TWICE A PRISONER
It was a peculiar coincidence that the freshman spread was to come off
this same night that meant so much to Ralph.
The sophomores had been wild to glean the particulars, so that they
might in some fashion manage to break up the feast, either by kidnaping
some of the first-year students, get possession of the president of the
class, or else purloin the good things that had been laid in for the
spread.
Ralph had intended going, for it promised to be great fun. This new
turn to his own private affairs, however, knocked the notion out of his
head. Indeed, he forgot about it entirely.
The minutes dragged terribly, and yet he knew that he ought to wait a
decent time to allow Sam Smalling and his little family a chance to eat
their supper.
About a quarter to eight he could hold back no longer. It was getting
dark, but he had asked questions of Frank, and knew just where to find
the cottage in which the Smallings lived.
To reach it he must walk almost a mile around the town; but that, he
expected, would be a matter of only ten or fifteen minutes at most.
So wrapped up was Ralph in his own affairs that he never once thought
of looking around him when he stepped out of the gate and started off.
Had he done so he would have discovered several dusky figures dogging
his footsteps in a very suspicious manner.
They kept just so far in his rear until the town had been left behind,
and the country was at hand. Of course these were sophs bent upon
keeping the new favorite of the freshies from attending that dinner,
which was doubtless to be spread in some isolated barn far beyond the
confines of Columbia, in order to lessen the chances of the second
class interrupting the feast.
Suddenly Ralph’s sober thoughts were interrupted. He found himself
pounced upon and borne to the ground. In vain he struggled, for three
proved too much for even the athletic hero of that afternoon game.
At first he was amazed at what was happening, and thoughts of some
rascals boldly playing the part of highway robbers flitted through his
mind.
Then a face was thrust close to his, and a voice said:
“Your goose is cooked, freshie. No fine spread in yours this night.
Instead, you will occupy a dungeon until the midnight hour has struck.
And if our plans carry right we’ll have gobbled your class grub long
before then.”
Of course the truth flashed through Ralph’s mind now. He knew that
he had fallen into the clutches of the watchful sophomores, eager to
capture all the leading lights of the lower class, and spoil the long
anticipated treat.
It was exasperating to say the least. Of course none of them would
believe him if he declared that he had no idea of attending the dinner,
and was bent on private business of the utmost importance.
Just as he expected, when he started to speak of this they only jeered
him.
“Tell that to the marines, freshie. Don’t we know that they expect to
elect you the president of the class to-night, in place of Rud Kipling,
who went home last week sick? Oh! no, you don’t get loose until the
clock strikes twelve, so save your breath. Tie his hands, boys, and
bring him along. I know a cot beneath the hill, and there we’ll chuck
him in to ruminate, while we hike after that grub.”
They assisted him to his feet after his hands had been rudely lashed.
Through a woods they walked, whispering at times. Ralph was really
angry at this unexpected bit of hard luck. If the boys only knew what
it meant to him to have his liberty they could not have the heart to
hold him a prisoner in this way.
Coming to an old cabin, once the home of charcoal burners, but long
deserted, they thrust him inside and, closing the door, fastened it in
some manner.
When the mocking voices of the sophomores had died away in the
distance, and Ralph found himself alone, he set about trying to effect
his escape. Had it been the dinner alone that was the inducement
he might have taken it philosophically, and simply laughed at his
predicament; but while he remained there, precious minutes were
passing, and the story of his mysterious past waiting to be told.
He struggled with the cord they had wrapped about his wrists. The sophs
were far from being experts in tying up a prisoner, so that there was a
chance for Ralph to work his hands free. Force would not accomplish it,
but by manipulating his right hand he was presently able to draw it out
of the bonds.
There remained only the door between him and liberty. He examined this
part of the structure, to find, as he suspected, that it was just as
flimsy as the rest of the old cabin. Consequently, when he threw his
weight against it, after several attempts, the door gave way with a
crash.
Striking a light, Ralph found that all this had only taken just fifteen
minutes. It was now eight o’clock plus seven minutes; and he was free
to go his way.
Another thought came into his mind. Loyalty to his class struggled with
this wild desire on his part to hasten to the home of Sam Smalling, so
as to hear all he had to say.
Was he not in duty bound to warn his fellows in some manner? From what
words the sophomores who had captured him had let drop, it was evident
that they knew where the spread was to take place, and that a raid was
being organized, looking to the stealing of the dainties provided for
the freshman dinner.
Ralph thought it over, even as he was hurrying along. After all, it
seemed up to him to do something to save his class the mortification of
being made the laughing stock of the vindictive second-year boys, who
were evidently abroad in force, bent on breaking up the spread.
Now that he came to consider the matter, the place of secret meeting
was in the same direction. No wonder his captors were positive that he
had been heading for the rendezvous when overtaken with disaster.
“I might go out of my way enough to meet some of the boys, and put
them on their guard,” he said, finally.
That was Ralph’s nature all over, ever ready to sacrifice his own
interests in order to benefit those with whom he was associated. It
was the spirit instilled in the souls of the Delta Pi members--loyalty
first of all to the school, and next to one’s class.
So Ralph made his way along cautiously. He was in mortal fear lest he
be pounced upon at any moment by others of the prowling sophs, and held
once more a prisoner.
In this fashion he drew near the farm where stood the barn hired for
the occasion by the freshmen. No doubt it was completely surrounded
by a cordon of eager sophs, anxious to accomplish their work of
retaliation, for the freshmen had effectually broken up their
entertainment earlier in the season.
Hearing voices coming along the road, indicating a large company of
boys and girls, Ralph knew that the main body of his fellow class
members must be approaching, having gathered in town somewhere, since
the girls refused to attend unless suitably protected.
Of course the sophomores would not dare attack this group. Indeed,
their plans covered a different field entirely, since they contemplated
making way with the provisions that were being carried to the spread.
Ralph waited until they were exactly opposite.
“Watchman, what of the night?” he asked, suddenly appearing among them.
Several of the freshmen, thinking that an attack was about to be sprung
on them, had started to grapple with the single figure. The passwords
spoken by Ralph, however, reassured them.
“Don’t mention my name, anybody,” said Ralph, in an impressive
whisper; “for some of the sophomores are hiding near by. They think
I’m a prisoner in the old hut of the charcoal burners in the woods. I
escaped and came here to tell you that they know all about the place of
meeting.”
“Then somebody leaked, that’s all,” grumbled one of the boys, angrily.
“I suppose so. But they mean to get a chance to steal your grub. Look
out for them, fellows. Keep a good watch out,” said Ralph, impressively.
“Hey! hold on, where are you going to?” demanded one of the group as
Ralph started to slip away.
“Sorry, but I can’t be with you to-night, fellows. Some mighty
important business of a private character chains me down,” explained
the other.
“No, you don’t now. You’re needed at the spread more than any other
fellow; and we don’t mean to let you off this time. Private matters
must wait when the class of Umty Fourteen has the call. Duty before
pleasure, you know. Besides, you’re IT to-night, and we just won’t get
on without you. Come on!”
Ralph thus found himself in another fix, and could well exclaim to be
delivered from his friends. First the enemy had captured him and tried
to keep him a prisoner until midnight. And now the fellow members of
his class, having determined to elect him president for the balance
of the season, seemed equally bent on preventing him from keeping his
appointment with Smalling.
He said nothing further, but walked along with the crowd. All the
while he was keeping his eyes open in the hope of seeing a chance to
drop out, and giving his classmates the slip. He could not bear the
thought of postponing the interview with Sam Smalling that might mean
everything in the world to him.
They had reached the barn before he found his opportunity. A number of
freshmen had come on at dusk to guard the place, so that their enemies
might not take possession unawares, and shut them out.
While the two divisions were fraternizing Ralph saw his chance, and
dodged aside.
“Here, where’s Ralph West gone to? We mustn’t let him slip away,” said
a voice.
“He was here a minute ago, but now he’s gone!” cried Helen Allen, in a
plaintive voice; and Ralph felt doubly sorry that he was compelled to
forego a pleasant evening in the company of Frank’s sister.
Scurrying through the end of the barn, he reached the open air.