PLANS AND ARRANGEMENTS.
The discussion thus commenced was kept up until midnight, and Leon
gladdened the heart of his cousin by repeatedly declaring that he had
determined upon his course, and that nothing could induce him to change
his mind.
They did not go out of their room again that night. They sat at the
window and talked about the glorious times they expected to have when
they reached the plains, and when Mr. Parker and Mr. Fuller went out of
the gate and started for the village, Frank took occasion to comment
upon it.
"They are free to go and come as they please," said he, with no little
show of temper, "and here we are shut up like a couple of thieves."
"You are not shut up," said Leon. "Your father didn't tell you to stay
in."
"Do you suppose that I am going to enjoy myself unless you can go,
too?" asked Frank, who seemed to have grown very disinterested all of a
sudden. "No, sir! We got into this trouble together, and we'll stick to
each other until we are safely out of it."
"I've just thought of something," said Leon suddenly. "How are we going
to get an excuse to-morrow? You can't write one, for the professor has
found out through that little snipe, Miles Jackson, that we ran away."
"We'll not say a word about it," replied his cousin. "If your father
feels like giving us an excuse, all right; if he doesn't we'll go
without one."
Frank spoke as though he had no interest in the matter, but it troubled
him not a little.
It troubled Leon, too, and it was not settled until the next morning,
when Mr. Parker said to Leon, as the latter arose from the breakfast
table:
"I think it would be a good plan for you to look over the lessons you
missed yesterday. I will call at ten minutes of nine, and walk down to
the school-house with you."
"Yes, no doubt I'll look over those lessons!" said Leon, when he and
his cousin had closed the door of the room behind them. "I'll see all
the school-books in the country in Guinea before I will touch one until
I am obliged to do so!"
But Leon was handling his school-books even while he spoke. He and
Frank had each two sets--one at school and another which they kept at
home, and which they were supposed to study occasionally of evenings.
The first thing the two boys did was to scatter their books all over
the table, so that if Mr. Parker should happen to come into the room,
he would be led to believe that they had been studying; and then they
sat down and talked about the subject that was uppermost in their minds.
At the appointed time, Mr. Parker came to the foot of the stairs and
called to them to come down.
He walked with them to the school-house, and, leaving them in the yard,
entered the building and sought an interview with Mr. Chamberlain.
What passed between the two gentlemen the truants never knew. There was
nothing said to them about running away from school, and they very soon
became satisfied that their previous day's work would bring them into
no trouble with their teacher. But they got into trouble with somebody
else before four o'clock came.
It happened on the ball-ground during the afternoon recess.
Leon was having a good deal to say regarding Oscar Preston's dishonesty
and Mr. Smith's refusal to give him a letter of recommendation, and
Frank was helping him by putting in a word occasionally, when Sam Hynes
and his base-ball bat suddenly appeared on the scene.
Leon's speech was brought to a sudden close, for he was doubled up like
a jack-knife by a punch in the ribs from the bat, and Frank escaped
similar treatment by taking to his heels.
The consequence was that the names of Sam Hynes and Leon Parker
appeared among those of other delinquents who were requested to keep
their seats when the rest of the students were dismissed.
At the end of half an hour a settlement had been had with all the
law-breakers except Sam and Leon.
The principal looked at them a moment, and said solemnly:
"Boys, I am sorry to hear that you have been fighting."
"Mr. Chamberlain," said Sam, "I did all the fighting that was done.
Leon never lifted a hand."
The professor looked down at the paper-cutter he held in his hand, and
finally said:
"Parker, you may go."
"Good for me!" said Leon to himself, as he hurried down the stairs. "I
am well out of that scrape. I hope you'll get a good licking, Mr. Sam
Hynes; that's all the harm I wish you."
If Leon had been standing in front of the school-house about ten
minutes later, he would have been disappointed, and perhaps greatly
disgusted.
A step sounded in the hall, and Sam Hynes came bounding out as if he
were set on springs.
When he reached the steps, he thrust his hands into his pockets, struck
up a lively whistle, and walked off with an air which seemed to say
that he was well satisfied with the world and everybody in it, himself
included.
It was evident from his actions that he had not been very severely
reprimanded for the part he had taken in the affair on the ball-ground;
but Leon could not say as much for himself half an hour after he
arrived at his father's house.
Frank had been loitering along the road, waiting for Leon, and when the
two reached home, they found all the family there as before.
Leon was at once invited into the library, while Frank, who did not
care to stay where his father was, went up to his room. He wondered
what was wrong now, and when his cousin came up he found out.
Leon's face was very pale, his eyes were red and swollen, and Frank had
never seen him so angry before.
"Father knows all about that fuss we had at school to-day," said he,
as soon as he entered the room. "He heard some of the students talking
about it at the post office. It beats me how many fellows there are in
the world who can't be easy until they tell all they know."
"Well, what of it?" inquired Frank shortly.
"What of it!" repeated Leon. "Father gave me the worst going-over I
ever had in my life. He praised Oscar up to the skies, and told me, in
so many words, that I would do well to take him for a model."
"The idea!" exclaimed Frank. "A market-shooter! He is a pretty model
for any decent boy!"
"It has always been so," said Leon bitterly. "Father sees something
good in everybody except me; and if I am so awful bad, he won't feel
sorry when I get out of his sight."
After this, Leon seemed to throw all his fears and scruples to the
winds. He had got it into his head that he was a badly abused boy, that
he would be in trouble as long as he remained in Eaton, and he was
impatient to get out into the world where he could do as he pleased
without any fear of being taken to task for his misdeeds.
Mr. Fuller remained in Eaton for nearly two weeks, and Frank, who did
not think it safe to attempt to carry out his plans until his father
was well on his way toward home, fumed and fretted all the day.
During that time the two discontented boys went to school regularly--it
was dangerous to play truant now that that new rule had gone into
operation--and if they learned nothing else, they _did_ learn these
four things:
That Oscar Preston's reputation had been cleared; that Mr. Smith had
apologized and offered to make all the amends in his power; that Oscar
and Sam Hynes had made heroes of themselves by saving a man from
drowning; and that the man was rich, and was going to do something for
Oscar.
They were not, however, acquainted with the fact that the rescued
man had already done something for the young taxidermist, in that he
had offered him a hundred dollars a month and expenses to procure
specimens for the university museum.
In fact, there were very few people in the village who knew that, for
Oscar had spoken of it only to those whom he was sure he could trust
with the secret.
There was an interview yet to come with the members of the committee,
and Oscar thought it would be time enough to speak of the professor's
offer after the result of that interview was known.
Tuesday morning came at last, and Mr. Fuller, after taking leave of his
son and giving him some good advice--to which, it is hardly necessary
to say, Frank paid no sort of attention--stepped into Mr. Parker's
carriage and was driven to the depot.
Frank stood on the porch with his aunt and cousin, watching the
carriage as long as it remained in sight.
He had assumed a very sober face for the occasion, and seemed to be
much dejected. When the carriage disappeared, he went slowly up the
stairs to his room, and Leon followed him.
The moment the latter closed the door, Frank's countenance changed as
if by magic.
"Now, then," said he briskly, "the time for action has come. Go down
and steal that bank-book, and be quick about it, for it is almost
school-time."
"I am almost afraid to do it," answered Leon. "Mother may have occasion
to go to that bureau drawer some time during the day, and what would
become of us if she should miss the book and make inquiries about it?
The risk is too great. Whenever I steal that book, we must draw the
money and get out of town without an hour's delay."
"Now, how in the world are we going to do that?" questioned Frank
impatiently. "We can't walk out of town with our guns and carpet-bags
in broad daylight. You must get that book now, take it to school with
you, and run down to the bank at noon and draw the money. When we come
home, we'll think up some way to get your gun, and as soon as it grows
dark, we'll slip out and start for Franklin, where we will board the
first western-bound train. If we get on the cars at this station, we
will run the risk of being seen by a dozen people who will recognize
us. We can't help taking some chances, and if you are afraid to do it,
you can stay here and welcome. I am off to-night."
Frank talked rapidly, for time was precious. When he ceased speaking
Leon opened the door with an air of dogged resolution, and went
downstairs.