Part 9 (2/2)
Neil, gasping for breath, subsided on to the window-seat and nodded his head vigorously. ”That's just what I do mean. There's no doubt about it, my friend. Didn't I tell you I heard Cowan--”
”Oh, Cowan!”
”I know, but it was all in earnest. Carey and he are on their way to Pike's stable for the carriage, and the others are to meet there.
They've had fellows watching you all day. There's one at the corner now--a tall, long-nosed chap that I've seen in cla.s.s. So get your things and get out as soon as you can move.”
Livingston, with his hands in his pockets, stared thoughtfully out of the window, Neil watching him impatiently and listening apprehensively for the sound of carriage wheels down the street.
”It doesn't seem to me that they could be idiots enough to attempt such a silly trick,” said Livingston at last. ”You--you're quite sure you weren't mistaken--that they weren't stringing you?”
”They didn't know I was there!” cried Neil in exasperation. ”I went in late--Mills had us blocking kicks--and was changing my things over in a dark corner when they hurried in and went over into the next alley and began to talk. At first they were whispering, but after a bit they talked loud enough for me to hear every word.”
”Well, anyhow--and I'm awfully much obliged, Fletcher--I don't intend to run from a few sophs. I'll lock the front door and this one and let them hammer.”
”But--”
”Nonsense; when they find they can't get in they'll get tired and go away.”
”And you'll go out and get nabbed at the corner! That's a clever program, I don't think!” cried Neil in intense scorn. ”Now you listen to me, Livingston. What you want to do is to put your glad rags in a bag and--What's that?”
He leaped to his feet and peered out of the window. Just within his range of vision a carriage, drawn by two dripping, sorry-looking nags, drew up under the slight shelter of an elm-tree about fifty yards away from the house. From it emerged eight fellows in rain-coats, while the tall, long-nosed watcher whom Neil had seen at the corner joined them and made his report. The group looked toward Livingston's window and Neil dodged back.
”It's too late now,” he whispered. ”There they are.”
”Look a bit damp, don't they,” laughed Livingston softly as he peered out over the other's shoulder. ”I'll go down and lock the door.”
”No, stay here,” said Neil. ”I'll look after that; they might get you. I wish it wasn't so dark! How about the back way? Can't you get out there and sneak around by the field?”
”I told you I wasn't going to run away from them,” replied his host, ”and I haven't changed my mind.”
”You're an obstinate a.s.s!” answered Neil. He scowled at the calm and smiling countenance of the freshman president a moment, and then turned quickly and pulled the shades at the windows. ”I've got it!” he cried.
”Look here, will you do as I tell you? If you do I promise you we'll fool them finely.”
”I'm not going out of this room,” objected Livingston.
”Yes, you are--into the next one. And you're going to lock the door behind you; and I'm going to look after our soph.o.m.ore callers. Now go ahead. Do as I tell you, or I'll go off and leave you to be eaten alive!” Neil, grinning delightedly, thrust the unwilling Livingston before him. ”Now lock the door and keep quiet. No matter what you hear, keep quiet and stay in there.”
”But--”
”You be hanged!” Neil pulled to the bed-room door, and listened until he heard the key turn on the other side. Then he stole to the window and, lifting a corner of the shade, peeped out. The group of soph.o.m.ores were no longer in sight, but at that moment he heard the front door close softly. There was no time to lose. He found a match and hurriedly lighted one burner over the study table. Then, turning it down to a mere blue point of light, he flung himself back among the cus.h.i.+ons on the window-seat, and with a heart that hammered violently at his ribs waited.
Almost in the next moment there were sounds of shuffling feet outside the study door, a low voice, and then a knock. Neil took a long breath.
”Come in,” he called drowsily.
The door opened. Neil arose and walked to the gas-fixture, knocking over a chair on his way.
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