CHAPTER XLII
UNEXPECTED TIDINGS
As soon as Paul had accomplished his purpose, and seen the flag wavingin its old place on the turret, he went to the room of Mr. Weevil. Heknew well enough that inquiries would be made respecting the return ofthe flag, and therefore he took the straightforward course of going atonce to headquarters.
"Come in!" came the voice of the master in response to the knock on hisdoor.
He was pacing to and fro the room--the same room in which Paul had seenhim on that never-to-be-forgotten night with Zuker. He stopped as Paulentered, and regarded him in his usual manner--through half-closed eyes.
"You, Percival! What is it you want with me?" came the sharp answer.
"I only came to tell you that the flag is back in its old place, sir."
"I know--I know! And you brought it back, I understand? I meantinquiring into the matter. I'm glad you've forestalled me. You want toexplain--eh? That's what you've come for--eh?"
"That's what I've come for, sir," answered Paul, astonished that heshould have gained such speedy information as to what had happened.Sometimes, indeed, it seemed as though those half-closed eyes not onlysaw further than other eyes, but that they had the faculty of doublesight as well.
"And yet I don't know whether I can call it an explanation, for thereare things which cannot be explained."
"Not explained? How do you mean, sir?" came the sharp answer.
"I received the flag back from a friend of mine--a proved friend--on thesolemn promise that I would not make use of the information he had givenme to get any of the fellows who had taken it into a scrape."
"Why did you make that promise?"
"Because it was the only way of getting the flag back."
"And that is all the information you can give me?"
"That is all, sir."
"And you call it an explanation? Really, sir, it is one of the mostextraordinary I have ever heard! And you expect me to accept it?"demanded the master, facing Paul, and looking him fully in the eyes.
"I trust so, sir, because I can give no other--have no other to give."
Mr. Weevil did not at once answer, but took two or three more turnsacross the room.
"I believe you to be a lad of honour, Percival," he said, stopping oncemore, "and a lad of sense. Let me put it to you, then, as a lad ofhonour and of sense. Supposing I am perfectly ready to accept yourstatement, do you really believe that the school will be as ready toaccept it?"
"The school might be curious to know more, sir, but if you accept myexplanation as sufficient, I don't see why anybody should question it."
"Yes, yes; that might be well enough. But there have been one or tworather mysterious things that have happened within the last month or twowhich have never been cleared up. There was the breaking open of mydesk, for instance, and the torn pages in the Black Book."
"I could mention a still greater mystery that wants clearing up,"thought Paul, as his mind went back to the afternoon when he had seenthe master enter the strange hiding-place of Zuker.
"The culprit in that case has never been found out. It still remains amystery," continued Mr. Weevil. "Then came the mysterious disappearanceof the flag, and its equally mysterious return. The school will begetting suspicious--uneasy. If no better explanation is forthcomingthan that you have given me, suspicion will grow--I am certain of it."
Paul saw that the master was right. Still, he had no intention of givingup his secret.
"I have given my word, sir," he answered firmly. "You would not have mebreak it?"
"You said that you have received the flag from a friend, if my memoryserves me--a proved friend?"
"Yes, sir."
"May I ask in what way his friendship has been proved?"
How could Paul answer him? How could he tell the man before him in whatway Wyndham had proved his friendship to him? Suddenly, it flashed intoPaul's mind that the bold course was the best.
"When I was home last vacation, sir, a gentleman had an accident withhis horse. He asked me to take a packet for him to Mr. Moncrief, thefather of Moncrief minor. I took the packet. On the way I was set on bytwo ruffians. I got away from them, but they followed me, and would havegot the packet from me had it not been for the friend I speak of."
Mr. Weevil's eyes began closing as Paul was speaking. When he finishedthey opened again.
"What did this friend do?"
"Hid me till the ruffians had gone."
"Good! And that enabled you to get the packet to Mr. Moncrief?"
"Yes, sir."
"Excellent! But, do you know, Percival, this really seems a strangerstory than the other."
"Perhaps so, sir; but I can prove every word of it, if you like. By yourpermission, I will send for Mr. Moncrief----"
"No, no; that is altogether unnecessary!" said the master quickly."Strange though the story is, I accept every word of it--every word. Thefriend you speak of was indeed a friend in need. You must keep your wordto him--it would be an act of baseness to break it. I did not know thefacts, you see. You may leave the rest to me."
Paul's heart bounded joyfully. The bold course had been the right one.It had succeeded where a weaker course might have utterly failed.
"Thank you, sir. It is very kind of you."
Paul was about to withdraw, when the master called him back.
"Let me see, there was a letter came for you while you were out. Thereit is in the rack."
Paul took the letter from the rack as Mr. Weevil turned to his books.Again his heart gave a great bound. One glance at it told him who it wasfrom. It was the letter he had been so anxiously awaiting from Mr.Walter Moncrief.
"It _is_ for you, isn't it?" Mr. Weevil asked, glancing into the boy'seager face.
"Yes, sir," answered Paul, wondering whether the master suspected who itwas from or had any knowledge of its contents. He inspected the envelopeas he hastened to his dormitory. No; it did not seem to have beentampered with. Mr. Weevil could not have seen its contents. On reachinghis room, he tore open the envelope, and read:
"My dear Paul,--I received your first letter, but was away from home at the time, so was unable to answer it. Pardon my delay. You need not worry about the man Zuker. I am kept informed as to his movements.
"With regard to your master Mr. Weevil, I quite agree with you--I cannot think that he has anything to do with a traitor to his country, though appearances may be against him. At any rate, till anything is distinctly proved, give him the respect due to a scholar and a gentleman.
"To turn to other and more agreeable matters. I trust that Harry is getting on well. He seems too busy to write much. And when he does write, it's nothing but 'Plunger, Plunger, Plunger,' from start to finish. You would fancy there was nobody else but Plunger in existence. Tell him that when he can get away from Plunger we shall be very glad to hear from him again.
"I know the great friendship there is between you and my nephew Stanley. I only hope that Harry will find as good and worthy a friend. Tell Stanley that he has to come here during next vacation, and bring you with him. I think we shall be able to provide you with plenty of amusement, though I can't promise you it will be of so exciting a kind as you had last vacation.--Your sincere friend,
"WALTER MONCRIEF."
A great feeling of relief came over Paul when he read the first part ofthis letter. There was nothing to worry about Zuker. Mr. Moncrief waskept informed of his movements; and yet, and yet----If Mr. Moncrief knewof his movements, why, in the name of wonder, did he not arrest him? Butperhaps there were reasons against it. In any case, the answer wassatisfactory, and he felt relieved.
It was with far different feelings he read the last part of the letter.
"I know the great friendship existing between you and Stanley," Paulread again, with sorrow. "I only hope that Harry will find as good afriend."
And the message? What was he to do with the messag
e Mr. Moncrief hadasked him to deliver to Stanley? He turned the letter over and over inhis hand. He must deliver it to him somehow.
"Stanley must answer it; not I. I will give it to his cousin."
As he passed along the corridor a deep groan came from one of thedormitories. It sounded like some one in pain. He stopped and listened.A few seconds more, and the groaning was repeated. He opened the doorsoftly and looked in. The dormitory was to all appearances empty.
"Strange! My ears must have deceived me," thought Paul.
He was on the point of retreating when the sound came again to his ears.
"No; I wasn't mistaken," he said, stepping softly into the room andclosing the door after him. "It was somebody, but who?"
He looked round, puzzled. There was no one visible. He stood perfectlystill and waited. A few seconds more, and the groaning was repeated. Butthis time he detected whence it came. It came from under one of thecubicles. He crossed to it and looked underneath. A boy was huddled upon the floor. One glance was sufficient to tell him who it was--it wasMaster Plunger.
"Here. Plunger, come out of that!"
Plunger did not attempt to move.
"Come out of that, I tell you!"
As Plunger still refused to move, Paul took him by the leg and hauledhim out.
Such a woebegone Plunger it was! His wiry thatch was more dishevelledthan usual. The eyebrows seemed to have made a more desperate attemptthan ever to invade the territory of the forehead. The self-assurancewhich had been the distinguishing mark of Plunger's manner had gone.
"Le' me go--le' me go!" he groaned. "I want to die!"
"Die!" Paul could scarcely refrain from laughing. "There's not much ofthat about you! You're not one of those whom 'the gods love,' so you'llnever die young, Plunger. What have you been up to? I believe you'vebeen smoking."
This accusation brought Plunger to a sitting posture on the bed.
"I haven't been smoking--I haven't been smoking! It's the flag!"
"What about the flag?"
"I angled for it, and thought I'd hooked it; but I hadn't. Some otherfellow had; so instead of hooking the flag I got a beastly swishing.That's not all. I shall get roasted all round, and, of course, the TwoJ.'s will be poking fun at me in the 'Gargoyle Record.' I'd like to knowwho the fellow was who got the flag. Have you heard?"
"I have heard, but I haven't time to go into it just now. Your friendMoncrief minor can tell you all about it. Cheer up, Plunger, and don'ttalk any more about dying."
Paul hurried off, leaving Plunger to digest the scanty information hehad given him as best he could.
"Now for Stan!" he said, as he made his way to the common room, butlittle dreaming what was there in store for him.
The Hero of Garside School Page 43