Part 37 (1/2)

”Why, you chump,” said Macnooder proudly, ”that's what's called the profit-sharing system. It keeps 'em quiet, and it also keeps 'em from going out and giving the game away. Mark my words.”

”But twenty-five per cent.,” said the Tennessee Shad, shaking his head.

”Of the profits--net profits,” said Macnooder. ”There's a way to get around that. I'll show you later.”

”We must get to work and round up some alarm clocks,” said Stover.

”I've already thought of that,” said Doc, as he took his leave. ”Don't worry about that. Now I'll canvas the d.i.c.kinson.”

”A slight feeling of uneasiness,” said the Tennessee Shad solemnly, when Macnooder had departed--”a slight feeling of uneasiness is stealing over me, as the poet says.”

”Let's have a look at the articles of incorporation,” said Stover, who sat down with Dennis to study them.

”We're the advisory board,” said Dennis stoutly.

”He's got fifty-one per cent. of the stock, though,” said d.i.n.k.

”But we've got forty-nine!”

The Tennessee Shad, who had not risen from his chair as it involved extraordinary exertion, was heard repeating in a lonely sort of way to himself:

”A slight feeling of uneasiness.”

By the next nightfall every room in the Kennedy was equipped with a Complete Sleep Prolonger. Their reception was exactly as Macnooder had foreseen. At first a roar went up as soon as the simplicity of the device was unearthed, but the thought of the precious bonuses soon quelled the revolt.

Besides, there was no doubt of the great humanizing effects of the invention, and the demand that it would awaken throughout the whole school.

But an obstacle arose to even the deep-laid plans of Macnooder himself. As the Third Triumvirate Manufacturing Company had bought its stock from the Eureka Purchasing Company--which had cornered the alarm-clock market--it followed that the alarm clocks were distinctly second rate.

The consequence was that, though all were set for half-past seven, the first gun went off at about quarter-past two in the morning, bringing Mr. Bundy, the a.s.sistant house master, to the middle of the floor in one terrified bound, and starting a giggle that ran the darkened house like an epidemic.

At half-past three another explosion took place, aggravated this time by the fact that, the window pulleys being worn, the sash flew up with enough force to shatter most of the gla.s.s.

At four o'clock, when three more went off in friendly conjunction, The Roman met Mr. Bundy in the hall in light marching costume, and made a few very forcible remarks on the duties of subordinates--the same being accentuated by the wailing complaint of the youngest Roman which resounded through the house.

From then on the musketry continued intermittently until half-past seven, when such a salvo went off that the walls of the house seemed jarred apart.

The Third Triumvirate went down to breakfast with small appet.i.te. To add to their apprehension, during the long wakeful reaches of the night there had been borne to their ears faint but unmistakable sounds from the opposite d.i.c.kinson and the Woodhull, which had convinced them that there, too, the great invention of the age had been betrayed by defective supplies.

The Roman looked haggard; Mr. Bundy haggard and aggressive.

”Northwester coming,” said the Tennessee Shad under his breath. ”I know the signs.”

”It's all Macnooder,” said Stover bitterly.

At first recitation The Roman flunked Stover on the review, on the gerund and gerundive, on the use of hendiadys--a most unfair exhibition of persecution--on several supines, and requested him to remain after cla.s.s.

”Ahem, John,” he said, bringing to bear the batteries of his eyes on the embattled d.i.n.k, ”you were, I take it, at the bottom, so to speak, of last night's outrage. Yes? Speak up.”

”May I ask, sir,” said d.i.n.k, very much aggrieved--for masters should confine themselves to evidence and not draw deductions--”I should like to know by what right you pick on me?”