The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1859-10-01
CHAPTER XXX


al chnI &c of his rivals success.
=, u was daring piece of outrage, ini p,rhans
ba"hins would have been Incapable Of 10 at any
other time. But the reader understands Tho
force Hi the motives which were brought To- bear
upon htn--inyoNins the ,ss OF TN, Ten dull,r,
rs only SC 'pudJrv thing
=, Nevertheless his conscience did smitc him,
blt lie sdd TO himself Lv way uf ptla,ion
"After all, II wasn't at all sure hat Crnant
would gain the prize. ! dare say nv css,,
would have been considered equally gcoI. BE
shcS a. II isn't 80 much the money | wanted
can give Cunant that, IN case 1 am successful
But before leaving the room, Dawkius wa
quite lisinavcd hy discovering that he had hcci
mistaken in thinking that he had hccn alone.
In a corner OF the school room, stretched upor
bench, was Arthur Sweet, one Of tho smal,e,
boys in school.
Dawkins turned pslo and then rel. lie wa.
not little terrified, for he knew that II the boz
should reveal what hc hal Sccn things would
wear an ugly look. The danger must he faced
in some way.
First he must ascertain whether his conduct
had really been obscrvcd-a point OH which no
was not altogether certain.
Accordingly he turned back. and walked up
TO the Young boy.
"llolloa, Sweet" said he in rather rough
tone, nudsing the boy, wha, are Won about ?"
hat are yoH about p rotorted Arthur.
iawkins thought there was something ,iynir-
lean! IN the tone in which this was uttered.
lourc reading, arc youi" he asked, ubserv-
ing Robinson Crusoe, lying near Arthur.
"Yes"
"Havc You been reading for tho last ten min
utes 2"
"ics, Of course. Bat what do YOU want to
know for 2"
Perhaps he did not see me after all, thought
DawkinS. 81 must not let him see what am
aiming at"
Nv hcrcaboutS are YOU in the book ?" he ask
cd, taking IL W unccrcmuuOuslv.
At the place where Robinson finds FRIDAY"
"llumph! Do you like it Z"
Eyes, very much"
81 remember" said Dawkins, "whcn read
II for the first time, was so interested tina |
didn't know anything Of what was passing
around me-"
Perhaps he wished to elicit a similar eorfcs
sion from Arthur, but the latter did not seem
disposed to make it, or else die not know what
was wanted of him.
"fou must have bccn very much Interested,
then. said he.
81 suppose you arc not 50 much SO, but arc
smart enough to do two things at once"
'Of COURSE" said Arthur.
This was still unsatisfactory. 1t might mean
either Que thing or another.
Dawkins changed his tactics.
'Did you see me when came in the room q
minute agOi"
"A minute aeo' A pretty long minute it
was"
II only said a minute" said Dawkins uneasi-
ly, 'to see IL you would know better"
at was ten minutes ago"
"fou are better observer than | thought
Perhaps you can toll what have been doing all
the timcI"
"Psrhaps can" repeated Arthur.
Well, but can you"
"Do you suppose your motions are inport mt
enough FOR me to watch them all the time2"
"HOw do | knOw2 Folks sometimes medIIe
ith tar hat nf
because they have nothing better to do"
Well, have got something better to do
than to watch yOu," said Arthur resiminp his
Robinson Crusco. "This is a great deal more
and II you've got through asking
your rigmarole 0f questions, III Just 10 on
reading. want to finish thi, chapter before
school hcgins."
Arthur buriod himself in the volume alluded
%, and Dawkins left tho room, not altogether
ertain, but on the whole fooling safe.
II guess he didn't notice anything" said ho
o himself lIo was So busy reading that he lust
oOked up when entered tho room, and then
vent at his reading. ! ought not to have asked
lim 50 many questions. II was just the thing
- excite his sG-i',,ons or increase them ir he
Iad any. However, guess I'm Safr. Even if
he essay in my hand, he would have thought
1 was my own, and wouldn't have sus-
Dected anything. III let the matter slip from
ny mind. ] only hope that Conant will hand
n his essay without taking the trouhle to lyuk
1t il first. That might be ratl or awkward es-
nccially If the ink shouldn't have dried, and ho
%tuld question that little rascal"
Come here, Dawkius, want YOU for a game
I marbles, sounded from the play ground
The boy dismissed the recollection Of the dis
equitable scene in which he had Just PLAYED a
ART, and a. once accepted the Proposition and
as soon absorbed in the game.
Meanwhile Arthur Sweet, who had Resumed
is book, threw II aside, AMI said 10 himself:
" wonder what's the matter with Dawkins
Iis morning. lilo acts rather Iuecr-secrns to
lc he's rather irquisifive. Hos been up to
,mchIng, III bet hat"
Arthur thOGglt u moment, and then con-
nucd
I" Let me see. what vas lac doingi ! saw him
} to CUnan,'s desk, and then ] saw him with A
'Ier in his hani. | wonder IL it wasn't Co.
'nts essay. II must have been. | remember
w, they are to be handed in this morning.
e wa afraid caught him looking ~ il, that
rs it. But shy should he care 7"
"lh" rcsul Of Arthurs c0gitatiOns was, to
.Clie his CurOsn,' 10 such an extent, shat he,
o, went 1" COnant, - desk, and, fumblng round,
II hold Of the essay.
lie opened ii, scarcely knowing why he did 50.
hen the first thing that was revealed to him
ns the blot, which, in all its dciormty, stared
IN IN the face.
"A blot he exclaimed, "that's too bad
hat sPoils Conant's chance. How could he have
cen 80 careless ?"
lie inspected the blot little more closely.
"Why, it looks quite fresh, he said to him
IT,
"tan It be-" thought he, after a moments
'use, :, that Dawkins blotted it? y, sec
w. The prize was sure to go to either one or
Q other Of thein, and Dawkin has made sure
1t N that way That's tho reason he was
owning round here this morning. and the rea-
u ne asked me 50 many questions was because
was afraid saw him. Hes brought himself
;ht out for never should have thought off
1t hadn't been for his questions. What an awful
can trick Il was though! declare Ivea great
Ihd to go night ulf and tell Harry COuant. |
10 nm ten times rs wei a, DO that GeOrUs
lwklns, ESPECIALLY since this has happened. ,
iail tell or not ! don't like being a tell
lc but then it would he mean not TO tell In
Ch case as this ! guess though I'll wait
ID watch how Dawkins appears. ANYHOW il
G pTi@e should be given to him, III up aud tell
! know
Arthur put away his book, tho interest Of
hich was cclipsed 10y the hit Of real life whicI,
As Just revealed to him, and walked out into
Q play ground
Dawkins and two other boys were playing mar
The latter, who had his for observing reaso,s
lhuf movements, said carelessy, IS. you'ye
tIed Of reading Robinson Crusoc have
nes' I've read all | want TO Just now" ,
- Won't you come and play with usi"
Il rings" il
= lie never paid me so much attention be-
e. thought Arthur confirmed in his suspi-
That morning tho essays were handed in
irry did not again look at his, and, therefore, l.,
not know that il carried IL, own CQndemna- =,