Part 50 (1/2)

Merwell and Jasniff wheeled around, and the face of each turned pale.

”Wha--what do you want, Porter?” stammered Merwell.

”Ah, don't talk to him,” bl.u.s.tered Jasniff. ”Let go of me!” And he tore himself loose.

”Jasniff, you've got to talk to me,” answered Dave. ”If you won't talk I'll call an officer.”

”Don't you do that!” cried Merwell, in increased alarm. ”You let me go!

It's a--a--mistake! I haven't done anything!” And he commenced to back towards the door.

”Merwell, you and Jasniff played me a dirty trick!” declared Dave. ”I don't know whether to have you arrested or to take it out of you. I gave you a sound thras.h.i.+ng once, but it doesn't seem to have done you much good.”

”You--you let me alone, Porter!”

”Where are you going?” asked Roger.

”Don't you tell them!” burst out Jasniff, quickly. ”It's none of their business!” And he looked knowingly at Merwell.

”I guess I had better call an officer,” suggested Phil, just by way of intimidating the rascally students.

”No--no--don't do it!” cried Link Merwell. ”Come on, Nick, there is the train!”

He leaped past the others, and out of a back door of the station. As Dave, Phil, and Roger went after him, Jasniff went out of the front door.

A train had come to a stop, and a number of pa.s.sengers were getting off and on. Link Merwell darted into the midst of the crowd, and mounting one of the platforms, entered the car.

”Going after him?” asked Phil.

”No. What's the use?”

”Where is Jasniff?” asked Roger.

”There he goes!” cried Dave, and pointed to the end of the train, which the student named had just boarded.

The train was now moving, and as it swept by, the three lads on the platform saw Link Merwell peer anxiously out of a window at them. Then, as the last car rolled by, they beheld Nick Jasniff in the doorway. He shook his fist at them.

”Just wait, Dave Porter!” he yelled, defiantly. ”Just wait, that's all!”

And then the train disappeared swiftly from view.

”Wonder if they are running away from the academy?” came from Phil.

”It looks like it to me,” answered Dave. ”I guess they are pretty badly scared. Maybe they know that Doctor Montgomery had turned against them.”

”Well, if they only stay away it won't be so bad,” said the senator's son.

”I might telegraph ahead and have them held,” said Dave. ”But I guess it isn't worth while.”

”Do you know what I think?” said Phil. ”I think they were at that Mrs.