Part 47 (1/2)

”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 d.i.c.k!” And her heart sank like lead within her bosom.

”I am going to send d.i.c.k a note right away,” said Dora. ”I cannot bear this suspense.”

”But you don't think d.i.c.k 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 d.i.c.k the following day, in the afternoon mail. It was short, but to the point, reading as follows:

”DEAR d.i.c.k: 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 d.i.c.k 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 Sat.u.r.day at Ashton.

”Perhaps Tom will have something to report by that time,” said d.i.c.k.

The time to Sat.u.r.day 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 d.i.c.k 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, and d.i.c.k breathed a deep sigh.