'As Gold in the Furnace' Part 32

"Did you purchase the gold watch you wanted with your--your ill-gotten gains?"

"I did not. I was afraid to do so. I saw at once if I did I should compromise myself. I saw that I should have to tell where I got the money for such a purpose. Everybody, and especially the faculty, knew that I did not have overmuch pocket-money. My common-sense, after all, told me I could not use the money here. So I made myself a felon for nothing. What is left--most of it--is now with the President."

Stockley paused a minute, and then continued:

"Don't think this is an easy task for me, boys. I promised the chaplain to straighten things out, and as you had to have the essentials, you might as well have the details also. I shall never face the boys again, for as soon as I can be moved I am to be sent home. Anyway, Henning, I like the way you received the story."

"I am very thankful to you that you make it so clear and circ.u.mstantial."

"You remember in the early spring there was a good deal of money spent by the boys. If I remember rightly you yourself bought a number of books, bats, b.a.l.l.s, and shoes. Well, at that time I ventured to spend some, but I was horribly suspicious all the time. Somehow I imagined that every dollar I spent was marked in some invisible way and would be traced back to me. No, I tell you that has done me no good, given me not one moment of satisfaction, and has only added an extra burden to my conscience."

"Did Smithers have a hand in this thievery?" asked Roy.

"Leave others out. You said that to me just now, and now you are trying to get some one else incriminated."

"No, I am not. I am merely acting in self-defense. You have cleared me of all suspicion. I must, if he was implicated in this wretched affair, have him clear me also."

"You need not bother about Smithers," said Bracebridge; "that charming and courageous individual departed for unknown pastures between two suns. You will see him no more. The boys say he is daffy on account of the storm. Let it go at that, Roy."

Henning was surprised at this news, but not altogether pleased.

Matters had thus far gone so propitiously that he wanted every knot in the tangle straightened out.

"That's all right, Roy," said Bracebridge. "There will be no more trouble from that quarter." He then turned to Stockley, saying:

"I must say that we are obliged to you for your candor. It is rather a manly acknowledgment after all."

"You see, I went to confession last night, and----"

"I understand. You are properly trying to undo the wrong you have done. You will never be able to undo the mental torture you have inflicted on Henning all these months."

"I never shall. I am sorry for all that now, and I ask your pardon, Henning."

The three boys were discovering that there was something manly in Stockley after all.

"That's all right," said Roy heartily. "It's all over now. Try and keep straight for the future."

"Now," said Bracebridge, "there is only one thing more to be done. Of course you will sign a paper exonerating Henning from all possible implication, now you have acknowledged your own guilt. Our word as witnesses would be sufficient, but it would come with better grace from you, don't you think so?"

"There's not much gracefulness in the whole wretched business, I'm thinking, but I'll sign."

That afternoon, with the permission of the prefect, there was posted on the bulletin board a notice which created more intense excitement than anything since the loss of the money during the Christmas holidays. It ran as follows:

"This is to certify that I, of my own free will and without coercion, admit that I stole the seventy-two dollars last Christmas week, and that no one now at the college had the least thing to do with planning or carrying out the theft except myself."

"JOHN STOCKLEY."

CHAPTER XXVIII

THE UNRAVELED TANGLE

Unpleasant as the interview had been to Roy, he no sooner left the sickroom than he found his spirits rise with a great bound. At last!

At last he was cleared! Now the way was smoothed for him. All aspersions on his character would be scattered like the morning mist before the sun, as soon as the contents of the precious paper were made known.

The three boys left the infirmary at about half an hour after eleven o'clock. In a quarter of an hour cla.s.ses would be dismissed for the day, it being a customary half-holiday.

Jack Beecham was eager to post the notice on the bulletin board at once. They took the wiser and safer course. They decided to see the prefect first, as nothing appeared on the board without his sanction, and when it did it was regarded as official.

"Come in," they heard him call in response to their rap at the door.

"Great news, Mr. Shalford!" shouted Jack Beecham before he entered the room. "Everything's settled. Roy's all right now. The head of the clique has done it this time--in black and white, too; see, sir."

Mr. Shalford arose, smiling, and extended his hand to Henning.

"I am very glad. It has been an ugly business. It has caused no end of anxiety. The rumors and charges were always so intangible that I never could trace one to its source. But let me see the paper."

This boys' true friend gave a low whistle as he read Stockley's acknowledgment.

"So you are cleared, Henning; and the thief is known? That's capital.

Poor boy! Isn't it too bad, boys, to find a student--one of us--a thief, a burglar, a felon! Oh, the pity of it! Well, pray for him, boys, pray for him. Leave this note with me, Henning. I'll see that it does its work. Congratulations, all of you. Whatever you have, Roy, you have some loyal friends. Congratulations, congratulations, all of you!"

The note was immediately posted. Then the excitement began, at first among half-a-dozen around the board, then among other groups, and in a very short time throughout the college. George McLeod and Ernest Winters simply went wild, and in less than an hour they could scarcely speak at all, so hoa.r.s.e were they from shouting.

Where was Henning? A rush was made to the Philosophy cla.s.sroom. He was not there. Perhaps he was with the rector or the prefect of studies.

Both these places were invaded by excited boys, but Roy was not forthcoming.

Just as the big bell rang for dinner, George McLeod made a rush for the chapel, sure that he would find his friend there. And there he did find the three, Jack, Ambrose, and Roy, pouring out their thanksgiving with grateful hearts for the happy turn events had taken.

"Come, Roy; it's dinner. The big bell has rung; come on."

Roy did not move, nor did his companions. He evidently intended to avoid the crowd, waiting until they should all be at dinner, knowing that in the refectory they would have to remain quiet.

This time he miscalculated entirely. No sooner did he make his appearance than the whole of the students of the senior refectory rose to their feet and gave three hearty cheers for Roy Henning. The prefect made no attempt to stop the demonstration, while Ernest Winters, out in the middle of the room, was fairly dancing with joy and excitement.

At a given signal from Mr. Shalford all cheering ceased. Every one resumed his seat--except Ernest, who danced on in his glee, to the intense amus.e.m.e.nt of all, and to his own utter confusion when he discovered that he was the only boy now making any noise in the refectory.

Before the laugh at his expense had subsided the prefect whispered to Roy:

"Shall I give talking at table in honor of the event?"

"To-morrow, please, sir," replied Roy, "now I want to think a little."

Mr. Shalford gave a look and a nod to the reader, and the meal, save for the reader's voice, was finished in silence.

If the boys were not allowed to talk for a little while, there was no lack of signs and signals. Harry Gill was frantic to signal across the room his congratulations, and had a fit of coughing for trying to eat his dinner and at the same time send a series of telegraphic messages to Roy.