by Morgan Scott
CHAPTER XIV
PIPER PUTS IT UP TO SHULTZ.
Never had a morning session at school seemed so wretchedly long to BillyPiper. The hands of the old clock on the wall behind ProfessorRichardson's desk actually seemed to stand still.
At intermission Billy sought an opportunity to speak a word in privatewith Charley Shultz, but was prevented from doing so, Shultz beingsurrounded by several boisterous fellows, who made a great deal of noiseand laughed often and loudly. In this general chatter Charley took part,but Piper was certain that his loud talk and laughter were inspired by adesire to appear carefree and untroubled. Once Shultz's eyes metBilly's, which led him to frown and turn his glance quickly away, asullen, resentful expression flashing across his face for a moment.
The other members of that Saturday night party seemed not at alldisposed to associate with one another. Ned Osgood put himself to muchtrouble to chat with Rod Grant, which was something unusual, as he hadnever before betrayed a particular liking for the Texan's company. PhilSpringer hung around Nelson and Stone, who talked baseball when they hadfinished speculating over the mystery of Roy Hooker's injury. Cooperslipped away by himself, and returned only when it was time to get backto his seat and his books.
At last the hands of the clock stood perpendicular, one over the other,and, having announced that he would remain at his desk a few minutes tospeak with any one who wished to have a word with him, ProfessorRichardson dismissed the scholars. A few of the boys lingered, curiousto observe if any one should approach the principal, but all of thefellows who could have cleared up the mystery made haste to get out ofthe room.
Again Piper was baffled in his effort to speak privately with Shultz,who walked away between two girls, talking and laughing like one whobore no shadow of apprehension in his heart.
"He's putting up a big bluff," muttered Billy. "He never troubledhimself before to be so jolly sociable with those girls. He can't carryit off like Osgood; he hasn't got the natural swing."
Piper bolted his dinner with such haste that his mother was led to warnhim of indigestion, with which he was sometimes troubled.
"As soon as it comes spring," she said, "you get baseball crazy, Will,and you don't like to stay home a minute longer than you have to."
"It's not baseball to-day, mother," he answered. "I wonder if anybodyhas heard anything new about Roy?"
"I haven't, not a word. I thought perhaps you might at school. You'realways so quick to see through things, haven't you an idea what happenedto him?"
"Do you think I wouldn't tell if I had?"
"No, but it seems queer nobody knows anything at all about it. Can't youeven guess, Will?"
"No, I can't," he answered brusquely, pushing back and jumping up fromthe table. "It's never been my habit to guess; I've always had somethingto base my theories on."
"And you haven't a thing in this case?"
"Of course not." He grabbed his cap and almost bolted from the house.
"Still more lies!" he half snarled, as he hurried along the street. "Myown mother will lose confidence in me when she finds out the truth. It'sthe most miserable piece of business I ever got mixed up in."
Straight to Mrs. Chester's home he hastened, and his heart gave a throbof satisfaction when the maid, admitting him, stated that Charley Shultzwas with Osgood in the latter's room.
They were talking in low tones when Piper unceremoniously opened thedoor and entered that room. Osgood had been pacing up and down, butShultz was standing by the window. Both looked startled.
"You're just the two fellows I want to see," said Billy, closing thedoor carefully behind him.
"Who invited you in?" growled Shultz. "Why didn't you knock?"
"Won't you sit down?" invited Ned, in his usual courteous manner, whichhad at first seemed like affectation to the boys of Oakdale.
"Thanks," said Piper. "Don't believe I care to. I've been trying to geta private word with Shultz, and this is the first time----"
"If you wish to talk with him privately I'll step out."
"No need of it. What I want to say I can say just as well with you here,Osgood, old man."
"We were having a little private talk of our own when you butted in,"said Shultz sourly.
"When I'm through there'll be plenty of time for you to finish up. Iwon't be long, and I'll get out the minute I've had my say. It's aboutthis wretched scrape--about Hooker."
"It _is_ a wretched scrape," agreed Osgood. "I'm greatly disturbed overit, and of course you must be also, Piper. What are we to do?"
"That's just what I want to talk to Shultz about. Something has got tobe done, and that pretty quick, too. It strikes me that Shultz is thefellow to do it."
The boy named swung round and squared himself, his red lips pressedtogether, his eyes staring straight at Billy from beneath lowered brows."I suppose," he began harshly, "you think you're going to shoulder thewhole business onto me. If you do, you want to forget it, and forget itquick. I'm no more to blame than the rest of the bunch. It's true I hitHooker a poke, but he brought it on himself, and you know it. He accusedme of cheating."
"It was your blow that knocked him against that mantelpiece and dazedhim so that he hasn't been able to talk or remember. In stating that thetruth was sure to come out soon, Professor Richardson was doubtlesscorrect."
"Ah, don't talk to me about that old dried-up shrimp!" cried Shultzfiercely. "He practically owned up before the whole school that he was aback number. He's no more fit to be the principal of Oakdale Academythan I am--nor half as much. It's time he retired and let a younger andbetter man fill his place."
"I didn't come here to argue that point. I say he was right in assertingthat the truth about Hooker is bound to come out. Now are you going towait and let the facts be found out through some other channel, or areyou going to brace up and make a clean breast of it?"
"Now wouldn't that be fine!" sneered Shultz. "You want me to blow thewhole thing, do you? You want me to come out and tell the general publicthat a bunch of us were here in Ned's rooms gambling, and that in aquarrel over the cards I hit Roy Hooker. Do you think for a minute thatby doing so I'll make you stand better in the public eye?"
"Somebody has got to tell it before Hooker tells, himself," persistedPiper. "As you're the fellow mainly involved, it seems to me it's up toyou."
"And if I don't tell, I suppose you'll run and peach, you commontattler!" frothed Shultz, taking a step forward, his fists clenched, hisface crimson with rage.
Piper stood his ground.
"Perhaps it will make you more popular with yourself if you hit me," hesaid. "You can't frighten me, Shultz, with black looks and bluster. Iknew what you'd do, but I made up my mind to talk straight to you, andI'm going to talk, even if you knock me down and jump on me with bothfeet."
"There'll be nothing of that kind happen in here," announced Osgood,taking a position to interfere in case Shultz's wrath should gainabsolute control of him. "We were talking of this thing when you camein, Piper."
"That old dead one, Richardson, tried to make folks believe it would bea courageous thing to come forward and confess," said Shultz; "butanybody knows that the fellow who squeals is usually a coward. He'sfrightened into it. That's the trouble with you, Piper; you're scaredstiff. You haven't any nerve at all."
"Scared?" retorted Billy. "I didn't hit Hooker. The worst that can besaid about me is that I was playing poker here and that I joined withthe rest of the bunch in keeping still about what happened to Roy. Youknow, Shultz, that there was no one else save yourself and Roy to blamefor that wind-up of the game. Now if we all keep still and wait till itcomes out, every one of us will be in the soup; but if you have thenerve and manhood to go to Professor Richardson or Dr. Grindle and telljust what the finish of that game was, without naming any one besidesyourself and Hooker, it will----"
"Ho! ho!" scoffed Shultz. "So that's what you want! I knew it; I knewyou were trying to save your own hide somehow. You want me to exposemyself as a real thug and scoundre
l, in order that you and the rest mayget off scot-free. Fine--I don't think. I'll rush right away and doit--not."
"Osgood is your particular friend, isn't he? Can't you see any reasonwhy you should shield him, dismissing consideration for the rest of us?You were here playing poker in Ned's rooms. An unfortunatemisunderstanding--I hope that's what it was--brought about that encounterwith Hooker. You can tell the story and refuse to name the others whowere in the game. More than half the people will consider that an act ofdecency on your part. They won't blame you for trying to shield the restof the crowd, although they may attempt to worm our names from you."
"It wouldn't do any good, anyhow," asserted Shultz. "As soon as Hookergets straightened out and remembers things, he'll tell; he'll name allof us."
"There's the unpleasant possibility that Hooker may not get straightenedout, Shultz. Anyhow, perhaps it will be some time before he does.Perhaps he'll come around gradually, and some of us may be able to seehim and caution him to keep mum. It's the only chance."
"And if he doesn't come around at all, and none of the crowd squeals,how are they ever going to find out just what happened? There you are."
"They will find it out, Shultz; I've made up my mind to that."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean that somebody is going to tell the truth. If you don't do it,somebody else will."
Osgood was compelled to grapple with Shultz, who strove to reach Billy,crying hoarsely:
"Let me get at that little whelp! He's threatening to blow on us! I'llfix him!"
"No, you won't," said Ned, displaying an amount of strength thatsurprised Piper, who still remained apparently calm and undisturbed. "Hehasn't said that he's going to blow."
"But that was what he meant."
Ned thrust the raging fellow back and held him until he had calmed downsomewhat.
"What did you mean, Piper?" Osgood asked over his shoulder. "Did youmean that you were going to chase right out of here and tell every one?"
"That wasn't exactly what I meant," answered Billy. "I'm going to talkwith the rest of the crowd. I'm going to tell them just where I standand what I think. I'm going to do my best to induce them, one and all,to put it up to Shultz just as I have put it up to him. Then, if heisn't man enough to shoulder the blame, I'll suggest that we all walk upin a body and tell the whole thing."
"You see! you see!" panted Shultz. "That's his game! He's a squealer!He's bound to make me the goat."
"Give me a chance to talk to him," urged Osgood. "I'm sure Billy willlisten to reason."
"I'm ready to listen to reason," said Piper; "but argument on falsepremises won't have the slightest effect on me. I've thought this thingall over and decided on the only proper course to be followed."
"But you can see," said Ned, almost pleadingly, "that you're asking amost difficult thing of Charley."
"That doesn't make it any less the right thing," was the unbendingretort.
"Confound him!" cried Shultz. "Did you ever see such an obstinate,stiff-necked little brat! He's bound to besmirch me. He wants to driveme out of the school, that's what's the matter. He's got it in for usboth, Ned. That's because we don't happen to belong in this miserableone-horse burg. I've had troubles enough. If I get fired from thisschool my old man is going to froth, I tell you that. And I'll be firedjust as sure as the facts are known."
"I see further talk will be a waste of time," said Piper, "so I thinkI'll be going."
"Wait a minute," requested Osgood. "You must realize that you sprungthis thing on us rather suddenly. We haven't had time to think it over.Give us time, won't you?"
"At this stage of the game time counts, for there's no telling how soonHooker will be able to talk."
"A little time," persisted Ned. "Let me talk it over with Charley. Tryto put yourself in his place and see if you can't realize----"
"All right," cut in Billy, suddenly deciding it was best to yield alittle. "Talk it over. I won't make another move until I see you again.But it's no use dilly-dallying, and Shultz may as well understand it."
Without a word of adieu, he opened the door and left them.