HOW THE PROCTOR ESCAPED.
Rat-tat-tat!
Some one was knocking on Frank Merriwell’s door. The knocking awakened
Merry, who had been sleeping soundly, and he arose and admitted Harry
Rattleton.
“What’s the matter, Rattles?” Frank asked. “Why are you turning a
fellow out at this unearthly hour?”
“How can you sleep after all that happened last night?” cried the
visitor.
“Didn’t you sleep?”
“Not a wink. I tried to, but it was no go. I kept dreaming the most
horrible things all about murder and bloodshed!”
“That was pleasant.”
“Nit. Did you sleep?”
“Like a top.”
“Confound you!” exclaimed Rattleton, as if provoked. “I believe you
could sleep under any circumstances.”
“I hardly think I should have slept had not the proctor turned up all
right. That relieved my mind.”
“It did mine for a time, but, after thinking the thing all over, I got
into a stew pretty nearly as bad as before.”
“How was that?”
“Why, I thought the whole thing out, and I can see the whole crowd of
us is dead sure of being expelled.”
“Think so?”
“Sure of it.”
“Oh, I don’t know!”
“I do.”
“What makes you so sure of it?”
“The proctor knows us.”
“Why do you think that?”
“Remember how he snatched the blanket from his head on the bridge?”
“Yes, and I remember that it was wrapped about his head again before he
could recognize a soul in the darkness. I don’t think you need to worry
about that.”
“I’ll go you something he did recognize us. If not, why was he stepping
on the smokes--I mean smoking on the steps, and waiting for you to
appear? He was watching for you.”
“That may be, and still he may not be sure I was one of the crowd. He
suspected me, but suspicion is no proof. Even if he suspected me, it is
improbable that he knows the others of the party. Don’t let this matter
tear you all up the back, Rattles. I believe I am the only one of the
party that Rudge knows for sure. I may get it in the neck, but the rest
of you will escape.”
“There’s heaps of consolation in that!” exclaimed Harry, dolefully.
“If you get it in the neck, the rest of us deserve it. If you are
disgraced, I shall feel like a sneak if I do not confess my share in it
and take my medicine.”
Frank came close to Harry, placing his hands on Rattleton’s shoulders,
and looking him in the eyes.
“That shows your heart is all right, Rattles,” he said, with deep
feeling; “but it would be a foolish thing for you to do. However, I
think you are borrowing trouble. It is likely that there will be a
charge against me, but I am going to laugh at it, and I doubt if Rudge
can bring any proof.”
“Unless some fellow blows--some enemy of yours.”
“No fellow will dare do that.”
“Why not?”
“Such an act would brand him as a sneak.”
“It might not become publicly known who blowed.”
“It would be, for if any fellow told on us, he would have to go before
the faculty. That would let it out. Oh, I do not believe I have an
enemy in college who would dare do such a thing, for he would know it
must bring about his social ruin the minute he did it.”
Frank was so confident on this point, that, after a time, he relieved
Rattleton’s feelings somewhat, and Harry departed in a much better
frame of mind than he had been when he rapped on Merry’s door.
Frank took a cold dip and went out for a walk before chapel. Diamond
seemed to be waiting for him to appear, and they took the walk together.
Frank told Jack of Harry’s call and fears, and the Virginian confessed
that he had not slept very well himself. From what he said, Merry saw
that Diamond did not fear for himself, but felt certain that Frank was
in danger.
“Although I do not know why, I am sure the proctor has never liked you,
Merry,” said Jack.
“That’s all right enough,” smiled Frank. “He tried a bit of blackmail
on me when I first came to college. It did not go, and he has hated me
ever since.”
“Well, it is pretty sure he will make charges against you. What are you
going to do? What sort of a story will you tell?”
“If I tell anything, it will be the truth.”
“You can’t do that!”
“Then I shall keep still.”
“Silence in such a case will be regarded as confession.”
“I can’t help that. It will be the only course left for me.”
It was plain that Diamond feared not a little for Frank’s safety.
Merry could see this, but the relief from the torturing thoughts when
he believed the proctor had been drowned was enough to make him
comparatively lighthearted and hopeful.
For the time all thoughts of the unpleasant scene that took place when
Billings drew Gooch’s watch from Merry’s pocket were banished from
Frank’s mind.
Gooch was in Farnham Hall. He was a fellow who made quite a spread and
tried hard to be popular, with very poor success.
It was reported that Gooch lived far beyond his allowance. Certain it
was that there were times when Sidney was frightfully “hard up.” He
borrowed right and left of anybody and everybody who would lend him
anything.
Within a few weeks of the time concerning which I am writing a number
of robberies had been committed in the dormitories. Students had lost
rings, pins, watches and money. The thief was crafty, for thus far he
had escaped detection.
At the time that Sidney’s watch was found in his pocket Frank had
realized that such a discovery must throw suspicion on him with those
who did not know him well enough to be thoroughly convinced of his
absolute honesty.
Now, however, there was something else to think about, and he forgot
that.
To Frank’s astonishment, the day after the adventure with the proctor
passed quietly, and he was not summoned before the faculty.
“It must come to-morrow,” he thought.
But another day passed, and still things went on as if nothing had
happened.
Among the students it was known that Prof. Babbitt had tried to find
out just who had taken part in the York Street “racket.” He had
obtained the names of a few who were present, but he could not seem to
discover the identity of the ringleaders. His spy had been kidnaped
and dragged away just in time to keep him from accomplishing his
purpose.
The mystery of the proctor’s escape from the river remained a mystery
till, one day, as Rattleton was descending the stairs, after paying
Frank a visit, a conversation between Gooch and Billings was overheard.
Harry paused and listened. It was plain Billings had come to see Gooch,
and found him in the lower hall.
“We could cook Merriwell if we came out and told all we know,” said
the freshman. “That is just the evidence Rudge wants to prove that
Merriwell was the leader of the attack on him. It would ruin the
fellow’s college career.”
“But we can’t peach,” declared Gooch. “It would be the end of our
college careers, too, for we’d be run out of Yale by the fellows who
think Merriwell the only pebble on the beach. We’ve got to keep still
and find some other way of getting at the chap we hate.”
“It’s too bad to lose such an opportunity!” exclaimed Billings. “I have
it straight that Rudge was nearly drowned. The rope broke when they
tried to pull him out. He had twisted his hands free, and that was
all that saved him. He tore the blanket from his head, swam under the
bridge, and clung to a pier till he was strong enough so he could get
out.”
“Jingoes!” exclaimed Gooch. “The case could be made to look like an
attempt to murder Rudge.”
“Sure.”
“Well, we will think this matter over some. If we know of an absolute
attempt at murder, it may be our duty to tell the truth about it.”
“That’s the talk!” cried Billings, gleefully.