River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1903-06-18

the ancient usage of the hazing
court, and may Pluto, Cerebus and
the Powers of Darkness have mercy
on you! Sheriff, do your duty!"
The sheriff signalled with his bat
tleax to the captain of police; he
motioned to his two henchmen; these
bandaged the eyes of the prisoner
and marched him out Lights were
extinguished hastily, and with a wild
scramble the court adjourned.
The pump was in the yard, but a
short distance from the dormitory
In few minutes the boys, now ut
terly disorganized, gownless and I'M
masked, were circling around the
pump and their victim. He was laid
on his back, and first one foot, then
the other, was drawn up to the
spout, while the three strokes should
send the water down his leg.
Four strokes had thus been given
when some one whispered, who's
that?'
The Silhouette of a silk hat could
be dimly discerned coming over the
rise of ground toward the college.
''The Old Doc!"
And silently, but instantaneously,
the sophs melted away into the dark
ness. The prisoner had been relieved
of his handouts and he arose and met
the president.
Good evening, SIR" he said.
''Ah, Jones, l was just coming for
you. L suppose you were expecting
me, though you need not have sat up
for me-"
This was all that was heard by the
lingering sophs, and the two moved
off together.
An anxious group it was that met
in Morgan's room to discuss the prob
abilities.
''Confound the sneak" said Nor
gan, 1--WE made too long work of it.
We should have put him through
quicker, before he had time to find
us out. Of course he'll blow, and
that will mean expulsion for some
of u.s.
1t was a cold night. Indian sum-
mer, which had been lingering, had
given place to the first touch of win
ter, and the next morning the ground
was frozen stiff. To our surprise, the
day passed, and no summons came
from the presidents office. Jones,
however, was not at class, and was
not in his room. He did not appear
the next day nor the next. Had he
left college? / grew anxious.
The fourth day a messenger came
to my room, saying that the doctor
wanted to see me i'll his private of
flee at once.
'Good-by," said Johnny. 81 knew
it would come"
''WeI," said l, ''Pm glad it has.
couldn't have stood this suspense
much longer
Nevertheless, as [ entered the pres
ident's room / tingled from head to
foot. The doctor did not rise, but
pushed his glasses down so that he
looked through the long-range half,
and, calling me by my surname, with
that enunciation of his which sound
ed every vowel and made every syl-
liable into a separate word, he said:
81 wish to be informed what was
done last Monday night to Mr.. Allen
Jones, of the freshman class, and |
wish you to inform me-"
''Nhy do you send for me, doctor?"
said /, for [ had been worked up to
such a pitch by my thoughts for the
last three days that [ really cared
less about my own fate than l did
about finding out whether our sus-
picions of Jones were correct.
ooh" he replied, Il have an idea
that you are pretty well informed as
to what transpires in Chapman Hall
from time to time. Am [ not cor
rect?"
Doctor" I cried II will tell you all
/ know-Of course without implica-
ting any one else-if you will answer
me one question"
''WelI?"
Hasn't Allen Jones already told
you all about Monday night?"
NO" said the president, mot a
word. He refuses to do so. Monday
night my wife, who, as you are aware,
is confirmed invalid, required I'M
usual medical care. Our physician
desired consultation, and wished me
to send to Kentville for DR.. Shaw.
Young Jones' mother, who is widow
in very moderate circumstances is our
nurse, and has been since the term
opened. Indeed, in this way, believe
she pays her sons school bills"
gave a groan, which the doctor
took as a sign that [ was much in
terested and he proceeded.
$50 had arranged with Jones that
if the consultation was decided on, he
should drive to Kentville for DIR.
Shaw. / found him near the entrance
to Chapman Hall, awaiting me, as [
supposed. He went Immediately to
the stable, took my horse, and drove
to Kentville, seven miles and back.
On coming into the house we per-
ceived that he had :. violent chill. His
clothes were wet and frozen. The
physician put him to bed in my
house and he is there still, though
I am glad to say he is recovering.
But he had only his young blood
TO thank that he escaped a severe at
tack of pneumonia"
I was horror-struck.
Doctor" said I, 81 am to blame
for this, and [ am only thankful it
isn't murder. l want you to expel
me from college"
Then l told my part of the whole
proceeding, repeating my desire to be
exne1Ied