Part 2 (1/2)
The contortions, the writhings, the shrieks and cries that followed quite surpa.s.sed the former exhibitions. The well-worn woolen rug that fitted from wall to wall across the end of the room where stood the seven seemed to be charged with red hot needles. Suddenly these ceased to leap and jump and burn; the old rug and the hidden wires under it were again quiescent. But the strident voices of the afflicted prisoners were not silenced, though the late lamentings were given over to a medley of condemnations, appeals and pleadings.
”Say, go a little slow on this!”
”Call it off, confound you!”
”Are you trying to electrocute us?”
”Say, Brown, please----”
”Let's call it quits, fellows!”
”We'll call it quits if you want. I suppose we've got to hand it to you two.” This last from Siebold.
”Going to call it all off, then? Give us your word! We can't believe that any fellows in Marshallton Tech would go back on their word.” Bill was smiling genially.
”That can't be called in question. All off. You're exempt.” There was a general acquiescence to this. The door slowly and to the seven quite mysteriously swung open; the seven started to file out.
”Good-by, fellows, and no hard feelings. We were only having a little fun with you as you were going to have with us. You can't----”
”Well, but you two have still got to remember,” said Siebold, shaking his finger at Bill and Gus, ”that you are fres.h.i.+es and must keep in your places. You've got a little the better of us this time, but----”
”Golly, Dan,” spoke up a fellow hazer, ”a _little_ the better? Strikes me we've all been good and licked and these chaps ought to get the credit for----” The voice died away along the hall and Bill turned to his chum.
”We don't want any credit, do we, Gus? But we will get it just the same when this gets out. I sort o' think our little stock has gone up about one thousand percentum, even though we _are_ fres.h.i.+es.”
This proved quite correct. In a few minutes a lot of freshmen had crowded into the room and there was a sprinkling of sophs also.
Questioned eagerly, Bill explained quite freely the purpose of the encounter and its result. Whereupon a big, fat soph declared quite vehemently:
”Huh! They were easily licked. No pluck. You're lucky to have run into a bunch of quitters.”
”You wouldn't have quit, eh, Jumbo?” ventured another, grinning.
”Huh! Nothing like this contraption--” began the husky fellow, advancing and laying his hand on the top cross wire.
”Not even for a little thing like this?” queried Bill, reaching the wall b.u.t.ton.
”Ow! Blazes! Quit! Don't! Oh, darn! Stop! Turn--it--off! E-e-e-e-e-!
Help!” And the instant the stabbing current ceased, Fatty fell back from it and glared at Bill.
”You really can't blame them for quitting, can you?” asked Bill, and for answer the husky soph turned and fled from the room, followed by the jeering laughter of the crowd.
And that ended it. After Bill had asked the crowd if any or all of them wanted to test the ”convincer,” as he called the electrical rigging, he bade the onlookers who filled the hallway a pleasant _au revoir_, and Gus again pulled the strings that closed the door.
CHAPTER V
FAME AND FINANCES