The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1875-02-18
RESULT OF A STUDENTS PRANK.

RESULT OF A STUDENTS PRANK.
I was not yet out of my teens, and
wild, harum-scarum fellow, overfowing
with animal spirits, always ready for the
perpetration of any kind of mischief,
without much regard to consequences,
although | never contemplated intiicting
the slightest injury upon any one. L
was student of medicine, and probably
there never was set of more rattle pated
fellows than that with which 1 was asso
ciatod. There was one exception, how
ever, in the person of Henry Charges,
the son of clergyman, who was natu-
rally quiet, inotfensive person, who
had been strictly " trained up i'll the way
he should 60" and to cause him to de-
part from which was, | am sorry to say,
our constant endeavor. He steadily re-
fused, however, to enter into our mis-
chievous sports, although he would
sometimes join us i'll our convivial meet
ings, but never iudulging to an unrea-
sOnable extent. He possessed great
tirmness OF character and appeared to
be quite unmoved by our taunts-so
much so, in fact, that we began to attri-
butte his failure to resent them to a lack
Ol courage. w Hell tlllS WAS lilllteu W
him, he smiled somewhat coptemptuous-
ly, declared that he knew not what fear
was, and expressed the hope that we
would never put his courage to the test.
The firmness with which Henry Charges
resisted our evil influences, and his quiet
boast of courage. rather nettled lis and
it was resolved to Hhumiliate him if posi-
ble, by proving his professed lack of fear
to be mere bravado. He was to be in
vited for this purpose to supper one
night and to be detained as late as pos
sible; and as he lodged in an unfre
quented locality in the suburbs of the
city, he was to be followed on his way
home by one of the party, and at a GER
tain portion of the road was to be
stopped, and, in highwayman style,
made to deliver up his watch and money,
the pretended robber, of course, to have
his face covered with Grape mask, and
be otherwise disguised. A failure was
not even thought of, and it was consid-
cred capital practical joke from which
a good laugh was to be obtained at the
expense OF the intended victim.
The matter was all very nicely arranged
in theory, but when it came to the prac-
tical part, it was not easy, for no one
seemed disposed to undertake the dam
gerous role of the robber, and produce
the startling denOuemenL [, however,
removed the difficulty by offering to
play the part myself, and the offer was,
of course, received with acclamation L
was to carry no weapon, but was to pre-
sent merely a morocco case containing
my pipe, which might well be mistaken
n N n nh a. nd nc
"mOney or his life."
Well, the eventful night arrived, the
party assembled, and a rare jovial time
we had, so that the hours passed tleetly
by, and it was past midnight before
Charges rose to depart. In the con-
fusion of breaking up I slipped out I'M
perceived by him, enveloped myself in a
large cloak and slouched hat, and hur-
ried forward to await the victim at the
most lonely part Of the road. 1 had not
long been there before 1 heard his ap-
preaching footsteps, as | hastily placed
the mask over my face, and stationed
myself behind tree, 50 that I might
come upon him suddenly, and throw
him off his guard There was no moon,
but the stars CLEANED brightly, and |
could distinctly see his form as he drew
near the tree, close to which he must
pass. AS the crisis approached, was
greatly tempted to forego my purpose,
for l experienced some misgivings and
presentiment of trouble to result to me
from this folly. But had not long to
deliberate, and the thought of the laugh
being turned against me instead of
Charges, in the event of my backing
down, determined me to carry out the
joke. Therefore, when he had nearly
reached the tree, / hastily confronted
him, presented my pipe-case to his
breast, and, in a voice which sounded
very unfamiliar even tomyself, babe him
stand and deliver" He was evidently
startled, but for a moment only. "What
do you wish, my friend?"
Now, it would never have done for me
to parley with him, nor did want to
speak more than was absolutely neces-
sary, lest my voice should be recognized,
SO l hurriedly ierked out the words, as
hoarsely as | could" money-watch-
quick |"
"Oh, certainly" he said, apparently
quite unmoved, and his watch and
purse Were quickly placed in my hands.
He evidently remarked my agitation,
and said something about my being ap-
parently engaged in new line of bust
ness. did not, however, stop to listen,
but darted off at the top of my speed.
1t seemed to me that heard mocking
laugh as l hurried away, but thought
nothing of it at the time. 1 soon met
my companions who had followed to
learn the result, and then proceeded to
my lodgings, carrying with me the
property thus recklessly obtained.
If l had felt alarmed at first, the feel
ing soon passed of, and slept as sound
ly as usual, but was aroused from my
slumber by loud knocking at my