Part 8 (1/2)
”All right, Gus--I'll try to see you this noon,” replied Dave, in a low tone; and then all the students passed down to the dining-hall
”Pluer's co for him,” returned Phil ”Of course what he did wasn't as bad as as done by Nick Jasniff and those two robbers, but it was bad enough I'd hate to have such a blackholidays had been rather short, and those pupils who lived a long distance from Oak Hall had remained at that institution; consequently the routine of studies was taken up that day without much trouble Fortunately Dave was now placed under Andrew Dale, the first assistant, a teacher loved by all the scholars
”I know I shall learn faster than ever,” said Dave to Roger ”Mr Dale knows just how to bring out all there is in a fellow”
”I wish the doctor would get rid of old Haskers,” returned the senator's son ”I simply can't bear hier Maybe he'll be dropped when the contract runs out”
Just before the bell rang for the h The schoolboys gave hi salute of soballs which the farmer tried in vain to duck
”Hi, yeou!” he roared ”Want to knock the top of my head off? Stop it!”
And then, to escape his torrounds at top speed It was the last the boys saw of hi time
It was not until after the day's sessions were over that Dave got a chance to see Gus Plum alone The two met in the upper hallway and walked to the dormitory the former bully occupied, and Plum locked the door
”Sit down, Dave, I want to talk to you,” said Plum, and motioned Dave to the easiest chair the dore of a bed close by
”All right, Gus, fire away,” answered Dave, and he wondered as co next
”I--er--I don't kno to say it--how to begin,” stammered the former bully, and his face showed a trace of red in it ”But I've made up my mind to speak to you, and ask your advice You saved race, Dave, and I know you'll tellto do”
”What about?”
”Well--about everything First of all, about staying here At first I thought I could do it--that I could face the crowd and live it down But now--the way some of the boys treat me--and look at me--and the remarks ine how hard it is!” And there was a quiver in Gus Plureat deal
”I am sorry to hear of this, Gus But youelse to do”
”I can go away--my folks are ready to send ht it out I kno you feel--I felt that hen they called me 'a poorhouse nobody'”
”Oh, Dave, I did that! I am so sorry now!”
”You are bound to win in the end--if you do what is fair and honest So long as Doctor Clay is willing to keep you, you'd better stay by allelse” Plu to tell you, but I want to tell somebody It's been on my mind ever since it happened” And then, to Dave's aan to sob violently
CHAPTER VI
GUS PLUM'S CONFESSION
That the forhly broken-down there could be no doubt, and Dave pitied him from the bottom of his heart He wondered what Gus Plum would have to say next, and resolved to aid the lad as much as lay in his power