by Morgan Scott
CHAPTER XI
PIPER SURPRISES HIS FRIENDS.
Utterly miserable and ashamed, even feeling themselves abased, the twoboys again remained silent for some moments following Piper'sself-denunciatory words.
"We juj-just _had_ to do it," Springer finally faltered in an effort atself-justification.
"We didn't have to," returned Billy sharply; "but we didn't have thecourage to do anything different. We might have told the truth."
"And bub-been branded as two black sheep by every sus-stiff-necked,straightlaced----"
"Of course; but that would have been no more than what's due us for ourpart in that affair last night."
"I fuf-fuf-fail to see it," snapped Springer in sudden anger. "Weweren't to blame for what happened. We were only juj-just playing alittle quiet, friendly game of poker, and----"
"We were just gambling, nothing different. You know it, Phil. I'vethought the whole thing over, and this fiction about a little friendlygame was shown to me in its true light. Now wait; don't get excited. Iwas tickled almost sick when I blundered into that game last night. Ithought it was simply great. I felt that I was doing something realsporty, and it seemed a corking fine thing to sit down with a bunch likethat and play cards for money. It wasn't what I lost that opened myeyes, I tell you that right now. If I'd simply lost my money, I supposeI'd been grouchy over it to myself, but, nothing worse happening, I'dbeen ready enough to get into the next game, with the hope of winning itback. That's the way it goes; when a fellow loses he's bound to playagain to get even; if he wins, he can't quit should he want to, becausethe other fellows would sneer at him and call him nasty names. So whenyou're once started gambling for money, you've got to keep it up.Friendly game! Is it friendliness, trying to get the loose cash ofanother fellow who needs it as much as you do, and perhaps more?"
"I won't argue a-bub-bout that. Perhaps you're right, but the pointdoesn't interest me now, with Roy Hooker in his pup-present condition. Ididn't like the way the doctor looked at us. Do you thu-think hesuspects us, Pipe?"
"Wouldn't wonder a bit," answered Sleuth. "But then, it would be naturalfor him to be suspicious of any fellow who is friendly with Roy."
"What are we going to do?"
"I dunno. Let's not stand here any longer; let's walk up the street.I've got to move; I can't keep still."
They were on the point of moving when they saw Chipper Cooper hurryingtoward them almost at a run.
"Wait!" called the approaching boy. "Where you fellows going?" And then,as he joined them, he asked in a low tone, "Heard anything thismorning?"
"I should say we had," answered Billy. After which he hastily toldCooper what they had learned from Dr. Grindle.
"Oh, my Jinks!" muttered Chipper, aghast. "I was hoping Roy'd be allright this morning. I was hoping he'd explain to his folks--tell them hehad a fall or something to account for the bumps he got."
"You were hoping he'd lie," said Billy, with a short, bitter laugh. "Wehad to lie to the doctor when he cornered us. You can see what thebusiness forces us into--lies! It makes me sick to think of it."
"I've worried all night," sighed Cooper dolefully. "Kept waking up everyten minutes, it seemed, thinking about that scrap and Roy. What was itthe doctor said that he said?"
"Just two words, 'two spades.' Of course he meant the two aces of spadesin that crooked pack."
"That seems to indicate that he's coming round, don't it? He rememberedsomething."
"And when he cuc-comes round," said Springer, "he'll be liable to tellthe whole business."
They were walking up the street toward the Methodist Church, the bell ofwhich had ceased to sound the first call from the steeple. In less thanan hour the church-goers would be hurrying along that street. As theyapproached the church the sexton, who lived across the way a shortdistance beyond, came out and hobbled toward home, leaning on his cane.
"Where will we go?" asked Springer. "Hadn't we bub-better take a walkoutside the village?"
"I'm not going far," said Piper. "I mean to hang around so that I won'tmiss any news about Roy. It will be half an hour now before people beginto come to church. Let's go into the old sheds out behind it."
In one of those sheds at the rear of the church they were hidden fromthe view of any one who might pass upon the street.
"Wish I hadn't ever got to playing in that game," confessed Chipper, whoon this morning showed no signs of his usual light-hearted ways andflippancy in conversation.
"I reckon we all feel the same about that," said Piper; "but it's no useto cry. We shouldn't be thinking so much of ourselves. What if Roy ispermanently hurt? What if he never comes round right?"
"Shu-Shultz will be to blame for that."
"Principally; but it wouldn't have happened if Shultz and Osgood hadn'tfound fellows enough to make up a game, so you see, in a way, we're toblame, too."
"But if Roy does come round all right and tells everything, we're all inthe soup," groaned Cooper. "Oh, I'll catch it at home! My father will befurious if he finds out that I ever played cards for money. You knowwe're not rich--far from it."
"There are others," reminded Piper sharply. "But when it comes out, ifit does, Charley Shultz will have to shoulder the most of the blame."
"He dud-don't live in Oakdale. He can get out any tut-time he wants to."
"Shultz won't tell," said Cooper. "Nobody will tell, unless it's Roy. Ifsomebody could get to see him and talk with him privately----"
"I've thought of that," cut in Piper. "If he comes round, he may talkbefore he realizes what it will mean to the rest of us. Now if somebodycould see him and make him remember things, he might be warned to keepmum. Who's going to try it?"
"Why dud-don't you?" suggested Springer.
"Why don't _you_?" flung back Billy. "I've never been real chummy withRoy."
"I'd mum-make a mess of it," said Phil, the idea causing him to shrink.
"Somebody has got to do it," declared Piper, "and there shouldn't bemuch time wasted. The fact that Roy spoke to the doctor shows he'scoming out of his daze. He's liable to remember everything all at once.Perhaps the sight of one of us would make him remember. Besides Osgoodand Shultz, of course we're the only ones in the game who can go to him,and those fellows couldn't do it without rousing suspicion. It's up tous. Who's going?"
No one volunteered, and after a time Springer feebly suggested that theyshould draw lots. They were about to do so, when of a sudden Pipercommanded all his resolution.
"I'll go," he announced. "We won't draw; that would be gambling, in away, and I'm done with anything of the sort. I'll go."
They looked at him in wonderment, vaguely realizing that this pryingchap, who had succeeded in making himself rather unpopular at school,was the possessor of a certain determination and resolution with whichhe had never been credited.
"That's the stuff, Sleuthy," applauded Chipper. "Good old Sleuthy!"
"Now cut that name out," requested Piper in a manner that was more likea command. "I'm done with that, too. I've been rather proud to havefellows call me Sleuth, but it makes me sick now, and I'm liable tofight any one who chucks it at me in future. If you want to do me afavor, you'll tell the fellows so. Perhaps it will make them worse;perhaps they'll think it fun to keep that nickname stuck on to me. Butthere'll be fights--I tell you there'll be fights!"
"Gee!" breathed Springer, staring at the speaker's flushed face. "You'rea regular bub-bantam, Pipe. Well, if you dud-don't like it, I'll nevercall you that again."
"Me, too; witness my solemn pledge," said Cooper, lifting his left handand jerking it down to put up his right. "Phil and I owe you that muchfor what you've offered to do just now."
"Perhaps I won't get in to see Roy," said Billy; "but I'm going to askthe privilege. Even if I do get in, maybe I won't have a chance to talkwith him without anybody round."
"Report as soon as you can," urged Chipper.
"Do," begged Phil. "We'll go up to my house, Cooper and I; you'll findus there."
"What are you doing, Sleuth?" asked Jack "You were striding off like aman with a mission. Is the great detective on the trail this----"
"Now that will be enough, Nelson, old man--that will be enough,"interrupted Piper. "I've just given certain parties notice that thisdetective gag is played out and I'm done with it. Also, my friendsaren't to call me Sleuth any more if they wish to remain friends.Grin--grin if you want to. I mean it. I'll prob'ly be carrying aroundblack eyes and body contusions for a while, but as soon as it becomesgenerally known in this town that I don't want to be called Sleuth and Iwon't stand any more for the detective joke, I'm going to begin punchinganybody who disregards the warning."
"Well, I'll be blowed!" breathed Nelson. "I thought you were proud ofit. Only last night you offered to do a little piece of detective workfor me. What did you find out?"
"Nothing," was the instant answer--"nothing that concerns you in anyway."
"And you're disgusted over your failure, eh? I didn't suppose you'd getdown-hearted so easy. No great detective ever----" But the look on Billy'sface caused Jack to stop short. "Oh, say!" he exclaimed; "have you heardabout Hooker? I was just told that he----"
"I've heard about it," said Piper, preparing to pass on. "I'm going tosee him now, if they'll let me. Dr. Grindle told Springer and me allabout it."
"It's queer," said Nelson. "Aren't you quitting your professional careerat a moment when there's a case that would really justify yourinvestigation? Perhaps that's why you're going to see him. Perhaps youmean to----"
"No, that's not the reason. Guess I'll skip along."
"If you find out anything, let a fellow know," Nelson called after him.
"If you only knew what I know now!" muttered Piper, as he turned downWillow Street.