by professionals and generally termed -"inside baseball." Nevertheless, Jack Nelson knew the importance of team -work and had done his best to drill his players in some of the -rudiments. The deadly accuracy of the Wyndham catcher's throwing to -bases was well known to the Oakdale lads, and, with no one down, an -attempt to steal seemed inadvisable to Nelson. Shultz, the next batter, -had been hitting the ball hard, even though he had found it impossible -to place his hits safely, and instantly Nelson spoke a word to him and -signalled to the watchful Texan at first that it was to be a -hit-and-run. - -On previous occasions, with the situation similar, the visitors had -seemed to prefer sacrificing; and so, as Shultz confidently took his -position at the plate, the infield drew closer, every fellow on his toes -to go after a bunt or a short grounder. - -Leach made sure his support was prepared for action, and then, wetting -his fingers, he handed up a high whistler that had a bit of a jump on -it. - -Even though the ball was on a level with his cap visor, Shultz managed -to hit it, boosting a high fly toward the smiling sky. - -Grant was half way down to second when he heard a shrill, warning cry -from both coachers. - -"Look out! Get back! Skyscraper!" shrieked Cooper. - -"Hey! Bub-bub-bub-bub----" Springer continued to "bub" even after the -galloping Texan had plowed his spikes into the ground, brought himself -to a halt and turned to race desperately back to the initial sack. - -Little Pelty got under that high one and reached for it eagerly in his -great desire to make the catch and turn it into a double play by a throw -that should reach first ahead of the returning runner. For the moment, -with the exception of the still shrieking coachers, every spectator -seemed breathless and silent. Pelty got the ball, froze to it and made a -beautiful throw, but Grant's amazing promptness in stopping and getting -back at high speed saved him by a yard or more, and he was declared safe -at first. - -"Pretty close, pretty close," cried Baxter, the Wyndham captain. - -"Missed by a mile," contradicted Cooper, intensely relieved. "You can't -rope this wild Texas steer; he's never been branded." - -"Cuc-cuc-come on, Osgood," implored Springer, as the next hitter was -seen to rise from the bench; "you're the boy to do the trick." - -Already Nelson had given Ned Osgood his instructions. - -"Bunt, Osgood," were his swift words. "They may look for us to follow up -with a hit-and-run. Sacrifice Grant along on the second ball pitched. -Stone is the next batter." - -That he was right in his judgment concerning the locals was proven by -the fact that the infielders resumed their regular positions, while the -outfielders fell back a little. Persistent plugging at the hit-and-run -game is frequently resorted to by teams having poor success through -other methods, and the action of Baxter in signaling his players to fall -back showed that he believed an attempt would be made to repeat the play -that had been foiled through Shultz's high infield fly. - -Leaning forward in a natural position, with his elbows on his knees and -the fingers of his hands interlocked, Nelson thus telegraphed to Grant -that the hitter would let the first ball pass and try to sacrifice on -the next. - -Jack's foresight seemed excellent, for, fancying the visitors would be -eager to continue the hit-and-run attempt, Leach "wasted one" on Osgood, -who did not even remove his bat from his shoulder. - -"Let him do it again," piped Cooper. "Let him put himself in a hole, -Osgood, then pick out a good one when he has to put it across." - -Osgood, although he liked the game, was both obstinate and conceited, -having a great deal of confidence in himself as a batter and believing -that he knew as much about baseball as any fellow on the team. - -Therefore, perceiving that the next ball was coming over slightly more -than waist high and apparently just where he wanted it, he declined to -bunt and swung with all his force, hoping to make a long, sensational -drive which would go safe and cover him with glory. Instead of doing -this, he smashed a hot grounder straight into the hands of Foxhall, the -second baseman. - -Grant, fully expecting a sacrifice, was again racing down the line from -first, and now he had no time to turn back. Without delay, yet with a -deliberation that made for sureness, Foxhall turned and threw to first, -completing an easy double play that was brought about directly through -the batter's perverseness in declining to follow the instructions of his -captain. - - - - -CHAPTER II - -THE SCORE TIED. - - -Jack Nelson sprang up from the bench, his face pale, his eyes flashing -with anger. Osgood had stopped abruptly on his way to first, realizing -that the double play sent Oakdale back to the field, and turned to cross -the diamond to his position at third base. Nelson met him near the -pitcher's position. - -"What do you mean, Osgood," he demanded hoarsely--"what do you mean by -disobeying my order? I told you to sacrifice." - -"But it was a fine chance to hit the ball out and make some runs," -returned the disobedient player defendingly. "Sacrificing with one man -down didn't look like good baseball to me." - -"It makes no difference how it looked to you; your place was to follow -my instructions. Stone has been hitting Leach hard and safely, and, with -Grant on second, even a long single might have given us another score." - -"I beg your pardon," said Osgood haughtily, "but I played baseball -before I ever saw Oakdale, and I know something." - -"That will do," interrupted the wrathy captain. "I don't care how much -baseball you know, you'll have to obey me if you play on this team, and -you may as well understand that at once. You can see that you threw away -a chance for a run by hitting into that double play." - -Ned Osgood was not the sort of fellow to relish this style of talk even -from the captain of his nine, and for a moment he was tempted to make a -sarcastic rejoinder. Something prevented him from doing this, however, -and he walked onward toward third, shrugging his shoulders. His manner -was so irritating to Nelson that for the moment, even though Osgood had -shown himself to be the best available man for the position he filled, -Jack was tempted to bench him instantly. This temptation was put aside, -but it was followed by an immediate decision to stand no more -foolishness from Osgood. - -The alarm that had been awakened in the bosoms of the Wyndhamites by -Grant's safe drive was dissipated in joy over the defensive work of the -home team, which had prevented the Texan from advancing further. Boys -and girls of Wyndham High cheered in concert and waved their banners, -while the crowd of older sympathizers made a great uproar. - -Like Nelson, Grant had been extremely annoyed by Osgood's pigheaded -action, and the Oakdale pitcher was somewhat disturbed as he resumed his -position on the firing line. - -"Hard luck, Rod," said Stone, the somewhat taciturn catcher, as he -buckled on the body protector. - -"It wasn't luck," denied Grant; "it was mulish foolishness, nothing -less." - -Laughing and well satisfied, the Wyndham lads capered to their bench, -where Leach, seeking for his bat, listened and nodded as Captain Baxter -gave him a word of instruction. - -"Don't try to kill that wild and woolly Texan's speed, Lefty," said -Baxter. "He's burning 'em over like bullets, and we're swinging our -heads off. Just try to meet 'em, that's all." - -Grant's annoyance was made still further apparent when he opened with a -weirdly wild heave over Stone's head that would have counted against him -as a wild pitch had there been a runner on the sacks. - -"Going up," shouted some one from the Wyndham bleachers; and, in an -effort to rattle the pitcher, the crowd redoubled the racket it was -making. - -Seeing that the pitcher was unsteady, Stone began to fuss over his mask -strap, which had suddenly become unsatisfactory and needed adjustment. -The entire Oakdale team felt the tension of the moment, and Stone's -subterfuge met their approval. On the other hand, it led their opponents -to protest against the delay and urge the umpire to make them play. - -Apparently getting the mask strap fixed at last, Ben resumed his -position behind the pan and squatted to signal between his knees. Rod -shook his head, and the catcher changed the signal. Then Grant nodded -and pitched. - -Faithful to instructions, Leach took a short grip on his bat and brought -it round quickly to meet the ball. There was a ring of wood against -leather, and an instant later Nelson, flinging himself to one side, -reached for the grounder. It struck his gloved hand and carromed off to -the left. He went after it instantly, scooped it up and shot it to Crane -at first, but it arrived a bare second too late. - -The Wyndham crowd cheered as madly as if Leach had reached the initial -sack on a clean hit instead of an error. Out in center field, Shultz -laughed with the satisfaction of a player who, lacking whole-souled -interest in his team, feels that his own bad work has been minimized by -that of a teammate. In this case his satisfaction was made the greater -by the fact that the minimizing error had been contributed by the chap -who had criticized him a short time before. - -Nelson stood still for an instant, then held up his hand for the ball, -which Crane threw to him. Turning, the captain made a signal, which -caused Cooper to take his position on second. Tossing the sphere to -Chipper, Jack walked into the diamond and spoke in a low tone to Grant. - -"Don't let that rattle you, old man," he said. "I reckon we're both hot -under the collar, and we'd better cool off a bit. Take your time with -these chaps; they can't hit you." - -"I'd like to punch Osgood's head!" growled the Texan. - -"So would I, but that wouldn't help us win the game. Look out for a -sacrifice now. They've found they can't steal on Stone." - -"Play ball! play ball!" howled the crowd. - -"Play ball," said the umpire sharply. - -On first, Leach was seeking to add to the opposing twirler's -unsteadiness by uproarious laughter and the repeated declaration: "We've -got him going! We've got him going!" - -Nelson was most deliberate about returning to his post, and not until he -was there did he nod for Cooper to give Grant the ball. Like a flash -Rodney shot it to first, and the laughter of Leach was cut short by a -gasp as he barely ducked under Crane's reaching hand. - -"Almost gug-got him then!" shouted Springer from right field. - -"Here's the head of the list," called a coacher, as Crispin squared -himself in the batters' box. "Keep up the good work." - -In order to make it difficult for Crispin to bunt, Grant put one over -high and close--too high and too close. Crispin caught himself in his -swing and then pretended that he had been hit on the shoulder; but the -pretense was so palpably a fake that the umpire behind the pitcher, who -chanced to be an Oakdale man, refused to let him take first. Naturally, -the other umpire, who was in charge of the bases, said nothing, but -somehow his manner seemed to denote that he disagreed on the decision. -This led to a kick by the Wyndham captain, who dropped it quickly, -however, when reminded by a fellow player that the delay was giving -Oakdale a chance to steady down. - -Again Grant attempted to put the ball over high and close, but he simply -got it across the inside corner slightly below the batter's shoulders, -and Crispin made a successful bunt that rolled along just inside the -first base line. Jumping over the ball, the hitter sprinted hard for -first. - -Grant scooped up the rolling sphere and heard Nelson's sharp cry to put -it to first. It whistled past Crispin's ear and spanked into Crane's -mitt. - -"Out at first," said the Wyndham umpire, with something like a touch of -regret. - -"Good work, Crispin," gleefully called Baxter, giving the player a slap -on the shoulder. "That was a beauty bunt, old boy. Now we've got 'em -where we want 'em." - -Even as he spoke he signaled from his position on the coaching line for -Foxhall to hit the ball out; and Foxhall was liable to do it if anybody -could. - -Grant worked carefully with this batter, meanwhile holding Crispin as -close to first as possible. Nevertheless, Foxhall swung uselessly only -once. The second time he whipped his bat round he connected with the -horsehide and sent the sphere skimming along the ground straight at -Cooper. - -Eager and anxious, Chipper booted it beautifully. Like a cat he chased -it up and made a futile effort to get the hitter. The throw was a case -of bad judgment as well as a wild heave, which even long-geared Sile -Crane could not reach. - -So while Crane was chasing after the ball, Foxhall, who should have been -out, romped on to second, and Leach scored amid a tremendous tumult. - -Grinning broadly, Sam Cohen, Wyndham's heavy-hitting left-fielder, -danced out to the plate, determined to keep things moving. Surely, it -looked like Wyndham's opportunity, and, besides the desire to prevent -the visitors from settling down, there was a legitimate excuse for the -continued uproar of the home crowd. Although they well knew that Grant -was little to blame for the turn of affairs, the Wyndham coachers were -trying hard to "get him going" by pretending that it was his fault, and -behind Rodney's back Foxhall capered on second, clapping his hands and -making gestures intended to encourage the shrieking spectators. - -Never in his life had Chipper Cooper been more chagrined and ashamed. -His face beet-red, he begged Nelson to kick him. - -"Get back to your position and play ball, Cooper," said the captain, as -calmly as he could. "We've got to stop this foolishness right here. They -mustn't make another run." - -Grant's teeth were set and his under jaw looked grim and hard. He knew -well enough that Cohen was especially dangerous at this stage of the -game, for the nervy Hebrew was one of those rare batters who hit better -in a pinch than at any other time, the necessity seeming always to prime -him properly. - -Trying Cohen out with a bender that went wide in hopes that in his -eagerness he would be led to reach for it, Rodney delivered a ball. The -next one was high and likewise wide, for Stone had seen Foxhall taking a -dangerous lead off second and called for a pitch that would put him in -easy position to throw. Nelson, awake to precisely what was transpiring -between the battery men, made a leap for the sack before the ball -reached Stone's hands, and Ben lined it down with a wonderful short-arm -throw, which saved time and yet was full of powder. - -Only for the warning shouts of the wide-awake coachers, who had seemed -to divine the move in advance, Foxhall might have been caught napping. -As it was, he barely succeeded in sliding back to the sack, feet first, -and the Wyndham umpire instantly spread his hands out, palm downward. -Foxhall drew a breath of relief. - -A moment later Baxter shouted: - -"Got him in a hole, Cohen! Make him put 'em over now! Make him find the -pan!" - -Steady as a rock, Grant did put the next one over, and Cohen, "playing -the game," let it pass for a called strike. - -"He can't do it again!" cried Baxter. "Make 'em be good!" - -Grant used a drop, starting the ball high so that it shot down past the -batsman's shoulders and across his chest. Even as the umpire called, -"Strike two," the Oakdale players shouted a warning to Stone. It was -needless, for Ben had seen Foxhall speeding along the line in a -desperate and seemingly ill-advised attempt to purloin third. Craftily -Cohen fell back a step to one side, as if to give the catcher room to -throw, but with the real purpose of bothering him as much as possible -without bringing, by interference, a penalty upon the runner. Possibly -this was the reason why Stone threw high, forcing Osgood to reach to the -full length of his arms in order to get the sphere. Almost invariably -the Oakdale catcher put the ball straight and low into the hands of the -baseman, so that the latter could tag a sliding runner quickly and -easily; and had he been able to do this now, Foxhall doubtless could not -have slid safely under Osgood, which, however, was precisely what he did -succeed in doing. - -"Who said we couldn't steal on old Stoney?" shouted Pelty from the -coaching line back of third. "Great work, Foxy, old man. You put that -one across on him." - -With only one local player gone and but a single run needed to tie the -score, the tension of the moment was intense. No one realized the danger -better than Grant, and when he pitched again he made another clever -effort to "pull" Cohen; an effort that almost succeeded, for Sam caught -himself just in time to prevent his bat from swinging across the plate. - -"Ball three," came from the umpire. - -"He's going to walk you, Cohen; he's afraid of you," came from Baxter. - -It must be admitted that Grant had considered the advisability of -handing Cohen a pass, but knowing Wolcott, the fellow who came next, was -almost as dangerous a hitter, he had decided that such a piece of -strategy would be ill advised. Taking into consideration the batter's -ability to meet speed, Rod shook his head when Stone called for a -straight one on the inside corner. Ben knew at once that the Texan -wished to try to strike Cohen out, and so he swiftly changed the signal. - -Now Cohen had brains in his head and was also a good guesser. Moreover, -he knew that Grant relied largely upon his remarkable drop when a -strike-out was needed. And so it happened that, seeing Rod decline to -follow the first signal, he was convinced that the pitcher would hand up -one of those sharp dips. - -Having guessed right, the batter judged the drop beautifully and hit it -a tremendous smash. Away sailed the ball toward center field, some -distance to the right of Shultz, who stretched his stout legs to get -under it. - -"He can't touch it!" was the cry. - -Nevertheless, when Foxhall started off third, Pelty, defiant of coaching -rules, sprang forward, grabbed him and yanked him back. - -"Get on to that sack!" the little shortstop panted. "Get ready to run! -You can score anyhow; you don't need a start." - -Thus advised, Foxhall leaped back to the cushion, upon which he planted -his left foot with the right advanced, crouching, his hands clenched, -his arms hooked the least bit, ready to get away like a sprinter -starting from his mark. - -Shultz made a splendid run, leaping into the air at the proper moment -and thrusting out his bare right hand. The ball struck in that outshot -hand and stuck there. - -An instant before the catch was made Pelty shrieked, "Go," and Foxhall -raced for the plate. - -It was impossible to stop that run. Cohen's long sacrifice fly had tied -the score, in spite of the strenuous and sensational one-handed catch in -center field; and the crowd leaped and yelled, with arms up-flung and -caps hurled into the air. - - - - -CHAPTER III - -BENCHED. - - -In moments like this the baseball fan of any age goes wild with frenzy; -especially is this true of the enthusiastic schoolboy fan who has -watched his team fight an uphill game and come neck-and-neck with a -worthy and much-feared rival in one of the late innings of the contest. -The youthful Wyndhamites shrieked until their faces were purple and -their eyes bulging, flourishing their banners and frantically pounding -one another over heads and shoulders. At the bench the players -laughingly danced around Foxhall and then cheered Cohen as the latter -came walking back from first, muttering to himself that the catch had -been "a case of horseshoes, nothing less." - -In the midst of this excitement Nelson ran up to Grant, whose face was -pale, but grim and set as ever. - -"You couldn't help it, Rod," said the Oakdale captain soothingly. "They -won't get any more. The bases are clean now." - -"But they've tied the score," growled the Texan. "That's the first time -Cohen has touched one of my drops to-day." - -"Hold them where they are, and we'll win it yet," declared Jack -optimistically. "We didn't expect a walk-over with this bunch." - -Wolcott's courage was high as he faced Rodney. Heedless of the uproar, -the Texan burned the air with his speed, and Wolcott fouled. - -"Strike one," called the umpire. - -Another smoker followed with a slightly different twist, and this time -the batter missed cleanly. - -"That's two of them, old Maverick," called Stone, breathing on his -smarting right hand. "Some speed, old man--some speed there." - -Seemingly with precisely the same movement and snap, Rodney made the -third pitch; but this time the ball lingered astonishingly on its way, -as if held back by some subtle force, and, as a result, the befooled -batter struck too soon, not even fouling it. This gave the little bunch -of loyal Oakdalers a chance to cheer. - -"I don't suppose you're going to call me down for that one-handed catch, -are you?" said Shultz insolently, as he came jogging to the bench. - -Nelson shot him a look and turned away without answering. Not satisfied, -the fielder turned to Cooper. "A man can usually tell whether he can -reach the ball best with one hand or two," he declared loudly enough for -the captain to hear. "I didn't make that muff intentionally." - -Ben Stone walked out to the plate and watched Lefty Leach waste two -benders, which led Springer stammeringly to prophesy that Leach, being -afraid, would give the stocky catcher a pass. The next one, however, was -over the outside corner and precisely where Ben wanted it, whereupon he -smashed a terrific drive over second and took two sacks on it amid -further enthusiasm by Oakdale. - -Nelson could not refrain from calling Osgood's attention to the fact -that this hit would have given the visitors a score had his instructions -regarding sacrificing been obeyed. - -"Perhaps you're right," admitted Ned in his blandly polite and -tantalizing manner; "but it's no dead sure thing that Stone would have -made just that kind of a hit in the other inning. Anyway, we ought to -get some runs now." - -Sile Crane ambled awkwardly forth to the plate and hit into the diamond -the first ball pitched, giving Stone, who had a good start, plenty of -time to reach third, for Foxhall juggled the grounder a moment. -Realizing he could not stop Ben, Foxhall snapped the sphere to first in -time to get the lanky batter. - -"The squeeze, Cooper," hissed Nelson in Chipper's ear, as the little -shortstop rose from the bench. At the same time Jack assumed a pose that -told Stone what was to be tried. - -Ready to play his part, Ben crept off third, intending to dash for the -plate and rely upon Cooper to hit the ball into the diamond somewhere. - -Leach placed himself in position, nodded in response to his catcher's -signal, hunched his left shoulder a bit, and, whirling like a flash, -threw to third. Stone had started forward with that shoulder movement by -the pitcher, and was caught off the sack. Instantly, even as he sought -to get back without being touched, he called for judgment on a balk. - -The umpires had changed positions, and now the Wyndham man was behind -the pitcher. In response to that demand for a decision on Leach's -movement he grimly shook his head. - -"It was a balk--a plain, cold balk," cried Nelson, on his feet. - -"No balk," denied the umpire, still shaking his head. - -"In that case," said the other umpire slowly, "Stone is out at third." - -Nelson ran into the diamond and confronted the Wyndham man. "It was as -rank a balk as I ever saw," he asserted hotly. "What kind of a deal are -you trying to give us?" - -"I saw no balk, and I was looking at the pitcher," returned the umpire. -"Get back to your bench." - -Nelson argued in vain, while the crowd made the air ring with hoots and -cat-calls. Presently the umpire threatened to pull his watch and forfeit -the game, whereupon the disgusted and angry Oakdale captain walked -slowly back to the bench. - -"You shouldn't let him get away with it," said Osgood. "It was a balk -all right." - -"Why didn't our man call Stone safe?" rasped Grant. - -"Ben was caught off the sack by five feet," said Nelson. "Two wrongs -don't make a right. But it's hard medicine to swallow." - -Thus far Chipper Cooper had not made a hit; but now, as if he, too, was -fired with resentment by the injustice of the decision, he landed on the -second ball pitched to him and drove it out for a clean single. - -"G-g-good bub-bub-boy, Chipper!" shouted Springer. "It's a wonder he -didn't call it a fuf-foul, though." - -Sleuth Piper, solemn and savage, took his place at the plate, grabbing -his bat and shaking it as if he meant to make a dent in the ball as -surely as Leach got it within reach. Not once did he swing, however, and -the left-handed twirler looked disgusted when he had presently handed up -the fourth ball in succession and thus given one of the weak batters of -the visiting nine a pass. - -"Get the next man, Lefty," urged Baxter. "He's fruit for you." - -With the head of the list following Springer, the Oakdale boys hoped for -the best; but Phil put up a dead easy infield fly that was smothered, -and the visitors had lost another splendid opportunity. - -Never in his life had Grant pitched better than he did in the last of -the eighth. Only three batters faced him, and two of these fanned, the -third putting up a foul which Stone took care of with ease. - -"Steady, fellows," cautioned Baxter, as his men started for the field. -"We've only got to hold them. Old Grant can't keep that steam up. We'll -get to him." - -Leach started the ninth as if he meant to duplicate the last turn of the -Texan, fanning Captain Nelson with apparent ease. - -Once more Rod Grant came to bat, and once more, with his pet club in his -hands, he out-guessed the southpaw twirler, banging a clean single into -center. - -At Osgood's elbow Nelson quickly said: - -"Sacrifice him to second. That will give him a possible chance to score -if Shultz hits safe." - -Osgood made no retort. He saw Grant looking toward the bench and placing -himself in position to get away swiftly on the bunt. At the plate, he -beheld the first ball pitched to him apparently coming over just where -he wanted it, and instantly he felt that he could hit it out safely. -Furthermore, he had not changed in his conviction that it was bad policy -to sacrifice with one man down, even though the next two hitters were -supposed to be the best stickers on the team, and one of them, Shultz, -was his especial chum. Therefore he swung on the ball and met it. -Instead of a drive, it proved to be a grounder that went clipping over -the skin diamond straight into the hands of Pelty. Like a flash Pelty -snapped it to Foxhall, who had leaped on to second, and, turning, -Foxhall lined the sphere to first, again completing a fast double play. - -Nelson was on his pins, and he intercepted Osgood as the latter, without -looking toward him, attempted to pass on the way to his position at -third. - -"Go to the bench," said Jack, his voice hoarse and husky. "You're out of -the game, Osgood." - -"I beg your pardon," said Osgood. "What did you say, sir?" - -"I said you're out of the game. I won't stand for such rank -disobedience." - -"Oh, very well," said Osgood, coolly turning toward the bench. "You're -the autocrat--at present." - -"What's the matter?" demanded Shultz, running up. "What's the trouble, -Ned?" - -"Nothing," was the reply, "only I'm benched because I didn't make a safe -hit." - -"If he benches you I'll quit myself," threatened Shultz. - -"You won't quit," said Nelson instantly. "You're fired. The bench for -you, too. Get off the field." - -"Well, wouldn't that choke you!" gulped Shultz, astonished to have his -bluff called so promptly. "How will he fill both our places?" - -Nelson showed them in a moment by placing Roy Hooker, one of the spare -pitchers, at third, and sending Chub Tuttle to fill center field. - -Osgood and Shultz retired to the bench, where they sat talking, the -latter showing by his manner that he was thoroughly enraged against his -captain, while his friend, more politic and suave, accepted the -situation with pretended indifference and disdain. - -Although the team had been weakened by the removal of these two players, -for the substitutes surely could not fill their positions with an equal -amount of skill, Grant betrayed no sign of weakening himself. Pelty and -Leach were retired by the strike-out route, and even Crispin's best -performance was a weak grounder on which he perished in a hopeless dash -to first. - -The tenth inning opened with Tuttle at bat. Chub had never been a -hitter, but he did succeed in rolling a weak one to Leach, who threw him -out. - -"Now, Stoney," implored Cooper, as the catcher again came up, "you've -got to do it. He's been a mark for you. One run is all that we need to -take this game. Lace it out." - -Leach was very glad that the bases were empty. Even under those -circumstances he began as if he meant to pass this dangerous slugger. -After pitching two balls, however, he got one across, and Ben fouled it. -Then came another ball, which was followed by a high, speedy shoot. - -Stone smashed the horsehide again, bringing every spectator up standing. -It was a splendid drive, but Cohen took it on the run and held fast to -it. - -"Ah-ha! Oh-ho!" whooped Baxter joyously. "Old Eat-'em-alive is finished. -Now you have things your own way, Lefty." - -Although Shultz was grinning as Stone came walking back, Osgood politely -declined to smile. - -Sile Crane sighed as he picked up his bat. - -"By Jinks!" he muttered. "I'd sartainly like to make one more hit off -that feller. I don't seem able to touch him no more." After which he -walked to the plate and swung at the first ball pitched with all the -strength of his long, sinewy arms. - -There was a tremendous ringing crack, and the ball went sailing away, -away, far over the center-fielder's head. The little Oakdale crowd -screamed like lunatics, but the Wyndhamites were distressingly silent as -the long-geared lad raced over first, second, third, and on to the -plate, which he reached ere the ball could be returned to the diamond. - - - - -CHAPTER IV - -WYNDHAM'S LAST DESPERATE STAND. - - -Charley Shultz sneered openly, with his full red upper lip curved high -and exposing his broad teeth, as the delighted Oakdale players -congratulated their comrade who had made that opportune home-run drive. - -"Look a' that gangling country jay," he muttered in Osgood's ear. "See -him grin like a baboon. See him distend his flat chest. Probably he -thinks himself a Lajoie or a Wagner." - -"Hush, Charley!" cautioned Osgood gently. "Don't be too open in your -feelings; it's bad policy. Besides, I've got Crane on the string. He's -astride the fence now, and doesn't know which way he's going to fall." - -"Oh, all right," returned Shultz; "but I don't see what use you can have -for him. He hasn't any money, and his influence doesn't amount to much." - -"Even the support of the weakest chap may prove of some value when the -break comes." - -"After to-day you ought to force things in a hurry. I hope you're not -going to stand for the rotten deal that swell-head Nelson has handed out -to us." - -"Have patience, old man--have patience," soothed Osgood. "I'll strike -when the iron is hot. When possible, a good general always avoids going -into an engagement before his plans are properly prepared and his forces -strengthened to the full limit." - -The fact that these two disgruntled fellows took no part in the -rejoicing of their team seemed to be overlooked at the time; for this -was a game in which a run in the tenth inning was of tremendous -importance, and, taking into consideration the recent course of the -contest, almost an assurance of victory. A triumph over the always -formidable Wyndhamites in the season's first meeting between the two -teams would give Oakdale a much desired advantage in the High School -League. - -"Oh, why can't I do something like that?" cried Cooper. "It makes my -solitary little tap look like ten below zero, and I always get cold feet -in that sort of weather." - -Nevertheless, he faced Lefty Leach like a chap exuding confidence from -every pore. Leach was frowning and savage in his bearing, but Chipper -returned the Wyndham pitcher's dark look with a cheerful smile, -threatening to start the stitches in the horsehide if Lefty dared to put -one over. - -The thunderstruck and dismayed Wyndham crowd awoke from its benumbed -condition and resumed cheering, although there was plainly a -disheartened note in the volume of sound, something which the players -themselves must have recognized. On the other hand, the Oakdale -spectators were once more jubilant with restored confidence in their -team and the conviction that Crane's wonderful wallop had practically -decided the result. - -Despite Cooper's aggressive attitude of assurance, Leach unhesitatingly -slanted the ball across and continued to do so while the Oakdale -shortstop rapped out foul after foul. - -"You'll get him in a minute," encouraged Baxter. "He never was any good -with the war-club." - -Much to Cooper's sorrow, this prophecy came true, for Chipper finally -hoisted a short one back of first for Turner, the baseman, to gather in. - -"Only three more men, Grant," said Nelson. "Get them, and we hang up a -scalp." - -"I'll sure do it if it's in me," whispered the Texan to himself, as he -made his way to the diamond. - -Baxter rushed to the bench to have a few words with his players. - -"Don't be too eager, fellows," he cautioned; "and still, don't let him -sneak any good ones across. He's pitching for his life now, but he'll -try to pull you all. If you can start us going, Foxy, we'll crawl out of -this hole right here." - -Making no retort, Foxhall stepped into the batters' box and watched the -Oakdale pitcher make the situation more difficult for himself by failing -to find the pan with the first two pitches. An in-shoot followed, and, -remembering Baxter's words, Foxhall picked it off the inside corner with -a sharp swing that sent it grass-cutting ten feet inside of third. - -Roy Hooker, who was filling Osgood's position, was not an infielder, -and, although he leaped in front of the ball, he failed to keep his feet -together, which allowed the humming sphere to go through him cleanly. - -"Ha! Look a' that!" cried Shultz, giving Osgood a nudge. "That would -never have happened if you'd been there." - -"Don't make comparisons--don't," said Osgood quickly. "They are odious. -He's going to stretch it into a double." - -Sent onward by the coacher, Foxhall raced over the initial sack and -stretched himself for second. It chanced, however, that Sleuth Piper was -in position to back Hooker up, and, rushing forward, he took the ball on -a favorable bound and threw it to second while still in his stride. It -was one of the cleanest pieces of fielding, and perhaps the best throw, -Piper had ever made in his baseball career, for it came straight into -the hands of Nelson, who disregarded the dangerous spikes of the sliding -runner and tagged Foxhall so cleanly and effectively that the locals had -not the slightest excuse for a kick on the decision of "out." - -"Well, wouldn't that cramp you!" muttered Shultz disgustedly. "Why in -thunder did the man try to make a double of it?" - -"Once more," said Osgood, "I must caution you not to show your feelings -so plainly. Even if we're benched, we're still members of the team -and----" - -"I don't know whether _I_ am or not," rasped the resentful Shultz. "I -don't propose to play on any team where I'm handed a raw deal by a thing -like Jack Nelson." - -"Now look here," said his companion, "you'll stick on the team unless -you're fired off it, for as members of the nine we'll have more pull -with the bunch than otherwise. You're too brash, Charley. You haven't -any policy or subtleness. Don't think for a minute that I'm not just as -sore as you, but as injured yet still loyal Oakdalers we can win more -sympathy than by open rebellion." - -"I s'pose you're right," admitted Shultz; "but I never could control -myself the way you can." - -That the Wyndham boys realized how desperate the situation was became -manifest through an undisguised quarrel which now arose between Foxhall -and two of his teammates who attempted to criticize him. - -"What's the matter with you?" snapped the bitterly disappointed chap. -"Pelty sent me down. Chew the rag with him if you're going to jump on -any one. How'd I know that fielder was in position to back up and get -the ball to second so soon?" - -"Cut that out, all of you," interposed Baxter. "Stop fussing and play -ball. This game isn't over yet." - -"But it's pretty well over," cried Cooper gleefully. "It's all over but -the shouting." - -Cohen, who seemed never troubled by a weak heart, predicted that he -would get a hit and begged Wolcott to advance him with a duplicate. Then -the nervy young Hebrew stood forth and demonstrated that he had a good -eye by refusing to bite at the coaxers and compelling Grant to put the -pill across. When this was done, he hit it hard and fair, the resounding -crack bringing a shout from the Wyndham crowd. - -That shout was abruptly cut short when Cooper shot into the air and -pulled Cohen's drive down with one hand. From the opposite side of the -field burst the sudden relieved shrieks of the Oakdalers, whose hearts -had been choking them an instant before. - -"Keep quiet, Charley," said Osgood, placing a hand on his friend's knee. -"It looks like it's really all over. Take your cue from me and pretend -you're happy." - -"You're asking just a bit too much, Ned," said Shultz huskily. "You know -I'm a poor bluffer in any kind of a game." - -"But you're usually lucky, just the same; I've seen you hold some great -cards." - -"Some catch, Chipper--some catch," Grant was saying happily. "You raked -the clouds for that one." - -"I had to do something to make up for my last raw play," returned the -beaming little chap. - -Nelson was laughing. "We're backing you up now, Rodney, old boy. That -kind of support ought to give you courage to take a fall out of -Wolcott." - -To tell the truth, although he made a pretense of being undismayed and -confident, there was really little hope left in Wolcott's heart. -Nevertheless, it was always Wyndham's way to play a game out without -let-up, and the batter showed that he was trying for a hit by fouling -the ball several times. Presently, however, the Texan deceived him with -one of his most effective drops, and Wolcott's fruitless slice at the -air brought the game to an end with the score 4 to 3 in Oakdale's favor. - - - - -CHAPTER V - -THE DIPLOMACY OF OSGOOD. - - -Shultz sullenly watched his teammates giving the losers a complimentary -cheer; he could not take his cue from Osgood and join with the slightest -pretense of rejoicing in this cheering. And when the happy players -gathered up their trappings and started for the adjacent academy, where -in the basement gymnasium the Wyndhamites had given them a room in which -to change their clothes, Shultz trailed along behind, listening with -persistent bitterness to the chattering fellows who were still rejoicing -over the result. - -"Oh, Craney!" cried Cooper, as he playfully banged Sile with an open -hand. "That measly little tap of yours in the last round was certainly a -soporific wallop." - -"Here, yeou better let Sleuth slaughter the language that fashion," -grinned Crane. "Soporific! What's it mean, anyhaow?" - -"Why, soothing, sleep-producing; it's what a prize-fighter hands his -antagonist when he gives him a two-ton jolt on the point of the jaw. It -put Wyndham down and out, all right." - -"Oh, that didn't end the game by a long shot. If old Texas hadn't -pitched some in the last half----" - -"Great centipedes!" interrupted Grant. "If you fellows hadn't given me -Big League support they'd corralled the game after all. The way you -raked down Cohen's drive was sure some playing. And that little turn by -Piper plugged their promising start right handsomely." - -"I was frightened when Hooker let Foxhall's grounder get through him," -declared Ned Osgood; "but Sleuth was right on the job. It was a splendid -victory." - -Jack Nelson shot the speaker a quizzical glance, but said nothing. - -In the gymnasium they continued to discuss the game while peeling off -their soiled uniforms and getting into the heavy clothes which would be -so necessary to their comfort on the long homeward drive; and, unable to -keep still, Shultz cut in with an occasional sarcastic remark. For a -time no one seemed to notice him, but suddenly Grant, unable to hold -himself longer in restraint, turned on the disgruntled fellow. - -"Quit your beefing," he exclaimed. "Why don't you try to follow Osgood's -trail and make a pretense of being decent, whether you feel that way or -not?" - -The blood which suffused Shultz's face turned it almost purple, and he -glared at the Texan as if he longed to seize the fellow by the throat -and smash his head against the wall. - -"I've got a right to open my mouth," he snarled, "and I propose to say -what I please, regardless of any common, cow-punching----" - -They would have been at it in a twinkling had not Nelson promptly leaped -between them. - -"Stop, Grant! Hold up!" he cried, seizing the pitcher, whose face was -beginning to take on that awesome and terrible look which indicated that -his fiery temper was mastering him. "Don't start a scrap. It will be -bad--bad business." - -"I certainly won't allow anybody to shoot off his mouth at me that -fashion," said Rodney, his voice vibrant with the passion he could -scarcely restrain. "He's been sneering and hollering like the sorehead -he is, and it's sure getting too much for me." - -"It's my affair, if it's anybody's," asserted the captain. "I'm the -one's he's sore on." - -"And only for a lucky piece of work by Piper, you'd lost the game by -putting Hooker in Osgood's place," said Shultz. "Just because he -disagreed with you about sacrificing when he got the kind of a ball he -knew he ought to hit out, you show your authority by benching him. -Sacrificing in such a game, with one man down and a good hitter at bat, -would be laughed at by----" - -"That will do for you," Nelson cut him short. "No man on the team can -talk to me this way, much less a new player like you. If you and Osgood -came to Oakdale with the idea that you're going to run the nine or ruin -it, you may as well get that out of your noddles right away." - -By this time Osgood had his friend by the arm. - -"Cool down, Charley," he advised in his most pacifying manner. "You're -giving a wrong impression by letting yourself get excited. I'm sure we -were both just as eager to help win that game as any one. In fact, I -will assert that it was my eagerness which led me to try for a hit when -Leach put the ball over just where I like 'em best. It's true it seemed -to me we'd be weakening ourselves by a sacrifice with one man down, but -still, I meant to follow instructions when I went to the plate. It was -only when I saw that ball coming across the pan so nicely that I forgot -everything and tried to land on it for a safe drive. Even though in that -moment I was led to forget instructions, I must insist that my heart was -right. I've played the game ever since I was old enough to toss a -ten-cent ball, and I learned something of its fine points at Hadden -Hall. I'm not blaming Captain Nelson if his ideas and mine are not fully -in accord, for baseball down here in this country can scarcely be as -advanced as it is----" - -At this point Nelson suddenly threw back his head and laughed, although -perhaps it was not a laugh of simple amusement. - -"That has been your pose ever since you came to Oakdale," he said. "Your -pity for us poor, ignorant countrymen is wholly appreciated, Osgood. It -may be that we're very shortsighted in failing to perceive the splendid -opportunity we have for learning something about real baseball from you -and Shultz, but it seems that you might find a more delicate and less -egotistical method of opening our sleepy eyes." - -For a single breathless moment it seemed that Osgood was on the verge of -permitting this sarcasm to lead him into a touch of temper, at least; -but he was crafty and far too clever not to realize that such a thing -would be likely to put him at a disadvantage in the eyes of some members -of the team whom he had reasons to think were inclined to sympathize -with him. - -"I didn't come to Oakdale to teach baseball or anything else," he -asserted. "I think I've stated before this that Oakdale Academy was a -school of my mother's choice, not mine, and mothers who are fearful of -the temptations which their sons may encounter in large and really -efficient schools sometimes have peculiar ideas." - -"Fathers, too," put in Shultz, with a curl of his red lips. "My old man -was determined that I should get my preparatory education far from the -evil influences of the really wide-awake world, and so he buried me in a -forsaken graveyard." - -"Too bad abaout yeou poor fellers," Sile Crane could not refrain from -observing. - -"I enjoy baseball," Osgood hastily went on. "I love the game. I was glad -when it seemed assured that I'd have a chance to play on the academy -nine. However, I scarcely fancied it would be considered a fault or a -detriment that I happened to know something about the game as it's -played to-day not only in big schools and colleges, but in big leagues. -I've never missed an opportunity of seeing a Big League game and trying -to wise up on the methods of the players. I'd like to see Oakdale win -out this season, and my interest in our success is so great that if I -thought for a moment I would produce discord and disaffection on the -team I'd voluntarily withdraw." - -This assertion was made with an air of earnestness and sincerity, but -the fellow had spoken craftily, with the design of spiking Nelson's -guns, being certain that the captain suspected him of the very purpose -which he so ardently disclaimed. Shultz, who knew his friend's secret -motives better than any one else, really found it difficult to suppress -a grin, while inwardly he was telling himself that Osgood certainly was -a "slick duck." Why, Nelson was not only flanked, but his line of -defense was cut off completely! - -In a vague way the captain seemed to feel something of this, but still -his quick perception told him that to a large extent Osgood had created -a favorable impression, which would only be increased were his motives -doubted. - -"Well, that's all right," said Jack, a bit bluffly. "That's all we can -ask of any chap. You've both shown that you can play baseball, and if -you show a willingness to respect the wishes of your captain that should -be sufficient. We want players loyal to the team and to the school." - -Right here Shultz made another break. "The school!" he laughed. "We'll -be loyal to the team all right if we're given a show, but you must know -that the school is almost a joke. It's taught by a dead one, with a lot -of decayed back numbers as directors. Right here at Wyndham they have -got a professor who's alive and who takes interest in some things -besides books. Old Prof. Richardson has outlived his usefulness as a -teacher. He's let the times pass on and leave him about thirty years -behind. Who ever saw him at a baseball game, or any similar sport? The -Wyndham prof was out here to-day watching the go, and he seemed as -interested as any one. When Professor Richardson gets through with the -day's session he toddles home to dressing-gown, slippers and tea. How a -school with such a head can stand as well in athletics as Oakdale does -certainly gets me." - -"It's true," admitted Nelson, "that Professor Richardson has never taken -any real genuine interest in outdoor sports, but he's a good principal -and does his work well in the class room. His health isn't always the -best. Everyone who knows him well respects him, at least, and I'm sorry -to hear you say what you have, Shultz." - -"I've simply stated a fact. Some day Oakdale will wake up to it, too, -and the old man will lose his job. Some day before long you'll see a -younger, more up-to-date principal filling his shoes. It will be a -mighty good thing if that time comes soon." - -"Let's not discuss that," interposed Osgood. "Whether Professor -Richardson is efficient or not has nothing to do with the matter that -threatened to produce a disturbance and some hard feelings on the team. -That business is all settled now, and I think we understand that we're a -nine united and anxious to do our best to win the championship. Come, -fellows, let's forget it all. I'm going to." - -This magnanimity had its effect, and, as they completed dressing for the -jaunt home, the boys were again chattering and jesting, as if no -threatening cloud had risen. - - - - -CHAPTER VI - -THE SUSPICIONS OF SLEUTH. - - -Osgood's manner during the tedious homeward jaunt would not have led any -one unaware of what had taken place to fancy that there had been the -slightest unpleasantness. He was polite and affable to every one upon -the buckboard, and when the boys sang, as they did once or twice, his -fine baritone voice was sufficient to command admiration and applause. - -This fellow had entered Oakdale Academy in the midst of the term of the -previous autumn, and had maintained for a time a certain reserve which -prevented his schoolmates from seeking to pry into his personal affairs. -It was some time, indeed, before the naturally curious boys learned from -him that he was a native of New York, but that, on account of his -mother's health, his parents had removed to California some years -before, where his father had suddenly passed away from an attack of -heart disease. Of this bereavement he continued to be disinclined to say -much, and it was noticeable that while he seemed distinctly proud of his -mother, his father was never mentioned in that manner. - -Nevertheless, Edwin Osgood took pains to impress upon his associates -that there was genuine blue blood in his veins, and his claim was that -he was upon his mother's side a direct descendant of Lord Robert -Percival, Earl of Harcourt. Little by little at various times he let -drop a few words which, pieced together, told of the banishing of a -younger son of Lord Percival, who had brought upon his head the -displeasure of the old Earl through his wild and wayward ways. This -younger son had come to America, where he married, and Ned asserted that -he was of the third generation in this country. - -All this was apparently dragged reluctantly from his lips, and he even -made some pretense of disdain for ancestry, although his stationery bore -a crest, and those chaps who were favored by invitations to his rooms -stated that they had seen various portraits of Osgood's noble forebears. - -Unlike other students at Oakdale who came from out of town, Ned did not -simply room or board; he lived in the home of a widow by the name of -Mrs. Chester, who had been induced to take him in through what was said -to be a surprisingly liberal money consideration. In Mrs. Chester's -house he had a sitting-room and a bedroom with an adjacent bath, and it -was said that the widow, perhaps a bit impressed by having such a young -swell in her home, permitted him to do about as he pleased in his rooms. - -Now a fellow like this might through snobbery easily make himself -unpopular in a country school, but Osgood's seeming whole-souled, manly -boyishness, combined with an unusual knack at all-round sports and -baseball in particular, had overcome the prejudice of many chaps who -were inclined at the outset to regard him with disfavor. His staunchest -friend, however, was Charley Shultz, with whom he had taken up almost -immediately, and who seemed so remarkably different from him in every -way that wonderment over their chumminess was justified. Shultz was -rough and brusque and not infrequently positively boorish; furthermore, -he was something of a bully, although, finding this bent disapproved by -Osgood, he plainly sought to hold the inclination in check. - -Among the village girls Ned was greatly admired, but with the boys a -strong point in his favor was the fact that, although always pleasant -and polite, he rarely attempted to play the gallant. He seemed to prefer -fellows of his own age and with similar tastes in sports to the -prettiest girl of the village or the school, and, although some of the -misses were miffed over this, he rarely wasted time in their company. - -Another point in his favor was the fact that, although he was known to -have a pocket full of spending money and sometimes spent it generously -on his companions, he managed to avoid patronism, and did not make the -fellow less supplied with coin feel small or mean on that account. In -short, he was generally sized up as "a jolly good fellow," and, although -they had not ventured to say as much, several members of the nine had -thought that Nelson was rather too hasty and harsh in sending Osgood to -the bench for his disregard of orders. Besides Jack Nelson, Rodney Grant -and Ben Stone were almost the only ones who had not fallen powerfully -beneath the spell of Osgood's personality. - -During the most of the homeward trip Shultz sat silent on a seat which -also held Tuttle and Piper. Once or twice he had a few words to say, and -he endeavored in saying them to give the impression that he, like Ned, -had dismissed the incident of the game which had so nearly led to a -personal encounter in the Wyndham gymnasium. But Shultz was no diplomat; -subterfuge to him was a most difficult thing. - -The result of the game had been telephoned to Oakdale, and the boys were -welcomed with cheers as the buckboard rolled up the main street toward -Hyde's livery stable. At the stable they piled out with their bats and -bags, shivering a little from the raw cold of the spring evening, which -had crept into their bones in spite of overcoats. - -At the door of the stable Osgood paused a moment, and, Springer, Hooker -and Cooper joining him, he was heard to say: - -"See you later, fellows. Don't forget. So long. I'm hungry as a bear, -and I won't do a thing to Mrs. Chester's grub to-night." Carrying the -bag that contained his uniform and mitt, he swung off with a vigorous, -buoyant stride, whistling cheerfully. - -A few low words passed between the trio left behind, after which they -dispersed in starting for their various homes. - -Jack Nelson was not the only one to perceive something mysterious in the -action of these fellows; Sleuth Piper's eyes and ears were wide open. -When Shultz had likewise departed Nelson spoke to Grant. - -"I don't suppose it's any of my business, but I'd really like to know -what's in the wind. Those fellows are up to something." - -"I reckon so," nodded Rodney; "but I opine it's no concern of mine." - -Both were startled as Piper noiselessly appeared beside them. - -"There are things going on in this town," said Sleuth, his voice -discreetly lowered, "of which the general public is wholly unaware." - -"Hello!" laughed Rodney, lifting his eyebrows. "The great detective is -on the job. I judge you have inside information, Pipe?" - -"Very little," answered Sleuth; "but if I set out to get it I'll not be -balked. Once I take up a case worthy of my attention, I am relentless as -Fate." - -"Do you have an idea this matter is a case worthy of your attention?" -asked Nelson, winking slyly at Grant. - -"That I can't answer," confessed Sleuth; "but it's my theory that -persons whose movements are secretive and mysterious deserve to be -watched. Possibly I can tell you one little fact of which you are -unaware." - -"Let flicker," invited Jack. "We're listening, all agog." - -"For some little time," said Sleuth, in answer to this invitation, -"certain fellows have been meeting regularly every Saturday night in the -rooms of Ned Osgood." - -"Is that all?" exclaimed Grant, disappointed. "Why, I suppose, as Osgood -happens to be such a popular chap, they merely drop in on him for a -social call." - -"Is there any reason why a fellow who is merely making a social call -should shroud his movements in secrecy?" questioned Sleuth instantly. -"If you were going to drop round to see Osgood for a little pleasant -chat of a Saturday evening would you take pains to prevent the fact from -becoming known? Or would you, if meeting a friend on your way, openly -and frankly tell him where you were going?" - -"I don't opine I'd be covering up my tracks any whatever." - -"Not unless it was to be something more than a mere social call," nodded -Sleuth decisively. "By apparent chance it has happened that I have met -on different occasions two or three of these fellows who were on their -way to call upon Osgood, and when I asked them where they were going -they either lied or begged the question. Ha! Now you perceive that there -must be some hidden motive for this secrecy. A man who takes extreme -pains to conceal his motives should be watched." - -"There's certain some logic in that," admitted the Texan; "but I'll -allow I don't see what those fellows could be up to that would concern -anybody but themselves." - -Nelson, however, was thoughtful, frowning the least bit. - -"It may not concern any one else," he said presently, "and, then again, -it may. It may be my fault, but I can't quite trust Osgood. I'll admit -that he acted pretty decent in practically acknowledging that he was -wrong to-day; but all the time I couldn't help feeling that he was -playing policy, while thoroughly satisfied that he had been in the right -and that I was a chump to call for the sacrifice. As a matter between us -three, there's a feeling of dissension on the team as well as in the -school, and I'm sure that Osgood and Shultz are behind it. When I -benched Osgood it wouldn't have surprised me in the least if some of the -players besides Shultz had made an objection. He has got a grip on them, -and they think he knows more baseball than I or any of the old players. -I've seen them imitating his methods and his style of play. When a ball -team loses confidence in the judgment of its captain, that team soon -gets into a bad way." - -"I didn't like the talk Shultz made about Prof. Richardson," said Grant. -"The old boy may not take a natural modern interest in athletics, but -you sure hit the nail on the head, Nelson, when you said that he does -his work well in the class room and therefore makes a good principal. -But I suppose I'd likely object to almost anything coming from Shultz. -There's something about that fellow that certain rubs my fur the wrong -way." - -"He's irritating," agreed Jack; "but I can't help thinking that Osgood -is the more dangerous man. If there's trouble, you'll find that he will -really be the leader." - -"Oh, I don't judge there will really be any trouble," said Rodney -optimistically. "If there was any brewing, I think you nipped it in the -bud, captain. I've got to hike home, or Aunt Priscilla will begin to -worry; she always does if I'm late to meals. Good night." - -Sleuth pulled at Nelson's sleeve. "Wait a minute," he requested in a low -tone. "I've a powerful suspicion that you're right in thinking there's -trouble brewing--there's something going on beneath the surface. I'm -going to investigate. I'm going to take this matter up professionally. -I'll pierce the dark depths of the plot. I'll lay it bare in all its -heinous nakedness." - -"Go as far as you like, Sleuth," smiled Nelson. "As far as I'm concerned -you have free rein, but don't drag me into it in any way." - - - - -CHAPTER VII - -YOUNG SPORTS. - - -After shivering for more than half an hour beneath a tree across the -street from Mrs. Chester's home, Sleuth Piper finally decided to make a -move. Since seeking the hiding shelter of that tree he had seen four -boys ascend the widow's steps, ring the bell and obtain admission. It -was now some time since the last one had disappeared within the house, -and Piper believed no more were to follow. - -There was a light in Osgood's room on the second floor, but the shades -were closely drawn at the windows. Sleuth would have given much had he -been able to look through those windows, but being prevented from doing -so, he had decided on a bold move. - -Swiftly crossing the road, he softly mounted the steps and hastily gave -a single ring at the bell. After a few moments the summons was answered -by a maid, and the boy boldly entered the moment the door swung open. - -"I'm to see Osgood," he said in a low tone. "I'm a little late. I -presume the other fellows are ahead of me?" - -"Mr. Osgood has several friends with him in his room," said the girl. -"He's expecting you, isn't he?" - -"Why, sure," returned Piper, although even in his "professional -capacity" his conscience was troubled by the falsehood, which surely was -something quite surprising in a detective. - -By the muffled hall light the boy deliberately mounted the carpeted -stairs. He heard the maid retire, and the sound of the door closing -behind her was most gratifying to his ears. - -There was little trouble in finding the door of Osgood's room, for from -behind it came the subdued murmur of voices; and, listening, Piper heard -at intervals a queer, soft, irregular clicking sound. But when he would -have taken a peep through the keyhole, he was much disappointed to find -it either plugged or covered on the inside by something that baffled -him. - -"And that proves there's something queer going on," he whispered to -himself. "They're not talking loud, either; they're keeping their voices -down. A lot of fellows who get together and chat free and easy don't -bother to talk that way. Wish I could hear something more." - -After a time, growing desperate through the intensity of his increasing -curiosity, he placed his hand gently on the knob of the door with his -ear close to the panel, and, when the talk seemed to be a bit more -general inside, he softly and slowly turned the knob. - -The door was locked! - -"That settles it," he mentally exclaimed. "There's something off color -taking place here." - -Still with the utmost caution, he permitted the spring slowly to force -the catch back into place and removed his hand from the knob. - -"There's just one thing to do now," he decided; "I've got to put on a -bold front. It's the only play for me to make." - -Lifting his hand, he knocked softly upon the door. - -Immediately the hum of voices ceased, and after a little Sleuth fancied -he heard some one whisper within the room. - -He knocked again. - -There was the sound of a person stirring, and the key turned in the -lock. The door was opened the tiniest crack, and the voice of Osgood -asked: - -"Who is it? What's wanted?" - -"Hello, Ned," called Sleuth, as he again grasped the knob and gave the -door a push which flung it wide open. "Thought I'd come round for a -little call this---- Why, you've got company! Excuse me." - -The scene beheld by Piper's eyes caused them to grow unusually big and -round. Within the room four boys remained seated around a table covered -by a green cloth and lighted by a shaded suspension lamp. On that table -were red, white and blue poker chips and some cards. In each fellow's -hand were also the cards which he had held when play had been -interrupted by Sleuth's knock. The young gamesters looked somewhat -startled, an expression which gave way to annoyance as they recognized -the unwelcome caller. - -"How the dickens did you get into the house?" exclaimed Osgood, in a -manner that was, for him, unusually rude. - -"Why," returned Sleuth instantly, "I just said I came round to make you -a little call. But if I'm not welcome----" - -"Old Pipe always has his nose into everything," laughed Chipper Cooper, -one of the quartet at the table. "As long as he's here to call, bring -him in and let him do his calling in the game." - -The other three were Charley Shultz, Roy Hooker and Phil Springer. -Shultz was scowling darkly and Hooker did not seem exactly pleased; but, -like Cooper, Springer appeared to accept the situation good-naturedly. - -"Bub-bub-bet he hasn't any coin with him," said Phil. - -"Come in, Billy," invited Osgood. "Your unexpected appearance rather -upset us. I thought it might be Mrs. Chester or the maid, although we -haven't been making any noise." - -Piper was only too willing to accept the invitation. "You seem to be -having a rather nice little game," he said, as he entered the room and -Osgood relocked the door. "What's the limit?" - -"Oh, we're just playing for amusement," assured the host. "It's nothing -but penny-ante, with a ten-cent limit; just enough to make it -interesting, you know. Do you play?" - -Now one of Sleuth's weaknesses was cards, although his limited finances -had never allowed him to play much for money. On this particular -occasion, however, he happened to have in his pocket between two and -three dollars, and, although he protested that he did not wish to butt -in, he was more than willing to take a hand. - -"It will get me on the inside with this bunch," he thought, "and if -there's anything going on likely I'll catch a hint of it." So, to the -surprise of Springer, he displayed his money, announcing that a ten-cent -limit just suited him. A place was made for him between Osgood and -Springer, and he sat down at the table. - -"We'll play this hand off," said Ned; "you can come in on the next. -You're dealing, Cooper, and the pot is all level. I'll take three -cards." - -When that hand was played off Piper was given a dollar's worth of chips, -together with some advice about maintaining silence concerning what was -taking place in Osgood's room. - -"The people in this village are so straightlaced and narrow," said Ned -blandly, "that they would regard a little game of this sort, played -merely for amusement, as we play it, as something bordering on the -criminal. I'm sure you won't say a word about it, Piper." - -"Better impress it on him harder than that," broke in Shultz -offensively. "I'm not so sure." - -"What do you take me for?" exclaimed Piper, with a touch of indignation. -"I'm playing in this game, ain't I? Don't I know what folks around here -are? Think I'd take a hand and then go out and shoot my face off?" - -"He thinks," explained Osgood smoothly, "that you might let a careless -word drop among the fellows, not realizing that they would be likely to -spread it. That's the way such things leak out; a fellow tells a friend -under pledge of secrecy, and the friend tells another, and soon the -secret is public property. We've taken pains to keep our little social -gatherings very quiet." - -Sleuth was quite aware of this, and their efforts to keep the matter -quiet had awakened his natural suspicions and led him to that room. - -"If I'm fool enough to blow about it after playing," said he, "any one -or the whole of you will have the liberty to kick me good and hard. I -think I can keep a secret when it's necessary." - -"Sleuthy won't pup-pup-peach when he talks like that," said Springer. -"Go on with the gug-game." - -Even though it seemed that he had done some bad guessing regarding the -object of these quiet meetings in Osgood's rooms, Piper was, after the -first throb of disappointment, rather glad of it; for, in a way, he was -not very popular with the boys of Oakdale. At one time they had regarded -his aspirations to become a detective with considerable amusement and -had taken no little pleasure in joshing him. But of late his ability to -uncover secrets and lay bare unpleasant facts concerning people with -whom he came in contact had changed ridicule to a certain respect that -was not wholly free from apprehension, causing him to be avoided. - -In desiring companionship and friends, Piper was perfectly normal, and -he had felt the coldness and slights of his fellows. Even Nelson, -although regarding him valuable as an outfielder on the nine, had seemed -to hold him at a distance. And so, when the turn of affairs and the -singular behavior of the Osgood clique had seemed to point to scheming -of some sort, Sleuth had not hesitated to make a bid for Jack's -appreciation and gratitude by offering to discover and reveal what -crookedness those chaps were planning. - -It now appeared that he had been misled in his reasoning, for the -secrecy of the boys who did not wish it generally known that they were -playing poker seemed, in the light of his discovery, perfectly natural -and excusable. - -As Ned skilfully rippled the cards, passed them to Cooper to cut and -began dealing, Sleuth sat back on his chair, feeling that Fate had -served him a good turn by getting him in with this little gathering of -"sports." In these days nearly every fellow who really amounted to -anything played cards, and it was surely far more interesting and -shocking to play poker for pennies and dimes than to play it for matches -or beans. - -The room was rather warm, and both Shultz and Hooker were in their -shirt-sleeves. Osgood wore a handsome house coat, with a collar, lapels -and cuffs of purple plush. He was really a fine-looking chap, with his -clean-cut face and his curly dark hair, a lock of which had strayed over -his forehead. His hands were shapely and well formed, and a rich seal -ring adorned the one that held the pack of cards. He had lighted a fresh -cigarette. Shultz was smoking a cigar. A thin haze of blueish tobacco -smoke floated like incense in the room. - -Sleuth's swift appraising eyes had taken in the general appearance of -that room as it could dimly be seen beyond the circle of light thrown -over the table by the shaded hanging lamp. The furnishings were -unusually excellent. Beneath his feet there was a thick carpet, soft and -pleasant to the tread. There was a bookcase, a couch piled with -cushions, and heavy portieres hung parted at the entrance to the -adjoining bedroom. There were pictures on the walls and many photographs -and knick-knacks belonging to Osgood upon the old-fashioned marble -mantel, which had been hidden by a drapery. There were likewise banners, -boxing-gloves, dumb-bells and a tennis-racket, disposed in various ways -with a seeming carelessness that was really effective. Above the mantel -hung some dim old portraits, which Sleuth immediately fancied must be -the pictures of Osgood's titled ancestors. - -"It's great," Piper thought. "It was a streak of luck that threw me in -with this bunch. I'll be one of the gang after this." - -He was aroused by the unpleasant voice of Shultz. "Come, wake up there, -Vidocq; you haven't even anted. Shove out a white chip before you look -at your cards." - - - - -CHAPTER VIII - -A HOT GAME. - - -As the game progressed Piper found himself losing steadily, and, what -was most annoying, almost always he was beaten by Shultz, who himself -was having bad luck and growling over it. - -"Good thing for me you came into the game, Eagle Eye," said Shultz, -laying down three Jacks, which topped Piper's three tens, and pulling in -the chips. "These other sharks would have had me skinned to the bone by -this time, only for you." - -"Oh, my turn will come," declared Sleuth. "Give me another stack, Ned; -that one's gone." - -Osgood counted out another dollar's worth of chips and received Billy's -money, which he deposited in the handsome chip case. - -"You're the right sort after all, Sleuthy," he smiled. "You're a good -loser. I realize that I haven't known you very well up to date." - -"A man," said Piper loftily, "should take his losings without -squealing." - -"What do you mean by that?" snapped Shultz. "Are you knocking me?" - -"Oh, no--no, not at all," Piper hastened to disclaim, aware that the -fellow's bad fortune had aroused his belligerent nature. - -"Because if you are," warned the ruffled gamester, "you'd better cut it -out. I don't like it, and I won't stand for it." - -"Oh, come, Charley," protested Osgood; "don't be so raw. I've seen you -lose twice as much without growling." - -"But I can't afford to lose to-night," was the retort. "I'm not very -flush, and my old man thinks I'm blowing too much geldt, anyhow. That's -the worst of having a close-fisted father. If I were in your shoes, Ned, -I could stand a loss; but you're usually lucky, and you seldom quit -behind the game." - -"I've been having a streak, that's all," explained Osgood. "Luck runs -that way occasionally, but it usually turns in time. You fellows will -get into me if you keep at it; you're sure to." - -Hooker, likewise a loser, was keeping quiet and attending strictly to -business. Unlike Shultz, he had not shown an inclination to force his -luck, and doubtless he was waiting for his turn to come. Springer was -also slightly behind, while Cooper was a small winner and therefore -cheerful. The large pile of chips in front of Osgood denoted how the -game was running. - -With the suspicion that was characteristic of him, Piper had watched -Osgood's playing closely to discover, if possible, whether or not Ned -was winning legitimately, and he had arrived at the conclusion that -there was nothing underhanded about it. Moreover, he was falling beneath -the subtle spell of the young fellow's influence, which had been so -strangely felt by others. Surely Ned was a whole-souled, genial chap -that any one might be proud to claim as a friend; surely Nelson's -suspicions were unfounded; not a word concerning baseball or the -management of the team had been spoken by any of these lads since Sleuth -entered the room. - -It was Hooker's turn to deal, and Roy tossed the pasteboards around. -Piper, picking up his hand, was surprised and delighted to find it -contained two pairs, aces up, and while he was secretly congratulating -himself Osgood chipped. - -"Come on, Mr. Good Loser," invited Shultz. "What are you going to do? -Play faster. You make the game drag." - -"Oh, I'll come in," said Sleuth, "and I think--I think I'll raise it." - -"What do you know a-bub-bub-bout that!" exclaimed Springer. "Sleuth is -plunging! Well, he can't frighten me; I'll peg along." - -"Oh, let's make it interesting," said Shultz, tossing several chips into -the middle of the board. "I'll boost it some more." - -"Well, just to keep the pikers out," announced Hooker, "I'll give it -another lift." And he did. - -Cooper whistled. "That's about all I can do for my little measly ante," -he remarked. "I've got a small pair, but you chaps are making it too -stiff for me. I'll drop out." - -"Well, really," murmured Osgood, who had placed his cards face downward -before him, "this begins to look like some poker game. I'll raise ten." - -Piper swallowed and hesitated again. "What do you fellows think you're -doing before the draw?" he inquired, with a touch of whimsicality. "I've -just _got_ to come in." - -"You don't raise, eh?" questioned Shultz. - -"No, I'm satisfied." - -"I'm more than sus-satisfied," faltered Springer. "This is ruinous, but -I suppose I'm partly to blame. I'll stay." He put in the amount needed -to make himself level. - -"Wait a minute, Hooker," said Shultz, perceiving that Roy was nervously -fingering his chips. "It's my turn. You boosted me, and now I'm coming -back with another limit raise." - -Hooker found that he did not have enough chips, and so before betting he -procured another dollar's worth from Osgood. Then he raised Shultz. - -"Oh, my!" sang Cooper. "I'm glad--I'm glad I staid out. It cost me only -my little snow-white ante." - -"H'm!" said Osgood, picking up his cards and glancing at them. "It seems -that it's going to cost me more than that. There's a pair of Indians -sitting over at the other side of the table. Well, fellows, I'm coming. -I'm playing on your money, and you're welcome to take it away from me if -you can." - -At this point Piper, suddenly getting cold feet, dropped his two pairs. -"I'm out," he said. "This sort of raising before the draw makes it too -stiff for me." - -Springer seemed to be perspiring freely, and his hands were not quite -steady. "If it's a game of dud-dud-drive out," he said, "I'm going to -stick to the last gug-gasp. Here I go. That makes me level." - -Without saying a word, Shultz pushed out two blue chips. - -"Do you raise again, Charley?" asked Osgood. - -"Money talks," was the answer; "I put in two blue ones." - -Hooker immediately raised again, whereupon Cooper chuckled still more -gleefully over his cleverness in declining to be drawn in to defend his -ante. - -Osgood and Springer met the raise, and Shultz, after giving Hooker a -slantwise glance, pushed out a final blue one and announced that he was -"content." - -"Very well," said Roy, picking up the pack. "Call for your cards." - -"I'll take one," said Osgood. - -Springer called for two, and, glancing over Phil's shoulder, Piper saw -what he held. - -"Why, he had me beat," thought Sleuth. "What can those other fellows -hold?" - -"How many do you want, Shultz?" asked Hooker. - -"I'll play these," was the announcement. - -"And I'll play mine without drawing," said Roy, a touch of excitement -creeping into his voice in spite of himself. - -"Fine! fine!" laughed Osgood. "I had a fine chance, didn't I! You've got -all of my chips that you'll get. I'm going to drop." - -Springer swallowed once more. "Gee!" he breathed. "I cuc-can't drop; -I've got to bet. I make it a white chip." - -Shultz and Hooker did some betting that caused Springer's eyes to bulge. - -"Great fish-hooks!" spluttered Phil. "You're a pup-pup-pair of robbers! -Guess I've been fool enough. I'll lay down, too." - -Shultz gave the player at his left a long, hard look. "I wonder if -you're trying to bluff," he speculated. - -"You'll find out presently," answered Roy. - -"I ought to raise it again, but I'm going to call, and here's my hand. -Can you beat it?" - -"The pot is mine," said Hooker, spreading out his cards for all to see. -"My cards are better." He reached out with both hands and raked the pile -of chips toward him. - -"Well, of all infernal luck!" snarled Shultz, flinging his cards -fiercely down upon the table. "I thought my flush was good. It looks -queer to me. You dealt the cards, Hooker." - -Instantly Roy bridled. "What do you mean by that? I hope you don't -insinuate that there was anything crooked about that deal? You cut." - -"I know I did, but some fellows can----" - -"Hold on, Charley," interrupted Osgood. "There's no one here that's -going to play crooked. You haven't any right to think such a thing. I -was watching, and I'll guarantee the deal was on the level." - -"Oh, well, if you guarantee it----" - -"You might apologize, Shultz," said Hooker, his voice hard and his face -full of wrath. - -"Now don't _you_ fly off the handle, Roy, old fellow," entreated Osgood. -"You see, Charley has had rotten luck, and he didn't really realize what -he was saying. Come on, let's play the game like gentlemen. You didn't -mean it, did you, Charley?" - -"No, I guess I didn't," said Shultz, with apparent reluctance. "I was -half-joking. Forget it, Hooker." - -"All right," agreed Roy readily enough. "That little pot sort of put me -on my feet, and I'm not anxious to make a disturbance." - -The tension of the moment relaxed somewhat, and the game was resumed, -Cooper giving out the cards. - -Piper was heartily glad that Hooker had won, and he felt that Roy was -generous in his willingness to overlook Shultz's innuendo. He believed -that an encounter between the two boys had been narrowly averted. - -For some ten or fifteen minutes the game went on smoothly, nothing but -small hands coming out, which produced little betting. Eventually, -however, four "fighting hands" were dealt, and Piper and Springer sat -back to watch the others, dropping their cards. There were a number of -raises before the draw, in all of which Hooker and Shultz took part. - -As if they felt that it was to be a serious struggle, none of the -players ventured to jest or make many comments. - -Cooper remained in until the cards were drawn and then he dropped out. - -Osgood hung on a while longer, although Shultz and Hooker kept raising -alternately. - -"You each took one card," said Ned at last, "and, as you're running -wild, I'm going to quit. Fight it out between you." - -"Will you lend me some money, Ned?" asked Shultz. - -"Sure," was the answer. "How much do you want?" - -"Well, let me have two dollars' worth of chips. I may want more." - -"You're pretty sure, aren't you?" said Hooker. "You must think you've -got this pot cinched." - -"My chips talk," said Shultz. - -"Well, mine talk, too," snapped Roy. - -They made several bets. - -"You must have a big hand," muttered Hooker. "Well, so have I." - -"Oh, go as far as you like," sneered Shultz. "You can bet all night if -you wish, and I'll stick by as long as I can get any chips." - -"What have you got?" - -"Four bullets," announced Shultz triumphantly, as he lay his cards down, -exposing four aces. - -Hooker took a deep breath. "Well, that beats. I thought I had a pretty -good hand. It's your pot, Shultz." - -"Hold on! Hold on!" spluttered Piper, his eyes bulging. "Just wait a -minute. There's something queer here." - -Every one turned to him, Shultz savagely asking what was the matter. - -"There's something queer about this," reiterated Sleuth. "Why, I--I'm -sure I held an ace in my hand when I laid it down." - -"Go on! you're dotty!" snarled Shultz. "There are only four aces in the -pack." - -But Sleuth had grabbed the discards, and, turning part of them face -upwards, he exposed to view the fifth ace! - - - - -CHAPTER IX - -THE BLOW AND AFTERWARDS. - - -There was a moment of stunned and breathless silence as the young -gamesters stared at the fifth ace thus exposed to view--the ace of -spades. This silence was broken by Hooker, who, glaring at Shultz, -suddenly snarled: - -"You sneaking, cheating robber!" - -With that cry, he leaped up, overturning his chair, and made a grab for -Shultz's throat. The latter had likewise risen, and with a sweep of his -arm he brushed aside Hooker's clawlike hand, at the same time driving -his fist hard and straight at Roy's face. - -The blow landed with a sickening smack, and Hooker was hurled backward -by the force of it, tripping over his upset chair. Both his arms were -flung wide in an effort to save himself. His head struck with a thud -against the marble mantelpiece, the shock being sufficient to knock one -or two bits of bric-a-brac to the floor. Beneath one end of the mantel -he collapsed in a heap, with his shoulders against the wall, his head -dropping limply over on one of them. - -Springer, having failed to seize Shultz in time to check that blow, now -grabbed him with both hands and clung fast, panting in his ear: - -"For the lul-lul-love of goodness, what have you dud-done?" - -With a hissing sound, Shultz drew his breath through his clenched teeth, -exposed by his parted lips. His nostrils were dilated, and the rage of -an aroused animal blazed in his eyes. - -"A fight here!" fluttered Cooper. "Don't start a fight here!" - -"Start one!" said Shultz hoarsely. "I didn't. He started it. He called -me a cheat and a robber. I'll teach him to apply such words to me!" - -"Keep Charley away," commanded Osgood, quickly kneeling beside the -silent figure of the boy who had been struck down. "This is very bad -business. Come, Hooker, brace up." But when he sought to arouse the -stricken youth, Hooker's body simply slid over sidewise with a little -scraping sound against the wall, one arm rolling lifelessly across his -breast to allow his knuckles to drop with a faint, soft knock upon the -thick carpet. - -"For the love of goodness!" repeated Springer in a horrified voice. "He -lul-looks like a dud-dead one!" - -Fiercely Shultz jerked away from Phil's restraining hands. "You don't -have to hold me," he rasped. "What do you think I'd do, hit him again -when he's down?" - -Betraying the alarm he could not repress, Osgood made one more effort to -arouse the limp fellow on the floor. Then he spoke swiftly, excitedly to -the others. - -"Somebody bring some water from the bathroom," he directed. "Roy's -stunned. I'll loosen up his collar so he can breathe. Help me place him -on his back. Bring the water quick!" - -Trembling and sick at heart, Piper found his way to the bathroom, drew a -glass of water from the lavatory faucet, and hurried back with it. - -Osgood and Springer were kneeling on either side of the prostrate lad, -while Cooper, pale and agitated, stood looking on as if he could not -bring himself to offer assistance or did not know what to do. Shultz, -his jaws hard set, his breast heaving, stood at a little distance, -watching. - -"Give me the water, Piper," requested Osgood, plainly trying to maintain -as much calmness as possible. "Hand Phil a book or magazine or something -to fan him with. Some one open a window and let some of this smoke out. -Make as little noise as you can. Perhaps they didn't hear him fall, and -if we can bring him round all right, nobody must ever know what -happened." - -Hooker's tie had been removed and his collar and neckband unbuttoned. He -lay quite still--horribly still, Piper thought. There was a bruise on his -almost ghastly cheek where Shultz's fist had struck. His eyes were -closed, and the lids did not even seem to flutter. In his white -shirt-sleeves, he seemed fearfully deathlike to the staring eyes of -Billy Piper. - -"Get that window open, I tell you!" ordered Osgood almost fiercely, as -he began pouring water into the palm of his hand and bathing Hooker's -temples. "Fan him, Springer." - -"This is horrible!" Sleuth whispered to himself, as he opened a window. -"I wish I'd never come here to-night." - -After a few minutes Shultz began to betray concern. "Isn't he coming -round?" he asked. - -"If you've killed him," said Piper bitterly, "you won't be the only one -to suffer for it. Nobody in this bunch ever will be able to hold his -head up again in Oakdale." - -"Oh, he'll come round all right. I didn't even hit him on the jaw. I -don't see how he was knocked out so easy." - -"It was the bump he got against the mantel," said Osgood, his dripping -hand in Hooker's hair. "Here's the spot on his head. It's swollen almost -as big as a hen's egg." - -"Perhaps--perhaps his skull is fractured," muttered Piper. - -"He brought it on himself," asserted Shultz in self-defense. "I don't -know where that extra ace came from. I got all of mine honestly and -squarely. He had no right to call me a cheat." - -"I sus-saw his eyelids move," stammered Springer, still fanning. "He's -coming round! He's breathing!" - -"Yes, he's coming round, thank fortune!" said Osgood in great relief. -"He ought to be all right in a few minutes." - -Although these signs of reviving probably gave Shultz the most -satisfaction, he now attempted to hide his feelings behind an air of -sullen defiance and self-justification. Apparently, with the exception -of Osgood, he was the calmest person in the room. - -Presently Hooker's breast heaved and he gave a heavy sigh. Then his eyes -opened. - -"You're all right, old man," said Osgood. "You got a fierce old bump -when you fell, but you'll be on your pins in a minute or two now." - -Hooker looked at him strangely without speaking. After a little time -they lifted Roy and placed him on the big leather-covered Morris chair, -following which they stood around and tried to get him to say that he -was feeling better. He continued to stare at them, one after another, in -that same puzzled, bewildered way, and all their efforts to draw a word -from him were fruitless. Once his eyes rested on Shultz, but in their -depths there was no gleam of light in the slightest way different from -that aroused by sight of the others. - -"He's dazed," whispered Sleuth. "His mind is befogged." - -"If we let him alone a few minutes he ought to come out of it," said -Osgood. "Let's settle up. We can't play any more to-night." - -"I'd like to know where that fuf-fifth ace came from," said Springer, as -he turned all the aces over and looked at the backs of the cards. -"They're alike, every one of 'em." - -"I had two packs alike," explained Osgood. "The extra ace must have -gotten into this pack by accident." - -"If we've been playing with it all the time," ventured Cooper timidly, -"it's mighty funny we didn't discover it before." - -"I'd like to know what you mean by that," growled Shultz, glaring at -Chipper in a manner that made the little fellow draw back a bit. "I hope -you don't insinuate----" - -"I'm not insinuating anything," was the hasty disclaimer. "I just said -it was funny, that's all." - -"Fuf-funny is hardly the word," muttered Springer. - -"I'm sure," said Osgood quickly, "that no one in this crowd would play a -dishonest game. The cards got mixed, and I made up that pack myself. If -anybody is to blame, I am. Count up your chips, fellows, and let's -square things right away." - -They did as directed, and he settled up with each of them, turning last -to Hooker, who was behind the game. Counting the few chips left to the -unfortunate gamester, Osgood announced how many there were and offered -their value in change to Roy, who, however, made no attempt to accept -the coins. - -"This is what's coming to you, Roy," said Ned. "Take it." - -Hooker looked at him blankly. In Cooper's ear Piper whispered: - -"He don't understand. What if he never comes out of it?" - -"He will; he must," Chipper whispered back. - -Ned slid the coins into Roy's pocket. "Now," he said, "I think this -party had better break up. Somebody will have to see Hooker home, and I -think the outside air will revive him. This affair must be kept strictly -private. If any one breathes a word about it, he will brand himself as -a---- Oh, but I know there's no need of saying such a thing, and I won't -say it." - -"You don't have to so far as I'm concerned," asserted Piper promptly. -"Any one here would be a chump to tattle." - -As Billy was the only one Osgood had feared, Ned immediately showed his -relief and satisfaction. - -Hooker, still sitting supinely on the Morris chair, permitted them to -readjust his collar and tie. When they lifted him to his feet he stood -still while they actually pushed his arms into his heavy, reefer-like -coat. - -"There you are," said Osgood, slapping him on the back. "We're all -mighty sorry it happened, Roy, but it was a mistake. As I provided the -cards, I must shoulder the blame, if any one. You've been a game loser, -old chap. Do you need some money? I'll lend you what you want." - -"Queer," whispered Piper. "He doesn't seem to understand a word." - -"I'm going," said Shultz suddenly. He removed from the doorknob his cap, -which had been hanging there, and turned the key in the lock. As if he -realized that something more was expected of him, he stopped and forced -himself to turn until he could look back at them, though it was plainly -with a great struggle that he did so. "Perhaps some of you fellows blame -me," he flung at them. "If you do, just try to put yourselves in my -place. Just try to think of yourselves as holding four aces, getting -them squarely and fairly, and then being called a cheat and a robber. -Perhaps I wouldn't have hit him if he hadn't tried to choke me." - -"You're sorry it happened, aren't you, Charley?" said Osgood. - -"I'm sorry--for your sake, anyhow; but I had to defend myself. Any other -fellow would have done the same. Good night." - -"Go out quietly," cautioned Ned, as Shultz was disappearing. - -A few moments later they heard the departing fellow's footsteps coming -up from the sidewalk. - -"I'll let the rest of you out myself," said the host. "Don't talk as we -go downstairs, and step quietly. Come on, Hooker." - -He took Roy's arm, and, like guilty creatures, they stole out of the -room and tiptoed down the stairs. It was necessary for Osgood to caution -Hooker about descending in the dim light of the hall lamp. At the outer -door Ned made them wait while he took a look into the street. - -"Nobody in sight," he announced in a low voice. "It's a good time to get -away, fellows. Good night." - -With muttered good nights they left the house and descended the steps, -Springer having taken Hooker's arm. The air was damp and raw, and -Piper's teeth chattered a little. - -"Too bad our little pup-party busted up that way," muttered Phil; "but -we were lucky to gug-gug-get out without anybody getting wise. Osgood's -a fine chap, but if people knew about our playing in his rooms and this -scrap to-night, they'd think him a regular pirate. Every old gossip in -town would gug-gabble." - -"What worries me most," ventured Cooper, "is about Hooker. Don't you -feel all right now, Roy?" - -"Perhaps he doesn't want to speak," whispered Piper. "S'pose he can get -home all right?" - -"Somebody had bub-better go with him," said Springer. "It's out of my -way, but it's on your road, Cooper. He's all right, only he doesn't -talk. You see that he gets home, will you?" - -"Yes, you see that he gets home, Chipper," urged Sleuth quickly. "I'll -be late now. If the folks are still up, I'll have to make excuses. Good -night, fellows." Turning into a side street, he set off at a run. - - - - -CHAPTER X - -THE LIE. - - -All night long, when he slept at all, Billy Piper played poker in his -dreams, tossing and muttering and clawing at the bedding with his hands. -But there were several protracted periods in those dark hours when he -lay awake, thinking wretchedly of the almost tragic end of that game in -Osgood's rooms. Never had he spent a worse night, and when the gray -light of "the morning after" came stealing in at his bedroom window he -prayed sincerely that he might never experience another like it. - -Dawn brought him some relief from those distressing dreams and haunting -visions of Hooker's prone, coatless figure and ghastly face; and, -utterly worn out, he finally sank into a heavy doze. From this he was -awakened by the sound of his mother's voice calling that it was time for -him to get up if he wished any breakfast. - -Her call had startled him and caused him to jerk himself partly upright -in bed, where he remained propped upon his elbow as he answered that he -would be down directly. This start had caused a throbbing in his -temples, and after a bit he dropped back on the pillow, huskily -muttering: - -"What a night--what a horrible night!" - -Lying there, he somewhat reluctantly reviewed the events of the previous -evening, and as he thought it all over he regretted most heartily that -curiosity and a desire to delve into the private doings of others had -led him to become a member of that card party. For the first time he -fully realized that the person who attempts to pry into the affairs of -others without authority or a sufficiently good reason almost invariably -brings upon himself no end of trouble and is sure in time to be regarded -as a spy, a meddler and a nuisance. His eyes were opened at last to the -real reason for the aversion with which his former friends and chums had -seemed to regard him of late. - -"This being a detective isn't half as fine as it seems in stories," he -muttered; "and, anyhow, I don't believe I was ever cut out for one. I've -made a mistake. I'm too sensitive, too conscientious. My feelings are -too easily stirred for me ever to make a success in that line. I'm going -to quit it. Perhaps I can write stories, and I'm sure I'd like that -better. They say an experienced crook often makes the most efficient -detective, and I despise crooks. I'm done with the game." - -That final word, although he had been thinking of something else, again -brought vividly to his mental view a picture of the green-covered table -bearing chips and cards and the young players sitting around it engaged -in what they chose to call "a little friendly game." A few short hours -before this had seemed to him all very fine and sporty, and it had -attracted him as the magnet attracts the steel. Now, in the somber light -of a dull spring Sabbath morning, the glamour was swept away, leaving -only a bitter after-taste that was remorse. - -They had said that they were playing penny poker with a ten-cent limit -simply to make the game interesting; but as he recalled their intentness -upon the run of the play, the ill-concealed bitterness with which some -of them accepted defeat, and their greedy, eager joy in winning, the -truth smote him hard and convincingly. They had been gambling! The -reason why they chose to play so small a game lay in the limited -condition of their finances. Had they all possessed more money, -penny-ante with a dime limit would have seemed tame and unsatisfactory, -and therefore games of this sort were but the first steps to something -bigger and worse. - -"Ned Osgood started it here in this town," thought Piper. "He's -naturally a fine fellow, and he doesn't realize what he's doing. I was -not the only one who couldn't afford to play, putting aside the question -of its being real gambling. In that whole bunch Osgood was the only one -who really could afford it, and he was a winner." - -At that time Sleuth did not know that in ninety-nine genuine gambling -games out of a hundred the majority of the players cannot, from -financial reasons alone, afford to participate. If not openly, they take -part in such games with the secret hope that they will come forth -winners, and one of the bad features of it all is the fact that their -winnings, when made, seldom do them any real, substantial good; for -money easily acquired is rarely rated at its real value and is almost as -elusive as quicksilver. The winning gambler regards his gains as -"velvet," forgetting his losses of yesterday and disregarding the -assured certainty that he must lose again to-morrow or at some future -time. He spends freely and foolishly, making doubly certain the time of -deprivation and need which must come in future reverses. - -The faint clatter of dishes, coming up from the dining-room, roused -Sleuth from his unpleasant reveries, and, with a strange feeling of -lassitude and weariness in his limbs, he dragged himself out of bed. The -night had exacted its penalty in physical enervation as well as mental -torment. - -"No more," he kept repeating--"no more of it for me." - -Breakfast over, he was drawn by an intense desire, not unmingled with -dread, to learn something of Roy Hooker's condition. Not a word had Roy -spoken after that blow, and Piper was haunted by the memory of the -dazed, uncomprehending look in the boy's eyes. - -"He's probably all right now," Sleuth told himself; but he could not -dismiss the fear that Roy might not be all right. - -Thus worried, he found an early opportunity of getting away from the -house, his footsteps leading him toward Hooker's home. The streets of -the village bore the deserted appearance usual upon Sunday morning, but -to him they seemed ominously silent and lonely. The early church bells -began to ring, but the sound was hateful, for it seemed to add to that -oppressive loneliness. - -On the corner of Main and Middle streets, a block from where Hooker -lived, he met Phil Springer, and a single glance told him that here was -a companion in misery. For Springer also appeared downcast and troubled, -and there was in his eyes an expression that told of sleep denied. - -"Huh-hello, Sleuthy," faltered Phil. "What bub-brings you out so early?" - -"Same thing that brought you out, I guess. Heard anything from Roy?" - -"Not a word. You?" - -"No; just came from home." - -"You took your chance to skin out and leave him on our hands, dud-didn't -you?" said Phil resentfully. "Cooper just mum-made me stick by till we -got him home." - -"That was a mean trick of mine," admitted Piper instantly. "I'm sorry I -did it, but I was nervous and excited, and I didn't stop to think. How -was he? How did he appear? Did he talk any?" - -"Not a word. Couldn't seem to gug-get any sense into him. Why, Pipe, he -actually acted as if he didn't know wh-where he lived. What do you think -of that?" - -"I don't know what to think of it. I don't like to think of it. What did -you do? How did you get him into the house?" - -"We took him to the door; it was locked. I pounded until we saw a light -through the glass and heard some one coming. Then, like the two cheap -sus-sus-skates we were, we up and dusted--ran away." Springer was not -inclined to spare himself. - -Suddenly Sleuth made a grab at his companion's arm. "Look! Here comes -Dr. Grindle now! I'll bet he's been to see Roy! Let's ask him." - -"Yu-yu-you ask," gurgled Phil, getting pale around the mouth. "It would -tut-tut-take me tut-tut-too long." - -Medicine-case in hand, the doctor approached, and, assuming as far as -possible a natural air, Piper bade him good morning and inquired if -there was some one ill "over that way." - -"Singular case," said the physician, pausing a moment and regarding the -two boys keenly. "It's Roy Hooker. He came home rather late last night -and seemed to be dazed and stunned. There's a bruise on his cheek and -another bad one upon the back of his head. His folks got him to bed, -thinking he'd be all right, although his mother was frightened and -worried. This morning when they tried to question him he wouldn't talk. -Then they 'phoned for me." - -"Roy Hooker?" exclaimed Piper, making a pretense of astonishment, which, -however, gave him a throb of self-scorn. "Why, what do you suppose -happened to him, doctor?" - -"He may have been in a fight, or perhaps he was hurt some other way. I -don't know, but I feel sure one or more persons, probably his intimate -friends or companions, must know. Unless he recovers soon and settles it -himself, they will be called on to come forward and speak up." - -Springer found it impossible to keep still. "Cuc-couldn't he say -anything at all, doctor?" - -"Just two words were all I've been able to draw from him, and they seem -to cast no light whatever upon the matter. I decided it was not best to -try to press him further in his present condition." - -"Two words!" muttered Phil. - -"Yes, if I understood correctly, he said, 'two spades.' Now what -connection with his condition two spades can have I don't understand, -unless one of those bruises upon his head may have been inflicted by -such an implement. The bruise on his cheek, I'm sure, was not made in -such a manner; and, considering the fact that the one on the back of his -head is low down toward the base of the skull, I'm wholly disinclined to -believe it was inflicted by anything resembling a spade. Are you boys -particular friends of Roy?" - -"Oh, not--not particular friends; at least, I'm not," Sleuth hastened to -reply. "For some reason, he hasn't seemed to like me very well." - -"Then you can't throw any light on this odd affair? You weren't with him -last evening?" - -"I saw him at the pup-post-office a-bub-bout half past seven," faltered -Phil huskily. - -"And you didn't see him after that?" - -"I don't--remember. I don't th-think so." - -"How about you, Billy? Did you see him later in the evening?" - -"I wasn't at the post-office," said Piper, finding it impossible to meet -the doctor's steady eyes. "I didn't see Hooker there." - -"Nor anywhere else?" persisted the physician. - -"Nor--anywhere--else." - -"Well, he must have been with some one nearly three hours later, and -we'll find out who it was when he gets able to talk, if not sooner." The -doctor glanced at his watch. "If you hear anything, let me know." - -When Dr. Grindle was gone Piper and Springer stood there, looking -anywhere but at each other. Presently, however, their eyes met, and -then, with the bitterest self-contempt, Billy muttered: - -"Two miserable liars, that's what we are!" - - - - -CHAPTER XI - -PIPER SURPRISES HIS FRIENDS. - - -Utterly miserable and ashamed, even feeling themselves abased, the two -boys again remained silent for some moments following Piper's -self-denunciatory words. - -"We juj-just _had_ to do it," Springer finally faltered in an effort at -self-justification. - -"We didn't have to," returned Billy sharply; "but we didn't have the -courage to do anything different. We might have told the truth." - -"And bub-been branded as two black sheep by every sus-stiff-necked, -straightlaced----" - -"Of course; but that would have been no more than what's due us for our -part in that affair last night." - -"I fuf-fuf-fail to see it," snapped Springer in sudden anger. "We -weren't to blame for what happened. We were only juj-just playing a -little quiet, friendly game of poker, and----" - -"We were just gambling, nothing different. You know it, Phil. I've -thought the whole thing over, and this fiction about a little friendly -game was shown to me in its true light. Now wait; don't get excited. I -was tickled almost sick when I blundered into that game last night. I -thought it was simply great. I felt that I was doing something real -sporty, and it seemed a corking fine thing to sit down with a bunch like -that and play cards for money. It wasn't what I lost that opened my -eyes, I tell you that right now. If I'd simply lost my money, I suppose -I'd been grouchy over it to myself, but, nothing worse happening, I'd -been ready enough to get into the next game, with the hope of winning it -back. That's the way it goes; when a fellow loses he's bound to play -again to get even; if he wins, he can't quit should he want to, because -the other fellows would sneer at him and call him nasty names. So when -you're once started gambling for money, you've got to keep it up. -Friendly game! Is it friendliness, trying to get the loose cash of -another fellow who needs it as much as you do, and perhaps more?" - -"I won't argue a-bub-bout that. Perhaps you're right, but the point -doesn't interest me now, with Roy Hooker in his pup-present condition. I -didn't like the way the doctor looked at us. Do you thu-think he -suspects us, Pipe?" - -"Wouldn't wonder a bit," answered Sleuth. "But then, it would be natural -for him to be suspicious of any fellow who is friendly with Roy." - -"What are we going to do?" - -"I dunno. Let's not stand here any longer; let's walk up the street. -I've got to move; I can't keep still." - -They were on the point of moving when they saw Chipper Cooper hurrying -toward them almost at a run. - -"Wait!" called the approaching boy. "Where you fellows going?" And then, -as he joined them, he asked in a low tone, "Heard anything this -morning?" - -"I should say we had," answered Billy. After which he hastily told -Cooper what they had learned from Dr. Grindle. - -"Oh, my Jinks!" muttered Chipper, aghast. "I was hoping Roy'd be all -right this morning. I was hoping he'd explain to his folks--tell them he -had a fall or something to account for the bumps he got." - -"You were hoping he'd lie," said Billy, with a short, bitter laugh. "We -had to lie to the doctor when he cornered us. You can see what the -business forces us into--lies! It makes me sick to think of it." - -"I've worried all night," sighed Cooper dolefully. "Kept waking up every -ten minutes, it seemed, thinking about that scrap and Roy. What was it -the doctor said that he said?" - -"Just two words, 'two spades.' Of course he meant the two aces of spades -in that crooked pack." - -"That seems to indicate that he's coming round, don't it? He remembered -something." - -"And when he cuc-comes round," said Springer, "he'll be liable to tell -the whole business." - -They were walking up the street toward the Methodist Church, the bell of -which had ceased to sound the first call from the steeple. In less than -an hour the church-goers would be hurrying along that street. As they -approached the church the sexton, who lived across the way a short -distance beyond, came out and hobbled toward home, leaning on his cane. - -"Where will we go?" asked Springer. "Hadn't we bub-better take a walk -outside the village?" - -"I'm not going far," said Piper. "I mean to hang around so that I won't -miss any news about Roy. It will be half an hour now before people begin -to come to church. Let's go into the old sheds out behind it." - -In one of those sheds at the rear of the church they were hidden from -the view of any one who might pass upon the street. - -"Wish I hadn't ever got to playing in that game," confessed Chipper, who -on this morning showed no signs of his usual light-hearted ways and -flippancy in conversation. - -"I reckon we all feel the same about that," said Piper; "but it's no use -to cry. We shouldn't be thinking so much of ourselves. What if Roy is -permanently hurt? What if he never comes round right?" - -"Shu-Shultz will be to blame for that." - -"Principally; but it wouldn't have happened if Shultz and Osgood hadn't -found fellows enough to make up a game, so you see, in a way, we're to -blame, too." - -"But if Roy does come round all right and tells everything, we're all in -the soup," groaned Cooper. "Oh, I'll catch it at home! My father will be -furious if he finds out that I ever played cards for money. You know -we're not rich--far from it." - -"There are others," reminded Piper sharply. "But when it comes out, if -it does, Charley Shultz will have to shoulder the most of the blame." - -"He dud-don't live in Oakdale. He can get out any tut-time he wants to." - -"Shultz won't tell," said Cooper. "Nobody will tell, unless it's Roy. If -somebody could get to see him and talk with him privately----" - -"I've thought of that," cut in Piper. "If he comes round, he may talk -before he realizes what it will mean to the rest of us. Now if somebody -could see him and make him remember things, he might be warned to keep -mum. Who's going to try it?" - -"Why dud-don't you?" suggested Springer. - -"Why don't _you_?" flung back Billy. "I've never been real chummy with -Roy." - -"I'd mum-make a mess of it," said Phil, the idea causing him to shrink. - -"Somebody has got to do it," declared Piper, "and there shouldn't be -much time wasted. The fact that Roy spoke to the doctor shows he's -coming out of his daze. He's liable to remember everything all at once. -Perhaps the sight of one of us would make him remember. Besides Osgood -and Shultz, of course we're the only ones in the game who can go to him, -and those fellows couldn't do it without rousing suspicion. It's up to -us. Who's going?" - -No one volunteered, and after a time Springer feebly suggested that they -should draw lots. They were about to do so, when of a sudden Piper -commanded all his resolution. - -"I'll go," he announced. "We won't draw; that would be gambling, in a -way, and I'm done with anything of the sort. I'll go." - -They looked at him in wonderment, vaguely realizing that this prying -chap, who had succeeded in making himself rather unpopular at school, -was the possessor of a certain determination and resolution with which -he had never been credited. - -"That's the stuff, Sleuthy," applauded Chipper. "Good old Sleuthy!" - -"Now cut that name out," requested Piper in a manner that was more like -a command. "I'm done with that, too. I've been rather proud to have -fellows call me Sleuth, but it makes me sick now, and I'm liable to -fight any one who chucks it at me in future. If you want to do me a -favor, you'll tell the fellows so. Perhaps it will make them worse; -perhaps they'll think it fun to keep that nickname stuck on to me. But -there'll be fights--I tell you there'll be fights!" - -"Gee!" breathed Springer, staring at the speaker's flushed face. "You're -a regular bub-bantam, Pipe. Well, if you dud-don't like it, I'll never -call you that again." - -"Me, too; witness my solemn pledge," said Cooper, lifting his left hand -and jerking it down to put up his right. "Phil and I owe you that much -for what you've offered to do just now." - -"Perhaps I won't get in to see Roy," said Billy; "but I'm going to ask -the privilege. Even if I do get in, maybe I won't have a chance to talk -with him without anybody round." - -"Report as soon as you can," urged Chipper. - -"Do," begged Phil. "We'll go up to my house, Cooper and I; you'll find -us there." - -They left the sheds, and Piper set forth along High Street toward -Willow, on which Hooker lived. He had not reached Willow when he met -Jack Nelson. - -"What are you doing, Sleuth?" asked Jack "You were striding off like a -man with a mission. Is the great detective on the trail this----" - -"Now that will be enough, Nelson, old man--that will be enough," -interrupted Piper. "I've just given certain parties notice that this -detective gag is played out and I'm done with it. Also, my friends -aren't to call me Sleuth any more if they wish to remain friends. -Grin--grin if you want to. I mean it. I'll prob'ly be carrying around -black eyes and body contusions for a while, but as soon as it becomes -generally known in this town that I don't want to be called Sleuth and I -won't stand any more for the detective joke, I'm going to begin punching -anybody who disregards the warning." - -"Well, I'll be blowed!" breathed Nelson. "I thought you were proud of -it. Only last night you offered to do a little piece of detective work -for me. What did you find out?" - -"Nothing," was the instant answer--"nothing that concerns you in any -way." - -"And you're disgusted over your failure, eh? I didn't suppose you'd get -down-hearted so easy. No great detective ever----" But the look on Billy's -face caused Jack to stop short. "Oh, say!" he exclaimed; "have you heard -about Hooker? I was just told that he----" - -"I've heard about it," said Piper, preparing to pass on. "I'm going to -see him now, if they'll let me. Dr. Grindle told Springer and me all -about it." - -"It's queer," said Nelson. "Aren't you quitting your professional career -at a moment when there's a case that would really justify your -investigation? Perhaps that's why you're going to see him. Perhaps you -mean to----" - -"No, that's not the reason. Guess I'll skip along." - -"If you find out anything, let a fellow know," Nelson called after him. - -"If you only knew what I know now!" muttered Piper, as he turned down -Willow Street. - - - - -CHAPTER XII - -DREAD. - - -Much to his disappointment, Billy Piper was not permitted to see Roy -Hooker. At the door Roy's mother, who was plainly in a deeply distressed -and anxious state of mind, told him that the doctor had given orders -that Roy was not to be disturbed and had administered a mild opiate to -quiet the unfortunate lad, who had grown fearfully excited when -questioned concerning the cause of his injury. - -"It's a dreadful thing, Billy Piper,--a dreadful thing!" she exclaimed. -"I don't know why any one should hurt my poor boy like that. Some one -must have done it. It was a wicked thing--a wicked, wicked thing! What if -he never recovers? What if he is always wrong in his head? He doesn't -seem to remember anything, and maybe he never will." - -"It can't be as bad as that, Mrs. Hooker," said Billy, in an effort to -cheer her up. "We--I talked with the doctor a short time ago, and he -seems to think Roy will come round all right very soon. Don't you think -he fell, or something, and hurt himself that way?" - -"How could he fall and hurt his face and the back of his head at the -same time? I'm sure some one struck him, and it was a wicked blow. But -we'll find out who it was; such things always come out in time. You know -all the boys, Billy Piper. Do you know anything about it? Have you heard -anything?" - -"Of course not, Mrs. Hooker," answered Piper, feeling cheap and mean and -miserable. "Do you think I wouldn't tell you if I knew anything?" - -"Not unless---- Oh, but of course you weren't concerned in it. But perhaps -you can find out, Billy. Roy says you're a real wonder at finding out -anything you want to know, and we all remember how you and Roy caught -one of those bank robbers. Roy gave you all the credit. He said that you -tracked the man, and that you even knew all about Fred Sage's brother -being alive before any one else was aware of it. Now, if you can do -things like that, why can't you find out who hurt my boy? The scoundrel -who did it should be punished. Won't you try to find out the truth and -tell us about it?" Entreating him thus, she placed her hand on his -shoulder, and it was with the greatest difficulty that he refrained from -shrinking beneath her touch. - -"I'll do all I can," he promised in a low tone. "I'm awful sorry this -happened, Mrs. Hooker, but, believe me, I can't really think any one -hurt Roy maliciously and with deliberate design. It must have been an -accident." - -"If it was that, wouldn't the person who did it come forward and own -up?" - -"Perhaps not. Perhaps he's frightened. Roy has a temper, you know, and -maybe he got into a fight with some one who struck him in self-defense." - -"Any boy who would do such a thing, and then keep still about it with -his victim in a dangerous condition, is a bad, bad fellow. There are -some very bad boys in Oakdale, Billy, and you must know it. Roy has said -more than once that you're a regular detective. Here is something for -you to detect--something worth while." - -"I've been a chump," acknowledged Piper, with an unmistakable intonation -of self-scorn. "I've played that detective game for my own amusement, -and made lots of trouble by it. I'm done with it now, Mrs. Hooker, for -it's sneaky, cheap, underhand business. Any one who wants to become a -detective may do so for all of me--I never shall." - -"Then you won't try to find out? You won't help us any?" - -"I've promised already to do all I can, and I shall keep my promise, -Mrs. Hooker. But I'm sure you're unnecessarily worried. Roy will be all -right to-morrow. Of course he will tell you everything." - -He departed with his head hanging and his feet dragging, a spiritless, -downcast chap. - -"Another lie," he muttered. "What will she think of me when she knows? -And she'll find out. She was right, things like this always come out. -Well, I see where some fellows in this town will have something to live -down, and I'm one of them." - -Springer and Cooper received his report with disappointment. - -"You made a fuf-fizzle of it," said Phil. "You didn't do anything." - -"Nothing except tell a lie. I led Roy's mother to believe that I didn't -know a thing about it." - -"You couldn't do anything else," said Cooper. - -"I could have told the truth, couldn't I?" - -"That would have been peaching; that would have been blowing on us all. -You couldn't do that." - -"If you fellows have got the notion that we're going to hide and escape -through lying and deception, you'd better give it up. We'll have to -shoulder our part of the blame, sooner or later." - -"That's fine!" sighed Chipper dolefully. "My father hasn't used the -strap on me for some time, but I'm going to pad my trousers in -preparation for the coming walloping." - -"I'd like to pup-punch old Shultz!" rasped Springer. "He's the one -that's to bub-blame for it all." - -"No," contradicted Piper promptly, "we can't duck behind any such -excuse. If we hadn't been there it never would have happened, for it -takes more than two or three to make up a decent game of poker. We were -all doing something on the sly--something that we didn't wish respectable -people to know about, and something we mortally dread to have them find -out about." - -"Dread it!" groaned Chipper. "I should say I do!" - -"It wasn't a cuc-crime," spluttered Springer, in an attempt at -justification. - -"I don't know about that," snapped Billy. "Gambling is illegal, and so -it was a crime." - -"Oh, but we wasn't gug-gambling; we were just playing for fun." - -"And we're getting a lot of fun out of it, aren't we? Perhaps you enjoy -it!" - -At this point Phil's anger blazed and he raged at Billy, calling him -chicken-hearted. Piper refused to listen; shrugging his shoulders, he -walked hastily away, heedless of the calls of the two lads, who begged -him to come back. - -The church bells were sounding the second call and people in their -Sunday clothes were passing on their way to services when Piper rang at -Mrs. Chester's door. The maid appeared, and, answering his inquiry, -informed him that Ned Osgood had already departed for church. - -"He goes every Sunday reg'ler," she said, with a touch of pride. "The -misses calls him 'a most exempl'ry young man.' Maybe you'll see him at -the church if you go, too." - -"Thank you," said Billy, descending the steps. - -As soon as possible, he struck off across lots, to avoid the -church-goers. "A most exempl'ry young man!" he muttered, with a short -laugh. "He's got her fooled. She doesn't know what's been going on in -his rooms every Saturday night. I wonder if she's heard about Roy? Don't -s'pose she'd have an idea anything happened to him in her house if she -has heard." - -He next thought of finding Shultz, but, from lack of courage or an -aversion for facing the fellow, could not bring himself to look for the -prime cause of all the trouble. - -Returning home, he found the house deserted, his folks being away to -church, and his manner of wandering restlessly about through the empty -rooms made him think of the old simile about the caged tiger. It was -practically impossible for him to keep still. He wanted to do something, -and his tortured conscience bade him do the right thing; but what that -was, he could not for the life of him decide. Gradually his restlessness -wore away, but still dread, like a bird of evil omen, seemed to hover -near. - -His parents returned, and, as usually happened when he remained away -from church, which, it must be confessed, was often, he was sharply -scolded by his father. Mr. Piper was much given to scolding, but only -when especially aroused did he attempt to exert genuine parental -authority over his son. In fact, Billy, like far too many boys of the -present day, was permitted to do practically as he pleased as long as he -did not worry his folks by getting into "scrapes." - -The day wore slowly away without further information concerning Hooker -until near night, when it was learned that some one had made inquiries -about him over the phone, and that his mother had said his condition -seemed unchanged. - -At dusk Piper met Chipper Cooper at the end of the upper bridge. They -looked at each other inquiringly, and, after some moments of silence, -Chipper said: - -"Well?" - -"Well?" returned Billy with precisely the same inflection. - -"I'm pretty near sick," declared Cooper. "I hear Roy is no better. It's -bad, Pipe--bad." - -"Rotten," agreed Billy, leaning against the railing. - -Cooper leaned at his side, and their tongues seemed chained. Beneath the -bridge the water gurgled and whispered. In the gathering shadows a robin -called plaintively from a treetop some distance away. The village -appeared almost as deserted and lonely as the hamlet of Goldsmith's -immortal poem. A heavy weight, like lead, seemed to weigh upon the souls -of the two unhappy boys. - -After a time Cooper heaved a sigh. - -"It's bad," he repeated--"bad!" - -"Rotten," said Piper again. - - - - -CHAPTER XIII - -THE PROFESSOR'S APPEAL. - - -Looking careworn and old, Professor Richardson called the first session -to order on Monday morning. The scholars and the two assistant -instructors were assembled in the big main room. Every one seemed to -feel that there was something unusual impending, and all eyes were -turned upon the sober face of the aged principal as he pushed his -gold-rimmed spectacles up upon his forehead and tapped gently but -authoritatively upon his desk. - -"It becomes my duty to speak of an unpleasant matter," said the -professor, in a voice a trifle husky from the effect of a cold. "For -some time I have felt that I would have to face this necessity. I have -held my present position with this institution for eighteen years, which -is a trifle more than one-fourth of man's alloted span of life, three -score and ten--a very long time. When I took up my work here I scarcely -fancied it would continue so long, and at least twice in the earlier -years of my stay I had opportunities to go elsewhere in the same -capacity. One of these opportunities, the second which presented itself, -was very tempting, and I debated not a little with myself regarding the -advisability of accepting. At that time, however, I had just begun to -feel myself bound to Oakdale Academy by strong yet tender ties, and it -was my heart rather than my head which led me at last to decline the -alluring offer. I have now been here so long that Oakdale, more than any -other place I know, seems like home, and it is my hope to remain here -among my many kind friends as long as I live. - -"Necessarily, there have been some unpleasant features in connection -with my services as principal of this academy, but, for the most part, I -am happy to say that pleasant memories predominate. Having felt that my -life work was to be teaching, I have ever sought to perform that work as -faithfully and thoroughly and conscientiously as possible. Nor do I -think I have neglected striving to enter into sympathy with my pupils; I -have always sought to understand their varying natures, to make -allowances for their natural faults and failings, and to encourage all -their worthy desires and ambitions. This is by far a more difficult -thing for a teacher than may seem possible to the youthful mind. The -difference in years, which must necessarily exist between instructor and -pupils, is bound to produce a pronounced difference in habits, methods -of thought and the viewpoint from which life in general is regarded, and -that instructor who has the ability always to put himself in sympathy -with the young mind beneath his guidance is indeed fortunate. - -"In the last eighteen years athletics and allied sports, as relating to -schools and colleges, have made amazing progress. I will not enter into -a discussion as to whether such things have not obtained too powerful a -hold upon our modern institutions of learning, for that really has -little bearing upon what I wish to say. In my boyhood, baseball was, -indeed, a very crude sort of a game, and football was practically -unknown in this country. At the present time there is in America no -school or college of importance attended by males that does not have its -baseball and football teams; and other similar games, such as ice hockey -and basketball, have become amazingly popular, the latter even being -played by teams made up of girl students. - -"I am aware that many young school instructors have fostered and -encouraged such tendencies, some of them even taking part in the -coaching of teams made up from their pupils. Nevertheless, had I myself -at one time been an enthusiast in such sports, I sincerely doubt if I -ever should have felt it either my duty or my place to follow the -example of such instructors. For it seems to me that there is, or should -be, a distinct dividing line over which the conscientious principal of a -school may not wisely step. - -"I maintain that I am not prejudiced against any healthy, beneficial -sport or pastime in which students may indulge, unless it is carried to -that excess which threatens physical injury or infringes upon and -retards mental advancement. When, however, a student becomes so wrapped -up and absorbed in baseball that he neglects his studies and can seem to -think of nothing save the game that has fixed its subtle but damaging -grip upon him, I am of the firm belief that it is high time something -should be done. When I see naturally bright students falling back in -their classes, recklessly refusing to give a proper amount of time to -studies and openly declaring their resentment at the old fogy idea that -mental training is first and foremost the great object of all schools -for the young, I unhesitatingly assert that those boys are being injured -by the present craze for sport. - -"It has been my purpose, as far as possible, to restrain such mistaken -fanaticism. As far as possible I have always tried to appeal directly to -the misguided boy himself, and up to the present term I pride myself -that I have succeeded fairly well. This spring, however, my task has -become more difficult, and my efforts have, I regret to say, produced -results far from satisfactory to me. I am aware that behind my back I -have been more or less derided by certain scholars. It has been all too -apparent that a new feeling of rebellion against interference from me -has crept into the school. This feeling has steadily increased, until of -late it has developed into downright defiance of my authority and -desires. It has affected discipline. It has led me at last to make this -direct appeal to you, scholars, as a body. - -"Even if the day of corporal punishment had not practically passed, I am -sure, were I physically capable, I would not resort to such measures in -order to maintain discipline. Nevertheless, I will admit that there are -scholars to-day who cannot be reached by appeal or moral suasion, yet -who doubtless would be led to see the error of their ways by physical -suasion. They are generally the leaders in defiance of discipline; such -fellows as smoke upon the grounds and in the building, regardless of -rules or requests to desist; such as use bad language, absent themselves -from classes, or repeatedly appear in classes only to declare themselves -unprepared. With pernicious ingenuity they devise all sorts of methods -to break rules and regulations and to defy their instructors, whom they -foolishly seem to regard not as their friends but as their enemies. - -"There are such boys in this school. They are fostering dissension, -defiance of authority, and are priming themselves and their associates -for downright and open rebellion. I think I know them all. If I chose, I -could give their names, but I will not do so--now. Not only is their -influence harmful in the classroom, but it is seriously injurious to -those with whom they associate outside the confines and hours of school. -One such lad may do an incalculable amount of injury to others. The -example of every human being is bound to have some effect upon those -with whom he associates, and they will be polluted, just as a clear -river is polluted by a foul tributary. Some of his worst self such a lad -pours into those with whom he comes in contact. - -"There's an old saying that boys will be boys. Boys can be boys and -still be decent. There is nothing reprehensible in the natural -boisterous high spirits of a vigorous young animal; it is only when such -high spirits and vigor is misdirected, that it becomes injurious. Many a -time, as I have watched a band of youngsters frolicking naturally in the -sheer joy of bounding youth, I have felt a tugging at my heartstrings -and a regret for that which the years have taken from me. Always, -however, when they have been my scholars, there has been a sort of deep -pleasure and satisfaction mingled with that regret; for it has seemed -that, in a way, they were a part of my life, and that my association -with them repaid me in a measure for the loss of that splendid thing -which time had filched from me. - -"But when I have known that certain scholars were breaking rules and -defying authority with malicious perverseness, I have felt more than -resentment or anger--I have felt sorrow. When I have seen, as has -sometimes happened of late, my boys banding together at night upon -street corners, behaving offensively, moving surreptitiously, betraying -by unmistakeable signs that they were engaged in stealthy and secret -purposes, my alarm and distress has overcome both anger and sorrow. I -have not known just what was taking place, but I have felt that there -were things happening which ought not to happen. I have felt sure, -likewise, that something bad was bound to come of it. - -"This brings me to speak of Roy Hooker. I am sure you all know about -him. Roy is not a bad boy, his inclinations are not pernicious, yet I am -aware that he has been associating with those who could do him no good. -On Saturday night, at a late hour, he met with an injury--an injury from -which, perhaps, he may never recover. This injury was inflicted by one -or more blows upon the head, and it seems to have deprived him of the -power of speech and memory. Since that time he has scarcely spoken half -a dozen coherent words. It is not at all probable that Roy was injured -in this manner while alone, yet up to the present time no associate of -his has had the manhood to come forward and tell precisely how it -happened. - -"This seems to me evidence enough that Roy was hurt in a manner that was -regarded as shameful, if not actually criminal. Otherwise, why should -the person or persons with him at the time take so much pains to prevent -the truth of the matter from becoming known? Whoever they were, they -have shown a lack of courage that seems absolutely cowardly. I'm certain -there's not one of them who does not carry in his breast a tortured -conscience, and this is one of the most certain punishments for -wrong-doing. The evil-doer, if he possesses any of the finer human -sensibilities, must always endure the writhings of a wounded conscience. -If Roy Hooker should not recover, those responsible for his condition -must bear all through life a sickening burden. - -"Let us, however, hope for the best. I have talked with Dr. Grindle this -morning, and he encouraged me to believe that Roy would come through all -right. It is not impossible that he may recover sufficiently to-day to -tell precisely what happened. In that case, unless others come forward -without delay, it will be too late for them to escape the brand of -cowardice. It may require an amount of moral courage to confess the -truth, but such a confession will partly atone for the silence so far -maintained. Time is fleeting." - -But if Professor Richardson expected any of his scholars to come forward -at once with a confession he was disappointed; and, after several -minutes of waiting, during which he busied himself by pretending to -arrange some papers on his desk, he slowly returned his spectacles to -their usual place astride his thin nose and regretfully announced that -the regular course of the session would be taken up. - - - - -CHAPTER XIV - -PIPER PUTS IT UP TO SHULTZ. - - -Never had a morning session at school seemed so wretchedly long to Billy -Piper. The hands of the old clock on the wall behind Professor -Richardson's desk actually seemed to stand still. - -At intermission Billy sought an opportunity to speak a word in private -with Charley Shultz, but was prevented from doing so, Shultz being -surrounded by several boisterous fellows, who made a great deal of noise -and laughed often and loudly. In this general chatter Charley took part, -but Piper was certain that his loud talk and laughter were inspired by a -desire to appear carefree and untroubled. Once Shultz's eyes met -Billy's, which led him to frown and turn his glance quickly away, a -sullen, resentful expression flashing across his face for a moment. - -The other members of that Saturday night party seemed not at all -disposed to associate with one another. Ned Osgood put himself to much -trouble to chat with Rod Grant, which was something unusual, as he had -never before betrayed a particular liking for the Texan's company. Phil -Springer hung around Nelson and Stone, who talked baseball when they had -finished speculating over the mystery of Roy Hooker's injury. Cooper -slipped away by himself, and returned only when it was time to get back -to his seat and his books. - -At last the hands of the clock stood perpendicular, one over the other, -and, having announced that he would remain at his desk a few minutes to -speak with any one who wished to have a word with him, Professor -Richardson dismissed the scholars. A few of the boys lingered, curious -to observe if any one should approach the principal, but all of the -fellows who could have cleared up the mystery made haste to get out of -the room. - -Again Piper was baffled in his effort to speak privately with Shultz, -who walked away between two girls, talking and laughing like one who -bore no shadow of apprehension in his heart. - -"He's putting up a big bluff," muttered Billy. "He never troubled -himself before to be so jolly sociable with those girls. He can't carry -it off like Osgood; he hasn't got the natural swing." - -Piper bolted his dinner with such haste that his mother was led to warn -him of indigestion, with which he was sometimes troubled. - -"As soon as it comes spring," she said, "you get baseball crazy, Will, -and you don't like to stay home a minute longer than you have to." - -"It's not baseball to-day, mother," he answered. "I wonder if anybody -has heard anything new about Roy?" - -"I haven't, not a word. I thought perhaps you might at school. You're -always so quick to see through things, haven't you an idea what happened -to him?" - -"Do you think I wouldn't tell if I had?" - -"No, but it seems queer nobody knows anything at all about it. Can't you -even guess, Will?" - -"No, I can't," he answered brusquely, pushing back and jumping up from -the table. "It's never been my habit to guess; I've always had something -to base my theories on." - -"And you haven't a thing in this case?" - -"Of course not." He grabbed his cap and almost bolted from the house. - -"Still more lies!" he half snarled, as he hurried along the street. "My -own mother will lose confidence in me when she finds out the truth. It's -the most miserable piece of business I ever got mixed up in." - -Straight to Mrs. Chester's home he hastened, and his heart gave a throb -of satisfaction when the maid, admitting him, stated that Charley Shultz -was with Osgood in the latter's room. - -They were talking in low tones when Piper unceremoniously opened the -door and entered that room. Osgood had been pacing up and down, but -Shultz was standing by the window. Both looked startled. - -"You're just the two fellows I want to see," said Billy, closing the -door carefully behind him. - -"Who invited you in?" growled Shultz. "Why didn't you knock?" - -"Won't you sit down?" invited Ned, in his usual courteous manner, which -had at first seemed like affectation to the boys of Oakdale. - -"Thanks," said Piper. "Don't believe I care to. I've been trying to get -a private word with Shultz, and this is the first time----" - -"If you wish to talk with him privately I'll step out." - -"No need of it. What I want to say I can say just as well with you here, -Osgood, old man." - -"We were having a little private talk of our own when you butted in," -said Shultz sourly. - -"When I'm through there'll be plenty of time for you to finish up. I -won't be long, and I'll get out the minute I've had my say. It's about -this wretched scrape--about Hooker." - -"It _is_ a wretched scrape," agreed Osgood. "I'm greatly disturbed over -it, and of course you must be also, Piper. What are we to do?" - -"That's just what I want to talk to Shultz about. Something has got to -be done, and that pretty quick, too. It strikes me that Shultz is the -fellow to do it." - -The boy named swung round and squared himself, his red lips pressed -together, his eyes staring straight at Billy from beneath lowered brows. -"I suppose," he began harshly, "you think you're going to shoulder the -whole business onto me. If you do, you want to forget it, and forget it -quick. I'm no more to blame than the rest of the bunch. It's true I hit -Hooker a poke, but he brought it on himself, and you know it. He accused -me of cheating." - -"It was your blow that knocked him against that mantelpiece and dazed -him so that he hasn't been able to talk or remember. In stating that the -truth was sure to come out soon, Professor Richardson was doubtless -correct." - -"Ah, don't talk to me about that old dried-up shrimp!" cried Shultz -fiercely. "He practically owned up before the whole school that he was a -back number. He's no more fit to be the principal of Oakdale Academy -than I am--nor half as much. It's time he retired and let a younger and -better man fill his place." - -"I didn't come here to argue that point. I say he was right in asserting -that the truth about Hooker is bound to come out. Now are you going to -wait and let the facts be found out through some other channel, or are -you going to brace up and make a clean breast of it?" - -"Now wouldn't that be fine!" sneered Shultz. "You want me to blow the -whole thing, do you? You want me to come out and tell the general public -that a bunch of us were here in Ned's rooms gambling, and that in a -quarrel over the cards I hit Roy Hooker. Do you think for a minute that -by doing so I'll make you stand better in the public eye?" - -"Somebody has got to tell it before Hooker tells, himself," persisted -Piper. "As you're the fellow mainly involved, it seems to me it's up to -you." - -"And if I don't tell, I suppose you'll run and peach, you common -tattler!" frothed Shultz, taking a step forward, his fists clenched, his -face crimson with rage. - -Piper stood his ground. - -"Perhaps it will make you more popular with yourself if you hit me," he -said. "You can't frighten me, Shultz, with black looks and bluster. I -knew what you'd do, but I made up my mind to talk straight to you, and -I'm going to talk, even if you knock me down and jump on me with both -feet." - -"There'll be nothing of that kind happen in here," announced Osgood, -taking a position to interfere in case Shultz's wrath should gain -absolute control of him. "We were talking of this thing when you came -in, Piper." - -"That old dead one, Richardson, tried to make folks believe it would be -a courageous thing to come forward and confess," said Shultz; "but -anybody knows that the fellow who squeals is usually a coward. He's -frightened into it. That's the trouble with you, Piper; you're scared -stiff. You haven't any nerve at all." - -"Scared?" retorted Billy. "I didn't hit Hooker. The worst that can be -said about me is that I was playing poker here and that I joined with -the rest of the bunch in keeping still about what happened to Roy. You -know, Shultz, that there was no one else save yourself and Roy to blame -for that wind-up of the game. Now if we all keep still and wait till it -comes out, every one of us will be in the soup; but if you have the -nerve and manhood to go to Professor Richardson or Dr. Grindle and tell -just what the finish of that game was, without naming any one besides -yourself and Hooker, it will----" - -"Ho! ho!" scoffed Shultz. "So that's what you want! I knew it; I knew -you were trying to save your own hide somehow. You want me to expose -myself as a real thug and scoundrel, in order that you and the rest may -get off scot-free. Fine--I don't think. I'll rush right away and do -it--not." - -"Osgood is your particular friend, isn't he? Can't you see any reason -why you should shield him, dismissing consideration for the rest of us? -You were here playing poker in Ned's rooms. An unfortunate -misunderstanding--I hope that's what it was--brought about that encounter -with Hooker. You can tell the story and refuse to name the others who -were in the game. More than half the people will consider that an act of -decency on your part. They won't blame you for trying to shield the rest -of the crowd, although they may attempt to worm our names from you." - -"It wouldn't do any good, anyhow," asserted Shultz. "As soon as Hooker -gets straightened out and remembers things, he'll tell; he'll name all -of us." - -"There's the unpleasant possibility that Hooker may not get straightened -out, Shultz. Anyhow, perhaps it will be some time before he does. -Perhaps he'll come around gradually, and some of us may be able to see -him and caution him to keep mum. It's the only chance." - -"And if he doesn't come around at all, and none of the crowd squeals, -how are they ever going to find out just what happened? There you are." - -"They will find it out, Shultz; I've made up my mind to that." - -"What do you mean?" - -"I mean that somebody is going to tell the truth. If you don't do it, -somebody else will." - -Osgood was compelled to grapple with Shultz, who strove to reach Billy, -crying hoarsely: - -"Let me get at that little whelp! He's threatening to blow on us! I'll -fix him!" - -"No, you won't," said Ned, displaying an amount of strength that -surprised Piper, who still remained apparently calm and undisturbed. "He -hasn't said that he's going to blow." - -"But that was what he meant." - -Ned thrust the raging fellow back and held him until he had calmed down -somewhat. - -"What did you mean, Piper?" Osgood asked over his shoulder. "Did you -mean that you were going to chase right out of here and tell every one?" - -"That wasn't exactly what I meant," answered Billy. "I'm going to talk -with the rest of the crowd. I'm going to tell them just where I stand -and what I think. I'm going to do my best to induce them, one and all, -to put it up to Shultz just as I have put it up to him. Then, if he -isn't man enough to shoulder the blame, I'll suggest that we all walk up -in a body and tell the whole thing." - -"You see! you see!" panted Shultz. "That's his game! He's a squealer! -He's bound to make me the goat." - -"Give me a chance to talk to him," urged Osgood. "I'm sure Billy will -listen to reason." - -"I'm ready to listen to reason," said Piper; "but argument on false -premises won't have the slightest effect on me. I've thought this thing -all over and decided on the only proper course to be followed." - -"But you can see," said Ned, almost pleadingly, "that you're asking a -most difficult thing of Charley." - -"That doesn't make it any less the right thing," was the unbending -retort. - -"Confound him!" cried Shultz. "Did you ever see such an obstinate, -stiff-necked little brat! He's bound to besmirch me. He wants to drive -me out of the school, that's what's the matter. He's got it in for us -both, Ned. That's because we don't happen to belong in this miserable -one-horse burg. I've had troubles enough. If I get fired from this -school my old man is going to froth, I tell you that. And I'll be fired -just as sure as the facts are known." - -"I see further talk will be a waste of time," said Piper, "so I think -I'll be going." - -"Wait a minute," requested Osgood. "You must realize that you sprung -this thing on us rather suddenly. We haven't had time to think it over. -Give us time, won't you?" - -"At this stage of the game time counts, for there's no telling how soon -Hooker will be able to talk." - -"A little time," persisted Ned. "Let me talk it over with Charley. Try -to put yourself in his place and see if you can't realize----" - -"All right," cut in Billy, suddenly deciding it was best to yield a -little. "Talk it over. I won't make another move until I see you again. -But it's no use dilly-dallying, and Shultz may as well understand it." - -Without a word of adieu, he opened the door and left them. - - - - -CHAPTER XV - -STILL SILENT. - - -Osgood and Shultz arrived at the academy barely in time to escape tardy -marks. As they slid into their seats neither of them glanced toward -Piper, who had an eye turned upon them, and at intermission both seemed -anxious to keep away from him. Watching them, he saw Ned, seeking to -avoid general attention, pass a few low, hasty words with both Springer -and Cooper. - -"That won't do you a bit of good," thought the determined boy. "If you -get the whole of the rest of the bunch to stick by you, I'll give them -fair warning and speak up myself." - -Shultz evidently took pains not to be seen with any of the fellows who -had participated in the card game, but never for a moment during that -intermission did he give Piper an opportunity to address him when other -scholars were not close by. Fully aware that the fellow would refuse to -step aside with him, Piper made the request of Osgood. - -"Well, you've had time," said Billy, as they paused beneath one of the -trees near the academy. "What have you done? What are you going to do?" - -"It will be all right," assured Osgood suavely, "only just don't push -the thing too hard; for if you do, Shultz may balk, and that would put -us all in a hole. You've got to think of some one besides yourself, -Piper." - -"I am; I'm thinking of Hooker." - -"I tell you it will be all right," reiterated Ned. "Just give us a -little more time. Don't do anything foolish." - -The bell struck, recalling them to the building, and, far from -satisfied, Billy returned to fix his mind as best he could upon his -studies. - -Before dismissing school for the day, Professor Richardson stood beside -his desk and again pushed his spectacles upward on his forehead. His -thin cheeks were unnaturally flushed, and his voice had changed from -huskiness to a croaking sound, which seemed to indicate that the cold -had gripped him at his throat. Silence fell upon the room, for every one -seemed to know the topic upon which the principal was about to speak, -and more than one boy felt a shiver run through him. - -"I regret," began the professor, "that my talk of this morning had so -little effect. I've waited, vainly hoping that some one might come to me -with the truth concerning Roy Hooker. At noon I again saw Dr. Grindle, -and I'm glad to say that what he told me was almost an assurance that -Roy would fully recover, and that very soon. The unfortunate boy was -able to talk a little this forenoon, and although no one urged him, he -said enough to give an inkling of the cause of his trouble." - -For a moment he paused, his eyes seeming to rove from face to face -before him, and the shivering ones found it most difficult to meet his -look and appear interested without betraying guilt. How much had Hooker -told? That was the question that made every pulse throb, even while -their blood seemed to run chill. - -"I spoke this morning of evil influences and bad associates," continued -the principal. "There's no need to repeat what I said. From Hooker's -rambling words, it has become apparent that upon Saturday night he was -engaged in a game of cards--for money. In short, he was gambling. Where -and with whom, he did not state, and it was not thought best to worry -him in his present condition with too many questions. Of course he was -gaming with his usual companions, his so-called friends. That means -almost to a certainty that some who are now listening to my words were -with him. I will repeat my assertion that the names of his companions -must assuredly become known. - -"What happened to him in that game may readily be surmised. There was a -quarrel. There were blows, and he was dreadfully injured. It will be a -merciful thing if his reason is not permanently affected. The actual -cause of the quarrel is yet a matter of surmisal, but whoever enters -into a gambling game invites disaster. Greed and triumph fills the heart -of the winner; bitterness and resentment fixes its hold upon the loser. -Suspicion is aroused. At the slightest happening which seems to confirm -suspicion there is an arousal of bad blood and a quarrel. We have here -an example of how serious such a quarrel may be, and it should be a -lesson to all of you--a lesson to be remembered always. It should teach -you to shun gambling as you would shun a contagious disease. It is a -disease that undermines the moral fiber and manhood of any one it -touches. Having been contaminated, there is only one remedy, one -cure:--good resolutions, the determination to shun this evil thing in -future, and the will-power to hold fast to that determination. - -"A person who makes up his mind to do right in the future, and is -sincere about it, seldom hesitates to admit his errors or mistakes of -the past. There are always willing hands to help one who thus proves his -sincere change of heart. I hope before it is too late I may yet receive -the evidence that some of you are sincerely repentant and sincerely -determined henceforth to avoid such mistakes. You are dismissed." - -The old man puttered around, gathering up his books and papers and -locking his desk. When he was ready to leave he found himself alone in -the big room. - -"Ah, well!" he muttered; "it's hard for them. I'm afraid I haven't -sufficient influence. I'm afraid I failed to make my words convincing." - -Outside, the members of the ball team had turned toward the nearby field -for practice, but they were not talking of baseball. The knowledge that -Roy Hooker had been engaged in a card game for money caused their -tongues to wag vigorously. Speculation was rife as to where the game had -taken place and who had been concerned in it. Several of them, while -pretending ignorance, knew very well indeed, and at least one who was -not in the secret was inclined to believe he could make a good guess at -the truth. - -Jack Nelson had not forgotten that Roy Hooker was one of the trio in -Hyde's livery stable, after the return from Wyndham, to whom Ned Osgood -had said that he would see them later. But, having nothing further on -which to base his surmisal, and never dreaming how much Billy Piper -knew, Nelson refrained from hints or accusations. Perhaps in this he was -supported by the belief that, taking into consideration the benching of -Osgood in Saturday's game, it might seem that he had a pronounced animus -against the fellow were he to suggest that Ned knew more than he was -disposed to tell. - -"As Prof said," thought Nelson, "it's bound to come out, and I won't -make any blunder if I keep my mouth shut." - -One thing he did not understand was why Piper, knowing certain fellows -met regularly Saturday evenings in Osgood's rooms, seemed to show so -little interest in the matter. It was wholly unlike Billy, who -heretofore had displayed the most eager disposition to probe anything -which bore on its face the tag of mystery. Even Piper's protestation -that he was done with such things and would play the detective no more -did not seem to be an adequate excuse for his apathy. - -"It's all mighty queer," decided Jack, as, taking little part in the -talk of the boys around him, he got into his uniform in the gymnasium. -"Osgood doesn't seem at all worried, but his friend Shultz is altogether -too gay to be natural. It's not like him. Well, if they're concerned, -they're in deep, and it wouldn't surprise me if the nine lost a couple -of good players." - - - - -CHAPTER XVI - -THE FACE AT THE WINDOW. - - -Practice that night was a failure; no one seemed to enter into it with -heart or enthusiasm. The ball was batted and thrown around listlessly, -and Nelson's efforts to wake the fellows up bore no fruit. And so, after -a time, seeing that this sort of work would do the boys no good, the -captain put an end to it. - -"It's plain we haven't our minds on the business in hand, fellows," he -said, "so we'll quit it for to-night. I fancy we're all thinking too -much about what happened to Hooker." - -They straggled back to the gymnasium, which stood just outside the -grounds, and took their showers and rub-downs and dressed. There was not -much talk now, and very little joshing or laughter. Cooper perpetrated a -pun, but no one seemed to notice it. Even beneath the hissing, -spattering cold showers there was not much of the usual whooping and -shouting; they dove into the icy spray, gasped, jumped out, grabbed -their towels, scrubbed and dressed. Then, one by one, or in little -groups, they departed. - -Charley Shultz followed Ned Osgood from the gym and overtook him -outside. - -"There goes that cub, Piper, along with Phil Springer," he said -anxiously. "Cooper's ahead of them. They're all going the same way. -Let's hustle up and overtake them." - -Ned restrained him. "Let them go, Charley. It won't do any good to chase -them, and it may look suspicious to others." - -"Did you get a chance to say anything to Phil and Chipper?" - -"Sure. Couldn't talk to them much, but I told them what Piper was up to, -and urged them to hold him in check." - -"What did they say?" - -"They're worried. They said they'd do their best." - -"He'll bring them round," snarled Shultz. "I never saw such a vicious, -determined little imp. I figured him out to be a wishy-washy, spineless -creature, but, on my word, he's the most obstinate, pig-headed fellow I -ever ran up against. He's got it in for me; he's bound to queer me." - -"He'll queer us both if he sticks to his plan," said Ned, in a -discouraged way. "It's going to hit me about as hard as it will you, old -fellow. I had to get out of Hadden Hall because I was caught with a -bunch playing poker in my room in one of the dormitories. My mother -insisted that I should attend a smaller and quieter school where there -would be less temptation, and that's how I happened to come here." - -"There's a bond of sympathy between us," declared the other boy, with a -grin. "I was expelled from Berkley for fighting, and before that I got -into trouble in the public school of my own town. Like you, it's my -mother who wants me to have an education. The old man was for putting me -to work with my coat off after the Berkley affair." - -They had paused near the academy gate. - -"Going home?" asked Ned. - -"Home?" exclaimed Charley, misunderstanding him. "If I've got to get out -of this town I'll strike out for myself; I'll keep away from home." - -"I mean are you going, now, to your boarding place?" - -"Oh! I guess not yet. I'll walk up with you. I want to talk this thing -over a little more." - -To avoid passing through the center of the village, they crossed the -yard to a field behind it, which brought them to Middle Street. As they -went along, Shultz was saying: - -"My people aren't such swells as yours, Ned, though the old man is -making some money. They're German, but I was born in this country. It's -only lately that my father has been scraping together some dollars. All -his life he's had to pinch, and now he hangs on to the mazuma with a -deathlike grip. It about breaks his heart when he has to send me my -monthly allowance, and one reason why he put me here into this little -school was because he thought it would be less expensive. Your people -are different. You always have money. They might have sent you to any -big school if you'd insisted on it." - -"I explained my mother's reason for wishing me to come here. After that -exposure at Hadden Hall, it seemed best that I should put in a year at -some obscure school before entering an institution of importance. You -see, considering our standing and family, she felt fearfully cut up over -what happened at Hadden. If there's a repetition of it here, it will -make her hair turn gray. I may not betray my feelings to the extent that -you do, but I'll confess that this miserable mix-up has got me going. If -you hadn't struck that blow----" - -"Oh, now you can't blame me; you'd done the same under those -circumstances. What I'd like to know is where that extra ace came from. -You don't suppose that sneak, Piper, slipped it into the pack, do you?" - -Osgood shook his head. "I examined the cards after you fellows left. You -know I stated at the time that I had two packs with the backs alike. -Investigation showed me that the ace of spades was missing from the pack -that was not in use. It got into the other pack, somehow, and that's -what makes me blame myself. You understand, Charley, that it was really -through my own carelessness that this whole thing came about." - -"It was rotten hard luck." - -"Yes, it was hard luck." - -Neither of them seemed to fancy for a moment that the element of Fate -entered, even remotely, into the case, and perhaps they could be excused -in this, for "hard luck" is ever the cry of the erring who face exposure -through seemingly chance twists of circumstances. Even hardened -malefactors, which these boys were not, rarely understand how closely -the threads of human destiny are woven, making it almost impossible -completely and effectually to hide the slightest flaw in the web. - -Although Osgood invited him in when Mrs. Chester's house was reached, -Shultz declined; he was troubled by a vague aversion for the room of his -friend, in which an event bordering on tragedy had taken place. They -lingered outside near an old elm that was just beginning to show the -least touch of tender green amid its branches, and continued seeking to -ease their minds by talk. - -"Under any circumstances," said Shultz, "this business seems to put the -kibosh on our little plan. It's upset everything." - -Osgood nodded. "Just when we had things pretty well fixed," he sighed. -"We were standing in right with the majority of the baseball team, and -Nelson's act at Wyndham would have helped us along." - -"Sure. I'll guarantee you would have been captain of the Oakdale Academy -nine before long. If Wyndham had won that game after Nelson benched us, -it would have settled everything our way. You're mighty clever, old man. -You worked the fellows who could be worked, and did it just right. They -didn't realize for a moment what we were up to. Still, we had them -sounded so that we knew which way every one would jump if a split came." - -"It was your idea; I'd never thought of it myself. Even after seeing how -loosely athletics are run here, being only a short time in the school, I -wouldn't have fancied it possible to depose Nelson had you not suggested -it." - -For ten minutes or more they continued to talk without securing the -least relief from the oppression and anxiety that was on them. - -The face of Shultz, as he trudged toward the home of Caleb Carter, where -he boarded, was clouded and gloomy. After supper he waited until the -shadows had lengthened into twilight, and then set forth into the -village. In their talk, neither he nor Osgood had spoken much of the -probable result of Roy Hooker's injury, but Charley was inwardly -consumed by a desire for some report on the unfortunate boy's condition. - -In town he lingered around the post-office and the stores where the -villagers occasionally gathered to gossip, hoping to learn what he -desired without making inquiries. He joined some boys near the drinking -fountain in the square, but took little part in their characteristic -chatter. - -"You're glum to-night, Shultzie," said Hunk Rollins. "Got a grouch on?" - -"Oh, no," was the answer. "I've had bad news from home. Father's sick, -and I may have to give up school. It wouldn't surprise me to get a -telegram to-morrow." - -"Oh, gee!" cried Chub Tuttle. "Don't think you'll have to go for good, -do you? With Hooker hurt and you gone, the nine will be mighty weak." - -"Has any one heard anything from Hooker to-night?" Shultz desperately -forced himself to inquire. - -"Only that he seems to be about the same," answered Harry Hopper. "He -hasn't talked much yet. We're all waiting to find out what he will have -to say when he does talk. The old Prof seemed to think it was going to -bump somebody. We've been trying to figure out who it will be. Fred Sage -is Roy's closest friend, but he wasn't out of the house Saturday night, -so he don't know anything about it." - -"It wouldn't surprise me," said Shultz, "if the whole thing turned out -to be sort of a tempest in a teapot. It doesn't seem at all likely that -anybody knows the facts and is keeping still. I'll wager Hooker took a -tumble and hurt himself on his way home." - -"But the question is, where had he been?" said Tuttle, munching a -peanut. "He must have been out with somebody at that hour, but nobody -has come forward to say he was with him. That's what makes it look -suspicious." - -"Well, I'm going home," announced Shultz, who had no relish to discuss -the matter. "Perhaps we'll hear something new in the morning." - -In his small back room at Caleb Carter's he tried to divert his mind a -while by reading, but gave it up at last and decided to go to bed. He -was half undressed when, chancing to turn toward the window, which -looked out upon the roof of the ell, he staggered as if struck a blow, -his mouth open, his eyes bulging, both hands outflung. - -The light of his lamp, shining through the window, fell upon the pallid -face of Roy Hooker, who was gazing fixedly at him! - - - - -CHAPTER XVII - -THE GREAT FEAR. - - -Aghast, his heart in his throat, Charley Shultz stared at the face -outside the window. Only the upper part of the body of his unwelcome -visitor could be seen, and that, clothed all in white, seemed -particularly ghostlike. The head of the figure was encircled by a heavy -white bandage, like a turban. The eyes which stared back at Shultz from -an apparently set and pallid face were full of terrible accusation and -menace, and beneath that unwavering gaze the terrified boy felt his -blood turn to icy currents in his veins. - -For a moment he stood spellbound and as motionless as the unmoving -figure upon the roof of the ell. Presently, unable longer to endure the -ordeal of those burning orbs, Shultz fell back a step, clapping a -trembling hand over his own eyes. - -He struck against the little stand on which his lamp stood, and the lamp -was overturned. Fortunately, it was of metal, and did not break. The -chimney, detaching itself, dropped upon a rug and was also unbroken. The -burning wick continued to flare, sending up a writhing spiral of smoke, -but the room was temporarily plunged into semi-gloom; and, still further -terrified lest complete darkness should ensue, Charley stooped and -caught up the lamp. He scarcely realized that he burned his quivering, -nerveless fingers as he tried to replace the chimney. It was some -moments ere he succeeded in his object, and even then, with the lamp -gripped convulsively in his hand and held above his head, he could -scarcely bring himself once more to look toward the window. - -When he did look, he was astounded by the fact that the apparition had -vanished, and for at least sixty seconds he stood watching for it to -reappear; for it to materialize slowly and horribly, little by little, -vague and mist-like at first, but gradually taking form and growing -plainer, until, crouching at the window, it should once more sicken his -soul with those terrible eyes. - -It did not come. Hoping at last that it was truly gone, he forced -himself to advance, bearing the lamp. Reaching the window, he ran the -roller shade to the very top, and then, still holding the lamp above his -head with one hand while he shaded his eyes with the other, he gazed out -into the silent night. - -The lamplight showed that the roof of the ell was bare. At the far end -of the building it fell upon a big chestnut tree with spreading -branches. Beyond that nothing could be seen. - -Presently, with a deep breath that was almost painful in the relief it -gave, Shultz drew back from the window, seized the shade and quickly -pulled it all the way down. - -"Mercy! what a fright!" he whispered hoarsely. "I must have imagined it. -My nerves must be on edge, and I never knew I had any nerves. Great -Caesar! but it did look natural and real!" - -He put the lamp back on the stand and dropped upon a chair, weak and -covered with clammy perspiration. For the first time in his life, -perhaps, Charley Shultz had been thoroughly frightened, and it was no -easy matter for him to recover and regain control of himself. - -"I can hardly believe I imagined it, now!" he muttered. "Why should I? I -haven't felt that I was really to blame for this Hooker business, and, -if I'm not to blame, why should I get all wrought up over it?" - -Up to this time his great concern had been almost wholly for himself as -he would be affected by the unfortunate affair. In a slight measure he -had regretted that Osgood would be entangled. Hooker had called him a -cheat and had been the first to lift his hand in wrath. Therefore, why -should he feel remorse over what the fellow had brought upon himself? - -"He deserved all he got," Shultz had told himself this over and over. -"Of course I didn't intend to give him a poke that would hurt him -seriously, but I had to defend myself." - -Now, however, something like a ray of light, piercing his distressed -heart, showed him that under the circumstances he could not hope wholly -to escape just blame and censure. Although seemingly a bit stolid about -ordinary affairs, he had always permitted his ungovernable temper and -somewhat bullying proclivities to have full sway, and no person with a -violent temper is totally phlegmatic or stolid. Rage and resentment had -put power into the smashing blow which threatened him with disgrace--or -worse. - -"If only I hadn't been quite so quick!" he sighed. "I didn't realize -what might come of it. I didn't stop to think." Which is the prime cause -of most misfortunes we bring upon ourselves; we do not stop to think. - -Rising, after a time, from the chair, he paced the floor of the little -room, feeling that in his present condition it would be useless to go to -bed; for sleep would be denied him. Back and forth he walked for a long -time, his mind a riot of wild thoughts. Presently he stood still, -breathing softly with his lips parted, his eyes wide and staring, yet -seeing nothing in that room. A dreadful thought had gripped him. What if -Hooker were dead? - -"Perhaps it was his ghost I really saw!" The words drifted so faintly -from his lips that another person in the room could not have understood -them. "It isn't impossible that he's dead! The doctor thought he'd get -better, but doctors make mistakes. If he's dead I'm done for." - -Scarcely realizing what he was doing, he flung on the garments he had -removed some time before. And as he dressed he became more and more -convinced that Roy Hooker was really dead. - -"I'll have to get out of this town--quick. I'll pack up and get ready." - -Forth from an adjoining closet he drew his trunk, into which he flung -his belongings without method or care. A few things, such as he might -need for immediate use, he packed into a leather grip. - -"I can't get away till morning," he muttered; "there's no train. Still, -I suppose I might hire a team from the stable. I might tell them I'd had -a message that my father was dying. It's thirty-four miles to Watertown -on the main line, and there's a train goes through that place at four in -the morning. I could catch that train, but, first, I'll make sure about -Hooker." - -Blowing out the lamp, he tiptoed down the dark stairs and presently -found himself outside the house in which Mr. and Mrs. Carter were -soundly sleeping. The air was raw and the night still dark. Later the -moon would come up, though it might be smothered by clouds. - -Shultz walked slowly, irresolutely, down the black road which led into -Lake Street. After a time the academy loomed on his left, and on the -right he saw the gymnasium and the fence of the athletic field. Like an -avalanche a host of memories came rushing over him; memories of the days -he had spent here since his expulsion from Berkley Academy. - -For the first time he realized how pleasant those days had really been, -and for the first time he perceived with wonderment that he had become -attached to the place and it would give him regret to go away. Through -his athletic prowess and his skill in baseball he had won a certain -amount of popularity, which might have been much greater if he had only -made some effort to curb his unpleasant characteristics. Osgood, his -friend, was immensely popular; so popular, indeed, that it had seemed -probable that, through a little maneuvering and scheming, he might -supersede Nelson as captain of the nine. Without a thought of the moral -or manly points involved, they had plotted to bring this about. - -"Well, it will never happen now," said Shultz, with a low, bitter laugh. -"The jig is up, anyhow. I hardly thought Ned would agree when I proposed -it, but he almost jumped at it. I believe he'd been thinking of the very -same thing. There's class to his people, and he's a gentleman, so, when -he did agree, it seemed all right to me." In this manner he sought to -excuse himself. - -He recalled how he had scoffed at Oakdale, the school and the old -professor. He had even dreamed of resorting to various harassing methods -in order to make Professor Richardson's task so difficult that, unable -to govern his pupils with a stern hand, he would withdraw from his -position to let it be filled by a younger and more efficient instructor. -Yes, having instilled some of his own spirit into his associates, Shultz -had started a campaign of nagging and annoyance and disregard for what -he called old-fashioned rules, which had certainly given the principal -no small amount of worry and trouble. - -"I suppose," he half laughed, as he walked slowly past the building, -"the old relic thinks I'm a bad egg. What do I care what he thinks! What -do I care what anybody thinks!" But for the first time in his life he -did care. - -At this hour the center of the village seemed dark and deserted. Only an -occasional light was to be seen shining dimly from a window. -Nevertheless, the boy hesitated about passing through the square, -fearing that some one might see him, know him, and wonder what he was -doing prowling about so late. This fear led him to turn from Lake Street -and cross lots toward the rapids below the upper dam. In this manner he -stole down the slope at the rear of the stores and houses which lined -the western side of lower Main Street. - -The water was gurgling and grumbling around the rocks which thrust -themselves upward in the channel. At intervals, as Shultz passed, it -hissed, like a living creature expressing scorn and hatred. - -At the bridge he climbed upward to the roadway, where he stood for a few -moments, peering and listening. - -"I seem to be the only one alive in this old burg." The thought brought -Hooker to his mind--Hooker, dead, perhaps. - -Cross Street, which ran back of the town hall and along the shore of the -lower pond, would bring him into Lake Street again, near Willow, upon -which was the home of the Hookers. He had almost reached Lake Street -when he stopped short, halted by the sound of echoing footsteps, which -were approaching from that part of the town he had avoided. In a moment -he was pressing his body against the bole of a big tree. - -The footsteps came nearer. The person began to hum a tune. Here was some -one abroad with a light heart and fearless of observation. - -"It must be Tuttle," thought the boy by the tree. "Yes, it is. Why don't -he let his eternal peanuts stop his mouth?" - -Chub Tuttle passed on the opposite side of the way, and, ceasing to hum -as he trudged serenely homeward, began to whistle not unmelodiously. The -notes of "The Last Rose of Summer" came drifting back to the ears of -Charley Shultz, growing fainter and fainter in the distance and sounding -inexpressibly sad. - -Shultz thought it must be getting darker, and was amazed, on rubbing -them, to find that his eyes were moist and blurred. He leaned against -the tree and listened, almost against his will, as the whistling grew -fainter and yet fainter, softened and sweetened by the distance. When he -could hear it no longer he gave himself a savage shake. - -"You fool!" he rasped. "What's the matter with you? You never felt like -this before. You're growing silly." - -Reaching Willow Street, he gazed toward Hooker's home, but, even had the -darkness not prevented him from seeing the house, it stood so far back -on the Middle Street corner that he could not have surveyed it from his -present position. Dread heavily upon him, yet hope not entirely dead, he -walked slowly up the street. He had almost reached the corner when he -stopped again. - -He could see the house now, and his heart hammered furiously as he -perceived that something was taking place there. There were lights -flashing from room to room; he heard excited voices calling; the house -was in a commotion. - -"What's that mean? What's that mean?" whispered Shultz over and over. - -Suddenly the door of the house was flung open. A man came running out, -some one calling after him. Down the steps he sprang; across Lake Street -he dashed; along Middle Street he raced. - -Panting, one hand clutching a nearby fence-railing, Shultz was certain -he knew the cause of this commotion. Mr. Hooker was running for the -doctor. They had just discovered that Roy was dead. - -Turning sharply about, Schultz ran also. - - - - -CHAPTER XVIII - -FLIGHT. - - -As he ran, the terrible fear that had clung to him grew to gigantic -proportions. Panting and gasping, he exerted every effort in that first -burst of speed. The sound of his flying feet echoed through the silent -streets, and those echoes, flung back to his ears, made it seem that a -part of the sound was produced by other feet than his own. It seemed -that there was a fearsome pursuer at his very heels, reaching for him -with eager, clawlike hands. He dared not pause an instant in his flight -to look back. On and on he ran, down through Cross Street, retracing his -course up the slope to Lake Street, and still on past the silent and -gloomy academy. - -From exhaustion and lack of breath his pace had slackened perforce. In -all his experience in athletics, never before had he exerted himself -until, the breath wholly pumped from his lungs, he could only gasp in -exquisite pain, while his very head threatened to burst. - -At length, just beyond the academy, he stumbled and fell. Half stunned -by the shock, he fully expected to feel himself pounced upon by that -unknown pursuer. - -Recovering, he looked around as he struggled to his feet. He was quite -alone; he could see no moving, living object. - -"Still," he thought, as he stood gulping in air to relieve his collapsed -lungs, "I could swear something chased me. It was right behind me all -the way. I couldn't see it, but I could feel it. If it's that sort of a -thing, it's no use to run; I can't run away from it." - -But when he started on again the fear returned, and it was only by the -most tremendous effort that he restrained the impulse to resume running. -Every moment or two he looked back, and sometimes he stopped and turned -squarely in his tracks. - -His relief was great when he saw, near at hand, the house where he -boarded. He would get inside, close the door quickly behind him, and -shut the unseen pursuer out. - -But the door did not open beneath his hand. He tried it again and again, -presently realizing with dismay that he had failed to fasten back the -catch of the spring lock when he came out. Yesterday, in changing his -clothes, he had discovered that his latch key was missing. Search for it -had been vain, and Mrs. Carter had not been able to furnish another key. - -"Well, this is a fix!" he whispered. "I'm locked out. I don't want to -rap and get them up, for I would have to explain. Then, too, if they got -a look at me they'd know there's something wrong. I must show it plain -enough." - -He walked silently around to the rear of the house. There was the ell, -upon the roof of which his window opened, and close to the end of the -ell stood the chestnut tree, with one stout branch projecting over the -roof. He thought of climbing the tree, reaching the roof by means of -that limb, and crawling along to obtain admittance through the window of -his chamber. - -Remembering the fearsome spectacle revealed to him outside that window -this very night, he faltered and drew back. He was terrified lest, -having climbed to the roof, he should find himself once more face to -face with the apparition. - -"It's no use," he almost sobbed; "I can't do it! Anyhow, why should I -wish to get in there? If it's a ghost, I couldn't shut it out. I may -need the things in my bag; I'd certainly like to have them; but I must -do without them." - -He knew that a hostler slept all night in Hyde's livery stable, and that -there was a bell by which the man might be aroused. Now, however, for -the first time it occurred to him that he lacked money. Having paid -Osgood a small debt, less than three dollars remained in his pocket. It -was thirty-four miles to Watertown, and it would require many times -three dollars to pay for a rig to carry him there. - -"Perhaps they'll trust me," he muttered. "I'll tell a good story. I'll -make it out a case of life or death--and perhaps it is." - -Then something seemed to whisper in his ear that he could not endure the -scrutiny of any one without betraying himself. Furthermore, if he should -hire a rig and a man to drive him to Watertown, that would betray the -direction of his flight. Should they desire to stop him and bring him -back, the telephone would serve them well. - -"I'm done for," he groaned--"done for! I don't know what to do." - -Desiring sympathy, longing for advice, he thought of Osgood, and at once -he decided that Ned ought to know without delay what had happened. - -Crossing lots and open fields, he avoided the streets of the town as far -as possible. He was still pursued by the conviction that some unseen -thing was following him, but with set teeth, he restrained the desire to -run, holding himself down to a sharp, jerky walk, which was interrupted -occasionally as he looked back. Finally he saw before him the big white -two-story house of Mrs. Chester. - -Now another problem arose, how to reach Osgood. If he rang at the door -he would eventually bring either the maid or Mrs. Chester to answer the -bell. What could he tell them? - -"I know what I'll do," he decided, stooping to run the palm of his hand -over the loose earth of the street bed. - -It did not take him long to gather up a handful of small pebbles, and -with these he approached the house. One after another he flung them -upward and heard them clink against the window glass, but he used them -all without perceiving a token that he had awakened Osgood. The house -remained dark and silent. A rising breeze caused the limbs of some trees -to knock together; it swept Shultz's clammy cheek and made him shiver. - -"I must get Ned up," he muttered. "Fool that I am, I've been trying the -wrong window. He's in his bedroom, of course, and the window to that is -on the side of the house." - -Back to the street he went for more pebbles. He was crouching froglike, -feeling for them with his hands, when he heard a sound that turned him -rigid for an instant. - -Footsteps were approaching on the sidewalk; some one was coming up the -street. Why should any one in that sleepy, well-behaved little town be -out at this hour? Was it possible they had already begun searching for -him? - -Then he heard voices. There were two persons approaching. - -Rising to a crouching position, he ran to the fence across the way from -Mrs. Chester's and flung himself over. And, again started in flight, the -terror that had driven him in the first place came back with additional -force; and this was augmented by the sound of voices shouting after -him--the voices of the two men on the street, who had seen his shadowy -figure as he vaulted the fence. - -"There he is!" "That's him!" "There he goes!" "Stop! stop!" - -Crying after him in this manner, they came on in pursuit. Venturing to -look back, he saw them tumbling over the fence he had leaped, and once -more he strained every nerve. - -There was now no doubt in his mind; they were after him. Perhaps before -the coming of the end Roy Hooker's mind had cleared sufficiently for him -to tell who struck the fatal blow. Perhaps Roy's father, running from -the house, had been hurrying to set the officers at work. - -In advance, he perceived a dark, straggling line of bushes and low -trees. Amid them he turned sharply to the left, hoping somehow to double -on his tracks and baffle the pursuers. Through a thicket of shrubbery he -plunged, with the tiny branches viciously whipping his face and tearing -at his clothes, as if even they sought to grasp and hold him. - -Suddenly he stopped short, his mouth wide open, that he might listen the -better. The two men had reached the growth, and he could hear them -floundering amid it. - -"This way!" one of them cried. "He went this way!" - -"Keep still!" urged the other. "We ought to be able to hear him. Keep -still a minute." - -The crashing sounds ceased, and the listening boy knew the men were -listening also. Through a great effort of self-command, he kept himself -from resuming the flight, waiting until the noise of their own movements -should prevent them from hearing what sounds he might make. - -They soon grew impatient and began beating about in the underbrush in an -aimless search. - -As soon as this happened Shultz moved away, proceeding with a certain -amount of caution. Keeping just within the border of the timber and -thickets, he went forward as fast as he dared, putting out his hands to -part the bushes and slipping through them as silently as possible. At -times twigs snapped beneath his feet, but, as he had hoped, the men were -themselves making sufficient noise to drown such minor sounds, and -gradually he left them far behind. - -In the blackness he ran full against a wire fence, and the barbs of the -lower strands slashed his trousers and cut his legs. He tore himself -free, felt for the smooth upper strand, bent it downward and straddled -over. - -Following the line of the fence, he turned full upon the course he had -been pursuing when he plunged into the timber. Leaving that shelter -behind him, bending low, he ran on until he returned to the highway some -distance above the home of Mrs. Chester. In the middle of the road he -paused uncertainly. - -The moon was rising. Its light, although somewhat muffled by the clouds, -was sufficient to enable him to perceive the outlines of objects at a -considerable distance; it would also reveal him far better to pursuers, -and make his escape more difficult were he again seen by them. - -"Good-by, Ned," he whispered. "You're asleep, and you don't know -anything about it. Probably you'll never realize just what I've had to -go through this night." - -Fearing to follow the highway, he again struck across the fields, before -him the deep stretch of timberland to the north of Turkey Hill. By -making his way through those woods and passing round the hill, he could -reach the Barville road some miles from Oakdale. - -At the edge of the timber the night wind bore to his ears a sound that -again halted him dead in his tracks. The bells of Oakdale were -ringing--ringing wildly, furiously, as they might ring to arouse the -villagers to battle with a conflagration. Peal upon peal vibrated -through the night air, and their clanging strokes stabbed the miserable -boy like dagger thrusts. - -"I know what it means!" he half panted, half sobbed. "They're turning -the whole town out to hunt me down! I'm alone, alone, with everybody -against me! What chance have I got? Well, they'll have to catch me -before I give up." - -The woods swallowed him; he was gone. The bells continued to fling forth -their wild alarm. As if wondering at it, and curious to know what it was -all about, the silvery moon peered through a break in the clouds, -flooding the open space with its light. - -But in the woods through which Charley Shultz staggered on it was dark. -In his heart it was darker still. - - - - -CHAPTER XIX - -THE APPARITION IN THE WOODS. - - -In the midst of the woods Shultz stopped to rest, seating himself upon a -log against which he had stumbled. The clouds having dispersed, the moon -was silvering the tree-tops above his head, but it had not yet risen -high enough to cast its light upon the ground of the little glade. On -every hand were the mysterious night shadows of the woods. - -The boy's legs quivered as he sat there, grateful for this respite, -although he felt that time was precious and he should waste no moments. -No longer could he hear the village bells; they had ceased to ring, and -he was glad of that. - -It was a melancholy and terrible thing to feel himself an outcast and a -fugitive from justice, practically with the hand of mankind in general -turned against him. He had read stories of daring fugitives in similar -positions, and always the fugitives had seemed enfolded by a glamor of -romance, which had almost made him long to pass through such an -experience; but, now that the experience was his, it held no glamor, no -single feature of allurement or romance. It was simply a horrible -situation, to be freed from which he felt that he would willingly give -up years of his life. - -That he could escape, he still had a faint hope; but it was faint -indeed, and, had he heeded sober judgment, he would have put it aside as -something false and deceptive and merely adding to his suspense and -torture. With the telephone and telegraph, the surrounding country could -be warned and every loophole stopped. With the bulk of the villagers -searching for him, it was simply a matter of time before he would be run -down. - -"I'll never give up," he kept telling himself; "I'll never give up till -they catch me." - -He had always thought of the night woods at this season of the year as -silent and lifeless. Now, however, resting upon that log, he became -aware of many strange sounds all around him. There seemed to be faint -rustlings and whisperings, as if the very trees were telling one another -that he was there, and pointing him out with their bare, extending arms. -Continually he kept turning his head to look first in one direction and -then in another. Several times he was startled by shadows that seemed to -move, but when he watched them more closely they were motionless enough. - -Nevertheless, the fancy that something was drawing nearer, creeping upon -him bit by bit, increased with the passing moments. He could feel it -approaching silently, stealthily, steadily. He had escaped the two men -who had tried to run him down, but there was something he could not -escape, and, recalling what he had beheld through the window of his -chamber, he leaped up and resumed his reckless flight. - -This way and that he turned and darted to avoid the trees and the denser -thickets. The woods seemed endless. Long ere this, he told himself, he -should have passed through them and reached the Barville road. - -Presently before him the moonlight showed a broad open space, and with a -gasp of thankfulness he tottered forth from the forest. His clothes were -in tatters. There was blood on his legs from the wounds inflicted by the -barbed wire fence. His hands and his face were scratched and bruised. -Seeing him now, a stranger must surely have wondered with curiosity to -know what had brought him to such a pitiful plight. - -But the woods, they were behind him. The Barville road must be near at -hand. Not far away the moonlight showed him an orchard and some -buildings. - -He stopped, stood still, gazed at those buildings. There was something -familiar about them. Farther away, to the right, he could see more -houses. - -"Where am I?" he muttered hoarsely. "So help me, that looks like Sage's -home! It is! it is! I got turned round in the woods. I've come straight -back to the place where I entered." - -This was true. The houses down the road were the scattering ones upon -the outskirts of the village. - -Sickened by this discovery, Shultz remained some moments in doubt and -uncertainty. Here and there he could see lights in the windows of the -houses. All Oakdale seemed awake. The bells had aroused the village, and -everywhere posses of men were searching. Should he attempt to follow -along the edge of the woods and pass round Turkey Hill to the south, it -would bring him dangerously near town. - -"My only safety lies in the woods until I can get farther away," he -decided. "I can get through them all right if I keep my head. With the -moon on my back, the shadows will guide me. I can get my bearings in -every little open space. I'll do it." - -Setting his teeth, he turned about and again plunged into the timber. -Precious time had been lost through his blunder, but now, he told -himself, he would master his fears and make no false steps. - -In time he came to an opening in the midst of the woods, where the -moonlight fell upon the cleared ground. Half-way across this opening -dread of the gloom at the far side made him falter. Again he was -oppressed by the conviction that something terrible and uncanny had -followed him in all his flight. Again he could feel it drawing nearer -and nearer. Something like the sound of soft footsteps caused his heart -to choke him, and, turning, he saw it coming. - -In the shadows an object advanced. It was like a human body, white from -the waist upward, and this white portion, which he could plainly see, -seemed to float in the air. - -But when the shadows were passed and it stepped forth into the -moonlight, he perceived that the body was supported by legs encased in -dark trousers. The moonlight revealed more than that. He was looking -into the face of Roy Hooker! Even as Roy's eyes had stared at him -through the window of his chamber, they were now fastened upon him. -Above those staring eyes, the turban-like bandage of white still -encircled Hooker's head. - -"Hooker!" groaned Shultz. "Oh, Hooker, I'm sorry! I didn't mean to do -it!" - -The figure halted ten feet away. A hand was uplifted and extended -accusingly. A voice--the voice of Hooker--demanded: - -"Shultz, where did that other ace come from?" - -The words sounded in a low, monotonous, dead-level tone. To Shultz, the -voice seemed hollow and lifeless, like the voice of the dead. - -He could not answer, but, flinging off the benumbing spell that had -chained him in his tracks, he whirled and fled again. Through the woods -he crashed and plunged like mad, almost blind with terror. Again and -again he half collided with trees. Vines and low branches tripped him. -Falling, he scrambled up and ran on, absolutely heedless of what course -he followed. - -In this manner he plunged at last into a deep gully. As he fell he tried -to leap, and down he went in an upright position. When he struck the -bottom, one foot twisted beneath him, and he dropped in a heap. A pain -shot through his leg. - -Getting his breath after the shock, he started to rise; but the moment -he tried to bear his weight on his right foot the pain jabbed him -frightfully, and he toppled over. - -"My leg is broken!" he sobbed. "Now I'm done for, sure!" - - - - -CHAPTER XX - -THE SEARCH. - - -In the midst of troublesome dreams, Ned Osgood, half-awake, fancied he -heard hail beating against the windows of his sitting room. Fully awake -at last, he lifted his head from the pillow and listened; but, hearing -it no more, he decided that it must have been a figment of his -distasteful dreams. - -He heard something else, however. Far away the voices of men were -calling, but as he listened and wondered, the sounds grew more distant, -became fainter, and died away. - -Returning to his pillow, he settled down, seeking to compose himself, -and praying that those rest-disturbing dreams might trouble him no more. -But thoughts of Hooker would not let him sleep, and presently something -else brought him bolt upright on the bed, startled and wondering. - -It was a clamor of bells, beginning with a peal from the steeple of the -Methodist church down the street. The night air vibrated with the -sounds, which seemed to pour in upon him through the partly opened -window of his bedroom. Why were those church bells ringing at such an -hour? He could distinguish the tones of the academy bell, as well. In a -moment he knew it must be an alarm meant to arouse the town, and out of -bed he sprang, catching his trousers up from the back of a chair and -getting into them as quickly as he could, trembling slightly all the -while with excitement. - -Below he heard Mrs. Chester calling to the maid, and, opening the door -of his room, her words came plainly to his ears: - -"Sarah! Sarah! Get up quick! I'm frightened. There must be a big fire. -The bells are ringing." - -"So that's it," muttered Osgood, hastening to a window. "There's a fire -in the village. They sound the bells to give the alarm." - -Looking from the window, he failed to observe any glow of light against -the sky to indicate where the fire might be. Through a momentary lull of -the bells, he fancied he heard some one shouting far away in town. -Surely some terrible thing had happened or was taking place. - -Lighting a lamp, he rapidly finished dressing, and pulling on his -turtle-neck sweater he grabbed up his cap. - -As he bounded down the stairs, Mrs. Chester called to him from a partly -opened door at the end of the hall: - -"Where is it, Ned? Where's the fire?" - -"I don't know," he answered. "I looked out, but I couldn't see any fire. -Don't be alarmed; it must be a long distance away, in another part of -the village." - -A man was running down the middle of the street as Osgood dashed from -the house, slamming the door behind him. He called to the man, but -received no answer. Then he took to the street and followed. - -The bell in the Methodist steeple hammered and banged as he raced past -the church. Lights were shining everywhere from the windows of houses. -Men and boys came running from side streets, questioning one another -excitedly without getting satisfactory answers. - -There was a crowd in the village square, and, contrasted with the -agitated people who came running to join it from every direction, it was -strangely calm. - -Ned grabbed some one by the arm, as he demanded: - -"What is it? What's the matter? Why are they ringing the bells?" - -He recognized Jack Nelson, as the person he had questioned turned to -answer. - -"It's Hooker!" - -"Hooker!" choked Osgood, aghast. - -A fearsome thought smote him. Hooker was dead! But why should they ring -the bells in the middle of the night and bring all the people out? - -"Yes," Nelson was saying, "Roy has disappeared. He was left, apparently -asleep, and later, when some one looked into his room, he was gone." - -"Great Scott!" breathed Ned. "I thought perhaps he was dead." - -"Oh, no. In that case, it wouldn't be necessary to turn the whole -village out. He's wandering around somewhere, half dressed and probably -crazy. They're getting the people out to search for him." - -"Is it necessary to turn out the whole town this way?" - -"Perhaps so. They've tried to find him, but can't. Now they're asking -everybody to join in the search. You see, there's no telling what the -result may be if he's not found soon. In his dotty condition he may do -himself harm; and, anyhow, with only a few clothes on, he's liable to -get pneumonia." - -Some of the men who had early learned the cause of the disturbance were -now seen bringing lanterns, and in the midst of the gathering in the -square, William Pickle, the deputy sheriff, was suggesting a plan of -search, by which four parties should spread out in different directions. - -"You want to look everywhere, feller citizens," the officer was saying; -"look into sheds and barns and under fences, and every old nook and -corner where the boy may be hidin'. He's plumb loony, ye know, and he's -li'ble to crawl into any old place. Mebbe he'll be scat of ye and want -to fight when ye do find him, so handle him gentle." - -At this juncture two men came panting down Main Street. "We know where -he is!" shouted one. "We've seen him!" - -"Yep, we've seen him," gulped the other. "We almost ketched him, but he -got away from us somehow." - -"Where is he? Where is he?" cried twenty voices. - -"We was goin' up the street, lookin' for him, and we'd almost got to the -Widder Chester's, when we see somebody scoot across the road, jump the -fence and put off inter the field above Cedar Street. When we hollered -for him to stop he run faster." - -"And he could run some," gasped the smaller man. "We chased him into a -strip of trees and bushes, and he must be hid there right now, for we -couldn't find him." - -"Come on," commanded William Pickle, taking the lead--"come on, -everybody. Show us the way, Turner and Crabtree." - -Forgetting the original plan of search, the crowd poured up the main -street, straggling out into a long, irregular body. Osgood, keeping -close to the leaders, felt some one press against him, and recognized -Billy Piper. - -"This is bad business," said Piper in a low tone. - -"You're right," agreed Ned instantly. "No one can feel any worse about -it than I do." - -"But feeling bad," retorted Billy grimly, "doesn't make amends; it's got -to be something more than that." - -As the searchers turned from the road near Mrs. Chester's house, climbed -the fence and streamed across the field, Ned began to understand that -the shouting, which had seemed to break in upon his troubled dreams, had -been real. And with this conviction came the thought that in his -delirium Hooker had sought to return to the place where he had been -injured. It was a disagreeable thought, which Osgood tried to put aside. - -The rising moon, breaking now and then through ragged clouds, promised -aid to the searchers. Directed by Pickle, they spread out and -practically surrounded the long, narrow strip of trees and bushes. This -done, a body of men entered the growth and worked their way through it, -leaving scarcely a yard of ground uninspected. But when they had passed -over it all in this thorough manner, it became known that not one of -them had found the slightest trace of the missing lad. - -"He must have hid till Turner and Crabtree left," said the deputy -sheriff. "As soon as they were gone, he prob'ly hit out for somewhere's -else." - -"Too bad one of 'em didn't have sense enough to stay and watch while -t'other one went for help," said Abel Hubbard, the constable. - -The posse gathered in a group, seeking further instructions from their -leaders. - -"Don't believe they'll ever find him this way," said Billy Piper. -"They're not going about it with any sort of method." - -"Yeou're so all-fired clever at sech things," said Sile Crane, "why -don't yeou suggest a plan?" - -"They wouldn't listen to me if I proposed anything." - -"If you have a plan, Piper," said Nelson, joining the little cluster of -boys that surrounded Billy, "just tell us what it is. If it sounds -reasonable, we'll carry it out." - -"Let me think a moment--let me think," said Piper, tapping his knuckles -against his forehead. "The report is that Roy was talking some along -about nightfall, though his words were jumbled, without much sense in -them. He kept repeating certain things, such as 'poker,' 'five aces,' -and 'cabin.'" - -"You know what Professor Richardson said," put in Rodney Grant. "It's -thought that Roy was playing cards for money when he was hurt." - -"If so," said Billy, "that would explain the words 'poker' and 'five -aces'; but why did he keep talking about a cabin? Ha! I have it. I -happen to know that once on a time a certain little bunch of fellows -went over to the old camp in Silver Brook Swamp to play poker, and Hook -was one of the crowd. Cabin--that's what he meant; he had something in -his muddled mind about that old camp in the swamp. Come on, fellows, -perhaps we'll find him there." - -"You've always been so lucky in your guesses," said Nelson, "that -there's a chance you may be right this time. If you should happen to be, -your reputation as a great detective will be established on a firm----" - -"I don't want any such reputation!" snapped Billy shortly. "I think I -told you so once before, Jack." - -"Geewhilikens!" exclaimed Crane, astonished. "What's happened to yeou -naow? Yeou've alwus been red-hot to play the detective, and some folks -have begun to say that yeou're purty clever at it." - -"I haven't time to explain my reasons for cutting that tommyrot out," -retorted Piper. "Let's get a move on." - -There were eight boys in the party that set out for Silver Brook Swamp, -led by Piper. Striking across the fields, they passed to the south of -Turkey Hill and reached the Barville road. The clouds were dispersing -and the moon was shining clear and bright when they drew near Silver -Brook and came to the old path that led into the swamp. - -Phil Springer and Chipper Cooper were disposed to lag behind somewhat, -although something seemed to draw them on after the others. - -"I've been expecting Piper to blow the whole thing any minute," said -Cooper, speaking to Phil in a low tone. - -"Wonder why he hasn't?" speculated Springer. "He sus-swore to us that he -would if Shultz or Osgood didn't own up pup-pretty quick." - -"Guess he's waiting for what he'd call the psychological moment. You -know Pipe's always great for dramatic effects." - -"There can be only one outcome to this thing now. We're all in the -sus-sus-soup." - -"Billy says it's our duty to think of Roy, not ourselves." - -"I've been th-thinking of him too much. It's made me sick. I'm thinking -of him now, and what we're liable to fuf-find in this old swamp if -Pipe's guess is right about the way he went. Being crazy enough to jump -out of bub-bed and run off half-dressed, anything may huh-happen to -him." - -"That's right," agreed Chipper dolefully. "I wonder where Charley Shultz -is? Didn't see anything of him with the crowd." - -"Yah!" growled Springer. "He hasn't got any fuf-feelings. I'll bet he's -in bed, sleeping like a log, this very minute. Probably not even the -ringing of the bells woke him up." - -"He must have a heart of stone," said Cooper. - -Had they known all that had happened to Shultz in the last two hours, -could they have seen him in his present painful and wretched condition, -their judgment of him might not have been so harsh. - - - - -CHAPTER XXI - -THE CAMP ON THE ISLAND. - - -Under the western shoulder of Turkey Hill the shadows were deep and -heavy, and, the path being dim and faint from rare use, it was necessary -for the party to proceed slowly. They did not talk much, and when they -did speak their words were uttered in low and guarded tones. - -Several times, Piper, in the lead, paused to make sure they had not -wandered from the right course. The others seemed to rely almost wholly -upon Billy, and no one thought of superseding him in the leadership. -During one of these pauses, Cooper, who had halted with Springer a short -distance behind the others, pulled at Phil's sleeve and whispered in his -ear: - -"Say, old man, don't you think it's about time we told all we know about -this business?" - -Springer gave his body a queer sort of a shake. - -"What gug-good will that do?" he whispered back. "It won't help fuf-find -Hooker." - -"No, but it may help us after he's found." - -"I don't think so; it's tut-too late." - -"Why too late?" persisted Chipper. - -"Because everybub-bub-body would know we were just scared into it, -that's all. It wouldn't help us a bit, Chip--not a bit, to tell it now. -If Piper thought it would do any good you bub-bet your life he'd have -told already." - -"Perhaps you're right," sighed Cooper; "but it's an awful load on my -conscience, and I'd like to get it off my system." - -"Come on," Piper called back in a low tone. "We're all right. This is -the way." - -They went forward again, turning presently to the left and descending to -the lower ground at the border of the broad marsh. The trees became more -scattering and the thickets grew thinner. Before long they saw the -marsh, spreading out before them, silent and strange and uninviting in -the moonlight which flooded its expanse of pools and reeds and -brushwood, amid which a few scraggy dead trees rose here and there. In -the midst of the expanse was a bit of higher ground, covered by a growth -of small, dark, evergreen trees. This was the "island" on which stood -the old camp where Piper hoped to find Roy Hooker. From knoll to knoll, -in a zigzag course, led the path, the pools and marshy places bridged by -felled trees and brushwood. - -"I'm afraid you won't find him there, Piper," said Nelson. - -Cooper, hearing the words, muttered for Springer's ear: - -"I'm afraid we will." - -Despite their caution in proceeding, at one point, Grant, breaking -through the brushwood bridge with a cracking sound, plunged one leg to -the thigh between the two lengthwise supports and drew it forth soaking -wet. - -"This yere trail," said the Texan, "is sure some unreliable and -treacherous." - -Those who reached the island first waited for the others to come up. -They stood there whispering and listening, but hearing no sounds to -assure them that the one they sought was near. - -"As he's deranged," said Piper, "we want to take care not to frighten -him more than possible, for it's likely he'll be scared and run when he -sees us." - -"He can't run fur," declared Crane, "without plungin' head over heels -right into the swamp." - -"And that's what we don't want him to do; it might be his finish. We -must prevent him from running away when we find him." - -"When we find him," muttered Nelson. "But something tells me we won't -find him here." - -Slowly they pushed forward toward the center of the island. In a few -moments they came to a small opening and paused again, before them the -old camp huddling in the shadows of a thick grove which rose close -beside it. The place was dolefully silent and forbidding at that hour. A -breath of wind, sweeping across the island, set up a sudden rustling, -which was accompanied by a sound that put their nerves on edge. - -That sound was like a low, harsh moan or groan, and it seemed to come -from the sagging, deserted camp before them. Some shrank back shivering, -while others appeared eager to rush forward. - -"He's there!" breathed Nelson. "That must be he!" - -Springer stooped and placed his lips close to Cooper's ear: - -"Sus-sus-sounded to me like sus-sus-some one dying," he chattered. - -"Let the others go ahead," gasped Cooper. "I don't want to find him -first. I don't want to see him. I'd like to get away this minute." - -With his arm outstretched and the palm of his hand turned backward to -restrain his companions, Billy Piper advanced swiftly on his toes. -Within a few feet of the shanty structure, he saw that the door was -standing open. At that moment another gust of wind rustled through the -trees, and immediately the harsh moaning sound was repeated. - -"It's the door," declared Billy, enlightened. "The wind moves it and -makes the old hinges creak." - -"My Jinks!" mumbled Crane, in great relief. "I thought it must be him -sure; I thought it was Roy. Mercy! I'm all ashake." - -Stepping boldly to the black doorway, Piper struck a match, but a gust -of wind extinguished it. Immediately he lighted a second match, -shielding the tiny blaze with his cupped hands. Close behind him crowded -the others, seeking to look over his shoulders into the camp when the -blaze should be sufficient to reveal the interior of the place. - -Having protected the match until it burned brightly, Billy held it out -before him and slightly above his head, shifting his curved hands until -they served as a reflector for the tiny flaring light. - -The shanty contained only one room, which seemed to be quite empty and -deserted, save for an old broken table and a few crude pieces of -furniture. There were shadows in the corners, but none of these seemed -sufficient to hide a human being. - -The flame scorched Billy's fingers, and he dropped the match, which, a -bent and glowing coal, floated zigzagging and spiraling downward, burst -into bits as it struck, and died out. - -Some one behind Piper drew a long breath. "I don't reckon he's here, -after all," said the voice of Grant. - -"There's something white lying on the floor," declared Billy, with -suppressed excitement. "I saw it just as I dropped the match." - -Lighting another, he stepped forward and picked the thing up. It was a -damp cloth, and with it in his hand he retreated into the moonlight -outside. - -"What is it? What is it?" questioned the boys, pressing around him. - -Billy held it up. "Looks to me like a wet towel that had been wound -round something and fastened into place with safety pins," he said. -"That's what it is, too. Fellows, Hooker may not be here now, but he has -been here--he certainly has. This proves it." - -"How do you make that out?" asked Osgood, doing his best to appear as -calm as would seem consistent. - -"This towel proves it," reiterated Piper. "It couldn't come here without -being brought, could it?" - -"No; but I don't see----" - -"It's wet. It's the very towel that was used to hold the ice compress on -Roy's head." - -"If that's right," said Nelson swiftly, "he must be near. Perhaps he's -hiding close by in the bushes. We must search every foot of this -island." - -"Every inch of it," agreed Piper, "and we want to be about it right -away. Let's fall back to the place where we came on, and begin there. We -must spread out and then advance together. There must be some system -about it." - -Following his directions, they began the search on the island. It was -dark, pokey work in the midst of the thicker growths, but, nevertheless, -they did it with an amount of thoroughness that made it seem impossible -for them to overlook a person seeking to hide on that small patch of dry -land. Yet, when they had covered it all and reached the western side -beyond which the swamp lay impassable for a person afoot, they had found -no additional token of Hooker. - -"Too bad," said Nelson, discouraged. "He isn't here. He can't be here." - -"It doesn't seem possible," admitted Piper, "yet this towel is sure -evidence that he has been here." - -"He must have gone away before we came," was Osgood's opinion. "I don't -believe he could have dodged us after we got on to the island." - -Almost with one accord, they turned to Piper. - -"What be we goin' to do next, Billy?" asked Crane. - -"Let's take one more look into that old camp," suggested the leader, -who, although he did not admit it, was almost at his wit's end. "I know -where there's an old pitch-pine log, and we ought to get a piece of that -to serve as a torch." - -The log, which had been partly hacked up for firewood, was found, and a -slender resinous strip was torn from it. Lighting one end of this strip -of wood, Piper fanned it into a bright flame, and, bearing it in his -hand, boldly entered the shanty. - -The torch revealed nothing they had not previously seen, but it did give -them complete assurance that the boy they sought could not be hiding -there. - -"Yes, he got away, that's sure," said Nelson; "and there's only one way -by which he could do it. He had to go back as he came." - -"And therefore," said Billy quickly, "he must be in the woods somewhere -yonder. That's where we should look for him now." - -"Perhaps," ventured Crane, "he's near enough to hear us. Oh, Hooker! -Hey, Roy!" - -Piper sprang at him savagely. "Stop that, you idiot!" he snarled. "Stop -shouting that way! What are you trying to do?" - -"Why, I thought he might hear me." - -"Yes, he might and be frightened into fits. No more of that fool -business, Sile. Keep still and come on. We'll get off right away and do -the best we can hunting for him over yonder." - -Over the treacherous crossing they returned to the solid ground beyond -the border of the swamp. Looking backward, Cooper tugged at Springer's -sleeve. - -"Now I'm afraid we _won't_ find him, Phil," he confessed. "I'm afraid -nobody will find him tonight. And when they do, it wouldn't surprise me -if they dug his body out of this old swamp." - - - - -CHAPTER XXII - -A SURPRISING CONFESSION. - - -After a time Osgood and Nelson became separated from the rest of the -searchers. They had come to a little opening where the moonlight shone -upon a small pile of cord-wood that had been cut and left there during -the past winter, and here they stopped and faced each other. - -"It's worse than useless, this searching without lights of any sort save -what the moon affords," said Jack. "There are thousands of places were -one could hide from searchers if he chose. It would be better to go -through the woods calling to Hooker and assuring him we are friends." - -"I doubt," returned Ned, "if we'd find him then." - -"What do you suppose has become of him?" - -"You can answer that question fully as well as I." - -"Well, then," said Jack suddenly, "what do you suppose was the cause of -all this trouble, anyhow? How was Hooker hurt?" - -Osgood's answer was a shrug. Motioning toward two short stumps which -stood nearby, he suggested that they should sit down. - -"I want to talk to you, Nelson," he said, when they were seated. "I've -got to talk to some one, and I'd rather it would be you than any one -else. We've never been what might be called real friendly, have we?" - -Surprised and wondering at his companion's words and singular manner, -Nelson replied: - -"I don't know that we've been exactly chummy, but----" - -"Tell the truth," interrupted Osgood, reaching out and putting his hand -on the other boy's knee. "We haven't been even friendly, although you -seemed willing enough to be, and I've put up a bluff that I was. All the -same, you didn't trust me. You knew I was bluffing." - -"I--I don't think--that I--actually knew it," stammered Nelson, still more -astonished. - -Osgood threw back his head and smiled. The moonlight, full on his rather -handsome, aristocratic face, showed that smile to be touched with -bitterness, even with self-scorn. - -"I'm a bluffer, Nelson--a thoroughbred bluffer," he declared. "Intuition -told you as much. All along I knew you were one fellow in Oakdale that I -had not fully blinded. Piper, with all his natural shrewdness--and we'll -admit that he's naturally shrewd--was deceived in me." - -"What are you talking about, Osgood?" exclaimed Jack. "Why are you -telling me this stuff, anyhow?" - -"I don't know just why, but I'm telling it to relieve my mind. Perhaps -it will relieve me in a measure, anyhow. I had no thought in the world -of talking to you this way when we paused here a few moments ago, but -suddenly an irresistible impulse came upon me. Something seemed to say, -'You may as well tell him, for he sees through you, anyhow.' Do you -know, Nelson, I've hated you. Yes, that's the word. I hated you because -I couldn't deceive you, and that's why I longed to do something to hurt -you." - -"You what? Of course I know I benched you in that Wyndham game, but I -had----" - -"You should have benched me before," exclaimed Osgood. "You should have -fired me from the nine." - -"Fired you? Why, you were one of our best players. You really knew more -baseball than any one else on the team. You were valuable." - -"Even if I could play better baseball than Hans Wagner himself, I was a -bad man to have on the team, for I was trying to create insubordination, -distrust and a disbelief in your ability as captain." - -"I--I knew Shultz was ready to kick against my authority at any -provocation," said Nelson, bewildered; "but you always seemed so decent -and----" - -"Shultz!" exploded Osgood. "Why, he was simply carrying out my scheme. I -let him think it was mainly his idea, but all the time it was mine. I -fooled him, just the same as I did the others. When I perceived that you -did not trust me, and when I became convinced that you thought me -something of a fraud, I was bitterly determined to down you. I set about -ingratiating myself into the good will and esteem of certain fellows on -the team--certain fellows I felt confident I could sway to my will. Never -mind who they are, Nelson, for they weren't wise to the depth of my -game. Still, I knew I was getting them, one by one, just where I wanted -them. I knew that in time, when I should be ready to make a split on the -nine, I could swing them to my side and carry the majority of the -players with me. That was my object, Nelson. I intended to make trouble -on the team, break it up under your leadership, and then suggest -reorganization, with the purpose of being chosen captain in your place." - -Nelson leaped to his feet. "Why, you miserable scoundrel!" he cried -furiously. "So that's what you were up to! I did smell a rat. I did -think you were up to something underhanded. So that was it, eh? You're a -scrapper; you can box, they say. Take off your coat!" - -Osgood made no move to rise. "We're not going to fight," he asserted -calmly. "Did you think I was telling you this in order to provoke a -fight?" - -"I can't understand why under heaven you told me, anyhow." - -"Simply because I was determined to relieve myself of some of the load -I've been carrying. Simply because in the last few hours I've come to -see the full meaning of my dirty scheming. Oh, I don't suppose you -believe me, but that's the reason--anyhow, it's a part of the reason. And -I'm done with it all, no matter what may happen to me to-morrow." - -His breast heaving, his hands clenched, Nelson continued to stand -glaring down at the calm, abject fellow before him. And there was -something so genuinely abject in Osgood's appearance that gradually Jack -felt his rage oozing away and leaving him. - -"Sit down," invited Ned once more. "I'm not half through. As long as -I've begun on this thing, and said so much, I'm going to tell you more, -although it's likely you'll hold me henceforth in the most complete -contempt. You spoke of Shultz a moment ago. Do you know he's not the -sort of fellow with whom I can have any real natural bond of sympathy?" - -"I've always wondered at your chumminess with him," said Nelson slowly, -reseating himself. "He's so different. You're a gentleman, while he's -plainly of the most plebeian and common stock." - -"He's no more plebeian and common than I am," declared Osgood instantly. - -"But his family--he comes of a most ordinary family." - -"So do I." - -"You? Why, you have some high-grade ancestors behind you on your -mother's side, at least." - -"I wondered if you believed that, Nelson. If you did, it's plain you did -not see through me completely, as I fancied." - -"What? Do you mean to say that----" - -"My father and mother were just poor, illiterate people, neither of whom -could trace their pedigree back three generations. To tell you the plain -truth, I don't know anything whatever about my ancestors on either -side." - -"But the family portraits you have, and the crest you use upon your -stationery?" - -"Pure bluff, nothing else. I picked those portraits up as I chanced to -find them and fancied they would serve my purpose. Any one who wishes -can get a stationer to put a crest on his writing-paper. My father -started out in life as a tin peddler; my mother came from an orphan -asylum. They settled on a little farm, and by hard work were able in -time to buy more land. On that land some years ago oil was struck. It -made them rich, and in a wonderfully short time my father drank himself -to death." - -Pity was now supplanting anger in Nelson's heart. - -"But why--why did you put up such a bluff, Osgood?" - -Again Ned shrugged. "Simply because I'm a sort of cad and bounder, I -suppose. I've always felt grieved and hurt because I had no family -behind me. It must be true that, although she came from an orphan -asylum, my mother has good blood in her. Naturally, she had a little -education, too, while my father could scarcely write his own name. -Mother wished me to have an education and become a gentleman; on the -other hand, my father had really no true conception of what the word -gentleman meant. After he died mother sent me to school. I've attended -four different schools. Two of them were in the middle West, and at both -the truth regarding my parents was somehow learned. Although I had -money, I met certain chaps who, as I could very well see, looked down on -me. They came from good families, and even when they pretended to be -hail-fellow-well-met with me, I could feel the hidden contempt in their -hearts. It made me sore, Nelson. I hated those fellows. - -"I wrote my mother about it; I told her about it when I saw her. It's -true that her health is not very good, and she has gone to Southern -California. Why didn't she take me with her and put me into a school out -there? If you could see her, you might understand. Her shoulders are -bowed from work, and her hands are gnarled and knuckled. She knew that -she would betray the truth to any one who might meet her. I knew it, -too, and right there, when she proposed that we should be separated by -the full width of the continent in order that I might attend some far -school where there would be little danger of the truth coming out--right -there I showed the real cad in my make-up. I accepted the proposition -and went to Hadden Hall." - -"But you didn't stay at Hadden." - -"No. Shultz thinks I was compelled to leave that school for quite a -different reason than the real one. One day a fellow showed up there to -visit a friend--a fellow who knew me. I had been putting up the same -bluff I've put up in Oakdale. I had far better rooms than I've been able -to obtain here, and I was supposed to be a remote descendant of British -aristocracy. The fellow who knew me punctured that fabrication. I was -exposed, and I got out. Then I chose a little school, where it seemed to -me there would be no chance of any one recognizing me. That's what -brought me to Oakdale." - - - - -CHAPTER XXIII - -ANOTHER SURPRISE. - - -At a loss for words, Nelson was silent. He was still unable to -comprehend Osgood's motive for this confession. Perhaps Osgood himself -did not know what had led him to make it, beyond the fact that he had -suddenly been overcome by an intense desire to unburden himself in a -measure. - -The silence became awkward, and Jack stirred restlessly. His elbows on -his knees, the other boy was staring broodingly at the ground. Roused by -Nelson's movement, he lifted his head slowly. - -"Well," he said, almost whimsically, "you see now what a cheap, common -skate I am." - -"A fellow who blunders and owns up to it, partly atones for his mistake, -anyhow," returned Nelson. "We're none of us perfect, old chap. We're all -human, and we have our little failings." - -"It's very decent of you to talk that way, Nelson. I didn't expect it. I -had no reason to expect it. You've every right to be thoroughly -disgusted with me, and I'm disgusted with myself." - -"I can't see that you've actually harmed anybody yet." - -"That's because you don't know everything. I haven't told you all." - -"Great smoke!" exclaimed Jack, "Is there more to tell?" - -"Some time, before long, when everything comes out, you'll be compelled -to think even less of me than you do now." - -"Look here," said Nelson suddenly, "do you know anything about the cause -of this Hooker trouble? You must be referring to that; it can't be -anything else." - -"Whatever I know you will learn in time," was the evasive answer. - -"You aren't responsible for his condition?" - -"I didn't strike the blow." - -"You _do_ know about it! Why haven't you told before?" - -"There may be various reasons. As one, you should see that it meant -exposure for me; it meant looking into my past record and bringing to -life the fact that I'm a faker." - -"Now that you've told that much about yourself, I can't see any good -reason why you should not tell it all. Seems to me it's your duty." - -Osgood seemed to meditate again. "There are others concerned," he said -presently, "and I have a duty to them as well as to myself. What I've -told of my own affairs doesn't concern them, and I will claim that I've -never yet played the squealer on any other chap." - -"But the truth will have to come out." - -"I haven't a doubt about that. Let it come. But when it does, let it -come from the right source." - -"I suspected that you must know something about it." - -"Oh, yes, you've suspected me all along, Nelson. In possession of the -facts I've given you, it will be a simple matter for you to show me up -in Oakdale." - -"If you imagine I'm going to run right away and tattle what you've -practically told me in confidence, you've got me sized up wrong." - -"I was not aware that I told it to you in confidence. I do not remember -that I exacted from you a promise of secrecy." - -"Perhaps that was because you thought I'd tell anyhow." - -"I didn't think much about it. I didn't stop to think. When the impulse -seized me, I simply went ahead and told." - -"Perhaps you'll be sorry you did." - -"Perhaps so, but it's done now." - -Jack rose once more and placed a hand on his companion's shoulder. - -"Osgood," he said, "I refuse to believe that a fellow with a conscience -like yours can be thoroughly bad. Your natural impulses are right. You -didn't bind me to secrecy, but I'll pledge you now that I'm not going to -give you away." - -"I don't suppose it will make any great difference whether you do or -not," returned Ned unemotionally; "but I thank you for your good will. -Hadn't we better look up the rest of the bunch? By this time they're -probably wondering what has become of us." - -As he was starting to rise, Jack gripped his shoulder, hissing: - -"Keep still! What's that? Some one is coming this way!" - -From a distance came the sounds of a body moving through the underbrush. -Slowly the sounds drew nearer, ceasing at intervals, as if the person, -if a person it was, paused now and then to rest or listen. - -"Who do you suppose it is?" whispered Nelson. "It doesn't seem to me it -can be one of the fellows coming back this way." - -Osgood shook his head as he rose noiselessly to his feet. Looking at -each other, the same thought filled their minds. - -Perhaps it was Roy Hooker! - -Not far from them, yet wholly concealed by the thickets and the shadows, -the moving object halted and remained silent for a long time. Gradually -this silence wore upon their patience, and presently Nelson made signs -indicating that he meant to investigate with all possible caution. -Osgood nodded, and, side by side, they crept forward, stepping softly -and peering anxiously into the gloom. - -Beneath Nelson's foot a dead branch snapped with a report like a toy -pistol. Almost instantly there was a movement in the thicket, a rushing -sound, a crashing as of a person in flight. - -"Confound it!" exclaimed Jack. "Come on, Osgood, let's run the thing -down." - -Through the bushes and the shadows, they dashed in pursuit. Osgood, -following the other boy too closely, was lashed in the face by whipping -branches, which stung and blinded him. At the first opportunity he -turned aside and chose a course he believed to be parallel with that -Nelson was pursuing. All at once he perceived they were no longer guided -by sounds made by the one they were after, and he stopped short to -listen. The other boy ran on much farther before he also stopped. - -Again the woods, bathed in the white light of the moon, seemed hushed -and silent. - -"Oh, Osgood! Where are you?" - -It was Jack calling. - -Ned had opened his lips to answer when something touched his -ankle--touched it and gripped it. Looking down, he was amazed to see that -it was a human hand thrust out from beneath a thick, low cluster of -bushes, and for the moment the discovery robbed him of the power to make -a sound. - -The low bushes stirred. A head was pushed forth into a patch of -moonlight, and to Ned's ears came a tremulous, choking whisper, full of -fear and pleading: - -"Don't answer, Osgood--for the love of goodness, don't answer!" - -Ned was looking down into the distraught, fear-stricken face of Charley -Shultz! - - - - -CHAPTER XXIV - -SHULTZ SEES A LIGHT. - - -Amazed beyond expression, Osgood continued to gaze downward at the -haggard, woe-begone face of Shultz. Presently, recovering a bit, he -asked: - -"What in the world are you doing here, Charley?" - -"Hush! Keep still!" pleaded the boy beneath the bushes. "He'll hear you! -There he is, calling again! Don't answer! Don't answer!" - -"Why, it's only Nelson," said Ned, squatting beside the bushes. "We were -chasing you. We thought you might be Hooker." - -"Hooker--oh!" - -There was inexpressible terror and anguish in those two words, which -seemed almost to choke the boy who uttered them. - -Nelson was approaching, continuing to call Osgood's name. - -"Hide! hide!" urged Shultz. "Don't leave me! Oh, don't leave me now! Let -him go! Get into these bushes and he won't see you!" Grasping Ned's -coat, the pleading fellow sought to draw him into the shelter of the low -bushes. - -"Why don't you want him to see you?" - -"I'll tell you--I'll tell you when he's gone. Quick! get in here!" - -Wondering at the agitation of the fellow who had always seemed utterly -incapable of such emotion, Osgood humored him by creeping into the thick -mass of shrubbery. Thus concealed, he saw the dark figure of Nelson -passing at a little distance, and all the while Shultz clung to him with -hands that quivered and shook and seemed silently to beg him not to -respond to the calls of the searching lad. - -After a time Nelson could be heard no more. Then Ned crept forth, -followed by Charley, who remained sitting on the ground with one leg -outstretched. - -"What's the meaning of this tomfoolery?" demanded Osgood, a bit sharply. -"How in the name of the seven wonders did you come to be here, anyhow? -You weren't with the bunch that started out to find Hooker." - -Again, at the sound of that name, Shultz shrank and cowered as if struck -a blow. - -"Don't speak of him--don't!" he sobbed. "It's an awful thing! Oh, if you -only knew what I've suffered to-night!" - -"Why, you're all to pieces, old man. You're completely broken up." - -"I'm a wreck. I'm done for. It's a wonder I'm not crazy. I have been -half-crazy. Why shouldn't I be, chased and hunted like a wild beast? -It's enough to drive any one insane." - -"Chased and hunted? What do you mean?" - -"Oh, I know the whole town is after me. I barely got away from two of -them who caught me flinging pebbles at your windows to wake you up." - -Osgood stiffened a bit. "You--did--what?" - -"When I found out what had happened, when I knew the worst, I cut across -lots to Mrs. Chester's to wake you and tell you that I was going to run -away. I was so excited I threw the pebbles against the wrong window, and -when I went back to the street for more the men saw me and chased me. I -doubled on them and threw them off the track." - -"Those men must have been Turner and Crabtree. They thought they were -chasing Roy Hooker." - -"Hooker!" palpitated Shultz. "Hooker? He's dead! His ghost came to my -window! It was perched on the ridgepole of the ell. I was just going to -bed when I saw it. I'll never forget the terrible look in those eyes!" - -Squatting on the ground beside the trembling fellow, Osgood grasped him -firmly by the arm. - -"What is this stuff you're telling me, Shultz?" he demanded. "You saw -Hooker looking in at your window?" - -"I tell you it was his ghost. I've never believed in such things, but I -do now, for I've seen one. I saw it again, too, here in these very -woods. It spoke to me. I heard it speak. Then I ran and ran, until I -fell into a gully and thought I'd broken my leg. It was my ankle. It's -sprained and swollen, but I've been hobbling on it just the same. Oh, -Osgood, isn't there any way for me to escape? If I hadn't hurt my ankle, -I'd be miles on the road to Barville before this. I didn't mean to kill -him. You know I didn't mean that, don't you? If they bring me to trial, -you'll tell them you know that much, won't you, Ned?" - -Osgood was moved almost to tears by this pathetic pleading. - -"Now listen to me, Shultz," he commanded. "You've deceived yourself. -Hooker isn't dead, unless he's died since he got out of bed to-night, -escaped observation and left his home. If you really saw something that -looked like Hooker on the roof of Caleb Carter's ell, it was Roy -himself. If you met something in these woods that looked like Hooker, it -was Hooker. He's wandering about somewhere in a deranged condition, and -he's the one the people are searching for, not you." - -Overwrought by the terror of his experience, it was no simple matter for -Charley Shultz to comprehend the meaning of his companion's words. - -"Hooker--not dead?" he muttered wildly. "Why, I--I was sure of it. How do -you know, Ned? You may be mistaken." - -Compelling Shultz to listen, Osgood finally succeeded in convincing him. -"Let us hope with all our hearts," he concluded, "that they find Roy and -get him safely home, and that he recovers. Let us hope, regardless of -what it may mean to us, that, restored to his right mind, he'll soon be -able to tell everything." - -"Oh, I don't care if he does now," asserted Shultz. "If we'd only told -in the first place, it would have been better. Piper was right; I should -have owned up like a man. That was the thing for me to do. I refused to -see it then, but what I've been through since has opened my eyes." - -"It seems to me," said Ned gently, "that we've both had our eyes opened. -Come, old fellow, let me help you to your feet. You've got to get back -to the village somehow, if I have to pack you on my back." - -"I can hobble. If you'll give me an arm, I'll manage to cripple along. -But I'm afraid to go back to Oakdale." - -"It's the only thing you can do. There's no other way, old man. We've -both of us got to face the worst, whatever it may be." - -Shultz, indeed very lame, hung heavily on Osgood's arm, gritting his -teeth and groaning at times with the pain his injured ankle gave him. In -this manner they moved along slowly enough, keeping to the westward of -Turkey Hill and making for the Barville road, as this was now the -shortest and most direct course back to the village. - -At intervals, as they went along, Shultz persisted in talking of the -terrible experiences he had passed through that night, repeating over -and over that he was intensely thankful because in all probability Roy -Hooker was still living. - -"If he had died without telling a word, I'd never had a minute's peace -in the world," he asserted. "I'd always felt like a murderer. I hope -they find him all right. I don't care if he does tell." - -"I didn't urge you to confess, did I, Shultz?" - -"No, no, but I should have done it. I was afraid, that was the trouble. -I was a coward. I didn't think it was fear at the time, but it was, just -the same. I tried to make myself believe I was keeping still on your -account. Well, really, I did think about what it would mean to you, Ned. -You're different from me. You're a gentleman, and I'm just a plain -rotter, I guess." - -"Oh, I don't know as there's so much difference between us, after all." - -"Yes, there is. You've got some family behind you, and you're naturally -proud of it. I've never had any particular reason to be proud of my -people. Why, my father is a saloonkeeper. I never told you that, did I? -I didn't tell you, for I thought you might be disgusted and turn against -me if you knew. I've always growled about my old man, because he didn't -give me a lot of spending money. The reason why he didn't was because I -raised merry blazes when I had money. He used to let me have enough--too -much. When I blew it right and left, like an idiot, and kept getting -into scrapes, he cut my allowance down. You see the kind of a fellow -you've been friendly with, Osgood, old man. You can see he's a -rotter--just a plain rotter. Oh, you'll help me back to town. You'll do -the right thing, because you're the right sort. But, now that you know -what I am, we never could be friends any more, even if this Hooker -business hadn't come up." - -Osgood had permitted him to talk on in this fashion, although again and -again Shultz's words made Ned cringe inwardly. At this point the -listener interrupted. - -"You're wrong, old man, if you believe anything you've said will make me -think any the less of you. On the contrary, it will have precisely the -opposite effect. You've told me all this about yourself, but there are a -lot of things about myself that I've never told you. This is hardly the -time for it, but you shall know, and then you'll understand that we're -practically on a common level. I'm no better than you are." - -"You say that because you _are_ better--because you're a natural -gentleman, with blood and breeding. I don't think I ever before -understood what makes a true gentleman. Oh, I've got my eyes open to -heaps of things to-night." - -"It's not impossible for a man to be a gentleman, even if he doesn't -know who his own father and mother were," returned Osgood. "Breeding is -all right, but there's a lot of rot in this talk about blood and -ancestry." - -"You never seemed specially proud of the fact that you had such fine -ancestors behind you. I guess you're true American in your ideas, -Osgood. For all of your family, you've always sort of pooh-poohed -ancestry; and you with a perfect right to use a crest!" - -Shultz was startled by the short, contemptuous laugh that burst from his -companion's lips. - -"The world is full of faking and fraud," said Ned. "It seems that half -the people in it, at least, are trying to make other people believe -they're something which they are not. Does the ankle hurt bad, old -chap?" - -"Like blazes," answered Charley through his teeth. - -"Let me see if I can't get you on to my back and carry you." - -"Not on your life! I'm going to walk back to town on that pin if I never -step on it again. I'll just take it as part of the punishment I -deserve." - -They came presently to the path which the boys had taken on their way to -the island in the swamp, and at last they issued from the woods and -reached the Barville road. Rounding the base at Turkey Hill, they saw -the village lying before them in the valley, and to the right, over the -tops of trees, they beheld the shimmering waters of Lake Woodrim. The -sweet and peaceful scene seemed to hold no hint of the exciting events -of that remarkable night. - -Some distance down the road Shultz perceived a few dark, moving objects, -and suddenly he halted in alarm. - -"Some one coming, Ned!" he palpitated. "Look! you can see them. It's a -party of searchers after Hooker! I can't face them! They'll ask -questions. Come on, let's cut across into the pines yonder." - -Not far away to the right was a growth of pine timber, which reached to -the very shore of Lake Woodrim. Releasing Osgood's arm, Shultz made -suddenly for the side of the road, scrambled over a low stone wall and -started at a hobbling run toward the pines. - -Osgood followed, quickly overtaking him. They were running side by side, -Shultz's breath whistling through his teeth with a sound like hissing -steam, when up before them from a little hollow, as if rising out of the -very ground itself, came a human being, head bare, and all in white to -its waist. One look he gave them, and then like a frightened deer he -went bounding straight for the woods. - -"Merciful wonders!" burst from Osgood. "It's Roy Hooker!" - - - - -CHAPTER XXV - -INTO THE OLD QUARRY. - - -For a double reason they did not call to Hooker; not only was it -unlikely that he would heed them, but the men on the Barville road would -doubtless hear their cries. So Osgood, who had been gauging his speed by -that of the crippled Shultz, immediately shot forward, leaving Charley -limping behind, but doing his utmost. - -Realizing how difficult it would be to run down the deranged lad in the -dark depths of the heavy pines, Ned strained every nerve to reach him -before he could plunge into the woods. To his dismay, he quickly -perceived that this would be impossible, Hooker being very fleet of -foot. At the last moment Osgood ventured to call, suppressing his voice -in a measure, and hoping against hope that the unreasoning fugitive -might give heed. - -"Roy--Roy Hooker!" he cried. "We're friends. We won't hurt you. Stop, -Roy--stop! Wait for us!" - -Had Hooker been stone deaf, the words would have had no more effect. Not -a particle did he relax in his flight, and Ned was some rods away when -Roy was swallowed by the black shadows of the timbers. - -Into the woods Osgood dashed, still hoping that through some chance he -might overtake the fleeing lad. There was not much undergrowth amid the -pines, yet for a time the persistent pursuer was guided by the sounds of -the other boy, who turned and twisted and zigzagged here and there in a -most baffling way. - -"We're friends, Roy--we're friends!" Osgood called again and again. -"Don't be afraid of us! Wait a minute!" - -It was useless. The guiding sounds grew fainter, and at last, unable to -hear them, Osgood stopped to listen. Then he realized that behind him -Shultz was calling, begging not to be abandoned. - -"We were so close, so close!" muttered Ned, in deep disappointment. "If -we'd only got a little nearer before he started, I could have run him -down." - -He answered Shultz, and presently Charley came hobbling and panting -through the darkness. - -"Did you catch him?" was his first question. - -"No, he got away; but he's somewhere in these woods, and, knowing that -much, we may be able to find him yet. If we could only take him safely -back to Oakdale, it might seem to square up a little for what we've -done." - -"I was afraid you'd leave me," Shultz almost whimpered. "I was afraid to -be left alone again. Don't do it, Ned--please don't. If you hear him or -see him, don't run away from me." - -Only yesterday Osgood could never have dreamed it possible for anything -so completely to break the nerve of his companion. There was little left -of the old stubborn, defiant, bulldozing Shultz; in his abject terror of -being left alone, he was more like a timid child. - -"We ought to get searchers, a whole lot of them, and bring them here," -said Ned. "That would be the right thing to do." - -"But if we could only find him ourselves without other aid," argued -Charley, "it would give us a better show with the people who'll be ready -enough to jump on us when they know the truth. We might find him, you -know. He can't be far away. Which way was he going the last you knew?" - -"Toward the lake, I think, but he kept dodging about, so that there is -no real certainty of it. Probably he hasn't any objective point in his -mind. He just ran in any direction that happened to be the easiest." - -"The ground slopes toward the lake," reasoned Shultz. "He'll keep on -going that way." - -"There may be some logic in that, and there's a bare chance that we may -come upon him again. Let's make as little noise as possible. We don't -want him to be warned or frightened by hearing us a long distance away." - -Down through the black woods they went, Shultz seeking to keep so close -to Osgood that he could put out his hand any time and touch him. -Presently through the trees they saw the moonlight silvering the placid -water. Reaching the shore, they discovered they were close to Pine -Point, which, projecting into the lake, cut it there to its narrowest -width. On the opposite shore lay the railroad, over which Shultz had -first thought of making his escape from Oakdale. - -"It's something like searching for a needle in a haystack," said Ned -hopelessly. "There's not one chance in a hundred that we, unaided, can -find Hooker in these woods." - -But Charley still clung to the tattered skirts of hope. "Let's go out -upon the point. From the end of it we can get a look at a long sweep of -shore in both directions." - -"That will simply make us walk farther, and your ankle must be----" - -"Confound my ankle! Don't you worry about that." - -"You shouldn't be crippling around on it. It's liable to lay you up for -a long time, and every step you take makes it worse." - -"What do I care? What do I care how long I'm laid up? That's nothing -now. I'm going out on the point." - -He would not have gone had Ned refused, but Osgood decided to humor him. - -At the outer extremity the point took a curve, so that on one side it -sheltered Bear Cove, into which Silver Brook emptied. As they reached -that curving outer shore, a small boat--a punt--issued from the cove, -passed that hook-like nose of land and appeared in the moonlight which -bathed the surface of the lake. The occupant of the punt, who was -propelling it with a paddle, was Hooker! - -"There he is!" shouted Charley. - -He turned his face toward them, and they were so near that they almost -fancied they could see the wild expression in his eyes. They called to -him again and again, begging him to come back and seeking to give him -every assurance of their friendly intentions. He did not answer; -changing the course of the boat somewhat, he drove it with powerful -strokes toward a small island which lay off the mouth of the cove. - -"It's no use," muttered Osgood; "he'll give up only when he's caught, -and then he'll probably make a fight of it." - -"But how are we going to catch him?" - -"I wish I knew. If we had another boat----" - -"I know where there's a raft," exclaimed Shultz. "We might follow him -with that." - -"We never could overtake him on a raft." - -"But he's going on to Bass Island. If he doesn't see us coming, we might -catch him there." - -Ned was extremely doubtful, but the insistence and eagerness of Charley -finally led him to agree to look for the raft. Fully half an hour passed -before they found it lying partly on the shore of the cove not far from -the mouth of Silver Brook. It was a rather long, narrow affair, built of -small logs fastened together by cross-pieces. When it was launched they -tested its buoying capacity and found it would barely support them both. -Nevertheless, with pieces of board for paddles, they pushed off upon it -and made their way slowly toward the mouth of the cove. Both knelt as -they wielded the board paddles, and their knees were soon wet with the -water which occasionally washed across the almost submerged logs. - -Although they could not see the punt on the shore of the island, they -felt certain Hooker had landed there, and, hoping he would not discover -their approach, they exerted their strength in the effort to reach the -place as soon as possible. - -The island was not more than thirty yards distant when they again saw -the punt, headed this time for the farther shore of the lake. It seemed -that Hooker must have been watching, and, with almost tantalizing -cunning, he had waited until they were near before he put out from the -opposite side of the island. - -"Let's not give up," pleaded Shultz. "Let's follow him." - -Although the pursuit seemed discouragingly hopeless, they were now -nearly half-way across the narrow part of the lake, and Osgood did not -insist on turning back. - -The punt was slow enough, but it moved faster than the raft, even though -the latter was propelled by two persons instead of one, and gradually it -drew farther and farther away. With their eyes on Hooker, they watched -him reach the shore, leap out, abandon the punt and run toward the -railroad. Still watching, they saw him, later, making his way down the -track toward Oakdale station. - -As soon as the raft touched the low, flat shore, they left it to float -whither it might and followed Roy. - -"I'm glad he went toward town," said Osgood, as they reached the -railroad. - -Shultz's ankle seemed to have grown much worse while he was on the raft, -and it was in great pain and with the utmost difficulty that he crippled -along over the ties. At times he caught his breath with a hissing sound -or groaned aloud as the swollen limb gave him an extra sharp twinge. - -"It's no use for me to follow Roy any farther," he finally admitted. -"I'll be lucky if this old prop doesn't give out completely before I get -to the village." - -"If it does," promised Ned, "I'll get you there. Leave it to me. I'm -ready to pack you on my back any time." - -Presently they approached the old lime quarries, which had been -practically abandoned until Lemuel Hayden came to Oakdale, bought them, -opened up new and unsuspected deposits, and revived the industry of lime -burning. They could see the deserted workings, a tremendous black hole -in the ground some thirty or forty rods away, when from beneath the -shadowy bank of the graded roadbed, Hooker, who may have been resting -there, sprang forth. Shultz saw his first movement, and shouted to -Osgood: - -"There he is, Ned! Catch him--you can catch him now!" - -Ned did not need to be urged; he was off like a shot. Shultz followed, -setting his teeth and trying to forget his injured ankle. Down the bank -he leaped, mainly upon one foot, and on he ran, limping across the rough -and stony field. He could see Osgood straining every nerve to overtake -Hooker, who was running straight toward the old quarry. - -"He's got him! Ned's got him!" panted Shultz. "The quarry will stop him! -He can't get away!" - -But, as they drew near that mammoth hole in the ground, a different -thought leaped into Osgood's mind. Hooker seemed to be fleeing blindly -and totally heedless of anything. What if, in his distraught state of -mind, he should not realize the danger that lay in his path? What if he -should not see the quarry until it was too late to stop? - -Horrified, Ned shouted a warning; and at that shout Hooker, still -running, turned his head to look back. - -Shultz, seeing all this, gulped to keep his heart from choking him. Sick -and weak with apprehension, he stopped, his arms outflung, his hands -wide open, his fingers spread apart. - -Over the brink and into the quarry plunged Hooker. As he fell, a wild -and terrible scream rose from his lips. Shultz clapped his hands to his -ears to shut out that dreadful cry. - -"Oh! oh!" he groaned. "It's all over now! That's the end! He's dead!" - - - - -CHAPTER XXVI - -THE CONFESSION. - - -Distracted, scarcely realizing what he did, with that terrible cry from -Hooker's lips still ringing in his ears, Charley Shultz turned from the -old quarry and limped away as fast as he could go. In his mind he -carried a dreadful picture of Roy Hooker, lying bleeding, battered and -dead at the bottom of that great excavation, and for the time being -Osgood was wholly forgotten. - -On his hands and knees, Charley crawled up the railroad embankment. One -of his hands happening to touch a stout, crooked stick, about a yard in -length, he grasped and retained it instinctively. When the track was -reached, the stick served him for a cane as he hobbled away. - -"It's awful--awful!" his dry, bloodless lips kept repeating. "And I'm to -blame for it all! I'm the only one who is really to blame. I thought -some of the rest should help shoulder the load, but I was wrong. It's up -to me; I can see that plainly enough at last. If I'd only seen it in the -first place, perhaps--perhaps this terrible thing might not have -happened." - -After a time he remembered Osgood, and halted, looking back toward the -quarry. - -"Why doesn't he come? Why is he staying there? He can't do anything now. -Well, perhaps it's best that I should go it alone. That's what I ought -to do. No one else should be seen with me. I must face this thing by -myself. What will they do with me? I don't know and I don't care. All I -know is that I can never, never forget, if I live to be a thousand years -old." - -His teeth set, he crippled onward, his ankle, if possible, causing him -greater distress than ever, though it seemed as a mere nothing compared -with the anguish of his remorseful and repentant soul. Not once were the -shooting pains sufficient to wring a whimper or a groan from him. His -mind was made up at last; he had decided what he would do, and he was -almost fierce in his eagerness to do it before he should weaken or -falter. - -The South Shore Road, approaching the railroad at one point, promised an -easier course to follow, and he abandoned the ties. Vaguely he wondered -what the hour could be, and looked for some sign of approaching dawn, as -it seemed that the night must be far spent. To him that night had -stretched itself to the length of a lifetime. Into it had been crowded -experiences which had wrought in this boy a complete change of heart. In -the moulding of his character such experiences must indeed have a -powerful effect. - -Beyond the river, as he drew near the dam at the lower end of the lake, -he could see a few lights still shining palely in the windows of the -village. Little had he imagined, when he first came to this small, -despised country town, that here he was to face the first great crisis -of his life. Here, it now seemed, he had met with disaster that meant -his complete undoing. - -The little railroad station on the southern side of the river was dark -and deserted. Near it he halted again, tempted by the thought that -somewhere around those black buildings he might hide until the first -train should pull out in the morning--might hide there, and, sneaking -aboard that train at the last moment, succeed, after all, in making his -escape. - -"But I won't do it!" he suddenly snarled. "I attempted to run away like -a coward, and this is what I've come to. I won't try it again. I'll face -the music and pretend that I've got a little manhood left." - -Beneath the span of the bridge the water flowed swift and silent, save -for a few faint whisperings and gurglings. Looking down at it, he drew -away from the railing, fearful that he might be tempted to leap and end -it all. Had he been met at the foot of Main Street by officers, waiting -to place him under arrest, he would not have been surprised, and would -have offered no resistance. - -Once before upon this same night he had sneaked up Cross Street, and -again he followed the same course. Something like a powerful magnet now -seemed drawing him on, although as yet he but faintly realized that he -was moving toward Hooker's home as fast as he could. - -The house was lighted in almost every room. In front of it he halted -again, struggling weakly against that attracting force. In there was -Roy's mother--the mother of the boy he had destroyed--waiting distractedly -for some tidings of her unfortunate son. How could he face her? How -could he utterly crush her with the terrible truth? - -As he faltered and wavered, he became aware that some one was coming up -Cross Street. In the silence, even at that distance, he heard the sound -of footsteps. - -"Some of the searchers--Roy's father, perhaps--returning to tell her that -they have not found him. When they do find him--oh, when they do!" - -Then he thought of another house, a modest little white cottage, farther -up the street. It was to that cottage that he should go, after all. -There he would find the one to whom his confession should be made. This -decided on, he forced his stiff and swollen ankle to bear him a little -farther, with the aid of the stick, which clumped upon the sidewalk as -he hobbled. There was a light in one of the windows of the cottage, the -window of Professor Richardson's study. The professor was awake. He was -there in his study, waiting for some news of Roy. Well, he should soon -know it all. - -Shultz rang the door-bell, and barely had he done so when he heard some -one hastening to answer. Through the sidelights of the door came the -gleam of a lamp. A key turned in the lock, the door was flung open, and -the old professor, in dressing-gown and slippers, lamp in hand, stood -before Charley Shultz. - -"What is it?" he eagerly asked, his voice hoarse and husky. "You've come -to tell me. They have found him?" - -"I've come to tell you everything, professor," was the answer. "May I -come in? I'm ready to drop. I can't stand a minute longer." - -"Come in, my boy--come in. Good gracious! you're in rags. You're lame! -You're hurt!" - -Having closed the door, the professor sought to aid his visitor to -hobble into the study, which opened off the hall. In that room Shultz -dropped heavily upon a chair, the stick, released by his nerveless -hands, falling with a thud upon the rug. - -"My goodness!" breathed the old man, staring aghast at the boy. "You -must have been through a terrible experience. You're ghastly pale, and -your face is scratched and cut. What has happened to you?" - -"Oh, I don't know how I can tell you! But I must, and I will. That's why -I came here. I should have told you long ago. You were right, -professor--you were right when you said it was a cowardly thing for the -one who was to blame to keep silent. I didn't understand then, but now I -do--now that it's too late!" - -"Too late!" breathed Professor Richardson, intensely moved. "Too late! -Do you mean that Roy is----" - -"He's dead," said Shultz. - -Groping for a chair, the old man grasped it and sank upon it. - -"Dead!" he echoed, running his thin hands through the white locks upon -his temples. "This is terrible news, indeed! I've been hoping they would -find him and bring him back all right. It will be a dreadful blow to his -poor parents. How do you know? Are you sure--are you sure he's dead?" - -"Yes, I'm sure. And I killed him!" - -A few moments of absolute silence followed this declaration. Grasping -the arm of the chair, the professor leaned slowly forward, his lips -parted a bit, his eyes fastened upon the face of the boy. One hand was -partly extended as he whispered: - -"You--you killed him? What are you saying, Charley Shultz? Are you -crazy?" - -"No, no; but it's a wonder I'm not. Listen, professor, and I'll tell you -the whole story. It started over a game of cards. He accused me of -cheating. I struck him. I knocked him down. As he fell his head hit -against a marble mantelpiece. That was what ailed him. No one else did a -thing, professor; no one else is to blame. They wanted me to tell, but I -refused. One fellow insisted that I should tell." - -"But why didn't they tell, themselves?" - -"Because they were afraid. Because they knew the disgrace and trouble it -would bring on them all. Besides, I was the one who did it, and I was -the one who should have owned up to it." - -"But you said--that Roy--was dead." - -"So he is. Listen, and I'll tell you how I know. You shall have the -whole story." - -Shultz told it all, holding nothing back save the names of the other -participants in that game of poker. He made no effort to shield himself, -no attempt to justify himself, and there was no need to question him; -for his story, although given in short, broken sentences, was vivid and -complete. When he told at last of Hooker's blind plunge into the old -quarry, the listener groaned aloud. - -"That's all, professor--that's all," Shultz concluded, in a manner that -bespoke his boundless contrition and utter resignation to consequences. -"You can see that it was I who killed him, and whatever my punishment -may be, I deserve it." - -"It's terrible!" said the old man solemnly. "It's the most terrible -thing that has ever come beneath my personal notice in all my life!" - -In the hall the bell of a telephone began to ring, causing them both to -start nervously. Immediately the man rose to his feet. - -"It must be a call from the Hooker's," he said. "I'm on the same party -line with them. Roy's mother must be ringing up to ask me if I've heard -anything. How can I answer? What can I tell that poor woman?" - -Shultz, sick with pain of body and mind, could make no reply to this. -Slowly, reluctantly, the professor left the study to answer the phone. -Listening, Shultz could hear his words: - -"Hello.... Yes, this is Professor Richardson.... What's that? I don't -understand you.... Is that you, Mr. Hooker?... Yes, yes. What are you -telling me? Roy--Roy is----" His voice, husky and broken, became confused, -and he seemed a bit incoherent. "Yes, yes," he went on more plainly. "I -think--I think I understand.... Yes, I'll come down. Right away." - -The receiver clicked upon the hook. Professor Richardson re-entered the -study with a firm tread, stopped in front of the chair on which Charley -Shultz still sat, and for a few silent moments gazed sternly at the -cowering lad. Presently he said: - -"The call was from Mr. Hooker. I'm going down there. You'll wait here -for me, while I get on my shoes and coat. Wait here. Do you understand?" - -"Yes," answered Charley faintly. - -During the few minutes while the professor was absent Shultz sat there -nervously clasping and unclasping the fingers of his cold hands. For a -single moment, dreading what he might yet have to face upon this -eventful night, he thought of stealing from the house and hurrying away. -Only for a fleeting moment, however, did he harbor that thought. - -"Never!" he whispered savagely. "Whatever I must face I'll face. I'm -done with being a coward!" - -The professor reappeared, wearing his overcoat. "Come," he said, and -Shultz lifted himself to his feet. In the hall the man secured his hat. -They left the house, and Shultz managed to descend the front steps with -the aid of his stick. On the street the professor gave the boy an arm. - -The door of the Hooker home was opened almost instantly at their -summons. - -"Come in," cried Roy's father; "come in, professor. Oh! you've some one -with you." - -"Yes," replied the principal of the academy, "I brought Charley with me -for a most excellent reason, as you'll soon learn. He has hurt his ankle -and is very lame." - -In the sitting room Shultz staggered and nearly fell, for he suddenly -found himself face to face with Ned Osgood. - -"You?" he exclaimed in amazement. "You here? Then you've told them -everything!" - -Osgood seized him, swept him off his feet and practically bore him into -another room. - -"Look, Charley!" he cried, pointing at a person who sat in the depths of -a big easy-chair, near which hovered Mrs. Hooker. "Here he is! He's all -right now, too. He's all right, for he can talk and he remembers." - -The person on the easy-chair was Roy Hooker! - - - - -CHAPTER XXVII - -LIKE A MIRACLE. - - -Only for Osgood's sustaining arm, Shultz would have collapsed -completely. Ned helped him to a chair, where he sat staring in dumb -amazement and doubt at Roy Hooker. It was a marvel of marvels, a miracle -beyond his understanding. - -"I'm dreaming," he thought. "It can't be true." - -But Roy was there. Roy was speaking. Shultz heard him say: - -"You look to be in worse condition than I am, old fellow. You're all -broken up." - -Shultz was broken up indeed. Not a sound did he make, but he covered his -face with his hands, and tears began trickling through his fingers. Then -he felt some one touching him gently, reassuringly, and heard the husky -voice of Professor Richardson, the man he had scorned and sneered at, -saying gently, almost tenderly: - -"There, there, my boy. It's all right. You made a mistake, as we all do -sometimes, but you've been punished more than enough. I am sure no one -could wish you to receive further punishment." - -Then Hooker spoke again: - -"Why, he wasn't to blame any more than I was--not as much. I started it. -I lost my head and called him nasty names and tried to hit him. I'm the -one who is really to blame for everything." - -Somehow this made Charley's tears flow the faster. He did not sob, he -did not speak, but he sat there with a great feeling of gratitude in his -heart and a yearning to say something to Roy Hooker which he knew he -never could say. - -"We were all to blame," asserted Ned. "No one fellow should try to take -it on himself; I'm dead certain other chaps in the bunch will agree to -that." - -"It will be a lesson to you all," said the old professor. "Mrs. Hooker, -I congratulate you that your son is again in his normal mind and -apparently not much the worse for his experience. It has been a trying -time for us all, and we should be thankful indeed that it has turned out -so well." - -Through his tear-wet eyelashes Shultz was looking at Roy. - -"I--I don't understand," he whispered. "I saw him fall into the old -quarry." - -"But you didn't wait to see how far he fell," said Ned. "I looked. -Perhaps twenty feet below the brink over which he ran, I saw him lying -on a wide projecting shelf of rock. He was stunned, and he lay perfectly -still, without answering when I called to him. I knew I must get him out -somehow, and in a minute or two I thought that I might find a rope in -one of the tool houses of the new quarry. I ran around there as fast as -I could, broke into one of those little shanties, found a rope and -hurried back. Making one end of the rope fast, I lowered myself to the -shelf on which Roy still lay. He was just coming to his senses, and when -he saw me he spoke. Of course, he had no idea where he was or how he -came to be there, for he could remember nothing that happened after his -head struck the mantelpiece in my room." - -"And I can't remember now," put in Hooker. "It's all a blank." - -"When he had recovered and seemed to be pretty strong," Osgood -continued, "I tied the rope about his body beneath his arms. Then I -climbed back out of the quarry and succeeded in pulling him up, almost -inch by inch. He could help me some by grasping the rough places in the -face of the rock and by getting a few footholds now and then. As soon as -he was safely out, we hoofed it for town." - -"It's likely," said Professor Richardson, "that Roy struck his head when -he fell, and that shock restored his lost memory." - -"And I've got my boy again," said Mrs. Hooker, embracing her son and -kissing him. "That's enough. I am satisfied and happy." - -"I don't think anybody should kick up a big muss over this affair," said -Roy's father. "Now when I was a boy, I got into some scrapes myself. I -guess most men are too apt to forget the fool things they did when they -were youngsters." - -"That is very true," agreed the professor. "Maturity cuts us off from -true sympathy with boyhood and youth, and we are almost certain to -become too exacting and too harsh toward lads who invariably find -experience the best teacher. I have tried not to forget this myself, but -I presume I am like others, in a measure, at least." - -"Say," broke in Mr. Hooker suddenly, "while we're chinning here, we've -forgotten something. We've forgotten there are parties of searchers out -looking for Roy this minute. It was agreed that the Methodist bell -should be rung when he was found. I think I'd better see about it that -that bell rings." - -"Yes," nodded Professor Richardson, "and we've forgotten something else -as well. Charley has a sprained ankle, and I fear it is badly hurt, even -though he managed to get around on it for a long time after it was -injured. He should have the attention of a doctor as soon as possible." - -"Sure thing," said Mr. Hooker. "I'll send Dr. Grindle here right away. -I'll have to pass his house on the way to tell them to ring the bell." - -Finding his hat, he hurried from the house, and it was not long before -the doctor appeared. - -While the ankle was being bathed and bandaged, the church bell flung -forth to the scattering band of searchers the message that the one they -sought was found. Once before on that night Charley had listened to the -notes of that bell and trembled with terror. He trembled again, but it -was with great joy, and in the midst of good resolutions, which, though -unspoken then, he silently vowed should be faithfully remembered and -faithfully kept. - - - - -CHAPTER XXVIII - -COMRADES ALL. - - -Charley was sitting on a big chair, his bandaged ankle resting on -cushions piled in another chair, when Ned Osgood came to see him at noon -the following day. Ned had visited him early that morning, but now he -returned with his face aglow and his tongue eager with a message. - -"How's the ankle, Shultzie?" he cried. - -"Oh, it's pretty well," was the answer. "Of course it gives me fits, -especially when I have to move it a little, but then, I guess I can -stand it." He looked at Ned almost entreatingly. - -Osgood drew a chair close and sat down. - -"The fellows all want to know how you're coming on," he said. "Of course -I've had to tell them all about it." - -"Confound it!" exclaimed Shultz. "I don't count in this business. How's -Hooker? That's what I want to know." - -"I've been to see him, too. He didn't come to school this morning, but -he's all right, just the same. Says he's stiff and lame, and all that, -but thinks he'll be frisky enough in a day or two." - -"Does he--does he seem to be all right--in his head?" faltered Charley -anxiously. - -"Oh, sure. There's nothing the matter with him." - -"Well, I'm mighty glad to hear it. You know I've been worrying--I just -couldn't help it. I kept thinking he might have a relapse or -something--might lose his memory again." - -"Pooh! Nonsense! The doctor says he's O. K. and he'll stay so." - -"That's great, Ned." - -"Funny," said Osgood, "but the first thing he did was to ask about you." - -"I don't see why he should care a rap about me. If it hadn't been for -me----" - -"Oh, cut that out! It's plain bosh. Nobody thinks for a minute of -putting it all on you, much less Hooker." - -"You know, old man, I wish I could have said something when Roy spoke up -the way he did last night and declared he was to blame. I felt -something--something inside of me here, but I couldn't say it to save my -life. After I'm gone, I hope you'll tell Hooker that I think him a -dandy, a brick, the finest fellow in the world." - -"After you're gone? What do you mean by that?" - -"Of course I can't go right away with this old ankle the way it is, but -when it gets better so that I can leave Oakdale----" - -"Leave Oakdale!" exploded Osgood. "Why are you going to leave Oakdale? -Tell me that." - -"Why, Ned, I don't see how I'm going to stay here. Professor Richardson -was mighty decent last night, but of course I knew that was because he -thought I'd had enough just then. He can't want me back in the school, -and there must be lots of fellows who'd shy at me, too. Once it wouldn't -have worried me if two-thirds of them had handed me the frosty, but now -I'm--I'm sort of changed. I seem to be weak and lacking in backbone, and -I know I couldn't stay in the school with a lot of the fellows that way, -even if Prof was willing I should stay." - -"Now you listen to me, Shultzie," said Osgood earnestly. "I've had a -talk with the professor, and he's coming to see you to-night." - -"Oh, I don't believe I want to see him again. I don't believe I can. You -know I said some mighty nasty things about him behind his back. I tried -to turn the fellows against him, and he knows it." - -"But you can bet he's willing to forget that, Charley, and he will never -mention it unless you do. Between you and me, Prof is a pretty fine old -boy. We had him sized up all wrong." - -"I reckon we did, Ned. Just because he was along in years and -old-fashioned in some of his ways, we didn't understand him at all. You -know he said last night that most men didn't understand boys. Well, it's -my opinion that few boys understand men, especially men like Prof -Richardson." - -"I won't put up an argument on that point. You'll be welcomed back to -school by him, Shultz, and you'll be welcomed just as heartily by the -fellows. Why, when Piper heard just how you owned up and tried to take -all the blame, he was enthusiastic about you. Said you'd proved yourself -a white man all the way through." - -"But he didn't know what I'd been through to bring me to that point." - -"That doesn't make any difference. Say, do you know the way the fellows -behaved toward me made me mortally ashamed of myself? Charley, they -actually thought I did something commendable last night. They seem to -have the idea that just because I pulled Hooker out of the old quarry -I'm a real hero. And you can't make them see it any other way, either. -Jack Nelson nearly broke my paw shaking hands with me." - -"Nelson!" muttered Shultz. "If he only knew!" - -"He does. He knows the whole business. I told him while we were alone in -the woods last night." - -"And he shook hands with you to-day?" - -"That's what he did." - -"Well, he must be pretty white himself." - -"White? He's as fine a chap as one could find in a year's hunt. Now look -here, old fellow, I'll tell you just what we're going to do, you and I. -You're coming to school again as soon as you can get there. We're going -to stay right here in Oakdale and prove that we're somewhere near as -decent as the fellows we've met in this town. We're going to prove to -Professor Richardson that we're not a couple of cheap trouble-makers. -We're going to try our level best to do just about what's right. Do you -get me?" - -There was a gleam in Shultz's eyes; a smile broke over his face; he -thrust out his hand for Osgood to take. - -"I get you, Ned," he returned, his voice vibrant with deep earnestness. -"You're right; that's just what we'll do, as long as we're to be given -the chance. And say, I'm mighty glad to have the chance." - - * * * * * - -When Shultz returned to the academy on crutches several days later, he -was immediately surrounded by a crowd of boys who welcomed him back in -no uncertain manner. First among those to hail him and shake his hand -was Roy Hooker, and he was followed closely by Jack Nelson. Billy Piper -was not among the last to grip Charley's fingers, and there was no -uncertain sincerity in his tone, as he said: - -"Shultzie, you're all right. You proved it. Say, it's just ripping to -have you back." - -"Old man," said Nelson, "you want to get that ankle cured as soon as you -can. The nine is crippling along without you, but I tell you we miss you -out there in center field." - -"That's right," said Chub Tuttle, gulping down a mouthful of half-chewed -peanuts. "It's a rotten shame, the mess I make of it trying to cover -that patch. I lost the game last Saturday by muffing a ball you could -have caught without half trying." - -Grant, Crane, Stone and others all had a cheerful word for Charley, and -while they were expressing themselves, Professor Richardson came pushing -gently through the throng and clapped both his hands on the abashed -boy's shoulders. - -"Well, well," said the principal, beaming, "here you are again. That's -fine, I declare. You ought to be able to throw away those crutches in a -few days. Do you know, I actually attended the last baseball game, and, -on my word, I found it very interesting. I believe I've been missing -something, and when it is possible I think I shall take the games in -hereafter." - -Was this the "old fogy back number" Shultz had so often sneered about -and derided? Why, instead of being sour and crabbed, this man was genial -and gentle and sympathetic. Charley wondered how he had ever happened to -misjudge the professor so greatly. The boy felt his heart swelling with -the gladness and camaraderie of it all, and to keep the mist out of his -eyes, he laughed, a genuine, sincere, happy laugh, amazingly unlike his -laughter of former days. He was a lucky fellow; oh, yes, he knew it very -well. He was different; he knew that, too, and he would never again be -as he had been once, thank goodness. - -When Osgood got a chance to speak to Shultz unheard by others, he -laughingly said: - -"I told you how it would be. Now you've seen for yourself, and you ought -to be satisfied." - -"Satisfied?" said Charley. "That word doesn't express my feelings, Ned, -and I don't believe there's a word in the language that can express -them." - -Professor Richardson's troubles were indeed over; during the remainder -of the term he was not disturbed by even the faintest show of -insubordination or unruliness among his pupils, who seemed to vie with -one another in their efforts to make the old principal's duties not only -easy but pleasant. - -When Shultz next visited Osgood's rooms, he noticed, not without -surprise and wonderment, that all the old "family portraits" had -disappeared. Not only that: Ned was using plain and simple writing -paper, unadorned by a crest. - -These two boys both became genuinely popular in Oakdale, and their -splendid playing upon the baseball field caused many members of opposing -teams to express admiration and envy, and to assert that it was mainly -through the fine work of Osgood and Shultz that Oakdale won the -championship that season. - -THE END. - - - - -THE RADIO BOYS SERIES - -By Gerald Breckenridge - -A new series of copyright titles for boys of all ages. - -Cloth Bound, with Attractive Cover Designs - -PRICE, 65 CENTS EACH - - THE RADIO BOYS ON THE MEXICAN BORDER - THE RADIO BOYS ON SECRET SERVICE DUTY - THE RADIO BOYS WITH THE REVENUE GUARDS - THE RADIO BOYS' SEARCH FOR THE INCA'S TREASURE - THE RADIO BOYS RESCUE THE LOST ALASKA EXPEDITION - THE RADIO BOYS IN DARKEST AFRICA - THE RADIO BOYS SEEK THE LOST ATLANTIS - -For sale by all booksellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of price by the -Publishers. - -A. L. 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L. BURT COMPANY - -114-120 EAST 23rd STREET, NEW YORK - - - - -THE BOY ALLIES - -(Registered in the United States Patent Office) - -WITH THE NAVY - -By Ensign Robert L. Drake - -For Boys 12 to 16 Years. - -All Cloth Bound, Copyright Titles - -PRICE, 65 CENTS EACH - -Frank Chadwick and Jack Templeton, young American lads, meet each other -in an unusual way soon after the declaration of war. Circumstances place -them on board the British cruiser, "The Sylph," and from there on, they -share adventures with the sailors of the Allies. Ensign Robert L. Drake, -the author, is an experienced naval officer, and he describes admirably -the many exciting adventures of the two boys. - - THE BOY ALLIES ON THE NORTH SEA PATROL; or, Striking the First Blow - at the German Fleet. - - THE BOY ALLIES UNDER TWO FLAGS; or, Sweeping the Enemy from the Sea. - - THE BOY ALLIES WITH THE FLYING SQUADRON; or, The Naval Raiders of - the Great War. - - THE BOY ALLIES WITH THE TERROR OF THE SEA; or, The Last Shot of - Submarine D-16. - - THE BOY ALLIES UNDER THE SEA; or, The Vanishing Submarine. - - THE BOY ALLIES IN THE BALTIC; or, Through Fields of Ice to Aid - the Czar. - - THE BOY ALLIES AT JUTLAND; or, The Greatest Naval Battle of History. - - THE BOY ALLIES WITH UNCLE SAM'S CRUISERS; or, Convoying the American - Army Across the Atlantic. - - THE BOY ALLIES WITH THE SUBMARINE D-32; or, The Fall of the Russian - Empire. - - THE BOY ALLIES WITH THE VICTORIOUS FLEETS; or, The Fall of the - German Navy. - -For sale by all booksellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of price by the -Publishers - -A. L. BURT COMPANY - -114-120 EAST 23rd STREET, NEW YORK - - - - -THE BOY ALLIES - -(Registered in the United States Patent Office) - -WITH THE ARMY - -By Clair W. Hayes - -For Boys 12 to 16 Years. - -All Cloth Bound, Copyright Titles - -PRICE, 65 CENTS EACH - -In this series we follow the fortunes of two American lads unable to -leave Europe after war is declared. They meet the soldiers of the -Allies, and decide to cast their lot with them. Their experiences and -escapes are many, and furnish plenty of good, healthy action that every -boy loves. - - THE BOY ALLIES AT LIEGE; or, Through Lines of Steel. - - THE BOY ALLIES ON THE FIRING LINE; or, Twelve Days Battle Along - the Marne. - - THE BOY ALLIES WITH THE COSSACKS; or, A Wild Dash Over the - Carpathians. - - THE BOY ALLIES IN THE TRENCHES; or, Midst Shot and Shell Along - the Alsne. - - THE BOY ALLIES IN GREAT PERIL; or, With the Italian Army In the - Alps. - - THE BOY ALLIES IN THE BALKAN CAMPAIGN; or, The Struggle to Save a - Nation. - - THE BOY ALLIES ON THE SOMME; or, Courage and Bravery Rewarded. - - THE BOY ALLIES AT VERDUN; or, Saving France from the Enemy. - - THE BOY ALLIES UNDER THE STARS AND STRIPES; or, Leading the - American Troops to the Firing Line. - - THE BOY ALLIES WITH HAIG IN FLANDERS; or, The Fighting Canadians - of Vimy Ridge. - - THE BOY ALLIES WITH PERSHING IN FRANCE; or, Over the Top at - Chateau Thierry. - - THE BOY ALIES WITH THE GREAT ADVANCE; or, Driving the Enemy - Through France and Belgium. - - THE BOY ALLIES WITH MARSHAL FOCH; or, The Closing Days of the - Great World War. - -For sale by all booksellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of price by the -Publishers - -A. L. BURT COMPANY - -114-120 EAST 23rd STREET, NEW YORK - - - - -THE JACK LORIMER SERIES - -By Winn Standish - -For Boys 12 to 16 Years. - -All Cloth Bound, Copyright Titles - -PRICE, 65 CENTS EACH - -CAPTAIN JACK LORIMER; or, The Young Athlete of Millvale High. - - Jack Lorimer is a fine example of the all-around American high-school - boys. His fondness for clean, honest sport of all kinds will strike a - chord of sympathy among athletic youths. - -JACK LORIMER'S CHAMPIONS; or, Sports on Land and Lake. - - There is a lively story woven in with the athletic achievements, which - are all right, since the book has been O. K'd. by Chadwick, the Nestor - of American Sporting journalism. - -JACK LORIMER'S HOLIDAYS; or, Millvale High In Camp. - - It would be well not to put this book into a boy's hands until the - chores are finished, otherwise they might be neglected. - -JACK LORIMER'S SUBSTITUTE; or, The Acting Captain of the Team. - - On the sporting side, this book takes up football, wrestling, and - tobogganing. There is a good deal of fun in this book and plenty of - action. - -JACK LORIMER, FRESHMAN; or, From Millvale High to Exmouth. - - Jack and some friends he makes crowd innumerable happenings into an - exciting freshman year at one of the leading Eastern colleges. The - book is typical of the American college boy's life, and there is a - lively story, interwoven with feats on the gridiron, hockey, - basketball and other clean honest sports for which Jack Lorimer - stands. - -For sale by all booksellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of price by the -Publishers - -A. L. BURT COMPANY - -114-120 EAST 23rd STREET, NEW YORK - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The New Boys at Oakdale, by Morgan Scott - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE NEW BOYS AT OAKDALE *** - -***** This file should be named 41513.txt or 41513.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/4/1/5/1/41513/ - -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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