AN ATTEMPTED HOLD-UP
It was exactly six-thirty and the fellows were just finishing a good
supper at Walker's lunch counter. Judd had become a hero in the eyes
of everyone now, except Benz. He could not allow himself to think of
Judd being other than just a plain country rube and although mightily
astonished at Judd's showing he passed it off finally with: "The lucky
stiff!"
Pole was speaking. "Rube, seeing you've got so much kale now you might
pay back that quarter I loaned you, with interest."
"Yes, an' don't forget that dollar an' a half you owe me," chimed in
Oole, with his mouth full of Boston baked beans.
"I don't owe you a cent an' never did!"
"He's only kiddin', Rube," soothed Curns, "Just so you remember me in
your will, I'll be satisfied."
Judd grinned; then his face grew sober. "Well, fellahs, I reckon we'd
better be gettin' home. It's a long walk an' it's gettin' dark.
Besides, I got quite a bit o' money an' I don't want to take any
chances o' losin' it."
"That's right! I move we do go home," grunted Oole, then sweetly to
the waiter, "Another plate of beans, please."
"Behold, gentlemen, the human storehouse!" derided Pole, pointing at
Oole.
"That's enough from you, macaroni!" retorted Oole, tearing a biscuit in
two, savagely.
"Did you say Marconi? Gentlemen, I am honored!" began Pole, then
placed a hand over his eye. "Thanks for the biscuit Oole, but please
pass them next time. Such table manners!"
Benz had been quiet for some time. He was a little indignant to think
of the renown Judd was getting. Why, all the fellows were beginning to
pay attention to him now. And he, a rube! Benz's one desire was to do
something which might make Judd the laughing stock of the college;
something which would provoke ridicule whenever referred to.
"I've got it!" he whispered. "Judd's afraid of robbers. Why, I heard
that he hides his wallet under the mattress or carpet every night
before he goes to bed. Why not pull a fake hold-up and scare him stiff
on the way home to-night? Great! I'll put the fellows wise."
Benz got busy and soon everyone knew the plot but the unsuspecting
Judd. Some fellows objected strenuously, but finally consented when
they considered what a rich joke it really would be.
"Pole, it's up to you to get Rube started for college. The rest of us
fellows will make some excuses and hang around town until you two are
gone. I'll get a revolver and some masks and with the bunch will take
a short cut through Perry field and meet you near the mill pond. Get
busy!" Benz was insistent.
"I tell you, I hate to do this thing," Pole hesitated, "Seems to me
we've pestered Rube about enough. He proved to us that he's the real
stuff this afternoon and I'm for leaving him alone."
"But think of the sport, Pole. Think of it! Can you picture him
begging for mercy when I point that gun at him and say, 'Hands up!'
Can you?"
"I guess almost anyone would beg for mercy in a situation like that,"
replied Pole, not easily moved.
"Oh, come on, just this once," pleaded Benz.
"... All right, it's not my funeral," yielded Pole, finally. "But
you'd better not go too far."
"Bosh! Rube's slow as mud. He'll never tumble to the fact it's not a
real robbery and we won't put him wise to the joke until we get back to
college."
"All right, as I said before, it's not my funeral," muttered Pole,
indifferently. Then to Judd who was standing some few feet off: "I
say, Rube, let's you and I be piking it for the college. The rest of
the bunch are goin' to hang around a bit and I'm anxious to get back."
"Suits me! So long, fellows--see you later!"
Pole and Judd started off.
"Now, gang!" cried Benz, "Wait here for me. I'll be back with the
stuff and we'll take the short cut. Gee, it's dark out, ... and no
moon!"
* * * * *
"This night sure is a dark one. I can hardly see the road, can you,
Rube?" It was Pole speaking and he was almost feeling his way along.
"Easy. I can't see the road but I reckon I can feel it," responded
Judd, walking along quite briskly. "Keep right behind me, Pole, an'
..."
"Hands up!" The voice came from the left side of the road and Judd
jumped to the right.
"Don't run or I'll fire!" It was a severe warning. Judd stood
perfectly still. The masked highwayman approached stealthily.
"W-what do you want?" Judd's voice trembled slightly.
"We were in the crowd this afternoon; saw you pocket the twenty-five.
Hand it over!"
"We! You?" Judd looked about nervously.
"Yes, there's more of us. Come on an' show yourselves, pals!"
Sure enough! Three masked bandits came into view and stepped up
threateningly. Judd started to lower his hands.
"Up they go!" mumbled the ringleader, brandishing his revolver
fiercely. "Are you goin' to come across,--or do we take it from you?"
Pole stood back some three paces watching the proceedings quietly.
"Pole, what shall I do?" asked Judd, despairingly. "Help me!"
"I'm covered, Rube," replied Pole, helplessly. "Looks as if you'd have
to dish up."
Judd hesitated. Finally, "It's in my vest pocket."
"That's the boy!" came a muffled voice. "Best way to do an' no blood
shed. Jack, you get the coin an' I'll keep him covered. You other two
guys watch that friend of his!"
Benz was the ringleader; the man referred to as Jack was Curns; the
other two men were Potts and Oole.
As Curns approached to take the money he pulled the mask well down over
his eyes and nose so that he could not be recognized. All went well
until he placed his hand in Judd's vest pocket. Then Curns sensed
trouble. He started to withdraw and step back but Judd was too quick
for him. Like a flash his fist shot out and caught Curns on the point
of the jaw, knocking him unconscious.
Benz was standing just two feet behind Curns. Judd reached him in one
bound, struck the unloaded revolver from his hand, and crashed a bony
fist into his face. Benz went down without a cry.
Judd swung about for the other two. Potts and Oole were standing not
far apart, supposedly guarding Pole. Judd had acted so quickly that
they were not yet prepared to protect themselves, or to put Judd wise
to the intended joke. Potts tried to escape but he did not move fast
enough. He was dropped where he had stood by a stinging blow behind
the ear. Judd wheeled swiftly, ready for the final victim.
"Rube!" Pole found his voice. "For John's sake, let up. It's all a
joke!"
Judd had already grabbed the huge Oole and was shaking him as one would
a baby.
"A fine joke, I call it. Tryin' to rob a fellah!"
Oole gasped for breath. "Let go! You're killing me!"
"It's Oole, Rube, let loose!" Pole grabbed Judd by the arm and tugged
at him frantically.
The rest of the fellows who had been silent onlookers now rushed out as
they saw the comedy transformed into a near tragedy.
Of a sudden the truth of the whole affair came over Judd. He released
his hold on Oole and sank down by the road side exhausted. Oole also
sat down, rubbing his throat gingerly.
"Fellahs, you shouldn't have done this!" moaned Judd, "that's goin' too
far!"
A flash light was unearthed and the three fellows examined. Curns
showed signs of returning consciousness, but the other two were still
dead to the world.
"The mill pond!" someone suggested, and the three injured members were
carried to its bank. Judd, quite overcome with grief and surprise
followed in company with Pole.
"Why didn't you tell me, Pole?" demanded Judd. "If these fellahs are
bad hurt ...!"
"It was all my fault, Rube! Don't take it so much to heart," pleaded
Pole, "The fellows are comin' along all right. Just plain knockouts,
every one of 'em."
The appliance of water aided greatly in restoring the three bruised and
battered highwaymen to their right senses.
Benz, when he came to, found only one eye ready for use. The other was
swollen shut and one side of his nose felt like a small mountain.
Potts groaned over a small lump behind his ear and Curns nursed a
tender spot on his jaw.
"Gee!" said Potts, "You did that fast, Rube. Biff, bang, smash! and it
was all over. I heard the biff and the bang but I _felt_ the smash!"
"No more highway robberies for mine," groaned Curns.
Benz was too sore and disgusted to say a word. His latest plan had
been a magnificent failure and Judd was more of a hero than ever.
"Did I say that fellow was slow?" said Benz to himself, "Well,--I take
that much back. He's fast as greased lightning!"
"I'm sorry, fellahs," apologized Judd, brokenly. "I thought you were
the real stuff; I hated to part with the money an',--an'--"
Here was an opening for Benz. He could not go back to college without
some sort of an alibi.
"You thought it was the real stuff? Bah! Pole put you wise and you
went in to do us all up. That's what you did, you big stiff!"
"I never said a word to Rube!" cried Pole, hotly. "The joke's on you
if there is any and you know it! Don't put the blame on anyone else!"
"Well,--let's hush this affair up, fellows. I'd hate to have it get
around college. Don't say a word about it, will you, Judd?"
"Hush this up? Nothin' doin'!" broke in Curns. "This joke is too good
to keep. Gee, I won't be able to chew any food with this jaw of mine
for a week! Good-night, gentlemen, it's getting late. Going home,
Rube?"