The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1902-05-09
CHAPTER XII.

; CHAPTER XII.
"Of course l feel bad about the
damage to my roOm," said Wheaton
gravely, "and the destruction Of my
books, especially my Bibles and Sun
day school helps, seems like a wantOn
and irreverent thing that is without
excuse. But l wish to say for Preston
that while he was present and helped
to tear up the carpet and turn my stove
bottom side up he did not touch any Of
my books, and can swear to his re-
monstrating with one of the other men
who did do 1t.
"But what / called to see you for
especially, sir, was to tell you that
Preston did not desecrate the chapel
tower, as he claims he did"
slow do you know that" asked the
president, good deal surprised.
swell, sir. I came by the chapel late
last night because had been down to
the night school across the river. The
painting of the picture had not been
done then and it was nearly midnight.
/ went right up to my room and found
my door OFF it's hinges and Preston and
half a dozen others inside tearing the
room to pieces. When they were
through they all rushed out of my
room and the hall. except Preston, who
staid until after o'clock. And it was
between midnight and 3 o'clock that
the pictures were drawn on the tower,
according to the testimony Of Logan.
who helped to apprehend part Of the
men,"
'How is that? You say Preston
staid with you until 3 o'clock? How
did that happen"
"Well, sir" answered Wheaton, with
some reluctance. "he had been drink
the room and he was taken i'll just as
the men finished their work, and
made him go into my bedroom, which
they had not touched, and lie down
there until he insisted on going out
again."
The president and Edward learned
afterward that Wheaton had staid up
and tended Willis as carefully as if he
had been his dearest friend.
But Preston was caught with the
rest of the men near the chapel" said
the president.
Eyes, sir; but you see he left my
room after the crowd had done the
work on the chapel. and walked around
the hall right into the midst of them
only few minutes before they were
caught. So he couldn't have been
guilty of the offense."
The president was silent and
thoughtful.
"Why should he confess, then, that
he is the guilty party? He insists upon
it that he planned and executed most
Of the work.
Wheaton was silent, because he evil
IDENTIFY had no good reason to give for
Willis conduct and Edward spoke up.
Il think / can make guess at that"
he said, as the president turned toward
him. Preston has been borrowing
heavily of his society friends, notably
from Rankin. l have good reason to
suppose that he Is good deal in
volved with them, in one way and
another. He considers that this event
will mean his discharge from the col
lege anyway. and he has confessed to
being guilty of this act Of desecrating
the chapel in order to shield the other
men, who really did it. and to whom
he is under such heavy obligations. in
order to retain their favor. And the
other men are mean enough to keep
still and let Willis lie about it, just to
save themselves, seeing he is in so
deep with them on the money ques-
ton"
"It's a shrewd explanation" replied
the president, "and you may be right"
In fact, as 1t afterward came out, Ed
ward had hit upon the exact truth In
the matter. as Willis himself confess
ed, But now the question still faces
the faculty as to the punishment to
be meted out. If Preston 1t not guilty
Of the particular offense Of which he is
charged. he Is more or less of a ring
leader among the worst set In Hope,
and we cannot let such an affair as
that of last night go by unnoticed or
unpublished"
Wheaton looked at Edward and was
tNututly NiStuIDeu III Ills iHluu. Dut
after silence, which neither the presi-
dent nor Edward attempted to break.
he said:
DIR, Royce. | came In here on pur-
pose to ask you 10 allow Mr.. Preston
to remain in college If possible. I
have been praying for him all winter
that he might he saved. A number Of
CTR" 1len In the association are doing
~ thing We feel deeply In
sgd In him. He will be a man OF
r -. power if the Lord once wins him.
! is q critical time with Preston. right
now. and II may prove the turning
point In his whole life."
The president looked at Wheaton
kindly.
''rhen you bear him no grudge for
his share in last nights destruction of
your room"
"No. sir; how can ~ Are we not
told to love our enemiesf Besides, I
do not regard Preston as by any means
the worst of the set in Hope. have
always had a personal drawing toward
a. 4 ~. g.