Part 30 (2/2)
”We all know perfectly well that you were knighted and that you are now Sir Tubbs, P. X. C., and all that. We salute you!” And then Tom took off his hat. ”Three cheers for Sir Tubbs!” he called loudly.
The cheers were given with a will, and a tiger added. Poor Tubbs was almost stricken dumb, and commenced to mop the perspiration from his forehead.
”Don't crowd so close!” cried Tom, warningly. ”His Lords.h.i.+p must have air! He isn't used to so much excitement! Stand back! Now then, into the carriage, if you please!” And into the turnout went poor Tubbs, and the next instant his hat was s.n.a.t.c.hed from his head and a tall, white beaver was placed in its stead. Then several medals of tin and bra.s.s were pinned to his coat, and the crowd set up a riotous cheering.
”Hurrah for Sir Tubbs!”
”My, what an honor for Brill!”
”Nothing like having a real n.o.bleman for a student!”
”Away we go! Pile in, boys!” cried Tom, and then there was a crack of a whip, and off the strange turnout started, with poor Tubbs on the seat looking more bewildered than ever, and followed by the great carryall with the yelling and singing students who had come to greet him.
CHAPTER XIX
STARTLING NEWS FROM HOME
”Here the conquering hero comes!”
”Say, but he looks like a real Lord, doesn't he?”
”Don't forget to bow to all the people you pa.s.s, Sir Tubbs!”
So the cries rang on, as the carriage and the carryall rolled away from the Ashton depot.
”Say, look here, what does this mean?” stammered the dudish student. ”I tell you I'm no lord, or knight, or anything like that! I was over to Paris, not London, don't you know. Weally, this is--er--very embarra.s.sing!” he pleaded, wildly.
”Stand up and make a speech, when you get to the campus, Willie boy!”
sang out Tom. ”Give 'em something grand on high finance, or railroad building, or cooking beans, or something like that.”
”Why, Tom, weally, don't you know, I know nothing of--er--railroads, or--er--beans. Please stop the carriage, I wish to get out. This is--er--awful, don't you know!” fairly panted the dude. He had stood up, but now the carriage gave a jolt and down he sat very suddenly.
On through the town and straight for the college drove the two turnouts, the students yelling themselves hoa.r.s.e. Many at Brill had been let into the secret, and when the grounds were reached a big crowd was congregated, to take part in the sport.
”Here they are!”
”Hurrah for Lord Tubbs!”
”How are you, Duke William Philander!”
”Do you wear the order of the Red Garter?”
”No, it's the Blue Suspender he was decorated with.”
”Speech! speech!” came the cry from every side.
Then the carriage came to a halt and was immediately surrounded by a howling mob. A few had flowers that they threw at William Philander, while others had supplied themselves with stalks of celery, carrot and beet tops, and similar things, which they sent forward with force and directness.
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