The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1879-07-17
ga FLAT"
A College Story.

tHe grass seriously, ana without SELF
love or self-prejudice. He saw there a
frank, good-naturcd face, pair of blue
eyes, and a mass of curly brown hair.
AS far as he could Judge there was
nothing particularly out of the way with
his countenance.
"Say, Dick" he began, to his room
mate, who was puzzling over a page of
Aenophoh, "fve been taking account
of stock, and | don't see anything un-
pardonably wrong about my features.
They are not angular enough to be
called sharp, nor level enough to be
justly styled fiat; so can't exactly see
the suitableness of the expression which
has somehow come to be my college
cognomen."
don't be fool!' growled Dick,
without looking up from his book.
81 have always been a great stickler
for the fitness of things, eternal and
temporal" continued Arthur: "and if
to be "A Flat is really applicable as a
correct description of the impression
my personal appearance makes on my
companions, all right! I'd as soon
respond to that name rs any other; but
If it S not mine, then, old fellow, it's got
to be stoppedr'
eff you'd rob hen-roosts, and steal
the housekeeper's preserves, and lay
traps to trip up old men and women,
and raise Cain generally, you'd be the
most popular fellow in college," said
Dick, with disdainful grimace, still
with his eyes fixed on his book. "They
let me alone, you see, because l don't
care hang for 'em, and because they
know I'm as poor as poverty and as
dull as hard-shell clam. You get
ahead of 'em in class. I'm always in
the rear. You have money to subscribe
to everything there is going. and you
refuse to spend it in riotous living. l
haven't any money, and therefore I'm
of no consequence. Whoever SAYS that
there ism compensation for everything
don't know what they are talking
about"
YOU'RE a patient old soldier" said
Arthur, with merry laugh, "and l
wish | had some of your philosophy!
But, the fact is, every time Pm called
"A Flat l feel the fight tingling all
over me. l am afraid that some time
my fists will become manageable.
81 guess notr' Dick replied. YOU'D
only get yourself in a worse muss, be-
side having something to be sorry for
ali the days of your life, perhaps! But
there's the bell, and I'm out of the
bolt-ropes, as usual"
There's row in camp!' said Ar
thurs right-hand neighbor, as the
young men took their seats in class.
"Some of the boys scared old Mrs. Allen
into tit last night, and they say its a
liner Nobody thinks she'll pull
through. One of the fellows dressed
up in white, and rode the old woman's
cow clear into the kitchen. They let
out the pig, and stoned the house, and
broke her windows, and goodness
knows what they didn't do. There
won t be any show for the boys that cut
up those capers."
Swell, there oughtn't to ber' said
Arthur, Indignantly.
just then the Greek Professor en-
tered the classroom, and, after survey
ing the students a moment, said, with
great seriousness:
81 am requested by the President to
say to Arthur Hoyt and Richard Den
ham that they are to repair at once to
to the library, where the Faculty of
this college wait to see them.'
''All right, SIR" responded Arthur,
pleasantly. Conscious integrity made
him bold. Dick arose slowly, and
walked out in his usual logged man.
ner.
"Say, "A Flat you're in for it!'
said one of the class, in a low tone, as
the young man passed him. "Your
turn has come now, A Flair" said an
other. Mebbe you won't be SO high
and mighty now you're found out at
last!"
"What do you suppose it is?'' Dick
inquired, as he came up with Arthur.
"Some contemplate trick of the
boys" said Arthur; ssbut we shall
soon know. Brace up, old fellow, for
here we are"
A few words sufficed to put the WIS.,
itors in possession of all they wanted
to know. After few preliminary re-
marks, such as having been led to ex-
pect better things from the young men
before him, the President produced q
large silk handkerchief, with " Arthur
Hoyc' plainly marked in one corner.
=" Does this belong to you, Hoyt?''
the President inquired.
60. 1t does, sir" replied Arthur, pleas
antly.
"And is this yours?' the gentleman
asked of Dick. presenting a crooked
stick, or cane, which the young man
was accustomed to carry on long walks.
"That's mine, SIR" said Dick.
"And here is a cuff with "A. Howl
marked on it," the President con-
tinued, "torn from the wrist probably
IN the pleasant excitement of frighten-
ing an innocent old woman into a fit.
l shall be compelled to hold your prom
erty, sirs, until such time as the law Of
the college, or the law of the State.
shall be passed upon you. Mrs. Allen
is not expected to live.''
II am very sorry, sir" said Arthur,
respectfully; land ! am sure Dick is,
too; but what sort of justice is this
that takes our guilt SO entirely for
granted? Your evidence is simply cir
cumstantial, sir, and wish to say here
that l was never on Mrs. Aliens prem
lses in my life, and l am quite sure
Denham never was" '.@ -
- never was" said Dick, with
never expect to be-"
maj WOuiu you say, HOyt, If /
were to tell you that one of the Pro-
fessors saw you there last nightp'' in
quired the President.
II should say, sir" Arthur re-
sponded. quickly, "that the Professor
was greatly mistaken; but if you were
to tell me that one of the students saw
me there, should say that student
lied"
There was a straightforwardness in
the attitude of these SUSPECTED younr
men that was irresistible; still every.
thing was against them. The old
woman bad testified that morning that
she had heard the names of Howl and
Denham pronounced more than onoe