“You’re a—a—contemptible old sneak!” cried Tom wrathfully, “and if I didn’t feel so—so dizzy I’d knock you down!”
“Tom!” cried Dick warningly. He was growing a little clearer in his mind, and could see that a terrible mistake had been made.
“You’ll not knock anybody down, you young villain!” roared Abner Sharp in a rage. “I’ll teach you to come here and drink and carouse, and bring disgrace upon the fair name of Brill College! I’ll have you dismissed and sent home in disgrace!”
“You’re making a mistake—” began Dick.
“No, there is no mistake. Of course you wish to hide the truth, and smooth matters over, but it won’t go with me, nor with Professor Blackie, either,” stormed Professor Sharp. “We know what we see and what we smell. You young fellows are a disgrace to Brill, and the sooner everybody knows it, the better. Now, then, march to the roadway, every one of you, and no more back talk!”
“But, sir—” began Stanley in dismay.
“Not another word!” cried Abner Sharp. “If you have anything more to tell, you may tell it to Doctor Wallington.”
CHAPTER XXVII
IN DISGRACE
Still dizzy from the effects of the strange vapor, the students were driven rapidly over the country roads in the direction of Brill College. The fresh air served to make them feel a little better, but all were far from clear headed when ushered into the presence of Doctor Wallington.
“We have brought them back with us, sir,” said Professor Sharp stiffly.
The president of the college gazed keenly at the Rovers and Stanley. They looked at him in return, but blinked and swayed as they did so.
“I will listen to the story,” said Doctor Wallington, turning to the two instructors, and his voice had a hard tone to it that did not augur well for the students.
Thereupon Professor Sharp told how he had received an anonymous note stating that the Rovers and some others were going off to the old Jamison house to drink and gamble, and that it was thought they were going to take some innocent outsider with them, to fleece him of his money. On receiving the note Abner Sharp had called Professor Blackie into consultation with him, and had gone off, after leaving word for the doctor about what they proposed to do.
“We found them—the three Rovers and Stanley Browne—in a beastly state,” continued Professor Sharp. “Truly beastly state—with empty liquor bottles and flasks strewn around, and Thomas Rover had a flask in his pocket, which I took from him.” The instructor placed the flask on the president’s desk. “There were also cigar butts scattered around, and some packs of playing-cards.”
“Where was Powell?”
“He had dropped the others off at the old house and gone on to visit some folks named Sanderson. He came back later.”
“Had he been drinking, too?”
“I do not think so,” answered Professor Blackie.
During this talk Dick and his brothers and Stanley stared somewhat vacantly at the president and the professors. The students wanted to speak several times, but Doctor Wallington waved them to be silent.
“I will hear what you have to say after Professor Sharp and Professor Blackie have finished,” said the head of the college.
He asked the instructors a great number of questions, and then turned to Dick, as the oldest of the boys.
“Now, then, what have you to say about your disgraceful conduct?” he demanded severely. “Or perhaps it would be as well to postpone further conversation until you are in a fit condition to tell a straight story.” The doctor was sarcastic as well as severe.
“I—I am not well, sir,” said Dick in a low voice. “None of us are. But it was not liquor that did it. It was the vapor.”
“Vapor?” queried Doctor Wallington in perplexity.
“Yes, sir.”
“What do you suppose he means?” and now the master of the college turned to Abner Sharp.
“When we found them in such a sad state they tried to excuse themselves by stating that a strange vapor had made them sick,” was the instructor’s reply. “But we could not trace any such vapor. I feel sure it is merely an excuse.”
“You ought to have your head punched!” growled Tom. He was still sick, and the sickness made him reckless.
“Rover! How dare you?” exclaimed Doctor Wallington severely.
“I don’t care! He is down on us, me especially, and he wants to put us in disgrace. He’s a miserable sneak, that’s what he is!”
“You are evidently in no condition to tell your story, and your companions are little better off,” went on the head of the college. He turned to the two professors. “You may take them up to rooms 77 and 78, Mr. Blackie. I will confer with you further, Mr. Sharp.”
There was no help for it, and with their heads still in a whirl, the Rovers and Stanley were taken to two rooms not used by any of the other students. The rooms were in an angle of the building, away from all others. They had a small hallway of their own, with a door shutting it off from the main hall.
Professor Blackie marched the boys into the rooms, and saw to it that they had a pitcher of fresh drinking water.
“You will have to remain here until Doctor Wallington sends for you,” said the instructor, and walked out of the room. The boys heard him pass through the little hall and close and lock the door to the main hall.
“Prisoners! What do you think of that?” cried Sam.
“It is carrying matters with a high hand,” answered Dick. He placed a hand on his forehead. “How my head aches!”
“Same here,” answered Stanley. “I am going to rest,” he added, and threw himself on one of the beds.
The others were glad to rest, also, and soon all were occupying the beds the connecting rooms contained. They left the windows wide open, so that they might get all the fresh air possible. Strange to say, each was soon in a profound slumber.
While they were sleeping they did not know that Professor Sharp came in to see if they wanted any supper. Seeing them sleeping so soundly, he notified Doctor Wallington.
“Do not disturb them,” said the president of Brill. “Sleep will do them more good than anything. I doubt if they care to eat.” And he heaved a sigh as he thought of the problem before him. He liked the Rovers and Stanley Browne, but according to what he had seen and been told, some of the strictest rules of Brill had been violated, and it would be impossible for him to pass the affair by or mete out ordinary punishment.
“I am afraid I shall have to dismiss them,” he told himself. “Too bad!”
In some manner the story leaked out, and by Sunday noon all the students at Brill knew that the Rovers and Stanley were in disgrace, and in danger of dismissal. A few sided with the boys, but the majority shook their heads.
“They had no business to go off on such a lark,” said one of the seniors. “It’s a disgrace to the whole college. If they are sent home it will serve them right.”
Koswell and Larkspur were in high glee over the success of their plot, and when alone winked at each other and poked each other in the ribs.
“They’ll get what’s coming to ’em this trip,” said Bart Larkspur with a chuckle. “They’ll be lucky if they are not sent home.”
“And we’ll rub it in, too,” added Koswell. “You know how those Rovers are dead stuck on those girls at Hope.”
“Sure.”
“Well, I’ll fix it so those girls hear all about this affair.”
“Good!” cried Larkspur. “That will be the bitterest dose of all.”
“Say,” put in Dudd Flockley nervously, “you don’t suppose there is any danger of our being found out?”
“Not the slightest,” answered Koswell. “I saw to it that all our tracks were covered.”
“But that fellow Parwick? Are you certain he can be trusted?”
“Yes. But
we have got to pay him for his trouble. I promised him twenty dollars. I’ll give him half and you can give him the other half,” answered Koswell. He knew Larkspur had no spending money.
“Oh, I’m willing to pay him his price,” said the dudish student. “But I want to be dead certain that he will keep his mouth shut.”
“I’ll make him do that,” returned Jerry Koswell.
CHAPTER XXVIII
DARK DAYS
The Rovers and Stanley Browne were kept in the rooms until Monday morning. During that time their meals were sent to them, and Professor Sharp came to see them twice.
“Doctor Wallington will dispose of your case on Monday,” said the instructor.
“I think we should have had a doctor,” said Dick. “All of us were sick, and needed medical attention.”
“Nonsense!” cried Abner Sharp. “You have sobered up, and that was all that was needed.”
This assertion led to a war of words, and Tom came close to whacking the unreasonable teacher over the head with the water pitcher. As a consequence, Abner Sharp ran out of the room in fear and reported to the head of the institution that he had been assaulted.
On Monday morning the four boys were told to go down and report at the president’s office Previous to this they had held a “council of war,” as Sam expressed it, and made Dick their spokesman.
“Now, then, as you appear to be sober, I will listen to your story,” said Doctor Wallington. He was the only other person present, “And remember,” he added sharply, “I want nothing but the truth. You cannot hope for any leniency on my part unless you tell me everything.”
“That is what we propose to do, sir,” answered Dick, looking the doctor full in the eyes. “My brothers and Stanley have asked me to do the talking for all of us. Shall I tell my story now?”
“Yes.”
Thereupon Dick told his tale from beginning to end, very much as I have set it down here. He, of course, could tell nothing of the actions of Koswell and his crowd, for he had been unconscious most of the time.
“Certainly a remarkable story,” mused Doctor Wallington, when the oldest Rover had finished, “And you mean to say you did not drink any of the liquor?”
“Not a drop, sir; and neither did the others,”
“And this vapor? What was it, and how do you account for it?” The doctor’s tones were very sceptical.
“I can’t account for it, excepting by thinking it was part of a plot against us.”
“Hum!” The doctor turned to Stanley. “Have you anything to add to Rover’s story?”
“Nothing, sir, excepting that it is absolutely true, Doctor Wellington.”
After this the boys were questioned for the best part of an hour, but without shaking their testimony in the least. Then Songbird was called in, and he told what he knew.
“If your story is true, it is a most extraordinary occurrence,” said the head of Brill at last. “But I must confess that I can scarcely credit such a tale. However, I will, for the time being, give you the benefit of the doubt, and in the meantime make some investigations on my own account. If I find you have not told the truth I shall dismiss you from the college. Do you understand that?”
To this the students bowed.
“One thing more. All of you may return to your classes but Thomas Rover. He has an extra charge against him, that of assaulting Professor Sharp. Thomas Rover, you will remain here. The rest of you can go.”
With strange feelings in their hearts Dick, Sam and Stanley, accompanied by Songbird, left the office. They had been heard, but had not been believed.
“We may be dismissed from here, after all,” said Sam bitterly.
“What a shame!” cried Songbird. “Oh, if you could only find out who did it, and expose them!”
The boys went back to their classes with heavy hearts. They saw a number of the other students looking at them questioningly.
Jerry Koswell saw them return, and was much astonished. Had his plot to put them in disgrace miscarried, after all? Larkspur, too, was perplexed. Flockley was a bit relieved, and half hoped the whole matter would blow over and nothing more be heard of it.
The day went by, and the other lads did not see Tom. But they saw him in the evening, just before supper.
“Well, how did you make out?” asked Dick eagerly.
“Got a vacation,” was Tom’s laconic answer.
“Dismissed?” asked the others in concert.
“No, suspended until Doctor Wallington can investigate the whole matter more thoroughly. He wanted me to apologize to Sharp, and I said flatly that I wouldn’t do it, because I hadn’t anything to apologize for. He got mad at first, and threatened me with instant dismissal. Then I warmed up, and said I was innocent of all wrongdoing, and perhaps I’d be able to prove it some day, and if so, and I was dismissed, I’d sue the college for loss of reputation. That brought matters to a head, and I guess the doctor saw I was in deadly earnest. He told me I could consider myself suspended for two weeks, or until he could get to the bottom of the affair. So I’ve got a holiday.”
“I’m glad you didn’t apologize to Sharp,” said Sam.
“What are you going to do with yourself—go home?” asked Dick.
“No. I am going to move to Ashton, and then try to get to the bottom of this matter.”
“The doctor will send a letter home.”
“So will I, and you must do the same. I think father will believe us.”
Tom left that night, and established himself at the leading hotel in Ashton.
News travels swiftly, and Koswell and his cohorts took care that the girls at Hope should hear the story about the Rovers and Stanley and their supposed disgraceful doings. Dora, Nellie and Grace could scarcely believe their ears when they heard it.
“This is awful!” murmured Dora, and the tears came to her eyes.
“I don’t believe one word of it!” cried Nellie with spirit.
“But Tom has been suspended,” said Grace. “And think of poor Sam and Dick!” And her heart sank like lead within her bosom.
“I am going to send Dick a note right away,” said Dora. “I cannot bear this suspense.”
“But you don’t think Dick is guilty, do you?” asked Nellie.
“No. But—but the disgrace! It is terrible!” And now Dora burst out crying in earnest.
The note from Dora reached Dick the following day, in the afternoon mail. It was short, but to the point, reading as follows:
“DEAR DICK: We have just heard something awful about you and Tom and Sam. Tell us what it means. Of course we don’t believe you have done anything wrong.
“Yours,
“DORA.”
This note disturbed Dick and Sam greatly, for they could understand how the evil report concerning them had been circulated at Hope Seminary, and how the girls had suffered in consequence.
“I am glad they think we are innocent,” said Sam.
“They couldn’t do anything else, knowing us as they do,” returned his brother. And then he sent a note back stating that the reports were all falsehoods, and asking them to meet Tom and themselves on the following Saturday at Ashton.
“Perhaps Tom will have something to report by that time,” said Dick.
The time to Saturday dragged miserably. The boys could not set their minds on their lessons, and as a consequence got some poor marks. For this Professor Blackie gave them a lecture.
“You ought to show your appreciation of what Doctor Wellington has done in your case,” said the instructor.
“We can’t settle down to lessons with this cloud hanging over us,” answered Dick frankly. “It has got to be cleared away, or—” he did not finish.
“Or what, Rover?”
“Or I’m afraid we’ll have to leave, even if we are not dismissed,” was the slow answer, an
d Dick breathed a deep sigh.
CHAPTER XXIX
WHAT THE GIRLS DISCOVERED
The Rover boys sent letters to their father, and on Saturday morning came replies from Mr. Rover. He said he was both surprised and shocked at what had occurred, and added that if they needed his aid he would come on at once. He showed that he believed them innocent, for which they were thankful.
“Here is more news,” said Dick. “The case of Tad Sobber against the Stanhopes and the Lanings comes up in court next Tuesday; that is, they are going to argue the question of the injunction on that day.”
“That will make Mrs. Stanhope and Mrs. Laning very anxious.”
“Yes, and the girls, too, Sam.”
“Well, we are anxious, too. Oh, I do hope our side wins!” cried Sam wistfully. “It would set me wild to see Tad Sobber get all that money!”
Dick and Sam were to meet Tom in Ashton at three o’clock, and all hoped that the girls would come later. Stanley could not go, for he had a Latin composition to write.
When the Rovers reached the hotel in Ashton they found Tom impatiently awaiting them By the look on his face they knew he had something to tell.
“Come up to my room,” he said, and led the way to the apartment, located on the second floor, front.
“You can sit by the window, Dick, and keep a lookout for the girls,” said Sam.
“Yes, they’ll be here in about an hour,” said Tom. “They telephoned this morning.”
“Well, what have you discovered—anything?” demanded Dick impatiently.
“I think I am on the right track,” answered Tom. “Let me tell you what I’ve done. In the first place, I visited the haunted house yesterday morning, and went through it from cellar to garret.”
“Alone?” queried Sam.
“Yes, alone. But I carried a pistol, and I had it ready for use, too.”
“I don’t blame you,” murmured Dick. “And I guess you looked to see if the doors were open, too.”
“I did, and smashed out several windows in the bargain. The first place I investigated was that fireplace, and in it I found this.” And Tom held up a bit of white paper. On it was printed:
The Rover Boys Megapack Page 217