A "FACER" FOR THE PLOTTER
"What are you going to do with all that wallpaper, Mr.Schimmelpodt?"
laughed Officer Hemingway.
"Me? I gif bail, don't I?" demanded the German.
"Well, you can't do it here. That's a matter to be fixed in court."
"Und dot train going by a mile a minute, I bet you!" gasped the
German ruefully.
"Come along, lad," urged Hemingway gently. "On Saturdays court
opens at one o'clock. We'll get right up there and see this matter
through."
"I bet you've see dis matter through---right through someone,
ain't it?" exploded Herr Schimmelpodt, ranging himself on the
other side of the young prisoner.
As they went along the German, using all his native and acquired
shrewdness, quickly got at the bottom of the matter.
In the meantime indignant Dave Darrin was telling all he knew
about the business to an indignant lot of High School youngsters
in the day coach.
"You keep your upper eyebrow stiff, Bresgott," urged the warm-hearted
German. "I see you through by dis business. Don't you worry."
"Thank you, but it isn't the arrest that is really bothering me,"
Prescott answered. "It's the feet that I'm fooled out of playing
this afternoon. And Darrin and I had been trained for so many
special tricks for today's game that I'm almost afraid my absence
will make a difference in the score. But, Herr Schimmelpodt,
if you want to help me, do you really mind dropping in at the
store and telling my father, so that he can come down to the court
room? Yet please be careful not to scare Dad. He has a horror
of courts and criminal law."
"I bet you I do der chob---slick," promised the German, and hurried
away.
"There goes a man that's all right, from his feet up to the top
of his head," declared Officer Hemingway.
On the streets Dick's appearance with Hemingway attracted little
notice. Folks were used to seeing the High School reporter of
"The Blade" walking with this policeman-detective. The few who
really did notice merely wondered why Dick Prescott was not on
his way to the Tottenville gridiron today.
When Hemingway and his prisoner reached the court room there were
only two or three loungers there, for it was still some minutes
before the time for the assembling of the court.
Presently Bert Dodge and his friend, Bayliss, dropped in. They
glanced at the young left end with no attempt to conceal their
feelings of triumph. Bert looked much the worse for wear.
Dick returned their looks coolly, but without defiance. He was
angry only that he should have been cheated of his right to play
in that big game.
Then in came the elder Dodge, only just back from a sanitarium.
Beside him walked Lawyer Ripley, who immediately came over to
Dick, just before Herr Schimelpodt and Dick's father entered the
room hastily.
"Prescott," began the old lawyer, sitting down beside the young
player, and speaking in a low tone, "I've just been called into
this matter, as I'm the Dodge family lawyer. Had my advice been
asked I would have demanded much more investigation. From what
knowledge I have of you, I don't regard you as one who is likely
to commit an unprovoked assault. Have you any objection to stating
your side of the case bearing in mind, of course, the fact that
I'm the Dodge lawyer."
"Not the least in the world," Dick replied promptly.
It was just at this moment that Herr Schimmelpodt and the elder
Prescott came hastening into the room.
Bert Dodge and Bayliss looked over uneasily, several times, to
where Lawyer Ripley and the young prisoner sat. Dick's father
stood by in silence. He already knew his son's version of the
affair of the day before. Herr Schimmelpodt didn't say anything,
but sat down, breathing heavily.
Then the clerk of the court and two court officers came in. Justice
Vesey entered soon after and took his seat on the bench.
"The case of Dodge versus Prescott---I mean, the people against
Prescott, your honor, is the only thing on the docket this afternoon,"
explained the clerk.
"Is the case ready" inquired the justice mildly.
"I will ask just a moment's delay, your, Honor," announced Lawyer
Ripley, rising. "I wish a moment's conference with my principals."
The court nodding, Mr. Ripley crossed the room, engaging in earnest
whispered conversation with the Dodges, father and son.
While this was going on a telegraph messenger boy entered. Espying
Dick, he went over and handed him a yellow envelope. Dick tore
it open. It was a telegram sent by Dave Darrin, on the way to
Tottenville, and read:
"Fred Ripley said he heard insult offered you by Dodge yesterday.
Get case adjourned to Monday and Ripley will testify in your
behalf."
Smiling, Dick passed the message to his father. Mr. Prescott,
after scanning the telegram, rose gravely, crossed the room and
handed the slip of paper to Lawyer Ripley.
"If the court please, we are now ready with this case," announced
Lawyer Ripley.
"Proceed, counselor. Mr. Clerk, you will swear such witnesses
as are to be called."
"If the court please," hastily interjected Mr. Ripley. "I don't
believe it is going to be necessary to call any witnesses. With
the court's permission I will first make a few explanations."
"This case, your Honor, is one in which Albert Dodge, a minor,
with the consent of his father, has preferred a charge of aggravated
assault against Richard Prescott, a minor.
"That there was a fight, and that said Prescott did vigorously
assault young Dodge, there is no doubt. Prescott himself does
not deny it. But I am satisfied, if it please the court, that
the case is one in which, on the evidence, young Prescott is bound
to be discharged. I am satisfied that young Prescott had abundant
provocation for the assault he committed. Further, we have received
apparently satisfactory assurance by wire that a witness is prepared
to testify to conduct and speech, on the part of young Dodge,
that would justify an assault, or, as the boys call it, 'a fight.'
Now, your Honor, if the prisoner, Prescott, through his father,
will agree to hold the elder Dodge blameless in the matter of
civil damages on account of this arrest, I shall move to have
the case dismissed."
"Will you so agree, Mr. Prescott," inquired the court, glancing
at Dick's father.
"Yes," agreed the elder Prescott, "though I must offer my opinion
that this arrest has been a shameful outrage."
"My client, the elder Dodge-----" began Lawyer Ripley, in a low
voice.
"Case dismissed," broke in Justice Vesey briskly, and Mr. Ripley
did not finish his remark.
Bowing to the court, Dick rose, picked up his hat and started
out with his father.
But once outside Herr Schimmelpodt caught them both by the arm.
"Vait!" he commanded. "I much vant to hear me vot Lawyer Ripley
haf to say to dot young scallavag."
"Are you talking about me?" demanded Bert Dodge, flushingly hotly,
for, just at that moment, he turned out of the court room into
the corridor.
"Maybe," assented Herr Schimmelpodt.
"Then stuff a sausage in your Dutch mouth, and be quiet," retorted
Bert impudently.
"Young man, if your father hat not enough gontrol of er you, den
I vill offer him dot I teach you manners by a goot spanking,"
replied Herr Schimmelpodt stiffly.
"Bert, you will be silent before your elders," ordered Mr Dodge.
"You have come close enough to getting me into trouble today.
Had I understood the whole story of the fight, as I do now, I
never would have backed your application for a warrant."
If you meet with any rebuke from young Prescott's friends, take
it in meekness, for you richly deserve censure."
"As you are only a boy, Bert, and I am your father's lawyer,"
broke in Mr. Ripley, even more sternly, "I have used whatever
powers of persuasion I may have to have this case ended mildly.
The Prescotts might have sued your father for a round sum in
damages for false arrest. And, if you and Bayliss had sworn falsely
as to the nature and causes of the fight, you might both have
been sent away to the reformatory on charges of perjury. Remember
that the law against false swearing applies to boys as much as
it does to men. And now, good day, Mr. Dodge. I trust you will
be able to convince your son of his wrongdoing."
However, the elder Dodge, despite his momentary sternness, was
not a parent who exercised much influence over his son. Half
an hour later Bert had out the family runabout, making fast time
toward Tottenville.
"Bert," said Bayliss, rather soberly, "I'm inclined to think that
Lawyer Ripley was good enough to get us out of a fearful scrape."
"That's what he's paid for," sniffed Bert "He's my father's lawyer."
"Then I'm glad your father has a good lawyer. Whew! It makes
me sick when I stop to think that we might have been trapped into
giving---er---prejudiced testimony, and that then we might have
been shipped off to the reformatory until we're of age!"
"Ain't Fred Ripley the sneak, though!" ejaculated Bert angrily.
"The idea of him standing ready to 'queer' a case against his
father's clients! I thought Fred had more class and caste than
to go against his own crowd for the sake of a mere mucker!"
"Well, the thing turned out all right, anyway," muttered Bayliss.
"We're off in time to see the game."
"And that's more than Dick Prescott will do today," laughed Bert
sullenly. "He can't catch a train to Tottenville, now, in time
for the game."
"If Gridley loses the game today," hinted Bayliss, "I suppose
the fellows will all feel that it was because Prescott didn't
go along. Then they'll all feel like roasting us."
"Oh, bother what the High School ninnies think---or say," grunted
Bert.
Fifteen minutes later there was a loud popping sound. Then a
tire flattened out, so that it became necessary for the young
men to get out and busy themselves with putting on another tire.
At this task they did not succeed very well until, finally, another
automobilist came along and gave the boys effective help.
So it was that, by the time the pair reached Tottenville, housed
the car at a garage, and reached Tottenville's High School athletic
field, the game was well on.
As the two young men reached the grand stand the Gridley contingent
were on their feet, breathless.
Gridley had the ball down to the ten-yard line from Tottenville's
goal. Captain Wadleigh's signals were ringing out, crisp and
clear. A whistle sounded.
Then the ball was put swiftly into play. Tottenville put up a
sturdy resistance against Gridley's left end.
Dave Darrin had the ball, and appeared to be trying to break through
the Tottenville line, well backed by Gridley's interference.
Of a sudden there was a subtle, swift pass, and Gridley's left
end darted along, almost parallel with the ten-yard line, then
made a dashing cut around and past Tottenville.
Two of the home team tackled that left end, but he shook them
off. In another instant-----
"Touchdown!" yelled the frantic Gridley boosters.
"Touchdown! Oh, you Darrin! Oh, you Prescott!"
Bert Dodge rubbed his eyes.
"Prescott?" he muttered.
"Blazes, but that is Prescott!" faltered Bayliss, with a sickly
grin.
"How did he ever get over here in time to play?" demanded Bert
Dodge.
Herr Schimmelpodt could have told. The stout, sport-loving old
contractor had parted with some of his greenbacks to a chauffeur
who had put Dick and himself over the long road to Tottenville.
And the young left end was playing, today, in his finest form!