Part 49 (1/2)
”We have seen and heard all,” he had said sternly. ”I am a witness, and so are these young ladies. You, Koswell, Flockley and Larkspur, ought to be ashamed of yourselves. I never dreamed any students of Brill could be so bad. I shall report to Doctor Wallington without delay.”
Charter had been as good as his word, and had been closeted with the head of the college for an hour. The girls went back with Tom, d.i.c.k and Sam, and also had an interview with the president. Then Doctor Wallington sent for Flockley, Koswell and Larkspur. Only Flockley answered the summons, and it was learned that Koswell and Larkspur were afraid to come back, fearing arrest. Parwick had also disappeared. Then had come a telegram from Dan Baxter giving the address of the druggist, Schlemp. Word was sent to this man, and later he wrote that Parwick had once worked for him, but had been discharged for drunkenness and because he was not honest.
The interview between Doctor Wallington and Flockley was a most affecting one. The dudish student broke down utterly, and confessed all. He said Koswell had hatched out the plot, aided by Larkspur, and that he himself had been a more or less unwilling partic.i.p.ant. He told much about Parwick, and how that dissolute fellow had spoken of having the strange powder, which was a j.a.panese concoction, and which, if used often, would render a person insane. He begged the good doctor to forgive him, and said he would be willing to do anything in order to remain at Brill.
”My father will never forgive me if I am dismissed,” he said in a broken voice.
”But supposing I had dismissed the Rovers and Stanley Browne?” asked the doctor severely.
”Yes, yes, I know, sir!” wailed Flockley. ”But, oh, sir, don't send me away! I'll do anything if you'll let me stay!”
”I will think it over,” answered the head of Brill shortly. And thus Flockley was dismissed from the office.
”It was certainly a wicked piece of work,” said Songbird to the others in the room. ”I really think somebody ought to be arrested.”
Tom was about to speak when a footstep sounded in the hall, and a knock on the door followed. Sam opened the portal, to behold Flockley standing there, hat in hand. The dudish student was as white as the wall, his clothing looked dishevelled, and his shoes were un-blacked, a great contrast to the Flockley of old.
”What do you want?” asked Sam abruptly.
”I want--I want--” commenced Flockley brokenly. Then he stepped into the room and confronted d.i.c.k. ”Oh, Rover!” he cried, ”won't you--won't you please, please get Doctor Wallington to let me stay at Brill?
Please don't let him send me home! I'll do anything--apologize, get down on my knees, if you like--but please help me to stay here!”
Flockley caught d.i.c.k by the arm and continued to plead, and then he entreated Sam, Tom, and Stanley, also. It was a truly affecting scene.
They all commenced to speak. He had been so mean, wicked, so unlike a decent college fellow, how could they forgive him?
And then came a pause, and during that pause a distant church bell sounded out, full and clear, across the hills surrounding Brill. d.i.c.k listened, and so did his brothers and Stanley, and the anger in their faces died down.
”Well, I'm willing you should stay,” said d.i.c.k, ”and I'll speak to the doctor about it, if you wish.”
”And so will I,” added Sam and Tom, and Stanley nodded.
”But you ought to cut such fellows as Koswell and Larkspur,” said Tom.
”I will! I will!” said Flockley earnestly.
The Rovers and Stanley Browne were as good as their word. On the following day they had another interview with the head of the college and spoke of Flockley.
”Well, if you desire it, he can remain,” said Doctor Wallington. ”As for Koswell and Larkspur, I doubt if they wish to return, since they have not yet shown themselves. You can prosecute them if you wish.”
”No, we don't want to do that,” said d.i.c.k. ”We have talked it over, and we think, for the honor of Brill, the least said the better.”
”That conclusion does you much credit, and I feel greatly relieved,”