Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1894-12-20
MYSTERIOUS SCHOLAR,

HuS OIL lue 1Slu OIL august 10, ludl Il
four-wheeled cab drew up at the gates
OF darlington academy.
The academy was quite the swell
place of that part of the town, for it
had held its own against all the new
corners.
Ii had been announced to DR.. Par
kins, the principal of the academy,
that a young gentleman, aged Ii,
would arrive on this night, and that,
being an orphan, his. friends would
leave him there, holidays and all, for
four years.
The highest references We're given,
and the first years money was paid
in advance.
Everything, accordingly, seemed sat
isfactory, AMI, in fact, from the letters
DR.. Parkins had received, he rather
looked forward to the newcomer as
AN acquisition to the academy.
From the cab descended a gentle
manly looking youth, with pale, well
featured face, and dressed to perfec-
ton.
The eabman rang the bell, and
shouldering the box, walked through
the gates and into the front garden.
At this moment, a thick set man, III
an ulster, and wearing a fuzzy cap
drawn down over his forehead and
hiding his ears, like a travelling hat,
came round the angle Of the wall and
caught the lad by the arm.
That's all right, Harry; you've done
the trick well up to now. But don't
forget about the latch of the terrace
window. Ten o'clock, on the fourth
night from this. 1 and Tom Rudd will
in half an hour
The boy said nothing more.
When Harry CollingwOod, as the new
scholar was supposed to be named.
came down to the school room in the
morning it was found that his edu-
cation had been greatly neglected.
He could speak we'll and read and
write well, but in the higher branches
he knew nothing.
! the excuse.
1t was a well-knOwn thing in the
! neighborhood that the doctor had one
special eccentricity, and that was
! that he disliked banks.
And consequently, as the gains of his
| school increased, he placed them lin his
own special strong box, which he
kept in the little ante chamber Of his
study.
When it is remarked that Tom
RUdd's old chum, John Bennett, was
maSquerading at the school as foot
| man, the secret was not much of one
after all. Harry Rudd, alias Colling-
wood, had fallen in with the notion of
| the robbery because his father had
promised him that this should be the
last time Of asking.
The boy had been strongly tempted
at the moment.
But he had regretted it the instant
he set foot in darlington academy.
1t was a relief, therefore, when
three days later he received a letter
from his father.
Dear Harry-Shall not be able to
come down and see you, as promised.
Will be down in six weeks time. l
enclose you pocket money. l saw
your friend, young Lord Arlington,
yesterday, and he sends his kindest
regards. 1 shall come at the same
hour l promised before. Your affec-
tomato uncle,
Thomas Collingwoo6."
Harry Collingwood shuddered as he
saw the name, Lord Arlington"
Well he knew the young rascal of
Mile End celebrity, whose nickname
WIS this-a hateful, red-faced .uIly-
What a relief, though, it was to
know that the night he dreaded was
put off for six weeks.
One afternoon the boys were enjoy
ing half holiday.
Harry Collingwood was leaning over
a fence, all alone, gazing out upon the
green fields, when DR.. Parkin came
up.
"Ah, Master Collingwood," he said,
chow are you today. Are you pleased
with the school and your new COM
panions?"
A wistful look came into the boys
eyes.
Eyes. 1 do like Them" he said,
"and I only wish l could remain
uSIc LUZ SOOu.
"Well, my boy, your friends gave
me to understand that you were 60
ing TO remain here for four years."
YES" said Harry, frightening up
by great effort. ''but have had such
a lonesome life of it that 1 should like
to stop here forever"
The doctor had his eyes fixed upon
him all the time he was saying these
words, and suddenly look of recog-
milton came into his face.
"You remind me of some one 1 knew
in Mile End years ago." he said
II don't know Mile End said Harry |
Collingwood. But whom do I remind |
you of, sir?''
"Of a woman named Rudd-Sarah /
Rudd-whom was able to-do a tritiing
service to years ago." replied the prin- |
cipal Of the school.
Il fancy the name of Rudd is known
to me. Sir" said Harry, whose heart
was beating wildly.
Yes, for was not Sarah Rudd the |
name of his mother?
1T may have been, my lad" said DR.. /
Parklns. she was a very good wom-
an, and had Il terrible fellow for a
husband-a drunken wretch who used
TO knock her about and ill use her in
every way. When you turned around |