DARK DAYS
The Rovers and Stanley Browne were kept in the rooms until Monday
morning. During that time their meals were sent to them, and Professor
Sharp came to see them twice.
"Doctor Wallington will dispose of your case on Monday," said the
instructor.
"I think we should have had a doctor," said Dick. "All of us were
sick, and needed medical attention."
"Nonsense!" cried Abner Sharp. "You have sobered up, and that was all
that was needed."
This assertion led to a war of words, and Tom came close to whacking
the unreasonable teacher over the head with the water pitcher. As a
consequence, Abner Sharp ran out of the room in fear and reported to
the head of the institution that he had been assaulted.
On Monday morning the four boys were told to go down and report at the
president's office Previous to this they had held a "council of war,"
as Sam expressed it, and made Dick their spokesman.
"Now, then, as you appear to be sober, I will listen to your story,"
said Doctor Wallington. He was the only other person present, "And
remember," he added sharply, "I want nothing but the truth. You cannot
hope for any leniency on my part unless you tell me everything."
"That is what we propose to do, sir," answered Dick, looking the
doctor full in the eyes. "My brothers and Stanley have asked me to do
the talking for all of us. Shall I tell my story now?"
"Yes."
Thereupon Dick told his tale from beginning to end, very much as
I have set it down here. He, of course, could tell nothing of the
actions of Koswell and his crowd, for he had been unconscious most of
the time.
"Certainly a remarkable story," mused Doctor Wallington, when the
oldest Rover had finished, "And you mean to say you did not drink any
of the liquor?"
"Not a drop, sir; and neither did the others,"
"And this vapor? What was it, and how do you account for it?" The
doctor's tones were very sceptical.
"I can't account for it, excepting by thinking it was part of a plot
against us."
"Hum!" The doctor turned to Stanley. "Have you anything to add to
Rover's story?"
"Nothing, sir, excepting that it is absolutely true, Doctor
Wellington."
After this the boys were questioned for the best part of an hour, but
without shaking their testimony in the least. Then Songbird was called
in, and he told what he knew.
"If your story is true, it is a most extraordinary occurrence," said
the head of Brill at last. "But I must confess that I can scarcely
credit such a tale. However, I will, for the time being, give you the
benefit of the doubt, and in the meantime make some investigations on
my own account. If I find you have not told the truth I shall dismiss
you from the college. Do you understand that?"
To this the students bowed.
"One thing more. All of you may return to your classes but Thomas
Rover. He has an extra charge against him, that of assaulting
Professor Sharp. Thomas Rover, you will remain here. The rest of you
can go."
With strange feelings in their hearts Dick, Sam and Stanley,
accompanied by Songbird, left the office. They had been heard, but had
not been believed.
"We may be dismissed from here, after all," said Sam bitterly.
"What a shame!" cried Songbird. "Oh, if you could only find out who
did it, and expose them!"
The boys went back to their classes with heavy hearts. They saw a
number of the other students looking at them questioningly.
Jerry Koswell saw them return, and was much astonished. Had his plot
to put them in disgrace miscarried, after all? Larkspur, too, was
perplexed. Flockley was a bit relieved, and half hoped the whole
matter would blow over and nothing more be heard of it.
The day went by, and the other lads did not see Tom. But they saw him
in the evening, just before supper.
"Well, how did you make out?" asked Dick eagerly.
"Got a vacation," was Tom's laconic answer.
"Dismissed?" asked the others in concert.
"No, suspended until Doctor Wallington can investigate the whole
matter more thoroughly. He wanted me to apologize to Sharp, and I said
flatly that I wouldn't do it, because I hadn't anything to apologize
for. He got mad at first, and threatened me with instant dismissal.
Then I warmed up, and said I was innocent of all wrongdoing, and
perhaps I'd be able to prove it some day, and if so, and I was
dismissed, I'd sue the college for loss of reputation. That brought
matters to a head, and I guess the doctor saw I was in deadly earnest.
He told me I could consider myself suspended for two weeks, or until
he could get to the bottom of the affair. So I've got a holiday."
"I'm glad you didn't apologize to Sharp," said Sam.
"What are you going to do with yourself--go home?" asked Dick.
"No. I am going to move to Ashton, and then try to get to the bottom
of this matter."
"The doctor will send a letter home."
"So will I, and you must do the same. I think father will believe us."
Tom left that night, and established himself at the leading hotel in
Ashton.
News travels swiftly, and Koswell and his cohorts took care that the
girls at Hope should hear the story about the Rovers and Stanley
and their supposed disgraceful doings. Dora, Nellie and Grace could
scarcely believe their ears when they heard it.
"This is awful!" murmured Dora, and the tears came to her eyes.
"I don't believe one word of it!" cried Nellie with spirit.
"But Tom has been suspended," said Grace. "And think of poor Sam and
Dick!" And her heart sank like lead within her bosom.
"I am going to send Dick a note right away," said Dora. "I cannot bear
this suspense."
"But you don't think Dick is guilty, do you?" asked Nellie.
"No. But--but the disgrace! It is terrible!" And now Dora burst out
crying in earnest.
The note from Dora reached Dick the following day, in the afternoon
mail. It was short, but to the point, reading as follows:
"DEAR DICK: We have just heard something awful about you and Tom and
Sam. Tell us what it means. Of course we don't believe you have done
anything wrong.
"Yours,
"DORA."
This note disturbed Dick and Sam greatly, for they could understand
how the evil report concerning them had been circulated at Hope
Seminary, and how the girls had suffered in consequence.
"I am glad they think we are innocent," said Sam.
"They couldn't do anything else, knowing us as they do," returned his
brother. And then he sent a note back stating that the reports were
all falsehoods, and asking them to meet Tom and themselves on the
following Saturday at Ashton.
"Perhaps Tom will have something to report by that time," said Dick.
The time to Saturday dragged miserably. The boys could not set their
minds on their lessons, and as a consequence got some poor marks. For
this Professor Blackie gave them a lecture.
"You ought to show your appreciation of what Doctor Wellington has
done in your case," said the instructor.
"We can't settle down to lessons with this cloud hanging over us,"
answered Dick frankly. "It has got to be cleared away, or--" he did
not finish.
"Or what, Rover?"
"Or I'm afraid we'll have to leave, even if we are not dismissed," was
the slow answer, and Dick breathed a deep sigh.