BART'S SCHEME FAILS
A moment later, Fred was ashamed of his outburst, and penitently he
made amends by being unusually cordial to Bronson, who joined him as he
passed the headmaster's house.
"You got home safely, I judge," exclaimed the new student.
"Yes, indeed," replied Fred, maintaining a silence upon the events of
the walk home.
"I'm glad. I was afraid Montgomery and his friends might make trouble
for you."
With various generalities, to which Fred gave monosyllabic assent or
dissent, as the case might be, Bronson kept up a conversation, and in
due course they reached the school grounds.
No sooner had they entered, however, than they realized something
unusual was afoot.
In groups of varying size, the girls were talking earnestly, some to
other girls and others to boys. But at the approach of Fred and his
companion they became silent, and the two boys were aware of many
covert glances as they passed up the tree-lined walk.
"Wonder what's up?" exclaimed Bronson.
"Don't know," returned his companion. "More stories about me, I
suppose, judging from the way they all stop talking and stare when I
come near."
With that super-sensitiveness, from which he was a sufferer, Fred had
ascribed the actions of his schoolmates to the matter of his father's
failure, and in no more forceful manner could he have shown his real
character, than by his next remark.
"I say, Bronson," he began, a little catch in his voice, "I don't think
it's a good plan for you to associate with me. I'm under a cloud, you
know, and it may queer you with the others."
"Of course, if you don't like me, I won't," returned the new student,
after a moment's silence.
"It isn't _that_," responded Fred hurriedly. "I _do_ like you. But I
was thinking of your own good--your success at Baxter, you know."
"If that's the only reason for your former remark, forget it,"
exclaimed Bronson emphatically. "I'd rather have your friendship than
that of anyone else in school. You were the only one who treated me
decently yesterday--and I don't forget such things."
"All right, Clothespin, if you feel that way. Goodness knows, I need
friends at this time, badly."
Fred's suspicions, however, did his schoolmates injustice. In line with
their plan of the previous night, Buttons and Sandow had sought Grace,
Sallie and Dorothy, early in the morning, and, after explaining matters
to them, had received their assurance of hearty coöperation in the
endeavor to shield Fred from taunts about his father, and the various
groups the sensitive boy had noticed were caused by the girls putting
into immediate effect their promise.
The sight of Margie standing alone on the porch, however, made Fred
forgetful of the others.
"Why are you here, and not with Grace?" he asked.
"They didn't seem to want me," replied the girl.
Only one reason for such apparent ostracism could Fred imagine, and at
the thought his face grew very serious.
"If they are going to leave you out because of me, I'll quit the
school," he declared vehemently.
"Don't be a goose, Fred," returned Margie, though there was a light in
her eyes that made Fred's heart beat faster. "Nobody's going to leave
either of us out of anything."
"Then why do they all stop talking when I come near, and stare at me?"
demanded the boy.
"Nonsense. It's just your imagination," temporized the girl, for,
having been apprised of Buttons' plan by Grace, and told why it would
not be politic for her to assist in promoting it, she feared the
evident suffering of the boy might force her into an explanation.
"Imagination, nothing. I guess I can see," retorted Fred. "Besides,
Bronson noticed it, too."
"Oh, well, have it your own way, if you like," pouted Margie. "I don't
think, though, it is very nice to contradict me so emphatically."
This rebuke sent a flush of contrition to Fred's cheeks, and while
he was stammering an apology the bell rang, and the students, whose
actions had caused all the boy's misgivings, hurried into school, those
who were near Fred hailing him cordially.
"There! Didn't I tell you you were mistaken?" breathed Margie, as she
walked to the general assembly room, by Fred's side.
The sudden change in the attitude of his schoolmates was more than Fred
could fathom, and so absorbed was he in trying to solve the mystery,
that the girl had left him to go to her side of the hall before he
thought of a reply.
The students were allowed to choose their own seats in chapel, the
only restriction being that each Form must sit by itself. According,
Fred, Buttons, Soda, Shorty and Bronson appropriated one bench, marking
the respective numbers of their seats in the class room on the back, in
pencil.
So engrossed was the fair-haired boy in this task, that he did not
notice his rival when he entered.
But his attention was quickly called to him by Buttons.
"We sure got Bart. Look at the court plaster on his face," chuckled the
boy, nudging his chum. "He's had to use three pieces."
Fred was not the only one who gazed with interest at the rich bully.
Indeed, there was scarcely a pair of eyes in the hall that was not
focused upon him, and, conscious of their scrutiny, Bart flushed,
dropping as quickly as he could into the seat Taffy had been saving for
him.
The hum of comment that greeted his appearance was quickly checked,
however, by the headmaster who arose and began the chapel service.
When this was concluded, Mr. Vining moved to the side of the table.
"You all know that one of the advantages afforded by the Baxter High
School is the Scholarship in Science. This Scholarship, which is open
to any member of the Second Form, amounts to two hundred dollars, a
sum worthy the best efforts of all members of the Form. The gentleman
who endowed it, Mr. Anthony Baxter, wisely stipulated that it should be
awarded upon the result of the mid-winter examinations. As all who wish
to try for the prize must make their purpose known, I therefore request
that aspirants enroll now."
As the headmaster ceased speaking, there was a buzz of whispering while
the students awaited the appearance of the entrants.
The work required of the participants was admittedly hard, requiring
such close application that members of the athletic teams had never
entered, being unable to carry both the study and the field practice.
Accordingly, it was with a gasp of dismay that the boys and girls
beheld Fred rise from his seat and advance to the platform.
"If you please, sir, I wish to enroll for the Scholarship," he said, in
a clear voice.
Restraining his surprise, for as teacher of the sciences, he knew that
Fred was none too good at them, Mr. Vining wrote down the boy's name.
The realization that Fred's action meant his desertion of the Second's
team, of which he, as left half-back, was one of the main supports,
filled the scholars with consternation. The Landon Second had been
weakened by the withdrawing from school of several of its strongest
players, and, in consequence, the students at Baxter had hoped their
team might this year obtain the victory, which had gone to their rivals
four times in succession. But, if Fred did not play, their hope would
be vain.
So absorbed were they, therefore, in consideration of this calamity
they did not notice that no one else had enrolled for the scholarship,
until Mr. Vining asked:
"Does no other student in the Second Form intend to enter? The
provisions of the gift declare there must be at least three
contestants, or there shall be no award, the sum reverting to the
endowment fund."
This fact thus recalled to them, interest once more centered in the
scholarship.
As no one responded to the headmaster's call, a smile spread over
Bart's face, which quickly disappeared, however, when Taffy got up.
"Sit down," hissed the bully.
"But I have as good a chance as Fred," returned the boy.
"Never mind if you have. You don't need the money. Fred does, and if no
one else enters, he can't get it."
Bart's voice, as he uttered these mean words, was intended to reach
only the boys on his bench. But Bronson, being on the end next to
Lefty, happened to hear them.
Realizing the significance of the forfeiture to his friend, the boy
quickly arose, went to the platform and enrolled. Scarcely had he done
so than there was a movement among the girls and Alice Montgomery
entered her name.
The expression on Bart's face as his sister's action frustrated his
plot to prevent the contest for the scholarship, was not pleasant to
see, but it happened that only Fred and Margie were looking at him.
The gates being thus let down, three more students, a boy and two
girls, enrolled, after which the entries were closed.
"You're a nice one, you are," growled Lefty, at Fred, as the students
passed from the hall. "What did you enter for? You haven't a ghost of
a show and you're leaving the team in the lurch. You're a traitor to
Baxter--that's what you are!"
"Oh, you can get along without me, Lefty. I'm not the whole team,"
retorted Fred.
"You're jolly right, you're not," exclaimed Bart, pushing his way to
where the two boys were standing.
"But he's the best half-back in Baxter," protested Lefty. "There's no
one can come anywhere near him."
"Well, I tell you one thing. Fred's dropping out will permit me to
play."
"What do you mean?" demanded several of the boys, in chorus.
Before the bully could explain, however, Sandow joined the group.
"Come down to the basement to elect the captain of the Second team," he
ordered. "There's plenty of time before classes, and I want to start
you at work to-day."