Part 14 (1/2)

In spite of the cloud that thus hung over the affair, every one of the chums was glad of the extra time in which to make up the lost lessons. Not one of them had to grind away as hard as before, and Dave took a little time off, in which to send a letter to his father and another to Jessie.

The next day was warm and pleasant and, after school-hours, Roger proposed to Dave that they take a walk up the woods road back of the school.

”All right, a walk in the woods will do us good,” was the answer.

”Shall we ask some of the others?”

”If you wish,” and in the end Phil went along, and also Buster Beggs and Gus Plum.

”My, but I had a run-in with old Haskers this afternoon,” said the stout youth. ”I came close to carrying the matter to the doctor.”

”What was it about?” questioned Dave.

”Oh, nothing at all, to my way of thinking. I went to the library to get a book and he accused me of wasting my cla.s.s time. He was very ugly. I won't stand for much more of it,” grumbled Buster.

Dave said no more, but he and Roger exchanged glances. Evidently the irate instructor was going to ”take it out of somebody,” as the saying goes.

The boys walked on and on, along the road, until Oak Hall was left far behind. Soon Buster forgot his troubles, and the crowd were chatting gayly of many things.

”Call for candidates for the baseball team next Sat.u.r.day,” announced Gus Plum. ”I hope we get up a team this year that knocks the spots out of Rockville Military Academy and all the other inst.i.tutions we cross bats with.”

”Are you going to try for the nine this term, Gus?” questioned Dave.

”Sure! Why not? You'll try, won't you?” went on the big youth, in surprise.

”No, I've decided not to go into athletics this term, Gus. I want to give all my time to my studies.”

”Yes, but the nine needs you, Dave!” put in Buster. ”I heard some of the fellows talking about it only yesterday. They had you slated for your old position.”

”Well, if Gus wants to play, he can fill the box,” answered Dave.

”But we need more than one pitcher,” insisted Buster.

”There are plenty of new students coming along. I hear Thomas is a good one, and so is Ennis.”

”I'm not going to play, either,” said Roger. ”I want to graduate with all the honors possible.”

”How about you, Phil?”

”I--I think I'll play,” answered the s.h.i.+powner's son, rather lamely.

”I'll see about it later.”

”Well, I don't want to neglect my studies,” said Gus Plum. ”But I have done some hard work this winter and so I am pretty well ahead. I didn't lose time going to Cave Island, you know,” he added, with a smile.

”Well, it was worth it--losing that time,” answered Dave. ”It saved Mr. Wadsworth from ruin, and that's a good deal.”

”If the baseball nine----” commenced Buster, and then broke off short.

”What was that?” he demanded, as a cry from a distance broke on the ears of all.