Bobby Blake at Rockledge School; or, Winning the Medal of Honor

by Frank A. Warner

  CHAPTER XXIV

  RED HAIR STANDS FOR MORE THAN TEMPER

  June had come. The regatta on Monatook Lake was but a few days away;Commencement followed. Even the boys of the Lower School were workinghard to make up lost lessons these days.

  Captain Gray was to graduate, and with him Max Bender and five of theother big boys. There would be at least seven new scholars to come toRockledge the next September, for there were never less than fifty boysat the school and--as has been said--Dr. Raymond always had a waitinglist.

  Mr. Leith devoted most of his time to the older boys; but everyfortnight, at least, he went over the reports of the entire school. Hewas a stiff and stern master, but he considered himself just. For thatreason he called Bobby Blake to his desk one day and said:

  "Robert, I am sorry there is a serious fault marked against you. Inrecitations you have done better than any boy in the Lower School andbetter than most in the Upper. But I do not like a stubborn boy; we cannone of us--we teachers, I mean--excuse such a fault as that. I heargood reports of you in every direction, and your name has been mentionedamong the few who stand a chance of winning the Medal of Honor.

  "It is a most serious matter for a boy to refuse to answer properquestions put to him by those who have him in charge. You must learnthis _now_. To obey is your duty. Do you realize that?"

  "Yes, sir," said Bobby in a low tone, and swallowing hard. "Iunderstand, sir."

  What he understood was that, if he had been willing to tell on his chum,and Shiner, and Sparrow, he might have won the medal. _But he could notdo that_!

  He had never thought of taking the matter up with Dr. Raymond. An olderboy--Captain Gray, for instance--might have gone to the Doctor andstated his side of the case. But Bobby did not question for a momentthe right of Mr. Leith to put in that report against him.

  It was pretty hard for the boy to bear. He wanted so much to write hisparents that he had won the distinction of the gold medal Dr. Raymondhad shown them on that first day of school. The Lower School was solidfor Bobby and many of the older lads admired the pluck and good humor ofthe boy from Clinton. His strongest partisans were Fred Martin andSparrow Bangs, who admired him so much because he was so different fromthemselves, perhaps.

  Pee Wee was Bobby's staunch champion, too. The fat boy boldly declaredhis admiration for the Clinton boy in any company.

  "There isn't another boy like him," Pee Wee said in gymnasium one day,when Bobby was absent. "Say! there's not one of you big fellows butwhat he's done a favor for--and more than once. I say--"

  "Come! you needn't froth at the mouth over it," growled Max Bender.

  "Huh! _you_ haven't anything to say against Bobby," declared Pee Wee.

  "I know I haven't," returned Max, red to his ears. "I'd vote for himright now. Barry can't get the medal anyway.

  "He doesn't stand well enough in Latin and physics for one thing,"pursued Max. "He knows it. Barry's a good fellow, and the Old Doc. isproud of him, I reckon; but he never was a bone for work."

  Pee Wee was inspired by this statement to "root" all the harder forBobby Blake.

  "He can get it, I know!" the fat boy kept saying. "There isn't anotherboy in the school stands as good a chance."

  "But if Mr. Leith is bound not to vote for him, what chance is there forBobby? Tell me that, now?" demanded Fred Martin.

  "What's Old Leith got against him?" asked one of the other boys.

  "Oh, it's that fight," said Pee Wee, with a side glance at Fred.

  "You've said that before," Skeets Brody observed. "I don't know aboutany fight Bobby's been in since he came here."

  "Oh, _he_ wasn't in it," returned Pee Wee.

  Fred's face colored deeply. He waited his chance and got the fat boyaside. "What's all this about Bobby fighting?" he demanded. "You knowsomething more than you're telling."

  "_You_ know," said the fat boy.

  "No, I don't!"

  "Yes, you do; and Sparrow knows, and Shiner knows--"

  "That old thing!" exclaimed Fred. "Who told you about it? And ithappened months ago."

  "Old Leith doesn't forget easily. You and Sparrow had a scrap, didn'tyou?"

  "Who told you so?"

  "Never you mind. I know you are as thick as thieves now," grinned PeeWee. "But there was a time when you and Sparrow were going to knockeach other's heads off. Isn't that so?"

  "Aw--it wasn't a fight," growled Fred.

  "And Bobby was in it."

  "What if he was?"

  "Leith knows. He caught Bobby somehow. And Bobby wouldn't tell on therest of you," said Pee Wee. "That's how he got in bad with Mr. Leith,and it's what is going to keep him out of winning that medal--yes, itis!"

  "Wow! I didn't know it was like that," gasped the red-haired boy."Bobby ran back for my cap. I remember now. I thought Leith onlypunished him by keeping him shut in for three days."

  "Huh! that's the _how_ of it, is it?"

  "He never said a word about it," declared Fred, gulping. "He's neverpeeped that Old Leith was holding it up against him."

  "I know," declared Pee Wee, nodding. "He tried to make Bobby tell onyou fellows, and Bobby wouldn't. So that busted up his chance ofgetting the medal."

  "Why!" murmured Fred, "he's been working just as hard for it all thetime."

  The fat boy seemed to have a little better appreciation of Bobby'scharacter than his own chum. "Why!" he said. "I reckon Bobby would dohis best anyway. He's that kind of a fellow."

  Fred went to the dressing room and slowly got out of his gymnasium suitand stood under the shower. He was puzzled and disturbed. It was nothis way to think very deeply.

  But red hair stands for something besides a quick temper. Such hairusually belongs to a warm heart. Fred, if thoughtless, was as loyal tohis chum as Damon was to Pythias, and all boys have read the story ofthose famous friends.

  Fred had taken it for granted that Bobby's punishment, on that long-pastoccasion, was completed when he had remained indoors at Mr. Leith'scommand. Fred did not suppose it had gone farther.

  Bobby had never said a word. Of course, he _would not_ have! that wasBobby's way.

  It smote Fred Martin hard that if Bobby lost his chance to win themedal, it would be partly his fault. And Bobby had tried to keep himout of the fight with Sparrow, in the first place!

  The fight had not done him, or Sparrow, or Shiner, a bit of harm. Heand Sparrow had been the best of friends ever since that day in the"bloody corner"! But poor Bobby--

  "It's a mean shame," Fred muttered to himself. "Old Leith's not fair.What business has he got holding that against Bobby! He's punishingBobby for _our_ sins. It's a shame!"

  Thinking about it, or talking about it, was not going to help his chumin the least. Fred had been a little afraid that some of the reportsthat had gone home to his father would call forth from Mr. Martin sharpcriticism. He knew he did not stand any too well in his own classes,and in deportment.

  He had not been caught in any great fault. However, if Mr. Leith knewthat he had been fighting that day in the corner, it would mean a big,black smear on his report for the year. That was just as sure as couldbe.

  "And Dad said if I didn't show up good this year, he'd take me into thestore and make me run errands, and send me back to public school,"thought Master Fred.

  "Gracious! that would leave Bobby here alone. Not to come back toRockledge next fall--"

  The red-haired boy could not bear to think of such a calamity. It wascertainly most awful to contemplate.

  He got into his clothing and wandered out of the gymnasium. Nobodychanced to speak to him and he stood on the school steps for someminutes turning a very hard problem over in his mind.

  And then a thought, like a keen-bladed rapier, stabbed Fred right in hismost vulnerable point--his conscience!

  "What does it matter if Bobby _does_ appear cheerful? _You're wrong_!

  "Oh, crickey!" groaned t
he red-haired boy, and he turned square aroundand climbed the steps. With dragging footsteps he made his way to Mr.Leith's class-room, where he knew he should find the master correctingexamination papers.

  Pee Wee, having gotten hold of one end of the thread, unraveled thewhole piece in short order. He soon had the truth out of Sparrow andShiner about the long-forgotten fight in "bloody corner."

  The fat boy was something more than a gossip, however. He, whose mindseemed usually interested mainly in food, proved that he could think ofsomething else.

  He wasted little time on the Lower School but it was not long beforeevery other boy at Rockledge knew how Bobby had pluckily--andsilently--suffered for the wrong three other boys had done.

  Pee Wee knew that the threat of the loss of the medal had hung overBobby all the time. He--and the other boys, too--knew that Bobby'srecord was otherwise clean.

  "Vote for Bobby Blake--he's all right!" became the rallying cry all overthe school, and even Captain Gray took it up.

  "You know, fellows," he said to his particular chums, "I haven't a ghostof a show for the medal. I'd like to get it, but your votes wouldn'twin it for me. And I declare! beside Bobby, I don't think I deserveit."

  The boys had a chance to express their individual opinion about thewinner of the medal by secret ballot, several days before the actualvote was taken. In this way the teachers learned just who was mostpopular with the boys at large.

  A slip was given each boy in class, on which was printed "First Choice,""Second Choice," "Third Choice." Every fellow in the Lower School wroteBobby's name against each choice!

  And when the teachers, Mr. Leith and Mr. Carrin, came to count the votesfrom the other boys, Bobby's name predominated by a good majority. Therewere still some faithful to Barry Gray, and one or two other boys werenamed for the medal; but on every slip save two, Bobby's name appearedas either first, second, or third choice. Those two particular slipsdid not have Barry Gray's name on them, either, and the astute teachersrecognized the handwriting of Bill Bronson and Jack Jinks!

  If, after this first ballot, there were names voted for, whose ownerscould not possibly win the medal, because of their standing with theteachers, the fact was to be made known by the Doctor. The whole schoolwaited, most anxiously, for Dr. Raymond's decision in this case.

  The regatta came in between. That was the great sporting event of thespring between the two schools which faced each other on opposite sidesof Lake Monatook.

  There were two-oared races, four-oared races, and then the big race ofthe day--the trial of speed between the eight-oared shells. TheRockledge boys thought Captain Gray and the others, in their whitejerseys with a crimson "R" on each side, were "a pretty nifty crew,"when they entered their boat and pushed out to the starter's place.

  The Belden crew had rowed over from their side of the lake. The coursewas laid on the Rockledge side and was two miles in length--a milestraight away, then round the post and return to the starting point.

  The younger boys forgot all other things and rooted for Gray and hiscrew with all the strength of their lungs. They were massed on a partof the bluff where they could see the whole race, and their friends andparents and the townspeople were on hand in force to add to theexcitement of the occasion.

  Clinton was too far away for Mr. and Mrs. Martin to come to the closingexercises of the school. Mr. Martin could not leave his store longenough for that, and there were too many children at home for Fred'smother to leave for over night.

  The chums got warm letters from them, and there were presents for bothFred and Bobby. When the latter saw his mother's handwriting on hispackage, and knew that she had thought of this time so long ahead, andprepared for it, he was more touched than he had been by the Christmaspresents that had reached him from the same source.

  Fred was rather woebegone these last few days. "Wow! wait till Dad seesmy report," he said, hopelessly. "He'll be sorry he sent me this watchand chain."

  Nevertheless, both lads wore their watches very proudly. They were justwhat they had longed for, and although the timepieces were not veryvaluable, they were good, practical instruments.

  The boys held them now, as they watched the racing shells, and camepretty close to knowing by how many seconds the Rockledge crew beat theBelden, when the shells raced down to the starter's boat.

  There was an extra supper that night. Mary baked an enormous cake, withcandles on it, and the date of the winning of the boat race traced inpink frosting. This was set down in the middle of the upper table, andCaptain Gray had the honor of cutting it. A good-sized piece was sentaround to each boy, and Gray was called on for a speech.

  The handsome, well-dressed lad was not afraid to speak in public. Hewas a bit forward but goodhearted. Yet perhaps the Doctor was just aswell suited that Barrymore Gray should not be in line for the Medal ofHonor.

  There was a certain conceit about his character which had alwaystroubled the good doctor; yet Barry had carried off the duties of hiscaptaincy with success.

  Frank Durrock was appointed captain for the coming year, and _he_ wascalled on for a speech, too, having rowed bow in the winning shell.Frank was another sort of a boy. He could only nod his thanks and sitdown in confusion.

  The youngsters cheered Barry and laughed at Frank; yet they all likedthe latter pretty well, too.

  The Doctor himself covered Frank Durrock's confusion by making a littlespeech. His last words were: "And now, boys, to-morrow we decide uponthe winner of the Medal of Honor. All electioneering must ceaseto-night, you know. Be prepared to-morrow to settle for yourselves whois the most popular candidate. You are dismissed."