Part 8 (1/2)

For ten or fifteen inning to think that watching was all nonsense when he saw a dark figure creeping along the wall at the extreme lower end of the hallhere it made a turn toward the back stairs

”Hullo, who's that?” he ”

He continued to watch the figure, and no that it was dressed in a black suit and had what looked like a shawl over its head

”That's queer,” went on the boy ”What can that ure turned and entered one of the lower dorently behind it Then it caain and made swiftly for the rear of the upper hallway By this tiure disappeared around the bend by the back stairs he followed on tiptoes

But as what light there was came from the front, the rear was very dark, and the youth could see little or nothing He heard a door close and the lock click, but whether or not it was upstairs or down he could not tell

For several minutes he remained in the rear hallway, and then he went back to his post Soon Tom came out to relieve him, and Sam re-entered the dormitory and told his story to the others

”That's certainly odd,” was dick's comment

”Was it a man or a boy, Sam?”

”I can't say exactly If it wasn't a ht to report the ested Frank ”That person ood purpose”

”Oh, pshaw! perhaps it was so to spy on us,”

put in Fred ”If we tell the captain ill only be exposing ourselves, and I guess you all knohat that means”

”It means half-holidays cut off for a month,” said dick

”Besser you vait und see vot comes of dis,” said Hans, and after a little more talk this idea prevailed, and then the boys went in to clear up as left of the feast Everything was gone but a little ice-crea to dispose of this

Sa his last mouthful of cream he awaited a favorable opportunity and dropped it down inside of Fred's collar

”Great Scott!” roared Fred Garrison ”Whow!” And he began to dance around ”Oh, my backbone! That's worse than a chunk of ice! Oh, but I'll be frozen stiff!”

”Go down and sit on the kitchen stove,” suggested dick

”Sit on the stove? I'll sit on Saet the chance!”

roared Fred, and made a rush for Sam A scuffle ensued, which came to a sudden end as both sent a washstand over with a loud crash

”Wow you've done it!” cried Frank ”That's noise enough to wake the dead”

”Great Caesar, stop that row!” burst out Torn, opening the door

”Do you want to bring the captain down on us at the last minute?”

”Clear up that muss, both of you,” said dick to Sam and Fred But the latter demurred It was Sam's fault--he started the racket